Suddenly, I Am Rich

Their faces slowly pulled away.

Chloe’s eyes lingered on his for a moment longer, her breath faint and visible in the cold. Her lips were still parted slightly, as if unsure what to say next or how to explain what she had done.

However, before she could think of it, she noticed how Gray’s gaze dipped to her lips once more.

Then, he leaned in again, quicker this time.

Their mouths met once more, deeper than before.

Chloe tilted her head slightly, welcoming it. Her fingers rested lightly on his chest to support herself. The cold air around them was all but forgotten now, replaced by the quiet heat building in their bodies.

The kiss was slow, deliberate.

Gray could taste the sweetness of Chloe’s breath on his tongue as his mouth moved over hers.

Chloe felt the softness of his lips, the warmth of his mouth. She could feel her heart beating in her chest.

She wanted more.

Chloe also began moving her lips, responding to the way Gray moved. He didn’t seem inexperienced. Instead, Gray moved as if he knew what he was doing.

Gray placed his hand on Chloe’s back, drawing her closer. The other reached up and tangled in her hair. He pressed more into the kiss.

Chloe gasped slightly.

He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, brushing it against hers.

It was Chloe’s turn to be surprised, but she welcomed it. She moaned quietly and pressed closer to him. Her tongue moved tentatively.

Gray could feel the softness of her chest through his coat, and the heat from her body.

Their tongues moved against each other, exploring and caressing.

Chloe pulled away first, panting lightly. Her face was flushed.

She looked at Gray. His eyes were still closed, his lips parted slightly. He opened his eyes to meet her gaze.

They both stood there for a moment. Neither said anything.

Then they both laughed. A quiet and awkward laugh—the kind that happened when something unexpected felt too good to question.

They didn’t say anything else about it.

There was no need, and they also knew it would be awkward if they brought up what happened.

Instead, they slowly skated back to the edge of the rink together, side by side. They were still a little quiet, still a little unsure of what to do after their kiss.

After changing out of their skates and boots, a black car was parked neatly just outside the glass doors.

”I guess it’s time for us to go home,” she said with a small grin. She placed her bag on her shoulder and turned to him.

”Yeah,” Gray nodded, his hands tucked into his coat pockets.

Chloe glanced at him one last time. There was a certain look in her eyes. They looked playful, a little warm.

With one last smile, the two of them left the building. Silence lingered between the two of them.

Chloe’s car had already pulled up by the front of the door, her driver stepping out to open the back door for her. However, instead of going in, she stood still for a few more seconds. Gray was just a few steps from her.

”I guess this is it,” she said, offering him a small smile.

Gray nodded and smiled back at her.

”Yeah. It’s getting late.”

There was a slight silence that followed, like neither of them wanted to walk away first.

”Thanks for today, Gray,” she uttered, her voice low and almost breathless. ”For coming. And for everything.”

”It was a nice day, Chloe,” Gray looked at her, meeting her eyes.

”Thanks for dragging me out,” he replied with a soft smile. ”I needed that.”

Chloe smiled back, her eyes holding something unspoken.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward her car. The driver guided her as she slipped inside. Before the car pulled away, she leaned slightly against the window and gave him one last glance through the glass.

Gray raised a hand in a small wave.

The car moved into the street and slowly disappeared into the flow of traffic.

Once he was alone, Gray let out a breath.

He stood there for another moment, letting the cold air clear his thoughts before he finally turned and walked toward Daniel, who was waiting quietly nearby.

Without a word, he opened the door and climbed into the backseat. Daniel glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

”All good, sir?”

Gray leaned back into the seat and looked out the window. ”Yeah. All good.”

Daniel started the engine, and they drove off just like Chloe.

The ride back to his condo was quiet.

Gray leaned against the car window, watching the passing streetlights blur past them. Daniel said nothing from the driver’s seat, respecting the silence since it looked like Gray was tired.

But Gray wasn’t tired. His thoughts were just everywhere.

The kiss—they’d kissed.

Not just once, but twice.

He still wasn’t sure how it happened. One moment, they were laughing in the middle of a private skating rink. The next thing he knew was that Chloe was kissing him.

And then he kissed her back.

He could still feel the taste of her lip balm, the brush of her fingers on his chest, the soft gasp when he pulled her closer.

Gray exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t regret it. Not at all. It was just unexpected.

When they finally arrived at Rosewood Residences, Gray gave Daniel a small nod.

”Thanks for the ride,” he muttered as he stepped out of the car.

Daniel nodded back. ”Good night, Mr. Adams.”

”Night.”

The lobby of the condo was warm and quiet, lit with soft yellow light and scented faintly with floral scent. Gray walked across it, nodding absently at the receptionist before heading toward his floor’s elevator.

He tapped in his card access and stepped inside. The door was open for a second more, before it started to close.

Then—

”Wait!”

A woman’s voice rang out.

Gray instinctively pressed the open button.

Just when the door opened again, a woman slipped inside.

’Isn’t she...’ Gray frowned.

The woman let out a sigh, brushing her hair behind her ear. She wore a long dark coat and a casual black turtleneck underneath, with a leather bag slung over one shoulder. She hadn’t noticed him yet.

Then she turned her head—and froze.

Their eyes met.

”...Oh.” The woman blinked, surprised. ”Gray?”

It was Selina.