Chapter 365: Extraordinarily Incredible
The ride ho was quiet at first. The city lights slipped past the car windows in long, soft streaks.
The music from the club still rang faintly in Genevieve’s ears, but inside the car, everything felt calr. The bass and laughter was gone. It was just the hum of the engine and the sound of Stefan’s steady breathing beside her.
Stefan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely near the gear. He glanced at Genevieve once, then again.
"So," he said gently, breaking the silence, "how do you feel?"
She turned her head to look at him. "About what?"
"About tonight," he replied. "About hanging out with everyone."
Genevieve leaned back in her seat and was silent for a mont as she watched the road ahead through the windshield. "It was fun," she said after a mont.
Stefan nodded, but his brows pulled together slightly. "Was it?"
She looked at him again. "What do you an?"
"What’s in your head? You’ve been quiet," he said. "And you’ve been frowning for a while now. Right here." He lifted one finger briefly from the wheel and touched between her brows. "I’ve noticed you do that when sothing’s bothering you."
Genevieve pressed her lips together. She hadn’t even realised she was frowning.
She hesitated. "There was... a little incident in the restroom at the club," she said slowly.
Stefan’s body tensed at once. He glanced at her, his jaw tightening. "With Dawn?"
She shook her head imdiately. "No. No, not at all," she said quickly. "Actually, Dawn ca in to save ."
He frowned. "Save you from who? What happened?"
She took a deep breath and told him about the won who followed her. About the way they had looked at her, talked to her, and judged her. About the way her voice had refused to co out. And how Dawn boldly stepped in front of her without hesitation.
As Genevieve spoke, Stefan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. His knuckles turned white.
When she finished, the car was quiet again.
Stefan let out a slow breath. "Dawn was right. You shouldn’t have let them talk to you in that manner."
Genevieve nodded. "I know. But she was also right when she said I put myself out there. People wouldn’t judge what they don’t know about."
"That doesn’t an any of them had the right to talk to you that way," he said firmly.
Genevieve sighed softly but didn’t say anything.
"The opinion of people like that don’t matter. Don’t take it to heart," he added.
She gave a small, tired smile. "I’m trying not to."
He glanced at her again. "Is that what’s bothering you?"
She shook her head slightly. "Not just that."
"Then what?"
She stared out of the window this ti. The streetlights reflected in her blue eyes.
"What got to
most," she said quietly, "was that Dawn defended ."
Stefan’s lips curved into a small smile. "Why would that get to you?"
"Because," Genevieve said, her voice low, "after everything I did to her... she didn’t hesitate. She didn’t stand back and let them talk. She stepped in front of
and acted like she was my big sister." Her throat tightened. "How can anyone be that good?"
Stefan reached out and rested his hand over hers. His touch was warm, grounding.
"I’m glad she did," he said. "And I’m even happier that she’s happy you’re not leaving."
Genevieve smiled at that. "Her reaction to that ca as a surprise to ."
"Why."
She shrugged. "I thought she wanted
away from here."
He smiled softly. "That’s why it’s good to ask direct questions instead of building stories in our heads. You wouldn’t have known how she truly felt if you hadn’t asked her. Sotis we jump to conclusions and assu the worst."
She exhaled slowly. "Yeah. I guess you’re right."
They drove on for a bit. The silence this ti felt lighter.
Genevieve shifted in her seat. "So, can I ask you sothing?"
"Sure. Anything."
"How did you feel tonight?" she asked. "Being with Jamal and his friends."
Stefan chuckled. "What do you an?"
She shrugged. "Everyone else seed connected. Childhood friends. Family friends. People who grew up together."
He nodded. "And?"
"Did you feel out of place hanging out with your boss and his friends?" she asked hesitantly.
He laughed this ti, a genuinely amused sound. "I don’t see Jamal as my boss."
She raised a brow. "You don’t?"
"No," he said easily. "I see him more as a brother and a friend than a boss."
"Do you think he sees you that way, too? I’m not asking to cause any trouble. I just want to understand the dynamics of your relationship with them," she rushed to explain so as not to be misunderstood.
Stefan smiled, "Not at first. We were always this way." He shook his head. "When I started working with him, it was rough. He thought I was there to spy on him and report to his grandfather."
She raised a brow. "Why would he think that?"
"His grandfather trained
through school and offered
the job to be Jamal’s assistant long before I went to college. I’m not sure what the old man saw in , but I’ll forever be grateful."
Genevieve smiled faintly. "I see. But was he so bad that he’d need to hide from his grandfather?"
Stefan chuckled. "Not at all. He just didn’t like the idea that his every move might be reported to his family. It took a while to earn his trust but eventually he got to understand that his grandfather didn’t bring
in to be a spy but to watch his back."
"That’s nice," she said. "I like the relationship between all of you. I enjoyed the playful banter and the gas."
He nodded then glanced at her. "Did you have a problem with
being the ordinary guy at the table unlike Jamal and Callan?"
Genevieve smiled at that. "Are you kidding ? There is nothing remotely ordinary about you. You’re the most extraordinarily incredible guy I know."
Stefan chuckled, "Really?"
"Really. Did you really think I’d feel any way about that?" She asked, and he shrugged.
"Well, you were asking those questions and I wanted to be clear," he explained.
"Now you are."
"Yeah."
They drove past a quiet stretch of road. Trees lined the sides. The night felt deep and still.
"Do you have friends outside this circle?" Genevieve asked after a mont.
"Yes," Stefan said. "My brothers from the orphanage. We still keep in touch."
Her chest tightened at the word. "Are they doing alright like you?"
"Yeah. Everyone is doing okay. We support each other to make sure no one is left behind," he explained.
She smiled. "Thats good ."
After a while, he glanced at her. "I’m very grateful for where I am now."
She nodded and smiled.
"I an literally. I’m grateful that I’m in this car right now with you," he said, certain that she didn’t get what he ant.
She giggled. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah. I really loved seeing you in that mood at the club."
She grinned. "It was good seeing you dance too, even though you are such a bad dancer."
Stefan laughed at that as he parked the car at the parking lot of the condo.
As they walked into the house, Genevieve headed for her room, but he caught her hand before she could walk go inside.
"I thought we agreed that you’d move into my room?" He asked, pulling her close.
She arched her brows as her lips curved in amusent. "Did we now?"
Stefan chuckled. "Didn’t we? I guess I had the conversation with you in my head. But I seem to rember you saying you wanted to spend the night on my bed," he reminded her.
"And I rember you giving
conditions..."
"Which you t and exceeded, and for that reason you’re rewarded with not just a night on my bed but a lifeti," he said with a wink and she giggled.
"I still need to freshen up..."
"I was thinking we could do so together after continuing our dance from where we stopped," he said with a grin.
Genevieve giggled, "I still need to get my stuff..."
"Your shower stuff is in my room already, and I don’t think you’d be needing clothes tonight," he said with a naughty smile and Genevieve laughed out loud.
"Have I told you I love you?" She asked, and Stefan shook his head.
"Never ever."
"Liar," she said, laughing as he leaned forward to kiss her.
The kiss beca heated imdiately, and they ended up making love standing right here in the hallway.
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