Burning Passion

CHAPTER 247: RIVAL

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After ordering lattes to-go. They now headed to where the giant Christmas tree stands majestically. 

Steven carrying a camera around his neck; he asks someone to take a photo of them with the Christmas tree in the background. 

Once more, Steven requested that he and Nina be together in a photo. Nina forces herself to smile genuinely, but she froze when Steven's arm rested around her shoulder, which made this posture romantic.

Feeling a little awkward after... Nina shrugs the thought and pretends it was nothing. Although it displeased her, it's not appropriate if she will show her anger. After then, she asks Greg and Steven she and Jessica will go shopping alone. She will buy gifts for everyone, and it will not surprise any longer if they see what gift she gets for each of them. 

Nina studied the clothes displayed in the window when a soft voice spoke.

"Nina?" 

"Sarah!" 

The two of them hugged each other and started talking. Nina finds out that Sarah was assigned to help and to learn to organize a Charity Ball the Queen hosted this year.

"Come to the Charity Ball! I will send someone to bring over the invitation to your house," said Sarah. She observes Nina's expression. This girl is not so fun at parties. It worries her Nina might turn down her invitation, Sarah added. "You have nothing to do, right? So let's have fun!" 

Nina thinks it's not bad if she attends the ball. "Sarah, Steven is here!" Nina told the girl.

Sarah was delighted at what she heard. Dramatically, her eyes widened and filled with excitement. "Really!?"

Not long after, they spotted Steven and Greg walking toward them. 

"Hey, Steven! It's been a while!" Sarah turned her attention to the guy, and she then starts chatting with him about the Charity ball. 

"I'm cool! I could accompany Nina to that Ball!" 

"You need not to... I will pick up Nina," said a person who shows up behind them.

Their eyes fixed on a man wearing black suits, black pants, and black leather shoes. Around his body is a gray coat. Nina thinks that he is more look like a lawyer now. She beamed at Albert.

"Hey, brother! When did you arrive?" Sarah walked toward her brother and stood between Steven and Albert who shoot an intent glare at each other. 

Tension suddenly set up between the two men. Steven and Albert keep staring at each other and seemed no one withdrew a gaze. 

Seeing Albert show up out of the blue, Steven couldn't keep his posture. Even though the last time they were on good terms. But he is not stupid to not perceives that Albert won't give up Nina yet. 

As for Albert, who thought the same. He was too excited to fly to London to see Nina. They have no proper talk last time they separated as he just left without words but bitterness when Nina rejected his proposal. 

Greg, who also feels the pressure, tried to cough several times. In a few attempts, it was Steven who grinned and greeted Albert. 

"Hey. What's up, man?" 

Albert, who remains in a formal temperament, nodded and replied, "Hey. Are you alone? Where's Harry?" 

Throughout time, Albert sometimes weighs things about why Nina rejected him. Sometimes he would think it was Harry Nina who liked the reason she dumped not only him but also Steven. But where is that guy?

Albert glanced at Nina, and he caught the flash of sadness in her eyes, but she was quick to hide it. 

'Something happened?' Albert thought to himself and waited for a reply. 

Gaping at Nina, Albert turned his head and fixes his eyes on Steven, who pushes a mocking smile at him. 

"My brother spent time with his girlfriend, so I came alone," Steven's response. 

Surprised at first, it delighted Albert to hear this news. But not when Steven added. 

"So, you are getting married? That's good then!" Steven did not hide his pleasure. 

Albert frowned, he said. "And where did you hear that false news?" 

Greg, who was only listening, swallowed the lump in his throat and cough, pretending to look at the Christmas tree.

Immediately, Sarah cuts the conversation that seemed would be heated at any moment. She quickly thinks of other things to divert their attention. 

"How about we continue chatting over dinner? Have you had your dinner, Nina?" Sarah was like pleading at Nina in secret.

Nina sensing the resentment between Steven and Albert, she agreed to Sarah's idea. "No. We haven't yet. Let's find a nice restaurant, then? How about a barbecue?" 

"I know one, dear cousin!" Greg, who replied quickly, did not delay anything before these two men barking at each other. 

"Let's go then, Sarah! Jessica?" Nina holds each of their arms and drags the two girls toward Greg's car.

Left behind, it forces Steven and Albert to follow them silently. As on their way toward the street where the car parked. The girls enthusiastically appreciate the colorful lights that hang in every street and trees around London downtown. The stores are also well decorated with these lights that catch more attention to check out inside. 

"Oh, my gosh! That was cute!" 

The girls stop in a window to check out a cute green cocktail dress worn by the mannequin. 

"Do you girls want to eat or go shopping instead?" Greg commented on them. He, Steven, and Albert turned around when they feel the girls left behind... just to found them looking at every window store display.

"We'll go to eat first and shop after!" It was Sarah who replied where Nina concurred. 

The grill restaurant is close to the ocean. The people they passed by recognizing Sarah and Albert. They greeted the siblings. And once they entered the restaurant, they accommodated them right away. The table that is given to them is upstairs, near a window glass that could view the night sky and the ocean below this restaurant. 

For a quick look, they were like three couples on a group date. Since Sarah is talking to Steven all along, they end up seated together on a love seat, which across them is Albert and Nina. On the couch that faces the floor-ceiling window, Jessica sat next to Nina and Greg next to Steven. 

Frequently glancing in Nina's direction, Steven is restless that Nina ends up sharing a love seat with Albert. But he is not completely shameless who would throw a tantrum at Albert and to say he was supposed to sit next to Nina. He sighed furiously in silence.

While waiting for their orders to serve, the girls appreciate the moonshine reflected on the ocean. It has dramatic scenery when waves playfully race who reaches the shore first. 

"Why haven't we tried here before, Greg?" Nina asked her cousin. Her aunt Annie has been touring her around, but they never brought her to this part of London. 

"Well, you never ask before that you like barbecue. So, it's the last place in Mama's mind to bring you here." 

Nina ponders for a moment; she concurred that probably that's the case. After fifteen minutes that they were seated there, their orders finally served. The food they ordered included crabs, prawn, and mushroom-corn soup, and various desserts.

Nina got excited to try everything on the table. At first, Albert and Steven shoot a glare or grin at each other. But seeing Nina eating full of appetite, they stopped being jerks and tried to behave, eating quietly. 

However, they thought things would go smoothly. Albert and Steven compete by offering food to Nina. When Steven placed a prawn on her plate, Albert offered the crab. 

Can't take what was going on. Sarah couldn't help but snapped the two guys. "Enough, okay? Let Nina eat peacefully!" 

Nina gives Sarah a "Thank You" gaze for saving her from the tension Steven and Albert put on. 

Albert truly is not in the mood after he sees Steven with Nina. Obviously, the reason he is here is to spend Christmas with Nina. After he heard about the Charity Ball, he quickly cleared out his royal duties to follow Sarah in England. He plans to invite Nina as his date to that Ball. But his rival is here. 

Meanwhile, Steven's thoughts are preoccupied with something. Just this afternoon he was extremely happy after he learned from Greg that Albert is in search of a suitable wife among the qualified women in royal circles.

Seeing Albert popping out of nowhere, resentful crawled out his chest. But he has to calm down not to disappoint Nina. He was afraid she would attempt to end their friendship again. Almost it happened after he kissed her in the airport. Nina ignores his letters. 

He flew to England that summer to apologize, and then what happened next is a huge mistake when he and Albert brawled in front of Nina.

Coming here to England is a careful move. He wants to win Nina's affection, so he slowly clears the path for his success. But then, Albert hasn't given up yet.

"Um… the dessert is delicious!" Nina praises the dish while putting another spoon in her mouth. "Try it, Steven!" A sweet smile tore across Nina's face. 

Steven froze a moment, as Nina's smile fascinated him. When Nina gives him a Cupcake-Jemma. Steven accepts it with pleasure. He even glanced at Albert, boastfully gaping at him. 

But later, Nina also gives one to Albert and next to Greg, who conceals his amusement for the entire scene. These men are competing to win his cousin's heart. 

'May the best man win!' Greg's thoughts. He then thanks Nina and leisurely savoring the enticing dessert into his tongue. 

Meanwhile, Albert and Steven silently eat the dessert while the girls keep talking. 

After the delicious dinner, the girls resume shopping, and after almost two hours. They separate ways to rest early, as they will visit a salon the next day to freshen up for the Charity Ball. 

Including Albert, Steven and Greg shake heads thinking about how women have so many routines preparing for a party.