Nicholas"How do I fucking fix this?" I was left standing at my office door after Eliana left. She threatened to leave home if I even attempted to follow her, so I had no choice but to give her time. I had called Daren and asked him to inform me when they got home. She wasn't supposed to get out of sight now that Nora had issued an indirect threat to our lives."Nick?" Reyna popped her head behind the office door."It is, sir, to you, Reyna. I thought I said I don't want to be disturbed." I ran my hand through my hair, leaning back on the chair boredly as she ignored me and walked in, swaying her hips. I would have fallen for her seductive walk had it been years ago, but I only had eyes for Ellie."I want to help you, sir." She dragged the title, tuning her voice in a questionable manner."With what?" I was seconds from kicking her out because my patience was running out."You don't deserve all these ladies who are dramatic and unsubmissive to you." I creased my forehead, wondering whe
ElianaI looked at the screen of my phone as it vibrated on the side table, an unknown number flashing. Since the update from Rob, I was sceptical of picking up any calls from unsaved numbers, thinking it might be my mother."Aren't you going to pick that up?" Nicholas asked, looking at the device. After seconds, I reluctantly answered, but the person on the other end didn't utter a word, and I was met with silence.Before I could hang up, though, a male cleared his throat, making me flash Nick a questionable look. For a moment, I thought that it was Dorian trying to play with me."Hello," I uttered, my patience running thin as I got ready to hang up when seconds ticked by."Hello beautiful, remember me?" I stilled, my grip on the phone tightening, when Gavin's voice filled my ear.I swallowed hard, then spoke. "What do you want?" I tried to play it cool by using a flat, nonchalant tone but it was breaking."Nothing really; I have been following the news, you know." I could guess he wa
Nicholas"We are minutes late to the meeting, Nicholas; hurry the fuck up." Allan's voice drifted inside my office as I stood staring at the sky, too deep in thought to even turn and look at him."I am the head of the company; the rest can wait," I dismissed, needing a moment to myself."This place reeks of alcohol, your hair looks unkempt, and your desk—god, your desk, Nick—is a whole mess." I kept my mouth clamped, thinking about my argument with Eliana, Reyna's unusual behaviour, and, of course, Gavin's warning."Where the hell is Reyna? She should tidy this place now." I had driven to the office earlier than usual, drunk as hell and in a daze after Eliana and I fought. The least I could do was get away from her and drive. I ended up trashing the office in a fit of rage, screaming my frustrations away but Allan didn't need to know that."Go get the meeting started; I'm coming." I wasn't up for any conversation, and every other word he uttered went unanswered until he just quietly ex
Eliana"You would be dead, forgotten, and buried." Nick's words replayed in my mind for the entire night. I wet my pillow with my tears until I had no more left to express the gnawing feeling inside my chest. By the time I got out of bed the next morning, my throat felt so dry and sore. I couldn't stand looking at my reflection in the mirror without gagging. My eyes were puffy, with dried tears visible on my red cheeks. My nose appeared swollen, and I struggled to breathe through the blocked nostrils."Honey, your tea is ready." Nanny's voice came after she knocked on the door. How she knew I had slept in the guestroom was beyond me, but I could really use some hot herbal tea."I'm coming," I replied in the strongest voice I could master. After taking a quick shower, I went downstairs with my phone in my hand. I looked at it severally, chastising myself for almost anticipating Nick's call or text message. His previous harsh words had sliced across my heart, and they continued to do so.
NicholasI paced inside my office, throwing glances at the photos splayed on the desk, along with files and papers. My phone was in my hand, my thumb hovering over the call button. For minutes, I had been going back and forth in my mind about whether to call Eliana or break the news to her when I got back home. The problem was that I didn't know where to start after the vile words we had exchanged. I knew it was cowardly of me, but I decided not to talk to her at that moment. "Instead of hiding and pacing in here, we should be looking for the inside person who dared work for Gavin while still under this company." Allan, like usual, trudged in, his right hand in his pocket."I think that Lilith's appearance yesterday, her cryptic words, and the photos are connected in some type of way," he added when I kept quiet, pondering over the issue."The photos had no message written on them. So what makes you think that Gavin has to do with it?" I asked, even though I knew deep down that there
ElianaI walked into an unfamiliar, classy restaurant, carrying a clutch bag containing my phone and a pepper spray inside just in case Gavin crossed boundaries. I ignored the sound of my heels as they came into contact with the slippery tiled floor, my eyes darting around the cool place in search of Gavin. I held my head high, even though I could literally feel my heart hammering. There was no time to rethink my decision because I reminded myself that I was doing it for Nicholas and for information concerning my mom."Eliana Robert?" A bald, bearded man dressed in a fitting black suit and black shades asked from behind, startling me a bit.Turning and stepping back to put a distance between us, I swallowed. "Who's asking?""Sir Gavin is waiting for you outside." He went straight to the point in a gruff manner, stepping aside to give me space to pass."Tell him to join me inside, as planned," I stressed in the last part, looking around for the table number he had given me. It was to my
NicholasI drove straight home without uttering a word to Allan or Reyna. My mind at that time had frozen in time for a bit while my voice box got stuck. My body felt weak and drained, but I still managed to head straight upstairs in search of Eliana. My calls to her the entire drive went unanswered, while the recording remained wrapped in a brain freeze. I searched every single room, but there wasn't a single sign of her."Nanny," I called her as I descended the stairs, my brain beginning to function as the reality of Eliana's absence began taking over. I wanted so much to believe that Gavin had used technology to fool me into thinking that it was her voice or that she had been manipulated."I didn't see you come in; is everything okay, sir?" Nanny responded at the bottom of the staircase as I walked down, looking at my dishevelled hair."Where's Eliana?" I frantically looked around the living room, crossing my fingers together."She woke up with the flu, so she left for a checkup wi
ElianaI walked out of the house, wincing, when a piercing pain crossed my chest. Nicholas was following me outside the house as I wheeled my small suitcase, begging me to at least turn back and look at him. I knew the longer I stayed there, the more his words would stop me from going on with my plan."Please don't do this to me, baby," he said, his trembling, weak voice drawing instant tears that blurred my vision."I love you, Eliana, so so much that it fucking hurts." The last part came out as a whisper that prompted more tears out of my eyes.Sniffing again, I whispered, "fix it.""But you don't have to leave. We'll find a way around this, and even if Gavin leaks the photos, we will have each other." He stood in front of me, blocking my way. I could have sidestepped him, but my feet felt heavy the moment I glanced into his eyes. They reflected a swirl of emotions that glued me to the ground."What about my dignity? Do you want it to go down the drain just like that?" Deep down, I