CHAPTER 10

Nathan's POV 

Oh fuck, there seems to be something fundamentally wrong with me. I hope my aunt wasn't right when she labeled me a harbinger of bad luck and disaster years ago, after my mom's death. Everything, even the universe, seems to be against me. I don't have peace within me; I always have this fear of the unknown.

A wave of guilt weighed on me. It seems to me that I'm the architect of my own misery. I should have navigated life with more prudence and grace.

Oh damn, I miss mom. London offers no solace—no love or warmth; everything just seemed off, like I just popped up in the middle of nowhere. Even the one person I love, the one whose forgiveness I desperately seek, I continue to alienate with my careless words and actions.

"Should I just go back to Rome? If I go back, what would I do there?" I mused loudly. No one would want to associate with me, as everyone dreaded and avoided me like a plague.

"Well, let me just stay here. At least I'm a billionaire and highly respected here," I said loudly, rounding off my thoughts.

Reaching out for the cup of coffee placed on the table, I took a sip, which I immediately spat out. The taste was so vile that I started coughing vigorously. 

Furious, I grabbed the phone and summoned her, my voice laced with anger. However, I quickly reminded myself to curb my temper. The pain I inflicted upon her years ago is enough to last a lifetime; I shouldn’t add to it. She deserves some semblance of happiness and peace.

A gentle knock on the door drew me out of my thoughts. "Please come in,"  I said, adopting a more gentle and respectful tone. She came in, looking surprised and a bit lost, wondering if she heard me right. She must have known me as an asshole.

"You called for me, sir?" She inquiried.

"Yes, I did. I don't like the coffee you made; it's not creamy, not sweet enough, and it's cold. Please make another one for me, and this time ensure it is better," I said, managing a weak smile.

"Okay, sir,"  she said, smiling shyly. While walking out of the room, I appreciated her sexy and well-endowed body; she has some amazing features, and I could feel my dick jerk involuntarily.

"Oh damn! Even Catherine, my usual bedmate, doesn't make me feel this way," I muttered as I struggled to control my lustful urge.

Catherine is the girl I always fuck whenever I want to have sex. She is also pretty and sexy, and most importantly, she knows how to please me and satisfy my needs. We have been together for more than a year. We meet up at a hotel, have sex, and I pay her handsomely with no strings attached. Our relationship was a blend of physical satisfaction and professional detachment, as we remained mutually beneficial to each other.

She came back a few minutes later with the coffee and placed it on the table.

"I hope you like this, sir," she said with a smile, looking more cheerful than earlier.

"Okay, let's check it out,"  I said and sat up. I took the cup and sipped; it tasted nice and was better than the former.

He was feigning an expressionless face, as if the coffee was bad.

"How is it, sir?"  she asked anxiously. 

"Not bad," I said and smiled. I took another gulp.

"Thank goodness," she said, visibly relieved. 

I looked at her, and I could see a wave of relief washed over her face. She must have been worried and scared when I yelled at her earlier.

"Okay, sir, let me get back to work.”

"What is your name again?" 

"Judith, Judith Summers,"  she answered calmly.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you earlier. I was just going through some phases. Though I shouldn't have passed my aggression on to you, I would like you to be here early and perform your duties diligently, and then we wouldn't have a problem," I said without taking my eyes off her.

She looked at me, shocked, and seemed to lose her voice for a moment.