Chapter 2

NINA FEELS A little okay when they arrived at the clinic, she was immediately greeted by her assistant and one of the vets of the clinic. Darby's smile was so sweet while Soleil and Argus just followed her.

"He's been waiting here for a few hours now, ma'am. I feel sorry for him so I just let him inside your office and wait there." Darby whispered while they headed to her office. "He also had someone with him before but he seemed bored so he left immediately."

"What's their name? Do I know them?" She asked.

"It feels like he doesn't want to introduce himself, we've talked about a lot of things but he still doesn't say who he is. And I think, you don't know him either, ma'am."

They were both shocked to see Argus walk ahead and opened the door for them.

Darby seemed to shudder at what he did. "Always the gentleman. That's so sweet of you, Argus."

Nina just chuckled and was the first to enter her office. She saw a man who looked her age, he had black curly hair and green eyes. Even just sitting, he looks already tall too with a broad shoulder and perfect jawbone. At first look, he looked ruthless and dangerous with his grim lips and arched brows. But when he saw me, he immediately stood up and smiled.

"This is ma'am Nina Gabriel, she's the one you've been waiting for, sir. She's a vet and the owner of this clinic." Darby said.

She's about to ask Darby about their tea but the guy declines. Darby smiled at them before she got out. After Nina told Argus and Soleil to just wait for her in the lounge, she gazes at the man she had noticed staring intently at her.

"Hmm, good evening, sir! I'm sorry if you waited long." I offered him an apologetic smile as I quickly removed my coat and hung it on my swivel chair then faced him because I don't want to waste his time anymore.

"Can we now take a look at your dog, sir?"

"Take your time but if you want, we still can talk. Truth is, I have all the time in the world."

She just raised her eyebrow weirdly, she can't tell if he's serious and flirting with her or he's just crazy. She suddenly felt uncomfortable because he kept staring at her. Her eyes dropped to the dog sitting next to him. It's strange for a breed like his dog to behave and just stay silent beside him.

They came out of her office and she started checking his dog. She is amazed at how gentle and obedient the dog is, a well-behaved dog is what she needed right now.

"There's nothing wrong with your dog, Mister—"

"Call me Titus." Then his smile grew bigger. "Titus Asa!"

Nina cleared her throat, he was giving her that psycho vibe. Like those thriller movies she watched.

"Mister Asa—"

"Just Titus." He cut her off again. "And please check her properly, I know there's something wrong with her. I can feel it inside my bones."

She raised an eyebrow, suppressing herself from smiling.

"Honestly, with her breed and age, her leniency is amazing." She stroked the dog's head. "But there's no problem with her, Mister Asa—"

"Just Titus. Titus!"

She ignored him. "She's lively and healthy even if she's quiet."

"Maybe she's pregnant."

"Mister Asa, she's still a puppy." She raised an eyebrow at him, staring hard. "Are you sure this is your dog?"

"Of course, I have proof if you want. Though she still doesn't have a name. But I actually want to call her Rosemarie..." Then he intentionally paused and stared at her like he was observing her reaction.

"That's a nice name." She agrees.

"Of course, but a friend of mine doesn't want me to use that name because it's really special and meaningful for him. How about you? Can I call you Nina?"

"If that makes you comfortable then it's your choice, Mister Asa."

"Then calling me Titus makes you uncomfortable?"

Nina blink, she's speechless and doesn't know what to say. Titus Asa acts like he really knew her well.

NINA LOOKED UP when Argus entered her office. She was busy with paperwork that needed her review and signature because she needed that to finish before the party this coming weekend so she instructed Soleil not to let anyone in and the man also knew that so it seemed important what he would say to her.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you, Nina but it's about Diether's mistress.

When he uttered her fiance's name there was full of disgust. She continued what she was doing and just ignored what she noticed.

"What about her?" She asked uninterestedly.

"We already got her. My men are also ready to torture her and if you want to talk to her just say so. We're just waiting for your order, Nina."

Slowly she stopped and thought about it. Nina is greedy for revenge, she may not be the type of person who holds a grudge towards other people but she can't let Diether do those things behind her back and play with her feelings without suffering. She's no fool.

"I will face her after the party but please don't hurt her, Argus. I don't want her to have any wounds or scars on her body, especially her face. Please take good care of her."

"Why would you do that? She hurt you."

She smiled at him. As she said, she doesn't care about Diether or how many women he will bed. But she also wouldn't just sit on the corner while being betrayed and laughed at. Once she gets what she wants she will let them do whatever they want.

"Argus, how else can I use her if she's full of wounds and miserable? This is not the time for her to suffer because we can still use her to our advantage."

He looked at her with a confused face but nodded anyway. "If that's what you want, Nina. I will go now, call me if you need anything or if there's something wrong."

He was about to leave when she remembered something so she immediately called him back.

"I want you to find all about Hawthorne Salvatrix."

"Hawthorne Salvatrix?"

"Yeah! All about him, Argus. Everything about him." She smiled a little at him when she noticed the suspicion and confusion on his handsome face.

Argus owns a pair of beautiful blue eyes that really matches his straight nose and narrow lips

"I just want to make sure. I don't want to embarrass my father."

But is that the reason?

From the moment she heard that name, it was as if something warm was embracing her heart and she became even more eager to know all about him. To see him. And she didn’t know why she felt that way.

HAWTHORNE SILENTLY CURSED when he felt Constantine's presence in the hotel suite where he was staying. He was getting ready to attend the party prepared by the Gabriels that night. He's in front of the mirror while adjusting his necktie.

"Our young man looks ready for his date. Are you nervous?" He teases and he could see him sitting at the bar drinking some alcohol there as if he invited him.

He's already annoyed fixing his necktie and the man who he never wants to see again was there, annoying him more. For hundreds of years, only now will he attend a party again. Nervous? Yes, he is. So nervous that he wants to kill the man annoying him at that moment.

"I still have a condom left here, I know you won't be able to stop yourself when you see her. And don't worry, I will never disturb you."

Because he can't fix his necktie properly and was also very annoyed, he pulled it and just threw it somewhere. He also removed the two buttons of his polo shirt to somehow calm himself and then put on his gray coat.

"Aren't we looking dignified now eh? Trying to be kind?"

"Shut the fxxk up!"

"Oh! I heard that she's getting married soon. Act fast, Hawthorne Salvatrix. You might have to wait another thousand years to see her again."

He shot him a deadly look. "I will just do this not because I already trust you. I'm doing this to make sure that she is my Rosemarie."

"She is. No doubt about that." He still insisted then frowned. "Why can't everyone trust me? I'm changing my life."

"Why don't you ask that to yourself, Constantine." He spite, pick up his car keys and headed to the door.

"Hey, Constantine freaking amazing Wilderheist, why can't everyone trust you?"

Hawthorne even heard Constantine ask that to himself.

Fxxking axxhole!

AS NINA LOOKED around at the venue of the party, she had a proud smile on her face. She was satisfied with the outcome of the preparation. As expected, it was attended by rich, powerful, and influential people.

There's an orchestra playing soothing music that just wants you to lay down on your bed and sleep peacefully. The ambiance is very calming and lets you forget about your worries. She saw her parents talking to the other guests. She turned to Soleil who was standing quietly by her side.

"Where's Argus? I haven't seen him before. He didn't bring us here either."

"He went through something important, miss Nina but he assured me that he would get here too."

She's not comfortable when Soleil or Argus or any one of them is not around. She felt like she was leaning too much on them. She is so used to them that she trusts them with everything.

Smiling, she approached her parents and she was already expecting that they would never praise her for preparing this grand party. She is used to it. She can't remember, not even once that they praised her. Even in her school achievements or even in a simple thing.

For them, those things are just nothing so she never expected anything from them anymore.

"What about Hawthorne Salvatrix? Did you do what I asked you to do?" Instead, that is how her father approaches her.

She clenched her fists but she still tried to be calm and okay in front of them.

His father's face darkened, his gaze hovered over her with full of disappointment. "No, isn't it? What a disappointment—"

"Sir Gabriel, Argus already knows everything about Hawthorne Salvatrix. He'll be coming later." Soleil interferes which made my father get mad even more.

"You fool, who gave you permission to talk to me and interfere with our affairs?"

"Honey," mommy stopped him and held his arm while looking around as if she was afraid that others would hear us.

"That's enough, guests might hear us."

Soleil immediately looked down, Nina also blocked her to get her father's attention.

"You also know the Lexington can't come. I told you already to fix whatever issues you have with Diether, haven't I?"

Nina didn't even flinch when her father shouted at her.

"Don't worry, dad. I'm fixing our relationship already. I will make sure that our misunderstandings will be okay soon. Just give me time." She looked down too as she said those, the expression on her face was cold but there was a smile on her lips.

"Just make sure that whatever you and Diether's differences, you can fix it right away. You're the woman, you're the one who should be humble and doesn't be too proud. Don't disappoint me again, Nina Celestine. You two are about to get married soon."

She only answered him with a nod because her parents had already left her when new guests had arrived.

"Sorry, miss Nina." Soleil immediately apologized, unable to look at her.

"It's not your fault, Soleil. Just promise me next time you won't do that again. You know dad, you know how angry he can be."

AS THE NIGHT was getting darker, Nina was feeling bored but she could only leave the place once it was over. She already had a few glasses of wine but that didn't help her either. It just made her more sleepy.

To every visitor who approached her, she would just smile and also talk even if it was against her will. That was the price for being one of the Gabriels, the sole heiress of all their wealth. Might as well get used to it now, she always reminds herself.

"Miss Nina, will you be okay here? I'll just wait for Argus at the entrance."

"Don't mind me, Soleil. Just see if Argus is already there. I don't want to go home while daddy is still mad at me."

She just nodded before she finally left her there. She's all alone at her table. There were no guests her age. And she understands the children of these rich people if they don't want to attend that party. But for her, she doesn't have any choice.

She restrained herself from yawning as she moved her eyes to the entrance of the veranda. A man was standing there, holding a champagne glass while staring at her.

Her ears became hot and she could no longer take her eyes off him. It felt like his eyes were hypnotizing her whole existence. He's tall too, no doubt about that. He also has that aura that makes him more mysterious. He's scary, his stares terrified her. It's like a stare of a predator to its prey.

In Nina's whole life, for the first time, her chest throbbed as she stared at him. She didn't even feel that way with any man, especially Diether. Only to this man who is staring at her.

She just lost her attention at him when the lights suddenly flickered. Everyone stood up, the room fell silent, and when the power went out, there was a commotion.

She held her chest as she felt it difficult to breathe. She also felt the same way when she, Argus, and Soleil almost had an accident on their way to the clinic. She held tightly to the table when the pain got worse, she had difficulty breathing. And worst, she could not see anything around her.

"So-Soleil— Ah... A-Argus." She tried to scream but she was too weak.

Slowly she fell to the floor and no matter how much she tried to fight she was still weak. She burst into tears, her entire system was completely covered by fear because of the lightning and thunder. She was deafened by the screams of guests but what frightened her more was the rain and the faint glimmer of their surroundings due to the lightning.

"M-Mom..." She said breathily. "Dad-D-Daddy."

She crawled, trying to get out of there as well because the guests were already running towards the exit.

She gasped when she saw the man earlier, walking in her direction. Her lips parted, she tried to shout but no voice came out of her mouth. He got closer and closer to her and her fear of him increased even more because of the lightning.

When he got close to her, she tried to push him away but he lifted her before the champagne glasses fell on her.

WHEN THE LIGHT came back, Nina was already lying on a sofa while Argus was trying to wake her up. Just as Soleil stroked her hair with concern, she could also see the fear on his face.

She looked around but there were no people there except them. Only broken glasses, chairs, and tables scattered everywhere and curtains on the floor.

"Wha-What happened? Where is that man?"

"Which man, Miss Nina? You're the only one we saw here. Did you get hurt? Did something bad happen to you? I shouldn't have left, I shouldn't have just left you. I'm sorry, miss Nina." She cried, full of remorse.

It's still raining outside but unlike earlier, the sky is calm. She feels okay too as if nothing happened.

"I'm sorry, Nina." Argus also apologized, seemingly blaming himself for what happened.

"The guy who helped me..." She whispered, she was so confused and a bit regretful.