ERIKAThe voice of the man was too familiar to be mistaken. Erika could hear her heart race too fast, she couldn't believe it."Just wait and watch, Mr. Sterling. Now that I'm here, I'll take all that you own and run it like its mine," Nigel said, his real intentions seeping out of every word he said. But his words definitely felt like reassurance to the man sitting right across Nigel, unaware that his daughter was kept hidden right in front of him.Erika knew that if only she could talk to her father, Matthew Sterling, properly for once, he would understand her and take her back. She was his daughter after all, he had to forgive her for whatever she did."Oh son, I'm so happy I listened to you when I made my decision. Thanks for making me understand that my vile daughter was good for nothing. If I handed the responsibility to her, she'd have destroyed the legacy I built," Matthew Sterling said, no hint of guilt or regret in his voice. Erika watched Nigel smirk, knowing she could hear
NIGELRevenge was sweet. And bitter.He stood, watching Erika knees down on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. He felt nothing. It felt well deserved.And so were the things that he had planned to do. To take away everything Matthew Sterling had. And even though Erika thought she was a collateral damage, she had her own story. Nigel was tired, even though he knew the initial stages of him setting up his revenge would be slow but he had to remain steady, waiting till the fruit was ripe enough.For all these years he has waited, this wasn't too long. But it was draining. Nigel knew he was losing track of what he needed to do, this was the first time his perfectly set up plan was not in a straight line. Because of his own decisions, he was jeopardizing the main aim."Throw her out. Either you do that or you forget you are the CEO of my company," Matthew Sterling threatened him, drawing an ultimatum. And that should've been it. There was no way he could lose the CEO position he was given
ERIKA"You'll stay here from now on," he ordered, strict with his decision just like the eye he was giving her, "In my bedroom."That was enough to shake her world, disorient her brain for a long time till she was hit with a million questions, the answers to which she couldn't fine even if she looked hard into his eyes. He wore the kind of expression like he was forced to make this decision and like it was all her fault.But Erika knew her fate was in his hands, then why didn't he change it? Why did he choose to keep blaming her even though he could've avoided it?"I won't be here and neither will I let you do this!" She let out, the confusion turning into anger. "Bold of you to say that while being cuffed on my bed," he smirked as she tried to rattle the cuffs or slip her hand out but it was all in vain. She glared back at his smiling face and it was just infuriating. "We'll see if you can give me the look after you spend the whole night like this.""Why?" She asked when Nigel was s
ERIKA"You're coming with me, get dressed quick. And remember, no one can know about this, not even the servants. You can't tell anyone you will be living here as well," he said, picking up their hand as a warning. Erika was doomed already but this just took it to another level. Not only were they locked up together but now they needed to hide that fact for at least an hour or so."But- okay," she nodded, knowing asking that question would lead her nowhere. It was better to just let it be. Then he called someone and arranged a drop off of clothes outside his bedroom not to not expose Erika who was inside with him too. "Freshen up and get dressed, quick," he commanded."How?" Erika said, starting to panic as she raised his hand to remind him of the cuffs. He sighed loudly with realisation and started pulling her to the washroom."I am not looking, be quick," he commanded like it was so easy. Erika froze, the new clothes in her hand. She stood in front of the mirror, freshening up as q
ERIKAShe took a little bit of chocolate on her finger and smeared it on his cheek. Then, all at once, she leaned in and kissed it off his cheek. It happened so fast that she didn't even have enough time to process it. She only wanted to disgust them and what could be more disgusting than open PDA. That's what she went for.Nigel froze when he realised and not in the nicest ways, in a more unpredictable way that was scarier. Mr. and Mrs. Rossi's smiles faded. Erika had done the damage."You're just so sweet, I couldn't resist," Erika said, giggling, no way to hide the fear in her voice. That's when Nigel's hand that was cuffed with Erika's, slipped into her hand. His locked hand grabbed her locked hand and he squeezed it till she winced and he smiled at her pleasingly. He wanted to make her stop immediately but she was gone too far to stop. He knew he had to make up for it so he turned to the Rossi's to diffuse their confusion."She's just trying to get this meeting over as soon as po
ERIKA"W-what?""I can help you get what you want and I need you alive for this," he said, his expression mysterious but giving way to one more hopeless effort. Or was it? She didn't even know him and yet he was looking at her like he knew a lot about her. That was suspicious but it was also unnerving, making her feel like she was finally calming down.Erika was saved from making a decision that would stop all of these issues forever but just before that, a new way appeared itself in front of her. She really didn't know how to even believe that."I don't understand, who are you? What issues do you think I have?""Really, Ms. Erika? I wouldn't expect a woman almost committing suicide to ask me that question. As I said, I am here to help you get out of here and get a new beginning," He said, as if it was that easy, like her issues were only exaggerated by her. But then he paused for a moment and looked up as if remembering something. "Oh, I didn't introduce myself. I am Metin Divit, Mr.
ERIKAHer eyes opened to the bright sun pooling in from the window. She stretched a little and sat up, looking around to see she was alone in that room. Erika took a deep breath and freshened up, preparing herself already to be locked up in that room until afternoon when she would actually slip out and meet Metin.She was just about to change when she noticed a note set on the bedside table and she picked it up."Go back to the room you used to live in, you can't enter my bedroom anymore. You'll continue working as a servant," the note said and it was clearly written by Nigel. Even though that was for the best but she was confused. What could've happened last night after she slept that had brought a complete 180 in his decision? Why would he send her away out of nowhere?But this made Erika's job easier, she wouldn't have to sneak out anymore. A little enthusiastically, she put on her uniform and left the room once and for all, leaving to start her shift. She ran and finally reached t
ERIKA"Is this..?""Yes," Metin nodded, confirming her fears. "He's going to trick your father into signing 100% of the company rights and transfer it to himself. Not just that, Mr. Matthew will also lose all his money. Nigel Asher is planning something truly unfathomable. And once he does it, it's over."Erika's mouth dropped open and she felt warm all of a sudden, the kind that made her sweat. Her head almost hurt with the spiralling thoughts, he was about to destroy her whole lineage and her dad's empire that he built for decades. She just couldn't take that information in without freaking out."No.. he can't do that..""That was his plan all along. But I feel like there's still enough time to stop him as he wants to increase the value of the company as much as he could before taking over it wrongfully. And we.. have to stop it. Do you understand what I am saying?" Metin asked and she nodded instantly. This just proved she needed Metin's help more than she realised and could finally
ERIKA"I genuinely loved you then, when I didn't know what it was like to have you so it was never about the chase that I would find someone else now that I know what it is like to have you. When I saw you, I knew you were the one even if I ignored it for as long as I could. I have no doubts that this feeling wouldn't change. You're quite literally the drug I am addicted to.""Well," she stepped closer to him as her hands snaked up his neck and coiled it till it was tight enough and wrapped him deeply into a hug. "That makes the two of us."The rest of the night was as peaceful as all of them Erika and Nigel had spent together because it never felt enough as it was just as easy going and soothing as ever. It felt like to her that everything was finally okay. Who knew what might happen to them next or what the future held for them. All she knew was that, it was truly one of a kind.~And that was all it took for everything to fall back into place with everything they wished for. The ne
ERIKAShe asked, knowing she was voicing his concerns as well because they never really ended up talking about it to the point that there was no room for confusion. "We love each other and in the world's eye we are dating. So.. we can just do that in real life too, right?" Nigel asked because he was not sure where she was getting at even if it was complex."But.. are you sure that will be the right move? We are still new in understanding the feelings we have for each other, we didn't even have enough time to spend with each other and really know the kind of people we really are because we have no time, are you sure we are ready to take the next step? Especially when I'm moving away to Paris?" She asked and even if the questions were very hard hitting, she had put them forward without contemplating. People spoke a lot about how things get serious and more real after the so called honeymoon phase of a relationship gets over. And if they needed to draw the estimate, she could tell that s
ERIKA"Just because I told you not to do something, it's not an order. It's not a command but a suggestion, a logical something I'm trying to tell you about. I know why you take what I say so seriously, because of the contract and how we started but that's not our reality, Sterling. We are equal and we'll listen to each other but we'll have our own free will, is that clear? You don't have to look up to me," he said with a concerned look on his face but it made her calm down just as quick.And she saw the truthness in his words because no matter how much she tried to deny the fact that she was, in fact, always scared of angering him and was always paranoid that he would flip and tell her this was all a joke, she knew it had stemmed from the time that Erika originally came to this mansion and agreed to be a comtracted slave because Nigel wanted so because of his revenge. But those days she has spent trying to decipher his unpredictability, it had also caused a shift in her own behavior
ERIKANigel's face was a mixture of exhaustion and anger but as he moved to Erika, closer and closer, covering the distance between them, her eyes kept getting thinner to slits as she shut them down tight as she flinched when she felt his silhouette cover her entire body and his strong hands grabbing her into a tight hug."Thank you, Erika. I don't even know how to say it but thank you so so much," he let it all out with his head buried in her shoulder as she stood as still as a rock that was electrocuted. "For the first time in years, he has called me his brother."His voice was shaky, almost like he was experiencing a sense of euphoria or a different unknown form of an emotion altogether. Something he has probably never experienced before. And all Erika could do was stare at him and feel him around her in awe because she was still processing how her stupid move had turned out. She could've thought of a million more alternatives on how this thing could've turned out as but not this b
ERIKABut before she left, she stood by the doorway and looked back at Laurent, a spitting image of a young Nigel, and said the words that shook him even harder. "But your brother did mention that you two drifted away a lot, apparently, it's not the same as it used to be between you two anymore. That's why I assumed you hated each other. Anyways, I'll get going, thanks again!"With that, Erika left a completely raged Laurent behind knowing that he hated being called enemies with his own brother. And even if it had raised any kind of conflict in his heart that would ultimately lead to a confrontation, her job there was done. And now if things magically go the way she wanted it to go, it'd all be better. That's what she prayed for as she took her nervous steps away from his doorstep and towards Erika's own room. She just hoped this doesn't take the turn for the worse. She went back to her room and started working on the budget and planning of her moving to Paris that Nigel had done a l
ERIKAViolet had been there and in her words, he looked very upset about something and he was pleading with Nigel to let him meet her but Nigel was taken aback so he asked Metin to come back when he was home. He asked me to send you the message and get you to call him. And that made her finally let out a sigh of relief. Metin was sorry and guilty about his actions. He wanted to say sorry and that was the reason he did it. Finally, it felt like she could breathe a fresh air and let off the steam of everything happened in the last day. Maybe things were finally looking up and maybe this was a sign that she should just go through the plan she had thought of last night without thinking of the consequences too much.Even if Nigel had asked her not to meddle in or try to talk to Laurent about any of this or just anything at all, Erika knew she had to disobey that because if she doesn't take the first step, all of their steps would inevitably stay static. Someone had to take the blow first
ERIKAIf he wanted to sleep in her bed, he'd have just stayed but he was the one who got up to leave first without her asking. What else could that mean? Erika immediately gaslighted herself into regretting saying that. And before she could try to switch it around, his eyes lit up."Yes, of course," he said like that was the easiest decision of his life. It took Erika aback."You will?""Yes. I didn't think you'd want me staying here," he came back on the bed to fill the spot that felt extra empty after he left."Of course I would," Erika said, smiling with the familiar warmth. And that's how he climbed into bed with her and slowly laid down beside her. They faced each other, laying side by side as they looked into each other's eyes silently. The unsaid was a lot in the room, more than she could let out on. It felt like crumbling and being fixed in the same moment but at least having someone to go through that with. His soft eyes were comfort enough."Come here, you must be tired," he
ERIKAThat's why, when the door sounded because someone had arrived, she couldn't find the voice to ask them to come in. But finally when she called them in, someone entered the room with a trolley with food. Erika didn't have it in her to tell that person to leave because she didn't want to eat. She sighed and looked up to see Nigel starting to set up the food on the table in front of the couch and start placing it in order. Erika's mouth opened and closed in shock."What are you doing here?""I'm here to eat. With you," he said with a small smile, making her mouth drop open with shock at the thought that he had left the table. He read the shock off of her face and decided to give her a better clarification for this. "Yes, I left the table after you did. Thanks for asking. And no, you're not jeopardizing my relation with my family because we've had hundreds of fights like this, even way worse than this. They know I'm not doing this under your influence because I've never been that pe
ERIKA"He doesn't like to talk about his surgeries after so we couldn't tell him you've been there for all his surgeries. He doesn't know and he's mad so he won't ever come talk to you about it," Julia said, she was just as worried, her eyes filling up with tears."It's alright, I understand him," Nigel nodded with a small smile. That's when Lydia returned alone with a strange look on her face. "Where's Laurie?" William asked."He said.. he wouldn't eat if.. Erika's sitting at the table," Lydia informed, washing everyone over with a sense of confusion. The awkwardness spread and it looked like even Lydia didn't want to say it out loud but Laurent had asked her to announce it to let Erika really know what was up. She gulped and looked around with an expression she didn't know how to change. And even though everyone else looked horrified, they knew what was the right thing to be done."Erika, I.. it would be better if.. god, I'm embarrassed to say it," Julia started and it clearly look