The day she has been waiting for ages was finally here. It has to be the benefit of being one of the most successful businessman's daughter, especially a man who wants his legacy to be enjoyed by his family for years to come.He was retiring today, which obviously meant the CEO position would be passed down to none other than, Erika Sterling, daughter of Matthew Sterling. Everything was set. She had put on her black pencil skirt and a blazer on top, with her statement pearl necklace that her dad gifted her, knowing he would appreciate it. It would be the first time she was seeing him in 5 years that she has been away from LA. She gets into her cadillac and the driver takes her straight to the office, Sterling and Co., a top grossing retail company.She entered the huge luxurious building, greeting everyone back because there was not one employee who didn't know her even though she rarely ever bothered checking in with her dad's business. But she was here today, to take what belonged
"If you don't want to be thrown out of here," he leaned in and whispered in her ears, "Obey."Erika looked up to meet his eyes which were filled with malice, she couldn't process what made her dad believe this man was up to any good at all. She felt discomfort and anger, making her push him a little away from her."I belong here. Do you really think you have any authority to throw me out of here? Never-"Just when her words landed, a knock on the cabin door surfaced. The corner of his lips turned up into a smile. "Your ride is here," he smiled, making her look back to see the security guards standing, waiting for her. Horrified, Erika stared at their serious faces. They weren't joking, he.. wasn't joking. Nigel walked right behind her and leaned down to whisper in her ears, "You've lost everything. Now take your pathetic self out of this office if you don't want to lose your little self-respect by being dragged out."Erika stiffened, her face burning up with shame. She could walk out
"You can be my little plaything." He said.Erika's mouth dropped open, she tried to let his words sink in with his devious smile on her face. Plaything.. that's what he wanted.. to toy with her."No.. I wanna go home..""Go, no one's stopping you," he said, backing off like he was clearing the way out. But there was no point. Erika had nothing. "If you want to see for yourself how worthless you are, how no one wants you there, you're free to do so."Erika couldn't even take a step even if she knew a total stranger was telling her what her life has turned to. She shouldn't believe him but she was hesitant. Maybe that's what he wanted. Maybe he was playing deceiving tricks with her so she would just give up."I know you're lying.""Suit yourself," he shrugged like he knew everything. But she wasn't falling for it. She was just starting to walk away when he spoke again. "But do you know what the media is talking about?"Erika froze. The media was never a fan of her with her numerous dati
"Then why don't we start with you getting on your knees and begging?" The words immediately climbed up Erika's spine. She wasn't hearing it right, she thought, but the rigid expression on his face told a different story."Don't play around. I'm here.. I accept the offer.. so just tell me what to do," she said, trying to brush over the topic as quick as possible but he burst out into a mocking laughter. He tilted his head with disbelief and then stared back at her stupefied face."You've always had everything so easy, Ms Sterling, that you really have no idea how things work," Nigel's voice was harsh, striking at her naivety. He got up from his chair and turned to face her, dead serious now. "I'm sure I already made myself clear.""I don't get it.. you can't make me do things for you.. you just can't..", Erika took a step back, startled by how unnerving this felt. That seemed to set him off a little as he raised his hand and banged on his desk hard, making her flinch. He was not playi
The small room had white and grey walls with a single bed, bedside table, a small cupboard and an attached washroom. One window opened up to the view of the lawn in the mansion and on the sill, a cactus plant was kept. The room was clean and alright for use but not for Erika.She was shellshocked at that sight and couldn't believe her eyes. The room was 5× smaller than her own bedroom, no skincare, no hair and body care, no clothes, no designer shoes, not even her emotional support jewellery. As she closed the door behind her, she realised she had nothing. She frantically rummaged through her bag that she was sent away with but all she could find was her old clothes. They didn't pack any of her jewellery or designer clothes. If she had them, she could've at least sold a few to get by till she developed a plan. But she was ruined. The room was suffocating her even if it would be fine enough for anyone else. She was getting the ick in every corner of the room, reluctant to touch anythi
"Braise yourself," Erika said, challenge in her eyes. She felt confident at that moment even if she was clueless of what she was saying. She was never the type to throw empty challenges in people's faces just to show dominance so this got to her. "I'm going to make sure your life is ruined just like you ruined mine. Only then I'll be satisfied."Erika was surprised by how convincing she sounded that made Nigel's face turn into a genuinely amused way. He looked interested about how a powerless and fallen person like Erika could make claims that big. He smirked, reading her eyes."You're trying so hard to sound confident, it's pathetic," he was smiling as he stepped closer to her. She thought about taking a step back but she didn't. "But I'd love to see you try to make any difference in my life. That would be entertaining.""Get away from me," she warned as he dawned closer because she didn't want to move and be posed as submissive again. He didn't listen and continued to lean forward w
Erika looked up at the rest of them looking back at her with murderous gazes. She could feel the stinging burn from the coffee on her leg but she knew she'd recieve no sympathy for that. If she was back at her house, the whole house would've been in shambles trying to care for her.Now all she sees around her is hatred. But the worst out of all of them was Nigel Asher. Something in him was too good at riling her up in the worst possible ways. To the point that she actually was about to hurt someone physically. And there was one and only one way of getting rid of him. Revenge. No matter how unattainable it sounds, she has to do it. And she will.~Erika sat back in her room, looking down at the white shirt and black skirt she was wearing meant for servants, given to her. The way she was brought up, brought the disregard for people at any rank lower than what she was in her mind. There was no way Erika could be accommodative with this."What can I do?" She whispered to herself, falling
ERIKAShe quickly entered her room and locked the door shut, panting as she stood against the door. Erika wasn't expecting Nigel to notice the exact moment she slid the paper into his room. She had made it a point to be noiseless as she could already hear the faint noise of a woman moaning from inside his study room. Or else she would've handed to paper to him without pulling this cowardly move.But when she slid the paper, she immediately heard footsteps approaching from inside. She immediately started running away when she heard the door open, though she was far gone by then. But at least the job was done.It was almost midnight by then and Erika just came out of the shower. It felt uncomfortable in that tight space compared to her bathroom, she didn't really feel very tidy. She slipped on her night dress, ready for bed after what felt like an eternity. She felt like she hadn't been that tired in ages. Suddenly having stripped off all the comfort in your life does that to people.
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