ERIKA That's when her door swung open loudly and Erika snapped her head back to look at who it was. Violet stood at her doorway, gasping with excitement. "Erika, he's back," she said. Erika's breath almost caught when she heard Violet. All these days she had only thought about when he would come back, not about what would she do when he does actually come back. A week long of no communication or no tying loose ends had made the thoughts run out of Erika's brain. Now his return came when she was giving up, she didn't know how to rekindle it again. "Where is he?" She asked, getting up while Violet caught her breath. "I saw his car pull up and I came rushing. I think you should see for yourself," Violet suggested and Erika nodded, a pit forming in her stomach because she was actually really nervous. She didn't know how to face that situation at all. But she still walked out of the door and felt herself rushing down the hall, not knowing what to expect. She stopped as she was climbi
ERIKA She frowned to herself looking down at that text from Nigel. Pack your bags, it said. What did that even mean? What could he possibly try to say anymore? Was he throwing her out of the mansion once and for all? Was he sending her away? Or did he have something far more sinister in his mind for her? She had no idea, she hadn't seen this coming. Erika went back to her room and she sat on the edge of her bed, trying to figure out if she should actually pack up. She had no idea what she would do if he sends her away or throws her out because then all her plans would inevitably go down the drain. She had to stay there and watch Nigel's every move to somehow find a crack on the wall. But it was almost like he had figured out what she was trying to do and that's why he was sending her away. She really didn't know anymore. "Why?" She texted back. It didn't take long fir the response to come. "Don't ask. We're leaving tomorrow," Nigel texted, making her frown at the usage of his word
NIGEL "Now that the partnership with the Rossi's are finalised, what is the next step, sir?" Metin, Nigel's newly appointed lawyer after he got the CEO position spoke, waiting for directions. Nigel actually didn't expect it but he was trustworthy. He didn't feel like being aloof to Metin at all, he was reliable. "Everything is settled, we'll announce the project as soon as my team prepares the main dossier," he said, sitting on his desk. He was at the office, he hadn't been there for a week but everything was under control. He didn't want to gloat but he was handling it all pretty well. "What papers should I arrange then and by when do you need it?" Metin asked, as straightforward as ever. "A formal contract and a more detailed agreement," Nigel flipped through the files unchecked on his desk. "For that, I'd need the main dossier," Metin asked that made Nigel slightly frown. "That's pretty confidential, I don't think I can hand it to you," Nigel said firmly, standing up to show
ERIKA She frowned to herself looking down at that text from Nigel. Pack your bags, it said. What did that even mean? What could he possibly try to say anymore? Was he throwing her out of the mansion once and for all? Was he sending her away? Or did he have something far more sinister in his mind for her? She had no idea, she hadn't seen this coming. Erika went back to her room and she sat on the edge of her bed, trying to figure out if she should actually pack up. She had no idea what she would do if he sends her away or throws her out because then all her plans would inevitably go down the drain. She had to stay there and watch Nigel's every move to somehow find a crack on the wall. But it was almost like he had figured out what she was trying to do and that's why he was sending her away. She really didn't know anymore. "Why?" She texted back. It didn't take long fir the response to come. "Don't ask. We're leaving tomorrow," Nigel texted, making her frown at the usage of his word
ERIKA "Where do you think you're going?" Sally said, grabbing Erika by the hair and throwing her on the floor. Erika looked up and started crawling back as the three women towered over her with despicable smiles. She could feel the twist in her ankle when she fell, she wasn't very physically strong. She had underestimated the situation. Before, she had power so she got away with saying almost anything. She lost track of her reality and how staying silent was the best possible thing she could do for herself. "Don't.. you can't do anything to me..", Erika said, her voice stuttering because she didn't trust anybody. They might even kill her and no one would bat an eye. Her breath turned into gasps as Beatrice leaned in to slap her face hard, making her face numb. She grabbed her hair hard again and tilted her face hard while the other two restrained her hands, making her struggle too hard to move out of their grasp. "Who will stop me, you fucking whore? The camera's here don't work,
NIGEL She had lost a lot of blood and she was beaten up before her head smashed on the edge of the sink. She might have some internal injuries along with the bruises. Marks of her getting slapped and punched and kicked on the abdomen. Nigel could feel his breath heave, it was difficult for him to stand still when he knew how easily he could find the culprits. He just looked at the light bulb above the operation theatre door. He stood outside, his mind not working, his phone blowing up with calls. "Sir, I think it can be Amelia, she's known to start fights. But.." "But what?" "Erika knew better than to fight back. She never confronted people even when they treat her rashly. Either she was at her breaking point when the altercation happened, or.. someone had just lashed out on her with anger. I don't know but I am so worried, I can't stop thinking about it," Violet looked down, just as restless. Nigel didn't really want anyone by his side but it was strange having someone who looked
ERIKA She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, she could see his concerned face right in front of her. And it was troubling. To think that everything that she was facing was because of him while he kept on pretending he gave a shit was torture itself. "Why?" "Because-" "Why are you treating me this way? Why are you trying to make things easier on me by manipulating your own rules? Is it some trick? Is it a way to push me deeper even though I'm already on the lowest level possible?" She said, knowing she wouldn't be able to hold her peace like that. "I would've lived with the fact that you hated me from the core and it would've saved me from this madness. Somehow.. your kindness, empathy, whatever this is, is way worse than your hate," she continued, watching his face return back to his original sternness. That gave her satisfaction. "Just go back to how you were before. Get your revenge. Get bored of me and toss me away. I don't want this.. you're confusing me.
ERIKA "How do we do that?" "But first, you okay right? You feeling better?" "Yeah, now tell me." "I'll tell you about it but you have to be more open minded about it," Metin said, almost like he was unsure she would agree to it. "Go on." "No offence but.. you already know what people think about you and how you are perceived. You are hated widely and you're called names everywhere. People think you're enjoying your lavish life out there somewhere in another country without any regrets, they don't know the truth," he said. "But it's all a trap. I never did anything to-" "That's not the point here. It's a good thing you have a tarnished reputation and we can use that for our own benefit." "How? How can it get any worse?" "If we somehow show the world that you're related to Nigel Asher, your reputation would make him go down the same road that you did. If he has a bad face in front of the media, his value and influence will go down immediately and that's when we can gain back th
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