ERIKA "Metin, I need help, this one time, okay? I need to know what happened, what my father did to Nigel," she asked, cutting straight to the chase. He seemed confused because he was silent for some time. "Why are you asking?" "I really need to know, please." "It's funny how you've called me once again because of your own interest, and you can't even tell me what this is about," he said, sounding like a toxic girlfriend, Erika didn't know why the shift in his tone was so prominent. She didn't know if she should feel the assigned gratefulness because he decided to help her so he would become the one she would always turn to. Erika knew he had helped, even if the consequences were not perfect for her own mental state. But Metin had ignited the hope that had died off when she had tried to end her life. He saved her, giving her something to live for once again. Even if by the end of everything, Erika had given up on her revenge, she was thankful she hadn't gone through with her thou
ERIKA The next morning, Erika stared at the mirror for 15 minutes because of how tired she looked even with the make up. She was already dressed up and ready to go but she really didn't feel like it because of the way she was up all night, wallowing and reaching deep into her sadness. It was no use now, it was time to leave. Time to face Nigel Asher. And the truth that she finally knew about after years of living life without knowing the cost or consequences. Erika sighed and composed herself to be at her best behavior. She had promised herself that she wouldn't mess this up but either of them now that the situation was like this. She nodded to herself, dressed in a black pencil skirt and pale blue top with slight ruffles and a blazer on top. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail with loose curls hanging on the side of her face but it did little to hide the obviously concealed dark circles. She didn't bother to give it another chance and strode out of her room, marching down
ERIKA Erika knew the way to each place in this building, knowing how shattered everything would get if Matthew decided to suddenly drop in. That made Erika unconsciously move towards his cabin. While she moved closer to that room, it felt like she heard something so her feet slowed down. It was a group conversation coming from the common room. "That bitch! It's all because of her! I worked so hard and this is what I get?" A frustrated voice sounded and when Erika peeked in to get a better look, she realised that it was Hannah, Nigel's personal assistant herself. She was sobbing with others gathered around her trying to comfort her because she really looked upset. "It's so unfair but we really can't do anything. It's the client's wish and we need to follow it," another guy said, making the others nod even if they were furious. "She did so much to try and ruin this company and now she's back to steal our positions? How did a fine man like Nigel Asher even fall for her antics? This is
ERIKA "I.. can't.. cook," she said, even more embarrassed. "You certainly look the part," he chuckled. "What does that mean?" Her jaw dropped as she nudged him. "I mean that I'll get the groceries and you prepare yourself for the second thing you'll learn today. First, that you've already mastered, quick thinking and second, cooking. Two very very basic life skills. Understand, Sterling?" He winked at her and her cheeks immediately flushed like the starting of a massive chain reaction. She instantly looked away to hide how flustered she was and how warm her cheeks felt. His chuckle only grew, she was too obvious. "You know how to cook?" Erika asked, not too surprised because Nigel basically knew everything. "God, Sterling. I spent years stalking you, I even know what you got as a present on your 5th birthday. And you don't know this basic thing about me? How will we ever work?" He sighed dramatically and received another nudge from her even though her stomach flipped like anythi
ERIKA "I can sit back and watch you do anything. You're nice to look at," his teasing smile made her redden up with blush spreading across her cheeks. She shook her head but he grabbed hold of her chin and made her eyes lock with his. "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you. I want to see every little expression that plays on your pretty face when you hear me talking to you. Do you get it, Sterling?" "There's no one around right now. Did you forget the things written in the contract that soon?" Erika raised an eyebrow at him like she was challenging him to try and defy the contract that was barely under his regards because he has already almost breached it. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he looked back at her. "I'm just practicing," he said, playfully. "What?" "I think I'm not that good at pretending to be your boyfriend and it's not very convincing. I really need to work on that," Nigel stood up and walked to her side till their shoulders brushed against each
ERIKAErika knew how strange it would sound if she said that she knew what it was like to trample on people when she was at power and how it feels like when she was the one with no power at all, she just stuck to the explanation that won't make her look like the saint she tried to convince herself she was to feel better about herself."To make my reputation better, I guess," Erika shrugged, not making eye contact with his prying eyes."Bullshit," he said, standing up and walking to her, no more of his tender expression but one that demanded answers. Answers that he wanted to hear or maybe he really didn't believe that she would do that for a petty reason like that. Either way, she was the one at loss here. She had to be the one to find out what to say to save herself. "You wouldn't do that, I know your reputation is not really your priority, it's just a benefit that would be nice for you to achieve, not somethinh you're hellbent on.""I don't know what to tell you but it's true, that'
ERIKA"You don't mean it.""You don't have to believe me right away. I want you to try. I want you to let me in after I've forced you to close the door. I've done what I did for a reason but I wished I had never done it at all, trust me," Nigel walked close to her and placed a hand on her chin to look up and match his eyes. "I genuinely.. have a whole lot of feelings for you. Do you hear me? I like you a lot, fuck, maybe even more than just like. I think I've fallen terribly in love with you."Her lips sealed as she was left completely speechless. How does she even wrap her head around something like that without the feeling of him lying creeping on the back of her neck every single second. He froze up as well because he didn't know if he took it too far. He didn't seem to want to freak her out but that was what he had done unintentionally."God, why.. did I say it? I am sorry, I shouldn't have. I just felt like this was the right time and I know what I said are big words and consider
ERIKA"I.. hate myself so much.. for everything. I hate it all," she cried and he scooped her up from the seat and placed her on the counter top with his soothing arms wrapped reassuringly around her. He pulled away, the warmth still intact on her, and tried to make her meet his eyes but she kept on hiding it away because she didn't want him to see her like that. But she finally met his eyes and he smiled at her softly."I'll love you enough to make you forget you hate yourself," he said, sending waves of butterflies all over her stomach. And at that point, this was all she needed without even realising. She just wanted to have someone she wanted to hold and something that would make it all seem instantly alright. And when she was experiencing that, it felt like a celebration in her body, something that blooms and takes over completely."I don't think I deserve that," she said in between her sobs and Nigel somehow hugged her tighter that didn't feel suffocating but liberating. He had
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