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"You know? I really thought the company that you started had a good potential. I really thought it would work out," he said."You don't have to-""I'm serious. I was actually very impressed with you and not just because I.. loved you."He quietened down as if he had said something he wasn't planning on and she immediately saw it in his face. But she decided to let it go as well just to avoid putting him in that position where he had to explain himself. No matter how wrong it felt, she knew it was all a matter of time before the truth was in front of her. She knew at that moment that to really understand the intensity of the situation and every underlying detail that she has made herself unavailable to, she had to wait for her father to actually come up with an explanation. Matthew Sterling had to. He was meeting with his downfall very soon, he had no choice but to go down after he narrates the whole story because she wasn't ready to believe there's nothing else.She didn't know
ERIKA"Just so you know, they know who you are and they know you've been living here. They also know about the relationship between you and Mr. Asher. That can make the situation a little easier and the reaction might not be that intense," Violet meant it with good intentions but that made Erika ten times more nervous.She won't be having a pleasant time, it had to be similar to a battle. And she was not ready, she needed to talk to Nigel."Where's Nigel? I need to see him immediately, I had no idea at all," Erika asked, her hands almost shaking with guilt and desperation. She really didn't want to meet people who would help her meet with her past because she didn't even know how to face it yet. It was already too much for her when she was just starting to settle in. But now she had to act quick and even though she didn't know why, she was thinking of ways to impress them.She didn't even know why she needed to do that. She was sure it would be fine if she stayed locked inside her roo
NIGELAnd this would be completely crazy and he was just realising it, his mouth dropped open. He looked at the driveway of the airport with a pit in his stomach because he knew Erika was freaking out just as bad. He had left in a hurry without even informing her and he had no idea if she was even up yet. But what mattered first was her mom. He knew his father would let him handle things his own way but the only one who would question the morality of it all would be his mother.And he didn't know how ready he was, and neither was Erika. Nigel let out a sigh and got out of his car to pick up his family with an elevated feeling in his heart. He had indeed visited them a few days ago when Laurent's surgery dates were near and even if his little brother's teenage hormones were turning her into a loner who hardly liked company, it felt like he was also going into a darker phase of his life, Nigel rarely remembered how his smile looked like. And that sent waves of concern in his mind and he
NIGELThey all barely spoke to each other. She smiled and Laurent just looked back at his phone. "Let's go then?""Has Ms Mary prepared everything or do I have to prepare myself to use my voice?" Julia said because she had never really liked Ms Mary. Nigel smiled at the thought that maybe their mutual hatred for that woman can create a sense of bonding between Erika and his mother.When he realised he was genuinely thinking this, he was quite shocked by how Erika had altered his brain chemistry. He had been unconsciously thinking of ideas on how to get them together and make sure they settled it out so that it was easier to get Erika mixed up with them. Nigel knew his family pretty well and he knew that they wouldn't burst out of anger or make backhanded comments. They would pretend they are just fine with Erika just to make him happy. They were just that kind of people and Nigel knew the consequences thoroughly.And that's why he wanted them to genuinely know her and like her from wi
ERIKA"Hi ma'am, it's nice to finally meet you," Erika spoke out, putting her hand out for Julia to shake even if Julia herself looked stupefied. She wasn't expecting this as her eyes moved from Erika, scanning her face, to her hands. Nigel stepped closer to them and stared at his mother expectantly, mirroring Erika's expression. Julia broke into a small smile."I was dying to meet you too. We need to have a long chat indeed," Julia, with a small smile, shook her hand gently. That's what told her that if she wanted to fix anything, she had to do it all herself. Erika knew what that meant and it didn't just account for Julia but everyone else.And she would. For herself. For them. For Nigel.She knew that before getting her hopes too up and watching it all eventually crumble, she had to take slow but productive steps. She knew she shouldn't try to butt her way into their lives but if she wanted to do this the right way, she had to make sure she was at least taken under consideration an