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"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