Kiara POV
The cab screeched to a halt, right in front of my apartment. I breathe out in fatigue, paid the taxi driver, then hauled myself out of the car. I opened the small iron gate to the compound and entered, but to my greatest surprise, I saw Nicholas sitting on one of the steps away from my doorstep. He rose to his feet in an instant as soon as he saw me reaching the house. “Kiara?” He called softly, “What are you doing here, Nicholas?” I asked him in a calm tone. After our last encounter, judging from how I had talked back and embarrassed him, I never thought we would be meeting sooner. “I’m here to apologize, Kiara” He climbed down the three steps to where I was standing, his voice was mixed with a trace of pity and warmth.
My brows weaved in a tight line as his tall frame crouched above me, “Apologize for what exactly, Nick?” I asked, he put forward a step then slowly held my hand. “For being a jerk, I was wrong by watching the chairman flirt with you in the first place, forgive me and let’s forget such ever happened,” He said, indecisively. I heaved a considerable sigh then nodded my head, “It’s okay, it’s fine now” I told him softly, and his face brightened up immediately as he squeezed my hands in his warmly. “Thanks, babe” He dropped his head, and covered my lips with his. I didn’t reciprocate it, as I just opened my eyes, allowing him to satisfy himself. Shortly, he unlocked from the hasty kiss and helped move the strands of my hair, tugging them behind my ear. He stared intensely at my face for a moment, then finally spoke up, “There’s a business affiliate party tomorrow. I’m invited, and I want us to be there together” He said tenderly, caressing my cheek down to my jawline with his forefinger.
Before I could open my mouth to talk, he already turned away to open his car. It was then I realized his car was parking inside the house. He returned to his previous position, holding a big red box in his hands. With a smug smile embedded in his expression, he stretched forth the box to me. “I’ll come to pick you by six tomorrow” He announced while I slowly collected the box from him. “Take care of yourself,” He says, then pecked my both cheeks thereafter before walking back to his car.
I twitched my mouth, permitting my eyes to check out the red dinner gown lying on the bed. I’ve been resisting the great urge to try it out, it’s just so fascinating. Furthermore, I inhaled a sharp breath then shoved the silver heels and clutch Nicholas had gotten along with the dress to one side on the bed then slowly sunk on it. I’m In a pickle, and I’m at a loss of what to do. Alexander, I don’t understand him anymore, I don’t know what he wants from me. He knows my button and when to press it, he knew he had gotten me off my guard since the first day I had set my eyes on him back at Lone Star Inn. I’ve always loved him since that day, even though I keep lying to myself that I’m completely over him. But what does he want from me now? I’m sure he’s very much aware that I’m now in a relationship, I made him understand that, clearly. And Nicholas, it’s so obvious he truly cares and loves me so much. But I still don’t feel the same way for him and either way I prefer not to hurt him, he’s a good man, he has done so much for me. Therefore, he doesn’t deserve heartbreak.
I got down from the elevator, but her petite figure on the desk caused my face to darken. Not intending to greet her, I walked past her. “The CEO had said you should arrange those files on his desk in alphabetical order” Her voice made me recede my steps and take a glance at her face, but she wasn’t looking up as her face was buried on the computer on her desk. I suppressed my lips in a tight line, resisting the notion to ask her where the CEO had gone to. Without saying a word to what she had just said, I took my eyes back to the door, then opened it and entered. My gaze fixed to his luxurious swivel chair as I slowly walked up to it, recalling the first day I had entered into this office. My fingers glided across his seat as his fragrance filled my nostril more like he was on the seat. ‘I miss you Mr. CEO, where are you? Aren’t you coming to work today?’
I wiped off the beads of sweat on my forehead with the back of my left palm. Jeez! I’m exhausted now, the files are quite much. Furthermore, I’ve categorized more than fifty files already, but with the portion right in front of me, it seems like I haven’t done anything. I puffed out a deep breath, relaxing my hand on the table and supporting to hold my chin. Where are you, Alexander? This is noon already, if I didn’t see you today, then I won’t eat. I lazily rose to my feet, I heard my ribs crack as I straightened my back, “Ouch, my back hurts” I mumbled. I’ve never done this plentiful work since I commenced to work here. The door suddenly swung open, revealing the only person who’s worthy of prompting my heartbeat to skip over and over again. He walked in gracefully, striding toward my desk. I swallowed down my salivary as his gaze relaxed upon my face. “Where’s your cell phone?” He demanded in his bossy-like tone. My brows furrowed, but I dare not ask him any questions. I retrieved my phone from my handbag then stretched it out to him, he collected it without saying anything and I stared at his face as he punched in some numeral into my phone. I heard his phone vibrate in his trouser pocket, “I just took your number for future reference” He said calmly, giving back my phone to me.
“Okay sir” I nodded my head. “You are coming with me to a party this evening,” He announced while walking back to his seat. My eyes bulged as I watched his back. As if he sensed how strung up I have become, he swiveled around to look at my face. “Are we clear?” I gulped, “Yes sir… I mean no sir” I gabbled, “I have a party to attend this evening also” I told him honestly, bowing my head. It feels like the air in the surrounding froze as he was not saying any more words, I gradually lifted my head to peer at his face, but he was already staring down at me with a cold and impersonal stare causing my head to stand on end. My heart shook wildly inside my chest, I opened my mouth to pronounce a word,, but he already walked back to his seat. He grabbed the landline on his desk then pressed it against his ear, “Come into my office now” He instructed then dropped the telephone afterward. I stood in a daze, watching his every move as he sat down. The door creaked open, and I watch as his personal secretary sauntered in, “Here I am, sir” She notified, “Get prepared Felicia, you’re coming with me to a business party this evening” He told her smoothly, without casting her a glance as he presses the laptop keypad.
I felt out of place as soon as he uttered those words. “Right away, sir” Felicia beamed. She met my gaze, then the corner of her lips squeezed out a lopsided grin. “You can go back to work” The CEO let out, “Yes sir” And with that, Felicia unlocked the door and walked away. My gaze returned to his body, but he wasn’t looking at my side. Had I known, I would have agreed to go with him.