Chapter Three

Our car sped off on the highway. The evening warmth made the drive smooth. We were half an hour late for the conference. The music volume lit up in the car as we drove. I sat at the back of the car with my mom and my stepdad. Feeling worried, I sank into the chair, my eyes drained with weakness.

“Should I change the music? Maybe she likes something more… right?” Mr. Leister asked.

“You’re riding, you choose,” Rabel replied while maintaining her makeup.

I stared at the picture on my phone, my eyes fixed on Joel. I missed him so much. I went to our text messages and typed: CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS. Minutes later, my phone beeped with a message: I WILL CALL YOU LATER, GOTTA GO. BYE, LOVE YOU. Kisses.

Looking out the window, a car zoomed by, ruining the slow drive. Inside, there was Nick. He had a cigarette in his hand, a smirk on his face as he winked at me and zoomed off.

Reaching the conference, the room was well decorated, with a lot of people talking to each other. As we stepped in, Nick gave in his membership card.

“Nona, your membership card will arrive next week. Meanwhile, you can use my surname,” Mr. Leister said calmly as he walked behind me.

“Don’t you think that will perplex people?” I asked him awkwardly, hastening my footsteps.

“Why will it be?” Mr. Leister asked, confused.

“Hi, good evening, Mr. Leister,” a young man walked up to us.

“Hi, good evening. I’m Mrs. Leister, Nona Leister,” I said, smiling. I put my arm around Mr. Leister, my lips shifting a little as I gave him a soft smile.

“Congratulations, sir! I did hear rumors,” Tony smiled, bringing his hand out for a handshake.

“No, Tony, no. I’m not that type of guy. This is Mrs. Leister,” Mr.

Leister replied defensively as Rabel walked up to him, smiling.

“I’m so sorry. How silly of me.” Tony bent his head shamelessly; he couldn’t even look up anymore.

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault,” Mr. Leister said as he walked away with Rabel by his side.

With Nick at my back, I left too.

Sitting at our table, Mr. Leister broke the silence.

“Summer has never been my favorite season, but with this sea, the sunset, you… aghh, this city is fascinating,” Rabel said slowly as she rubbed her hands against Mr. Leister’s.

“Ranked as one of the most charming places in the world by National Geographic,” Nick spoke. I noticed the waitress’s hand doing a funny touch on his as she walked away.

“Thanks to our lobby…ing,” I said, cutting Mr. Leister off. “Aren’t there a lot of forest fires around here?”

“Yeah, Nona, unfortunately, it’s a blight on our city. There have been two already this summer,” Mr. Leister replied.

“I don’t get people who throw cigarette butts out of the window,” Rabel said.

Hearing that, I looked up at Nick, whose eyes were already fixed on mine. With his mouth filled with food, he shifted his lips a little, giving me a slight smile—and so did I.

“Ever had a point deducted from your license?” Nick asked.

“For that? Impossible,” Rabel replied.

“Nick doesn’t smoke,” Mr. Leister said.

“He’s an athlete. Surfing champion, right?” Rabel asked Nick, smiling.

“Yes, surfing,” Nick replied, also smiling.

“Surfing?” I murmured.

“You have a problem with that?” Nick asked, giving me an evil glare. He beamed a little.

“No, I just prefer team and strategic sports, you know… where you have to use your intelligence,” I said, my eyes fixed on Nick as I spoke.

“Mm. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go to work,” Nick said, smiling as he moved his body, caressing his suit.

“At Nickel’s?” Mr. Leister asked.

“Yes,” Nick replied.

“Are you on your first case?” Rabel asked.

“I wish,” Nick replied with a small laugh. “His dad just asked us to take care of his paperwork. But it’s all strength of mind, no intelligence,” Nick added as he looked straight into my eyes while talking.

“Don’t worry, if you get fired from Nickel’s dad’s firm, you will still have your dad’s. There will always be a Leister Enterprise subsidiary to milk. Right, Nick?”

“Nona, please,” Rabel intervened, cutting me off.

“That’s fine. My evening was going to be dull… but now I’ll have something to laugh about,” Nick said, standing up from his seat.

He let his handkerchief fall, then bent close to my ear. I could hear his heartbeat.

“See you later, sis,” he whispered before walking away.

“I’m leaving too.”

“You’re staying,” Rabel replied angrily, her face boiling with rage.

“No, wait. Nick, can you take her home? Isn’t it on the way?” Mr. Leister asked, his hand placed gently on Rabel’s.

“Not really, it’s quite the detour,” Nick said.

“Yes, I’d rather take a taxi,” I added.

“That’s enough. We won’t tolerate this attitude anymore. It’s best if you two get along,” Mr. Leister said, his voice sounding a little pissed off.

“Mark’s right. Go with him. Don’t worry, he’s a careful driver,” Rabel said.

On the road, Nick drove at the greatest speed, overtaking all the other vehicles that came by. He stepped on the accelerator, which sent me flying back into my seat.

“What are you doing?” I asked shakily.

“What’s your problem now?” Nick asked.

“I don’t want to die young because of some lunatic who can’t drive!” I answered with a mean face.

“Do you think you can do better?” Nick asked, his eyes fixed on the road.

“You wanna bet?” I challenged.

“You’re in my house, my car, in my city, so just shut up!”

Nick’s words hit me hard. I barely knew what to say—I felt speechless. This was one of the reasons I never wanted to be here… to feel like I didn’t belong.

“Just because you own things, you think you’re gods. Well, you’re in my personal space, my comfort zone, and my sight. Please, go away!” I shouted at Nick.

“Your mom must love you a lot to put up with you,” Nick said, making my heart boil with anger.

“What would you know about a mother’s love?”

Saying that, Nick pulled over.

“Get out,” Nick said.

“Why? What did I say?” I asked, surprised.

“Get out, or I’ll get you out myself,” Nick commanded with a mean face. He wasn’t joking—he didn’t even have a smile on his face anymore.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

As I said that, he got out. I stayed still. He came over and pulled my door open. I tried to fight him, but he pulled me out.

“Let go of me! What are you doing?”

“Call that taxi,” Nick said.

“No taxi will pick me up here!” I shouted.

“Then call Uber.”

Saying that, he drove away. I called his name and chased after him, but he was gone.