When Kara woke up from her drugged state, she had no idea where she was.
Fear gripped her as she sat up groggily, clutching the comforter to her chest.
She tried to recall what happened earlier.
Kara shuddered when she remembered the fright she involuntarily felt on the stairway while being chased.
As the distance between her and her pursuer narrowed, she felt terrified that she almost passed out, until finally, her pursuer gained on her.
He held her hand, and she felt repugnance like she had never felt before. Tears streamed down her face.
She opened her mouth to cry for help, but her pursuer immediately covered her mouth with his gloved hands. Her vision became blurry, and right after, she passed out.
Kara checked herself. She was still in her barmaid uniform, and apart from feeling limp, she did not hurt anywhere.
She sighed, feeling grateful that at least, he did not touch
It was hours later when Nico awoke due to the incessant vibrating of his phone. His fingers wiggled, groping for the phone, and with his one eye shut, he tapped on the screen to receive the call.“Bruno was out?” It was Evan’s voice. At the mention of his most trusted assistant and right-hand man, something pinched Nico’s chest. All his life, Bruno had been by his side - mentoring him and guiding him. Bruno was like a second father to him. It hurts Nico to see the older man go. But he can not let the older man’s trespass slide. What he did was betrayal. It was Nico’s non-negotiable. Nico carefully slid the comforter off his body and sat on the edge of the bed. “Yeah. He is going back to Sicily.” He replied before rising from the bed and walking naked out of the bedroom so as not to disturb Kara. They talked some more. Nico asked about Rebecca, and Evan reported that Rebecca has been staying at the Castiliogne Villa. “Tomorrow, she can take the Penthouse if she likes.” Nico
Kara huffed and puffed in exhaustion.Her muscles complained everywhere everytime she hit the cylindrical-shaped punching bag in front of her and missed.She kept trying until sweat pooled on her forehead and drenched her cotton sports shirt.She was tired.Her muscles complained from too much exertion, but Evan would not let her stop. Evan harangued her to keep going and going and going to a point where she lost track of time.She did not know how long she and Evan had been at the boxing gym, but the latter kept nagging at her, making her ears ache and her mood extra lousy.It did not help that she had a rough night. She kept tossing and turning on her bed back in the guest room.When she realized that the woman who happily greeted Nico with an exuberant embrace was his first love everybody presumed dead, Kara felt a numbness all over her body. She does not know what to
“What do you mean?” Kara felt it hard to breathe. She was thankful that Nico broke the news to her while they were sitting. Otherwise, she did not know if she had any strength to carry herself after delivering the bomb. Her knees felt weak like they were made of jelly.For a while, there was silence between them. It was like Nico was allowing her time to digest his news.After a while, Nico cleared his throat, breaking her from her trance.Kara bit her lip. The pain inside her was unbearable, but she had to control herself. For days, she had been waiting for this moment, but nothing, no amount of pep talk or reasoning, could have prepared her for the real thing.“Rebecca asks me constantly about you. I do not want her to misunderstand.” Nico explained.Kara nodded. “I understand.” She was thankful that her voice sounded
Kara’s resignation went smoothly because Ms. Granger of the human resources office had already been notified before her arrival.“We had been expecting it. It was actually a wise decision, Ms. Baxter. The staff is beginning to question the extra favors the management accords you. Even if you were the boss’s girl, you are still an employee of this hotel, bound by its rules and regulations. It puts me in a tight spot.” Ms. Granger told her lengthily and saw a relief on the older woman’s face.Of course, Kara could have argued that it was not her intent, but she chose to remain silent. It was never her intention to come back and it certainly was not her choice to neglect her job. But of course, she could not put any blame on Nico.He was the boss.The human resources would be in a bind if they tried to call his attention to her absences. In the end, none of thos
Nico wearily put his phone down. Evan had just reported that he safely sent Kara home. He was torn. He wanted to give in to his capricious heart and keep his promises, too. Nico bit his tongue when he was about to ask about her. He was hungry for more news about Kara Baxter but forbade himself to ask. He did not think he had the right. Besides, what is the use of knowing?Whether Kara is happy or sad with the sudden decision does not change the fact that he has made his choice and would never change his mind. Nico believes he is a man of promise. He never gets back on his word, even if it hurts him. “Are you alright?” He opened his eyes and saw Rebecca’s worried green eyes. For a moment, he allowed himself the luxury of remembering another set of green emerald eyes. But she was gone now.He drove her away. Nico shook his head. The two pairs of eyes were so much alike, yet so different if you would look beyond the surface. One does not rock his world like the other does
The next morning, Kara bought newspapers to scout for a new job. She called some recruiters and scheduled an appointment for the next day.She just put down her phone when it alerted her for a new notification. It was from her bank. She opened the app and was dumbfounded. “That as*h*le!” She muttered Without thinking, Kara gathered all the newspapers laid out on the coffee table to put them away. She went to her bedroom to get her bag, leaving in a rush. Outside her apartment building, she flagged a taxi and asked to be taken to her bank. At the bank, she demanded to see the manager.The receptionist eyed her suspiciously. She did not have time to change, and she was in her house clothes and slippers. “I am not a criminal. I am a legitimate account holder of this bank, so please fix your eyes elsewhere.” She told the receptionist rather snarkily. The receptionist looked contrite and pulled her suspicious eyes away, calling the bank manager's office to relay Kara's concern.
Kara did not understand what was happening to her. She felt possessed as she furiously kicked and flailed her arms to hit him. She let her frustrations out. The resentment and the pain inside her become uncontrollable.For the first time, she did not fear the repercussions of her actions. She wanted to lash out at Nico for hurting her. She had to retaliate. She wanted to hit back for all the pain he was giving her. “I hate you!” She cried when she extricated herself from his hold. “I know.” He agreed too easily. His admission fired her up. And without realizing it, her fist connected with his face.His nose bled, causing her to stop in her tracks as she surveyed her handiwork. This time, she felt a sense of satisfaction because she knew he hurt him so hard. What she did not bank on was the dark aura surrounding him. Kara shrank back in fear when she felt Nico’s body vibrate in controlled anger. “Stop it, Kara!” He snapped. But Kara was beyond stopping. She hated him. S
Kara left Nico outside the cafe perplexed.She was so mad. She wanted to wring his neck. So she left in a huff. Nico insulted her. His sharp tongue remains untamable. “I love her.” He said, referring to Rebecca Anderson, and “I want your body.” referring to her. His words kept repeating in her head. Kara closed her eyes, letting the hurtful words wash over her. Nico Bernardi only wanted her body. He did not love her. He loves someone else. Kara was all too aware of that. But hearing him say it hurts a lot. He was vocal about it even at the start but her s*upid heart hoped there was something more in their relationship, especially when he introduced her to everyone as his girl. He did things that made her feel special. He bought her for one hundred million dollars at the auction. It must have started as a whim, but he respected her. In the few months she knew him, Kara experienced his kindness. His concern. His words and actions told her he cared. He might have a