6. Tough Roommates

Chapter 6. Nicole’s POV

I meant nothing to him.

He came out with a full smile, and I forced myself to return it.

I was thrilled, but that didn’t cover the jealousy I felt. Would he react this way if it was me in the hospital as well?

“Nicole,” he waddled towards me, his arms spread.

I didn’t want to overthink it until his hands wrapped around me and he squeezed me in a hug.

I did the same, resting my head on his chest to scratch the yearning in mine.

“I’m so happy for you.”

I finally felt some warmth as a genuine smile spread on my face.

“If we are doing this, I have one rule as well.”

The seriousness in his tone made me jerk my head.

“Please speak.”

He avoided my gaze before speaking. “I am a man with needs,” he said, and I nodded.

Where was he going with this?

“If I am going to cut off all my other links, to reduce toxicity as a parent, I would need someone to meet them,” he said.

“Oh,” I nodded, stressing the ‘O’ longer than necessary.

He was quick to jump around.

“Of course, although you have lots of girlfriends... I mean partners,” I cleared my throat to hide my blush.

His green eyes smiled down at me, making my stomach do a distracting backflip.

This is a serious matter, not a time to act shy because your crush is looking at you! I scolded and returned to work mode.

Straight face to hide emotions.

Amongst his constantly changing companions, one face remained perpetual.

Honey Harrington. She was also the one with the worst character of them all, but her acting career painted her as an angel just because she posted some pictures at the orphanage on her social media.

The media also often labelled her as the heiress of X Wolfe Industries.

“Miss Honey Harrington is still the most stable of them all. My only concern is if Loise likes her.”

It was too risky to display jealousy at this moment.

I needed to keep a straight face and prioritize Loise’s happiness and comfort.

“There’s nothing between us,” he said. His eyes radiated a coldness as the sun darkened the green of his irises.

“But you...”

“I’ll be direct. I want you to be my partner. The one I stay loyal to,” he said.

My ears rang, and I thought I’d pass out from how dizzy I felt.

I rested my shoulder against the wall to steady my swaying body.

Did I hear him right?

“You agreed not to talk about this,” I said through gritted teeth.

This was a sneaky move.

“That’s why I’m asking you officially. Be my sexual partner. We don’t have to get feelings involved. You care about Loise. That means everything to me, Nicole. More than any partner I ever had in the past,” he grabbed my elbows in his hands.

“I want to make this work. I want to be a better dad for my daughter, and I need your help. I’ll pay you more if that’s what it takes.”

“No. No,” I immediately refused.

As desperate as I was for money, I knew how dangerous free money was.

“Give me some time to think about it. Like five days or a week.” I rubbed my temples.

I could feel a headache coming.

“Three days,” he agreed in a final tone.

“That’s not how negotiations go!” I wanted to scream. I nodded instead.

“I’ll get my driver to take you home.”

“I can wait with you. It’s no problem.”

Was he sending me away?

“You haven’t had enough rest, and it’s all my fault,” he seemed apologetic as he lowered his head.

His tone softens like milk over the skin.

Did he mean staying up all night or the sex we had this morning?

“Boss,” someone called from behind. “Miss Harrington,” he nodded as soon as he noticed me.

“Good morning,” I nodded with furrowed eyebrows.

How did he know my name?

“Jay will take you to pack your things. Just give him the direction. And you can get some rest when you get home. I’ll stay with Loise until she recovers.”

“Okay,” I nodded.

“The doctors said she needed to be placed under strict observation before discharge can be processed.”

His revelation made me feel cooked.

He had said three days because we wouldn’t be seeing each other regardless.

“What about a change of clothes?”

“You are no longer my assistant or secretary. Now you are just my daughter’s nanny, and we could be more depending on your response. I’ll see you in three days,” he said with a smile and turned around to attend to the doctor.

“Here we are, Miss Harrington.”

My stomach curled in hatred as I snapped out of my thoughts. Being called by my surname unsettled me for many reasons I couldn’t explain. But mostly because I never met the man who gave it to me.

“Please call me Nicole, Mr Jay.”

“My name is John, Jay for short,” he extended his hand.

I shook it with a smile and stared at the building we were parked at.

It was a hostel with two bunks and horrible living conditions—the reason why I always took on extra hours and embraced working overtime like we were best friends.

The water was sickening, but what was worse were the people I lived with.

I wasn’t looking forward to seeing them.

“You look pale, are you okay?” Jay asked with his eyes on me through the rearview mirror.

“Yes, I’m just thinking about how to move my things,” I said.

It wasn’t a lie, just a half-truth. I wondered if he could hear the nervous thudding in my chest.

“I’m here to help,” he offered and I took it immediately.

My two roommates were girls I’d lived with for six years—since college, but the terror they’ve caused me was enough to last a lifetime.

I didn’t see myself doing this alone.

“I’d appreciate that,” I said and summoned the courage to push open the door.

Jay walked in after me.

With shaky hands, I took out the room key, but just as I was about to put it in the keyhole, the door opened outside with a bang.

Loud music played inside as a girl stumbled out smacking gum loudly with her drunk boyfriend in arm.

“Nicole, Nicole, fancy seeing you here. Did you get fired? Or did you finally find a man to clear your cobwebs?”

Jay blushed at the remark, but her question was condescending in every way.

The way she chewed gum in my face, her boyfriend smoking and coughing in my face.

“Nicole came back? Oh, I haven’t returned the outfit I borrowed from her cupboard yesterday.”

I locked that thing with two padlocks.

My headache intensified. I brushed past my first roommate into the room.

“Hey, knock first,” she shouted as she threw a dress at me.

It was mine. The outfit I’d saved for months to wear for the company’s anniversary party was now ruined with the stench of alcohol and vomit. 

It made me nauseous.

The room wasn’t any better.

Jay reached the windows before I could, sliding the glass panes for better ventilation. Cooking and smoking in the same place made the tiny bedroom reek with stench of different things.

It was in a rundown place so I of course didn’t expect it to smell like honey and roses.

However, I could smell urine through the closed toilet door. That said enough about my roommates’ habits.

I usually did all the cleaning and my absence in the house had turned it into something else.

She continued to mumble under her breath but I knew better than to engage.

“Do you need help with that?”

I could feel his presence very close from behind.

“No, it’s fine for now,” I said.

I needed him here for a confidence boost. That, however, was too close.

“You’re handsome,” She soon shifted her attention to flirting with Jay while I focused on stuffing my things into my travelling bags.

After they halved and shared most of my belongings, there wasn’t much to pack.

Soon, I was done and ready to leave. My two roommates, however, didn’t agree with that.

“And where do you think you are packing to when rent is due next month?”

I’d assured myself that I wouldn’t have to deal with them again since I was leaving, but the strength of their voices triggered my anxiety from memory.

The bag in my hand dropped to the ground as my shaky limbs could no longer hold them, then I started to stutter.

God! I hated this side of me.