chapter 1

PROLOGUE

I look at the envelope in my hand, blood-red in color screaming danger, asking me not to open it. My hands are shaking, not able to comprehend anything at the moment. Sweat trickling over my forehead. I gulp the lump forming in my throat. I am very much aware that once I open it there won't be any going back. With my heart racing, I tear it open to find a letter in it. I choke on my words when I read it.

Dear Nicole,

You may think that you can run from me but you are wrong, Cole. No worries! If you still think so, you can run as much as you want, but remember, you can never hide from me. Let me make one thing very clear to you, Cole. Even if you are hiding deep beneath the core of this world, I'll dig up and find you, princess. You just can't leave behind the world you belong to. You can never escape from me, I'll drag you straight back to hell, darling. Meet you soon, Cole.

Your sexy bastard,

Devil

I knew that I was looking at the catastrophe that has hit my life.

____

Finding yourself at your favorite place makes you feel more happy and peaceful because you can recollect all those good moments that you have spent there. So right now I am at my best-loved Cafe known as Cupcake story.

Oh Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself; I am Nicole Johnson and I am a vet. Thinking about my job makes me happier every time. I just love it so much. It's that feeling of satisfaction that I get when I am surrounded by those cute little pets and makes me wonder how unconditionally those animals love their pet parents. It shows how selfish we humans are when we try to find something suitable for our convenience to love others. People look for facial attributes, body, nature, and what not to make them believe that they love someone.

I mean, that's so selfish, isn't it? But never would you find a dog loving his master because he is beautiful or abandoning him if he is ugly. It's just pure love. They love you because they actually love you. There isn't any other reason behind it. This might sound a little crazy to you, but that's how I think.

I remember the time when I was a little five-year-old. I was happily playing in a garden near my house. While throwing a ball towards my friend I felt like I heard a squeal from the opposite side of the road. I hurriedly reached the other end from where the cry was coming. To my astonishment, I found a little puppy wailing in pain. It shocked me when I realized that he was hit by a vehicle. Tears started pouring out of my eyes, I felt so helpless. I wanted to do something, but my hands were shaking. Soon I was running towards my house carrying the pup in my arms. After reaching home, I desperately pleaded with my dad to take him to the doctor. But before we can put him in the car, he stopped breathing. He died right in my arms. I started weeping uncontrollably. I can feel the pain he must have gone through, and it must be really hard to not be able to express your feelings in words when you want to. That's how animals feel when they aren't able to communicate their sufferings. From that day I decided that I would be a vet and help these voiceless creatures by lessening their agony.

I can never imagine myself doing something else. It is like I was destined to be what I am today. I mostly spend my time working and whenever I need a break from it, I come to the cupcake story. I like the atmosphere here, the aroma of coffee and sweet cupcake that tickles my nostrils. So right now I am sitting at one of the tables, my favorite one near the window where I always sit. I took a half-day and came here. It's not like I have to take permission from anyone, it's my own Clinic. I can close it whenever I want. I mostly work the entire day, but sometimes on Sunday I take a break and come here.

I started coming to this place when I shifted my Clinic from Boston to here in Los Angeles. I graduated from a vet school in Boston two years ago and opened my Clinic first there. I can feel the blood drain from my face when I remember the reason why I had to move here in a hurry about a year ago. I immediately brush that thought out of my mind. Nicole, it's been a really long time. You need to forget it. It's in the past now. Move on, girl. But how can I fail to think of that beautiful face? Those mesmerizing grey orbs which force you to stare into them forever. That straight nose, high cheekbones, strong jawline, and smooth skin which makes you want to run your fingers on it. His soft silky dark hair slightly longer at the back. His pink full lips screaming out loud to be kissed. Damn, I don't even want to think about his swoon-worthy body, because I would definitely lose it there. Oh god, what's wrong with me?

Suddenly I am shaken out of my thoughts by someone, I look around and find Samuel standing next to my table with an amused expression. He looks at me and says, "Hey Nikki, how are you?"

I smile at him and answer, "I am fine, Sam. How are you doing?" Samuel works here, and I have known him since the first day I came here, and now he is a wonderful friend. He is a really cute guy and hardworking too. I have never seen a boy as smart as him work so hard. He works as a part-timer here on weekends because on weekdays he has to attend classes. He is in the last year of graduation, two years younger to me. I never asked him why he needed extra money as I don't want to be nosy.

"You seemed to be distracted a while ago. Is there any problem, Nikki? If there is, you can feel free to brief me." he asks. I can clearly see the concern on his face. He actually cares about me.

I give him a warm smile, "Nothing to be concerned about, I was just thinking about random things."

"Okay," He says discontented.

"Do you want me to get something for you?"

I take a look at my finished latte cup and say, "No, thanks for asking. I am about to leave now," I smile at him while standing. Surprisingly, I see a hint of disappointment on his face. "Bye....have a nice day Sam." saying that I grab my purse from the table and head for the door.

As I am about to open the door, I hear Sam calling me from behind. "Nikki, wait!" I see him jogging towards me.

He seems to be a little embarrassed or blushing? I don't know because he is looking at his shoes, and not me." I...I wanted to ask you if you are free next week? Maybe we can hang out somewhere." now I can see the blush creeping through his neck. He looks like a red tomato.

I chuckle a little and tease him, "Are you asking me on a date? I hope you haven't forgotten that I am older than you."

He frowns at me, "Only a couple of years and it doesn't even matter to me. Fine, let us just think about it as a friendly date. What do you say?" he looks at me expectantly. He appears darn cute to me at this moment.

I think for a while and say, "Okay, let me know about your plan on the phone."

His face lightens up with happiness "Thank you Nikki." before I could say anything he gently pecks my cheek.

I blush a little "Okay bye then, See you soon."

"Take care," Sam says, smiling as I walk out of the Cafe. I smile too. Never did I ever expect Sam asking me out, knowing the fact that he is younger than me. It's not like I am someone who follows orthodox, but still, it feels weird to be dating a guy younger than you. Why am I even thinking about this now? We are not dating and I am not even sure about getting in a relationship with him. It's just a friendly date.

By now I am walking on the street. My house isn't that far from my Clinic. In fact, I have to pass through it to reach my home and my clinic is just down the lane from the cupcake story. there is a really beautiful garden opposite to it, which is always full of life. Sometimes I love to take a walk there, just to grab fresh air. Next to my clinic is a pretty little bookstore. Emily takes care of it. I met her when I started my clinic here. She is a cute little lady with her chubby cheeks and glasses. She is quite adorable, I can say. Whenever I am not engaged with a patient, I like to spend time in bookstore reading books. I hate to admit that I love reading super cliche romance novels. Please don't judge me, It's because I think nothing like that can ever happen in actual life apart from that, lusting over fictional hot characters is pretty much fun.

Thinking all about this when I approach my lane, I stop midway when I see a black Porsche in front of my clinic. Suddenly I am frozen at my place, unable to move. Oh my god! No, this can't be him. This can never be him. How can he know where I moved to? I never told anyone except my family. Fuck! why am I panicking so much? Nikki, you are being ridiculous. It cannot be the only black Porsche owned by him standing in front of your clinic. There must be possibly thousands or hundreds of them in Los Angeles. I don't know if it is that affordable? I doubt. I am not even able to breathe properly. I silently pray to God that it shouldn't be him. That's when the front door of the car flings open.