Chapter 3 : Back to Santa Elena

"We have a new client who is interested in our products Nikki.They wanted to meet you personally. What do you think?" Geena Blake was a bit older than Nicole, she use to be Helen Hayes secretary.

When the business her grandmother started was turned over to Nicole three years ago, Geena became her assistant and mentor. Nicole learn a lot about running the business with the two ladies.

"Well then set an appointment."

"But they wanted you to go to their place, instead of them coming here."

"So what seems to be the problem?"

"Nothing I just wanted to get your approval before making a move." The older woman replied. Eventhough she had taught Nyx everything she knows about running the  business she never made decisions without asking her approval.

Twenty minutes later Geena return to her office. "It's all been set you are going to meet  Mr Charles Green the day after tomorrow. I already booked a ticket for you the day after tomorrow. 8 o'clock in the morning. You will be staying at The new Emerald hotel in Santa Elena."

"What?" Nicole was shocked to know that she will be returning to Tristan's territory.

"But I thought you said to set a meeting?"

"Yes I know,  but  never know that it will be in Santa Elena."

"It is in Santa Elena. So what is wrong with the place? I thought you roots are from there?"

"I have no one to return to that place, being there leaves a bad taste in my mouth." She said disgustedly.

"Well we cannot change  the place of the  meeting, if your not aware we are dealing with a multi-million company and giving them bad impression will be bad for our business." Geena said.

"What if we cancel the whole thing?" Nicole said. But she knew that would be the worst scenario.

"That will be the worst, or even might be the end of us."

"Okay." Nicole sigh, it may not be that bad after all it's been seven years ago. She told herself.

She told her grandmother about the move. " It may not be bad after all  Sweetie  why don't you look at it on the bright side."

"What are you thinking Grandma?"

"Well there are things you have to settle to that husband of yours."

"Ex- husband grandma. Scores to settle such as...?"

"Are you forgetting your inheritance. It belongs to you. You have the right to claim it. The house that your father left you. It's all in your name."

"But are you forgetting that  I nearly lost my children when he make sure that I won't survive after he force me to leave his home." 

"You were vulnerable then Sweetie but now you have emerge as one of the successful and influencial business woman."

"One that he can trample on when he will realized that I survived that accident he orchestrated hiding behind my true identity."

"We are not sure that he had something to do with that accident." Her grandmother countered.

"Who else who have a grudge on me that they wanted to get even?"

"Don't worry dear  I won't leave you to face this alone."

"What do you mean grandma?"

"We will all go to back to Santa Elena." Helen said confidently.

"But!" 

"No more buts dear. It's been a long time since I have been there myself. I have some scores to settle too."

"What about the twins?" She hesitantly agree.

"It will do them good to have a change of environment. Beside we will be there  for a week."

"A week! Grandma there's a lot of things that can happen in day much more in a week. Beside they are still in school. I don't think it will be a good idea."

"Let me handle that Sweetie."  Nicole allowed herself to be swayed by her grandmother.

Nicole after leaving Santa Elena has out grown her fear of her husband's anger she knew that she had never done wrong. What she is afraid for her children, if what their father might do to them once he discovered their existence.

Tristan never knew that he fathered Nicole's children.She recalled back if how her children was conceive out of the loveless marriage they have.

Flashback:

When Nicole took care of her father she also came to realized that she cannot forever allow herself to be dependent on others for her  welfare. She must find a way to make herself self reliant while she can.

Until his illness take a toll on his health.  Nicole could only watch helplessly as she saw her father's life slowly dying like a lighted candle. When the end came. Her father handed her a box, and told her to open it when she will be over with  her mourning.

After the burial Jacob invited her to stay with them in Tristan's mansion. Nicole hesitantly agreed. She thought after her father's gone she will enjoy a free life but then she was back to her prison like existence.

However there's changes in how Tristan's treatment of her. He is  more civil with her when his grandfather is around. But he totally ignore her when they were alone.

With Ginger's guide she makes an effort to look after his needs. She learns to cook. Manage the house, and even continue her studies.

Despite all her efforts nothing changes in her husband's treatment of her if there is, it becomes worst. But Nicola continued  to do her part waiting for the day she will be able to leave her prison like home.

On the other hand Samantha continued to manipulated Tristan's feeling so confident  on his affection  for her.

But one night  Tristan went home drunk. One of her friends took him home. He was surprised to see Nicole and was so surprised and admire her beauty.

But she attended him  just like always when he went home drunk but not as drunk as this time. She  thinks that he must be depressed about something.

She thinks just a few more months and she will be free from all of this . She knows that is what Tristan had been waiting for to file for a divorce. 

She had accidentally read the other day the draft that Tristan prepared. Thus it had crash  her hope that there will be a life for both of them together after two years , because after how he had treated her she had grown to understand and like the man.

She was about to leave his room when he stirred and get hold of her .

"Don't go please stay...." He murmured.  Nicole looked at his handsome face don't know what to do. Then with eyes close he pulled her down and embraced her she tried to push herself away but his hold became even more tighter.

"Tristan please..."  She tried to resist . But his reply was getting more bolder. He begun to shower her face her neck even her ear with wet  and sensual kisses.

"No..." But Nicole  who had never experienced being with the opposite sex give in easily, as Tristan in complete control of the influence of the spirit of the booze continued ravished her body and took control of her senses.

She didn't even noticed that she is already match his  every assault with her own brand of wantoness. Blinded by the feelings she had been awaken to, Nicole gave her all.

After Tristan rolled over. She drifted off to sleep. She woke up at dawn, feeling she had been ran over by a truck. She turn and recalled what happened last night, as she look at the naked form sleeping beside her.

She doesn't know whether to be embarrassed or to be happy that finally she she was able to discover how it feels to be with someone. The things that she only watch on television.

She made a move to leave the room but Tristan sensed her movement, and pin her under him once more in the heat of the moment she her him groan and calliing out a name, not hers but.

"Sam darling I can never get enough of you. Don't leave me don't you dare leave me..."

Nicole felt that the world had crash around her to the revelation that in his intoxication Tristan thought that he is making love to another woman not to his wife. He drifted of to sleep as Nicole cried and suffered in silence. The feeling of humiliation, loneliness and pain is breaking her heart. So broken that she slipped silently  and quietly leave his room.

Reaching her room she let the floodgates of tears rush to her beautiful face.until her sobbing body drifted of to sleep.

She was hoping to see him  the next day but he never came home for days. Like things that happened to them as husband and wife never occurred.

Recalling this gave her sadness not for her sake but for her children who never knew about their father.