SEVEN

"Lover" She finished for him embarrassing him even more, since when did he feel embarrassed by trivial things like this.

"Yeah and now she won't go away. She follows me everywhere, I was trying to escape her the day you ran me over" He said enjoying the way she frowned when he mentioned the accident.

"Have you tried getting a restraining order?".

"Of course. It just never seems to stop her" She stayed silent for a couple of minutes and Nick was almost convinced she was mad at him until a slow smile crossed her lips and for a second he could only stare, just stare and appreciate the sight it was indeed a lovely one.

"Tell you what, you give me her details and I'll take care of it on one condition".

So that was what the smile was about, he couldn't resist his own lips tugged in a slow smile he would indulge her. "Name your price".

"You forgive me for running you over and we never speak of the incident again" Surprised he could only stare at her in facination of all the things she could ask him, she could have asked him to increase her commission from working with him or to prolong their contract term. "Well?" She asked impatiently.

He decided to have some fun first. "I'm not sure, it's a pretty strong hold to let go" Her eyes went wide. 

"What! it's a good deal, you'd be stupid to refuse" She warned, he burst out laughing enraging her even more.

"Okay fine".

"Really?".

"Yeah really".

"I don't trust you one bit. I want it in writing" He laughed again.

"Whatever, you're the lawyer".

"Good. I'll make something up and email it to you".

"Sounds good".

"One more question" Kim said feeling more guilt than before. "Does it hurt?".

"Does what hurts?".

"The injury".

"Oh this?" He said touching the spot, then he chuckled. "No it doesn't, it's not deep and it won't scar don't worry about it" Letting out a breath of relief she nodded with pursed lips.

"So if were done here I need to head back to the office'' She said turning to leave but Nick wasn't done yet, he wanted to see those grey orbs of hers flash fire one more time.

"Will you be driving yourself?".

She sighed and turned around slowly. "Yeah so?".

"Oh nothing, I'm just worried about the unsuspecting innocent people who would be crossing the street, you won't be so lucky as to run over a nice and understanding person like me".

If looks could kill, literally, Nick would be a dozen feet under the earth by now. "You promised you wouldn't talk about it".

"No I didn't. You said you wanted it in writing which means it doesn't count until I sign the agreement". 

"Serioulsy? What are you five?" His only response was a smile, with a smug look on his face an annoyed one on hers, she marched out slamming the doors behind her.`

Nick lowered the mug of coffee he was holding, too focused on the screen of his laptop he missed the desk by an inch, warm coffee spilled on his hand and the papers scattered around on the desk. "Shit!" Setting the cup down more carefully he swipped a handful of tissue from it's container to mop at the mess on the desk. Fuck now all the documents he was supposed to go through were ruined, it was a good thing he had a back up soft copy on his laptop he could always print out another copies but still the mess annoyed him.

It was 11:00pm and after a day of long boring meetings and countless documents to go through he was edgy but not tired, he was used to working long hours he didn't get this far by slacking off. He owned the hotel that housed his penthouse it was so much better than living in a regular house it saved him so much stress. The penthouse had three bedrooms including a bathroom in each of them, a livingroom, kitchen, pantry, gym, study which was his favorite part of the house, and a swimming pool. The study had been decorated according to his taste, a big mahogany table and a comfortable chair that looked intimidating but cozy at the same time, the round morrocan center rug and two long spacious couches that he had picked out himself, the study was like everyother, filled with books, every single one of which had been read at least twice, everything in the room was neat and organized thanks to his sturdy and hardworking maid Mrs Miller. Nick always took his breakfast and dinner in the study, he somehow always ends up sleeping on the couch after working that it had become a habit, it became official when Mrs Miller started leaving him blankets in  the study every night even though he had his bedroom which he only visits for a shower or change of clothes. The life of Nickolas Stone was envied by many but deep down he was a sad and lonely man.

His phone rang, he answered on the second ring it was his private investigator. "Ty".

"I have just sent you an email" A hard hoarsed spoke. "It has everything you need to know".

"Thanks Ty" Nick said then hung up. Ty was a private investigator he had hired three years ago when he had noticed something shady about a deal he was going to sign and Ty always proved himself efficent whenever there was something Nick needed to find out.

This time it was Kimberly Blake, the red headed vixen who wouldn't get out of his head. The first time Donnie had mentioned her name when they were looking for people to replace their legal team Nick had thought the name sounded familiar he just couldn't remember and then it became certain after seeing her that he knew her, probably from his past.

He checked the email from Ty and as he read it bits of his past memories started to come back to him; Kimberly Blake age twenty six, owner of Blake and Co legal practitioners, from Califonia, lived in a small town called Lovers Valley. Parents name; Tasha and John Blake. "John Blake" Nick said as his blood ran hot with rage, his fists were clenched so tight they turned white, his stare on the laptop was hard as if he was trying to burn holes into it.

Kim was John Blake's daughter, of all the people it had to be him, the man that changed the course of his life, he snatched the cup from the table and hurled it against the wall staining the wall and floor with the dark liquid. Nick grabbed his phone and dialed his secretary's number he answered on the first ring.

"Yes sir".

"James the invitation that came from vpa do you recall the date it had on it?" He heard some rustling and a bang. He had probably roused the young man from his sleep, after a couple of seconds he spoke again.

"It's the 19th of febuary sir" Nick's gaze strayed to the calendar on the far end of the table, it was 17th which means he could make it.

"Call Simon tell him to have the plane ready, we'll be flying to california by tomorrow's evening".

"When are you scheduled to return sir?".

"22nd".

"Okay sir" A couple of minutes later James went back to bed with a satisfied smile on his face, a couple of hours without his boss was a blessing on it's own but a whole day without him would be bliss. James often liked it when his boss went on business trips because it was the only time he could breath properly in the office. Nick never took him on the trips because he always complained that James was too incompetent and stupid he would only irritate him and jinx the entire project, James never had a problem with it he was just glad to be away from the beast.

"You seriously don't have to help me pack you know, I'm only going for a few days not relocating" Kim said shaking her head at Sam. They were at Kim's two bedroom rooftop apartment that had been rented to her by one of her former client who had been grateful to her for having won custody of his son for him, she got a good deal for the apartment.

She had been getting calls from her relatives, cousins, second cousins and so on, same story they all couldn't wait for her to come back home and they were glad she had finally decided to grow up, can you imagine that.

"Knowing how you are I might even offer to drive you to the airport and wait till you board".

"Dude".