10. Too Close

Chapter 10

Too Close

Vanilla cried in Nick's arms, pouring out all the pain Beck had given her. Beck had just accused her of wanting to separate him from Sophie, even arrogantly Beck said to finish their engagement.

"You think you'll be able to take me away from Sophie by taking her position in the company?" Beck sarcastically threw his taunts at Vanilla.

Vanilla, who at that time still didn't understand where Beck's conversation was going, could only listen to Beck's words that continued to corner her.

"Don't think too highly of yourself just because my parents love you, Vanilla. You can persuade my mother to fire Sophie from the company. But, that won't be able to separate our love," Beck said arrogantly.

Vanilla felt her chest start to tighten, she understood why Beck was so angry with her even though she only guessed that Lucy did something to Sophie. Beck always rejected her, Vanilla couldn't deny that she felt hurt by Beck's rejection. However, being accused of something she didn't do felt a thousand times more painful.

Beck stared sharply at Vanilla. "From now on, our engagement is over." Beck paused. "I'll talk to Xaviera and my parents."

The man walked out of the room without even looking at Vanilla for a moment. He left Vanilla standing rooted to the spot, looking down while feeling the heat in her eyelids. Slowly the girl slumped to the floor, sitting with tears in her eyes.

She had been abandoned by Beck many times. She had been insulted by Beck many times, she had also seen Beck and Sophie on the bed. However, the pain from everything she had ever felt seemed to become one and hit her feelings until Vanilla sank to the bottom of the abyss called destruction.

"Vanilla...." The voice was a little hoarse, but so soft.

She just gave in when Nick pulled her into his arms. Vanilla gripped the shirt on the side of Nick's waist, burying her face in the broad chest of the man who a few minutes ago filled her wild thoughts. Finally she did feel the man's warm embrace.

"You could catch a cold," Nick said. He lifted Vanilla's light body and brought her to sit on the sofa.

Nick hugged her, stroking her hair lovingly. The man even landed his lips on the top of Vanilla's head several times.

"Beck broke off our engagement," Vanilla sobbed.

"Do you want me to teach Beck a lesson? I'll beat him up if you want."

Vanilla shook her head weakly.

"And then?"

"I don't know...." Nick kissed the top of Vanilla's head again. "Cry until you're satisfied."

Xaviera, who had been standing in the doorway watching the sweet scene, smiled faintly.

I'm sorry, Vanilla. But, sooner or later you have to go through this. You have to see that there is a man who is very close to you and in his eyes there is love for you.

Xaviera was the mastermind behind what Vanilla was feeling, she deliberately told Lucy that Vanilla had returned from New York but unfortunately their children's relationship was still not progressing because Beck and Sophie were still together.

The woman cleared her throat. "Nick, can you take Vanilla back home? I think she needs to rest," she said.

Nick nodded his head. "Okay, let's go back home."

Vanilla looked up, she wiped away the rest of her tears using the palm of her hand. "My job..." she groaned.

"We'll work on the design together, I'll get your laptop." Nick said.

Xaviera who was still standing in the doorway replied, "I'll get your stuff."

In less than five minutes they were both in Nick's car, the man was putting on Vanilla's seat belt. His lips continued to smile while in his mind the man grinned triumphantly.

You're the one who pushed Vanilla away, Beck. Not me.

***

"W-whose house is this?" asked Vanilla as they entered the yard of a house that looked more like a mansion in the middle of the city.

"My home," replied Nick, the man smiled softly.

"Why are we here?"

"You're too late to protest, Miss." Nick stepped on the brakes of his car right in front of the main door.

Enthusiastically the man unbuckled his seat belt then opened his car door, half running he circled his car to open the car door for Vanilla. "Welcome to my house, Princess," said Nick, the man grinned.

"Nick, I think we better go to my house," said Vanilla. The girl seemed reluctant to get out of the car.

Nick raised his eyebrows. "Don't be shy, there are only servants in this house."

Vanilla blinked.

Vanilla's nervous and doubtful expression made Nick feel annoyed with the girl. "I didn't mean to be mean to you. But, okay if you're afraid of me... I'll take you home."

When Nick was about to close the car door, Vanilla stopped him. "I-I didn't mean it like that...." She felt uncomfortable as if she suspected Nick would do something bad to her even though the man was trying to erase her sadness.

Vanilla hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt then slowly lowered her feet to get out of the car, accepting Nick's outstretched hand that greeted her as if she were a princess, as Nick called her.

"Where are your parents?" asked Vanilla when they were in Nick's room which was dominated by white combined with cream.

"My parents are in their office." Nick unbuttoned his shirt one by one. "Make yourself at home, Vanilla. No need to be shy."

He threw his shirt into the special dirty clothes basket then he left Vanilla who secretly swallowed her saliva glancing at Nick's shirtless body, the man stepped into the walk-in closet. Two minutes later the man came out wearing only a t-shirt and cloth pants, looking casual, but comfortable.

"Do you want something to drink or eat?" Nick sat on the sofa right next to Vanilla. "I'll ask the waiter to provide everything you want."

"I think just water," Vanilla answered.

Nick was really annoyed by Vanilla's awkward attitude. Nick had met dozens of girls in his life, most of them seemed flattered to know him, especially if they could date him. They would act like elegant women of high status, they acted like spoiled princesses in front of Nick. However, Vanilla acted normal, as she was and a little awkward.

"Okay, water...." Nick grabbed his cellphone to call the waiter to prepare everything he instructed. The man spoke German, Vanilla at least understood because some of her friends in New York used to be from Germany.

"Do you speak German?" asked Vanilla when Nick had finished talking on the phone.

"Yes, the chef in this house is from Germany." Vanilla frowned.

"I just asked for water, why...."

"Water is special for you," said Nick, the man stole a kiss on Vanilla's shoulder.

Although only briefly, in fact the brush of Nick's lips on her shoulder which was still wrapped in cloth made Vanilla tense. Her thoughts went wild again, she wanted to be in Nick's arms which were comfortable, warm, and made her feel protected. Realizing Vanilla was tense, Nick rubbed Vanilla's shoulder that he kissed.

"I brought you here on purpose because I don't want you to think about your neighbor anymore," said Nick.

The goal was like that, at first. Who knows later. Vanilla leaned her back on the sofa, her lips smiling bitterly. She raised her left hand. Looking at the ring that was wrapped around her ring finger, four years the object had been wrapped around her finger.

However, all of that seemed to never mean anything to Beck. Maybe she was too stupid because she wanted Beck until she never opened her eyes to see another man in her life.

"I think, this should be removed soon," she muttered.

She pulled her engagement ring with Beck and then pinched it between her index finger and thumb. Nick reached for Vanilla's waist, embracing the girl, eroding the distance between them and the girl didn't refuse.

"You'll get a better replacement, trust me."

"I'm not pretty as soap," Vanilla muttered.

In an instant Vanilla was sitting on Nick's lap without her being able to remember how the man moved her body. His movements were so fast, either because Vanilla was too focused on her daydream comparing herself to Sophie who was so beautiful, graceful, and of course always looked fashionable or Nick had the ability to stop time for a few seconds.

"Don't ever think you're not beautiful," Nick said, the man stared deeply into Vanilla's eyes. Feeling Nick's gaze as if penetrating her heart, Vanilla controlled herself as best she could.

"Nick... we're too close."

"When you cried earlier we were closer than this," Nick said in a teasing tone.

Vanilla pursed her lips, she tried to get off Nick's lap but the man held her back.

"I-I'm thirsty..." she sighed.

Nick chuckled hearing Vanilla's confession. "You're always thirsty whenever you're with me, huh?"

He stroked the hair on top of Vanilla's head. Vanilla smirked then she bit her lower lip. Damn! Seeing Vanilla bit her lower lip made Nick feel frustrated, the girl in front of him was so beautiful when she bit her lower lip.