CHAPTER 10: MISSING HIM.

(NANCY'S POV)

I felt sour as I looked towards Alaric. I thought about apologizing, but I felt like it wasn't the right time. He surely hated me at that point. He had helped me with Michael, and I hadn't even given him so much as a thank you.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulled up in front of a really fancy building, allowing me to look around. I hadn't even noticed when we had entered the neighborhood. It was so quiet and had few people walking around, unlike my usually busy neighborhood. I looked towards Alaric questioningly, but his face was expressionless. I immediately took it as my cue to get out.

"There's a penthouse on the top floor, and all you'll need will be there. If there's anything you can call the receptionist," he instructed as I alighted. He sped off as soon as my feet touched the floor. I stumbled back a few steps due to the dust, blinking in surprise.

Yeah, I guess I dug that pit myself.

A tall Asian looking man was standing by the door.

"You must be Miss Nancy," The man said with a polite bow. I stared speechlessly at him, taking an instinctive step back.

"You don't need to be afraid, the boss has ordered me to take very good care of you," he smiled, taking my petty handbag and leading me towards an elevator. I looked to the right and saw the supposed receptionist. She had light brown hair and gentle features, but there was something about the way she looked at me that I didn't like. And I was pretty sure I had never met her in my life.

The man in front of me had just called Alaric, boss. Last time I checked, the only thing Alaric was the boss of was his own awful comebacks.

On the other hand, my mind was filled with questions that seemed rhetorical. Why did I need protection? Michael really broke into my house? I tripped on my way to the elevator, but luckily I stood my ground.

I felt the receptionist snicker behind me, and the Asian looking guy was trying his hardest not to laugh out loud.

"You can laugh, you know."

"I'm really..." He laughed, "terribly sorry."

For the second time in one day, I felt like a moThe elevator door opened in less than a minute and I hastily walked out, craving the protection of a bed.

Having a good look, the top floor was stupid rich. The hall was decorated with paintings I'd seen only on TV, and decorated with gold and red paint. The guy who escorted me handed me a key card with a smile and left me alone. I hadn't even asked him for his name.

When I entered the room I was allocated, it left me utterly speechless. It had an indoor Jacuzzi and was practically a mansion on a rooftop. The walls were made of glass that gave me a first-hand view of the stars. I had always liked the stars.

I hadn't forgotten about my fight with Ric, and I was just too stubborn to admit that I had been wrong. He wasn't a saint either.

I needed to apologize to him. I picked up my phone but immediately realized that I didn't even have his number. He wasn't on the work group chat and I wasn't sure anyone on my contact list had his number either. I felt uncomfortable as I looked across the penthouse. I knew Ric was rich, but this was on a whole different level. He actually cared about me. I grunted and shoved my negative thoughts aside.

"Tomorrow he will come and we'll make up," I muttered to myself. I started exploring, and I wasn't going to let some little quarrel ruin my fun.

I walked all over the penthouse at least three times, making sure I got to see every single detail.

I decided to watch TV after I was done refreshing myself. It was boring, actually, so I plopped myself on the furry couch, instantly dozing off.

My neck was sore the next morning when I woke up. I had slept in a posture that I wasn't even sure existed, and I had even drooled on the couch. I heard a knock on the door and immediately beamed, not minding that I was still in my bathing robe. I rushed to the door, expecting only one person: Alaric. My heart was broken when I opened the door.

"H-hello," I grunted at the guy from the night before.

"Good morning, Miss. The boss said that you are welcome here for as long as you like, but if you insist on leaving, he'll have to place bodyguards.” He smiled politely before bowing to leave. “Also, eat! Anything you want, just say the name.”

"Wait," I said, still unsatisfied. He didn't say anything about Alaric. I had to bring it up myself. "Will he not come today?” I asked, trying not to sound desperate, but the guy just shook his head, saying,

"Master Alaric has a really busy schedule and will not be able to come here today .” With that, he left.

Master Alaric? Busy schedule?

Other than bullying me at work I wasn't even sure Ric had a life.

"Wait," I called out to the guy again who thankfully didn't look annoyed. "Do you have any way of reaching him?" I asked, somewhat afraid of the answer.