Ten

Nick’s POV

After sending the email, Nick remained seated in front of his laptop. For some reason, he had hidden his email address. He knew Nita might not bother to read it if she knew it was from him, but hiding his identity might pique her interest a bit. 

He waited for some sort of reply or question, but after a while, there was none. 

He sighed, closing the laptop. 

Five years ago, he had retained the mansion, but he never slept in it. There, it was easier for him to long for Nita, but outside, he could focus on other things. He picked up his suit and moved out of the mansion. 

On his way, he could feel the eyes of the maids on him, but no one dared ask where the woman he claimed would be coming back soon was. Not even Mrs. Patel. 

He drove his car back to the office. The building was dead silent as every other worker had gone home. The sound of his footsteps could be heard loudly in the office. When he got to his office, he pulled on his suit and brewed himself a cup of coffee. 

Coffee was the only sane way to keep himself awake. Not that he was feeling sleepy in the first place. 

Sleeping would be harder tonight. As he lifted the glass of coffee to his lips, he remembered the look on Nita’s face when she had seen it. She had recognized him at once, and her lips had parted in surprise.  

Even though she was trying to put on a tough front, he could tell that she might also miss him. 

Was there a possibility that she remembered him so fast because she still cared for him? Or the hatred she had for him was that deep?

He finished his cup of coffee and opened his work laptop. 

He was trying to build a new franchise. It would be his gift to his son for not being part of his life for the past five years. His hand moved effortlessly on the keyboard, typing and closing sites as he researched for the materials he would need and the best way to go about this new business.

He was two hours deep into his business when his phone started ringing. Nick groaned, but he picked up the phone. He hadn’t bothered checking the caller.

“Hello, Nick darling.” His mother’s voice filled his ear. 

Nick let out a fresh groan. If he knew it was his mother calling, he wouldn’t have bothered picking up the call. 

“Are you sleeping, darling?”

For a moment, he was tempted to lie, but he said. “No, mother. I’m busy at work.”

His mother sighed. “You work too hard, darling. The Grimm is already a top name in the state, and not everyone can compete with us. I don’t know why you have to work yourself to the bone when you’re supposed to be building a family.”

Nick stood up, needing a fresh cup of coffee. His mother was on her favorite topic again. It was always about getting a new family. Continuing the Grimm legacy. And all that. 

“I already told you, mother. I have a family of mine.”

“Come on, Nick.” She cut him off. “It has been five years since that ungrateful brat ran away, don’t tell me you’re still hanging over her.”

He already told her countless times that Nita didn’t run away, but his mother wouldn’t have it any other way. He drank the coffee at a go. “Mother, I really have no time for this. The company is in a serious dilemma right now, and I need to work.”

His mother scoffed. “The company will be fine, darling. That’s why we are paying the staff. What’s most important is that you continue the family name. And that’s why I already set up a blind date for you.”

“No, mother.”

She grumbled. “Will you listen to me, Nick. You’re going to like this lady. She’s my friend’s daughter. She had been trained on how to be a wife to a big conglomerate like ours. She will be the perfect wife for you. I promise, son.”

Nick shook his head. “No way, mother. I’m still married to Nita. There’s no way I will be going on a blind date with some other lady.”

He knew what was going to come next. They had done this several times. Before she could start with her threats. He hung up the call. 

He was just seated on his chair when his phone started to ring again. Nick groaned. If she wasn’t his biological mother and he knew she meant well for him, he would have blocked his number at this point.

He placed the call on silent as he resumed his work. 

This was the thing that kept him going.

Five years ago, hehad gave up on life. He thought he would die, but the doctor had termed what happened to him as a miracle. 

He was better than they expected after treatment, and had more chances to live his life. 

Life, he wasn’t willing to live alone without Nita and their son. 

After taking a break around one a.m., he picked up his phone. There were ten missed calls from his mother. He ignored it and found Jeff’s number. 

Jeff had claimed that the spy at the airport had seen his wife and his mother. 

It was the second ringing that Jeff picked up 

“Good morning, sir.” his voice hoarsened as if he had just woken up from bed. 

Nick ticked. “I need you to get a picture of my son and send it to me.”

There was a silence at the end of the line, before “Yes, sir.”

Great. “I’ll be expecting it first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

He hung up. 

Now, that he was aware that Nita had no plans of ever giving him his son. He needed to find ways to make the little boy like him. He was going to win his son back, and in the process, he planned on winning Nita back, too.