A story

▪︎●▪︎Later in the evening▪︎●▪︎

I stared at the file printed out with a tired and fulfilled smile. Finally, I had rounded up all the unfinished work I had today. I arranged the printed file and took it with me to my office.

I tidied up my drawer and suitcase and was about to leave when I saw something laying idly on my desk. I picked it up and saw that it was the finance report I had asked Jude to submit to me.

I picked it up and placed it in my suitcase. I wasn't in the mood to go through it now. I picked up my phone and called dad. He had left the company a while ago as he only came over for the meeting.

"Dad, I won't be coming home for dinner." I announced softly as I walked out of my office.

Dad was quiet for a while before; "Is Fiona going to be with you?" He asked, referring to the bodyguard Nicholas got for me.

"Yes." I answered and heard him sigh a little.

"Alright then. Just say safe." He muttered before ending the call. I was so surprised and glad at the same time that he didn't inquire about where I was going.

After the call, I left the company's building to find Fiona waiting in the underground car park. She was standing next to my car. Her upright posture gave me a sense of security.

She opened the back door for me while I settled in. After, she went to the driver's seat and started the car immediately.

"Where to ma'am?" She asked as she stared at me through the car's interior rear-view mirror.

"Nicholas' mansion." I answered and she nodded in understanding before zooming off.

I didn't know how she knew where Nicholas' mansion was located but she was able to get us there successfully. The large gates were opened for us and she drove the car in. I stared at my surroundings in awe.

I had to admit that it's very large and beautiful. Fiona stopped the car in front of the building and I walked out of the car myself before entering the building alone. I stared around and couldn't find any single servants or maids except bodyguards claded in black suits.

How do thay clean the house? Besides, where us Theresa? I was hoping to meet her here but there was no sign of her presence.

I was led to the elevator by one of the guards and he pressed on a button, probably to Nicholas' room. When the elevators doors reopened, Liam was already there, looking really serious. He led me to a secured door.

"He is on the rooftop." He announced and I nodded. He was about to open the door when he stopped like he had just remembered something.

"I don't know why but he is in a really bad mood so don't try to make it worse." He said.

"I understand, really." I said. He gave me a brief stare before he opened the door for me.

I walked to the rooftop as directed. I saw Nicholas sitting at the far end of the rooftop. I felt real fear when I realised that he was sitting on the edge of the high building.

I found it shocking and really hard to believe. This mansion is really high. How was he so reckless to sit at such a spot? The wind howled around the building, and Nicholas' figure looked especially lonely under the dim lights around.

"Nicholas." I called out, announcing my presence to him.

He turned his attention to me and smiled. "You're here." He said and I nodded.

"Come, join me. The night view from up here is really beautiful." He said as he stared down the mansion.

"No, it's too dangerous. Please come down." I pleaded with urgency laced in my voice.

I didn't know why someone as gentle as Nicholas would do something this reckless. What's really going on with him??

He was silent for a while before he finally got down from the edge, his movements light and swift, showing he wasn't as careless about his safety as he appeared.

"What was that about?" I asked when he got to where I stood.

"That's what I do sometimes. I use such extreme behavior to relieve stress."

"But why??" I was confused with his reason.

"I believe that being close to death can really help me see what I truly wanted more clearly." He explained.

Upon hearing this, I felt a complex mix of emotions. I could relate to what he had just told me through my own pains and thirst for revenge. I really understood his sentiment.

"Was this the reason you called me here? To scare me?" I asked and he chuckled softly.

He placed his hands on my cheek and stared at me tenderly, lovingly. I could see a lot of emotions on his eyes. I could see love, pain, anger and sadness all together.

That was a first. Nicholas hardly shows all of his emotions at once. He does a really good job of masking them all but tonight, he was different. I could feel it. He looked more... vulnerable.

I couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong with him. He lifted my chin up and leaned in for a kiss. In the kiss, I could smell the faint scent of alcohol on him.

I frowned and pulled away from the kiss. "Have you been drinking?" I asked but he didn't answer my questions.

"You drank and still had the guts to climb up there. Where you trying to kill yourself?" I asked angrily. I was really furious and scared at the thought that I would have found his dead body here today.

He didn't answer me directly. Instead, he said; "I want to tell you a story."

His voice was low and mysterious, piquing my curiosity.