Chapter two

Nicole 

Ten years later and I did put that hundred grand into very good use. 

Getting the hell out of the Russo mansion and building a fucking great life for myself somewhere far, far away from Kai Russo. 

“Rose no, don't run around with your shoes untied. You can trip in them.” I said to my nine years old daughter who was definitely not listening to me. 

“I'm going to a new school! I'm going to a new school!!” Rose giggled as she continued to circle the coffee table. 

“Rose!” I called and then went around the table to catch her. 

She giggled hardest when I caught her and wrapped her tiny hands around my neck. I couldn't hold on to my annoyance anymore the second she pulled away and I saw that big smile on her face. 

That smile that reminded me every single day for the last ten years that I had made the right decision by keeping her. That everything I had gone through, every disrespect, humiliation, every pain was totally worth it. And I wouldn't hesitate to go through it again if I it will give me this little bundle of joy. 

I pinched her cheeks in a playful manner. “What did I tell you about running around the house, huh?” 

“That it's not a good thing and I could trip and hurt myself.” She responded in her tiny voice. 

“That's right. Do you want to hurt yourself on your first day at a new school?” 

She shook her head slightly. 

“So don't run around with your shoe laces untied.” I added while tying her shoe laces. 

“Sorry, mummy.” 

“It's okay, sweetheart. I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?” 

She smiled widely and nodded. 

“Okay, let's get you to school.”

I had barely finished my last statement when I heard the sound of a car horn coming from outside. I instantly knew who it was, and it seems my daughter did as well as she jumped with excitement and ran towards the door. 

“Uncle Carl is here! Uncle Carl is here!!” 

“Rose, what did we just say about running around in the house.” I rubbed my temple when my daughter blatantly ignored me and threw herself in Carl's arms when he walked in. 

“Hey! How's my little princess doing?” He chucked as he carried her and kissed her forehead. 

“I'm fine. Look, I'm starting a new school.” Rose pointed to her uniform. 

“Ah yes! I'm taking you to your new school today.” Carl smiled at her. Rose's face brightened up and she giggled. 

“Thank you so much for agreeing to do this, Carl. I know you're super busy and I really really appreciate this.” I said as I gave him a quick side hug. 

“I'm never too busy for you, Nicole.” He responded while staring at me. I tried not to blush under his intense gaze and just looked away. 

“Or for my beautiful Rose.” Carl added and Rose, oblivious of what just happened, giggled. 

Carl and I have been platonic friends since law school. But recently, it seems like we were heading towards something more. He has asked me out on a couple of dates but we haven't really put a label on anything. 

We are both fine with the current status of our friendship. Besides, I don't think I want anything more from him. The only things I'm focused on right now is my career and my daughter. 

“Don't you have to start going to that meeting at Equinox?” Carl asked, breaking my trail of thoughts.

“Oh my God, yes. I have to meet the new CEO today to handle the legal parts of the handover.” I said while grabbing my purse and picking my car keys. 

“Thank you again for agreeing to watch Rose.” 

I kissed Rose's cheeks. “Be a good girl at school today. Mummy loves you.” 

Carl gave me a side hug. “Good luck with your meeting.” 

I smiled and rushed out of the house. I got into my car and was just about to start the car when my phone rang. I connected to the car speakers and answered the call. It was my assistant, Kimberly. 

“Talk to me, Kim.” 

“Ma'am, Mr Fletcher is here and waiting for your arrival.” She said. 

Mr Fletcher was the CEO of Equinox and the one I worked for as a corporate lawyer. He wanted to retire and had sold the company to an “old friend”, he claimed. He had done it while he was on vacation in Italy and claimed he was in his right minds when he made the trade. 

I didn't think he was. Because who in their right mind signs over their entire company without consulting their lawyer first. But he claimed the person he sold it to was family so they couldn't betray him. 

I still believed it was a stupid move. I haven't even met the new CEO and I'm the firm’s lawyer. 

“And the workers are terrified they're going to be laid off if the new owner brings his own staff.” Kim added. 

I sighed. This was another problem Fletcher had created when he sold his company without consulting his lawyer or informing his staff. 

“I'll be there in ten minutes.” I said and hung up. 

I started thinking of ways to negotiate with the new CEO to at least keep some of the previous staffs. Or at least negotiate a compensation for putting them out of job without any prior notice. There was also a lawsuit filed by a competitor that Equinox was in the middle off. 

By the time I got to the company, there were like a million tabs opened in my head. The receptionist was telling first person to ask me if the rumours were true and if they were going to lose their jobs. 

I gave her a vague response before taking the elevator up to the conference room where the meeting would take place. I met Kimberly at the door. 

“Is he here yet?” 

Kimberly shook her head. “Mr Fletcher is in there waiting for you though.”

I took a deep breath and pushed back all the angry words at the tip of my tongue. I couldn't exactly yell at him even though he constantly gave me headache. He was still my biggest client. 

Being the top corporate lawyer at Equinox had boost my career significantly. It had placed me on the ranks of top lawyers in the country. No matter how much the man annoyed me or did things that makes me wonder if sometimes he forgets he had a lawyer, I cannot drop him. 

“That's right. Get it all out.” Kimberly said.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. I plastered a smile on my face as I approached Mr Fletcher and shook his hands.

“Again, Ms Smith, I apologize for not informing you. But I assure you, Raymond is a good boss. You will enjoy walking under him.” He said.

“I certainly hope so.” I replied, my fake smile still in place. “Now where is Mr Raymond. We need to begin the paperwork and negotiations.”

“Oh, we don't need any negotiation. Raymond and I already handled everything.” Mr Fletcher responded. He stared behind me and smiled. 

“Ha! There he is.” 

I released a sigh of frustration and turned to look at who the Raymond is. My heart stopped dead in my chest when I saw the person who walked in. 

Ten years had passed and I hadn't forgotten what he looked like for a single day. The man who ruined my life. 

Kai fucking Russo.