Chapter 6

Chapter 6

He had made his way towards where she sat; walking with an assured confidence. Watching him, she could see how he could easily bring a large crowd to a complete standstill. 

Her top teeth had bitten down onto her bottom lip in apprehension. He tucked his hands in his pant pockets and continued towards her, his polished black shoes making a clicking noise on the pearly white, marble floor with every step. 

His cologne started to permeate her nostrils. “Jules, remember me? How are you?” He questioned gently, with the deepest voice she had ever heard, looking straight at her and standing so close that she could have touched him. 

Did he choose her to carry his child because there was least surprise in him in meeting her after such a long time.

“Y-yes,” she answered, wondering how the hell he still remembered her name, and even if he recalls who she was from the pregnancy report, only her mom and friends called her Jules instead of her given first name, Juliet. “I’m Nikolas Ries, I did not make a formal introduction of myself when we met six months ago.” He paused and inhaled deeply, trying to gauge her response. 

“I wanted to say how sorry I am, that I behaved like a Grinch with you earlier not knowing about the emergency you were in on that day.” 

An apology? That too from the mighty Nicolas Ries? Probably his men were as surprised as she was because they whipped their faces towards them and checked her out like she was a being from another planet.

Juliet stiffened at their mindful gaze.   “There was a heavy project ahead which I had to take care of and it was consuming all my thoughts. We were together in that,” he said, gesturing towards the small group of men standing behind them a few feet away. 

“How is your mom? I remember it was to look after her that you were in an urgency to reach Burnsville, right?” He sighed and moved his feet slightly, waiting for her response. 

“She is fine now. How did your project go?” She questioned, tilting her head slightly to one side, gesticulating towards the closed room, which now contained more men. 

Juliet was still staring deeply into the green pools of his eyes; noticing, now they were closer, that they contained amber flecks. She couldn’t have looked away, even if she had wanted to. How could she be so affected by the man who was the devil in disguise of a human, who had done innumerable crimes and killed so many people?  

He was a purely sybilline. He was talking to her so politely but who knows what in the next moment. He might be lifting his arm to blow someone’s face. Standing up from her seat and establishing a position in front of him, she tried to give the impression that she was in control of her senses. Juliet still had to look up, as even though she was tall, yet only came up to the height of his shoulders. 

Her body was her worst enemy. She felt her nipples pebble inside her bra. His gaze shifted down to her breasts, almost instinctively, like her body had sounded a bloody horn to get his attention. What the fuck? Juliet’s confidence evaporated immediately, and she shook her head trying to dislodge her thoughts. 

She fisted and clamped her hands to her sides, as they were aching to reach out and touch the Greek God. “It was a success,” he replied, realigning his eyes with hers. “It gave Ries Industries the scope of expansion.” He cleared his throat and paused. “From today onwards you will be staying in my penthouse until you deliver the baby. All your needs and requirements will be taken care by the domestic staff. If there is ever anything more I can help you with… I mean, anything; you only have to contact this number. Your number is in my ‘alert me’ list. No matter how busy I am, I will reply to your calls.” He forwarded his visiting card to her.

Juliet wanted to know how she became pregnant with his child. But their conversation was interrupted by one of his men. Looking at his face it was clear, the information the man had to give Ries was very important. “Nikolai.” He interjected, looking between her and the 6ft 4 inches sexy demon that stood in front of her. 

He must be someone very close to him because he was addressing Ries by his first name. Juliet knew in the mafia, power and position are of pivotal importance even if the person in question is his/her own family. 

She caught hold of the reins of her heart and reluctantly broke eye contact with Nikolas. The man before him looked emotional, and said something to Ries which was detrimental because the next second his calm green eyes turned to live embers. 

“Take him to the place from where there is no return,” Juliet heard him, like the order from Hades. His tone was obnoxious, savage and evil. She prayed she better not see that side of him anymore.

Nikolas had shifted his gaze from the man in question to the rest of the group and she had taken her first proper full breath since she had first clapped eyes on him. Fuck! He was extremely intimidating.

After the man left he flashed his eyes back on her and they immediately turned placated. “I know everything that happened turns out to be a shock to you. Believe me, it was equally surprising to me when I heard the news. You will slowly get adjusted to it. I will pay you as much as you want and even more if you would like to have. It will look after your medical degree at NYU and you don’t have to depend on your step mom anymore for the funds.” He paused, swallowed and carried on, “all you have to do is hand over the baby to me once it is born.” His green eyes started to assess her with their amber flecks and all of a sudden disappeared as she shouted “no”. 

Nikolas narrowed his eyes at her waiting for her to speak. “I have been framed into this by my step-sister.” She huffed out. “I didn't even know I was being examined for an artificial insemination, I came there only for my routine gynaecological check-up.”

His calm features turned to a hurricane and Juliet saw her last drop of confidence blowing her away. “Is that why you tried to escape? What,who and how doesn't interest me anymore. All that matters is that I paid for it and you are carrying my baby.”

“How can you be so heartless?”

“I have heard much worse.”

Juliet caught an unexpected sob from the back of her throat and clasped her right hand over her mouth. The last thing she wanted there was to project herself vulnerable before him. 

“Jules,” he nodded at her. “Calm down.” Ries moved his hand suddenly and held her forearm. She could feel the heat and when his fingers started to move, albeit slightly, she could feel his calloused skin abrading hers. Her whole body responded, as though he had lit the touch paper to her soul. 

“I am Juliet Greenfield for you.” They don't know how long their eyes held each other’s gaze again, in mutual understanding. The moment eventually broke. 

“You will always stay Jules for me, the mother of my baby. I don't combine my private life with business.” He censured her with gentle reproof. At the same time, he left her little choice.

“I have never thought of being a part of your private life. I am telling you again, I have been framed into this. I can’t part with my child for the wrongdoing of my step sister. And I did not take any money from you. I'm not even sure how all this happened.” 

“Then I will accept the mother along with the child.”