ERIKAHer eyes opened to the bright sun pooling in from the window. She stretched a little and sat up, looking around to see she was alone in that room. Erika took a deep breath and freshened up, preparing herself already to be locked up in that room until afternoon when she would actually slip out and meet Metin.She was just about to change when she noticed a note set on the bedside table and she picked it up."Go back to the room you used to live in, you can't enter my bedroom anymore. You'll continue working as a servant," the note said and it was clearly written by Nigel. Even though that was for the best but she was confused. What could've happened last night after she slept that had brought a complete 180 in his decision? Why would he send her away out of nowhere?But this made Erika's job easier, she wouldn't have to sneak out anymore. A little enthusiastically, she put on her uniform and left the room once and for all, leaving to start her shift. She ran and finally reached t
ERIKA"Is this..?""Yes," Metin nodded, confirming her fears. "He's going to trick your father into signing 100% of the company rights and transfer it to himself. Not just that, Mr. Matthew will also lose all his money. Nigel Asher is planning something truly unfathomable. And once he does it, it's over."Erika's mouth dropped open and she felt warm all of a sudden, the kind that made her sweat. Her head almost hurt with the spiralling thoughts, he was about to destroy her whole lineage and her dad's empire that he built for decades. She just couldn't take that information in without freaking out."No.. he can't do that..""That was his plan all along. But I feel like there's still enough time to stop him as he wants to increase the value of the company as much as he could before taking over it wrongfully. And we.. have to stop it. Do you understand what I am saying?" Metin asked and she nodded instantly. This just proved she needed Metin's help more than she realised and could finally
ERIKA"They're not looking at you because they know who you are," he said, making Erika finally look into his reassuring eyes. But her breath of relief instantly got caught as he completed his sentence. "They're all looking because you look gorgeous."She kept looking at him like the voices around her was drowning out. She opened her mouth but nothing came out and he didn't wait for it. He turned away from her and started walking away, further into the party. This was the third time she was caught off guard like that, to think that he had come up with a compliment for her was off putting itself. She didn't know why but it felt like the calm before the wind.Erika still tried to keep her head low as she followed both of them around. She actually knew some of the people there, even acquaintances. She couldn't even imagine how scandalous it would be if she accidentally took off her mask, it would be unbelievable.Nigel was actually social in parties because he seemed to attract all the at
ERIKA"Okay," she said decisively, placing her hand on his and watching his lips curve to a more satisfied smile. He looked like he actually wanted a dance with her but also deep down knew it was difficult to make it possible. But he had it now, manipulation or not.If Erika didn't want to do it after looking at Nigel at a distance, she wouldn't have done it. It felt like this was a way of getting back at him even though she'd get in trouble for this. But who cared anymore? If he pressed her to answer why, she'd just say this stranger was blackmailing us."But before that," Erika said before climbing down. "I still don't know who you are but you know me, it's only fair you tell me.""I mean you agreed for a dance, I don't have much to hide anymore. I'm Ryan Desmond, CEO of Iris private limited, also technically your dad's rival," he introduced himself and she nodded because she recognized the name. She got off the barstool, ready to enter the dance floor even if her heart felt like it
ERIKAThis time she actually felt alone, not angry. It had dissipated. She sat back up in the barstool again, wondering where Ryan went. She doubted he would be coming back. She really had to matter a lot to him for him to risk his reputation and career by openly starting a disagreement with Nigel Asher. Not only because of his good looks, he was very powerful and skilled which automatically made him influential. That's why very rarely people wanted to mess with him.That was nothing but a headache for her. His social standing was only growing day after day, making it more difficult for her to gather people to help her take her revenge. There was very little chance of her being able to pull off even one percent of it alone. But she felt a little stronger with Metin and Violet by her side. So, she sighed and took a sip of her whiskey, she felt like she needed something strong as she was supposed to sit there all alone for another hour at least."One more," she asked, almost slurring her
ERIKAShe was barely in her senses but she could tell everything that was going on around her was crazy. It didn't even feel real. She was good with alcohol, thanks to her previous party persona, because she didn't know what she'd have done because she had actually drank a lot, carelessly. But it had hit pretty hard because of all these days of being sober. She had gone out of control unknowingly, going as far as letting a stranger try to take her home. He could've done anything to her and she wouldn't even have an idea. Worse than that, he could've used her reputation in the media against her and exposed her completely. It would've been downright bad and she knew it. Her thoughts were amplified at that moment when she realised she was slowly getting sober. Erika sat up a little and tried to understand where she was. She could already start remembering what had happened before that.She was in the backseat of a moving car. She looked outside to see the road, the lights hurting her ey
ERIKAThat's when her door swung open loudly and Erika snapped her head back to look at who it was. Violet stood at her doorway, gasping with excitement. "Erika, he's back," she said.Erika's breath almost caught when she heard Violet. All these days she had only thought about when he would come back, not about what would she do when he does actually come back. A week long of no communication or no tying loose ends had made the thoughts run out of Erika's brain. Now his return came when she was giving up, she didn't know how to rekindle it again."Where is he?" She asked, getting up while Violet caught her breath. "I saw his car pull up and I came rushing. I think you should see for yourself," Violet suggested and Erika nodded, a pit forming in her stomach because she was actually really nervous. She didn't know how to face that situation at all. But she still walked out of the door and felt herself rushing down the hall, not knowing what to expect. She stopped as she was climbing do
ERIKAWith that, he came even closer, bridging the gap between there lips as he placed his lips on hers with his hand on her neck. He pressed her against the study room door and he kissed her for a few seconds before he forced himself to push back. He stared back at her shocked face, incapable of forming a thought."And now you are the other woman, you've kissed me twice."Her mouth open but nothing came out, she could only feel his lips on hers even if he had backed away. She breathed hard and deep, too taken aback to look at him. He was so evil and devious that he could actually kiss her again just to make herself feel bad and scared about it. She couldn't believe what he had done."How could you..? You shouldn't have done that without my permission, that was not in the contract. Why did you still do it?" Erika raised her voice, actually shaken. She did fear Selena but this was more confusing. He only stared back at her with a mocking smirk, he was expecting a reaction like this."Wh