NICOLE

The sound of a key in the lock and someone unlocking the door wakes me up. I woke up, jumped to my feet and headed for the door and instead of Stephanie, I saw Magda enter. She was surprised to see me or better to say I scared her because I'm pretty sure I look like a ghost.

"Good morning, Miss Nicole, are you expecting someone?" She asked me suspiciously.

"Good morning Magda, I thought it was Stephanie."

"Stephanie should be home, as far as I know, she's not working today."

"I know that, but..."

"What happened?"

"We had an argument last night, so the young stubborn lady decided to disappear and turn off the phone. I'm dying of worry all night and she must be having a good time somewhere."

"You slept in an armchair?" Magda concluded by lifting the blanket from the armchair.

"Yes, I expected her to show up and I fell asleep waiting for her."

"I'm sure Stephanie's fine, don't worry so much."

"I really hope so..."

"Are you hungry? Let me make you breakfast, maybe Stephanie will show up soon too."

"I'm not hungry Magda, but thank you for worrying about me."

"You are pale and exhausted, you have to eat. Your immunity will drop and you will get sick."

"I ate last night. " I lied," I'm going to take a shower and then find Stephanie. "

Magda just nodded reluctantly. She just cared about me and Stephanie, I knew that.

Before I took a shower, I sent a message to the man who was the only one who could help me in this situation, and he owed me a favor. I asked him for Leo Anders address, the story that I don't know where Stephanie is a half true. I knew where she was, and I knew she hadn't listened to me and gone to be with him, I just didn't know where that man lives.

While I was taking a shower, I got a return message with the address. I smiled and dressed quickly. Most of my clothes were elegant, and the vast majority of them were chosen by Stephanie. While I was studying and before I started working, I was used to buying clothes for myself at the market and often at second-hand stalls. I didn't spend much for myself to have more money left for my sister. When I finally got a job at the prestigious hospital where I worked at the beginning of my career, that period was behind us, so I was more than able to buy us decent clothes. Today the situation is even better, and I no longer need to even look at how much my wardrobe costs. I give the money to Stephanie, and she comes back with bags full of clothes. I don't remember the last time I walked into a boutique and if I ordered something for myself. I would do it over the internet and delivery would come to my door.

I wore a tight black knee-length skirt, a black silk shirt that I tucked into my skirt, high elegant heels, and a coat that matched my bag. I combed my hair and let it fall freely, and put quite a bit of makeup on my face. I took special care of my skin so I almost didn't need makeup.

Leaving the room, I saw Magda with wide eyes and a hand over her mouth looking at the newspaper.

"What happened?" I asked more for the sake of order than interest, and she handed me the newspaper without a word and I had a lot to see.

On the front page of the newspaper was my sister in the arms of an injured man with a headline "A prominent businessman mutilated in a fight over an unknown girl."

I stay frozen looking at the picture of Leo and my half-naked sister as his face, neck and shirt are covered in blood. Several photos show the two of them embracing as they walk towards the car, looking very close.

"It must be a mistake, the girl just looks like Stephanie."

"It's Stephanie, Magda!" I say louder than necessary, I crumple the newspaper and throwed it in the corner of the room.

I grab my phone and there I have what to see, my dear sister and her new boyfriend filled today's front pages of almost every newspaper in town.

"Leo Anders hurt in the arms of a handsome blonde."

"Leo Anders caused a fight in the bar, and suffered severe injuries."

"Who is the girl that caused the famous businessman hurt?" After flipping through a couple of articles, darkness fell on my eyes from the anger, Stephanie was lucky that she was not home at the moment. The only positive thing about all of this was that I finally found out who the mysterious blonde with my sister was.

I took the elevator down to the underground garage to get the car. After a car accident in which I lost my parents, I hated driving and avoided it to the maximum. I went to work on foot even though my clinic was not that close. The long walk did not bother me at all. It even relaxes me before a busy day. I also used taxi rides more often to avoid driving and heavy New York traffic, but this time I had to choose a car because of Stephanie.

After a long drive, I parked in front of a large luxury building. I checked the address once more and made sure it was the place I was looking for. I carefully got out of the car and headed for the entrance through a small but carefully landscaped park in front of the building. The security guard opened the door for me, and I politely thanked him. The hall of the building looked like the lobby of an expensive hotel, and in the middle of that hall was a large wooden counter.

"Good morning, I need Mr. Leo Anders. Can you let him know I'm here?" I turned to the older gentleman behind the counter.

"Sorry sir isn't here right now." He answered me repulsively, which made me even angrier. I could see in his immoral look and wicked smile that he was lying, and I didn't plan to just give up.

"Listen to me, sir..." I was about to teach him a lesson when a familiar voice interrupted me.

"It's all right, Miss is with me."

"Of course, sir. Here's the key." He handed me the gray card I had taken, then I turned to the man who was standing behind me and smiling.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet. I didn't expect to meet you so soon."

Elegantly dressed as always, I guess. A dark blue suit with a vest of the same color, underneath a white shirt without a tie, a brown coat and brown shoes. Dark thick hair, a neat beard for a couple of days, an abominable smile and a penetrating look.

He exuded authority and power that many people could not show in such a way, even though they tried, it seemed easy for him to do so.

"Good morning, sir..."

"Maximillian Kerringen, Miss Nicole." He held out his hand and I accepted it.

At the very touch of his skin a familiar current flowed through my body, and his brown eyes stiffened my gaze. I uneasily pull my hand out of his and force myself to look away.

"I see you read the news."

"I did, unfortunately." I signed.

"Are you going to Leo?"

"Yes." I answered briefly.

"Here you go." He points to the elevator.

I had never felt like this near a man. This strange feeling in my stomach was something completely new to me.

We walked in coordinated steps toward the elevator, followed by two of his bodyguards. I am over a meter and eighty centimeters tall plus heels and again he was almost a head taller than me. I tried not to look at him even though I could feel his gaze on me all the time. In front of the elevator he held out his hand to me, looking at me as I looked at him confused.

"A card." He finally spoke and I handed him the gray card that the receptionist had just handed me.

"Here you go."

"Thank you. Taylor you stay here, I won't be long."

"All right, sir." Said the black tall figure behind him. I looked at him and saw that he was watching me too. He was a little taller than Maximillian and at least twice as wide. The ring on his hand and the tattoo on his neck told me that he either had a criminal past or was still in those waters.

I shuddered at the sight of the man and quickly turned my head. Meanwhile, Maximillian opened the elevator and offered me to get in first. I thanked him and went in, then watched in silence as he inserted the card into the marked spot.

"You don't need to be afraid of my bodyguards, they are only there to protect me."

"Afraid? I'm not afraid of your unbridled men. I'm uncomfortable in his presence because they remind me of the way you broke into my clinic in the middle of the night."

"I hope it's clear to you that I didn't have any bad intentions, I was just scared for Leo's safety."

"I hope it's clear to you that no matter what reason you have it doesn't justify you. There are rules that a man of your rank should stick to and not act like a maniac." I said, angrily looking him in the face and then my heart stopped. He pressed a button and stopped the elevator, turned to me and looked at me the way I forgot to breathe.

"Why did you do that, start the elevator." I started to press the button and start it again, but his hand prevented me from doing so.

"Nicole, I'm not a manic and I don't like being called that. How many times do I have to apologize to you for that night to accept an apology or at least, try to understand why I reacted that way."

I looked into his eyes and followed his lips moving gently as he spoke. In any other situation, I would scold him, but at the moment I was too fascinated by his proximity to do so.

"If your sister had disappeared in that way, what would you have done?" He continued. His gaze was serious as he talked about it and that smile from the beginning was gone. There was something strange in that man's eyes, something I couldn't describe or fully understand.

"I'd set the city on fire to find her." I answered briefly, trying to take my eyes off his face.

"Then, you understand why I couldn't control myself when your security guard forbade me to see my brother."

"It's in disarray now, there's no need to go back to it. That evening is over, our problem now is Leo and Stephanie."

"Are they?" He glared at me and my inner voice screamed for me to step away from that man and run as far away as possible.

"Let go of my hand, please. And run the elevator for God's sake it makes no sense for us to stand here." He let go of my hand and laughed out loud as he pressed the button and the elevator started moving again.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You're so proud that you can't even accept an apology."

"Excuse me?!" I looked at him, ready to start an argument.

"You heard me." He smiled triumphantly.

Just as I was getting ready to answer him the elevator door opened and the sight in front of me froze me. Huge luxuriously decorated apartment, and in the corner of that apartment is a large white dining table. At the table Leo and Stephanie are smiling and happy like some young married couple. They weren't bothered by our entry, they just looked at us and kept talking while a smile still shone on their faces. I felt Maximillian look at me to check my reaction to the dune scene in front of me. Leo in a gray tracksuit without a T-shirt, and Stephanie dressed only in a blue men's shirt that fit her like a short dress. At first glance, I wasn't quite sure if there was anything below that, but I was hoping there was. Out of shock, I just stared at them wordlessly watching them.

"If I had known you were coming I would have made a bigger breakfast. Are you hungry?" With a smile, Leo invited us to eat.

"Leo, man, do you have any idea what you did?" Maximillian asked him.

"Is this a replay from last night?" He asked sarcastically and looked at Stephanie who just laughed at this.

"Very nice, you are enjoying, eating and having fun. Love is bursting in all directions so you don't even care about the rest of the world."

"What a rest of the world, it's just us? Everyone should enjoy life." Leo answered proudly.

"I see the gentleman hasn't read the newspaper yet." Max scolded him sharply.

"We turned off our phones." Stephanie stepped in.

"Oh we know, that's what you and I are going to talk about in particular."

"But Nicole..."

"Nothing but, get dressed and come with me."

"I have nothing to wear, my dress is wet."

"Stephanie now!!" She turned and went to the room, and I stayed watching Leo's expression as Maximilian showed him the scandal that the whole of New York is currently buzzing about.

"Do you have any idea how the new partners will react to this?"

"It's my private life Max, why does it matter to anyone?

"There is no private or business in this job, how many times do I have to explain it to you? You have to watch your reputation because you represent your company. Who do you think they will want to do business with an immature, unbridled charlatan who fights in clubs at night?"

"Max, don't make a drama from this. It's not the first time something like this has happened. Everyone will forget it in a few days."

"This is nothing when you read the comments below those articles, and only when you hear the comments of shareholders and heads of companies. I don't even want to think what this will look like to the new partners..."

"Can we talk about this later, please?" He looked at Stephanie, who entered the room at that moment.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"I am."

"Let's go then. I wish you two a pleasant day."

I entered the elevator first waiting for the young lady to say goodbye to her darling. As soon as the elevator door closed, I snapped. I tried to refrain from screaming in front of them and God is my witness that I gave my best.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Lower your voice Nicole, we're not home."

"How can you be so relaxed, like nothing happened?! Is it possible that you don't care that your picture and bare legs are circling through New York while you are in the arms of a millionaire. Do you have any idea what this will make to your career?!"

"What has this got to do with my career?"

"You're kidding, aren't you? What do you mean how it matters? Stephanie, you're a resident at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world's largest city. You came here on your own and only because of your hard work. This scandal with Leo will destroy all of that."

"I am more respected in that hospital as they know about us."

"What do you mean with what they know about you? Since when?"

"Well, you know he was shot."

"I know, what has that got to do with you?"

"Well, I treated him."

"And I know that! I repeat the question, what does he have to do with you?"

"Maybe he was with me a couple of times after that."

"For a God's sake, you're crazy!"

"Nicole, you don't understand, I..."

"If you say you fell in love, I'll throw myself off this building, Stephanie. I'm serious."

"And even if I did, what's wrong with that?"

"Well let's see, you don't know anything about that man to begin with."

"Yes, I know."

"What do you know? That he's a successful businessman and that he's a great womanizer, whose attention are what women are fighting for?"

"That's not true, you don't know him..."

"Is he?? I know men like him very well. That's why I tell you not to be stupid, he's here until he gets you and you bore him. He'll find a model later and replace you, or if you're even more unlucky than that he will marry you. "

"Why would I be even more unlucky?"

"Because if he marries you then you're just done. You'll be his wife to the public, and your bed will be as empty as your soul."

"He's not that kind of man Nicole!"

"I hope you're right. I'm telling you, Stephanie, for your own good, just be careful, please."

I knew she didn't listen to me and I already knew she was in love with him. I knew my sister better than anyone, I just hope I was wrong when it came to Leo Anders.

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