Nichole was done with the work Martino had assigned to her for the day. She had headed to his office to give him the full details of every appointments, meetings and some other crucial informations she thought he should know about. She was also going to plead on behalf of her friends. Heavens be on her side so that he hears her pleas.
Just as she stood right in front of his office door, she had trembled just like a leaf. One could clearly hear the sound of her heartbeat even without the use of a stethoscope.
Nevertheless, she had summoned up the courage and had knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Martino had asked roughly.
"Nichole Lockwood at your service, Sir," she had said while still trembling.
"Come in," he had said .
"It won't be bad to watch you fill in for your friends' foolishness and plead on their behalf for mercy." He knew she was going to do that anyways.
Quietly, Nichole had let herself in. Still trembling, she had placed the files in her hands on his table and turning to the busy bee in the person of her boss,Martino, she said while trying so hard not to shake. She was never breaking down in front of him. NEVER!
"Sir, I'm done with the work you assigned to me." She had summoned up courage to get her words together.
"Okay, you may leave now, Miss," he said while still paying attention to his system.
"Sir,I,urmmm,want to plead for your mercy on behalf of my friends. I promise this won't ever repeat itself again. I'm also ready to pay any price that comes with it. I just want you to let them go." She had concluded trying not to keep her tone shaky.
"Wow, let…them go, you know I really love the sound of that. I also love the fact that you acknowledged that your friends are some bunch of miserable trashes." Martino had said now looking into her face. Just then, he had picked up his phone and placed a call across to the security guards.
"The rascals in your custody, let them go." He had said while dropping the cell phone. Nichole was never sure if he got a response from them.
Just then, he dismissed her while still reminding her of the price she was yet to pay. By the time Cassandra and Angelina were released from the cell, they had left furiously even before Nichole could get there. She could sense the hurt in their feelings.
Just as Nichole had gone back to her own office, she had sat quietly on the office chair while thinking heavily on the punishment Martino was going to melt down on her. He was nothing but a ruthless dude. He wasn't going to go easy on her anyways,she knows that for sure. Just then, the door swung open and luckily, it was Helena. She wasn't surprised though since she knew she was the only one who can come into her office without a knock. Helena was beaming with smiles while still dancing in barley styles. Her face glittered glamorously like a morning star who stands in the mist of other stars but none wouldn't dare to match up to her ;not even in standards.
"Nikki darling, what's up with you sugar plum?
I really need your help with something that was why I came earlier on in the day.
She said while sinking into one of the seats that faced that of Nichole's.
"Helena, I'm in for a big trouble."
Nichole had said to her with a troubled face.
"C'mon baby girl, what could have brought those words?"
She asked in a concerned manner while at the same time, sitting erect on the seat to get the full story.
With the hesitation to speak, Helena had sensed what it could be.
"A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER WITH THEIR RUTHLESS CEO."
"Nooo…wayyy,Nichole. Another odd experience with the boss?" She asked while looking into those tender and cute face.Gently,she had nodded in affirmation to the question.
"Oh my goodness!" She had exclaimed while standing up with this force as if she was forced to do so and walking up to her immediately.
"I need you to be calm, Nichole,take a deep breath and speak to me,ok?" She had said softly to her.
"Okay. You saw my friends who were here earlier in the day, right?" She asked while looking into her face .
"Yh,I did. My bad! Hope they are fine?"
She had asked out of concern for them.
"Yh, they are, it's just that,urmmm,the boss, unfortunately, the CEO walked into the office while we were having some fun. He was furious when he came in since he placed a call on me for some crucial reasons and I wasn't picking up. He ended up in a quarrel with my friends and trust how he can be. He wasn't going to overlook it after all. He placed a call on the security guards and just within a twinkle of an eye, my friends were locked up in the office prison. I managed to finish up with the work that he assigned to me and then, I managed to plead with him after which he had released them but not until I promised to take the fall for it.I told him I was ever ready to pay the price that comes with it. My friends also stormed out in fury. I couldn't even meet them to render my tender apologies for the inconveniences I caused them, I'm all done for, Helena." She had managed to conclude with a worried tone.
"I'm really sorry about all that,Nikki. For the price, I don't know what he is really going to melt down on you this time around buh let's see how it goes. And for your darling friends, they will definitely come around,ok? You don't really have to stretch out yourself on that, okay?"
She had concluded while patting her gently on her right shoulder.
"I hope so," Nichole had said but still in a worried state.
"I want you to cheer up, Nichole. I want to see that cheerful, gorgeous, joyful and beautiful lady I always walk up to every glorious morning."
Helena had teased her. Just then, she had managed to put up a smile on her face, not because she knows everything has been settled but because she knows overthinking it won't help any matters. "WHAT WILL BE,WILL BE."
She had said to herself. All she had to do was to brace herself up for the crisis ahead of her. Giving up was never an option.
"Your friends complimented me, Nichole.They said my smile was cuteee,awwnnn, I'm shy right now."
Helena had said while covering her face with her palms.
"You are so silly,Helena,you are always cute my love. You don't have to get the compliments from people first before you believe you are,ok?" She had said while patting her face.
Nichole was done packing up and had stepped out ready to leave the dungeon (company) for her peaceful abode. She was leaving so late since she had to help Helena sort out some files. She had stood patiently by the roadside while waiting for a cab. She was so exhausted. It has been a very long day. Not only was it a long day, but a terrible one. It won't cease to be so since her cold hearted boss won't let her breathe. Just as she was about putting a call across to her mom, her vision was blinded by the headlights of an incoming car.
Immediately, she had covered her eyes while still fixing her gaze right beneath her hand which she used to cover them. At the same time, she was waving down the car in an attempt to stop him and maybe, just maybe, he would drop her off. Now the car had come close and the driver had whined down his glass window in an attempt to offer this gorgeous queen a ride. Not just a ride, but a free one.
Just as Nichole bent and looked into the car,lo and behold, it was ,Justin Miller. He was the last creature she had even expected to see at that moment.
"Heyyy, what's up?" He asked gently.
"I'm cool, you?" She also asked.
"I'm good, Nichole,seems you just worked your ass off in the office and you are on your way back home?" He asked again.
Reluctantly,Nichole had replied,
"Yh…You know how hectic it is working for the Exxon company. Not just the company itself but the CEO." She had said. Justin could feel she was hurt.
"I can relate to that though. Not after all I went through in that asshole's hand back then. You just have to hop in let me offer you a ride. No need for the cab though."
"I really appreciate you, Justin," she had replied. She had entered without hesitation since she knew she might not be so lucky if she should actually stand and wait for a cab. Justin came at the right time. Quietly, she had sat down on the seat and had closed the door. She just wanted to be home! Not just home, but in her bed while clutching to those duvet.
Justin was finally going to break the silence. He was going to light up the room.
"I don't really have to ask you how work is because I know you work hand in hand with a beast. I also apologize if you find my words rude." He had said while still clutching tightly to the steering.
"It's hectic, Justin.Arghh…,I just want to play the games with him and present my cards well. I'm never loosing to him no matter what. I sincerely want to apologize again for the embarrassment the other day at the store. You didn't deserve any of that, Justin." She said while feeling pity for him. It was written all over his face.
"No way, c'mon, it's fine. I bear no grudges against you so you do not have to be sorry,ok?He had said to her.
"Thank you so much Justin, thank you." She had said. Justin could read the ain in her heart just through her face.
The air inside the car felt warmer suddenly. Full of thickness with anticipation. The silence at that moment spoke louder than any music ever could. Gently, he lifted his hand;slowly,as if giving her a chance to stop him but she didn't.
"I want you, Nichole.I want to be inside of you. I need your closeness. I want to feel you to feel my heart beat." That was Justin's voice that whispered gently just in her ears.
"Was he in anyway drunk?" Nichole thought.
She wasn't sure if what she wanted at that moment. "She took doesn't seem to be herself.
Slowly, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek. His finger tips lingered, tracing the curve of her jaw; tentative but certain. Her eyes closed at the touch. Then, he leaned in. Not all at once, it was a moment unraveled slowly, like a honey dripping from a spoon; rich, golden and inevitable. Their foreheads met first lightly. A strong shared breath! Her lips 👄 parted, the ghost of a sigh escaping.
This time, she leaned into him and in that moment, their lips met. The kiss was gentle and soft going at first. "EXPLORATORY." A silent question asked and answered in the same breath. It wasn't rushed. There was no hurry for hunger. Just connection; deep, quiet and patient. Her hand found his, fingers threading together like a pieces of a puzzle that had been waiting for years to fit. Time seemed to have stopped. Their kiss deepened slowly with their tongues rolling into each other's in a silent cry for more. It was growing with each passing second, as if the car itself had become a cocoon, hiding them away from the world. The windows began to fog, the air inside thick warmth and something tender. Finally, they had managed to pull apart gently Their foreheads rested together again with their eyes still closed.
"I have to go now. I will see you around then."
Nichole had said to him while letting herself out of the car.
"Sure, Justin replied with a cool smile.
Just as he had said that, he had zoomed off quietly into the dark.
What do you think will transpire between Nichole and Justin at the moment?