''Are you alright?'' Leo asked as he placed a glass of water on the table in front of Nicole. Since they arrived at his home, she had been pacing out.
''Yes, I'm fine. Just a little flustered but I'm fine''
''You don't look fine at all, you are running a temperature'' Maris said and touched Nicole's forehead.
''I will just drink this water and get some rest. Here…'' she took out the files from her bag and placed them on the table, ''these are the evidence of Priscy's money laundering. They are shredded pieces that Maris found. You should call Nesli and discuss it with him. Now that I tried to kill her, she wouldn't sit back without fighting''
''Go and get some rest, I will handle the rest here. I will take you to your room, first'' Leo picked the luggage bag that Nicole packed her things in and led the way, taking her to room that he had prepared earlier on.
Nicole took the bag from him and closed the door before going over to the bed to lay down.
Looking at her frail body, Maris shook her head, ''you look like you aren't going to last a day. How did your health deteriorate to this state, Nicole?''
''My body must be trying to wake up from coma. These days I've been having strange dreams''
''I know. The grim reaper said those dreams will only get worse the more time you waste''
''I know, that's why I must solve this as fast as I can and return to my life again''
''You are right, get some sleep. I want to get myself familiar with the house. I like the entire layout of this building. I wonder if it is the same as the real world?''
''Just don't make your presence known, it will scare the men away''
''Alright''
….
Outside, Leo started piecing the shredded papers together while waiting for Nesli. The papers were a lot and as he pieced them together, he read the contents.
The door opened and Nesli walked inside, ''hey'' he said to Leo.
''You are here? Help me piece these together'' Leo pushed half of the shredded papers to the other side where Nesli sat.
''How is Nicole feeling?'' Nesli asked as he picked the shredded pieces.
"Should I say she isn't too well or pretending to be? She acts like she is okay but her body temperature keeps dropping. I am worried about her''
''What did the doctor say about her condition?''
''He said he needs to study her medical report but apart from the temperature drop, nothing else is wrong with her''
''Have you spoken to her brother about this? Does anyone in her family knows about this?''
''No, but I want to let her brother know about this''
''Let's get this done with''
Nicole's phone started buzzing beside Leo and he turned to pick it.
''Speak of the devil, it's Nick calling''
''Answer it, then''
''Hello Nick, this is Leo…''
….
At the club, Nick was making a phone call with his back turned to the counter when a man walked over. He pulled out the high stool and sat down waiting for Nick to finish with his call.
''Alright, tell her to see me or go to our mom by tomorrow. She is worried about her, bye'' Nick ended the call and turned, he frowned and stuffed the phone back after seeing the man.
''Hi, Nick. I'm back''
''What are you doing here?'' Nick asked him. It was clear from his tone that he didn't like the man in front of him.
''Is that how to welcome a friend back?''
''The last time I checked, you and I are no longer friends. We stopped being friends the moment you messed with my sister''
''That's why I'm back. To make it up to Nicole, I still love her''
''Stay away from Nicole. This time I'm very serious Carlos. If I see you anywhere near my sister, I will kill you''
''I'm serious, Nick. I am back for good''
Nick looked at him sternly, ''go near Nicole and I will show you the other side of me''
...
Nicole woke up later early in the morning and went out to the hall. She saw Leo preparing breakfast and she walked to him.
''Hi, good morning'' Nicole greeted him.
''Morning, how do you feel?'' Leo stepped forward and placed his hand on her forehead, comparing her temperature to his, ''it seems to be low this morning. Sit down and eat breakfast''
''How did it go? Did you finish piecing the shredded papers together?''
''No, it's left with something small. Nicole…'' Leo sat across her, ''your brother called last night while you were asleep. He said that your mom wants to see you''
''Right, I planned to go and see her but totally forgot. I will go and meet with her after work today''
''Let's go together''
''Are you sure? My mom might misunderstand our relationship again''
''It doesn't matter to me, let's go and see her together after work''
''Sure, let's go that''
''Eat before it gets cold''
...
At the company, inside Priscy's office, she sat across a young man chatting. He was the same person that had gone to Nick's club the night before looking for Nicole.
''I really can't wait to see Nicole. It has been a while; I wonder how she looks now''
''Well, she has changed a lot. But that is not the most important thing here, you should do your job well of getting her away from Leo''
''Don't worry, I will do my job well''
''Let's go, she will be here any time soon'' Priscy stood up and walked out with the man.
At the lobby, they saw Leo and Nicole entering the company while chatting. Priscy folded her arms around her chest and smirked, looking at them.
''Nicole'' the man called making the two people in front to pause in their strides.
Nicole frowned as she looked at him, ''Carlos?'' she mentioned the name skeptically.
''I missed you so much, Nicole'' the man whose name was Carlos said and walked up to Nicole, pulling her into a tight hug in front of everyone at the lobby.
Everyone at the lobby gasped. Leo sighed and looked at Carlos. His eyes glared at him as his face twisted in an unpleasant way.
Seeing the change in his gaze, Priscy smirked, enjoying the scene before her.
''Let go of me'' Nicole managed to push Carlos away from her but he kept coming at her. As he was about to hug her again, Leo got in the way, blocking his view.
''She said to let go'' he said in an indifferent tone.
''Who are you? Nicole, who is he?''
''He is…'' she was about to answer him but stopped midway and asked, ''what about you? What are you doing here?''
''It seems that you two know each other already. Let me do the introduction'' Priscy walked over to them smiling.
''Who is he?'' Leo asked looking at Priscy.
''He is the new technician that I spoke to you about''
''Technician?'' Leo looked at her skeptically.
''Remember I told you we needed a technician to oversee the virtual design team. He is the one I found. He just returned from Han City'' she said and turned to Nicole, ''it seems that your two know each other already?''
''Nicole is my ex-fiancée'' Carlos said smiling at Nicole.
''Is he…'' Leo looked at Nicole and she nodded her head.
''He is the lunatic who left a few days to our wedding and left me to deal with the aftermath of his ditching me. The same lunatic who dared to appear in front of me smiling like a crazy person. Excuse me!!'' Nicole finished and walked away.
''Turns out she almost got married before? Did you know about this before?'' Priscy asked Leo.
''Let's talk alone in my office'' Leo said to Priscy.
''Sure, Carlos wait for me in the working area, I will show you to your office once I'm done'' Priscy said and Carlos nodded his head. He saw Nicole going into a room and he immediately followed.
Leo's office.
'''What is the meaning of this, Priscy? Since when were you in charge of hiring people?''
''This company equally belongs to me. I have a part in its say''
''It's that why you've been doing things behind my back?''
''What are you talking about? When have I done something behind your back?''
''Since you brought him without informing me, then make sure you tell him that the company doesn't need him''
''I didn't say so when you brought in Nicole?''
''Are you challenging me?''
''Leo, I think that you are taking a lot of things personally lately. I am beginning to think that you are not fit to run this company anymore''
'What?''
''Leo, I've known you for more than 30 years now and I feel that you are losing it. Since Lizzy died, you've not been yourself anymore. The game that was supposed to be developed a month ago is still hanging on. We are behind on funds to continue the project and all you do is to run around cleaning after Nicole''
''Get to the point''
''I met with two shareholders of the company two days ago. I bought their shares so technically; I qualify as the CEO and not you. Because now I have 57% shares while you have 55% shares''