Nicolas was doing up his shirt when he heard a knock on his door.
"Who is it?" He asked sternly as he picked up his jacket that laid on the bed.
"It's me, Valeria!" She replied, behind the door,
"Mrs Patricia sent me to call you."
"Okay! Tell her I'll be with her shortly!" Nicolas said plainly.
"Okay,sir!" Valeria replied and left his door.
Nicolas stood in front of a mirror and wore his wristwatch. He used a tie clip to hold his tie to his shirt and looked at himself in the mirror. His gaze fell on his reflection and was taken back to memory lane.
<
Nicolas was dressed for work and stood in front of the mirror. He was putting on his tie when Agnes came out of the bathroom. She was still in her black nightdress which had a spaghetti strap. She styled her hair to a messy bun and walked to the wardrobe. She opened the door of the wardrobe and took out a dress hung on the rail.
"I'm off to work!" Nicolas said and picked up his briefcase.
"Isn't it too early for you to go to work?" Agnes said doubtfully and looked at the digital clock on the bedside table,
"It's quarter to eight."
"It is but I've an important meeting today and I want to make sure everything is in order." He replied, walking towards her.
"You're always bent on working and never have time for me or your son." Agnes said childishly, facing the other side of the room with her arms,folded.
Nicolas dropped his briefcase on the bed and hugged her from behind. He was taller than her and leant his face to the side of hers.
"You are choosing her over me, aren't you?" Agnes pouted.
"And who is this she,if I may ask?" Nicolas asked jokingly.
"Prime Pictures!" Agnes responded calmly,
"You spend more time with her than you do with your family. You even bring her home and stay up late in the study, talking about profits and presentations. It's like I'm losing my husband to his profession."
"Are you that jealous? Do you think I love her more than I do for you?" He asked with a grin.
"Mhm!" She hummed.
"Oh really?" He chuckled,
"The last time I checked,there was only one Mrs Gonzalez. And she, is right here in my arms."
Nicolas pecked her on the cheek.
"I'm sorry if I make you feel left out. Ever since I became the CEO, things have changed. I'm on top of every matter and dealings in the company. I've to make sure everything is in order and come up with ways to expand the company. I wasn't expecting my dad to retire early." Nicolas explained softly,
"You know I'm doing everything I can for us;for you and most especially,for Ivan. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm sorry,my love!"
"I know you're trying your best to extend your family's legacy. You work day and night and end up stressing yourself. You do more work than your employees. I'm only worried about your health. You truly are hardworking and that's what I love about you. It's just that I'm missing my husband's company. It feels like you're drifting away and I'm afraid I will lose you to her." Agnes revealed her thoughts.
Nicolas sighed and Agnes held his forearm.
"How about this? I'll leave work early today and take you out for dinner. To make up for the times I chose her over you. That way,she would be jealous and know I'm choosing my lovely wife over her. How does that sound?" He proposed.
"It's good but," Agnes supported and faced him,
"Who is going to watch over Ivan?"
"Sofia will take care of him until we come back. She is his nanny, after all." He said.
"Okay, that sounds good!" She agreed cheerily.
"Now," Nicolas said, letting go of her,
"I've to go to work."
He picked up the briefcase he had kept earlier and pecked her again. This time,on her lips.
"See you when I come back. You better be ready by the time I arrive from work." He said.
"Do you really have to go to work this early? Can't you stay a little longer?" Agnes said, clutching his hand.
"I wish I could but I can't. If I don't,I'll only give the employees a bad impression and encourage them to be tardy. I have to lead by example." Nicolas said playfully and pinched her cheek gently.
"Okay,fine! I give up! You won! You can go to work!" Agnes said as she giggled.
"You know I love you, don't you?" He said happily.
"I do. And I," Agnes said, hanging her arms around his neck,
"I love you too!"
She kissed him on the lips.
"More than the whole world?" Nicolas responded with another kiss.
"More than the eight planets in space." She said with a kiss.
"Okay,now! I have to leave!" He said and she removed her arms.
"Just one more!" Agnes pouted.
Nicolas chuckled and kissed her.
"Have a nice day at work,my love!" Agnes said as she watched him walk to the door.
He got hold of the handle and turned to his side. He winked at her with a smile on his face and left the room.
<
Nicolas regretted making such a suggestion to her. He never knew taking her out for dinner would be the last time he would ever see her. He sighed and quickly grabbed his briefcase. He left his broken glasses on the bedside table and left his room. He climbed down the stairs and went to the living room. He saw Patricia seated on the sofa and watched her tie the laces on Ivan's shoes.
"There we go!" Patricia said as did the last lace on his shoe,
"Now my grandson is ready for school."
"All set?" Nicole spoke up, referring to Ivan.
Ivan replied in a nod and stood straight.
"I've been waiting for you to come downstairs. Your new pair of glasses have arrived." Patricia said and stretched out the glass case.
Nicolas collected it from her and opened it.
"Thanks!" He said plainly and put on his new glasses.
He closed the case and gave it to one of the maids that was close to him.
"Keep this in my room." He instructed and the maid replied in a nod.
She collected the case from him and did as he instructed.
"I wanted to come to your room so that we could talk about what happened last night but I figured you wouldn't want to talk." Patricia said.
"We'll talk when I come back from work." He said plainly.
"Okay!" Patricia said,
"Be a good boy, Ivan! Remember to stay out of trouble, okay?"
"I will, Grandma!" Ivan said cheerily.
"Let's go! We are running behind schedule." Nicolas said flatly, walking towards the archway.
"Bye, Grandma!" Ivan waved.
She waved back at him. Ivan caught up with his father and walked through the door first. Nicolas had held the open for him and closed the door behind them. They walked to the car and he unlocked his car. They got in and turned on the ignition. He drove the car to the gate and the gate-keeper quickly opened the gate and let him through.
Nicolas dropped Ivan off at school and drove to Alejandra's flat. He parked in front of the building,along the pavement, right at the entrance.
"I hope she doesn't take time to get ready for work. I want to make my intentions known to her and get rid of this headache once and for all." Nicolas said to himself.
<
Alejandra folded the piece of paper she was holding and kept it in a grey phone bag. She had written down a list for the groceries she would buy at the supermarket. She had called Mr Anderson and asked him if she could take the day off. He agreed only on the condition that she would return to work the next day. He needed her to come daily since Maurice was away.
Judy had already gone to school and Pilar was in her room,as usual. Alejandra brushed her hair and let it fall on her shoulders. She wore the bag across her body and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She smiled back at her reflection and left her room.
She went to Pilar's room, opened the door ajar and put her head in. She looked around and saw Pilar looking at a book. She flipped the pages slowly.
"Mum,I'm going to the supermarket. Do you want me to get you anything?" Alejandra asked.
Pilar shook her head without making eye contact and flipped over to the next page.
"Okay! I won't be long! I'll be back before you know it!" She said.
Pilar didn't respond and still had her eyes on the book. Alejandra sighed and closed the door. She left the flat and went to the lift. She arrived at the lobby and spotted Nicolas' car parked outside, through the glass doors. It was a white Lexus car whose model was Rx 350.
"I wonder whose car is parked outside?" Alejandra thought.
Alejandra pulled the door open and walked through it. She walked passed the car. Nicolas sounded his horn and got her attention. She turned around and saw him through the windscreen.
"Oh,no! Why is he here?" She said nervously, surprised to see him.
She wanted to walk away and ignore him but he sounded his horn again. Alejandra took a deep breath and let it out. She walked to where the car was and stood in front of passenger' window. Nicolas wound down the window using the buttons on the side of his door.
"Why are you here?" Alejandra asked brusquely.
"To drive you to work." Nicolas replied coolly.
"Sorry but I'm not going to work today. And if I was, I wouldn't accept your offer." She retorted.
"Where are you going then?" He asked plainly.
"Why do you want to know?" She asked him.
"So that I can drive you there." Nicolas replied.
"Thanks but I don't need your help." Alejandra replied vehemently.
"Do you really have to make things hard?" He said, already losing his patience.
"Look,Mister! I appreciate your kind gestures but I'm not interested. Why don't you leave me alone and go and bother someone else?" She snapped.
"Why is she so stubborn?" Nicolas said inwardly.
"Besides,how do you know who I am? Where I do live and work? Have you been stalking me? Are you some kind of stalker?" Alejandra asked curiously.
"I'll explain all that to you but first you'll have to get in the car." He said.
"I don't see that happening." She said.
"She is so hard to reason with. Am I sure that I'm making the right choice?" Nicolas said inwardly and let out a sigh.
He picked up his phone from the cup holder and unlocked it. He sent a text message to Mady.
"Cancel all my appointments scheduled this morning."
Barely a minute,Mady replied to his text message.
"Okay,sir!" The first message had.
"Did something happen at home?" The second message had.
"Just do what I tell you to." Nicolas replied.
"Who is he texting? Maybe he is one of his rich clients who lives abroad. Judging from his looks,he doesn't look like a trafficker to me though. He looks rich himself and could have his own company." Alejandra said inwardly, looking at Nicolas who was busy on his phone.
She looked away when Nicolas faced her. He opened the door and got out of the car.
"Why is he coming out of his car? Does he want to force me into the car?" Alejandra muttered.
"Should we go to your flat then?" Nicolas suggested, walking towards her.
"To do what?" Alejandra asked curiously.
"To talk!" Nicolas replied frankly,
"Look,I didn't come for trouble. I came to discuss business."
"What kind of business?" Alejandra asked.
"The kind that benefits both of us and could change your life as well." He revealed, hiding his hands in his pockets.
"What is it exactly?" She asked.
"It's not something that can't be said while standing. That's why I suggest we talk in your flat. Or do you have another place where we could talk?" He asked plainly.
Alejandra thought for a while. She wanted to know what his mission was and what business proposal he came with. They couldn't talk in her flat. Pilar would eavesdrop on their conversation and she wouldn't want to endanger her life.
"We can't go to my flat. How about a café instead?" Alejandra said.
"Okay!" Nicolas said.
Alejandra glanced at the building and got into his car. Nicolas turned on the ignition and drove away from the building. There was silence in the car.
"I see you have a new pair of glasses. They look good on you." Alejandra said, breaking the silence.
Nicolas didn't respond to her compliments.
"He doesn't even appreciate compliments. Hmph!" Alejandra said inwardly.
"Can I turn on the radio?" She asked.
"No!" He snapped.
"Why?" She asked.
"I like the silence in the car when I'm driving." He said coldly.
"Okay!" Alejandra said, keeping her hands to herself.
They soon arrived at a café,not too far from Alejandra's block. He parked his car in the designated car park, close to a parking metre. Alejandra got out of the car and waited for Nicolas to get out. They both walked in. Nicolas spotted an empty table at the centre of the room and walked towards it. Alejandra followed him and pulled up a chair. They sat opposite each other.
A waitress came to their table with a notepad in her hands.
"Good day! What can I get you?" The waitress asked in a friendly way.
"I would like a cup of café au lait with less sugar." Nicolas said flatly, glanced at Alejandra.
"Okay!" The waitress said, writing down his order on her notepad,
"And what about you,Miss?"
"I'm okay!" Alejandra said.
"Okay,I'll go and get your coffee. Excuse me!" The waitress said, leaving the table.
Alejandra looked around the café and focused her attention on Nicolas. She wanted to know who he was and what he wanted from her. Nicolas didn't realize she was looking at him. He was busy on his phone, replying to Camilo's messages.
"Nick,are you coming to work today? I want to discuss something important with you."
"I'll be there in a few minutes. I'm in a meeting with an important client." Nicolas sent.
The waitress returned with Nicolas' order.
"Here is your coffee,sir!" The waitress said with a smile.
"Thank you!" Nicolas said flatly.
She nodded and went to attend to other customers. Nicolas picked up the cup by its handle and took a sip from it. He kept it back on the saucer and looked at Alejandra firmly.
"I have a business proposal for you. That's if you are interested." Nicolas started off, without beating around the bush.
"First of all,you haven't told me how you found out who I was and knew where I lived and worked as well?" Alejandra asked eagerly.
"It's confidential!" Nicolas replied sternly.
"Confidential? Are you joking,Mister? You know where I live, where I work, probably know my background story and you say it's confidential? Tell me,are you a spy or you just like doing your homework on random people?" Alejandra asked firmly.
"I'm not a spy. I actually own an advertising company." He replied plainly.
"Oh, yeah? Which one?" She asked doubtfully.
"Prime Pictures Enterprises!" Nicolas said candidly, taking another sip of his coffee.
"Prime Pictures?" She muttered, flabbergasted by his revelation,
"If you own Prime Pictures Enterprises like you say you do,that only means you're the CEO. And the CEO is none other than-."
"Nicolas Gonzalez!" He completed it drily.
"But that doesn't explain anything. What does your company have to do with me?" Alejandra asked curiously.
"This isn't about my company. Rather,it's about us." He said plainly.
"Us? I still don't understand. What do I have to do with you? I barely know you." She said doubtfully.
"That's why I'm here. I want us to get married." He said.
"Wait! What!?" She said with her brows raised.