Nicholas released his hands from her waist. "I'm sorry about that," he pleaded with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Amanda's lips parted in surprise as she watched him walk over to her father. This stranger was the billionaire she and her father have been arguing about. She couldn't recognize him immediately because they had never met, her father had only show her his pictures.
He extended his hand to Mr Stewart for a handshake. "Hello sir, I'm so sorry about your wife. How is she doing now?"
Mr Stewart gripped his hand firmly. "The doctor said she's stable for now and I hope it stays that way. Oh! And this is my lovely daughter, Amanda." He said, gesturing his hand towards Amanda.
Amanda didn't know how to react, she just stood still with her lips still slightly parted. This would have been a good time for the ground to swallow her up. Meeting his gaze alone made her nervous.
"Oh! Didn't we bump into each other just now?" Nicholas asked, offering her his hand.
Amanda gazed at his stretched out hand for a moment. She then looked up to her father's face, he was silently urging her from behind to take his hand . "Yes, we did." She responded, finally accepting his hand with a brief smile.
Nicholas took her hand close to his lips and planted a kiss on the back of her palm. "You look more beautiful in person than how your father described."
Amanda eyes widened in surprise, she felt his soft and moist palm rub against hers. She scanned her eyes around his face. Even though she didn't want to marry him she just couldn't sense any hint of arrogance in his attitude, he just seemed too polite to be a billionaire.
Even though he was kind and gentle, her heart didn't feel anything for him. To her he might just be another pretender, a pretender just like Marcus who will later show his true emotions. Amanda wore a disgusted look on her face. "I'm sorry but I'm not flattered by your words." She said coldly, retrieving her hand from him.
"Amanda!" Mr Stewart yelled at her.
Nicholas chuckled. He turned to Mr Stewart and patted his shoulder. "It's okay, sir, I think we should go and see the doctor now."
They both left her presence, leaving her alone to digest her words. Amanda felt her knees grow weak, knowing that she might have actually blown the opportunity to save her mom or the billionaire might decide to just pay hospital bill anyway. Either way, she was stuck.
Her phone buzzed again and she picked up the device to see marcus calling again. This made her worry even more about the decision she was about to take. Marcus was a troublemaker and she had to leave him because of the violent ways he handle things.
Earlier that day she had called him and told him about her decision to quit their relationship. Nevertheless she knew his love for her was true, but his constant arrest by police has made her decide finally to breakup with him.
Amanda clicked the decline button, putting the violently ringing phone to a rest. She sank into a nearby seat as she buried herself in her thoughts.
The sound of babies wailing, people chattering, shoes and heels clicking in and out of the hospital floor filled her ears. Amanda didn't care about any of these noises, but a familiar laughing sound made her jerk out of her deep thought. She turned her head to where the laughter was coming from.
She was stunned by what she saw in front of her. The billionaire's hand was hanging around her father's neck as they both walked towards her. The way they laughed together made her realize that they have both agreed on something. He must have paid the hospital bill and definitely she would be married off to the billionaire.
Amanda suddenly remembered to close her mouth that was left agape. "Hey! Dad!" She signaled, waving her hand.
Mr Stewart broke contact with Nicholas and rushed to her.
"How is mom doing?" She asked as he came closer to her.
"Your mom is fine now honey, she is receiving the proper treatment already. Thanks to this wonderful man right here." He gestured his hand to Nicholas.
"Can I go see her now?" Amanda asked, hoping it would help her escape Nicholas's presence.
"No, the doctor said we should let her rest for a while." Nicholas responded, knowing fully well that she wasn't asking him.
Amanda leaned over to her father and whispered. "Did he pay for mom's treatment?"
"Of course he did, why did you think he came here in the first place?" Her father whispered back.
"But I didn't agree to marry him."
"Looks like we don't have much of a choice now. Do we?" He voiced in a whispered tone.
"Dad, are you really going to sell me off to this man?" She continued in a whispered tone.
"Amanda, we have talked about this several times. I'm not selling you to anyone, this is the only way to save your mother. Do this for her." Mr Stewart tried to convince her.
Nicholas cleared his throat. "Sir! I think I should take me leave now, my flight leaves in an hour."
"Oh! Of course. Thank you so much for your kindness, I'm really grateful." Mr Stewart took his hand with both of his. He turned to Amanda and whispered to her ear, "say something!" But Amanda didn't respond.
Nicholas' face beamed with a big smile, he patted Amanda's father on the shoulder and walked out of the hospital.
He stood at the entrance of the building and waved his hand to gain the attention of his driver who was standing several feets away from him. The driver immediately noticed and entered the car, he made a U-turn and parked right in front of Nicholas.
Nicholas opened the door and was about to slide in when he heard someone calling him. He turned around to see Amanda walking towards him.
" Oh! It's you , how nice of you to see me off." Nicholas teased her, moving away from the car and slamming the car door shut.
"I'm not here to see you off, Mr Nicholas"Amanda protested.
"Please, just call me Nicholas but why have you stopped me then?"
Amanda paused for a moment. She sighed heavily and looked down. "I'm sorry." She mumbled barely above a whisper.
"What?.... I can't hear you!" Nicholas teased her again. He placed his hand behind his ear, pretending like he didn't hear her.
Amanda narrowed her eyes angrily. She was about to repeat herself, but her lips froze when she met his piercing eyes above her.
She had not noticed how beautiful his eyes were.
Her gaze constantly went from his eyes to his lips. She gulped down her empty throat as her folded arms started to loosen.
Nicholas was the definition of hot, his blue eyes are impossible to ignore under his golden blonde hair. His lips are perfectly trimmed in heart shape, making it feel like a crime to have such lips. Even his towering height and Greek body is worth dying for.
At that moment, Amanda felt disappointed in herself. She finds herself falling for another man just a few hours after breaking up with a man that genuinely loved her. She was doing the wrong thing and she knew it.
Nicholas noticed the look in her eyes. "Are you okay?" He took a step closer to her and tried to tuck her hair behind her ear.