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#9 Nickolas and Sophie

My heart ached, and tears welled up in my eyes. I thought we had a moment, a connection. But here Sebastian was, leaving the Gala with another woman without caring for me.

"I think I should leave," I said to Nickolas, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, just a bit tired."

"You came with Sebastian, right?"

I nodded, not having the courage to utter another word.

"Okay, I'll take you back home," Nickolas said.

"No, I'll just take a taxi," I protested.

A glare was enough to make me go silent.

"Well, that was easy. You usually whine a bit more," Nickolas chuckled.

I sighed and rolled my eyes at him. We bid our goodbyes to the other people at our table, apologizing for Sebastian's sudden departure.

Nickolas' car was brought in front of the hotel's gate, and he helped me into the passenger's seat.

"I hope you are comfortable riding back in a simple car and not in a fancy limousine," Nickolas said while speeding on the driveaway.

"Well, you must redefine the definition you have in your mind about simple cars."

He chuckled, "You have to see the rest of my collection then."

"Seriously, what is it with men and cars?"

"What is it with women and shoes?" Nickolas countered back.

We both started laughing, but that didn't make me feel any better. I couldn't shake away that unsettling feeling that was building up inside my chest.

"You might actually be right," I admitted in a small voice.

"I'm always right. Does it have to do with Sebastian?"

"Yes and no…"

"He's a jerk for leaving just like that. But I haven't seen him dancing with another woman again these past two years."

I looked at Nickolas with confusion. "And why is that?"

"It's not my story to tell, darling. My brother will tell you when he's ready."

"He won't ever be ready, and I'm not sure whether I want to know."

"Then what is it that you want, Evelyn?"

"To stop this pain that pierces me every time I see him with another woman. I can't even explain it. I know him only for a few months, and we haven't interacted anywhere else besides the office. Why do I feel like this?" I exploded.

"Have you ever been in love again, Evelyn?"

"I've been in relationships, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't that magical feeling that every romance book worships. But the feelings I have now can't be love either. Love is not supposed to be painful, Nick…"

"In this word, nothing is perfect, darling. Not even love…"

"Well, nothing was perfect in my life until now, Nick. So, please let me believe that I'd have a chance to find true love. That at some point, I'll find a guy who will love me unconditionally and treat me with the respect I deserve…" I said, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Nickolas didn't add anything else. He just kept driving while I was crying and sobbing uncontrollably.

The car stopped in front of my apartment building, but I couldn't stop the tears, nor my sobs. Nickolas came to my side, helped me get out, and then picked me up bridal style effortlessly.

"It's okay, darling. Everything will be okay, I promise you," Nick whispered to me soothingly.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," I said in between my sobs.

"Evelyn, there is no need to apologize. But please stop crying because it's not good for your health, love."

I leaned my head on Nick's shoulder, trying to calm down. I vaguely remember him walking out of the elevator and ringing my apartment's doorbell.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" Sophie exclaimed the moment she was us.

"I… It's not my fault," Nickolas tried to explain.

"I don't care even if you own the whole world, I swear I'll make you pay for each tear my friend shed," Sophie kept scolding the poor man.

"Easy there, kitty. You've got the wrong man…" Nickolas chuckled.

My best friend glared at him while Nickolas placed me carefully on the sofa.

"He's not Sebastian, Sophie. This is Nickolas, his brother…" I tried to explain, my voice hoarse from all the crying.

"Oh, you're the good one," Sophie murmured.

"The good one?" Nickolas repeated, amused.

"Well, considering your asshole brother…"

"Sophie!" I shrieked.

Nickolas chuckled, "The lady has a point, Evelyn…"

"I'm Sophie," my best friend said, extending her hand and putting her seductive smile on.

"Nice to meet you, Sophie. I'm Nick."

"Yeah, I know. Evelyn told me a lot about you."

"Is that so?" Nickolas asked, and my best friend blushed.

I cleared my throat a bit, and they both turned to look at me. "I'll go to bed. Nick, you can stay with Sophie if you want. It's the least I can do, considering what you've done for me…"

"Don't worry about this, darling. You know it's always my pleasure."

I smiled weakly at him and tried to stand up from the couch, only to fall back once again.

"Evelyn? Shall I call your doctor? Are you dizzy?" Sophie questioned.

I shook my head. "No, I just want to sleep…"

"Okay, how about I help you undress, and Nick will prepare some tea?"

I nodded, and Sophie helped me get up again.

"Don't burn the kitchen!" my best friend warned my Boss' little brother.

"I'll try," Nick shouted back as we headed towards my bedroom.

"What happened, Evelyn?"

"Sebastian. First, he almost kissed me inside the car, and then we danced, and after that, he left with another woman," I said, a sob escaping my lips.

"He almost kissed you!? And then ditched you at the Ball all alone to fuck another woman?"

"Yes, Sophie, you got the memo…"

"I'm sorry, honey," my best friend said, patting my back.

Sophie helped me undress and remove my makeup. When we headed back to the sitting room, Nickolas had prepared three cups of tea with mint. We sat on the sofas enjoying our hot tea. I listened absentmindedly to my best friend talking with Nickolas. They seemed to get along well, and they were both flirting with each other…

I'm not quite sure what happened next, because when I opened my eyes again, I was lying on my bed, without any recollection of how I got there. The sun was shining behind the curtains, and I grabbed my phone to check the time. A few minutes past nine… At least I was feeling much better than last night.

I stopped all the disturbing thoughts that were about to consume me. I made my bed, changed clothes, and headed to the kitchen.

A gasp escaped my lips when I saw the semi-nude man making coffee inside my kitchen.

"Good morning, darling. How are you today?" Nickolas' melodic voice filled the room.

I averted my eyes from his four-pack and tried not to blush. "Good morning. I'm feeling a lot better."

"Do you want some coffee?"

"No, Nick. I'll have some fresh juice…" I muttered, trying to remember what on earth happened yesterday.

"What troubles you again, Evelyn?"

"Uh, well, last night, did we…" I trailed off, but Nickolas burst into laughs.

"I'm sorry. No, you fell asleep on the sofa, and I carried you to your room. That's all, except that I may have had sex with your best friend…"

I stared at him with wide eyes and mouth agape. "You and Sophie…"

"Is this okay with you?" Nickolas asked, his face laced with worry.

"Of course, it is. I'm happy for you guys," I exclaimed, smiling brightly.

"Well, good, because last night was one of the best nights ever!"

"Okay, okay, I don't need to hear all the details…"

Nickolas chuckled and helped make some pancakes.

"Nick, I apologize for my outburst last night. I was completely out of control…" I said, averting my gaze from him.

"There's no need to apologize. You're right… You deserve a better man than my brother. Someone who will treat you like the amazing woman you are," Nickolas said, giving me a side hug.

"Thank you," I replied in a small voice.

"Don't worry, I'll have a word with my jerk brother."

"Oh, no. Wouldn't this complicate things more?"

"He has to stop acting like an asshole and get his shit together."

I looked at him with a small smile, "Your brother is so lucky to have you."

A grin formed on his lips, and he pecked my cheek softly.

Sophie joined us after a while, having a big smile on her lips. We ate breakfast altogether, but after that, Nickolas had to leave. The two lovebirds promised to meet again soon, for a proper date this time. My best friend kept babbling about how perfect Nick was and that I must have been crazy putting him in my friend zone…

"Are you still mad about what happened last night?" Sophie asked while we were having lunch.

"I'm not mad, just disappointed. Well, it's actually better this way because I don't want to be one of the many women who had sex with him."

"But you have feelings for him, don't you?"

"Maybe, I'm just attracted to him. I mean, who wouldn't be? The man is a living Greek God…"

"So why are you jealous?"

"Perhaps I'm just frustrated that he doesn't look at me like he looks the other women. I'm just his secretary…"

"Oh, Evelyn, I think you have to decide if you want to be more than just his secretary and talk to him…"

"No way in hell I'm talking to him about my feelings. Sebastian will make fun of me…"

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'll just keep working, and I'll try to find a man outside my working place to calm down all this sexual tension…"

"Okay, we're going out tonight!" Sophie chuckled.

Sophie indeed went out that night, but with Nickolas. That's why I decided to visit my parents. They were happy to see me and learn about my news from work. I didn't mention what happened to the Ball, not my uncertain feelings about my Boss. It was nice to be at my parents' house again; I felt safe and relaxed.

On Monday morning, I was back at work, and everything seemed like before. Sebastian was back to his professional self, giving me orders and keeping me busy. I tried to convince myself that it was better this way. Besides, I'd save myself from another heartbreak.

I was walking towards Sebastian's office with some peppers in hand that he had to sign. The door of his office opened, and a woman walked to the corridor. She wasn't working here, her hair seemed a bit messy, and her clothes were wrinkled. As she strolled closer to me, I recognized her. She was the same woman who had left with Sebastian after the Ball.

"So, I guess you can't keep his bed warm…" the woman purred, giving me a haughty look.

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