"To St. Richard," ordered Edward. He had just left the company and got on a luxury BMW.
His assistant-cum-driver, Andrew Larson reminded him, "Master Hales, you have an appointment with Miss Sophie at Ritz Hotel at 8 p. m.."
It was already 7. 30 p. m. at this moment.
Edward shut his eyes, close-mouthed. The air in the car seemed to have frozen temporarily.
Moments later, he drawled, "To Ritz Hotel then."
Nelissa was once a regular of Ritz hotel too, when she was still seeing that traitorous Zayden. Whenever the exam season drew near, Zayden would bring her here.
"To get relaxed," she quoted him.
Penelope had booked a private room in this hotel on the second floor, the very same room Zayden and Nelissa had their secret dates in the past. Nelissa thought it was just a coincidence.
To her horror and surprise, Nelissa saw Zayden in there when she opened the door. On the table lay a bouquet of roses, the dim candle lights cast long shadows on the table.
Thunderstruck, Nelissa felt that she had time-travelled to those awful days.
"Nelly, take a seat." Zayden pulled out the chair for her gentlemanly, his chivalrous facade made her stomach churn.
"Where's Penelope?" Nelissa wasn't in the mood to play along with his tricks.
Zayden answered, "She's in the ladies."
Nelissa snorted. Everything made sense now. Since Zayden had dealings with Edward, naturally, he'd have known Penelope. After all, Penelope was both Nelissa's highschool friend and Edward's niece.
At the thought of this, without further hesitation, Nelissa turned on her heel.
Right then, Zayden caught her wrist and said, "Where've you been, Nelly? I've been searching high and low for you in the last five years. Why didn't you come to me?"
Deep down, Nelissa knew this man was but a liar; howbeit, her tears couldn't help welling up in her eyes. Memories began to haunt her again.
"Nelly, Zay will look after you when I'm not around. He will protect you." This was what Nelissa's mother said when she brought Zayden to their house.
From that day onwards, Nelissa had fallen head over heels for Zayden. He had been by her side ever since she was a wisp of a girl. Little did she know that her love for him was destined to end with his disloyalty.
She snapped back to the present. "Didn't Penelope tell you the truth? I'm now a mother of a pair of twins. My life has never been more wonderful without you," Nelissa hissed, a tear cascaded down her cheek.
Zayden's grasp on her wrist tightened, his pupil constricted in shock.
Earlier in the day, Penelope accused him of being irresponsible for ditching Nelissa and the twins. Puzzled, he decided to meet Nelissa to find out the truth. After all, he had never slept with Nelissa.
"Who's that man?" Zayden was irate, his voice threateningly low.
He couldn't believe that Nelissa would go to bed with another man other than him. On top of that, she even gave birth to a pair of twins!
"My ex," she lied. "I have a few exes after you."
Nelissa was convinced that Zayden wouldn't be able to find out the truth. He was no match for Edward; and she would never allow him to come near the twins.
With that, Nelissa broke free from his hand and turned around, knowing that she must leave this place now, for her tears were going to spill at any second.
Zayden was stunned as he watched Nelissa stride away. After a while, he recollected himself and caught up with Nelissa. He grabbed her hand at the entrance of the hotel, bellowing, "Didn't I promise you I will take care of you, just like your mother? Why did you run away?"
Slap!
Nelissa threw her hand forward, whipping it across his face. Her palm was bright red, vibrations of pain spread from her palm to her fingertips.
"Say what you will, Zayden Lowe. I know every little dirty secret of yours. So, take my advice and drop your act! It disgusts me!"
Zayden brought his hand to his cheek as he stared at Nelissa, his eyes shouting with anger and surprise.
In the last five years, his love for her did not once change. Despite gaining more power, money and influence, never had he cast a glance at the innumerable girls who threw themselves at him.
At this moment, Andrew had just arrived at Ritz Hotel. Edward in the car caught a glimpse at the commotion at the entrance. From the moment Nelissa broke free of Zayden till she gave him a slap. She was then seen leaving on a cab.
Edward's face remained emotionless. He finished the dinner with Sophie before he instructed Andrew to send Sophie home.
Before they parted, Sophie grabbed Edward's hands and said, "It was a lovely evening to be with you, Edward. You can stay at my place if you don't mind."
Sophie's face flushed; it was being smeared by the golden light from the streetlamps. She ran her vampish nails on the inner side of Edward's palm.
To say Edward was every girl's dream man was an understatement. He had every characteristic of a successful man; he was the best of his species.
Here came her opportune moment, to make him hers. The collar of his shirt hung loose, revealing part of his hirsute chest. His tie had long gone. He was inviting her, wasn't he? To enter and rip her apart this very night.
If yes, she couldn't wait for it.
"I have to go to Grandpa." Turning a blind eye to her amorous advances, Edward withdrew his hands and checked the time on his wristwatch.
Edward was referring to Mikaelson, a name Sophie dared not disrespect. She spinned on her heel and left, though the cold evening breeze failed to put out the smoldering desire in her.
In the car, Edward called St. Richards to check on Mikaelson's condition. He didn't go there in the end; instead, he instructed Andrew to drive him home.
Eliza had already clocked out, leaving Edward alone in this palatial house.
He took off his coat as soon as he set foot in the house. Glowing with radiant gold flame, the fireplace was the only light source in the room.
Edward went straight to the fridge and gulped down a bottle of chilling water, attempting to extinguish the fire within him. As if bewitched, he grew even more apprehensive. He cruppled the plastic bottle and chucked it away.
Images of Nelissa and her body occupied his mind. She looked so pure and innocent that evening as his manhood pounded her; obviously a greenhorn, she was. Despite that, his body thirsted for her.
The twins belonged to Zayden, her ex-boyfriend, right? Their interaction at Ritz Hotel had affirmed his conviction.
The fire in him continued to blaze; fury and desire blended as one to engulf him whole.
It was bound to be a sleepless night…
At this moment, Nelissa was at a nearby park, crying her eyes out. She neither wanted Jolene nor the twins to catch a glimpse of her current pathetic self. It was not until midnight before she went back to the apartment.
The next morning, she woke up to a pair of swollen eyes. She put on her make-up, in hope that Jolene wouldn't identify anything suspicious.
She vowed to herself again that this'd be the last time she shed another drop of tear for that perfidious man. It was time for her to remove Zayden from her life.
"What's wrong with your eyes, Nelly?" asked Jolene when they were having breakfast.
Subconsciously, Nelissa touched the corners of her eyes and replied, "Insomnia."
She quickly turned her head away while passing the milk to Noelle.
Jolene took another bite of her sandwich and remarked nonchalantly, "I thought you cried."
Nelissa lowered her head and munched on her bread, pretending not to hear Jolene...