Chapter 78
Nicol
I was ready to leave the apartment and face whatever is waiting for me on the outside. I didn’t want to bother Geoffrey in taking me to the University so I was planning on taking the subway. As the lift arrived at the penthouse Geoffrey got out “And we are you going?” He asked like I was a child he caught sneaking out. “I was going to the University.” “Without me?” “I didn’t want to bother you, Geoffrey.” “The paparazzi is out there and there are a lot of them Nicol, it will be safer if I take you.” “Okay I just didn’t want to bother you.” “It’s my job Nicol. Let me do my job.” As we went down the lift, I asked him “How did things go this morning.” “Good although there where a lot of paparazzi at the school, Nicolas walked with her and made sure she was safely inside.” “How did she take it?” “I’m not so sure, I think it was more than she was expecting.” “I thought so.” As we drove out of the garage the paparazzi attacked the SUV trying to get a photo of me, Geoffrey just drove he didn’t stop he just moved through them without hitting one of them at least. “Fuck was it this bad at the school?” “Worse.” “Shit shit shit.” Was all I could say Nikki is going to be so stressed out. Maybe I should go and get her from school and take her home before the time. I thought about it and then decided to call Nicolas and tell him of my plans. His phone didn’t ring long before he answered “Nicol what’s wrong?” “Hi Nicolas sorry to bother you.” “No problem is something wrong?” “I saw the number of paparazzi outside the apartment I was thinking I should go and get Nikki earlier before the school get’s out, this is to much for her Nicolas.” “If you think that is what is best then do it.” “Okay I just wanted you to know.” “Thank you, Nicol. Let me know when you guys are back at home.” “I will thank you, enjoy your day.” “I’ll try, you to angel.” He called me angel and we weren’t even in bed. I think we are moving in the right direction.
When we got to the University there where no one hanging around there thank God. “I won’t be long Geoffrey.” I jumped out and went straight to my dance professor’s studio. When I walked in there it felt like I left school yesterday not like 12 years has passed. I felt so young walking through the hallways until I saw the students dancing in the studio when I saw the way they danced I realized I was way to long out of the game for this to ever work again. I stood at the door just looking at them the way they dance the way the guys threw the girls up in the air, fuck that was me 12 years ago I’m not sure I’ll be able to ever do that again. Maybe I should have stayed a nurse, maybe I should just be a stay-at-home mom. Fuck my confidence tumbled with every second I stood there. I made my escape before my professor saw me; I basically ran to the SUV. When I got in Geoffrey’s first words to me was “Are you okay?” I didn’t know how to answer him because I didn’t think I was. I saw my dreams crumbled right in front of me. “I would be. Can we go and fetch Nikki now Geoffrey, I don’t want her to go through all that commotion this afternoon.” “Yes, off course.” We got to the school and I jumped out, there was one photographer still standing near the school and as soon as he saw me, he ran and started taking photos of me. When I was inside the school, I was safe thank goodness this means Nikki would have felt safe to. I walked to the secretary’s office. “Hi I’m here to get Nikki.” I told her. “Yes, sure let me just call her class.” “Thank you.” The head mistress came walking out of her office. “Nicol hello.” “Head mistress.” “You guys really made a big spectacle this morning.” “Well Nicolas did warn you, didn’t he?” I said with my head held high. “He did but I really didn’t think it will be this bad, I think you should keep Nikki at home until this die down. It's really a big disruption for the kids.” “Again, we did warn you and you said it will be fine.” “Well after this morning I changed my mind.” “Fine but I’m very sure Nicolas isn’t going to be very happy about it.” “We’ll see.” She said. Clearly, she didn’t know Nicolas at all. Nikki came walking towards me. “Mom?” she asked when she saw me. “I thought I’ll come and get you earlier to avoid all the paparazzi this afternoon. And the head mistress here said you should stay at home until things has died down.” “What about the father daughter dance tomorrow night?” Nikki asked. “I’m afraid you ….” Before the head mistress could finish her sentence, I told her “Off course you and Nicolas are coming.” I gave the head mistress a look, that said try me. “Thank goodness.” Nikki said on a huge sigh I mean it’s the first dance she has her actual father with her, I will not let this bitch ruin it for her. “See you tomorrow night head mistress.” Nikki said as we walked out of the school. When we got outside, that one photographer must have called a few of his friends because there was a few taking pictures of me and Nikki and one was screaming at me “Why did you hide Nicolas daughter from him?” “Are you a gold digger?” “Is she actually his?” And the questions went on and on but I didn’t listen to them and made sure Nikki was in the SUV before I got in.
As we drove home Nikki asked me “Mom what is a gold digger?” Fuck she heard that. Geoffrey looked at me in the mirror. “Well angel it’s someone that is with someone else just for his money.” “So those people back there think we are with dad for his money?” Wait what? She just called him dad. Do I make an issue out of it or do I just let it slide; do I ask her questions about what she just said or do I just leave it. I must have taken to long to answer her because she touched my arm “Mom I’m talking to you.” “Sorry what?” I totally forgot what she asked. “I asked so those people back there think we are with dad because he has a lot of money?” “Yes, that is what they think.” “Why didn’t you say something?” “Because no matter what we say angel they will still think whatever they want to think. That is just the way people are.”