Chapter 67 You have some explaining to do
Nicole’s POV
My biggest shock last night was seeing Molly in Gianni’s house. As exes, I never expected him to let her in when he wouldn't even allow me access, not even at his mother’s request.
If Gianni wanted a woman to live with, then why not the mother of his child? Everything about him was confusing the moment Molly showed up in his life and I was determined to stay and was willing to do whatever it took.
However, his best friend, Hank, forcibly removed me from the house.
Initially, I was angry, but then I decided to use my feminine charm to extract important information about Gianni and send it to my mom but instead, I faced the most humiliating moment of my life.
Men always found me attractive, but I never gave in to their advances. Yet, Gianni was unmoved by my beauty, and I had hoped Hank would be different, but he insulted me by leaving me half-naked in the car and telling me to keep it.
I knew that trick was to ensure I don’t find my way back in his life with the excuse of returning his car even if I knew the location.
After getting dressed, I arranged for an apartment, feeling ashamed of how things had turned out and the fact that Hank had booked the room for me.
With everything that had happened with Santiago and Hank, I slept late and woke up late, struggling to catch up with the workload Gio had assigned me when he called me on the intercom.
“Nicole, come to my office now.”
Unaware that Hank was also present, I traced it back to the time I went to the office of the various managers to remind them to submit their reports.
Some would lie about not receiving emails to avoid meeting deadlines, so I didn't want to give them that opportunity.
If I had known Hank was there, I would have found an excuse to delay. The events of last night replayed in my mind, causing unbearable shame and making my legs weak.
"Don, my stomach hurts. I need to use the restroom,” I said, attempting to leave, but Gio's cold voice stopped me.
“Not so fast, Nicole, you have some explaining to do.”
Realizing my act wasn't convincing, I sank to the floor. “Arhhh, Don, my stomach hurts. It must be because I ate late last night after the incident,” I tried to blame it on him, but he didn’t seem convinced and reached for his phone.
“Doctor…”
“No,” I intervened when I realized he was calling the company doctor. It would be discovered that I was faking it and that would worsen the situation.
Gio’s glare was fixed on me, but Hank wasn't even looking my way anymore and clearly, he won’t stand up for me.
"Start talking, Nicole. Why are you here and what information did you want from Hank?" Gio asked coldly and though a distance away, I was chilled by his words.
Slowly, I stood up after my failed attempt to deceive him into thinking I had a stomach ache.
Gio was too clever; he quickly realized that I didn't really want Hank that night. I just wanted information, but how could I admit it?
"Gio, you don't want me, and I find your best friend equally attractive. Is it wrong for me to make a move when he doesn't?"
He fell silent, and I thought he might let me go, but then he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Jace, are you busy?" Jace was assigned to Molly, and with Zak not around, I hoped it wasn't what I feared.
"Get someone else to watch her and come to my office with a knife."
I felt sick to my stomach at the mention of a knife. Things were getting serious, so I quickly reached for the door, but I heard a beeping sound behind me, indicating that the door had been locked with a remote.
Gio's office was usually open unless he was having a confidential conversation, but this time, I knew I had messed up. I dialed his mother's number before the bodyguard arrived.
"Mom, Gio wants to kill me," I yelled into the phone. Gio reached him in long fast strides, took it from me and spoke into it.
"I've had enough, Mom. If Nicole is going to be your spy, then you better let me send her back to you in one piece, or I will dismember her piece by piece and send her remains to you."
If he was brave enough to inform his mother, then I knew he was going to act on it.
I don't know what his mom said, but it seemed to have upset him even more. He smashed the phone on the floor just as Jace arrived with the dagger.
Only his special body guards, Jace and Zak had the code to unlock his door from outside. Gio took knife and instructed, "You can go," but Jace hesitated.
"Don't you fear getting blood stains on your clothes? Please let me handle it for you."
No one was showing me mercy, as they were constantly on Gio’s side, always wanting to please him.
Behind Gio’s back, I would have been able to talk Jace out of it but with Gio there, I doubted Jace would show me mercy yet, I tried for him to notice me.
It took time for Jace to look at me but just at the same time, Hank messed everything up.
"Oh, I can handle it," he said as he stood up. Jace smiled apologetically and left the office.
"What do you want to do?" Hank asked. Gio stared at me and instructed, "Cut her tongue since she's not willing to confess."