Chapter 47 Puddle
Verena
Silence engulfed the conference room and the only notable sound was that of the paper being flipped. Mikaelson leaned by his side, whispering. “Once the transfer is executed, it will indeed be over!”
A smile managed to slip on my face and I gave him the silent ‘thumbs up’ moving to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear when I paused mid-way, upon locking eyes with Kian who sat across from me.
Beige Band-Aids were scattered across his face—the bridge of his nose, next to his temple, one above his eyebrow, and the corner of his jaw. I’d wanted to ask him questions but he wasn't my business anymore.
Plus, I still held a grudge towards him for breaking into my apartment. So, he deserved everything he got. Thanks to whoever battered him this way.
He darted his eyes away from me, only for them to darken on Mikaelson.
What was his problem?
His lawyer, Austin’s voice cut through the budding tension in the room as he slid the file over to me. “A villa in Spain and the penthouse in Los Angeles, along with all the other joint investments are detailed in these documents. Once you sign, the transfer will be executed in the next forty-eight hours”
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to hide my smile as I glanced at Mikaelson who gave me a nod of approval. I could feel my insides churning out of victory while Mikael removed the pen from his breast pocket and handed it to me.
“Thank you,” I chuckled.
After skimming through the document, I was about to sign the papers when Kian’s voice cut through the air as my eyes slid up to his. “Don't you seem to be enjoying this a little too much? Why are you smiling? Why do you have a smile on your face” His voice broke with every word as he stared at me with distraught eyes.
I raised a brow, about to speak when Mikael intervened. “I’m sorry but this isn't the right time to say this to my client…” He glared at Kian before darting his eyes back to me. “Please proceed, Miss Verena Carson”
“Thank you,” I said under my breath, not without shooting death stares at Kian.
Then I signed it and while I exhaled out of relief, Kian breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling. All of a sudden, my heart almost leaped out of my throat when he slammed his fist on the table, kicked the chair back, and stormed out of the conference room.
“Mr. Kian Cooper,” His lawyer followed after him.
After that little show of chaos, I came outside the building, the breeze kicking my hair back as my hand fluttered to the scarf around my neck. The day had never felt so colorful—this was what emancipation felt like. It made people see color in everything.
I wanted to kick the autumn leaves with my high-knee boots, thinking about all the things I could do to celebrate my divorce from Kian when his eyes that were red with fury clashed with mine.
I cleared my throat, adjusting the strap of my bag while attempting to walk past him. I mean, I should have continued walking but something inside of me made me turn—my stupidity perhaps.
I stretched my hand towards him for a handshake. “This is for the times that you were good to me. I still hate you for breaking into my house and for dragging what could have been over months back. So, cheers on being divorced!”
All he did was stare at me before his gaze dropped to my hand. He scoffed and pivoted as he walked away without saying a single word.
That was embarrassing.
Heat rose to my cheeks and I forced a smile to hide the embarrassment as I came down the steps, walking to the lot only for someone to come into view. The sun danced in his hair and as I squinted my eyes to get a proper look at who it was, my heart slammed against my ribcage as my face broke into a smile.
Daxton.
I ran towards him, jumping on him while his strong arms wrapped around me as I planted soft kisses on his face. “Easy, easy—” He spun me around.
I pulled back, my forehead tipped against his as his eyes held mine. “Done?” he asked.
“Done,” I smiled while he crushed his lips on mine. “I am proud of you” He breathed against my mouth.
“I couldn't have done this without you” Our noses brushed. “Thank you” my voice was barely above a whisper and I placed a light kiss on his lips while he carefully set me down.
He was about to speak when he suddenly pushed me to the side, away from the raging driver who sped to us—past us. That was Kian’s car. I could have sworn that if there was a puddle of water, he would have splashed it on us.
“Geez, what is wrong with you” I yelled, ready to show Kian’s car my middle finger when Daxton snatched my wrist and pulled me back.
“Ignore him”
I turned to him. “He could have hit us”
“He wouldn't dare,”
I stared up at him and that was when I noticed that the gray of his hair was gone. My brows furrowed in confusion. “What happened to the gray here?” I touched his hair.
“You thought it was real?”
I nodded. “Yes…wait! It isn't real”
“Of course, it isn't”
My lips parted. “I just knew you looked more—”
Daxton cut in, a mischievous smile tilting his lips up. “Handsome, irresistible, dashing, and hot”
I loved a self-aware man but I was never going to admit it. “No!”
Alarms blared in his eyes. “No…” I shrugged and before I knew, he lifted me off the ground effortlessly as he slung me over his shoulder. “Daxton” I screamed.
His hands wrapped around my thigh and I could feel my stomach get queasy from the way he whooshed me around. “Fun fact, some of my staff are in the firm’s building for business and until you tell me the things I want to hear, you will remain on my shoulder and that means”
I yelled. “No…”
“So you admit that I am…”
“Hot, irresistible, dashing, and handsome. Goddamn yes” A rich laugh escaped his throat as he set me down and pinched my nose. “That was a lie, no one is here”
“Daxton!” I protested.
He pulled me into his embrace, nuzzling his chin on my head. “Do you want to go to a party with me?”
I drew back. “What party?”
“A party I was asked not to bring you to. Jana invited me to her wedding anniversary and she told me not to come with you”
I clicked my tongue. That woman was crazy. She had blown up my phone with messages concerning Kian, claiming that I was the one who abducted him and that was the reason he didn't want to expose the identity of the person who had tortured him for days.
How was it even possible that I would abduct Kian?
That woman knew how to get on my nerves and to think that she had ruined my morning sleep with her nonsense.
“After all the things she accused me of and the name-calling, I don't want to! Plus, she doesn't want me there. I showed you the messages she sent,”
Daxton’s eyes narrowed on me. “She had called you a leech—” something dark sparked in his eyes. “—and she ruined your sleep. Shouldn't you ruin her day by coming with me?”
“But she—”
He cut in. “She told me to come with a date and it doesn't matter if she likes you or not, I have to come with one and that one is you,”
“So would you come with me?”
I sighed.“As long as it means getting back at Jana, I am up”
That woman called me a slut who would burn in hell for fucking around with two relatives. Thinking about all the things she said made anger slowly rise in me.
I breathed hard, glancing up at Daxton. “Let’s ruin her wedding anniversary!”