Nik's POV

I looked up from my document when Judy walked in with the signatory stonily severe look on his face, does this guy ever smile?

Lately, plunging myself into my work was the only thing saving my sanity here. I had to wake up from this spell Maya cast on me which was why I was retracing my step; tracking the spot I had derailed from who I was.

Thanks to everything that has happened, I have roused from my dream. Love? happiness? They were not meant for me; a cross I have to carry for being Niklaus Spencer.

"Stop. Ten meters away " I ordered Judy as soon as he tried to take a step further. I watched his brows furrowed in confusion and finally, realization.

I pulled out my drawer and brought out my sanitizer which I used to spray the air and my hand.

"I am vaccinated, you know, " Judy pointed out gruffly.

"My daughter was vaccinated too but look how it ended" I reminded him with my fingers interlocked together as I placed my hand on my desk.

"How's my daughter?" I asked the main question that has been hogging my mind.

"She's home, sound and safe "

"Did she put up a fight?" I questioned him curiously, having known Isabella would not make it easy for them.

"Surprisingly, no," Judy answered gazing into the distance, there was a thoughtful look on his face.

I laughed at him, "Don't be fooled by her calm front. Isabella is my blood, I know her from inside out. That's just the calm before the storm."

Why was I even explaining her to him? Judy has been with me for a long time now and seen the magnitude of destruction my daughter was capable of.

"Give her enough space but don't dare take your eyes off her, don't ever let your guard down even for a second " I instructed Judy to pass the message to his men.

"If that's all, you can leave " came my instant dismissal when I received a gut feeling he was about to say something else that would stir my heart.

Face lowered, I was glancing through a file with divided attention when Judy said

"I couldn't see her when I arrived to take your daughter because she was sleeping. Apparently, she had pulled an all-nighter taking care of your demanding daughter "

Just as I thought, Judy would surely bring up Maya. When did he start opining about my love life?

I looked up at him expressionless,

"So? How's that my business?"

I deadpanned. "Nobody forced her into taking care of Isabella. Also, aren't there maids at Eden's place, who would have taken care of my daughter? She was the one who decided to be a goody-two-shoes. But wait a minute …." I trailed off, then laughed while loosening the tie on my neck - God, it was suffocating me.

"Does she want payment for her services?"

"Of course not!" Judy denied my accusation with a look of disgust, "She wasn't even awake when I took Isabella away! " he defended her.

"Good for her then, "I remarked nonchalantly and began to organize my already neat desk. I just needed to do anything to keep myself busy.

"From now on, don't feed me gossip about her daily life unless she's really in danger of dying, understand? " I warned him strictly.

"Understood " He reluctantly concurred and turned to look but stopped midway, his lips moving as if he wanted to add something.

I cocked a brow, "Anything else? "

"Nothing " Was all he said and turned his back to me, without knowing I heard him mumble under his breath, "I hope you don't regret this."

Oh, I was regretting it already; regretting ever meeting that girl named Maya.

Like the wind with no direction, Maya came into my life and blew me off my feet; made everything I was used to looking so different and colorful.

She should've left me to wallow in my hedonistic lifestyle. At least then, I knew what I wanted and expected; was in control of my life and heart.

Maya took me to a whole new world and now I was lost in it with no clue how to steer around it nor find my way out.

My heart hurts as if someone was squeezing it repeatedly. Everywhere feels so suffocating but I couldn't flounder nor keep on with this dark cloud over my head. I had my family to support and billions of workers depending on me for their paycheck.

Someone walking into my office jerked me from my miserable thoughts. My expression shifted when I saw Tina walk in with a charming smile on her voice.

She was dressed so sexily today that only a blind man would pass her by without turning around to get a second look - I guess I was blind then.

She was wearing a red ruched bodycon dress that showed off her surgically enhanced womanly curves. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulder in waves as she struts confidently into my office with her silver chunky hoop earrings dangling from her ears.

"What are you doing here? " I asked as soon as she took a seat on my sofa situated in the middle of the office.

"I heard you haven't had lunch yet" She averted my question and began to set the dishes on the glass table.

Tina went on," I contacted your secretary and found out that you frequent that restaurant across the road. Thankfully, you haven't eaten yet, so I thought of getting you something on my way here "

"You did well " I commended her and saw the self-pleased twinkle in her eyes.

"Enjoy your meal then, don't leave anything behind, " I told her, picked up a contract that has been awaiting my approval for a long time from my desk, and glanced through it.

"H-huh? I don't understand? " There was a trace of confusion on her face.

I was amused inwardly, Tina was trying hard. Did she think I was joking when I said she could get the title but not me?

Lowering the contract paper, I glanced up at her with a disapproving frown, "I hate distraction when I'm working and don't drop food on the floor, uncleanliness disgust me " I reprimanded her and went back to my work without giving second thoughts to the disappointed look on her face.

I was so immersed in my work that I didn't notice she was still in my office until an hour later when I stopped to stretch my stiff neck.

"You're still here?" I asked in between a yawn.

"Are you done? " She asked back.

"Are you done with your meal?" I asked her back too.

Tina sighed, she just realized I wasn't that same old Niklaus that always indulged her.

"When can we talk about the engagement party? We have a lot to arrange: the foods, theme, guests to invite, and so on "

"That's right " I agreed with her.

"You haven't even put a ring on my finger " She showed me her fingers to prove her point and I couldn't help but wince at the claws she fixed on those manicured hands - hope, she never uses that on me

"The ring was never supposed to be on your finger " I reminded her, just for clarification.

Tina scowled at me, "Are we really going to have this discussion right now? " she rose to her feet angrily, "You're my fiancé and I have every right to get a ring from you! " She insisted.

I ignored her, I had no time nor strength to waste my saliva on her anyway. So, I simply checked the time on my limited edition watch and began to pack.

"What are you doing? " She asked, her voice a bit shaky with apprehension.

"What does it seem like I'm doing?" I retorted without looking at her.

"You can't be leaving! we haven't even discussed the engagement party " She yelled at me then smiled in a coaxing manner, "Unless we can stop in a restaurant and go over the details "

I picked up my cell phone, left my office desk, and approached her while adjusting my necktie.

Tina tried to help but my deadly glare stopped her midway as her idle hands went back to its resting position.

"Sorry to disappoint you but I have a sick daughter to take care of at home. "

"B-but - " She was still saying when I interrupted her.

"So you can go over the details of the engagement with my secretary

- the both of you hit it off on the first encounter since he was able to tip off my favorite eating spot to you; so it wouldn't be difficult communicating your ideas to him, right? "

"You!" Tina fumed and raised her clenched fist at me but still couldn't hit me while I stared down her hateful glare.

"Yeah, me. What are you going to do about it? " I goaded her purposely.

"I'm not going to give up on you if that's why you're continuously irking me"She resolved through gritted teeth.

"Sure, knock yourself out then, " I said to her without concern before my eyes settled on the food on the table, she didn't even take a bite.

"Do you know some people live below a dollar a day? Yet here you are, wasting hundreds of dollars" I chided her but she snorted and looked away.

Shaking my head, I proceeded to take a step when I remembered,

"Ahh, that's right "

She stared up at me curiously.

"Isabella has chickenpox, so mind the way you hang around me. We don't want those nasty itchy sores ruining your skin, do we? "