What I absolutely despised was Jacob waking me up early in the morning without a good reason. He shook me gently, brushing his fingers through my messy hair when I groaned. There was no way I was getting out of bed. I didn't have to head to the office. The one who should worry about waking up at the crack of dawn was him.

"Sweetheart." He whispered.

I rolled away from him, burying my head underneath his pillow instead.

He chuckled, "That's not a great escape plan." He pointed out.

It really wasn't, it was only a pillow away but my brain was still asleep.

"You have a guest."

I rolled to my side and peeked at him from underneath his pillow, "Which monster decided to let you wake me at this God awful hour?"

His stormy gaze glittered. He was having too much fun with this which answered my question. Stretching I tried to feel more alive. It didn't help but at least I was trying. Sitting up I brushed my hair out of my face and stared at my fiancé without really seeing him. I noticed how Jacob's eyes lingered on the necklace he gifted me. He flickered his eyes up, folding his arms across his chest to look more menacing.

Probably to intimidate me so I would hurry.

"Tell Nick I need a minute, I'll be right there," I mumbled.

I struggled to wake up my brain, but thankfully Jacob thought of everything as always. He pointed at the mug filled with delicious smelling coffee which he had put on my bedside table.

"While you freshen up I'll keep Nick company." He straightened his tie and brushed off his jacket as if dust covered it which was not true at all. It was just a habit he couldn't shake off, "I need to be at the office in an hour so hurry up."

I brushed his orders off and rolled out of bed. Cold air hit me hard which made me shiver and complain about the men in my life being jerks. They were huge arrogant jerks. Strolling into the bathroom I turned around to close the door but Jacob appeared in the doorway.

"What?" I asked.

"Nick has to go to the office after his conversation with him," Jacob informed me.

That wasn't news to me, it did confuse me that he brought it up.

"I know," I mumbled.

He nodded, "So don't give him too much of a hard time, okay?"

Even though I was still half asleep and moved around like a Zombie I still knew that Jacob was being sweet and caring. He didn't want me to give my brother a hard time since he still had a long day ahead of him.

"I won't." I promised, "I already got my revenge at the Christmas dinner."

Jacob brushed his hand over my head in a gentle manner, showing his affection like he was caring for a puppy. I pushed him away and brushed him off.

"You're the one distracting me, you know. Let me get ready so you can be on time for whatever you need to do at the office."

He smiled, this time letting me close the bathroom door without distracting me. I freshened up quickly, throwing on a pair of dark grey yoga pants and one of Jacob's white shirts. It was big and comfy and would help me feel more at ease as I talked to Nick about whatever he thought was urgent enough to pay me a visit this early in the morning. I was about to leave the bedroom when I felt another cold shiver run down my spine.

Socks. I needed fluffy socks to help me stay warm.

Grabbing a pair of pink fluffy socks I put them on and this time didn't forget about my mug filled with coffee either. Holding tightly onto it as if it was made out of gold I joined Jacob and Nick in the living room. Jacob looked pleased to see me, maybe he liked seeing me in his clothes. That darkened look in his eyes was kind of inappropriate with my brother in the room.

"You can head to the office." I let him know, making sure to keep my distance from him.

Nick looked from Jacob to me, he looked confused but kept his words to himself. He sipped his coffee which reminded me of the coffee Jacob had made me. It was lukewarm so I needed to drink it fast. I liked hot tea and hot coffee. Lukewarm was okay but it was bordering to disgusting. At least that's how I felt about my hot drinks.

"You're so cranky this morning." Jacob smiled, he didn't seem bothered with my behavior at all, "Play nice." He closed the distance between us and kissed my cheek, "See you in a little while."

I smiled, enjoying the way his warmth radiated over me. His fresh scent lingered around us and making me feel better already. I heard Nick sigh in the background but I could only focus on my fiancé who wasn't backing off despite me behaving like a cranky Zombie.

"You're cute." He whispered.

"You're delusional," Nick muttered.

I threw my brother a glare, "The one choosing his girlfriend over his family should drink his coffee and keep his mouth shut."

Jacob sighed, placing his hand on my hip and giving it a squeeze, "Behave." He whispered.

He leaned in and kissed me. He then pulled away and glanced at my brother who did sip his coffee.

"Good luck." Jacob told my brother, "Mrs. Quake is making waffles so you might be able to mellow her down with some waffles with strawberries and whipped cream."

"Don't tell him how to handle me." I warned Jacob, "You'll regret it."

Nick smirked, "Thanks, man."

Jacob walked away, giving us the space we needed. I sat down beside Nick on the couch and drank my coffee. I needed to drink it fast because it was slowly becoming the wrong kind of iced coffee.

"You're not going to bite my head off?" Nick asked.

I glanced at him, "I think Jacob made it clear how he feels about you upsetting me."

Nick let out another sigh this time it sounded like his soul escaped him.

"Jacob is rather overprotective of you." Nick met my gaze, "More so than a few weeks ago."

He wasn't wrong. Jacob's behavior was quite odd these days. I knew something was wrong but the man brushed me off when I pointed it out. He behaved like I was crazy, making things up due to exhaustion and stress. I almost believed him but now Nick also pointed out how odd my fiancé was behaving. I wasn't losing my mind.

Jacob was playing games and I wasn't on top of it anymore.

I pulled my legs up and faced my brother, "He makes sure I barely do any of the household chores. He has this weird thing about me drinking alcohol. I didn't think much of it since he didn't drink either but it's weird, right?"

"I noticed he kept pouring you water at the Christmas dinner."

"Jacob says he wants us to live healthier."

Nick frowned, the look told me he didn't buy it and neither did I. He glanced down at his cup, looking sad that he no longer had coffee to keep him going. I hid my smile by finishing my almost cold coffee. Getting to my feet I gestured to the kitchen.

"Let's move this to the kitchen, I need another cup."

"Jacob still lets you drink coffee?"

That didn't sound like a sarcastic kind of question. It sounded like Nick seriously wanted to know. I strolled into the kitchen and was about to refill my mug but Mrs. Quake stopped me.

"Hon, waffles are ready." She took the pot away from me and gestured to the breakfast bar, "Why don't you two sit down and eat up. I promise that it tastes better warm."

I let Mrs. Quake take my mug away and settled at the breakfast bar. Nick did get a refill and joined me. He threw me a look but I had no idea what he was saying. Mrs. Quake placed a tall glass of orange juice beside my plate and smiled.

"I'm going to do the laundry, it was nice seeing you again, Nick."

Nick thanked the woman who retreated and gave us some privacy too. I grabbed my fork and dug in. Warm waffles with whipped cream and strawberries made me feel human again. Nick snorted, shaking his head at me.

"Jacob knows you too well, you need to put your guard back up." He warned me, "Otherwise that man will be in total control of you. That won't end well."

"I don't think he has ill intentions toward me so I don't mind to give in a little."

"You're the one who is delusional." Nick pointed his fork at me, "Jacob is trying to up his chances to knock you up and his housekeeper is in on it. You lowered you guard and now you're probably pregnant."

My fork slipped through my fingers, clattering on the pristine-looking tiles, "You're wrong." I shook my head as fear gripped me like an iron fist, making it difficult for me to breathe, "We had the talk, I told him I didn't want that and he dropped the subject." I pointed at my brother who didn't look like he bought any of it, "I had my period like a week ago. I'm not pregnant and you're wrong."

"No alcohol and cutting back your caffeine intake?" He asked, "I'm sure he is also making sure you're eating healthier. I mean Christmas was your one excuse to stuff yourself because like how I see it Jacob Blackwood is in full control of your life right now."

I shook my head, not wanting to believe any of it, "No, you're wrong."

It then hit me that I could prove to Nick just how wrong he was. I jumped off my stool and dashed out of the kitchen. I heard Nick call for me but I didn't stop to explain myself. I didn't just feel the urge to prove to Nick that he was wrong I also needed to reassure myself. I had been taking my birth control pills, Nick was wrong and Jacob wasn't scheming to knock me up. I grabbed my pills which I had in the walk-in closet and ran back to the kitchen. I ignored Mrs. Quake who I ran into along the way.

Nick's words got to me.

If she was on Jacob's side she was a traitor and I couldn't trust her anymore. She did take away my coffee even though I longed for it. I entered the kitchen and placed my container with the pills on the breakfast bar, pointing at it with a stern look.

"You're wrong, I have been taking these just like I am supposed to."

Nick took out a strip of pills and observed them, "You sure these are your pills?" He asked.

"Of course they are." I grabbed one and held it out in the light to observe it the way Nick was, "I-It's the same pill I have been taking for a while now."

"Why did you sound so unsure a moment ago?" Nick asked, putting the strip back in its container, "If you are sure that Jacob isn't plotting anything then why are you trying to reassure yourself?"

It looked like my pills but Nick had planted the seed of doubt in my mind. What if it wasn't my birth control pills? What if Jacob switched them with something else. He had the money to bribe whatever doctor who dared to do illegal shit for a shit ton of money.

I closed the container and shook my head, "Y-You're wrong."

He held his hands up in defense, "You're probably right. Just forget I said anything." He glanced at his watch, "I don't have much time to spare. I wanted to apologize but things got off track like always."

"Sorry," I mumbled.

He smiled at me, "Things will work out, Nina. I promise."

That sounded weird. The men in my life weren't just arrogant they were vague too. Nick straightened up and leaned in to kiss my head. He gently brushed his hand over my arm, trying to comfort me.

"We'll talk soon, okay? I just wanted you to know that I will always be here for you."

I tilted my head back and stared at him, "What about Joy?"

Nick's smile didn't falter as he gave my shoulder a tight squeeze, "She will never come between us." He promised me, "I need to run." He lowered his voice as he addressed me, "Don't do anything rash. You're probably right and I made things up. Just take some time to yourself. You'll need it since New Year's Eve is coming up." He joked.

I rolled my eyes, "I forgot about that."

"We'll meet up soon to discuss."

I walked with Nick to the elevator, seeing him off. The minute he was gone I rushed to get ready. Jacob would be at the office all day. It was the perfect opportunity for me to confront him. He couldn't distract me in his professional environment.

It was definitely a rash decision but Nick wasn't here to judge me.

I'd confront Jacob in his office and this time I'd push him until he'd talk. It wasn't fair of me but Jacob hadn't been playing a fair game from the start. I felt like I was allowed to play a little dirty now. I just needed this doubt which was planted deep within me to disappear.

Only then I could focus on New Year's Eve.