Chapter 35: Chapter 35

What is your greatest regret?

<Azaria>

I am here at the company because Nick asked me to do his work. I didn't sleep well last night. After that, I checked the locked room, but there was nothing unusual there. Maybe I just scared myself last night.

"Lanvin?" I called out to him. I knew he was with my husband in another country. What is he doing here at the company?

"Oh, hi Love," he greeted me. He was about to kiss me on the cheek, but I avoided it.

"Sorry," he apologized, "I mistook you for my wife again. My fault," he said with a smile, holding a folder in his hand.

"I thought you were with my husband in Japan?" I asked suspiciously. Nick told me they were together.

He frowned, "why are you here?" He changed the subject.

Does Nick have another woman? Why did he lie to me that he was with this man in Japan?

"Why are you here?" I returned the question, locking eyes with him.

"Are you drunk? I'm working here, that's why I am here! How about you, why are you here? Are you visiting me?"

This guy has some nerve.

"Did you miss me?" He added while grinning. I took a step back from him. Maybe he'll get mad if he sees us together. Well, how would he see us when he's in another country and lied to me that he was with this man I'm talking to now?

"I'm here to do my husband's work," I replied with an attitude.

"Oh, wow, do you need help?" He suggested, "By the way, you look good with your earrings. It suits you," he complimented with deep meaning.

"By the way, coffee?" He offered me the coffee he was holding, "This is black American. I know you like this coffee," I looked at the coffee he was holding.

"No thanks. I gotta go," I said snobbishly and left him. It's obvious that he's flirting with me. People really act differently when dealing with someone beautiful and intelligent. They come running like dogs.

As I entered the office, I suddenly lost consciousness and woke up in Nick's office, lying on the sofa.

"Heidi?" I called out to her.

What happened? I can't remember anything. Why is Heidi here?

"Glad you're awake. You worried me, Azaria," she said with concern and helped me stand up.

"I thought you were dead, but you just passed out."

I gave her a stern look at what she said.

"What if I killed you?" I threatened her.

"Just kidding. Here, drink this to be productive. You look really tired. Did your husband exhaust you last night?"

I looked around the office. I can't remember how I ended up in this office. All I remember is being at home and talking to Lanvin at the office.

"Nick has an out-of-the-country meeting. He's been gone since yesterday."

I glanced at Heidi and the medicine she gave me. Her gaze was intimidating.

"This is Vitamin C, idiot. You look pale. You need to take vitamins," she said.

I accepted the medicine she gave me and took it.

I don't remember much.

"How did I fall asleep?" I asked her.

"I just went to the restroom when I came back, and you were already asleep. I thought you were dead. You seemed to be having a dream. Or maybe a wet dream?" she grinned.

I threw the pillow beside me at her.

"Why can't I remember being with you when we went to the office? I don't even remember how I got to the company. All I remember is being at home and eating. Then I was talking to someone named Lanvin," I said, trying to recall things.

"Are you pregnant?" She asked seriously. She didn't blink and just stared at my face. I didn't immediately answer her question.

"I just asked if you're pregnant. Why do you look like you need to poop? Do you want to go home first? You look pale. You're not feeling well," she quickly changed the subject, standing up and sitting on the swivel chair.

"I don't want to go home. There's a ghost in the house, and it's boring there. I'm only here because Nick needs help with the company. I feel sorry for him. I want to help him so I can contribute to his life somehow."

"Do you still have the energy, sis? You look tired. Maybe you're pregnant, huh?" she accused. I gave her a stern look.

"I'm not pregnant, okay! Where did you get that idea, huh?!" I snapped at her. I opened my laptop. Nick told me to just sign some papers. That's all I have to do.

"It's a secret. I'm a doctor, you know."

I rolled my eyes at her remark. She was sitting casually on the sofa.

"I thought you hated your husband? Why are you helping him with his work? And you don't look okay, yet you decided to stay and help him," she said suspiciously, causing me to stop fiddling with the laptop.

"Mind your own business," I retorted.

My phone beeped.

From: Hubbybi

"Wife, I'm in the meeting. I’ll call you after I get home," I read the text message from Nick.

"Who's texting you?" Heidi asked with a knowing smile, giving me a strange look.

"Ugh!" I groaned at her.

**

<Third Person>

"Babe!" a short woman called Nick as he got out of the car. The woman was wearing a winter-neutral outfit that looked good on her, and she had a cute Mickey Mouse headband.

"Who's with you? And what are you doing here?" Nick asked and walked towards her.

As Nick approached, the woman quickly grabbed his arm.

"I just arrived yesterday. I was craving ramen, so I decided to come here. I didn't know you were here too. Luckily, I saw your Instagram story. Yay! I'm not alone anymore!" the woman said cheerfully.

"You should have at least contacted Charles to accompany you," Nick said, expressing concern for the woman as they walked towards a building.

"You're so sweet, babe! But I also want to be alone sometimes," the woman said sadly.

Nick rolled his eyes.

"Where are you staying? Move to the hotel where I am staying," Nick suggested.

Isabelle pouted, "I'm good with the hotel I'm staying at. And I'm planning to roam around. Can you accompany me, please?"

"I have a meeting. I'll ask Charles to accompany you instead."

"Isabelle, little girl, are you here too?" Charles greeted the two as he saw them walking together.

"Kuya Charles!" the woman happily greeted her cousin and hugged him.

"You're stalking me, huh?" Charles joked with his female cousin.

"You're always assuming! I'm here to unwind, and I was just craving ramen. Bebe Nick doesn't want to accompany me to eat," the woman said playfully.

"I'll accompany you then," Charles volunteered.

"Ew! I don't want to be with you. I'd rather be alone than spend money on you! You always end up making me treat you!" the woman complained, "My money keeps disappearing because of you!"

Charles just laughed at what she said.

"Babe! Can we roam around, please? I missed you! I haven't seen you until now," Isabelle begged Nick and hugged his arm again.

"After my meeting. We'll eat whatever you like," Nick replied sparingly, which brought joy to Isabelle. She even jumped with excitement.

"Yehey! I love you so much. You're the best boyfriend ever!" Isabelle exclaimed.

"And I'm the best cousin!" Charles boasted.

"Wait, I'll go call Arken-"

"Don't call him," Nick said dangerously.

**

"Hubby!" I greeted him as he called me. I was supposed to be heading home when he called. His meeting took longer than expected.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to call you. I got busy with the meeting," he apologized.

It was already late here, and I could see the city lights.

"It's okay! I enjoyed my work here. I feel like I want to be a CEO. How about we switch roles, and I become the CEO instead?" I playfully asked him.

"Really? Do you want to be CEO? I'll support whatever makes you happy," he replied sincerely.

Nick, who doesn't usually joke around, took my words seriously.

I started missing him, and maybe I should have just gone with him.

"What about the sad-faced wife? Did something happen?" he asked with concern.

"Nothing! I just got tired!"

"Babe Nick! You should send me back to my hotel! Or I'll just stay with you and sleep beside you!"

I furrowed my eyebrows when I heard a woman's voice on the line. Was there a woman with him in his hotel room?

"Azaria? Aren't we going home yet? I'm getting sleepy, and it's already late. It seems like we're the only ones left here. I don't want to go ghost hunting, friend."

I looked at Heidi when she spoke. She looked tired and sleepy even though she didn't do anything earlier. In Nick's place, I attended the meeting and met with the board of directors.

"Nikolai! I'll just sleep in your room here, okay? Damn! I'm too lazy to go back to my room!"

I heard Lanvin's voice. My husband's namesake.

"Go back to your room, moron! Don't sleep here!" Nick replied, looking at someone I couldn't see. Were they together? I just saw the man he was talking to earlier here in the company.

"Do you have company?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I'm with the chief financial officer," he answered and showed me Charles' face.

Earlier, he updated me that they were going to eat outside. He always keeps me informed about what he's doing.

"Don't end the call. I want to see you longer," he said affectionately.

"I'm going home now with Heidi. I'll just put her to bed when we get home, okay?" I informed him.

He nodded at me.

"Wife..." he called.

"Nick, don't go home yet, okay? I'm still enjoying signing papers here," I teased him.

His expression changed. "I have a flight tomorrow. Flying to Switzerland. I have meetings with world leaders around the world. We will talk about the economy. I'll be with big companies," he said softly.

My smile disappeared with what he said. I was just joking, and he took it seriously. Why did he tell me that?

"Wife?" he called when I remained silent.

"When will you come home?" I asked him seriously.

"Give me a week," he hesitated, "but I'll try my best to call from time to time."

So he's not sure if he can call me regularly.

"Do you want me not to come home?" I asked him seriously.

"Wife," he said as if he didn't like what I said.

"Just don't call or text me. Just stay there, don't bother coming home," I said emotionlessly.

"Wife... I was about to tell you about this, but you were declining my call yesterday," he tried to explain, "I'll try my best to call you whenever I go back to my hotel, okay? I'll keep on updating you."

I lost my appetite for what he was saying. He said he would be gone for only three days, so I didn't go with him. Now, it turns out he had a backup plan to go to Europe. This man is so good at knowing how to get under my skin.

"I'm going home," I said coldly, and without saying goodbye, I ended the call.

After arriving home, he called me again, but I ignored it. He bombarded me with calls and texts.

"Aren't you going to answer the call? Your hubby has been calling you since earlier," Heidi told me. I looked at my iPhone, and Nick's name was on the screen.

"Please answer the call. I don't want you to sleep with a burden in your heart. Wife, please let's talk. Answer my call," I read his text message.

My phone rang again.

Heidi noticed that I was not in the mood, so she remained silent as well.

"The room is complete with everything you need. If you need anything, just call the house staff," I said coldly to her and went to my room, turning off my cellphone.

I entered my room feeling sad. It had been less than five minutes, and Heidi came in.

"May I know why you're upset?" she asked gently as she sat down beside me.

"Nothing," I replied with a frown.

"Really? Why have you been in a bad mood earlier? Sometimes you need to acknowledge your emotions. Validate your feelings. It's okay to feel pain and sadness. It's okay to show your vulnerability. I'm not here to judge you. I'm your friend, and I'm here to listen. Azaria, sometimes you need to validate yourself too. Admit to yourself what you're feeling," she said in a long-winded manner.

"You're saying a lot," I sighed.

She took a deep breath and sat on the sofa.

"There are things that you can't control. The more you care, the more it will hurt you," she said meaningfully.

"I'm just annoyed with Lanvin! He couldn't even tell me he has a flight to Europe tomorrow!" I said irritably.

"I told you! Don't let your emotions control you. He's trying to make things right, and yet you're pushing him away. When it was my turn to be upset, I was ignored. You're lucky someone is making an effort for you. Talk to him. Listen to him and understand your partner. It's not just about you and your feelings. You can be such a spoiled brat sometimes."

I suddenly felt guilty because of what Heidi said. I opened my cell phone and saw numerous text messages from Lanvin.

"I wish everyone would be as caring as he is!" Heidi playfully said.

Heidi's words are always magic to me.