Chapter 36: Chapter 36

What is your motto?

<Azaria>

I answered his call and then hung up. Whatever! I just went to sleep, and I woke up in the middle of the night with someone kissing me.

"What the heck!" Irritated and half-asleep, I said. I was so drowsy.

"Wife..." a husky voice called me.

Lanvin? Was I dreaming? I've been having so many dreams these past few days.

"I miss you," he said, and he kept on kissing my face. My face was covered in saliva.

"What the heck!" I slapped his hand away and turned away. I was too sleepy.

He turned me to face him and eagerly kissed my lips. Because I was still half-asleep, I responded to his kiss.

I woke up because I was having a hard time breathing. There was something heavy on my stomach, and it felt like I was being crushed. It was too tight. It felt like someone was strangling me.

I opened my eyes, and Nick's face greeted me. Was I dreaming? When did he come home? I pinched his face to check if he was real. What time did he come home? I noticed he was hugging me, and he wasn't wearing any upper clothes. And I realized I was naked too. Damn! Was my dream from last night real?

I tried to break free from his embrace, and he woke up.

"Hmm," he groaned and hugged me tighter. I couldn't breathe at all. Did he have plans to kill me?

"Nick, huhu. You're hugging me too tight, I can't breathe," I complained. He had me completely trapped.

"You still owe me. You declined my calls," he said sleepily, still keeping his eyes closed. He loosened his grip on me a bit, but I still couldn't breathe; it felt like he was squeezing me.

"Let's sleep more," he huskily said and hugged me tightly again. Did he plan to suffocate me? I tried to push him away because I couldn't stand the tightness.

He still seemed half-asleep.

"Wife," he drowsily threatened me and finally opened his eyes.

“Good morning baby,” he greeted me and kiss my forehead. Pero hindi pa rin niya ako binibitawan.

“Paanong may nangyari sa atin, huh? At anong oras ka nakauwi? Akala ko ba may flight ka ngayon?” Usisa ko sa kanya

Suplado siyang nakatingin sa akin, “you were declining my call. I didn’t attend my meeting and send Charles and my secretary. You made me worried. Are you still mad at me, huh?” Malambing na tanong niya sa akin at pinaharap niya ako sa kanya. Besh! Hindi pa ako nag to-toothbrush at alam ko na mabaho ang hininga ko.

Siniksik ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya para hindi niya maamoy ang mabahong hininga ko, “hindi na,” napipilitan na sagot ko para hindi na siya magtanong ng magtanong, at pakawalan na niya ako.

“Bitawan mo na ako, gusto ko ng maligo. May pasok pa tayo diba?” Sabi ko sa mahinang boses.

“Do you want me to bathe you?”

Namula ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya at itinago ko iyon sa dibdib niya. He chuckled and caress my hair.

“Why you’re still shy? I saw every inch of you,” proud na sabi niya.

“Huwag ka munang mang-asar please,” nahihiyang sabi ko sa kanya habang nakapikit ng mahigpit. Wala akong maalala sa nangyari kagabi. Hindi ko nga alam kung nakatulog ako or ano.

“Why aren’t you still done? Can you make it faster, please? I want to use the bathroom,” katok ni Nick nang isang oras na ako dito.

Hindi ako sumagot sa kanya. Bahala siya maghintay, gustong-gusto naman niya na hinihintay ako.

Nick's face greeted me with a frown when I finally got out of the bathroom, a towel draped over his shoulder. I grinned, knowing that my assumption was right, and he was indeed annoyed.

"Tsk!" he muttered as he met me, and I chuckled. He was still wearing a frown.

I hadn't finished getting dressed yet, but Nick had already finished showering. I was still texting Heidi, so my morning routine was taking longer than usual.

"Wife, do you need help? Do you want me to dress you?" he offered.

I stopped typing when I heard his voice. I hadn't even started getting dressed.

"I'm almost done dressing!" I replied as I rushed to the closet to pick out my outfit.

"Be careful," he reminded me as I hurriedly moved. I was still scrolling through Instagram. I searched for his account and was surprised to find a recent picture of us posted there. It was a sweet photo of me sleeping on his shoulder. I felt a flutter of excitement but tried not to make a big deal out of it. There was also a picture of his wedding ring, and I was blurred in the background, with a caption that read, "best decision that I ever made in my life." Moreover, I noticed that he followed less than fifteen accounts, and to my surprise, I was the only woman he followed. How come I didn't know that he was following me? His feed was filled with cars and his office pictures.

Heidi had already left earlier because she had work. We were in Nikolai's dining area, and I continued stalking his account while he didn't seem to care and stayed close to me. He kept kissing me all over, and I was getting annoyed with his actions. I couldn't eat properly because of what he was doing to me. Interestingly, he had more followers than I did.

"Nick, seriously!" I said in annoyance as he ran his fingers through my hair and kissed my cheek again.

"Nick, seriously," I repeated firmly, "it's like you want to lock me up in a room."

I joked, glaring at him, but he just grinned in response. I glanced at his hand resting on my thigh.

"I miss you," he said, repeating what he had been saying since earlier.

"Once more," I threatened him, "I'll cut off that finger of yours."

"Really?" he asked with a mischievous smile.

"Here he goes teasing again, oh my goodness."

"How about one last round before we go to the company?" he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"Please, wife? Don't you miss me, huh?" He begged, showing his puppy dog eyes.

I didn't answer him and just stared at him.

"You didn't answer one of my calls yesterday, and it seems you didn't miss me," he said with a slightly pouty expression. His face looked desperate.

I looked at him emotionlessly. I hadn't said a word when he suddenly kissed me.

**

<Third Person>

"You didn't attend the economic world leader held in Switzerland, and now you're late?" Nick's father asked as soon as he entered his office. Nick was with Azaria, and Robert looked at her and their intertwined hands.

His father was sitting in his swivel chair.

"Wife, do you want to drink coffee? There's free coffee at the end of the hallway," Nick softly said to his wife.

Azaria immediately understood what her husband meant.

"I'll go to Starbucks instead. Do you want a black American?" She asked.

"I'm good, take care, okay? Call my driver to go with you."

"I'll go alone," she said with a smile.

Nick didn't argue with his wife and just kissed her on the forehead.

Azaria left the room, and Nick took a deep breath.

"I'm not happy with your performance these past few months in the company, Nikolai. You're not doing your job because of that woman! That's not you! Why are you always coming late, huh? If your brother were here, I'm sure he wouldn't neglect his responsibility as the head of this company!" Robert growled and stood up from his seat.

Nick stood firm and looked at his father with no emotion shown on his face.

"Why are you here?" Nick asked calmly as he walked to his desk.

"The last time I checked, the company is doing good. The company can stand alone without me," Nick answered with due respect, restraining himself from fighting with his father.

"You didn't attend the economic world leader! That was so beneficial for the company! What's happening to you, huh!" Robert's eyes were fiery.

Nick held the ballpen tightly, trying to remain composed despite the pressure.

"I sent Charles over, and with his capability, I know he made a significant contribution in the meeting."

Nick felt the pressure of living up to his family's standards.

"You've disappointed me in so many ways, Nikolai. If your brother were here, I know he wouldn't give me the headaches that you do."

"Then bring him here," Nick sarcastically retorted.

Why were his efforts not enough? The company was thriving, and he was recognized as one of the best leaders in the world. Nick even managed to secure partnerships with Amazon and Prime. Yet, all his achievements seemed insignificant to his family. He should have expected it; his parents loved his elder brother more than him. Now, with his brother gone, all the responsibility and pressure fell on him.

"The company should be your top priority, not that woman Lanvin Nikolai," his father sternly said, "I'm not against what you did, but it seems you've forgotten your responsibility to the company. Beat the sales from last year."

Nikolai watched his father leave the office.

Once his father was gone, Nick sighed and massaged his temples. He had been doing everything he could for years to be recognized and respected, but it never seemed enough.

"Russ, I hope you're here and can save me from this mess," Nick whispered.

His elder brother should be the CEO, not him. The company ran smoothly under his brother's hand.

He was tired.

"Babe!"

Nick raised his head as a woman entered his office.

"Why are you here?" He asked the woman with a frown.

"I found out that you're back, so I came back too," the woman happily said as she kissed him on the cheek.

"I saw Uncle Robert. What did he do here?" Isabelle curiously asked Nick.

"Nothing. I'm not accepting any visitors at this moment," Nick replied rudely, causing sadness in the woman.

"Why are you not in the mood? Your temper is flaring again," Isabelle sadly said. She couldn't have a proper conversation with him when he was in such a mood. They would just end up arguing, and she would be hurt by his harsh words.

"Isabelle, get out. This is working hours, and visitors are strictly prohibited," Nick said firmly, giving her a menacing look.

Isabelle couldn't do anything but leave his office.

"Will anyone ever love me?" she sadly asked herself.