Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Kate was trying to hide her pain and maybe injury from Nick that she kept her body in a curling position. But Nick did not hesitate to lift her like a sack of potatoes in his shoulder, walked, and laid her down on the couch in his dad's study room.

They were already by its door when Kate caught up with Nick as he was heading to it and Kate wanted to ask something.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Kate panicked when Nick throw her to his shoulder and walked towards the study room.

"I will say you are if you are after I check on it," Nick glared at her. "Now stay still or I will forget about the deal we discussed earlier."

Kate could no longer retort. She was really in pain but she was afraid to look even more stupid in Nick's eyes, so she said she was fine. Now that Nick is obviously annoyed, Kate wanted to curse herself for being so clumsy. She was so eager to hand him her class schedule that she aimlessly ran to her room. She did not want to stop to look back at him when she heard him speak, but she totally forgot about the table in the corner, right where she was supposed to take a turn to head to her room.

Kate was in mixed emotions of regret, ashamed, self-blame, and scared of Nick when he said he will cancel their deal. That cannot happen, no matter what, so she had to stay still as Nick ordered her to.

Kate closed her eyes and let him do as he wished. He was going to check her sides which bumped the table corner. He gently lifted her shirt little by little. Nick did not want Kate to feel she was being harassed so he cautiously searched for the spot that would show where she was hit.

He was right to think it was in her hip bone. He just gave it a look as there was no bleeding, he was relieved. Yet, of course, he did not show it.

"There's no wound but it's red now, later it will be blue," Nick stated. Kate's skin is milky white that even a slight pinch or a slightly hard press on it would leave prints. "Use ice to cold compress on it, right away or it will turn ugly dark," he added.

Nick helped Kate stand after asking her if she can or if she wants to gather her strength more before doing so. Kate sprung up as she felt like she was about to faint in embarrassment. She decided to leave the room.

"I feel better now, thanks!" Then she carefully walked out of the study but when she felt she was already out of Nick's sight she bolted to her room and muffled her scream of self-disappointment behind her closed door.

Nick saw her run as he had a wild guess she would do so when she left the study room. He shook his head in disbelief at her speed to disappear in his sight. He sighed again, he should be mad at her for not taking his words of her taking care while moving around, but he found it cute of her as well. He smiled inwardly. He cannot allow himself to express his honest emotions even when he is alone. He doesn't know when he can, but he is hoping someday, somehow, things will turn the way he wishes them to be.

Monday came.

Nick was busy with many things today. He had to make a lot of phone calls so early in the morning. Another plate was on his table to attend to. Starting last night, he checked the home security footage to have a good and clear screenshot of the guy with Kate yesterday. He found out through his hacking skills that the guy was a senior high student in Kate, the same class as Kate.

Nick was provided by Elijah with everything he would need and want as he grew up that he had all the up-to-date gadgets and anything that supported his hobbies. One of them is Information Technology. Had it not been for his dad's company, Nick would have settled with sitting in front of the computers all day all his life as he earns a living as much as he enjoys. But he is the only son of Elijah Eudovic, he has no one to pass the inheritance to if Nick declined to take it. Which he could not find it in his heart to disappoint his loving father who lived his youthful years almost for Nick alone as he took both parent's roles in his son's life.

As a result, Nick took Business Management Administration to prepare and equip himself with proper knowledge before he takes his dad's office and let his old man live his life in leisure in his remaining years. That was the thought on Nick's mind when he enrolled in college, and that was his inspiration in achieving his goals along with academic recognitions, and with his hobby on the side.

Gaming, programming, sometimes both, and also hacking when needed.

According to his research, the guy's name is Andrew Kindberg. He is already eighteen years old, a few months older than Kate. He lives only a few blocks from the Eudovic's house. He is a school athlete and an infamous playboy. He had been called by the guidance counselor a lot of times because many girls complained about being sexually harassed by him, but they appeared to be baseless. Without proof, Andrew Kindberg always got away.

But maybe not this time. Because Nick was not going to let Andrew get away with how they wanted to bully Kate. And if his presented evidence would not be enough, Nick was willing to make it appear like he was a house intruder who tried to violate a girl on a blurred screen to keep her privacy.

Nick also hacked into Andrew's phone to have some more specific details to pin him to be bullying Kate. Nick will anonymously send the files to the school Principal or the Director himself. He got access to Andrews' messages and call logs. Nick saw the exchange of messages between Andrew and Kate yesterday and a lot more for about a few weeks. Nick also saw the messages Andrew sent to some of his contacts through private messages and media chatboxes. He gathered there was a bet between Andrew and his friends to ruin Kate. Play with her, court her and bed her. Then Andrew was going to drop her like a dirty shoe.

"A promising scumbag!" Nick sneered at Andrew's files. He printed copies and left them on his desk.

Nick was running out of time. He needed to attend his lectures and many things needed to be done. He left home without keeping everything on his study table. If Kate comes around without him and gets into his study, tidies things up, and eventually, she will see every printed file that he was going to show her later. In case he forgets to tell her, she will find them out by herself and realize she is just being played. And so she should be more careful. Nick wanted to tell her everything in person but with his hectic schedule, he might not make it to do so. But he cannot let this information be kept unto her, the early she needs to be warned, the better.

On his way to school, he called his office and asked the secretary what schedules can he cancel today to adjust things that need his immediate attention. And as crazy as it may sound, Nick felt Kate was on the top list of his priorities. He cannot find peace in his heart knowing Kate is being targeted by these school bullies.

The very person Nick was so worried about, Kate Taylor, was heading to school. Kelly would usually drop Kate to school on the way to the hospital where Kelly works, now as a regular nurse. She decided to go back to work and practice her professional skills despite Nick's assurance that Kelly didn't have to work and earn money on her own with everything that they have. Kelly insisted, she said she needed time to heal from the heartache of losing her husband so shortly, so she needed to be busy. With her having work, she can forget and heal quickly as she has less time to think about Elijah.