Damage Repaired

Chapter 2

Nathaniel's P.O.V

When I was younger, I'd always beg my mother to check my closet for monsters before going to bed after watching a horror movie for the first time. Seeing the evil creatures that loomed in the darkness terrified me to the point where I couldn't sleep unless I knew it was safe. Soon, it became a ritual. Every night she'd come in and check the closet, assuring me that nothing was there before tucking me in. But little did I know that I would grow up to be that same monster I once feared.

"Mr. Creed, your nine o'clock appointment is here to see you," my secretary informed me through the intercom, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I use the term secretary loosely if you can even call her that. I assigned her all of the grunt work I couldn't begin to be bothered with, fetching me coffee, organizing pointless documents, or informing me of upcoming meetings I have like now. But in no way, shape or form does she alleviate the stress that comes with this job, not even fucking close. I still handle all of my financials, all of the important parts of my business I don't trust a soul with. It's how I managed to stay at the top.

Using the pen twirling through my fingers, I stabbed the intercom button and replied. "Bring him in."

Seconds later, a man wearing an expensive black three-piece suit waltzed in through the double doors of my office, carrying a briefcase in his hand with a smug look on his face.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked cockily, sliding in the seat in front of my desk.

"Let's not waste each other's time," I snapped irritably, gripping the pen with unnecessary force. "You know why you're here."

"Try not to ruin this moment for me; I'm quite enjoying it," he smiled and plopped his briefcase on his lap, opening and taking a few documents out of it.

"Do you know what this means when you sign these?"

I clenched my jaw and glared up at him, wishing I could put a bullet through his skull, but that would negate everything, especially what I was getting ready to do.

"I already went over everything with my attorney; just give me the damn papers so we can get this shit over with."

He chuckled and slid the papers across my desk, his eyes flickering between my face and the pen as I signed each document. Once I finished, he snatched the papers away as if I would even waste my time taking them back.

"It's a pleasure doing bus—"

"Get out."

"I'll be seeing you soon, Mr. Creed," he promised with a devious smirk as he made his way towards the double doors.

I launched my coffee cup across the room, hoping to hit him on his way out but knowing my motive, he quickly slid out and shut the doors behind him, forcing the glass to shatter onto the floor—another mess for my secretary to clean up.

"Sir?" A faint voice called out, but I was far too into my thoughts to answer. There were too many things I needed to get done now, and time was not on my side.

Something crunched in my hand, and when I looked down, the pen that I was still holding was now in pieces, with ink beginning to stain everywhere.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, snatching a napkin from the dispenser and dabbing it against my skin.

"Uh, sir?" The voice spoke again through the intercom.

"What?" I snapped, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.

"Um," my secretary hesitated.

"Spit it out, Macy."

"It's Marsha, sir."

When I didn't respond, she continued.

"There's a charity event coming up. Do you plan on attending or sending another check?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to decide whether I should do precisely that, but I needed to show my face once in a while before anyone got suspicious.

"I'll be there; notify Chloe."

"Will do, sir."

The charity conversation slipped my mind the second I turned my attention to my computer, mindlessly scrolling through the hundreds of emails that acquired my attention, leaving me with no time to worry about an event that would soon hold the center of all my problems.

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A/N: BTW, I won't be switching between Nathaniel and Anastazi's P.O.V every other chapter. It'll mostly be hers, but with his sprinkled in between so you guys can get a glimpse of his thoughts and life through his eyes for once. (: And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!