𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑| ✍

Chapter 20 • Art •

He froze seeing her silhouette on the terrace with an easel in front of her, shadowing over her exterior and giving a contour over her features.

He heard her humming from where he stood. He breathed out, strutting to hold his posture as he closed his eyes momentarily. He opened them, regretting it immediately as their eyes met.

Nicole grimaced at his clearly intoxicated state. He neared her while his body cried out for a soft mattress.

Two days. It had been two days since she last saw him. She remembered the irrigation she felt when she back from that brunch with a perfect scheme in her mind.

She furthermore recollected the second night, where she had gotten so agitation that she felt hunting him down in a place very foreign to her.

Everyone believed that she was going crazy because she was worried, but that was by far the reason. She wanted her plan over and done with, showing just how impatient she could get.

That agitation slowly returned as she stared at the man in front of her.

With a complacent look on his face, he grinned. "Heard you've looking for me." He moved again, this time again against the railing. "They say you've been pretty worried." He leaned in, his mouth basically at her ear.

"Hmm?" He hummed before tripping back to his previous position.

Nicole sneered. "God, I hope you fucking edge over that railing." Scoffing, she remembered her new role. "I mean, I hope you don't."

He chortled, "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Why would I want my beloved to die?" She asked dryly, her eyes never leaving the work in front of her as the wet paintbrush ran through the white. "Yet I wonder why my beloved was gone for so long?"

He snorted at her satire. "Business." He responded.

She dropped her brush and glanced up at him, straining her neck in the process. He was so tall.

She went silent as she took in his attire. Fuck; was her first thought. Her eyes first settled on his gelled back hair, then to his beautiful face, scar and all. She schemed over his blood-red Armani adorned with a black turtleneck

She bit her lip and crossed one leg over the other. It was happening again.

Nope. Stay on track bitch.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He sulked, "What? That I was leaving. I didn't fucking realize that I had to run by–"

"No, you fucking idiot." She fumed. "That your fucking grandmother has aimed to kill anyone that has ever tried to marry you." He stilled. "Is this why you didn't want to come back here? Because of Simona...Or your mother."

After the brunch with Simona, Nicole had put two and two together. Aiden had certain hate for Evora because of what had happened to his Mother. With confirmation from Demi, she realized that history had almost repeated itself when the two were together.

Was this a part of the plan, no, but the true fear that had crept over her when she found out that Evora had killed the mother of her grandchild just because of who she was truly overwrought Nicole.

It wasn't just that. It was the gore of the crime. Nicole recalled the moment where her face whiten when she heard Demi explain how Aiden saw it all happening.

She knew Aiden didn't care about her at all. She felt that was the reason why he left. For Evora to finish her off.

"How the fuck do you know about my mother?"

"I ate lunch with Simona." She answered as if it wasn't a big deal. "It was her idea."

"Liar."

She ignored him. "So you left for your grandmother to kill me off." She chuckled dryly. "That's low."

She watched as anger surged through him. "Did she try something?"

She felt the need to get up, mentally measuring herself against him. She scoffed when she didn't even reach his shoulder. She stepped forward, shaking her head. "I haven't left this room since you left."

And that was true. After hearing what had happened to his mother, her views on Evora changed completely. The respect she had for the woman had been taken over by absolute fear.

The visits from Demi were the only thing that kept her sane. The fact that she was under her roof didn't make any difference.

Looking up at him now, she couldn't help pitying him. She knew he remembered it all.

"I would never let that happen to anyone else. " He clarified, knowing she had done a thorough investigation. "Even if it's you."

Her tongue skimmed over her lower lip, feeling the need to test him. "I don't believe you."

He grinned, seeing right through her. "Oh yeah?" He taunted back.

She visibly moved near, glancing up at him. "Yeah."

At the closeness they were at know, reaching out for her wasn't a difficulty.

He easily pulled her by her midriff, now having her pressed against him. She gazed to his lips then back to his eyes that almost mirrored hers.

"Promise me." Nicole bargained

Silently his fingers grazed over her chin, tipping her head a little.

He felt himself leaning in.

Usually when moments like this happened, he thought of something to pull him back, but right in that moment, his mind went blank. He blamed the alcohol.

Her eyes fluttered shut, awaiting the kiss...Or the rejection.

She waited a few seconds before hearing his face. "Is that supposed to be me?"

She didn't need to turn around to know what he was talking about. "Beautiful isn't it?"

He chuckled in response before doing what she been wanting for so long. He kissed her.