Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 88

Nik's POV:

It was a brisk spring morning when I strode into my office at Wolves Enterprises, the grandeur of the building reflecting my current life-success, wealth, and the constant pursuit of more. At 25, I had graduated with a degree in entrepreneurship, taken on a pivotal role in our family's multi-billion-dollar business, and carved out a reputation for myself both in the corporate world and on the ice. My life was a whirlwind of board meetings, high-profile contracts, and media appearances. Forbes had called me one of the "30 Under 30," and sports magazines fawned over my latest accomplishments. The NHL was treating me well, and my career was hitting new highs with each passing season.

After graduating with my degree in entrepreneurship, I'd jumped straight into the family business-Wolves Enterprises. It was a sprawling empire, and my father was more than happy to have me take a significant role, since Layla clearly didn't give a shit. With my added business acumen and drive, I'd managed to make a noticeable impact, and the company was thriving more than ever. It wasn't just about the boardroom, though. My name was now frequently splashed across Forbes and sports magazines, a testament to the fact that I was making waves both on the ice and in the business world.

My office was a testament to my success-luxurious, modern, and meticulously organized. The wall-to-wall windows offered a panoramic view of the city, a constant reminder of the empire I was building. I was colder now, more detached from everything that didn't serve my purpose. The exuberant young guy from three years ago was long gone, replaced by someone who had learned his lesson regarding trust and romantic relationships. I'd hooked up with plenty of people since, but nothing ever lasted. Relationships were a trap, and I wasn't falling for it again. Not after her.

The only connections I maintained from my college days were with Dickie, Harvey, Noah, and even Padma. Noah and Padma had tied the knot last year, a fact I'd been casually informed about. Their wedding was the usual mix of old friends catching up and social niceties. Dickie and Harvey were still around, albeit in more limited capacities. They had their own lives, and I had mine.

My morning routine was interrupted by a ping on my phone. It was a message from my father, a brief and to-the-point request.

Dad: Nikolai, could you check the payments for Layla's funding at Oxford? I noticed some discrepancies.

I stared at the message, the name "Layla" causing a brief pause in my otherwise steady pace. Layla and I had hardly interacted since my breakup with Victoria. I hadn't kept up with her much-only knowing that she had gone to study psychology abroad and occasionally seeing her during the holidays.

Nonetheless, my father's request was straightforward. I opened the financial records, prepared to sift through the numbers related to Layla's funding. The process was tedious, but it was part of my job to ensure everything was in order. As I reviewed the payments, something unusual caught my eye. The amount allocated for Layla's studies was significantly higher than anticipated. It was a small anomaly, but one that piqued my curiosity.

I ran the numbers again, trying to reconcile them with what I knew. It was clear that the payments for her education were substantial, and there were indications of additional charges that weren't accounted for in the initial budget. My interest piqued, and I found myself drawn into a deeper investigation.

Why was Layla's funding so high?

There were numerous transactions traced back to Oxford, and the amounts seemed overly excessive. I frowned, tracing the payments back to their source. It was clear that there was something more going on, but the specifics eluded me. I made a mental note to dig deeper into the issue later. The only hint of personal intrigue lay in these financial discrepancies, hinting at something beyond my immediate understanding.