Loving Nicolas

Chapter 11

                   

Love, when it is out in the open was wonderful, and yes, frightening too. But still wonderful. The days passed by us like a dream. After I had uttered the L word to Nicolas, it was as if an invisible wall had come down between us. I watched him becoming even more comfortable around me, more open in his affection. 

We still spent time together at every opportunity. We even took a weekend to Deauville which I secretly thought of it as a mini honeymoon. We made love, walked on the windy beach hand in hand, ate a lot of good food and made more love.

We talked about the future. Mostly he did, since mine was so planned and predictable. I was to go down south at the end of July to join my parents and he wanted to join me. I didn't know how to explain to him that my father would freak out. According to Maman, he had seen the article and asked her about the man who had me in his arms. My mother told him Nicolas was my friend, but didn't mention anything about a boyfriend or lover. She told me when we talked over the phone, it would be better if she eased him into it little by little.

Of course, there were all sort of rumors and speculations going on in the gossip columns, thank you Jane! She posted those pictures in her gossip column, wrote about the day when she first saw us together. Since there was a lot of people from my country in London they've seen and read the column and it was all over the social media world. I even once saw a paparazzi following me back to my apartment which had freaked me out, but I didn't mention anything about it to Nicolas. Things were going smooth between us and I didn't want to spoil it.

One Sunday morning we were at our usual spot under the pine tree, enjoying the April weather, coffee cups and hot croissants, and a book Nicolas is currently reading and I had my sketch book with me. I'm already starting on the next summer collection for Quaintrelle online store. The sun was warm and the children's cries as they played in the sandbox few feet away from us was like background music.

I frowned as a shadow covered the warmth of the sun and looked up wondering who was standing so close to us. I felt Nicolas stiffening beside me.

Jane was standing with her arms folded, a sneering smile on her red lips. She looked the same as I've last seen her last November. Same hairdo, red lips, cold blue eyes.

"Isn't this a cozy picture." Her voice was dripping of sarcasm. "My readers would be delighted to know what had happened to Nicolas Scott. Where he is hiding?"

"I'm not hiding Jane." Nicolas said casually closing the book and putting it at his side.

"Leah, I had thought better of you. I thought you were too smart to fall for his fake charms." She sneered at me.

"You do not know shit about me Jane." I snapped at her.

"Easy baby, don't let her pettiness gets you all riled up." Nicolas's hand came to my back, making circles to comfort me, then he turned to Jane looking bored. "What do you want Jane?"

Jane shrugged her slender shoulders. She was wearing slim cut jeans and a white and blue striped long sleeve t-shirt. Very French, but there is nothing French about her pasty face.

"The usual, give me some headline, and I will refrain from writing about how you are living with an Arab girl in sin. I wonder what her people would think about it? I hear reputations are very important to them. She would be shamed and shunned by her people." Her cold blue eyes focused at me, "I even read in some cases, brothers or cousins had to kill to redeem their honor."

Nicolas shot on his feet so quickly, his face a mask of rage.

"Ok Jane, you had your fun!" Nicolas snapped at her. "What do you want?"