CHAPTER 61: – THEY WERE LOVERS –

8 p.m.

They walked into Trinidad, the same hotel she’d once used for her father’s event. Of course Fernando chose here. He really wanted to rub it in their faces.

Viviana stopped and turned to Nikolas.

The man was in a dazzling all black suit, the jacket taken off to hang on his arm, leaving his upper body in just his dress shirt and fitted waist coat.

He was staring at her with no expression on his face.

What? Didn’t he like the dress? Viviana frowned. But he was the one who bought it. Far too expensive if she might add.

Now, why was he staring at her like that, frozen and doing nothing but gliding his eyes up and down her frame.

She shifted on her heels.

"Nikolas..."

He exhaled at the sound of his name and ran his eyes up and down her body. Yes, the dress was the one he had bought for her and she wore it so well like he’d imagined.

Rich burgundy, off shouldered, tight and snatched around the waist. She looked beautiful.

Swallowing, he shut his eyes for a few seconds, took a deep breath and suddenly walked closer to her.

"Why the stare?" Viviana asked. "Did you have a change of mine? You don’t think the dress looks good on me?"

Nikolas spread his hand on her back and leaned in until he could whisper softly, "You know I respect you, right?"

"Uh... well, yes?"

"What I’m unfortunately about to say right now won’t sound so respectful at all." His arm slid around her waist. His mouth brushed her ear, hissing like he could not breathe. "No, Viviana, it is not that I don’t think it looks good on you. For goodness sake, you would make even a rag look good. You see, the thing is that I can’t look away from you because you’re driving me mad. And the only thing on my mind right now is the idea of tearing this cloth off you."

His warm breaths hit her neck. She stiffened. "And do so many more things than you can ever imagine. It’s so ridiculous because I’m a man who always has self control. It’s just that you... I just don’t know what you do to me."

Viviana swallowed hard. She slowly tilted her head up to look at him. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, ears heating up under his gaze. Her shoulder and neck flushed. She almost took a step back, but his hands quickly gripped at her hips and held her there.

"That’s..." She blinked rapidly. "C-can you not say things like that?"

"You asked."

"That’s not what I asked," she rushed out. "I just wanted to know if you liked the dress. Not... that."

"Viviana." Nikolas popped a finger under and lifted her chin. "I’m going to lay it flat. You are my type in every way. The way you talk, the way you smile, walk, every single little thing. And no, I’m not trying to flatter you, I just... I have never met a woman so beautiful. I thought you walked out of painting the first night I saw you. In short, I’m attracted to you, and when I see you like this, I really can’t help it."

Viviana stared at him, stunned.

"I–"

A woman walked up, interrupting them. She was giggling, her eyes stuck only on Nikolas.

"You really are a handsome man!" she remarked, giggling again.

Nikolas raised a brow.

The lady was dressed extravagantly and he didn’t think he had ever met her before. Ignoring the confusion on his face, she grabbed his hand and slipped a note into it.

She left before he could utter a word.

He lowered his gaze to the paper and stared at the number that was written on it.

A pair of eyes was suddenly burning into his skull.

He slowly turned his head and found Viviana peering at him with narrowed eyes. If looks could kill, perhaps he might have dropped dead right then. and there. "Viviana, I–"

"Save it. I don’t care," Vivian said, lifting a hand. "You’re handsome like she said. I expected this."

She tried to walk away, but Nikolas pulled her back, palm resting over her stomach as he pressed her back to his chest.

"You can be mad at me," he said with a little smile. "But no, I’m not letting you go. You’re staying with me, right next to me until this event is over. Otherwise, I might just break a few fingers tonight. I won’t like it at all if anyone touches you."

Viviana scoffed. "That’s very ironic. Besides, who do you think you–"

"Lady Di-Grassi."

She looked over.

Aceto stood there, smiling warmly. He began, "I’ve met your father a few times, never you." His face was full of delight. "You truly are a beautiful woman." Bending like a gentleman, he lifted her hand and kissed it.

When he straightened, he felt Nikolas gazing at him. Just a simple look, but it sent a freezing chill down on his spine.

"You must be her husband," he coughed out, pretending not to know him.

Nikolas smiled and reached out for a handshake. "Nikolas Bastiani," he said, and the moment Aceto accepted his gesture, he pulled him a little closer and whispered, "Don’t you ever touch my wife again, Aceto. The next time you do, more so put your filthy lips on her skin, I’ll chop off those fingers and glue your mouth with a strong glue, you’ll have no choice but to cut off your lips."

Aceto flinched and quickly stepped back. His throat had gone dry. "R-right. I’ll see you another time, Lady Di-Grassi."

He walked off hurriedly.

Vivian raised a brow at Nikolas, "What did you say to him?"

"Nothing." Nikolas shrugged. "I mean if..." His words trailed off, seeing as Viviana’s attention was grabbed.

He followed the line of her gaze to the entrance and smiled with an amused expression.

Fernando Stolov had just walked in.

And he wasn’t alone.

No, he came in with someone. Her stepsister, Serena. And their arms were interlocked together as though...

...They were lovers.