CHAPTER 86: – YOU KNOW NOTHING —

Nikolas slipped off his coat, tossing it on the hanger standing in his office. Unbuttoning the wrists of his shirt, he rolled them up to his forehead, before popping open the buttons of his waist coat.

His phone suddenly rang.

He glanced over his shoulder, picked it up and smirked at the name of the screen.

-MY LADY-

Plopping into his office leather chair, he answered the call, popping it in between his ear and shoulder.

"Wife?"

[How did you know where my company was?]

"And why wouldn’t I? Wouldn’t it be a shame not to know a thing about my wife?"

[That’s not what I—fine, but why did you send me these flowers?]

"Is this you complaining?" He threw his legs on the desk, crossing his ankles. "You don’t like them? If you don’t, I can always send you different kinds."

[That’s not what I’m saying?]

"So you like them?"

[I—]

"You’ve got to learn how to be honest with yourself, Viviana. You like them, and that’s okay."

[You know nothing]

"But I know you like them. And you know you do." He threw his head back, staring at the ceiling. "That reminds me, I want to see your face."

[What?]

"Let me see you." His tone sounded like he was begging. "This is me saying I miss you. Won’t you let me?"

It was completely quiet on the other side. He looked at the screen. The call was still ongoing, and he could clearly hear her breathing.

His lips quirked. "Don’t go silent on me now, Viviana."

[Can you shut up?]

Her voice slightly.

He ran his tongue over his teeth. "Please? Just a few—"

The door of his office pushed open. A woman walked in, pausing as her gaze landed on him. She was his assistant, Mel, who unfortunately was the same maid that worked at his penthouse. Half human, half vampire through birth, therefore able to walk in the sun.

But why did she barge into his office?

The flirty expression he held fell off, replaced by coldness, his eyes growing sharp with annoyance. "How can I help you, Mel?"

"Uh...w-well..." The lady, a brunette, stared at him. Her gaze flickered up and down his frame and she swallowed, trying to look away from him.

And that only made Nikolas’s face harden. "Mel, we’ll have to change your position in this company."

"Huh?" She was confused.

"I’d like a new assistant. But you’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m not firing you. But you’d be best suited working under someone else."

"I don’t understand." Mel shook her head. "W-what have I done wrong?"

Nikolas lowered his gaze to his phone. The call was still ongoing. "We’ll speak later." He ended it before Viviana could say a word. Then he stood up from his seat, walked around the table to approach the brunette.

"What have you done wrong?"

Mel swallowed, unable to ignore that she could smell his cologne up close like this. This was the first time he’d ever stepped up this close to her. The boss was someone who didn’t like standing or being anywhere in close proximity with people. Everyone in the company knew this.

"You know I’m a married man, don’t you?" Nikolas questioned. His tone was harsh, filled with utter dislike.

She looked up at him. "I-I’m aware. But what does that—"

"Did you not know that you shouldn’t lust after a married man?"

Her pupils dilated.

"Set that aside. Do you realize that I’m your boss? At my penthouse and at this company?" he asked.

She shook where she stood. "That’s not...It’s not like that."

"Then what is it like?" Nikolas tilted his head with a look of disdain on his face. And Mel fidgeted with her fingers.

She of course knew he was married. But what was so wrong about accepting the truth that a man was handsome? What was so wrong about checking him out or just peeking at him every now and then? It wasn’t as if she’d made a move on him.

As long as she didn’t make a move on him, there was no problem, right? Who cares if she lusted after him? He was handsome, his wife should not, it was unavoidable. She was already a nice enough person to not hit on him.

The more she thought about this, the more her expression grew grim. She met his gaze. "So what if I did, boss? I haven’t made a move on you, have I?"

Nikolas cocked a brow. "Oh?"

"Is it wrong to think you’re attractive, sir?" Since it’d gotten to this point, she might as well take her chance. A touch would be enough. "What’s so wrong about not controlling my eyes? Can it really be helped?" Her fingers crawled up to his hardened stomach to his chest. The fliertiest of expressions was on her face.

Nikolas sighed in disappointment, which she thought was him giving in. But then, he snatched her hand, twisting it. And she yelped, grunting.

"Sir!"

"Don’t push it. I’m not a man who hurts women." His tone was of absolute disgust. He shoved her, not enough to hurt her, but enough to make her stagger backward.

She looked at him.

Nikolas dusted his waistcoat where she’d touch and turned around to return to his desk. "I was going to simply transfer you under someone else in this company. But since you lack proper work ethics, which I will not tolerate in my company, I’m glad to let you know, you’re fired. Here and at my penthouse. You’re no longer needed."

"What?"

"Get out of my office. And don’t bother coming in tomorrow, or you might have the security throwing you out. I don’t think you’d like that." He picked up his seal to stamp the rest of the papers on his desk. "As for your payment, you’ll be getting it in a few hours. Now, leave."

He looked at her.

Her face was ghostly pale. This had all gone wrong. She didn’t think a man like this was such a faithful husband. Mel knew she was pretty, maybe even up to Lady Di-grassi’s level.

She’d never been rejected by any man before. Not humans, and not vampires. Not once. But the problem was, she’d never been interested in any of them. Not until she was hired by Nikolas Bastiani. The man had been on her mind the very first second she met him, and it’d been hard to not stare whenever she saw him.

"You can leave," Nikolas ordered. "I don’t like when people make me repeat myself. The security won’t be very nice to you. Oh, and please drop the keys to the king en suite. I don’t want to see your face again."