Love Me One More Time (Nick and Alaia) novel Chapter 74

Nick

Two years earlier…

“What did you decide?” Killian questioned me when I left my father’s room after thinking over the proposal calmly, with Killian’s implicit threat.

“I will accept your proposal. I will take over the company,” I said, feeling those words taste bitter in my mouth.

“Remember that it’s not just about the company. It’s about the wedding and doing what you’re told,” he said haughtily.

“Fine,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ll take the fortune, the control of the companies, and I’ll get married,” I said, and he nodded contentedly. But my mind was already planning how to do this. I had no interest in anything that had to do with him, but it was the only way to save my father and keep him alive. I would use the money to continue covering the treatments he needed, and I would do everything so that Killian couldn’t manipulate me in the future, neither with my father nor anything else. I would have to be smarter than him.

“Perfect,” he said, and I turned back to the room to say goodbye to my father.

“You’ll get through this. I’ll do everything in my power to help you, Dad. It’s a promise,” I squeezed my father’s hand before guiding my steps to the exit.

“Wait,” said Killian from the living room, and I clenched my fist, knowing he wouldn’t say anything good.

“That relationship you have with that girl,” he shook his hand with disdain, “it obviously must end, or you won’t be able to marry any of my candidates. Don’t try to play dirty with me on this.

I will be keeping an eye on you and her. No one else must know about our deal, or you’ll have to choose between her or losing your father.”

I clenched my fist tighter.

“The divorce papers are ready. You must get rid of her tomorrow,” he pointed to the floor, “or else you’ll have to mark this date as the day your father died.”

“I’ll be watching you,” he turned around and went up the stairs.

“Unhappy,” I said under my breath and left that house.

I got into my car and, before starting it, hit the steering wheel hard; the bastard just wanted me to kneel before him because I was the only one he couldn’t control.

I sent a message to Alaia and told her that I would stay at my mother’s house. I needed to find a solution to all this before seeing her and deciding what to do.

“Will, I’ll see you in half an hour,” I told my cousin when he answered the call, and he responded with an “Ok.”

I sped up my car and quickly arrived at Will’s apartment, got out, and noticed a black van parking three cars behind mine; you didn’t need to be a fortune teller to know that they were the men who worked for my grandfather.

“What’s up, brother?” he slapped my hand and hugged me. I checked the hallway before entering the room.

“My father is alive,” I said in a low tone, pacing back and forth. My cousin threw himself onto the bed, holding a ball he had been playing with before he heard me.

“My uncle, what?” he sat up straight in bed.

“He’s alive. My grandfather lied to us. He has kept him alive and has kept the secret for the past few years.”

“Don’t mess with me!” he shouted, massaging one side of his head.

“He has only kept him alive as a tool against me, Will.”

“I don’t understand,” my cousin looked at me.

“He threatened to disconnect him if I don’t do what he asks.”

“That bastard,” my cousin shook his head. “What are we going to do?”

I sat on the bed and started thinking about what I should do, calculating each move to get rid of him, not literally, although the urge was there.

“Do exactly what you asked me to do,” I said after several minutes.

My cousin furrowed his brow and looked at me.

“Isn’t that the reason we’re here?”

“I will move the pieces so that he believes I will do what he demands. I am going to divorce my wife…”

“Did he ask you to divorce Alaia?”

“No,” I said with a huge weight on my chest. “I just need a week, Will, seven days in which I will sort everything out and talk to her to tell her the truth. Right now, it’s too risky; I can’t afford for anything to go wrong.”

Will nodded in understanding.

“Have you thought about who can help you with the fake wedding plan?”

I was about to respond when the answer appeared in front of me.

“Hi, Nico,” her annoying voice sounded as she approached us. Will and I exchanged glances.

“What do you desire the most right now, Barbara?” I questioned without responding to her greeting.

“Well, finishing college and being free from my parents, something that for now is impossible,” she said, shrugging her shoulders, but without hope in her voice.

“I have a proposal for you,” I said, and she formed an O with her lips and followed us to a deserted classroom, where I explained what we would do.

“Let me see if I understand,” she brought a finger to her chin. “I have to marry you in a fake wedding, although I wouldn’t mind if it were real, right?” she said flirtatiously. I was already used to it.

“It’s impossible, Barbara. You know it,” I said seriously.

“Yes, the perfect Alaia,” she rolled her eyes.

“Okay, I accept. I’ll be the trophy wife and enjoy life while my fake husband pays for everything. My trips, which will be many “it will be so much fun,” she said excitedly. “And I’ll spend money on whatever I fancy, for a year?” she blinked.

“You will get what you ask for, but this ‘marriage‘ will last very little time,” I explained, and she accepted.

“I’ll already be in Europe when it comes to light,” she shrugged, “very, very far from my parents.”

“I’ll contact you for the wedding details,” I said.

“I love this!” she clapped excitedly, while Will and I shook our heads.