10 chapter ten

Smiling he entered the kitchen. He was feeling joyous; the day was going to end well, he had good vibes about it.

'Where is that young man that was with you?' He heard Mrs Pade asked.

Nicholas knew who she was talking about. He smiled as he moved to the tray of fruits on the kitchen table. 'He went to take a shower.'

She nod her head to him. 'Go sit in the living room, we will serve the food.'

He took a bite from the Apple he picked deliberately avoiding the look Amber gave him. He looked directly at his mother-in-law. 'Let me help.'

She looked at him smiling and then nodded her head. He held his apple in his hand. 'What do I do?' 

She smiled at him; 'First, did you finish your work in the study?'

Nicholas nod his head.

She smiled again. 'First, tell me, how does this taste?' She told him as she placed a half full soup of the porridge, she blew on it first before putting it into his mouth.

After few seconds, he gave her a thumbs up.

'Magnificente!' He said.

She looked at Amber and smiled. 'Your husband, say it is nice.'

'Amber made it?' Nicholas was pleased. He had missed Amber's cooking.

'Ex-husband. Mom, ex-husband.' Amber corrected.

'You are not divorced yet.' Her Mom said anyway

'Well, will be soon.' She said covering the bowl.

'I will take this to the dinning.' He said carrying the bowl. He had his parents-in-law's blessings, they hadn't hated him; he had a good relationship with them and it was a good way to start.

He was about to walk when Jessie walked in.

'Nick. I told you to call me.' She kissed his cheek. 'You shouldn't be carrying this.'

She carried it from his hand. 'I will take it.' She said and walked out.

He looked at Amber and her mom; Amber acted like she didn't see anything, she doesn't care.

'She only helps, when you are around.' She told him with a smile.

'Which is good.' She added before carried a bowl and walked past him.

He moved towards Amber; she was cleaning the dirt on the table.

'Amber....' He started to apologize for whatever she might be thinking.

'You want to help....carry this.' She told him.

Quietly without another word; he carried the bowl and walked outside.

He needed to find a way to get Jessie to stop flirting with him and he had find a way to stop entertaining her advances.

They sat round the table; Anthony sat with them; when he met Nicholas, he drew him in for a friendly hug and Nicholas had shake Anthony's 'Friend' hand; her name Mary. He was settling fine in the house and her parents didn't seem to complain; her mother had said; Mary was a sweetheart; she helped in any way she could; even though she was always at the dog shop; she was reliable in the house since her dad and mom were hardly around, Ms Vanacatatar, the house keeper, didn't complain, it was fine.

She watched as everyone served themselves as the dishes moved round; her mother had added a piece of chicken in Nicholas' plate; when he didn't take any and she put one in her husband's plate and had just simply gestured for Jake to take his.

Her mother wasn't one to discriminate but for now, as if seeing a lost son for the first time, she wanted to give him everything.

Nicholas and her dad had brought the matters of financing and projects to the table which her mother didn't like.

'Wills, we are eating as a family, no business.'

Her dad knew that, but he just wanted to use the time, he had with Nicholas, before he disappeared again.

'Jake, aren't you going to try it?' She heard Nicholas' voice.

Jake looked at his face. 'What?'

'The porridge.' Nicholas indicated. he had not put any in his plate.

She looked at Jake; everyone else tried It except him; she waited for his answer.

'I don't like too much oil.'

'Why don't you like it?' Nicholas asked.

'It contains a lot of fat.' He answered like it was an unnecessary and stupid question.

'It doesn't, the one you are eating contains a lot of fat.' Anthony pointed out for him.

'I like this better.' He answered Anthony and looked at Nicholas. 'I could ask you the same question; why didn't you take the piece of chicken?'

Nicholas smiled. she wondered why he did; that smile was like something was coming. 'I don't like the skin of the chicken.'

'Why, if I may?' His voice spastic.

'He is only eats the inside.' Jessie and her mother said at the same time.

The rest of them smiled except Jake; who put his food in his mouth and forcefully swallowed it.

She would have said it too but she didn't; she didn't want to show she remembered everything he did with her; he didn't like the chicken because he preferred chicken with low fat, that was why her mom had given he and her dad; chicken with low cholerostrol and Nicholas liked to keep the reason short and simple, to avoid other questions but saying it is sweeter and he pulls of the skin and eats the insides.

Jake felt it was ridiculous, continuing on the chicken matter, he stopped; this man wanted back into Amber's life, he wouldn't let that happen.

'You should try it.' Jessie told him talking about the porridge.

He shook his head. 'Maybe next time.... I need my strength.' He said as he glanced at Amber who met his eyes and quickly looked away, he looked at Nicholas; He knew he didn't miss the message.

'For what exactly?' Anthony asked him.

'Well, somethings that doesn't concern you, Anthony only for two.' He told him. He knew Anthony can be annoying but he did not push his luck with speaking ill about his sister's because he had seen a brother's anger before.

Anthony looked at him, about continuing; if this man was planning on sleeping with Amber; he better look the other way; he wasn't good enough for her and he had tried telling her that so many times.

'Nicholas, so how is your sister, Apirl.' His father interrupted his thoughts; he couldn't be more glad for the interruption.

Nicholas sighed as he dropped his glass on the side of his plate. 

'She is ....' Nicholas started.

'She is amazing; she is quite a sweet girl, she impresses all the clients that come by. I must say I am impressed myself.' Jessie finished for him.

Everyone at the table looked at her; wondering if Nicholas couldn't talk for himself.

Amber looked at her sister; 

Why is that you could do a lot for somebody that is not even your blood relation, why does that happen?

She forget to mention that Apirl had a confrontation with her; because Jessie gave her own job to do; tasks that weren't primarily assigned to her by Cassie and they had brought the issue to Cassie; didn't know what to say so, Cassie brought the case to her. She couldn't side her sister knowing what she did was wrong. She told her what she did wrong; Apirl has been at the organization for four months now and she has impressed Cassie with her reports and the business evaluations and Jessie that had just been there for a week was causing trouble between her and her sister-in-law? Soon to be Ex-sister-in-law/employee.

Of course Apirl was right to have told her off.

'Amber.' She heard her name; she looked towards the direction it was called.

She looked at Jake who pointed out; everyone else in the table was looking for her.

'Are you okay?' Anthony asked her.

She nod and put the spoonful into her mouth.

'Amber, is it the work? You zoned out just when we asked about Apirl.'

'Dad, work is fine. And Apirl is a good employee.' She glanced at Nicholas who was looking at her and she looked away; she didn't know if Apirl told him about Jessie.

'Florence's wedding is next month. I hope you know that, Amber.'

Of course she knew that; it was on the family page, it was on her calendar at office and on reminder in her phone. How can she forget!

'I know.' She said as she finished her meal.

'Jake are you going to come?' Jessie asked him.

She saw him nodded obviously, he was accompanying her, especially when he knew, Nicholas was not going to be forgotten by this family anytime soon.

'So that means..... Nick, you will come with me.' Jessie said as she touched Nicholas' hand;

Anthony, her dad, her mom looked at her and Nicholas and back to her; really; she would tell her parents and her brother later that she doesn't care about what he did with his life or who he did it with.

She saw Nicholas nod his head with a smile.

'Nicholas, I haven't asked you what you did now?' Mrs Elizabeth Pade asked him.

She sighed. She wasn't ready to get familiar with what he did.

'He is a big man now.' Jessie told them.

This was the second she heard; he is a big man; Stacy and Jessie were friends, how?

She stood with her empty plate and moved to Jake taking his and then to her father and mother.

'How about we discuss that later, I will help Amber.' He stood up just as Amber reached his side. They stared at each other for a moment before she walked past him.

Why didn't he just go?

He packed the remaining plate excluding Jessie who said she wasn't done yet with a smile he followed her into the kitchen.

'Amber, it is really not what you think.' He told her as he dropped the plates in the sink and looked at her.

'I don't care.' She said opening the refrigerator but he used his hand to close it and step back.

'You do care, Amber and I want you to care.' He said moving towards her as she put on the tap water in attempt to wash the plates but she wasn't ready to wash; she just felt she needed to do something; anything that would make this day end quickly and Nicholas is out of her sight.

'I don't want anything to do with you.'

He moved closer to her and trapping her between the sink and him; her heart beat uncontrollable in her chest.

'Amber, I want a lot to do with you, I really need you to believe me, when I say. I do not love your sister; it's you, I came for.'

She felt his hand crawl against hers. 'I don't want anything to with you, Nick.' She wasn't sure how her voice was this stable; she was just whispering, but the beating of her heart didn't stop, her voice didn't even tremble.

'Nicholas.' They heard.

They turned only to find the house keeper standing by the door.

'Mrs. Van.' He called but she walked away.

The way she called his name sounded like a warning. She looked at him. Her anxiety begin to reduce. 'I don't want to have anything to do with you, Nicholas.' She said about to away but he held her hand.

'I am your husband....'

'Were.' She corrected. 'I have a boyfriend.' She told him.

'And he is right here.' The new voice at the door, spoke.

Jake was standing there with empty glasses, slowly he entered into the kitchen; maybe that was what Mrs van warned him about, she loved seeing them together.

'She was yours but now mine, Nicholas.'

He dropped her hand gently and moved closer to that man.

'She is not a property you can just own.'

Jake didn't feel affected by the what his words must have implied.

'She does not want you near her, let her go.'

He shook his head; he couldn't let Amber go; he still in love with her and she is still his wife, ready to reproach the man.

'You guys fighting is a waste of valuable time.' They heard Jessie walked in with her plate and the rest of glasses.

Amber looked at her sister.

'Nicholas, let go Amber. She has no interest in you..... look at her, she is in love with Jake. Why do you keep trying?' She said as she dropped her plate in the sink.

Jess had known he was still trying to make up for he did, having left her. 

Jake and Nicholas looked at her, Amber didn't look at her either; she was used to her sister doing this, she shouldn't be surprised. But she was.

'You guys, shouldn't stand doing nothing.' Their mother walked in carrying the tray of bowls. When she entered, there was silence for a few minutes but only the sound of the plates echoed round the kitchen.

'Amber and I will do the dishes, Nicholas, you guys go out.' She told them.

Amber felt him touched her gently again as he passed, it was like he hadn't heard a thing Jake or Jessie said.

When they all left, her mother moved to her;

'Now, let me tell you.'

Nicholas sighed as he walked to the balcony with Mr Williams with a bottle of scotch and two glasses, he didn't really need.

He poured a little into Mr William's glass and put the bottle on the pavement and he poured into his own glass, dropping it on the pavement as well.

'So you left the company, what are you doing now?' He heard him as they rested on the balcony pavement, looking into the streets.

'Presently, I work for T.K transport industry as the manager and I have a restaurant; managed by a friend of mine; in partner with Maxwell's catering company.' He told the manager; who nod his head in admiration.

'You have made a name for yourself. I am proud.' He told him patting his back.

He had always told Nicholas, he could do more if he just explore further and then did and he was most proud. But...'You know, I wondered if you were dead or  worse killed.' No calls, nothing.'

He looked at him. Why did he even think that?

Then he stopped short; he didn't call from months, for almost a whole year; of course they would think he was dead. Now he saw the reason why Amber didn't want to be with him again....he could leave whenever he wanted. But that wasn't going to happen again, he didn't call because he was frustrated, upset about the stupid letter, honestly he wanted to, there was no day that passed without him thinking about Amber or her family....that was his family.

'It's wasn't my intention; I didn't know where I dropped my phone; when I got a new one; the only number I could remember was the house's number.' He explained. 

'But you didn't call her number.' it wasn't a question, it was an assumption he was supposed to clarify.

'I didn't remember and I was hurt by the way I walked out on her; but everytime I did call the house; I only got her voicemail. I didn't know how she would react if she heard my voice; after I left her like that.' He looks at his father-in-law; if she had answered..... Amber would have questioned him, but he hadn't need to be questioned; he had work to do than for her to add to his stress which was why he pressed adopt everytime he got her voicemail.

'If you had said something, told her; you were sorry then maybe it wouldn't have gotten to this; maybe she would have accepted you back, no matter how long you took, maybe she would have waited for you to come back.' He said as he drank his scotch.

Maybe. But he was here now; he had realized his mistake and he was at the verge of losing her; what was he going to do?

'I am sorry, I behaved that way Sir.....but I want Amber back.....as my wife. But I don't know what to do about it.' He said looking at him; he pleaded for maybe a talk with his daughter to accept him back or  hints to get her back.

But Mr Williams Pade shook his head.

'She has a boyfriend; do you how much it took convincing her to start going out again because.....She thought you were coming back to her. Because of a silly misunderstanding.'

He snatched his hair back; he had thought; he could help him. He knew his father-in-law was mad at him for treating his daughter like nothing but  he will do anything to get her back. Anything.

Then he heard Mr Pade; 'Amber is happier with you than she is with Jake; and I don't trust him or like him...but that doesn't mean; I am okay with you breaking my baby girl's heart.'

He nodded in relief, he understood what he was trying to say; it was okay to want her back because other fathers as rich as Williams Pade would have had him gunned to know how Amber felt in his absence. He should be lucky he had a good father-in-law and he liked him. Otherwise; he got no chance.

'So, what do you do, she has not completely gotten over you; so you still have hope.' He said with a smile.

'What do I do?' Nicholas asked him as he put his glass on his lips about to take a sip when he heard Williams;

'Do what you are doing; but leave Jessie alone.'

He tried doing that more once but Jessie can't stay away. He take that her parents had noticed the tension between them, the way they spoke to each other but Jessie always seems to interfere. He was going to keep winning her heart and keep telling Jessie off.

He sighed and turned to face Nicholas. 'Now that, that is out. Who are we winning against?' Then again Nicholas smiled.

He and Mr Pade had always been the best partners in golf; but he could never swing, Mr Pade, didn't mind. That was one thing Jake and he had in common but Jake hated losing.

If only he had apologized, it wouldn't have gotten here but now that it did; he needed her to give him a chance with her, to resolve the mess he caused. A chance.

'Mom, I am not interested in what you are talking about.'

Amber was rinsing and cleaning the plates; her mom washing and talking to her about Nicholas.

'I know you don't like Jake, but if you get to know him better you like him; give him a chance.' Amber told her mom.

'Give him a chance.' She heard her mom, they both knew who she was talking about...

'You were so happy with Nicholas; when you got married to him, but now you have buried yourself into more work.... Amber.'

'Mom, things change.....we thought nothing could ever hurt us, we thought we could always be happy.'

She stopped washing and cleaned her hands on the towel. 'Marriage isn't a bed of roses, Amber, it is like a tree, if well nourished it grows, produces fruits but if not it dies.'

She cleaned the last plate, without looking at her. 'Nicholas killed this marriage..... when he didn't show up after six months, when he didn't call my phone and when he didn't come home.' She said as she moved to the sink to finish up.

'But he is back now, you can amend the relationship again.'

She shook her head, not looking at her. 'You can't put a fallen leaf back on the tree or a dry leaf on the tree....'

'But you can nurse a leaf to grow.'

She didn't feel the need to nurse a love for a man; who didn't trust her. 'A relationship has obligations, I am loyal to my man.'

Her mother turned her to face him, when she was about to keep the plates. 'You are loyal to the wrong man and you don't even love him, you still love Nick. I have see the way you look at him.'

'Have you seen the way Jessie looks at him?'

Her mother started to talk but Amber shook her head. 'Seeing can be deceiving. 'Mom,  Love is a feeling, that grows each day, each minute, and dies with just a little mistake, a little mishap. I am going to learn to love Jake and if I can't; I am still young and successful; I have other men who can love me....that is not Nicholas Mitchell.' then she turned away from her and moved towards the cupboard, where the plates are kept.

'Then, hear him out. You do not know what happened to him when he was away...' She didn't finish.

'I don't care.' She said the same thing she told Nicholas. The less she knew the better. She put the plates into the cupboard and closed it.

'Amber, you should care; you are not a heartless person, I am sure there is still a part of you that want to be with Nicholas again.'

She looked at her, without blinking, without thinking. 'There is no part, he has no relevance in my life.' She pointed out.

'You say that with such affirmative and I believe it more. You still feel something for him, but you are trying to block it out, to block him out and you are using the relationship with Jake as a Shield to save yourself from falling back in love with your husband.'

She looked away. 'Ex-husband.' She said quietly. Partially true, but that was the only way, she'd forget him, by being with someone else.

Her mother walked to her side and touched her hand. 

'Amber, before you got married, I told you it would be sweet but it also has it ups and downs. Give Nicholas a chance to explain himself and if you still feel there is a good reason going through with the divorce, I will support you but he has to know why you are divorcing him.'

She looked at her mom; why does she always talk sense when she didn't want her to?

She felt her hug her. 'I love you, Amber. You have always made big decisions on your own but this is going to a bumpy ride; and the wrong decision can cost you, your happiness.' She said in her ear and then she moved back and gently removed the hair from her face. 

'I will support you on any decisions, you make.'

She knew that; she had always known that but with Nicholas.....She did not exactly.

'What about me, mom?' They heard.

They both turned at the sight of Jessie.

Amber looked at her; long legs, chocolate short hair and beautiful. Her parents had depended on Amber more because she was resourceful and reliable and Jessie was adventurous and creative but Jess trying to take Nicholas from her while they weren't really together.... but together was incredibly rude. But she wasn't going to iron that out with her, in the presence of their mother.

'Mom.'

'Hmm.' Her mother faced her. 

'I should leave, I have to get early for work tomorrow.' She told her.

Her mother pat her head. 'I will come over soon.'

She started to walk towards the door when her mother called and she turned;

'Think about what I said.'

She just nod and she continued to walk towards the door but stopped besides Jessie.

'Are you coming?'

'No. I have to finish my work here, I will see you at the office tomorrow.' She said dismissively. 

And she did well acting like she didn't do anything wrong.

Amber looked at her before walking out; then she realized that whatever Jess was doing, it was for herself, to get Nicholas to choose her over Amber.

****

'Really, just let him have your car and you come with me.' She heard Jake's voice.

'And what do I get drive to work?'

He was quiet. He didn't suggest the idea of driving Nicholas because he didn't like him and to cause a road accident for the both of them.

She had been standing by his car; explaining for the past ten minutes; why she had to drive Nicholas back because they came in her car.

'Fine but Am; I don't like you hanging out with him.'

Neither did she. After this night; it was over. 'I will just drop him off and he will be on his way.' After the talk, she mean.

She looked at Jake as he moved close to her and kissed her on a lips; watery, short and empty  kiss, not the way Nicholas would have kissed her.

She groaned inside; she should stop comparing them. The kiss was quick and over. He smiled like he had achieved something.

'I will call you tomorrow, babe .' 

She smiled back rather with too much effort. 'Okay.' She moved away as he entered his car.

She walked towards hers; Nicholas and Mrs Van stopped talking.

'Alright, my dear. We will see you soon.' she hugged her and Amber hugged her back; she is like a second mother to her.

She moved back to Nicholas and hugged him. 'I will see you soon.'

He nod and hugged her. 'Take care.' He said pulled away from her hand before entering the car.

As she drove away; her mother, father, Anthony and Mrs Van waved at them; wondering where Jessie was.

She looked straight ignoring the live Nicholas beside her flesh and blood; not dead but alive. But he had ignored her for a year. Did he think things would just go back to normal by the time he came back?

'Amber, can we have that talk now?'

She didn't look at him; her eyes were still on the road; she was afraid of the things he wanted to ask, things he wanted to say, she would like him to postpone it and if he did that; that would mean; she would see him again and that was what she was trying to avoid.

'Fine, but at my house.'

He didn't say anything else.

She drove silently to the house; when Skype heard them; she was the happiest. She opened the door and she jumped happily on her mistress, Amber kissed her head and moved inside, Skype did the same on Nicholas.

'Skype, sorry I didn't come early.' She apologize to her dog and brought her food; Nicholas release her to go eat. Amber offered him the sofa to sit and she in other with a key holder; keys to her car; she began swinging it in her finger waiting for him to speak.

When he said talk; he didn't mean they had to be formal. Well, here they were.

'I am listening.....you got my attention.' She told him when he didn't talk.

'Amber, there are reasons I left.....' He started.

Her mouth opened to say something but she had thought about it; give him a chance to explain and a logical reason why she wants a divorce.....then she would clear.

He waited but instead; she sat down and crossed her legs; making her look incredible sexy; that had to wait; he had to talk to her first.

I want to apologize....'

She watched him, how times has Nicholas apologized since he showed up again in her life?

Three or maybe four, maybe he should move ahead with what he wanted to say.

'I was upset because of the letter, yes but when I left to Max's house; I wanted nothing more than to go back home to you and then I received the call from my manager at the restaurant, telling me I had been promoted and that he had a job, that I needed to do as soon as possible. He said I needed to leave for France immediately that they needed a good assistant; I told him; I couldn't go because I didn't have a luggage and I needed to go back but the manager; said they had gotten my plane ticket and they needed me to come right away and not everyone gets that opportunity; I finally got it. Then I headed to airport, I think that was where I lost my phone.' He paused awaiting for a a reaction, anything.

Cassie had told her; Nicholas had stayed in her house only for a night. There were times when he would call Cassie just ask about her and sometimes she would pretend she didn't hear a thing. He had been talking about how he has been working and the manager was even paying too much mind, he wanted a promotion. He was right to have taken the opportunity.

'When I came few months after; I wanted to see you but Cassie told me how you felt, so I decided against it, waiting for the right moment.'

'Hmm.' Jessie.

'My Uncle Trevor owns a company and asked me to manage it for him while he is his trips and I knew I had to do something in case, my uncle told me, he no longer needed my services; I built my own restaurant, food, fries and snacks in partnership with Maxwell's catering company and I was able to do models which I am being paid for.' He finished his tale of ordeal.

She was happy for him; she'd had done well for himself; he only lived an apartment with Lucky and run three jobs and now he own his restaurant, worked as a model and ran a company. She was proud.

'Are you trying to rub your achievements in my face, because of what our friends said, or because of what I told them.

He stood up and went to her side. 'No, Amber, really, you loved me when I had nothing, can't you love me now that I have something?'

She scoffed. 'I like men with humility and I stopped loving you when you broke my heart; broke my trust by assuming me a cheat.'

He tried to touch her but she moved away. 'Honestly, I had asked myself, if I had money....enough money would you stop looking at other guys.... I....'

She turned to face; all those times, he was around, she never looked at any other man, even when Jake was here; she still looks at him. 'Why would I even cheat on you, Nicholas; you have most things most men out there do not have, when I married you, I kept my vows to the latter. You were too scared to face it with me, that was why you ran.'

He took her hand and grasped tightly when she tried to pull it from his drip.

'I was scared that if I wasn't better.....you'd go for someone else. I was scared if I wasn't big enough I would lose you.'

Her struggling stopped, she looked at him; she ached to touch his face but she wasn't going to give in....She didn't need Nicholas, she was fine without him.

'I'm sorry, for the anguish you must have felt in my absence but I ask you to give me another chance before I sign the papers.'

She looked away; 'I can't do that; I have a boyfriend.'

'You said; you are under no obligations to fulfill his wishes until you are married to him, till then you do as you like.' He said half smiling.

She looked at him; she had told him, after their first kiss when she had pretended like nothing happened, he had kissed her again at the hallway and after a few days later; Jessie kissed him; Jessie had said she wanted to know if he was a good kisser and he said; he didn't know what got into him; he had met her one day on the stairs flirting with his colleague and he had been mad, he moved her out of the man's arms then they walked away from him before she pulled her hand away from his hold, she had just told him; I am under no obligations to listen to you and your jealousy feat until I am married to you, that is if I will ever be, till then I do as I please.

'People change.'

'Not that much, Amber.'

She looked away.

'Tell me what you want.'

He had many conditions but he wasn't the kind to manipulate someone just to do his bidding.

'I want you back.' He whispered.

She blinked at him. 'That is not going happen.'

That was what he wanted and what she wanted too, he saw it every time, he looked into her eyes. it is what they both wanted.

'Alright, give me six months..... those months you waited for me to come home and I didn't. Give me six months to let me love you again then if you feel that I am no good being taking back, I will sign the divorce and let you go.'

She swallowed. Let her go; sounded like a declaration, a final.....

Well wasn't that what she wanted?

'No conditions?' She asked; in this kind of agreement; there were usually terms and conditions.

He thought a few seconds before continuing; 'I get to treat you as I should....as my wife and if you like, you can keep seeing Jake but you have to be ready to send time with me, when I call.'

More like a servant than a wife; she thought.

'Any other thing?' She asked him.

He shook his head. 'I would have added I come back home, but Jessie is living here....' He paused, thinking for minute; if he moved in; he might go too fast. Since, Jessie was here, it was another way to ruin his plans.

'Nothing, that is all.'

She nodded. Six months, was she needed to get out of this marriage, she waited for him for six months, she had have to go through for the divorce be finalized.

'When do we start?' She asked him as he stood up, when he checked his watch.

Skype barked at him; asking him where he was going?

He looked at her; by next week is a starting of a month. 'On the 1st of August.' it gave him less than a week to put his plans together.

She nodded, standing as well.

He moved towards him and the dog followed.

'It's been a pleasure meeting you, Amber. Take care of yourself.' He said before he opened the door and he bent down and hug Skype and kiss her head. 'Take care of Amber, I'll be back.'

He took one last look at her and turned back walking outside.

She stood at the window, watching until he was out of sight. She bolt the doors.

She knew Nicholas; would be thinking of ways to keep her; thinking of it was exciting. Why did she go along with this in the first place; he didn't even care to know why she insisted on getting separated officially.....he gave her the reins to hold for a few days, before he does what he wanted.

Thinking about it; she was scared of surprises especially Nicholas's kind of surprises.