Chapter 11- Outside The Snow 

Nikki narrowed her eyes, giving him an you- think- I'm- a fool look which made him stoic.

"Nikki, do you think I'm still in love with her after everything she did to me?" David asked, his voice void of emotions, and his indifferences at that moment flushed away her skepticism.

"I hate her as much as you do," he claimed. "Even more than you."

"I know you wouldn't have any feelings for her. I'm sorry. I was kind of teasing you though like the same way you did time earlier, two times.

"Don't tease me like that. It's annoying," David spat.

"Gosh, my apology. That Carissa is a pain. To heck with her." She flung her hair and poised. "On a serious note now, David, I would like to come over to L.A."

"No. Stay back here." He didn't want her to come over because it would be impossible for her to not know about Carissa being his P.A. If that ever happened, he was certain things were going to be hot so he wanted to prevent that.

Nikki frowned and before she could ask for a concrete reason why he wanted her to remain in New York, he had disappeared through the house door, causing her to groan.

 Slightly arching her shoulder, through the blinds of a nearby window, she saw David get into his Lamborghini and zoom off.

"What's his problem?" She thought out loud. "Is he keeping something from me?" She rolled herself. "Whatever. I need to go there and carry out my long-time plan." A sly smile appeared on her face as she locked her fingers.

"Carissa." She grabbed her knife and fiercely stabbed another slice of toast before slapping a glass off the table, seething in anger. She jerked up, staring down vaguely at the broken pieces.

"Even her name makes me want to wipe her out of the surface of this earth." Clenching her fist and sneering, her mind flashed back to a past occurrence.

~~~ FLASHBACK ~~~

 Seven years ago

Looking ragged, Nikki forced her way through two guards at the gate of a mansion, frantically, panting in anxiety. The guards chased after her.

"Carissa! Carissa!!!" She called out with urgency and bitterness as she tried to rush into the house but was seized by the guards who caught up with her.

"You need to leave!" They tried forcing her to leave but she didn't give in. She kept calling out to Carissa like a madwoman.

"Quiet!" The voice of someone familiar hushed her and she jerked up her head to see Duncan.

"You? Aren't you that cockhead, David's sister?" He asked with derision.

"Yes. You must be Duncan Draven, Carissa's elder brother. What are you doing here?" Nikki asked, eyeing him and stealing glances at the large entrance doors to the house.

Duncan cast a look at the doors and chuckled. He signaled to the guards to let go of Nikki as he walked up to her.

He grabbed her by the jaw and warned, "Don't be nosy. This is my sister's new house and I can be here anytime." 

She fred her jaw from his grasp by forcibly pushing off his hand. "I don't care about you. I want to see Carissa."

"Why? Do you know my sister is now married to a better person than your lowlife brother?!"

"I dint fucking care but I just want to see her."

"You can't see her…"

"Please!" She clasped her hands above her head. "It's a matter of life and death…"

"Involving your brother? Then she will pass. She's married now and the last thing I would want is your brother seeing her. He can't die for all I care."

"His life is hanging on a thread. I just want to see Carissa."

"Hmm, why? You want to ask her for money?"

Nikki stared at him and slightly nodded, causing him to burst into a mocking laughter.

"So, she was right."

Nikki rolled her eyes, still panting. "She mentioned earlier that David got into some shit and she wants to do well not to help out even if they had a thing before."

"What?" Nikki's eyes widened. "She knows David is in the hospital battling for his life?"

"Yeah, dear. She doesn't care about him. She's actually inside right now but she asked me to come and ask you to leave because she's having a nice moment with her husband."

Nikki looked away slowly, biting her lower lip in fury.

"Girl, why don't you just let the newlywed be instead of coming here to ruin my sister's happiness with your patheticism."

"No. I need to see Carissa."

"Let me call her." Duncan made a call. "Carissa, it's Nikki….You're right. She's here to ask for your assistance to help her miserable brother…Okay. I will do as you say." Smirking at Nikki, he ended the call and tucked the phone. "She asked me to send you out quietly. Get out."

"No. I can't. I need to…" 

"You!" Duncan grabbed her by the hair in anger, causing her to shriek. He sneered, "You low-class dirtbags always want to be savage and that's why I will keep treating you people like worthless dogs." He pushed her to the floor and ordered the guards to throw her out.

"Let go of me. You can't treat me like this!" Nikki wailed, defiantly. She kicked her feet to the hair, yelling in anger as she was dragged out like an animal.

Duncan roared in laughter over her mumbles. "Ah, ah, ah….!!!"

~~~ END OF FLASHBACK ~~~

 As the echoes of Duncan's taunting laughter filled her subconscious mind, Nikki growled and threw her plate to the floor, followed by other things on the table. The clattering of plates and food accessories filled the room the following minute, accompanied by her rough breath.

"I was so humiliated back then. I received the worst embarrassment and it was all because of that sly bitchy Carissa! It's time to get even." She kicked a chair and burst into devious laughter.

In the latter part of the day, a taxi halted in front of a stately home as Carissa stepped out. Gazing at the opulent structure framed by guarded gates, her heart galloped within her chest. It was David's abode, and since he was absent from his workplace, George had tasked her with delivering his schedule for the following day.

Filled with trepidation, Carissa walked a few steps before halting, almost startled as the gates opened automatically. Stepping inside, her legs quivered ever so slightly. Reaching the door, she stretched out her hand and knocked, only to be met with the video intercom screen. After rapping on the door and pressing the doorbell to no avail, she decided to call David.

Clearing her throat and employing a friendly tone, she spoke into the receiver as he answered the call. "Good day, sir."

"And who might this be?" David's voice crackled through the earpiece.

"Um, Carissa. I am currently standing at your doorstep, here to-"

"You should have arrived by 5 pm."

Carissa glanced at her wristwatch and let out a sigh. "It is barely five minutes past the hour, sir. My sincerest apologies-"

"No excuses. I detest them. You shall face your consequences. Stay put until the door opens, then enter."

She glanced up and noticed that it had begun to snow. "Sir, please..." But he ended the call before she could finish pleading. "Ugh!" She huffed in frustration and took a step back from the door.

At first, Carissa assumed the door would eventually open, perhaps after a few minutes. But as time ticked by - 30 minutes, then an hour, then two - she remained stranded outside, the snow starting to take its toll. Her body grew numb and she felt her toes developing a trench foot. She couldn't believe that David would keep her waiting for such a long period of time.

Her phone beeped, signaling a new message. She retrieved it from her pocket and read her mother's concerned text. "Where are you? It is well past 8 pm - you should be home by now. Angelina is worried. Please, come back soon."

After reading the message, Carissa cast a frustrated glance at the closed door. She gritted her teeth, contemplating her next move.