Jealous

I don't know how often Nicholas had a smile on his face. Edward, who saw his best friend's behaviour, could only chuckle in disgust in his heart. He thought, there must be something that made Nicholas look like a lunatic right now.

You freak! So why did he call me here?

Was he asking me to watch him smiling like a madman like now?

A waste of my time.

"Nick!" called Edward in a deliberately raised tone. He wanted to see if this man in front of him could wake up or even remain lulled in his world.

"Shhh..." Nicholas hissed. "You startled me, Ed!" Nicholas exclaimed disapprovingly.

"I've been sitting here for 15 minutes, and you haven't spoken a word. You don't think I'm busy, huh? What's the point of you calling me here?"

Instead of feeling guilty, Nicholas chuckled at Edward, who looked annoyed. If Edward had known why Nicholas was smiling at the thought of Kimberly, he would have been making fun of him for sure.

"Thursday this week, Kimberly and I will leave for England. I ask that you handle all the main work while I'm away. But as much as possible before leaving I finish everything. So you don't have to worry too much later."

"How long have you been in England? Did Jacob know?" Edward asked to confirm.

Nicholas nodded. "I called him yesterday. How long I've been in England, probably three days and no more."

Edward nodded too. "Okay, I'll do my job. But by the way, if I may ask, what business did you have in England? Was it an official thing to bring Kimberly along?"

This time the man could not hide the question in his mind. He felt odd about Nicholas and Kimberly's sudden departure to England. Nicholas stared intently at Edward's questioning face. "If I tell you, promise you won't be surprised."

Edward furrowed his brows in confusion. Out of curiosity, he then moved his seat forward.

Acting as if he wanted to hear what Nicholas would tell him.

"Hurry up, Nick. Don't make me curious!"

"Kimberly and I are getting engaged in England."

"Huh, what?" Edward's eyes were successful. From the look on his face, he seemed unsure of what he had just heard.

"No kidding, Nick," Edward asked to confirm.

Nicholas shook his head. "Unfortunately, I'm not kidding, Ed."

"You're seriously engaged to Kimberly? Does that mean you're going to marry her too? Don't tell me this is part of your game, Nick. You know Kimberly is a good woman."

Edward kept bombarding Nicholas with so many questions. Nicholas took a deep breath and then said again, "You're the one who suggested I choose Kimberly, right? Unfortunately, when I bought her with my parents, they are happy and feel comfortable. I can't back down anymore, Ed."

Edward stared at Nicholas in disbelief. "Then how is it going? Are you going to marry her? Are you serious?"

Nicholas rubbed his face in frustration. Edward's constant questioning made him even angrier. He knew his best friend's intentions were good, but judging now was useless.

"Let me take it slow, Ed. I'll learn to love her. I have to convince myself before marrying Kimberly. That's why I chose to get engaged first. I'm afraid of making a wrong move like before."

Edward fell silent, and his jaw tightened, clearly visible on his face. The blue bead turned sharp. "Kimberly is so different from Briana, Nick. I just wanted to warn you, if you ever play with Kimberly's feelings, I won't hesitate to beat you up!"

Edward then got up and left Nicholas' room. From the flash of his eyes, the man looked annoyed and angry. He didn't want his best friend to play with the heart of a woman who was good to him.

Nicholas took another deep breath. Edward's words seemed to keep replaying in his mind. For now, everything he said was true. Kimberly is not Briana. So, she couldn't possibly betray him. Now the problem is how he learns to try to love Kimberly. It's already wet, and the game has come a long way. There was no longer any chance for Nicholas to back down. He had to get things done without anyone getting hurt or hurt.

For a moment, Nicholas was lost in his thoughts. Until knocking on the door echoed and then brought him back to his senses.

"What is it?" Nicholas asked Kimberly who had entered his room.

"There's a dinner invitation," Kimberly replied as she placed a gold invitation on Nicholas' desk.

Nicholas reached for the invitation Kimberly had placed on his desk. Untie the glitter string that binds the invitation, then read it carefully.

"Invitation to dinner with real estate from Milan."

"And it's tonight," Kimberly said later.

Nicholas nodded. "Then hurry up and finish today's work. We'll go home early."

***

Nicholas stepped in, holding Kimberly intimately to the Hakassan Restaurant located at the Alila Hotel, Los Angeles's area. This five-star Michelin restaurant is the only one in Los Angeles, and tonight was chosen as the venue for an exclusive banquet for Milan's real estate leaders. When entering, a waiter already directed Nicholas and Kimberly to the VIP table reserved for CEOs. After finding a place to sit, Nicholas made his habit of mingling with the guests.

Meanwhile, Kimberly just sat there waiting. Tonight she chose not to follow where Nicholas was going. Kimberly waited a long time. Feeling bored, he got up and directed his feet towards the rooftop restaurant area. She was leaning his body casually on one side of the rooftop fence. He then looked around, trying to enjoy the glittering city of Los Angeles at night.

"Tired of the hustle and bustle of the party?" The greeting of a man in his forties took Kimberly's eyes away.

Kimberly nodded, then smiled faintly. "That's how it is. I don't fit in with this kind of party."

The man beside him chuckled softly. A moment later, they looked straight at the row of skyscrapers that lay in front of them.

"I also get bored sometimes going to events like this. Most of them show each other company assets. Sometimes also become a place for rich tycoons to find female friends." there was a mocking tone tucked into the man's words.

Kimberly's gaze now turned to the man standing beside her. "Oh, huh? I just found out that a party like this also has a function other than a business purpose." Kimberly seemed to doubt what the other person said.

The man nodded slowly. "Usually CEOs bring along a companion, whether a secretary or another woman, to join a party like this. They often barter women to smooth out the business plan they are managing."

Kimberly was slightly taken aback by the explanation of the man beside her. Trying to deny it because every time he followed Nicholas where he went to parties, he had never received the slightest bit of strange treatment from Nicholas' business associates or colleagues.

"Did you come here with your boss?" the man asked suddenly. From the look in his eyes, he seemed to want to tease Kimberly.

"This lady came with me, Mr Julio." Kimberly and the man who was later identified as Julio turned simultaneously towards the voice source. There, already stood Nicholas holding a glass of wine in his hand.

"Mr Nicholas, how are you?"

The man was friendly and then held out his hand to Nicholas. Nicholas took a sip of the wine first to the toilet in his hand. After finishing, he grabbed the hand that Julio was holding out and released it immediately.

"Very good," Nicholas replied curtly. Then he grabbed Kimberly's wrist, signalling her to stand next to him.

Julio smiled at Nicholas. "Nice to meet you. Did you come along with your secretary?"

Nicholas shook his head. "No, I'm not with my secretary." Nicholas' answer immediately made his interlocutor stare in confusion, including Kimberly.

"Then the woman ---"

"She's my fiancé, Mr Julio." cut Nicholas. "She's my fiancé and future wife. You can call her Mrs Alistair," Nicholas said, emphasizing each word.

Julio was even more surprised at Nicholas's comments, while Kimberly tried to keep her face as calm as possible. This time he would let his boss take over the conversation. After all, soon, she will also really become Nicholas' fiancé.

"Oh, sorry for my impudence. Nice to meet and get to know your future wife, Mr Nicholas. It seems that she is indeed very suitable to accompany you."

Nicholas nodded firmly. "It doesn't matter because you don't know. But I thank you, you are right. Everyone says we are a very harmonious and classy couple." Nicholas then tightened his grip and took Kimberly away from the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Kimberly could no longer hold back her laughter when she saw the look on Julio's face, which turned sour after hearing Nicholas' words. He thought his boss was deliberately acting annoying in front of his interlocutor.

***

"How can you just leave that guy without permission," said Kimberly when they arrived at the apartment. Nicholas did not answer, choosing to open the coat that wrapped his muscular body and throw it on the sofa. He then sat down for a moment and then directed his eyes to look into Kimberly's face, who was still standing not far from him.

"Sit down," Nicholas asked with a gentle expression as he gently patted the sofa.

"I want to go in and rest," Kimberly replied.

"I said sit down."

"But I---"

"Sit down quickly! Should I call you Mrs Alistair before you obey?" Nicholas ordered this time with emphasis. His eyes turned sharp.

Kimberly couldn't help but obey Nicholas' orders to sit down. She was inhaling her breath repeatedly while squeezing his fingers meant to relieve the tension catching up. She was pretty sure Nicholas was upset right now.

"What's going on with you?" Kimberly spoke quietly, not wanting to provoke Nicholas.

"I don't like you are talking to Julio," Nicholas replied flatly. The look in his eyes showed he didn't like it. Kimberly raised one eyebrow.

"Is something wrong? Besides, I was talking casually earlier." Kimberly tries to defend herself.

"I just don't like it!" he hissed sharply.

Kimberly was stunned for a moment, her face full of questions.

"Tell me why Nick!" Nicholas snorted in annoyance at Kimberly's question.

"Don't pretend you've forgotten Kimberly Aurora's memory. You'll soon be engaged to me. Maybe soon you will be my wife. And I don't like my woman to be close, let alone have sex with other men."

"Huh, what? Don't tell me you are jealous right now. He just wanted to forbid me this and that."

Kimberly took a deep breath and then looked closely at Nicholas' handsome face.

"You talk like we're two lovebirds in love, Nick. I'm the only one who seems to like you here." the woman rose from her seat and left Nicholas, who was still silent in his position.

"Kimberly, I'm not done talking yet." Nicholas followed Kimberly's footsteps. He even barged into the room without knocking on the door first.

"What else do you want to talk about, Nick? I'm tired, and I want to rest." Kimberly replied, a little annoyed. She chose to sit and focus in front of the dressing table while removing the make of his face. Nicholas growled in annoyance.

"Listen to me. Do I have to kiss you first, then you want to focus on hearing me?"

Kimberly's eyes glared sharply at Nicholas, who was now sitting on his bed.

"You pervert!" Kimberly spoke irritably.

"What did you say? Perverted? I'm not a pervert, Kimmy." Nicholas protested.

"You should be thanking me." Kimberly frowned deeply.

"Thank you for what?" he asked, confused.

"Thanks, because I want to help you learn to be even better at kissing. You're so clumsy and stiff when it comes to my kissing balance. You---"

"Nicholas, stop it!" shrieked Kimberly. "Stop this pointless talk!" Kimberly covered her ears. She didn't want to hear Nicholas' ramblings that had publicly humiliated her. At the same time, Nicholas chuckled to see Kimberly, whose face had now turned red. His heartfelt satisfied every time he saw that the woman could not move like now. Nicholas got up from his seat and then stood up to Kimberly, still sitting in front of the dressing table. His hand reached out to stroke Kimberly's long hair covering her long neck.

"I just wanted to clarify our relationship, Kimmy." Kimberly stared at Nicholas' reflection in the mirror.

"You mean? Don't talk halfway, Nick."

Nicholas lowered his body. He was leaning his chin right on Kimberly's shoulder.

"From now on, this very second, your status is my true lover. There is no more pretending between the two of us." Nicholas whispered right in Kimberly's ear.

Kimberly stiffened. She eyes blinked several times as she continued to process the man's words behind her. "You mean we're officially lovers? Is that so?" asked Kimberly to be sure.

Nicholas smirked. "Yes, Mrs Alistair." the next second, he kissed Kimberly's cheek briefly. Then, he left innocently, leaving Kimberly, who was still frozen.