23. Nicholas
Chapter twenty-three
Nicholas
I can feel eyes on me.
It’s not unusual. I’m Nicholas Blackwood, after all. But today, it’s different.
Whispers ripple through the air, following me the moment I step into the office. My shoulders instinctively straighten as I make my way through the sea of desks, not sparing a glance at anyone.
Amara insisted on coming in ten minutes earlier than me this morning. She’s trying to avoid the attention that would surely bring if we walked in together. Personally? I don’t give a fuck about the gossip. I’d much rather stroll in with her, hand in hand, and kiss her right here in front of everyone, making it crystal clear who she belongs to.
I scan the floor, my eyes sweeping across the rows of desks until they lock onto her. She’s sitting at her desk, laser-focused on her monitor, her long hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. I spot Jade leaning over, nudging her with her elbow. Amara turns her head, and the instant our eyes meet, her cheeks flush a shade deeper than usual.
A subtle smirk tugs at my lips, and I give her a small nod as I walk past.
“Amara,” I greet her, the memory of how I said her name last night making my lips twitch. She blushes even harder, and it’s impossible not to enjoy the effect I have on her.
“Mr. Blackwood,” she replies, with a cool professionalism that makes me almost scoff. Just this morning she was moaning and gasping my name in the shower, and now I’m just “Mr. Blackwood.” Yeah, okay.
I nod at her, the brief eye contact between us enough to send a jolt of heat through my veins. But there’s no time to linger. There’s work to do.
I turn on my heel and head toward my office, pushing the door open. I sit back in my leather chair, waiting for Robert to arrive. The office is silent except for the faint hum of the city below. My mind, however, is a whirlwind of thoughts… specifically of Amara.
I can’t stop thinking about last night. The way she looked, the way she felt. Her soft moans, the way she melted against me, so fucking responsive. I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling the heat flood my body at the memory.
Unable to take it any longer, I grab my phone and type out a message.
Me :
Mr. Blackwood? Baby, you were screaming my name so loud this morning the walls nearly caved in.
I smile to myself, leaning back further in my chair when I see her typing.
Amara :
Nicholas. We’re at work.
Me :
And I can still smell you on my fingers.
Amara :
Nicholas… You know I blush like crazy. People will be able to tell something’s going on.
I chuckle. I can practically see her now, biting her lip, trying to keep cool.
Me :
I know, baby. And I love it. I can’t wait to see that blush tonight. Maybe I’ll make it match your ass.
I lean forward, my cock stirring at the thought of her beneath me again.
Her reply comes quickly.
Amara :
Nicholas!
I smile darkly, knowing I’ve got her on the edge, making her squirm.
Me :
I just want to hold you.
And kiss you all over.
And then eat you out.
I can almost feel her shiver, her thigh quivering around my head as I lick her sweet cunt.
Amara :
Oh god…
Me :
Fuck. I can practically hear you moan already. My cock is so hard.
Amara :
Nicholas. I’m begging you.
I press my lips together, biting back a groan.
Me :
Don’t worry, baby. You’ll be begging me for something else tonight.
My phone buzzes again, but before I can respond, the sound of a knock at my door pulls me out of my head.
Robert’s here.
I slide my phone back into my pocket with a quiet groan. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Robert steps in. “Mr. Blackwood,” he greets. “Apologies for the delay.”
I give him a nod in acknowledgment as he sits down in the chair across from my desk. “No problem. What’s the situation?”
“We’ve got a problem,” Robert replies, and his tone immediately sets off alarm bells in my head.
I sit up straighter. “What kind of problem?”
“We’ve received a letter from Alexander.” The blood drains from my face. “He’s claiming your relationship with Amara is a tactic. A move to secure the deal with the hotel. That it’s not real.”
My jaw clenches. Are you fucking kidding me?
“I don’t talk to my brother,” I grit out, fighting the urge to punch something. “He doesn’t know a damn thing about my life or Amara. This is none of his business.”
Robert nods. “I know that, Nicholas. But the board…” He hesitates, a momentary flicker of concern crossing his face. “They’re taking his letter seriously. They want proof. They want to see both of you together, in public. They’re going to be at the L.A. opening tomorrow. I think it would be a great opportunity to show them how serious you and your fiancée are.”
I exhale slowly, my fingers digging into the edge of the desk, the tension in my shoulders almost unbearable. I wasn’t planning on attending the opening, certainly not with the board breathing down my neck. But it’s unavoidable. I need to put out any fires that Alexander started.
“Fine,” I mutter, grinding my teeth at an attempt to contain my frustration. “We’ll be there.”
Robert pauses, his gaze flicking to mine as if expecting something more. But when I stay silent, he stands. “I’ll let the board know. They’ll be expecting you both.”
I nod curtly, my mind already racing through the possibilities, a hundred scenarios playing out in my head. I stand up, buttoning my jacket, trying to regain control over the situation.
I open the door for Robert and give him a tight smile. “I’ll see you and the board tomorrow.”
His nod is stiff, but he doesn’t say anything more. I watch him leave, the door clicking shut behind him. The meeting, the board’s doubts, it all sinks in like a brick in my stomach. This situation is spiraling faster than I can keep up, and I need to get ahead of it.
I exhale slowly, my fingers flexing at my sides. I pull out my phone, the screen lighting up in my hand as I scroll for Ethan’s number.
The phone rings twice before he answers.
“Look who it is. Where the hell have you been? Busy with your fiancée?” he teases.
The muscle in my jaw tightens, but I push the frustration down. I don’t have time for this. “Ethan, I need a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I need you to take care of a cat for me.”
There’s a long pause on the other end, and I can practically hear the gears turning in his head before a dry chuckle follows. “A cat? What kind of cat?”
I let out a sigh, closing my eyes as I try to force my thoughts into some kind of order. “An orange one. With a pink bell around her neck. Possessive. Hates men.”
Ethan snorts, amusement clear in his voice. “Well, then why the hell did you call me?”
I press my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Please, man. I never ask for favors, but I need this. I have to fly to L.A. tomorrow, and I can’t leave the damn cat on its own.”
I hear Ethan’s sigh. “Say no more. I’m on my way to buy some cat toys. I’ll swing by and grab the little beast.”
Relief floods through me. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
“Yeah, you do,” Ethan adds with a laugh before hanging up.
I sit there for a moment, the weight of everything that’s still hanging over me pressing down, but at least I’ve managed to sort out one thing. One small problem is handled. Now, if only the rest of my life could be as simple as getting Ethan to babysit a psychotic cat.
I exhale, running a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself. I’ve got a lot to deal with, but first things first.
I press the intercom button.
“Mr. Blackwood?” Amara’s voice crackles through.
“Can you come in, please,” I say, releasing the button a second later.
I let out a heavy breath as I lean back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face. Fucking Alexander. He took it too far. Jeopardizing this business deal not only fucks me over but fucks him over too. He’s playing with fire, and I’ll be glad when he gets burned.
The knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts and Amara steps into my office a second later. My gaze lingers on her a second too long, my mind flashing to last night. Her naked body, the way she felt against me, how every inch of her belonged to me.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” she asks, blood rushing to my cock at how professional she looks in her tight pencil skirt, white blouse and thin pink cardigan around her shoulders when just last night my face was buried between her thighs.
I rub a hand over my mouth, trying to hide the amusement, but the thought of my brother and the L.A. opening flood to my mind, the tension tightening in my chest again.
“Pack a bag,” I tell her. “We’re going to L.A. tomorrow.”