12. Nick
Nick
I’m sitting at my desk, my laptop open in front of me, but I’m not really paying attention to the spreadsheet on the screen.
My phone keeps buzzing with notifications—blogs, gossip sites, and my publicist blowing up my phone.
I already know what it’s about. The pictures.
The rumors. The stupid club night with Mia that’s somehow turned into a full-blown media circus.
I grab my phone and scroll through the messages. My publicist, Nicole, has texted me three times in the last hour.
Nick, we need to talk about this Mia thing. The blogs are eating it up. This is great for your image. Let’s lean into it.
I roll my eyes, tossing my phone onto the desk. I don’t care about my image. I don’t care about the blogs. And I definitely don’t care about Mia Parker.
I’m sure I was set up. Mia did it on purpose. She wanted people to think we are together.
I normally wouldn’t care. It’s not the first time I’ve been put together with someone I casually met. Because of who I am, people have a weird fascination with my love life.
Working from home is more of a necessity than a desire. Although, I often prefer to work at home. I hate office politics. And Sierra. I don’t hate Sierra, but I really dislike the drama.
And she is always causing some kind of drama.
My laptop pings, and I glance at the screen. It’s my assistant, Lila, on a video call. She’s got her usual no-nonsense expression, her glasses perched on the edge of her nose as she flips through her tablet. I click the button to answer it
“Morning, Nick,” she says, her tone brisk. “Let’s go over your schedule for the month.”
“Go ahead.”
Lila starts rattling off dates and events—board meetings, investor calls, a conference in New York. I tune out most of it until she mentions the conference.
“You’ve got Sierra and Clive from HR scheduled to go with you,” she says, glancing up at me. “It’s a big one—recruiting top talent from MIT and other schools. You’ll need a team. I’ve already booked the hotel. The jet will be ready at seven. It’s your usual pilot.”
Being locked in a tin can with Sierra ten thousand feet above the ground is easily the last place I want to be. The thought makes my skin crawl. I’d rather walk over broken glass through fire than be trapped with her.
Yes, she’s the head of development, and yes, she insists she be the one to hire her people, but no. I can’t. I don’t want to be near her. She’s made my life a living hell. I’m tired of just having to put up with the bullshit.
I sit up, an idea forming in my mind. “Cancel both of them.”
Lila blinks, her eyebrows shooting up. “What?”
“Cancel them,” I say again.
“Why?”
“Just do it,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll handle it.”
She hesitates, clearly unsure, but then nods. “Okay. I’ll let them know. Should I cancel the jet and the pilot?”
“No. I’m still going. Cancel the hotel rooms. I’ll be staying at my apartment in the city.”
She frowns.
“Are you sure, Nick? It’s a high-profile event. You’ll need backup, especially for the recruiting sessions. Sierra and Clive are?—”
“I’ll handle it,” I cut her off, my voice sharp enough to make her snap her mouth shut. Lila knows better than to push me when I’m in this kind of mood. She nods once, typing something into her tablet.
“Understood. I’ll make the arrangements.”
The call ends, and I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Sierra is going to lose her shit.
And I love it.
I smile to myself, already imagining the look on Sierra’s face when she finds out she’s been cut from the trip.
It’s petty, sure, but after months of dealing with her antics—the passive-aggressive emails, the constant undermining in meetings, the way she always seems to be lurking in the background like some corporate vulture—I deserve this small victory.
But then my mind drifts back to her and my plan.
The woman I can’t stop thinking about, even though I know I should.
The one who isn’t Mia Parker. The one who doesn’t care about my money or my status or being insta-famous.
The one who kissed me like she meant it, like it wasn’t just another transaction in a world where everything feels transactional.
This is something I feel like I should do in person. I have no idea if Ava is going to be thrilled about my plan or pissed. I’m kind of hoping for the latter because that woman is fire when she’s pissed.
I grab my keys, heading for the door. I hop in my Porsche, suddenly very anxious for this conference. My phone rings halfway there. I glance at the screen. It’s my mom.
I’m not surprised.
Or all that happy to hear from her, if I’m being honest.
But it’s talk to her now or have her call me a hundred times later.
I sigh, hitting the answer button. “Hey, Mom.”
“Nick!” she says, her voice bubbling with excitement. “I saw the pictures! You two look so good together! She’s perfect. Didn’t I tell you she was pretty? When are you going out again?”
I grit my teeth, trying to keep my tone even. “It’s not like that, Mom. It was just a slow press day. Nothing more.”
“Oh, don’t be modest,” she says, completely ignoring me. “She’s lovely. You couldn’t do better if you tried.”
“Mom, it’s not happening. Mia and I—it’s not a thing. It’s just media nonsense.”
She lets out a dismissive laugh, her tone dripping with the kind of confidence only a mother could have in her son’s love life.
“Nick, darling, you’re being ridiculous.
She’s exactly the kind of woman you need.
Stylish, poised, and she comes from a good family.
You can’t keep running away from commitment forever. ”
“I’m not running away,” I snap, my patience fraying. “And I don’t need a media circus to figure out my life. Mia is not the sweet lady you think she is. I don’t want her. She’s an obnoxious, spoiled child. I will not be taking her out again.”
“Oh stop,” she laughs. “I know I’m old, and I’m your mother, but I’m not blind. She’s beautiful. You two looked great together. Sometimes physical attraction is all you need to get the ball rolling.”
“Mom, we’re not together. End of story.”
“Oh, Nick,” she sighs dramatically. “You’re so stubborn.”
“Mom, I’m busy,” I say, cutting her off. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I hang up before she can argue. She’s the one that insisted I go out with Mia in the first place.
When I get to the office, the buzz is immediate. People are whispering, glancing at me as I walk through the halls. I’m guessing Sierra is on her typical rampage. Lila must have told her she got bumped.
I ignore them, heading straight for HR.
Clive is waiting for me, his arms crossed, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation.
“Nick,” he says, stepping in front of me. “What’s going on? Lila just told me I’m off the New York trip. Why? We’ve been planning that trip for a month.”
I don’t stop walking, brushing past him. “Change of plans. Don’t worry about it.”
He tries to follow me, but I shut him down with a look. He backs off, muttering under his breath as I head for Ava’s office.
She’s sitting at her desk, her head down as she types something on her computer. She doesn’t notice me at first. I take a moment to just watch her. She’s focused, her brow furrowed in concentration, her hair falling over her shoulders.
Damn. Does she know how beautiful she is?
I knock on the doorframe. She looks up, her eyes widening when she sees me.
“Nick,” she says, her voice hesitant. “What are you doing here?”
I step inside, closing the door behind me. “I need you to come to New York with me.”
She blinks, clearly caught off guard. “What? Why?”
“The conference,” I say, leaning against her desk. “I need someone from HR to help interview potential developers. You’re coming.”
She shakes her head, her expression wary. “Nick, I can’t just—Clive was supposed to go. He’s got the experience. I’m just?—”
“Clive’s not going,” I interrupt, my tone firm. “You are.”
She stares at me, her eyes narrowing. “Why me?”
I don’t answer right away. The truth is, I don’t really know. Maybe it’s because I trust her. Maybe it’s because I want her close. Maybe it’s because I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s the one person in the world I want to be trapped in a flying tin can with.
“Because I said so,” I say finally, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Last I checked, I’m still the boss around here.”
She hesitates, clearly torn, but then nods. “Fine. When do we leave?”
“Wednesday,” I say, pushing off her desk. “Be ready.”
I turn and walk out, ignoring the whispers and stares as I head up to my office. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I don’t care about Clive’s hurt feelings or the office gossip.
All I care about is Ava.
I step off the elevator on my floor, and I feel it.
Hatred. Negativity.
I turn to see where it’s coming from.
Sierra is standing by the water cooler, her arms crossed, her eyes locked on me like a predator sizing up its prey.
The air around her practically crackles with fury.
She’s dressed impeccably, as always, but her usual polished demeanor is fraying at the edges.
Her jaw is tight, her lips pressed into a thin line, and when our eyes meet, she doesn’t bother to hide her disdain.
She moves toward me like a heat-seeking missile. To run is futile. She’s going to find me.
“Nick,” she says, her voice icy and clipped. “A word?”
I raise an eyebrow, already bracing myself for the storm. “Sure.”
She strides toward me, her heels clicking sharply against the floor like warning shots. The office has gone quiet, everyone pretending to focus on their work while clearly eavesdropping. Sierra stops just a few feet away, her gaze burning into mine.
I don’t want to have this out in front of the whole office.
“My office,” I say.
“Whatever.”
I barely make it through the door before she lays in to me.
“Care to explain why I’ve been cut from the New York trip?” she asks, her tone deceptively calm. I can hear the venom simmering beneath the surface.
I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “Change of plans. It’s not personal.”
Her laugh is cold and humorless. “Not personal? Really? Is it true you’re taking that new little slut in your stable of whores?”
I stiffen, my jaw clenching as I turn to face her fully. “Careful, Sierra,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “You’re crossing a line.”
She doesn’t flinch. If anything, her smirk deepens, her eyes glittering with a mix of anger and something else—something calculated.
“Oh, please. Don’t try to play the righteous boss card with me.
We both know what this is about. You’re replacing me with her.
That little nobody from HR who thinks she can just waltz in and take my spot. ”
I take a step closer, my patience snapping like a taut wire.
“Ava isn’t replacing you. And she sure as hell isn’t a ‘nobody.’ She’s more competent than half the people in this company, including you.
If anyone’s waltzing, it’s you—right out of line.
But that’s what you do. Always out of fucking line. ”
“Careful, Nick, you do not want to make an enemy out of me.”
I scoff. “We’re certainly not friends. I couldn’t give a shit if you like me.”
“Go ahead. Take your little whore to New York. I bet you’re planning to take her to your apartment, right? Planning some seduction ritual. Don’t forget, I know you, Nick. I know all your tricks.”
“Fuck off, Sierra. You no longer get to be a part of my life. You chose to fuck around, not me. It’s about time you get over it. If you wanted me, you wouldn’t have climbed into bed with other men.”
Sierra’s toxic jealousy has always been a storm I’ve had to weather, but this feels different. She’s crossed a line—one too many times.
“You don’t get to talk about Ava like that. And you sure as hell don’t get to dictate how I live my life. What happened between us is over. It’s been over for a long time.”
She steps closer, her perfume sharp and suffocating. “You think you’re so untouchable, don’t you? But I know you, Nick. You’re not as in control as you like to pretend.”
I level her with a glare that would make most people back down. Not Sierra. She thrives on confrontation; on the chaos she creates. But I’m done playing her games.
“Get out of my office,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.
She hesitates for a moment. “This doesn’t end well for you. Or her.”
She walks out without another word.