4. Nicole #2
“This series could be really good for you, Lockheart. I’m sure Emilia has explained the benefits. I have a brief in my bag if you’d like to see it.”
I manage to keep my tone calm and strong as I walk around him toward Emilia.
I hold my hand out to her and she shakes it, smiling warmly at me while her eyes dart over to look at Owen.
I flip my long brown hair over my shoulder and start taking the documents out of my bag.
Completely faking the confidence that’s oozing out of me.
“So now it’s Lockheart.” His velvety smooth voice is closer to me than I expected, and I’m too afraid to look back and see him. Instead, I clear my throat and focus on organising the already organised papers.
“If you’d prefer me to call you Mr. Lockheart, let me know.
But if you agree to this venture, we’ll need to spend a lot of time together.
Being familiar with each other and on a first name basis, or at least a single name basis, would probably work better.
” I lift my hand to tuck my hair behind my ear, but when I realise it’s shaking, I drop it and quickly clasp my fingers together.
From the slight chuckle he utters behind me, I know he noticed.
Anger and embarrassment flood through me, causing a red tint to travel over my cheeks.
I pull my eyebrows tightly together at the emotions raging war within me and shoot a grateful look at Emilia when she walks around her desk and motions for me to sit in the vacant chair.
She looks at Owen through her frown and points at the other chair.
My jaw drops when he complies and sits next to me.
He’s so close I can smell him. Layer the scent of his aftershave—lavender, vanilla and sandalwood— with the heavenly scent that is all Owen, and a flood of arousal rushes to my core.
I force myself to ignore it. This isn’t why I’m here.
I remind myself of the horrible way he treated me and sit straighter in my chair with my eyes narrowed at him.
“You two need to work this out. This deal could be an amazing opportunity for you both. But you’ll get nowhere if you can’t put your past behind you.
” My eyes snap to Emilia and then to Owen accusingly.
“He told me just before you came in, and it wasn’t willingly, Nicole.
And I also told him he was a fucktwat too. ”
“You didn’t use those words.” Owen frowns up at her, but instead of flinching back like most people would, Emilia squares her shoulders and raises her brow to him in challenge.
“No, what I said was much more menacing. It involved my shoe and your bleeding skin if you remember rightly.”
I smirk when he squirms in his seat, and this time when he turns his frown on me I turn my smirk into a full blown smile.
“Stay in here and talk it out. I’ll lower the blinds so you have some privacy, but no funny business.”
I scoff as she presses a button on a little remote control, and as the blinds close around us, my eyes widen in wonder.
But then in horror as she walks out of the room and closes the door.
I cross and uncross my legs. I smooth my skirt down and tuck my hair behind my ear again.
That false confidence I had is starting to wane and my nerves are running back through my system.
“Stop fidgeting, Whiskey Girl.”
That combination of that name in that commanding tone sends shivers through my body, and without even realising it, I stop all movement.
I always did like his demanding tone of voice.
I bring my eyes up to look at him, and when I notice the smirk on his lips, I see red, Like I’ve broken free from an enchantment, I move frantically, pushing my hair behind my ear, uncrossing my legs and letting my foot tap on the floor, anything to prove I’m not under his spell anymore.
“So do you want to do this or am I wasting my time? I have other things to pitch and write.” My voice is haughty and I watch as he leans back in his chair and stretches his legs out in front of him.
He crosses his legs at the ankles and I tap my fingernails on the arm of my chair.
I always could get lost in him. Just watching his beautiful body move doing the most mundane of things.
He’s exquisite and that gnawing feeling in my belly starts to travel lower and all I want to do is feel his touch on my skin.
Irritated at feeling such things when I’m supposed to have put them aside for this meeting, I huff out a sigh.
“I don’t think you're telling me the truth again, Nico. If you had other options you wouldn’t be here. Let me guess, daddy been gambling again?”
I flinch back as if he slapped me and can’t hide the hurt from showing on my face.
And I’m done. Standing up, I collect my papers and walk out without a second glance.
I can’t believe he just said that to me.
I told him that in confidence, not to have it used against me.
Thrown in my face because he’s not happy with what his agent wants him to do.
I storm down the hall and only stop when Emilia flags me down.
“What happened?” Concern laces her tone and worry flashes through her eyes.
“I was wrong. I can’t work with him. Not when he hurls personal things in my face.
I’m sorry, Emilia. I know you’ve been vouching for me, but I can’t.
I’m not a bad person, but all he sees when he looks at me is the devil.
I won't be treated like that by anyone. I’ve had enough of men treating me like shit. I won’t tolerate it anymore.”
An image of my childhood fills my mind. A year after my mom died and the first time my dad borrowed money and the debt collectors came knocking. Him telling them to take me as payment. To spare him and do what they wanted with me. I was fifteen.
Luckily the loan sharks had more morals than he did and refused his offering. It was the day he died as my father and became a burden I was forced to deal with instead. The next day we flew to London to avoid them, and I haven’t been back to the states since.
“Nicole, I’ll talk to him.”
“Don’t bother. See you around, Emilia,” I shoot back as the elevator doors open and I enter, not knowing what I’m going to do next.
Because my dignity won’t stop the loan sharks from knocking on my door.