Chapter 30 Chapter 30 - He Is My Refuge

"Eve, there is a delivery for you," King said when I arrived.
"I did not order for anything." I marveled.
"It is at your table." Sittie pointed at the same time.
A bouquet. Nikolai was immediately whom I thought the sender of the flowers.
I smiled.
I approached the magnificent flowers. I smelled them.
Looking up I saw Nikolai standing not far away from me.
His face is serious.
"You like it?" Suddenly someone asked and my gaze turned to him.
"Jarvis?" I frowned.
Did the flower come from him? And why did I even think that the CEO would give me a flower?
Kisses is his special someone or perhaps he has a lot more girls out there.
When I glanced at him again, he was already gone.
The circumstance of having a child had no negative impact on the Love Hotline.
People became even more interested. Particularly, the single mothers.
They ask for advice on how I can overcome trials as I face them alone.
"Did you like the flowers?" Abruptly somebody uttered while I was writing a script.
I looked up.
"Nikolai, I am not fond of flowers." I glanced at the flower that was still settled on my desk.
"I know Jarvis. Nathan and I have been with him before. I cannot stop him from flirting with you.
I cannot stop him from liking you either. But..." I halted what he was going to say.
"He is a Casanova! You meant it before. Do not worry, he has to prove to me that he is not a womanizer before I finally trust him." I smiled.
"So, will you still let him pursue you?" Nikolai's weak concern.
"Why not? I am single. I have no boyfriend. If he would accept Nicks, I will give him a chance." And I turned my attention back to what I was doing.
"What kind of courtship do you expect?" He unexpectedly begged.
"I have no standard when it comes to courtship. If the man is sincere with me that is one point. I do not need any expensive gifts. All I want is a man who would accept that I am a single mother without him questioning it." I retorted.
Why is he asking about courtship? For sure, he has no intention of flirting with me.
Finally, Ella is back. I missed her!
"You have a delivery," announced Ella.
"What is that?" I pleaded.
A delivery again? I checked right away. Ella put down the box. Then I gently removed the lid.
"Wow! Street foods!
It has been a long time since I last ate street foods.
Did you order it, Ella? You know my favorite." My face lit up with joy.
"Why don't you check the card attached in the box." she pointed at the same time.
A card! I took it.
"Princess, Snack time! Enjoy the food!
from, Prince." as I read the note.
"Oh! It seems to be from your prince." Ella said smiling.
"Prince?" I guessed.
No one knows about being my princess but Nikolai. I looked up. The smiling Nikolai was what I saw.
He waved and then thumbed up to me! I smiled!
I said thank you to him. Then Nikolai left.
It is simple to make me happy. Extremely if Nikolai would do the moves in making me happy.
One day, Ella bid goodbye. She needs to talk to a client.
I stayed at TvN8 Station.
l have to go to Nikolai's office.
"Nicks craved for this so I cooked for her and she told me to bring something for you." My introduction.
Nikolai seemed to be much occupied today.
"Really? You just came in time, I have not had lunch yet." He announced.
"Why? What time is it?
It is already one o'clock in the afternoon. Are you not feeling hungry?" And I put down the food I was carrying.
"I live alone so no one prepares my food.
I forgot to order because I have urgent work to finish." He replied.
"The CEO of TvN8, living alone? I get it, it is easy to order but you have to eat home-prepared foods too.
Here, you better start eating. I know you are hungry." I opened the lunch box.
"Wow! I could already smell it!" And Nikolai closed his eyes and scented the food.
Why does he look like a real-time prince?
"Come on, eat up! Next time, I will bring food for you again. For you not to miss your lunch.
Refrain from eating processed foods. It could harm your health." I brought the food to him.
"Then here it is. These are a new spoon and fork! After you finish eating, I will wash the utensils.
And you will leave it here in your office. For any time you want to eat, you have something available and you are sure of its cleanliness!" As I wiped the cutlery with a tissue paper.
"I also brought you a new mug! Look at this, it is a customized mug with your name. 'Nicks'!" And I even pretended to be a model of the cup.
"Even if you are the CEO and everyone treats you special, you should have your own utensils and cups.
Not everyone would think of your safety, especially with regards to food." I reminded him.
Then I handed him the cutlery.
Nikolai's Point-of-Views
"Just now again a woman has served me like this. That is cute. It is only now that I feel like I belong here again." Nikolai talked to himself as he watched Eve's every move as if she was slowing down.
"Oh!" While I was still holding the spoon and fork.
He suddenly stopped my hand. He clasped it.
"Thank you! You do not know how much this means to me." He stared at me.
I relaxed deeply.
This is what I wish to do! To take care of you, to serve you. Make sure you eat well after your hard work and busy day.
I answered him without uttering the words.
When he finished eating, I arranged his stuff. There is a mini pantry here in his office.
"I put your things in the pantry. For when you need it, they are just there!" I remind him.
Unexpectedly my cellphone rang.
I answered the call.
I had a weak emotion after talking over the phone.
"What happened?" He implored.
"Aunt Ellie called. Something happened to Nicks. I have to go home." I said anxiously.
"I will go with you," Nikolai suggested.
We quickly left his office and went to the parking lot.
"Keep calm! She will be fine!" And abruptly Nikolai grabbed my hand resting on my lap.
I just bobbed.
We got quickly to the house.
"Nicks! Aunt Ellie!" I called.
"Mommy!" Nicks sobbed.
I immediately caressed her.
"I am sorry, Eve! I forgot to close the gate. The ball went outside. Nicks chased after the ball.
Someone passed riding on a bicycle and could not stop immediately. He hit Nicks." Aunt Ellie's statement.
"Auntie, it was an accident. It is not your fault.
I just have to take Nicks to her pediatrician and have her checked." And I took her hand because I saw that she was very stressed.
Nikolai carried Nicks going to his car.
Nicks and I both sat at the back of Nikolai's car.
"Why did you go out? Didn't I instruct you not to go out?" I asked her calmly.
"I just want to get my ball, Mommy. Sorry! Do not get mad." she looked up at me.
"I am not mad at you. Mommy is worried. Were you hurt?" I begged.
"Just like an ant bite." At the same time, she pointed at the wound in her knee.
"That is big! It is bleeding. So for sure, it hurts!" As I looked at her knee.
"Be brave like a real princess, Nicks!" Nikolai told suddenly.
"I am brave, Uncle! It does not hurt." Nicks answered promptly.
"That is my girl!" Nikolai was amused by the situation.
Nikolai's Point-of-View
"This woman is so admirable in so many ways. She is very courageous to face everything even when she is alone.
I can never find a woman like her." Nikolai talked to himself.
He watched Eve as the doctor talked to her. He had to protect Eve and Nicks.
So he let Eve wear a hoddie jacket so that people would not notice her and get into trouble.
"It is good that Nicks just got a simple wound," I said when we were in the car again.
"She looks fine. She is already asleep." Nikolai retorted.
When we got home, I sat on the bed next to Nicks. I sobbed!
She is the only one I have. If she is gone, how will my life be?
Nikolai handed over a handkerchief to me.
"I am sorry, I am always bothering you. To think that you have so much to accomplish on TvN8 Station." I bucked up at him.
"You are always sorry and grateful. I am doing this wholeheartedly. Even if you do not ask me, I will do it for you and Nicks." He said very sincerely.
"She is all I have. I did not know my father. My mother, on the other hand, is gone, she has died.
So when Nicks came into my life, I was regenerated. I want to have a whole family. But it is unlikely to come about!
I have never experienced having a father. Honestly, I do not want Nicks to experience that either!
The pain and suffering, we will have the same fate in the end." A sense of relief after I said those things.
"Who is Nicks' father?" Nikolai pleaded.
"I do not know him. And honestly, I do not wish to know him.
I do not want him to learn that his child is with me.
Mama was also able to be a mother and father to me. I will do the same for Nicks." I held the hand of my child.
"You were raped?" And Nikolai took my right hand.
I shook.
"I do not want to go back to what transpired. All I want to do is protect Nicks from them.
I do not want them to get my child." I clarified.
I was surprised when Nikolai abruptly caressed me.
A hug that seemed to dispel my worries.
A hug that seemed to take away the grief I was feeling.
I wish I could always feel a hug whenever I am scared.
A hug that will constantly eliminate my loneliness.
And I no longer restrained myself. I also clasped my hands to Nikolai.
That is what my heart keeps saying. I fondled him like there was nothing next.
I cuddled him as if he were part of my body.
I am feeling delighted now!