Chapter 77 Chapter 77 - The Conversation

We started eating dinner after we changed clothes. Nikolai should have eaten with us. He would have formed the family that had long been divided. But where is he now? Almost alone in the room with Fritz. It seems like they have no intention of going out and it looks like they just want to have each other.
The pain here in my heart is becoming drastic! It was as if I am being choked over and over again.
"Paul, you did not say that your abs are promising for a model!" Ella hoaxes Paul.
"You are gagging me, Ella!" Paul laughed at the same time.
"Uncle Paul, I want the cheesecake you brought," said Nicka.
"Oh! Sure, Nicka. I will give it to you." Paul's quick reply.
"Hey! Nicka, you have not finished eating your food yet. You want to have dessert right away." we all looked at the orator.
Ella and I looked at each other. What is Nikolai doing here?
"Dad, I am done with dinner," Nicka answered quickly.
"Yeah! She finished her food already!" my confirmation.
"Too many sweets are bad for you, remember?" Nikolai spoke again.
"Nicka told me that her tonsils are okay. She only ate sweets once. Taste of Antonio's cheesecake is her favorite." I said not looking at Nikolai.
"Nikolai, have you had dinner yet? It is like you just left your room by this time. You might be hungry and want to eat." Ella halted the growing tension between Nikolai and me.
"That is good, Ella that you are being hospitable with our guest. But let his girlfriend choose where they should eat. We have a cafe and they can also order. You can recommend to them the Taste of Antonio. The food there are all good choices, aren't they Paul?" I however smiled at Paul.
"Of course, you might want to order. There is a menu in the reception area. So, Nicka, is he your dad?" Paul asked curiously.
"Yap! He is my dad! Mommy, can Dad just join us for dinner?" pleading Nicka.
"Yeah, Eve, why don't you invite him for dinner. We have a lot more foods." Paul also suggested.
"Sit down, Daddy!" Nicka stood up to pull Nikolai's hand away and Nikolai could do nothing but sit down.
I am a hypocrite, I am secretly glad that Nikolai is here now. I can take a closer look at him. I miss him. I wish I could talk to him and hug him. The case was, I can't do all that. I have to accept the fact that he is in love with somebody else and already made her pregnant.
Nicka is amusing. She inherited my caring for others. She took care of her Daddy. A clean plate was placed in front of him by Nicka. I also could not stop myself and gave him the food I knew he wanted.
"Thanks!" Nikolai mumbled softly.
"Will you not invite your girlfriend? She is pregnant so she and your baby might be hungry already." I told him.
"She is sleeping!" Nikolai announced without emotions.
"Can I give Nicka the cake?" Paul implored.
I saw Nikolai just nod. And he also started eating. He looks hungry. And I saw he liked the Garden of Leto foods.
"You Eve, do you want?" Paul asked.
"Let us just share!" I abruptly answered.
I know Paul could sense my weird answer to him. I was also surprised by what I told him. But why do I want to let Nikolai know that I am happy with my life here while he is partying with Fritz? And Paul got the point that I want to convey to him. Paul took a part of the cake and then put it in my mouth.
"Hhhmmm... Hhmmmm... It is delicious." I smiled at Paul.
"Mommy, you have..." Nicka pointed at my mouth.
"Let me wipe it!" let out Paul.
"Alright!" my consent.
And Paul wiped the crumb from my mouth. It is like we are a couple having sweet moments right now. It seems we are on the big screen and I am sure Nikolai is watching.
"Let's go, Nicka! Let us go to sleep!" Nikolai stood up.
"Dad, I will sleep with Mom!" Nicka answered quickly.
"No, you will sleep with me," announced Nikolai.
"She will sleep with me. So you and your girlfriend could have more time. As far as I could still remember, she only reserved for two. She did not include Nicka in her reservation. And she said, she wants to have time with you, alone time with you! " I also stood up.
I held Nicka's hand and Nikolai held hers at the same time. After a long duration, we are now holding hands again. That instant current streamed all over my body. I felt electrified as I quickly removed my hand from contact with Nikolai's hand.
"Dad, please, let me be with mommy while we are here. For sure, Aunt Fritz will not be delighted to see me." Nicka pleaded.
Nikolai was so annoyed with the situation that he left and returned to their room. I shook my head. So he prefers Fritz compared to Nicka. That is why Nicka does not want to go back to the mansion anymore because of the changes her daddy is showing her.
Nicka and Ella entered the Garden of Leto together. I was left with Paul. I want to apologize to him.
"Paul, let me apologize for the commotion earlier," I mumbled.
"It is fine, do not bother yourself. So, he is Nikolai. Your ex and Nicka's father." recognition of Paul.
"Yes, everything you said is right. And he is here with his girlfriend who wants to propose to him in surprise because they love each other so much and the girl is pregnant." I giggled bitterly.
"What? Wow! This Garden of Leto is the one they chose?" Paul begged.
"I do not know what that Fritz wishes to come about. She made a reservation here and she said her boyfriend is a fan of mine. She still wishes me to welcome them. She played innocent like that with Nicka. I am sure she knows I am Nicka's mom and Nikolai's ex-girlfriend." I rested deeply.
"I think she wants to hurt you with her actions. She wants to know if you still have feelings for Nikolai. Because she is the present and she can not diminish the fact that you are part of Nikolai's life no matter what she does. She is jealous of you! " Paul deciphered.
"She is the one being jealous of me while she told me they are head over heels in love with one another. Paul, can I ask you another favor?" I begged him.
"What is it?" he implored.
"Can you pretend to be my boyfriend while Nikolai and Fritz are here? I expect to know what Fritz's real motive is. I know it is not just about Nikolai. She is doing something to Nicka that Nikolai can not believe because he loves the woman. I also want to show Nikolai that I am also glad about my life now. After what he did to me." My litany.
"Sure, sure! You can always count on me." Paul's prompt approval.
"And so that I can get back at you for always doing me vogues, I will join you at your reunion," I announced smiling.
"Really? Is that true?" he pleaded.
"Yeah! You have done so much for me. And that are all good things." I confirmed.
I was surprised when Paul suddenly cuddled me. Why didn't I feel any different when Paul hugged me? Unlike the current when Nikolai and I held hands earlier. I looked ahead because my peripheral vision saw something moving. It is Nikolai. He is glaring at us. I stared at him. All right, he would better think I have a relationship with Paul. Paul bid goodbye and went home. I went around the Garden of Leto to check if the other guests were fine.
"So, the news is true!" I was surprised when someone spoke from behind me.
"Did you know you surprised me?" and I was nasty with him.
"What news are you talking about? I am no longer in showbiz but I am still in the news?" I asked a series of questions.
"You were photographed with a man at Taste of Antonio. Paul owns it, right?" he crossed his hands over his chest.
"Oh! So did I become the headline? All I know is that the vlog about Garden of Leto became popular." I shrugged.
"I told them not to spill that photo anymore for the silence of you and your boyfriend," Nikolai retorted.
"Do I have to thank you for doing that to me? Well, thanks then!" I said again.
"Probably it can also be leaked out since he is your boyfriend for real." Nikolai proceeded.
"Do not mess with my life just to make your TV station famous. Why don't you announce that you got another pregnant again so that you can be even more popular?" I felt aggravated.
I feel my chest heaving as I reminisce about what is transpiring now. I expected Nikolai to be here at Garden of Leto for our reunion but the contrary is occuring now.