Chapter 36: Confession pt. ii

Seven had left the building, leaving Nicolas alone - not wanting to be at the meeting any longer. He didn't want to face Sandra, knowing well that he wouldn't even be standing under the same building as her without Seven. His heart ached, wanting to punch a hole in the wall. His hands turned into fists, leaning forward and placing his hand on the wall to carry his weight.

His mind was racing with thoughts and realizations, repeating the words that Seven had said:

*I like you.*

He closed his eyes, breathing in slightly. His legs trembled as he pushed himself away from the wall, turning around and walking back to the meeting room.

The chatter went on as if Nicolas hadn't just been confessed to - left alone.

"Oh, you're back. Where's your assistant?" Sandra asked, standing at the spot Nicolas left her in. Nick's throat stiffened at the mention, frowning, "He had a family emergency," he lied, looking down at the floor.

"Ah- that's unfortunate. He seemed eager to meet me when we were emailing each other the other day."

Nick's chest tightened, biting his inner lip. His breathing shortened, feeling guilt rise through his body, "Yeah? Well, that was before his cousin passed away... Can we get along with the meeting?" he spat out, not making eye contact with the boss of WebBaze.

Sandra raised her eyebrow, "Anderson, I do not appreciate the sudden attitude. Did something happen?"

Nicolas swallowed, biting his lower lip as his eyes gazed at the ceiling, "No," his voice cracked, "Nothing happened. I apologize for the attitude."

Sandra frowned, staring at the CEO, "Mr. Anderson, if you're worried about your assistant-"

"I'm not!" he shouted, "Why would I be worried about him?"

Sandra lowered her chin, staring at Nick, "Because... his cousin passed away..." she reminded. She cleared her throat, "I highly suggest you reschedule this meeting when both you and your assistant are mentally present."

Nicolas didn't respond. He crossed his arms behind him, gazing down at the floor. Sandra sighed, crossing her arms, "Mr. Anderson, I was told by your father that the reason you weren't present at the party was that your assistant didn't feel good."

Nicolas eyed her slowly, hearing her comment.

"I've known your father for a few years now, and to be honest, he's a strict businessman. Running his business based on logistics and his benefit. It is quite a good strategy for running a company, but it's also important to note that a businessman should not ignore moral and integrity." she finished.

"I- I don't understand what you're meaning, Mrs. Venn," Nicolas responded, narrowing his eyes.

"Your father's company might look stable, but how many allies does he really have?" she explained, "A company can do well on its own, but it can be better with connections. Not just from a national point of view, but international." She gave Nick a small smile, leaning into him, "I'm sure you understand where I'm getting at, right? It seems to me that your father is the one controlling you and demanding you what companies to recruit because he can't initiate a good connection on his own."

Nicolas chuckled awkwardly, "We have connections-"

"Yes, but internationally?"

Nicolas stepped closer to her, almost as a warning, "Are you insulting the way my father runs his business, Mrs. Venn?"

"Would your father had neglected a donation party to aid an assistant, Mr. Anderson?" Sandra whispered, smiling brightly, "The only reason you're in this meeting is that your father demanded it, am I right?"

Nicolas frowned, stepping back from the woman, "Is that a problem?"

Sandra sighed, dropping her crossed arms, "You and your assistant have caught my eye, so I am offering you a job in a company that is more... socially acceptable," she added, "I would hate to see you and your assistant be treated wrongly."

Nicolas scoffed, shaking his head, "You're making wild assumptions right now, Mrs. Venn."

"Well, apologies if I'm wrong, but your father lacks an understanding of social cues and when cooperating crosses the line of abuse of power."

Sandra smirked, tilting her head, "I'm advising you, Nicolas. You're a good CEO and your assistant is far more educated than your father alone. You have an emotional understanding with your assistant, and I'm afraid your father might take that empathy away."

Nicolas shook his head, looking away from Sandra, seeing the crowd chattering in the room, "You don't know my father."

"I know him enough to advise you that a CEO should be able to make his own choices," she responded. Nicolas's eyes softened, hearing the comment that she gave.

"In any case, I'm canceling this meeting and rescheduling it for when you and your assistant are both emotionally well to communicate with me."

Nicolas's phone vibrated once Sandra had stepped away from him, seeing the message on his screen.

Marcel had messaged him that he had picked up Seven.

...

"Are you going to ask how the meeting went?" Nicolas broke the silence in the office. It was now a day after the meeting, and most of the day, Seven was out running errands for Nicolas. The two didn't spend any time together and hardly spoke to each other.

Seven shrugged, staring at his laptop, typing away, "I figured it went well without me to ruin it."

Nicolas frowned at the assistant that sat across the room, "Self-degrading again?"

"Well," Seven stopped typing, now making eye contact with his CEO, numbness in his eyes, "Did I ruin it?" he asked calmly.

The two stared at each other for a while, sitting in silence as the honks of traffic sounded outside the window. Nicolas's heart tightened, seeing the frown on the assistant's face. His lips parted, about to say something before the door of the office slammed open, causing the CEO to break the eye contact.

"Nicolas!" Joseph roared, barging into the room. Nick sat up immediately, along with Seven.

"Yes, sir?" Nicolas calmly returned.

Joseph stopped in the middle of the office, glaring at his son, "I'm cutting your assistant's pay for the whole month."

"What?" Serene murmured.

Nicolas lifted an eyebrow, stepping away from his desk, "What for?"

"What do you mean 'what for'? I should be firing him!"

Nicolas shook his head, "Dad, what is this about?"

"Sandra Venn contacted me and notified me that your assistant had WALKED OUT. Nicolas Anderson, it is a violation of my company that an important meeting like that gets overlooked!"

"It was a family emergency, father-" Nicolas lied, only to be interrupted.

"So MY company has to be at risk?"

"Your company, Dad?"

"You have lost the responsibility of setting up the meetings. From now on, if a company wants to meet up, assign them to MY schedule, understood?"

Nicolas glared at his father, shaking his head, "Father, take a moment to think about this-"

"Are you doubting my choices, Nicolas?" the chairman shouted, stepping towards his son. Nicolas's eyes widened at the question, separating his lips, being left mute.

"That's what I thought," Joseph shook his head and turned around to face Seven, "You're lucky I ain't fired you, son." The chairman started marching towards the door, his hands behind his back, "You have a date with Ms. Henderson tonight and I expect you to show."

He didn't wait for a response and left the room with the door shutting behind him.

"What the hell?" The assistant eyed Nick who stared down at the floor. He walked out of his area, and towards the CEO slowly, "You just accepted the fact that he stole part of your job?"

Nicolas let out a soft sigh, shaking his head, "It's not your problem-"

"Not my problem?" he repeated, scoffing, "When does it start being my problem, Mr. Anderson? When I'm no longer allowed to advise you? When I get yelled at? When my paycheck for the month gets cut?"

"Ochoa!" Nicolas yelled at him, his eyes widened, "Enough."

Seven froze, his hands forming fists while Nick turned his back to him.

Nicolas shut his eyes, leaning onto his desk, calming himself down with the sudden silence.

"Seven," Nicolas softly spoke. He turned around, making eye contact again with the attendant. His chest hardened, and his face blushed as he thought about his next words. His parched lips separated, "Ever since that night of the party..."

"Don't say it, Nicolas." Seven interrupted. He looked down at the floor, gulping at the unexpected atmosphere. Whatever it was that Nick was about to say, Seven didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear the answer to his confession.

"Why not?" Nicolas asked, stepping forward.

Serene caught the CEO stepping towards him, causing him to move back, "Because... I'm going to get hurt either way, aren't I?"

Nicolas stopped walking, hearing the issue.

Seven's voice cracked, feeling his throat stiffen, "If you... tell me that you don't have romantic feelings for me, then I'll be hurt."

Nicolas titled his head to the side, taking a glimpse at Seven's sad expression, "And if I do have romantic feelings for you?"

Seven pressed his lips together, his stomach turning at the comment - at the idea that the feelings were mutual. Though, at the same time, he felt ill.

"You're still going to go through with the wedding, so I'll be hurt either way."

Nicolas's eyes widened at the answer. He didn't want to say it anymore. Hearing the reality of the situation on Seven's side, he could understand why the assistant was on the downside of both ends.

He frowned, nodding to himself, "I have feelings for you," he said, eyeing at the floor, "I just... wanted you to know."

Seven's eyes watered, turning around, gulping down the declaration, "I told you not to tell me..." the assistant softly mumbled, walking back to his desk.