Chapter 44: The CEO.

The two didn't contact each other for the rest of the day. Seven stayed in his apartment, thinking about whether he should've mentioned how he got fired or not. Part of him wanted to tell Nicolas, but he'd feel Nick would cause more trouble with his father.

The assistant felt ill to his stomach thinking about how Nicolas viewed him now. Breaking the promise that he'd stay by his side created this motion of sickness in his body. He hated thinking about it...

It was finally Tuesday.

The day of the wedding.

Nicolas and his father were sitting in the living room of the Henderson's house. Nicolas's head pounded the second he woke up, so being put in the same room as his father didn't ease his headache. The two were waiting for Victoria and her father to come downstairs to talk about the preparations for the wedding and though the two fathers were happily eager to create this union, Nicolas and Victoria had a painful feeling in their chest.

Nicolas felt a nudge on his shoulder, hearing his father whisper to him, "Smile, Nicolas. This is a special occasion," his father commented. Nicolas ignored him, keeping his eyes on his phone that his hands clenched, hoping to get a message from Seven. His heart ached, keeping his eyes on the screen.

"I'm sure you're very excited to be married to a beautiful woman, aren't you, Nicolas?" His father chuckled and cleared his throat after another second of quietness crawled in between them, "By the way, that former assistant of yours was quite rude... coming into my office... telling me how to run MY company," he clicked his tongue several times, shaking his head, "Ridiculous."

Nicolas blinked, hearing the comment from his father. The weight on his shoulders lifted, his eyes moving away from his phone and turning to eye his father, "What?" he choked up.

"He didn't tell you? Ha! You should keep a leash on your PA's before I fire them."

Nicolas blinked a few more times as if he fought back the tears that wanted to escape his eyes. The tension in his body blew away once the AC of the house started, the cold breeze in the living room allowing Nicolas to realize the situation and piece the puzzle together.

"You fired my assistant?" He asked calmly, turning his attention back to his phone, the corner of his lips curving into a smile.

"Little shit had huge confidence walking into my office demanding to cancel the wedding. Tsked... and then continuing to accuse of having bad parental skills!"

Nick cleared his throat, hearing Victoria and his father step downstairs. Nicolas tilted his head to the side, popping his cramped neck as he stood up, getting the attention of the people in the room.

Victoria stared at him, seeing his relieved expression. The two made eye contact, and the CEO's smile grew, mirroring Victoria's reassuring smile.

"Nick?" Joseph called. Nicolas turned to his father, and letting out a small chuckle, "I quit," he softly announced.

The chairman narrowed his eyes at his son, shaking his head, "You what?"

"I quit, dad... I'm not going through with the wedding." Nicolas turned to Victoria again, nodding at her, "Sorry."

Victoria grinned at him, "Go to him." she softly mouthed. Nicolas kept his gaze for a little longer on her, hurrying out the front door.

"Nicolas! Nick!" his father shouted. It was the last thing the CEO heard from his father before closing the door behind him, inhaling the fresh wind, his shoulders relaxing as he stood outside the porch. A rush of satisfaction grew inside of him, taking out his phone and dialing Marcel's number.

"Hello?"

"I'm at Victoria's house. I need you to come to pick me up." Nicolas demanded, walking down the sidewalk, passing the rich houses.

"Aren't you supposed to be talking about the preparations?"

"Marriage is canceled," Nicolas softly stated on the phone, heading to the corner of the street, "I'll explain later. Come quick."

It didn't take long for his friend to come. Nicolas waited by the stop sign, seeing a black Mustang drive up to him. The CEO opened the front door, sliding into the vehicle, "What the hell happened?" the lawyer asked, stepping on the gas.

"My dad was the one that fired him," Nicolas chuckled, running his hands through his hair, rubbing any exhaustion from his face, "Seven didn't quit, he got fired."

Marcel scoffed, "The hell did he do to get fired?" Marcel turned to the right of the road, hearing the relief in Nicolas's voice.

"He really... he really developed the confidence to confront my father about the stupid marriage - ha!" Nicolas grabbed Marcel's arm that was kept on the wheel, "He didn't quit, Marcel! He got fired... that idiot..."

Marcel scoffed, "We going to the office then? He should still be there packing his things."

....

The car ride wasn't long. Nicolas opened the car door, stepping out of the vehicle, looking at the huge building that he has worked in for years. He swallowed, building up the courage to confront his assistant again. Nick strolled up the stairs at the entrance of the company, opening the door. His heart raced, knowing that he had lost his job, but he wasn't sad about it. He wasn't sorry about embarrassing his father or denying his proposal. A lump grew in his throat walking inside the building.

His hands were sweating, seeing the woman at the front desk, "Aren't you getting married today, Mr. Anderson?" Her light brown hair was let down, going over her shoulders.

Nicolas shook his head, "Not today, Ms. Allan. Do you happen to know if my assistant is in today?"

She nodded, "Yes, sir. He's in your office."

The CEO rushed to the elevator, waiting for the doors to open. His legs trembled beneath him, eager to see Seven's face again. Watching the doors slide apart, his hands clapped together.

The brunette male walked into the elevator, glad that no one was going to be with him in the small little scene that he approached. Nicolas pressed the button that was positioned on his right, making the doors close.

The machine he was in started moving upward to the chosen floor. Calming instrumental music played in the elevator as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. A grin smeared across his face as the realization of what he was doing ran around in his head.

Before this day, he wouldn't have thought of denying his father or rebelling against him.

His heart pounded as he heard the little bell of the elevator, signaling Nick that was getting closer to Seven.

The elevator doors opened, revealing the employees rushing by him, some on the phone and others holding papers.

He looked at the left corner of the wall where a sign was placed.

He walked down the middle hallway, passing a series of rooms until he got to his office.

Nicolas's hands shivered, raising them to the doorknob to open the door to the waiting room. As he walked in, the door to his office was opened. Seven's back was turned, facing Nicolas whose heart hammered against his ribs.

He strolled toward his assistant slowly, hearing the papers that were being pushed around on his desk.

Seven stopped moving, hearing the footsteps that echoed in the room. He turned around, seeing the CEO walking towards him.

Seven's heart raced, chills crawling on his body as Nicolas stopped in front of him. His eyes widened, feeling the small breaths that hit his freckled cheeks.

Nicolas gazed into the emerald-colored eyes, smiling.

For a moment, Seven wanted to say something. He wanted to say why Nicolas had suddenly appeared. Why Nicolas had just thought to creep up on him was a good idea. However, it didn't matter anymore once Nicolas' lips connected with Sevens.

The CEO's hand rushed through the assistant's brown hair, giving Seven goosebumps. Nicolas's free hand cupped the male's cheek, shutting his eyes as he felt his stomach burn. Serene stepped back, the desk stopping him from going any further. His left hand stroked the desk while his other hand crawled on Nick's chest.

The grin spread on the CEO's face, stopping the kiss, pushing away from Serene a bit. The assistant's eyes opened, blinking a bit before saying anything, "What are you doing?" he muttered.

Nicolas's thumb caressed the pink cheeks that Serene showed, "Choosing you."

"You quit?" Seven asked, feeling Nick's hand caress his cold cheek.

Nicolas nodded happily, keeping his eyes on Seven.

Seven huffed, grinning at the taller male, "Well, now we're both jobless, Mr. Anderson."

Nicolas tilted his head as if he were thinking about something, "Hmm... not necessairly~"

Seven lifted an eyebrow, waiting for Nicolas to finish his sentence. The former CEO set his hand on Ochoa's soft hair, and brushing his hair lightly, "WebBaze actually offered both of us a job at their company the same night you ditched."

Seven laughed lightly, the touch of Nicolas's hand sending shivers down his spine, "Oh? That's nice of them." He smiled gently, raising his hand and setting it on Nick's cheek, "Thank you..."

Nicolas leaned into his touch, "You're the one that set everything up for me," he grabbed Seven's hand from his cheek, holding it, "The hell were you thinking confronting my dad like that?" He snickered, "Where did your anxiety go?"

"I was setting up the scene for you," Seven stroked Nick's cheekbones, "Would you have done it if I didn't attempt to get your dad to listen?"

"I told you he'd fire you. Why didn't you tell me?" Nicolas frowned, dropping his hand from Seven's hair and flicking at his forehead.

Seven flinched at the snap on his head, "And start an argument with you and your father? You kept me in the dark for too long, I wanted to add my two cents."

Nicolas huffed, smiling. His arms wrapped around Seven's waist, pulling him into a warm hug, "I love you."