Chapter 77 Nikki

What the hell did I just witness?

My hand covers my mouth as I watch Cassandra storm out of the penthouse, Rand trailing close behind her, my guess is to make sure she doesn’t cause a scene in her dramatic exit.

I knew Cassandra was being unfaithful and I hated that Bronson found out this way, not that it seems like he wasn’t aware. I can remember the conversation we had about her being good for his image and I would often wonder if he sees himself the way she does.

Expendable.

“Wow.” I say in a released breath. Bronson turns towards me and give me a small smile before walking straight into the kitchen and pouring himself a drink. I follow behind him and stay silent as he hands me one as well.

To say today has been a long and interesting day doesn’t give it quite enough justice, and as dramatic and insane as the last five minutes have been, they have nothing on my whole day.

Today was my first day working in corporate America, and as much as I was doubting my skill and hesitant about being there, I found that the closer I got to the McCall building, the more excited I became. I was going to have a real job, where I would have dental, medical, and a steady paycheck. This could be the start of something that I could talk Brody into one day doing.

Only when I took the elevator up to the fifteen floor, and stopped just outside of my boss’s doors, did everything come crashing back to the horrible reality I call home.

George McCall wasn’t just another rich businessman that had known Bronson. George McCall was the very man I had took advantage of when I found his granddaughter for him. That dreadful day in the park was clear in presence as I set down with my head lowered and his deep penetrating gaze tore me in half.

Irony has nothing on my life.

“So, I see you don’t do your homework when it comes to working for someone. I figured I was going to receive a call a few weeks ago, regarding your early resignation.” He spoke but my heart hammered too loudly to hear him.

He was right, I didn’t do my homework and find out anything about the man. A simple google search would have given me the embarrassing heads up that I was facing, but I ignored it, figured Bronson’s scheme delay from Mick kept me busy enough.

But I wasn’t going to take my accountability lying down. If this was the universe telling me to get myself on the straight and narrow and to right all my wrongs, I was going to listen. No matter how much it killed me.

So, I stuck to my guns, no matter how intimidating he made me feel, no matter how stupid he made me feel, and I did my work. George wasn’t happy that I didn’t coil to the ground shortly after he smiled and waved me into his office, giving me an earful of how I was going to work my tail off to even let him consider trusting me. I knew what kind of man he was, and if Bronson gave me to him, then that meant trust. Bronson wasn’t going to give me to a wolf, so I listened, learned, and clocked out at exactly eight hours.

It was the longest most satisfying day of my life. That is, until I got home to spot Cassandra riffling through my things. I don’t exactly know what she was looking for, but if it was a fight, she had certainly found it. I called her out, practically chased her down the stairs as she went on and on about how she though one of her pieces of jewelry had somehow gotten into my room.

That’s when Rand walked in and the moment, she tried to take a swing at me, that’s when Bronson walked in. I had no idea why he was home so early. I normally didn’t see him until well until the evening and ever since our kiss that I can’t stop thinking about, I didn’t see him at all.

Bronson was upset, that much I could tell, but I never expected it to lead to a fight between her and him, I certainly didn’t think it would lead to their separation.

What did this mean? Were they going to work things out? Did she really leave forever, or just to cool down? So many questions were in my head, but none surfaced to my mouth. Which is why when Bronson’s eyes met mine, shortly before he marched right upstairs and slammed his door, do I take my first real breath.

“Nikki?” I turn when Rand appears at the threshold of the penthouse, his suit is still intact and the vein on his neck has now moved its way back inside his body. “Where is Bronson?”

“He went upstairs.” I whisper but Rand nods his head and comes the rest of the way inside. The scene is still playing in my mind and I find myself looking back upstairs wondering if I should go to him.

“You should.” Rand speaks and I give him a strange look at which he chuckles. Wow, I’ve never seen Rand so much as give me a half a smile and now he’s laughing. Did the men suck on some weird gas outside before coming in here?

“What?”

“Go to him I mean.” He looks down at his hands pressed firmly on the kitchen counter. His wedding band clings against the marble as a smile grows on his lips. “I knew you were thinking it, and I think you should.”

“Why, so I can rub salt into his wounds? Don’t forget I’m no better than that she devil. Remember my true purpose for coming here?”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person Nikki.” Rolling my eyes and crossing my arms makes Rand’s smile grow more as he comes around the bar and straight to me. “You say you care about the man, then go and show him, go and tell him. He loves you Nikki, and you know you love him as well. The rest will play out on its own.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Because I’m married, and I love my wife now more than the day I first told her.” Rand leaves me with a wink, something that looks strange for him to do and walks out of the penthouse.

I take his advice and head upstairs, certain that this is a terrible idea.