After they talked about her work, Nico did not pursue the subject anymore, and they continued with their breakfast. For Kara, it was awkward without the presence of the maid and his three assistants. A moment later, they heard a scraping sound on the floor as Kara pushed her chair back to stand. She was in a hurry to leave. The prospect of going out without Nico’s lackey breathing down her neck makes her excited. Her heart thudded at the possibility of fleeing. She threw Nico a glance. “Are you done?” He asked, looking up from his phone. She noticed he finished his breakfast as well, and was just sipping his coffee. She nodded.Nico put his phone away, dabbed his mouth with the tablecloth, and stood. He walked out of the dining table with Kara walking behind him. Kara admired the view of his back. Nico has wide shoulders and a firm back. She bit her lip when she remembered how her hands roamed that muscular back while being thoroughly kissed last night. She sighed.
Kara was in a daze while she threw copious glances at the gleaming gold bracelet that Nico forced her to wear. It was an open bangle in solid gold with the initials NB in a rich flowy style. The bracelet screamed elegance and luxury. Kara could not help but notice how it shone when touched by light. She stopped and looked closely at the bracelet, admiring its beauty. Back in Nico’s car, she did not notice that small diamonds followed the path of the letters N and B. Kara gasped.“It’s beautiful!” Her friend Marmie, another barmaid at the hotel, exclaimed, grabbing Kara’s wrist for a closer look. Kara did not notice her approach. Her eyes alternated between where she was going and the bracelet on her wrist. Marmie came from the back. Kara swallowed the expletive that nearly crossed her mouth in surprise. “NB,” Marmie murmured, holding the bracelet for inspection. The wheels of her head rolled, and realization set in. Kara, feeling uncomfortable, quickly snatched her ha
After confirming that she did not receive the flowers he sent her, their conversation died down. Kara excused herself so she could start working, but at the back of her mind, she made a mental note to talk to Nico Bernardi. This is their chance. What is Nico Bernardi making it hard for the man to get close to her when it was what they wanted?Marco Bonacci is making his moves to get close to her. If they are smart, they should snap this chance up.But why is Nico Bernardi hesitating? Kara’s expectation meter shoots up at the possibilities that run around her head, especially when the image from her bedroom teases her mind. She shook her head to chase them away, but her body would not follow. The anticipation makes her excited. Marco watched her for a little while longer. He saw her mood lighten, and he assumed it was because she liked him, too. This makes his work much faster. Then, his phone rang. He excused himself before hurriedly going out to answer the call. When t
“Where are we going?” Kara nervously asked a pis*ed-looking Nico Bernardi.They are not going back to the Castiliogne Villa. They did not turn on the first stoplight like they used to.She clutched the lapels of her jacket tighter when she saw his dark look.“Mr. Bernardi, please slow down.” She said, beginning to panic.But Nico Bernardi did not slow down. He jumped up on the gas, and the car almost flew along with Kara’s heart.Then, they stopped in a lurch.Kara looked outside. They were in an aband
“Y-you can’t.” She stammered and backed away.Kara hugged herself. She did not know what came over her.Then, the events that happened that afternoon came to her mind. Kara squeezed her eyes shut, willing to blot it out of her mind. But every time she closed her eyes, she would see David’s bloodied face, causing her to shudder involuntarily.“What is going to happen to David? Are you going to..” Kara swallowed hard.The words could not come right out of her mouth.She took a deep breath and faced Nico Bernardi bravely.“Are you going to kill him?” The question came out hoarse. She was breathless.So many gruesome thoughts ran through her head.Nico Bernardi’s expression grew chiller. “I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone else, Ms. Baxter.”Kara bit her
She was not his sister but his first love.Bruno flicked his thumb and index finger in front of her face, and that was when she recovered. “Are you alright, Ms. Baxter?” The two of them looked worried, Evan and Bruno when she reluctantly pulled out of her daze. “Oh shoot! I feel so stupid. And here I thought he was his sister.” She covered the awkwardness with a dry laugh. It sounded forced and hollow. Bruno eyed her. Kara felt stupid for misinterpreting. All along, she thought Nico Bernardi had been avenging his sister. It all made sense now. Nico’s revenge was for his lover. Kara felt a constriction on her chest. Bruno and Evan still eyed her worriedly. For their benefit, she smiled wanly to assure them she was okay before standing up. “Sorry, but I am tired. I’ll go ahead and rest.” She told them. They nodded and let her pass. Once she reached the safety of her room, Kara locked the door. She wanted to be alone. Kara went straight to bed, diving face down. H
Kara was stunned. Her mind went blank. “Kara, please tell me the truth. Are you in some kind of trouble right now? Do you need my help?” This time, there was urgency in Marco Bonacci’s voice. Kara closed her eyes. She blamed her mouth for being careless. She should have checked her caller before she let her mouth run loose. It would be too late to retract now. “Kara, are you still there?""Please, you had to tell me what is wrong so I can help you.” Marco Bonacci tried again. Kara did not know what to do.Should she tell him? What if Nico Bernardi gets wind of it? What other punishment would he mete for her?Kara shivered at the thought. In her mind, she remembered how Nico warned her off Marco Bonacci. How she was told that he was a dangerous man. His family owns Club Roman, which preyed on innocent young girls like him. But all these were just Nico’s words. Kara’s forehead creased into a frown. What if they are not even true?Nico Bernardi blamed Club Roman for th
Bernardi Hotel. A few hours earlier. “Evelyn, what is my next schedule?” Nico Bernrdi asked his secretary after emerging from the conference room. He had a busy morning, and Nico wanted to check on Ms. Baxter before his next appointment. He knew he had been harsh to her, locking her in her room, but what could he do? Kara Baxter is becoming a pain in the a*ss and his g*oin. She keeps on doing and saying things that test his patience. He walked briskly as usual, and Evelyn, his diminutive elderly secretary, walked faster to keep up. Her little legs worked double time. The clack of their shoes echoed in the hallway. While Evelyn recited his scheduled appointments, Nico Bernardi checked the time.Out of the blue, someone blocked his path and grabbed him by the shoulders before landing a blow on his right cheek. He reeled at the impact. “Oh!” He heard his secretary scream in fright. Nico shot her a quelling look that made her clamp her mouth shut. Nico Bernardi massaged h