Chapter Twenty-nine

Preston had to be present at Nikolai’s company to negotiate a new acquisition agreement with the executives. He did well in the meeting. As always, Nikolai was impressed. He had proven himself in the corporate world. He earned even the top-level executive’s trust with just a month of working with Laurent AeroGlobal Enterprises. Having that on Preston’s work profile was enough boost for him to be known in their career circle. Nikolai and Preston’s partnership is certainly a win-win.

Preston is a beast that fears nothing at work. When he’s no longer worried about financial records and contractual obligations, he’s left with his worries.

What is he supposed to do now? This isn’t even a question anymore. Belle or as she prefers to be called, Hyacinth, came to him and trusted him with the truth. As a lawyer, he is obligated to represent her. As her brother, Preston wants to do more. He’s already studying her case and thinking of passing it to Lace. Family law is not something he’s great at and she wants Hyacinth to be represented by the best lawyer there is.

At the same time, Nikolai is his friend.

“As far as I know, the meeting went well. Whatever that worry that is on your face right now must be because of other things.”

“Why are you here?” He asked Nikolai. Everyone left earlier in the room, including him.

“I work here, Preston. Last time I checked, I’m still the one inheriting this place.”

Preston threw the crumpled paper on the company’s COO. “I thought you were humbled working with me in a small law firm. Look at you being smug.”

He grinned. Nikolai seemed to be in a good mood lately. Preston wanted to ask initially, but that curiosity was gone when Hyacinth disclosed all he had to know about her case. It’s best that he doesn’t get too involved with Nikolai’s side. Especially when Hyacinth is thinking of sharing custody with him.

“Is this about Claudia?”

“Oh, c’mon.” That was an unnecessary mention of someone’s name. She’s not involved with him and vice versa. “This is not about her.”

“You answered so fast and didn’t even take a minute to think that I think it’s really about her.”

Preston couldn’t even open his social media now, scared to see another news about Claudia. He couldn’t trust how his own body would react to this kind of news. His mouth might say okay, but his body reacts otherwise.

She hasn’t reached out to him since their last talk. He did the same. They aren’t obligated to keep each other up to date and still, it felt wrong. Something about the whole situation was wrong.

“Really? Claudia? You spent all that time warning me about her when it’s you-”

Preston threw another crumpled paper. “Shut up. Nothing is going on between us, and there never was.”

“Really? Cause she said the opposite.”

She really did? There was no more scratch paper and he was tempted to make another one. This time, he wanted to throw it at himself so he could stop himself from asking. It was Claudia who wanted to keep their escapade a secret. She was the one who didn’t want anyone to know. Preston figured it was because she never intended for things to last. She was planning to marry, and Preston was his last fun before the last stop.

“You don’t want to hear what she said?”

“Whatever it was, I’m sure she was playing with words. You know Claudia. She was able to manipulate the press for years. She can do that with us too.”

“She said that she had to take control of her life. She couldn’t control her feelings with you. That’s the reason why she didn’t want to be with you. Which by the way, is the marriage move? I think is a non sequitur.”

Preston smirked with the term Nikolai was using. It’s even ironic how he is giving him this love advice. Nikolai is the last person on earth who should be handing out advice.

“That doesn’t sound like Claudia.”

“Exactly. That was why the best advice I could give her was to get real friends so she wouldn’t share personal information about her current fling with his best friend.”

“She does what she wants to do. She can handle herself.”

“Don’t wait for her to regret marrying someone else when she’s clearly in love with you, Prez.” 

Preston had to blink again and again to make sure that it was Nikolai he was talking to. “That’s rich coming from you.”

“I know. Exactly why I’m telling you this. Don’t make the same mistake and stop making things complicated.”

Nikolai has changed. Even now, he is still changing for the better. He wasn’t the same person that Preston punched years back.

“What if… hypothetically- what if, Belle’s still alive? Are you going to treat her right?”

“Of course. If she’s alive, I’ll never let her go.”

Preston started to fix the documents that he brought. It was clear that Hyacinth had a plan coming into his door. Hyacinth doesn’t know what she wants. She doesn’t even know who she is. He trusts his sister, but his responsibility is to guide her until Belle remembers who she is.

“I hope that is not just empty words, Nick. This time, don’t fuck things up.”