Chapter 23: Love

"Love is like a good cake; you never know when it's coming, but you'd better eat it when it does!"

― C. JoyBell C.

Please Vote

Comment

And Follow me ...

............................................

Nicolai Petropoulis' POV

"The RIG Capital Holdings Ltd revised transactions still undervalued the RiosCartner & Co., therefore, IFIG's proposal is much superior." Blayne reported.

I heaved a relieve sigh. RiosCartner spurned the IFIG's proposal a few months ago arguing that IFIG did hostile bid, undervaluing the company.

" We will pursue its transaction on the proposed terms and will fully committed to achieving its rapid completion. There's no way RIG Capital Holdings would surpass our proposals." I told Blayne.

"In case, the special dividend offered in the RIG deal would reduce RiosCartner & Co.'s capital by more than $480 million and significantly weaken the reinsurer's financial strength."

"Then, they should know better that our proposal is much higher than anyone else." I nodded in oblivion. I'm done with this stupid RiosCartner.

"We will remain fully committed to its $6.1bn bid for RiosCartner & Co. The proposal is financially superior, with no financing conditions, and it can be completed swiftly and will retain and build upon RiosCartner & Co.'s highly talented management and employees."

"Yes, Sir."

After talking to Blayne, my VP, I resumed emailing and reading proposals, signing documents, and revising. I've been in front of my laptop, files that was fax by my secretary scattered on the coffee table in the living room.

I check the time on my wrist watch and it's already one in the afternoon. I didn't realized it's past lunch.

Elle left this morning to wrap up all the things in her office before we leave to Athens tomorrow morning. We will be picking zio tonigh at the tarmac. His flight were postponed.

I tidy up all the documents and tuck it neatly inside the brown folder, then power-down my latest mac laptop, folding it shut after. I stood up and stretch before taking my phone and dialled Elle's number.

I miss her already. I smiled as I waited for her to pick up my call.

Not long. "Elle's Speaking," her soft melodic, angelic voice reach my ears.

"Hi, sweet pea." I smiled like a fool.

"Hey." I heard shuffling sound of papers in the background.

"Still working?" I asked. My forehead crunched not liking the idea. I have this feelings she missed lunch.

"Yes. Almost done here."

"Did you eat anything yet?" I pace back and forth in the living room with my other hand tucked inside my pocket while the other holding my phone close to my right ear.

"No. You?" I could sense her stopping from what she's doing. The shuffling sound disperse.

"I forgot to watch my time." I said. "I'll come pick you up and we can have lunch together." I got so excited at the idea. I missed her already. God, I'm so in love and the feelings of being with her was beyond happiness.

I never felt so contented and beyond happy.

"Alright. I'll see you shortly." I could sense her smiling, which made my smile broadened. "I love you!" She added on and I was foolishly grinning.

"See you shortly. I love you, too sweet pea." I responded shortly and I waited for her to hang up as I walk to the coffee table and grab my keys and wallet.

"Hang up, hon. I'm holding a hefty folders I'm bringing to JJ. The phone is tuck between my shoulder." She reminded me and I sigh. I still want to hear her voice.

"Alright. See you later. I love you so much!" I don't like the idea of hanging it up.

"And I love you more, Nico. Kisses."

"No. I want to feel that kiss." I grinned mischievously as I stared at the closing door of the elevator. I punch B where I park my car.

"I'm waiting." She responded all too quickly. I could sense the excitement in her tone, matching mine. I felt like a teenage boy who's going to see my crush.

Damn, but I love the feeling. It was refreshing and genuine. Something I didn't experience before. Extremely happy.

It's funny that just by talking to her on the phone makes me all giddy and gushing. Aren't this things only felt by females? Why am I experiencing it?

Well, you're just as human as they are, idiot! There my killjoy inner thought.

..............................

"Hello, Mr. Petropoulis." Starr grinned broadly when she saw me walking out the elevator, and she stepped in with folders in her hands.

"Is Elle here?" I asked before the elevator door closes.

"She's in her cubicle." She mouth and I smiled.

The elevator door closes before she heard my thank you.

"Gosh, Ms. Elle is lucky.." I heard gushing remarks and I just shrug it off.

"You can go straight to her cubicles and wait for her, Mr. Petropoulis." The girl who thought Elle was my sister.

They pointed me her cubicle, and at the very corner, I saw her back. She was busy printing, facing the machine with her back facing me. She didn't even noticed me.

I hug her from behind and nuzzled my nose on her neck.

"What the fudge?" She squealed. I chuckled.

"It's me sweet pea." I whispered against her earlobe, then she smacks my hands that was wrapped firmly around her waist.

"You scared me." She clutch her chest and I apologized. I hear giggling sounds from behind us.

"Gosh, Elle. You are so damn lucky. Yesterday, you are single, the next day you got a boyfriend. Not just a damn boyfriend, but freaking one of the elusive bachelor."

After kissing her briefly, we both turned to see Starr and the rest of the girls staring at us, with jealousy and happiness, while the men, has their own thing.

"Shut up, Starr." Elle laughed. She collected all the printed documents and then tucked in a folder blue filing folder.

As I waited for her, Starr chatted with me. She seems very nice. Elle just pitch in once in a while.

"When are you gonna be done, sweet pea?" I asked her as she was still doing filing. I was sitting on her chair, while she's on her feet the whole time, printing, then filing.

"Almost, hon." She replied. Everyone was back on their own cubicles, resuming their work. Some left to meet some clients, such as Starr.

"Alright." She piled up the folders with the documents neatly tucked inside and then place it in her filing cabinet just under where the printing machine was.

"Let's go." She smiled. I grab her purse and led her outside.

.............................................

"How do you like the food?" I asked her while driving back to her condo. It's already five and zio will arrived at seven.

I have couple hours to have her for myself. I really misses her today.

"It was great." She beamed at me. "When are we flying back to Athens, Nico?" she suddenly ask, as she shifted her body to face me. I glance at her briefly, then back to the busy road.

"Tomorrow."

I didn't hear anything from her. When I glance at her, she was looking on the road, wearing a sullen face.

"You don't want to go back?" I asked, feeling worried.

"I don't know if I'm ready." I could feel her eyes on me. I met her eyes briefly.

"I'm sure they have forgotten what happened few years ago. It's been a while, Elle. Your parents must have misses you much." I consoled. I heard her sigh.

"If they did. They could come and see me." I could feel the bitterness in her tone, and that's exactly what I felt for the past years living alone in Italy, but I chose that.

"Maybe, they knew that it's what you wanted?" I tried to justified their actions. I don't know what impel her to leave her family that long, aside from the scandal. "What really propelled you to leave Athens, Elle?" I asked. "Aside from, you know-"

"I don't know exactly. Maybe because I was hurt so much?" I saw the bitterness in her eyes, sadness and guilt. I wanted to wipe all of those emotions. "Maybe because I was guilty?" she sighed painfully. "or Maybe because I hate myself. I hate myself that I'm not as strong as Victoria. That I envied her. She was tough. She knew what she wanted, and I? ... All those years of my life. .. there's only one that I know that I want.. ." When I look at her, she met my eyes. The car was already park in the underground garage of the building. I was staring at her eyes. Too many emotions and it pained me to see those awful ones. "I always want you, Nico. Other than that, I don't know anymore, what else would I want."

She looks away. I took her hands and clasps it with mine. Then kissed the back tenderly. Then she looks at me, with a tender loving eyes. "I'm sorry. I was still uncertain with my feelings. Maybe I have loved you already, but I didn't know back then. That night, when I was cradling you. I thought you're dead. I felt dying that moment too. I was lost. I felt like my world just collapsed. Then and there, I knew, I love you."

She smiled. A happy genuine smile. I leaned forward and reach for her lips with mine. We kissed until we ran out of breath.

"I love you." I uttered emotionally.

"I love you too, Nico." She cupped my right cheek with her palm with her loving eyes staring at my eyes. Our hearts fuse and synchronically beats.

..................................................

Eleanor Pallos' POV

I was staring at my two luggages where all my clothing and personal stuffs are carefully packed. Nico help me even though how much I stop him. He even picks my lingeries, and I was really embarrassed, but he seems to no care at all.

He was like a kid, picking a candies in my drawer, although instead of a candies, it was my undies. He would throw every hipster with a grimace, and then would grinned devilishly as he picks a lacy or silky thong.

Such an embarrassing sight.

We would argue which to bring, and at the end, he would win. I have no energy to argue for now. I'm still perturbed with that text I received, and now, facing my family and old friends.

I'm excited and at the same time, agigated.

I decided to call my mother. For the two years I was away, I never called them. I sent cards and that's all.

"Sweet pea?" I heard Nico's voice coming from the washroom.

"Yes?" I responded as I walk closer so I could hear him.

"Aren't you going to have a shower?" he asked.

I check the time on my cellphone and it's already eleven-thirty, almost midnight.

"Later. I'll just call mom." I said.

"Alright." I head him said and I walk to the bed. After we picked Mr. Agnelli, who was very excited and down-to-earth man, we had dinner at the restaurant we first saw on the way to his condo. We chatted briefly and then drove him straight to his place since he was very tired and still had a jetlag.

We arrived in my place around nine.

"Demetrio, Speak." I froze when I heard dad's voice. That rich voice, who always sounded tender and loving to me. That voice who always comfort me when I'm feeling sad and down. That voice who always tells me that he adores me and I'm his princess.

"Speak!" He growled and I felt like I just woke up.

"Dad," I hear myself croaking, feeling like a lump just stuck at my throat. I swallowed hard, but then it went back up.

"Princess?" A tender unsure voice of my dad. I couldn't help the tears anymore. I felt them rolling non-stop over my cheeks.

"Dad .." I choked.

"Princess, how are you? Why didn't you call us? We misses you so much. Daddy misses his princess?" I heard dad's voice faltering and I knew he's stifling his tears.

"I missed you all, dad. I'm sorry." I just burst out. I couldn't take it anymore. My tears kept pouring. "I'm sorry." I kept saying.

"No, we are sorry princess." I heard dad sniffed. "We are so sorry, baby. I was selfish. I was only trying to protect you, I thought I could control over the situation, but I only ended hurting you and your sister." I heard dad apologizing and the more I felt that longings to hug him. I never hear him apologize, well except to mom.

He's always the strict dad.

"Come home, princess." I heard dad pleading.

"Yes dad. I will come home." I said as I wipe the tears. I don't want Nico sees me crying too. I'm glad he's still in the washroom, showering.

"And tell Nico to come with you. I know he's with you."

Wait? What?

How did he know?

"I'm sorry princess.. I can't help but to pay someone to watch over you." Dad spewed my thoughts before I could spill it.

"Of course, dad." I smiled bitterly. I'm still happy. I feel a lot better knowing that dad and I reconciled. I felt that rock being lifted up and then again, I felt relieved and my chest feels much lighter.

"I love you, princess. We will celebrate your success when you arrived here." Dad proclaimed and I agreed happily. Now, I'm excited to go home. "And tell Nicolai to get ready when he comes back. That sly was fast!" Dad exclaimed and I got confused. "Alright, bye baby. We will see you soon. I love you!"

"I love you too, dad." I said before I heard the dial tone.

I heaved a sigh.

A ghost of smile flashed in my face as I decided to join Nicolai in the shower.

........................................

"This is captain Alden Hoskins, announcing our descent in about five minutes, to Athens, Greece, where the current weather is warm and sunny.-"

"Were here." I heard Nico whispered against my head as he pressed his lips briefly for a light kiss.

I felt the butterflies in my stomach as I felt the plane slowly and smoothly dropping. I hate flying to be honest.

Not long, I felt the plane wheels touch the ground making a loud noise and my ears felt irritating.

"Grind your teeth." I heard Nico told me and I look at him in confusion. "It helps. Trust me." He smiled, lacing his hand on mine.

I did what he told me and I could feel the effect after shortly, and did grind my teeth until the plane stops completely.

It was seven in the morning and yes, the sun was rising in the horizon. It was beautiful morning. The flight was too long and I felt like all my body is sore, especially my bottom.

"You ok?" I heard Nico's worried voice as he looks at me.

"Yes." I smiled. He was still holding my hand until we disembark from the plane.

From a distance, I saw two familiar limo.

It was the Petropoulis limo and ours.

Then in front, was mom and dad, then Luke and Victoria, with Xandrous? Vicky and Xandrous was holding my sister's waist possessively. They were all smiling to us. I look back at Xandrous and Vicky and they look so much in love.

Oh god! What happened? I felt so happy for her.

Luke was with a girl too. I don't know her. She looks beautiful though.

Then, there was theios Nicolas with theia Addy looking so sweet as well, waiting beside their limo. And there's Natalia, with twins Amber and Markos.

Then I just noticed the tarpaulin Markos and Amber was holding.. "Welcome Back Elle and Nico!"

The tears sprung free from my eyes, giving me a blurry vision. "Let's go, sweet pea." I felt Nico's hand around my waist.

I felt so overjoyed and overwhelmed. Longings and that deja vu feelings rushes like a waves. "Oh my, oh my, Elle!" I just then realized Natalia was close to me, when she launched herself to me and hugged me real tight. I could feel the longings in her embrace. I hug her back.

"Welcome back, sister-in-law!" She whispered while we are still hugging.

............................................................

A/N: I'm sorry guys.. I will be working 12 hours straight this week. So the updates is slow.. I hope you understand. This is all I could write for now.

Thank you and please bear with all the errors... My story is an "Error Bin".. Just ignore it..

Thank you again and hope you don't forget to vote.. And comment will definitely help it to get into the hotlist.. and I do also want your opinion..

Ciao and happy reading!