Isabella's POV : 

I woke up due to immense pain in my head. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around to find myself in a familiar yet unfamiliar room. I looked beside me to find Nicholas sleeping in a very uncomfortable position.

Our hands were intertwined and his head on my stomach. I looked at him smiling softly. He was sleeping so peacefully. Why did it always happen that when I was with him he would be able to sleep so soundly? I brushed his hair softly with my free hand. My head was hurting but I could care less about it right now.

I know I was the one who wanted to be professional but, being with him like this. It felt so perfect. I felt him stir a bit and he groaned before getting up. He squinted his eyes looking at me before glaring at me.

"YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T HANDLE ALCOHOL THEN WHY THE FU*K DO YOU DRINK?!" He shouted at me. I held my head the pain increasing. "Nicholas," I whispered. He immediately pulled me closer to him softly holding my head.

He grabbed something from the bedside drawer and handed it to me. I looked to see tablets and gulped them down immediately. "Do you remember what happened yesterday?" he asked. I closed my reminiscing the bad memories. "I am sorry," I apologised.

"Do you have any idea what would have happened if I hadn't come in on time?" he asked angrily. I looked down, I was at fault. "Thank you," I said looking up at him. He glared at me before getting up but I grabbed his hand stopping him immediately.

"I am sorry for what I said to you yesterday, I didn't mean it."

"You don't want this Isabella, you said so yourself!" he said turning away from me. I got up from the bed and stood in front of him. 

"And I am telling you it was stupid of me. I thought we could not be together, but I want to!" I said. "You are a professional woman Isabella, you don't know a lot about me and my past, you wouldn't want me!" he shouted turning away again. 

"Why would you say that? I am not a shallow person to judge someone based on what they did before!" I said. 

There was silence after that. For a minute he didn't speak before he turned around with his blank expression and then he spoke. 

"What if I am still like that?" he asked seriously. 

"I would never hate you, Nicholas," I said walking close to him. 

"You are so pure, I don't want to taint you," he whispered as he caressed my jaw. I placed my hand on his. "I trust you," I replied. 

"You have to promise me you wouldn't hate me," he said softly. I nodded. "Good," he said before crashing his lips on mine. I smiled into the kiss. It lasted for a minute before he pulled apart. "Let's go before I take you on my bed," he smirked and I hit his chest. "Do you think about anything except that?" I asked. 

He didn't answer and I left it that. 

*******

It was Monday again and it was a busy day. Today we had an important meeting. Nicholas had to present our new product and we were hoping to get the deal. The rival companies were strong and this time it was going to be a challenge. 

I walked into his room to see him shouting at someone on the other end. He had been tensed about this meeting for weeks now. This deal was important to the company we would have great profit if we got this deal. 

"Is it time?" he asked and I nodded. "Don't worry about it," I said placing my hand on his shoulder. "I have to Isabella, this deal could change our profit margins," he said. "I know, you have worked hard for it," I said. 

"We, We have worked hard," he said grabbing my hand as we walked out. We walked to his elevator going to the destination where the meeting was to be held. 

As soon as we entered the room I came face to face with Ryder Christino. "Nick, Isabella," he smiled devilishly. "You always look beautiful," he said looking at me. I just rolled my eyes as Nicholas pulled me towards him. "Ah, possessive? You scared I will take revenge?" Ryder asked but I looked really confused. "What are you even doing here?" I asked. His company was not the one representing a product. 

"I own half the shares of this company, I am going to buy this entire corporation soon, so I am going to be one of the people to judge which product to give the deal," he smirked. I looked at him with a blank face. 

"Good for you," I said. "I know but not so good for you, isn't it?" He looked at Nicholas. "You better get out of my face Christino," Nicholas growled. "Gladly," he said before turning to me. "I would see you soon Mademoiselle," he said smiling at me cheekily. I looked at him shocked as he walked away. 

What was wrong with that guy?! "It's okay," I said looking at Nicholas who looked lost. "He is not going to give us the deal," he scowled. "And why do you think that?" I asked. "Just try your best," I smiled as he sat down where his name was written and I took a seat with other people in the background. 

*******

I ran after Nicholas who had stormed out after the meeting. To say the meeting was not so bad would mean I sugar-coated it. Ryder made sure to praise and compliment every product except ours. He questioned Nicholas on every point. Nicholas didn't have much patience and snapped at him a lot. He did answer all the queries though. 

But now I was really worried. This contract meant a lot to Nicholas. I stopped in my tracks when I felt his car speed off right in front of me.  I let out a sigh at that. 

"Loverboy ran away?" 

I slightly jumped at the deep voice. I came face to face with Ryder and I glared at him. "You!" I pointed at him. "You better run before I kill you," I snapped at him. "Kitten, I would like to see you try," he smirked. "Look Ryder whatever you and Nicholas have going on is between you and him, you don't have to take these matters into the business world," I said trying not to just punch him in the face but to sound professional. 

"Do you have any idea who you are siding with?" he asked glaring at me. "Yes?" I asked. Why would he ask that? "I will think about giving you the contract if you have a coffee with me," he smirked. I took a few steps back. "In your dreams," I snapped turning around and starting to leave. 

"You know how much this means to Nick," he said making me stop. "It's Mr Knight for you," I snapped turning around. "You have an hour," I said walking ahead. I felt him walk behind me. 

As soon as we sat down I looked at him. "This better be worth my time." 

"Trust me kitten it will be," he said calling the waitress. 

We both ordered and I looked at him. 

"You know I can see why Nick likes you, you are just like him fiesty, independent also you are hot," he said relaxing. "You don't know me or Mr Knight enough to give us nicknames, get to the point," I said calmly. 

"I thought you and him were like dating or something, you know? He didn't tell you?" he asked. "First of all I don't know why you think we are, we are not. Secondly, tell me what?" I asked curiously. 

"Oh, this is going to be good. Nicholas hiding his past from the girl he loves," he smirked. I looked away for a second before glaring at him. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Do you know I thought you guys were best friends at least," he said? 

"If you don't start talking I am going to leave," I said trying to get up. "Okay Okay!" he said stopping. 

"Nick used to be my best friend." 

"Ha sure," I said but when I looked at his serious face and looked at him confused. 

"We were buddies in college, what you girls call best friends forever!" he said in a high-pitched girly voice. I smiled at his antics. 

"We were the bad boy the school worshipped us." 

"I'm sure," I chuckled. 

"Why won't you believe me Mademoiselle?" he asked smirking. 

"Will you ever stop?" I asked taking a sip of my coffee. 

"No, So we were inseparable. We were both rich and spoilt, handsome, football players, girls loved us." 

"We were players, girls fell at our feet and we loved it, and then this girl came into our life," his voice changing from a playful one to a bitter one. 

I sat up listening to him. "I dated the girl and started catching feelings for her... But she was only with me...because she wanted to be with Nick," he said anger lacing his voice. 

"And it didn't end at that Isabella, he slept with her. He slept with my fu*king girl," he said slamming the cup on the table. 

"Ryder," I said placing my hand on his. "I should have known, but they both just pretended to be okay even after that!" he growled. 

"I am sorry," I whispered. "So you guys broke apart?" I asked after a few moments of silence. Why would Nicholas do that to his best friend? 

"I can understand why you hate him," I said softly not knowing how to react to it. "I am not saying he is the bad guy the girl was slu*t, I liked the wrong person," he continued. 

"But I couldn't forgive him for betraying me," he said looking at me. 

"I am sorry I always put you in the spot and then-" 

"I knew you liked me, Mademoiselle," he smirked.

"Shut up," I laughed with him. 

******

I got out of the car and he did too. "Thank you for dropping me," I smiled. "Anytime, kitten," he said as put his hand over the hood and stood there. "Please don't be harsh on him," I said getting back to my senses. 

"You know that won't do, but a date?" he smirked. "Shut up Ryder," I laughed. "Okay, but you promise to stay friends and I will think about it," he smiled. "Definitely," I smiled back. "See you soon, Bella," he said. I smiled as he got into the car and drove off. Letting out a sigh I walked back in. 

Getting to the floor I heard Nicholas shouting on the phone. "I don't fu*king care you better not have messed this up or I will not only make your life hell I will make sure you don't have one!" 

I cringed walking in after knocking. He glared at me as he ended the call and threw the phone on the desk. "Umm you have a meet-" "You better have a good reason as to why I saw you coming out of that idiot's car," he growled. 

I took a deep breath before answering. "I didn't have my ride," I smiled sweetly before rolling my eyes. "Oh, so that took you an hour?!" He said raising his voice. "You have a meeting in five minutes sir," I said walking out of his office. 

I don't get paid enough to handle his mood swings. Walking into my cabin I was startled to find Kevin in there. "What are you doing here?" I asked dropping my hand from my chest. "Did you not hear him talking on the phone? He would have fired me if I had walked in and I don't even work for him," he grumbled. 

I chuckled setting my purse down. "You have guts," he said and I gave him a questioning look. "You drove with Ryder, Bella, really?" he asked. "He is not a bad guy," I said dismissing it. "Okay, you just have a death wish. Anyways, came to drop by this, kudos," he said walking out of the room. 

I grabbed the file set it down and rushed to the meeting room. I sat down in my seat with my laptop. Mr Knight soon walked in and sat down. A few minutes into the meeting I noticed Mr Knight's tight grip on the pen. "The percentage would be 7.8%" his voice boomed making everyone look at him. Arthur who was giving the presentation shuddered after hearing his voice. 

"Redo this and send it to me, dismissed," he said getting up and walking out. I smiled at everyone before grabbing my things and rushing behind him. Only to see him inside his lift. "Cancel my schedule for the day." That was all I heard before the doors closed. 

This was a bad day.