On the way to my place, I wondered if Silas or Sam was still there working on the person who stole from me. I mean, it wouldn't be a problem, but if Sam saw Niki, he'd say some stupid shit about me. If that were to happen, I would have to personally beat his ass and I wouldn't want to do that in front of Niki.

Halfway there, I heard the soft snores of Niki's sleep. Me wanting to fuck her would have to wait later. She's worked too hard today nonstop and without a break and she deserves rest. I just hope she'll wont let our twenty plus year age gap get in the way of me wanting to be with her. In my eyes, she'll make a great mother and queen. Only time will tell.

Driving through the gate, I noticed Silas' car. Did he find the person responsible? Or is there something else? He would have called me if something came up.

Shaking my head from my thoughts, I climbed out and went around the car to get Niki. Trying my best to quietly open the door, she jumped up.

"When will you let me take care of you?" I asked as she took her seatbelt off and struggled out.

"Where are we?" she asked, rubbing her eyes as I helped her out.

"My house." I said as I guided her to the door.

"Oh."

Still half asleep, I managed to get Niki inside. Realizing that it's best for her to change into something more relaxing, I took her to my room to give her my shirt. Leaving her alone on my bed so I could get my shirt, I came out to find her fast asleep again. Laughing to myself, I shook my head and walked over toward her. Pulling the hair from her face, I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Pulling away, a smile appeared on her lips.

"And here I thought you were asleep."

"I was until I felt your lips on my forehead."

"Change into something relaxing," I said, climbing down. "I'm going to make something for you to eat."

"For us to eat." she corrected as I walked toward the door.

"For us to eat."

Walking out and heading downstairs, I take my suit jacket off. Entering the kitchen, my mind comes back to why Silas might be here. Trying my best and not getting anywhere, I threw my overwhelming thoughts to the back of my head.

Deciding on what to make, I was reminded of the time where Niki was craving chicken tenders. Smiling at the memory, I took everything out that I needed.

Taking my time cooking, Silas and Sam walked in. Looking up, Silas shakes his head as Sam grabs a beer from the fridge. Sitting right in front of me, no one says anything. It's completely quiet but the sizzling from the chicken tenders cooking.

"I wasn't able to interview everyone because they're 'loyal' to you and won't say shit," Silas said, lighting up a cigarette. "That's what I get for always being in the shadows."

"Then we'll just have a meeting where I'll tell everyone that you're loyal to me as much as they are," I said, watching the tenders cook. "Anything else?"

"No but-"

"Why are you - a grown ass man - cooking chicken tenders?" Sam asked.

"How long are you guys staying?" I asked, turning around to grab plates.

"Sam was just leaving and I need to talk to-"

Before Silas could finish, Niki came down with nothing but my shirt on. The way she walked down, it was just a tease. I just wanted to let the chicken tenders burn and throw her over my shoulder. No one is allowed to see her like this - in my shirt - but me.

"It smells good in here," she said, walking into the kitchen next to me. "Can you make them extra crispy?"

"Yeah." I said as she linked her arm with mine.

"So you have friends, I see." Niki said, looking at Silas and Sam who's clearly eye fucking her.

"Yeah," Silas said, burning off his cigarette. "I'm Silas and this is Sam who was just leaving."

"Hey," Sam said as Silas pushed him away. "You're my ride home."

"It was as if I didn't have to talk to Mathew."

"Silas." I started.

"Alright, alright, your majesty," he said, playfully bowing. "But His Majesty owes me gas money and some crispy chicken tenders."

"Okay, fine. Now leave. Please." I beg, completely embarrassed.

Laughing, but Silas and Sam leave, leaving me with Niki who just saw me get embarrassed.

Mumbling words to myself, I let the tenders stay in so they could get more crispier. Seeing my actions, Niki wraps her arms around me from behind.

"They seemed... nice."

"They weren't supposed to be here." I said, turning around to face her.

"Why? Because they just embarrass you right now?" she giggled.

"It's not funny, Niki," I said, checking on the tenders. "It's just-"

"Hey. I was just playing," she said, turning my face to look at her. "And I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I said, turning the stove off. "Food's down."

Making three plates - putting Silas' plate in the oven - Niki and I ate in silence. I know I should ask her about the past few years that I wasn't here for, but there's things that I need to stay atop of. I still have six months to get Niki to be my wife before my father marries me off to some women.

I don't know how long I've been in deep thought but when I came to, Silas was back, finishing the last piece of his tender. Looking around to find Niki nowhere, he answered.

"She went upstairs," he said, lighting a cigarette. "Maybe wants you up there fucking her."

"Don't be like Sam." I sighed, leaning back in my chair.

"Man, one. I would never and two. I read people and I read her."

"So, she had 'Oh I wish Mathew would fuck me' all written on her face?"

"No, but she likes you." he said, passing me the cigarette.

"Tell me something I don't know," I said, inhaling the smoke and exhaling. "She told me."

"Then marry her already and lets get the fuck out of here."

"That'll be easy if she wasnt so hard on herself," I sighed, "Our age gap seems wrong to her. I can try to change her mind, but I only have six months."

"What if I were to talk to her," he asked. "I can try to help."

"No," I said, instantly. "Look, Niki means everything to me. Yeah, I want her. Hell, I'll hurt any man who wants her, but I can't control her life like that."

"When did you ever get what you wanted," Silas asked. "Don't you remember what that family did to you? Did your company? They broke you after everything you worked for. You did everything for them and what did you get in return?"

"This is different, Silas," I sighed. "Niki inst a property. She's a human being that trusts me."

"So, are you going to just give up on what you want?"

Thinking about what Silas just said, he's half right. I never got what I wanted and after all my hard work, people walked all over mr, but he's wrong with one thing. I want Niki, but it's her choice if she wants me back. I can't make her choose something that she doesn't. I can't control her. She means everything to me for me to hurt her like that. Even if I dont have her hand in marriage until six months, I'll always love her as if she was my wife.

Silas goes on to say something, but I don't listen. I stood up, walked upstairs, and made my way toward my room. Entering, I found Niki laying on her side. Taking my shoes off, I climbed in next to her.

"Are you awake?" I whispered.

"Now you want to hear what I have to say." she mumbled.

"Niki, I'm sorry. I was just-"

"Silas told me," Niki said, facing me. "You have a lot on your plate and I shouldn't be something that adds onto your list of things to do."

"That's the thing, Niki," I said, holding her. "I want you to be a bother to me. I need you to be."

"Why," she asked. "Won't that stress you out?"

"Because you mean everything to me, Niki," I said, holding her face. "I don't want to control your life, but I want you."

"I want you too, Mathew, but-"

"Our age gap and the company and now your family business, yeah. I get it, but can't there be a way where it could work? Where could we work?"

I would give up everything in this world if it meant that I could be with Niki. Hell, I would give my title as king to Marcus if it meant I could stay here and be with Niki, but this is her life. The one thing that I'll never control if it costs me my life.

Slowly giving up, she did the one thing I'd never expected. Niki took my face in both hands and kissed me. Unlike my past relationships I've been in, something felt off about this kiss. I felt what she felt. Pain. Hurt. Tired. This is what she felt and I felt them too. As all the times I've imagined kissing her, this time, I didn't want it. Not that I wanted to stop. It was just that something was off about her. She was hurt. But why?

"Tell me," I said, pulling away, to see her eyes glistening with tears. "Tell me."

"It's nothing," Niki lied as she tried to hide her face. "It's nothing."

"Niki. I've known you for the longest time and I know when something's wrong with you," I said, pulling her hands away from her face. "You try so hard to prove what to who?"

"To prove that I'm not weak to my parents," she cried. "They showed both Nathen and Steven love, but never to me. They never had to do anything. They're never expected to do anything but they expected me to carry the world. I didn't believe them when they said that no one would love me until I learned it for myself."

"But I love you," I said, drying a tear that rolled down. "I love you and I want to take care of you. I want to-"

"But I have both companies, Mathew," she said, pulling away. "I can't carry both companies and carry the title of a queen."

"Then I'll take the company. Both of them," I said, holding her hands. "I'll do anything for you if it means that I can have you."

I surprised the both of us, to be honest. I have never been in love with a woman like I am with Niki. If this was a different woman, I would've given up, but it's not. This is Niki. The only woman who has my heart. I'd do anything to make this woman happy.

Pulling her into my arms, she finally rested after a few attempts of trying to push me away. Once she finally went to sleep, I laid her down. I need to get everyone here and have Silas integrate them with me being there. Before I could leave the bed, she reached for my hand.

"Don't leave me." she said, softly.

I didn't know if she was dreaming or awake, but I stayed. She's been through enough with her parents and people who've hurt her. My work will always be there waiting for me. She won't.

"I will never leave you, my love," I said, staying next to her. "You're safe with me."

...

"Are we missing anyone?" I asked after the kitchen door closed from the last staff member.

"I believe so, sir." the head cook, Lenoa stated.

"Thank you," I said as I spotted Niki by the entrance door. "Now, I have something important to do, but my right hand man, Silas, needs to talk to you all. Someone here in this room has stolen money from me. If you confess now, nothing bad will come to you. If you don't, the person responsible will be dealt with by Silas."

Waiting for someone to speak up, it came to that no one did. Sighing, I looked over at Silas who then nodded. Leaving the situation with my loyal friend, I walked over to Niki.

"This seems important." she said as I took her hand and walked off.

"Yeah, but I'm hungry and I know that you'd be as well," I said as Laya - my personal assistant - walked toward us. "And besides, I trust Silass with my work."

"I guess."

"Niki, this is Laya," I introduce. "I had Dallas pass her all your important dates so I can know how I should plan my days."

"But what about Colten," Niki asked. "He'll be very upset that he wasn't informed."

"I'll handle him," I said, holding her face. "I'm taking care of you, remember?"

"Yeah, but I need to at least do something." she said as Laya started writing.

"I can see that you're busy, sir, so when's a good time to have a word with you?" she asked.

"Right now." Niki said.

"When I come back," I said, looking down at my phone. "In an hour."

"Okay."

Nodding, I grabbed my keys from the table by the door, walked out, and climbed inside my car.

I would've stayed home and just have the cooks make something, but Dom wants to talk to Niki, Nathen, and Steven about something. In my family, a family meeting always said 'bad news', but I don't know how it is for Niki's family. Whatever it is, it'll be fire because I'll be there with her.

On our way, Niki noticed where we were. She reminded me of my sister Mia when I took her outside the castle. But when she noticed a car that I've never seen before, something flashed in her eyes. Hurt.

"I should've mentioned why we're here," I stated, taking her hand. "Your grandfather messaged me this morning to see if I could bring you over for breakfast. Your brothers are here as well."

"They're here." she said, looking over at the car.

"Who?"

"My parents," he sighed. "They're here."

I know how much these people fucked up her life. She doesn't have to tell me her whole childhood trauma. Just by looking at her, I already know how these people affect her. If I didn't have to owe Dom anything, I would've just pulled out of this driveway and left, but I owe him everything.

Sighing, Niki looked up at me and smiled a small smile. Climbing out, I walked around the car to open her door. After that, we walked hand in hand inside.

"Why are we here," Nathen asked as we walked into the living room. "I have a job to go to."

"Of course you do," a lady stated. "You have your grandfather's company to run."

"Actually, Niki runs if and she's amazing at it," he said, looking up at us. "Hand in hand? Don't hurt her."

"She's been through enough," I said as he and Niki hugged. "It's time for her to be taken care of."

"Something I wont get used to." Niki said in a voice that tugged at my heart.

"So, this was supposed to be a breakfast thing, but no one seems to want to eat." Dom stated as Steven walked in with a plate of bacon.

"Speak for yourself, pops."

"Anyway, it has come to my knowledge of a mistake that I have made."

"So you finally believe that the company should've never gone to Niki, huh?" Niki's father asked.

"Yes, actually," Dom said. "I should've called Mathew so he could not only take the company with Niki, but the mafia."

At this, John jumped up and it looked like he was going to hit Dom. Because we thought this, Nathen, Steven and I stood up, but he didnt do anything.

"My love, calm down," the lady said, holding his arm. "It's not even worth it."

"You don't know a Goddamn thing, Elana," he stated. "This company is my birthright and you know it."

"That's right, John," Dom said. "But it was your mother's dying wish that I didn't pass you both companies."

"So, what was the point of dragging me here and wasting my time?"

"That the home you and your wife stay in is way past due payment," Dom said, standing. "And now you have a choice to choose Mathew or you stay on the streets. Your choice."

Walking out, Nathen received a call. From Colten I'm assuming. After listening, he looked at me.

"Can I have a word with you?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said, looking down at Niki. "Do you want to wait in the car?"

"Yes."

Before she could walk off, I pulled her to me and kissed her. Pulling back, I saw her smiling. Laughing, I kissed the top of her head and watched her as she walked out to the car.

"You really do love her." Nathen stated as we walked out the living room.

"She's everything to me," I said as we watched her play with Nathen's kid. "And I want nothing more than to love her, make her happy, and take care of her."

"And that brings me to my call from a few seconds ago," he said as I looked over at him with concern. "I have a friend that asked to check into Colten's background or why he instantly came into Niki's life the way he did."

"Because his father gave him the company and because of the company, he's business partners with Niki." I explained.

"I thought that too until I found something," he said, looking down at his watch. "There was a deal made. I don't know who, but there was a deal. Some arrange marriage between him and Niki. That's only if she isn't already married."

"So, how long do I have?"

"Three months, but I'm still trying to find something out." Nathen said as we walked slowly to my car. "The deal was made somewhere near Colten's home. William got shot because-''

"He saw something he wasn't supposed to see."

"AfterI'm done with Colten, I'm going by the hospital."

"I'll go," I said. "You worry about putting the pieces together. I'll watch Willam."

"Thank you," he said, looking over at Niki. "Thank you for taking the load off her back."

"Well, let's just hope things go well."

"I hope so too."