This chapter is dedicated specially to sun_shine122, bellsyHoon16,-juliah-, akritigarg14, KatieFlemmings96 and to all my silent readers out there. I hope you'll are enjoying this story and I'm really glad to have you all as my readers. 😊

Here I come with a preponed update! Enjoy! (This chapter was supposed to be updated tomorrow. Since I'll be busy tomorrow I updated it today.)

This story reached 2.9K reads and 870 votes. Thank you all for showing so much of love and support.😘😙

*throws away cupcakes* Grab them before they fall :p

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"The past is always with us. Waiting to mess with the present."

-- Gossip Girl.

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Placing the plastic skins back onto their respective places, Vivienne covered all her scars. Done. Thank God! He didn't see all of them. Putting some finishing touches to her makeup, she pristinely covered the long scar running along her cheekbone. It looked undamaged and unmarred as ever. She thought back to the time when she actually looked beautiful... but now only makeup made her look pretty. Maybe I was too obsessed with my good looks.

Her shoulders slumped. Some events can really change a person's life. How was she ever going to get rid of her tainted past? She always believed that she had moved on but had she really? No, I'm still stuck in those 8 years.

When she was younger she always loved to dress up in short dresses and skirts but the day her father had cut all her dresses into tiny little scraps, she had given up the thought of wearing such dresses ever. Now, she always dressed up in a prim and proper manner. She didn't even have any party wear in her closet.

She sighed and plopped down on the bed. Deep in her thoughts, a particular event came rushing back to her...

"You are of no use! Just an useless piece of thing I'm stuck with!" her father shouted and slapped her hard. She lost her balance and hit her head on the wall.

He was drunk as always. Ever since her mother left them, he started drinking. He had never been an abusive father before.

At first he only used to slap her but day by day he started getting too rough with her. He would kick her, bang her head against the wall until she would start bleeding. One day he had punched her nose so bad that he had broken the fragile little bone in it.

Her father was a respected policeman back then. He used to catch criminals and put them behind the bars but... he became a criminal himself, eventually.

Struggling to keep up with his hostile and vicious behaviour, she had done something she shouldn't have...she had pulled the trigger of his gun. A deep eerie silence had set in after the loud gunshot.

A lone tear escaped from the corner of her eye. Wiping it away, she breathed in deeply. Don't cry Vivi. It was not your fault. Come on! Wipe those tears and be strong. You have to keep up with that little rich boy, remember?

***

What was he doing in the kitchen anyway? Seriously Nick? Do you even know how to make breakfast? He thought to himself. I'm going to make it anyway!

Breaking up two eggs, he dropped them in the pan. Martha makes it. I can too! Toasting some breads, he placed them on the plate beside him. Next, he put some chicken sausages in the grill pan and drizzled some oil over them. The coffee machine beeped indicating that the coffee was ready.

He placed everything on the plate. Looks edible. Holding the plate in one hand and the mug of freshly brewed coffee in the other he made his way to Vivienne's room.

"Don't you ever knock?"

"So now I'm supposed to knock in my own house?"

"Yes, you are. I'm a guest in your house. You don't just barge uninvited into someone's room," she said sternly.

"Okay madame! I'll keep that in mind from now on. Now stop arguing and eat this breakfast. You look thin as a stick insect!" He said with a wry smile.

"You look as fat as Humpty!" She retorted back at him.

A deep laugh rumbled out from his mouth and the whole room echoed from his laughter. Oh why can't you just snort like a pig? It would have been easier for me!

"You made this?"

"Yes! It's the first time I made breakfast," he said proudly.

"Looks edible though."

She bit down on the toast and said,"Thank God! You didn't burn them."

"Why are you dressed in your business suit?"

"I have to go to the office today. I've so many pending works to do. I can't just skip office like that."

"Simmons will drop you. Don't even think of going by yourself. I don't want you getting kidnapped. We haven't even started yet, si? I'll have to pay extra money to bring you back if you get abducted," he said snidely.

Her stomach dropped at the mention of that detail and she lost her appetite. Standing up from the bed she put down the plate on the bedside table with a loud thunk.

"Oh yeah! What a powerful man you're. Getting eager to bed me, aren't you? You'll get what you wish for tonight. Until then this will do." Grabbing a fistful of his hair she pulled him down and smacked a kiss onto his lips. Satisfied with her own action she straightened her back, pulled her shoulders up together and marched out of the room.

***

"Vivienne, Mr. Rodriguez asked me to drive you to your office," Simmons said politely.

"Yes." Giving a short curt reply she pulled the door to the passenger seat and slid in elegantly.

What were you thinking Vivi? Seriously, you are going to give him what he wants? You can be a real fool sometimes. Dammit! What am I going to do now?

"We are here, Vivi."

She was so lost in her thoughts that she had forgotten all about the surroundings.
Pull yourself together. "Thank you for the ride, Simmons," she said with a polite smile.

As soon as she reached her cabin, Marissa came rushing to her.

"What the hell were you doing yesterday? You don't even keep a phone with yourself neither did you give me a call. I was so worried about you. You didn't even tell me that you will not come," Marissa said fumingly.

"Calm down Marissa. See I'm all together in one piece. You know I don't use a cellphone and I was not at the house yesterday."

"Where were you then?"

"I was at Nicholas's place," she said but her voice trailed off.

"What? What the heck were you doing with that snob? Oh! and I even forgot to ask you, what happened to the deal?"

"We got it Marissa," she said but she kept the details to herself.

Marissa hugged her and said, "I told you, you were going to get that deal. Why do I feel like you are hiding something from me?" She asked with a frown.

Damn! Was her face that expressive? "I'm not hiding anything. You worry too much Marissa. I went to his house because we had to discuss some facts regarding the deal," she lied easily.

"Okay, If you say so."

"Will you get me a coffee, please? I really need to get caffeinated."

"I'll get it for you. The Exclusive's file is right there on your desk. I've marked it for you, just sign in those specific places," she informed her.

Swiveling in her chair, Vivienne flipped open the file and looked at the printed words. The words swimmed in front of her eyes. Putting away her sign in those marked places she closed down the file and shifted away from her working desk.

Walking over to the balcony she leaned over the railing. She had always loved days like this; not too sunny neither too cold. Looking up at the sky and stretching her arms she breathed in the crisp morning air. The sun peeking out of the clouds casted a warm yellow light over the city.

She remembered the day when her mother had taken her to the park, it was a day like this. She had asked her to wait while she got her a cotton candy. She had waited for 3 long hours but her mother didn't come.

Even after 8 long years she didn't find the possible reason of her obscured departure. She couldn't even trace her down. So, there was no option of confronting her.

Stop thinking about the past. Think what you are going to do tonight. You and your heat of the moment actions!

Her desktop beeped announcing the receival of an email. I wish I could read what was written.

"Here's your cup of coffee," Marissa came up with the coffee cup.

"I got an email, will you read it out to me?"

"Oh sure, shift around. Let me have a look," she said coming around to the other side of her desk.

"What is wrong? Why do you look so horrified?" Vivienne questioned her.

"Vivi. This email is kind of a threatening. It says, 'If you think you have gotten away from me. Think again. I'll hunt you down and make your life as unpeaceful as you could ever imagine. You'll regret your choice sweety but then it would be too late.'"

Oh no! What's this again? It can't be... No please! Controlling her jumpy heart and jittery thoughts, she replied calmly, "Don't worry. It's just a prank, I believe. I'll call Robert and ask him to take a look at it."

"Vivi, I'm so worried about you. Now you have started keeping secrets from me too. But you're a grown up woman now. I don't want to poke my nose in your decisions. Just remember one thing, you are brave...you'll get through this, whatever it is. Be careful," Marissa hugged her and patted her back.

"I'll be alright as long as you're there with me," she replied giving a small smile.

***

Hugging herself she made her way out to the parked BMW X5. The night was chilly but the sky was clear, the stars winked down at her.

She heard a ruffling sound behind her. Tensing slightly she turned around to take a look but there was nothing visible to her sight. Maybe a cat.

Reaching her car, she quickly unlocked it and slid in swiftly. Phew! Starting the engine she pulled out of the curb. The streets were busy as ever. Turning on the FM station she lost herself completely into the music.

Was he already at home? Why did I even come here? Remember you promised him you'll give what he asked for? Damn! She had forgotten about it.

While striding through the plush carpeted green lawn she caught her feet in a stone, twisting her ankle in the process and finally falling to the ground with a hollow thud. Ow! Damn stone! From where did you get in here? Grumbling out a series of curses she tried to stand up.

A pair of long legs came in her line of vision followed by a deep male voice. "What are you doing down there?"

"You've got a stupid stone hidden in your lawn!" She said in an accusatory voice.

"Here let me help you up."

"I don't need your help! I can stand up myself," she said haughtingly.

Trying to push herself off the ground, she lost her balance once again but this time Nicholas's strong arms were there to protect her from falling. Holding her by the waist he pulled her up.

"Sometimes it's okay to ask for help, cara. You won't become lesser of a human by asking for help, si? I see you've cut your ankle and it's already swelling. Lean on me, it would be easier for you to walk or else I can carry you."

"No! No need to carry me. I'm not a helpless kid!"

"Of course you're not," he said sarcastically.

Leaning at his side, she limped the whole way to the house.

"Sit down and prop your legs on the table and do not move," he said authoritatively.

Taking her ankle in his hand he softly placed the ice pack over the swelling. "I'll call a doctor. I hope you haven't broken anything in there."

"Why do you even care? It's not like I make a difference in your life. So just drop the act!"

"You should have known by now that I do care for you. I don't want to but I just can't control it. I-I don't know what's gotten into me," he said looking deep into her eyes.

"It's just lust and nothing more. I know, once you have your fill you'll toss me out of your house and never look back again. But you know what? It's not going to affect me in any way. I have seen men like you before and I know how to tackle people like you!" She said indignantly.

"I think this time it's going to be hard to toss you because- All women are the same! They all are in love with my money! You're one of them too! A money hungry b*tch! You wouldn't have signed that contract if you were not!" Suddenly fuming with anger, he abruptly stood up and left her sitting there. Damn woman for playing with my head! I never lose control over myself. You just did!

Here I was thinking that you would be a little bit different from the rest. Can I be anymore wrong? Oh! What a fool I'm. How I wish I could have understood those printed words. Sighing down in exhaustion, she closed her eyes.

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Hella my lovely readers! Welcome to the story once again.

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XOXO
Loversgonewild