CHAPTER 141: I’M NOT ALONE

Nick was buried in his laptop, eyes sharp, fingers moving like weapons across the keyboard, when Oliver barged into his temporary office without knocking.

"My, my... I never imagined seeing you chained to a computer after hours," Oliver drawled with amusement as he sauntered toward the desk.

"Go away, Ollie. Can’t you see I’m busy?" Nick muttered, not sparing him a glance.

Oliver smirked, leaning one hand on the edge of the desk. "Busy, yes. But not too busy for this. Your girl—she’s in trouble."

Nick froze mid-keystroke. The change in him was immediate... Tense shoulders, clenched jaw, the dangerous calm before a storm. Slowly, he shut his laptop, eyes narrowing at Oliver. "What happened to Georgia?"

"Two of her employees bled her company dry. Took almost all of the funds. The operations manager and finance manager," Oliver explained, savoring the way Nick’s attention shifted like a predator ready to strike. "They left just enough to keep things hidden. Liam’s at her place with Ella. He called me for legal advice."

That was all Nick needed. He pushed back his chair so hard it nearly toppled, snatched his suit jacket, and slid his laptop under his arm in one swift move. His voice dropped, dark and commanding. "Let’s go. Don’t just stand there—move."

Oliver followed, amused at the sudden fire in his friend’s eyes. ’So this was what Georgia did to him...’ For the first time, Nicholas Knight had abandoned work, money, and duty—his world now centered on one woman.

When they arrived at Georgia’s house, Nick didn’t bother knocking; he stormed in with Oliver trailing close behind.

In the dining room, Georgia and Liam were leaning over her laptop, their heads close together in quiet discussion, while Ella busied herself at the sink.

"Nick!" Georgia gasped, startled, her wide eyes snapping to him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were busy today?" Georgia asked since they agreed not to see each other, so they could focus on their jobs.

Nick’s gaze softened, but the dark intensity in his eyes never wavered. He closed the distance between them, cupping the back of her head as he kissed her crown. "Yes, I was busy," he murmured against her hair, "but how can I focus at work when I know my baby is in distress?"

The word ’baby’ echoed in the air like a secret unveiled. Ella’s eyes widened, but she quickly smiled, while both Liam and Oliver stifled knowing smirks.

"I picked him up," Oliver teased, shrugging as he leaned against the wall. "What can I say? I love my life. If he found out I knew and didn’t tell him, I’d be a dead man."

Liam chuckled lowly. Ella bit her lip to hide her grin.

Georgia, flustered, laughed awkwardly and tried to regain control. "Nick, you don’t have to be here. You have work—"

"No." His voice was sharp, commanding, leaving no room for argument. He pulled out a chair, sitting beside her, his arm draping possessively along the back of her seat. "I won’t have peace of mind until this is resolved. My work can wait. Yours can’t. Tell me everything—what happened, and what you’ve already discussed with Liam."

Under the heavy press of his gaze, Georgia’s heart raced as she began to explain. With every word, Nick’s expression darkened, his jaw tight, his protective fury simmering just beneath the surface. When she finished, silence lingered, each of them knowing this was no longer just Georgia’s battle—it was Nick’s too, and everyone else, since they all care about Georgia and Nick.

"I’ll handle the legal side of this," Oliver said firmly. "You don’t need the weight of a case dragging you down. Focus on your company—two key positions are vacant, and that’s where your attention is needed."

"I’ll call in an accounting firm I trust," Liam added smoothly, his voice carrying calm authority. "They’ll help stabilize things first thing in the morning."

Nick leaned forward, his eyes locked on Georgia, voice low and commanding. "I’ll invest in your company for now. You’ll have the funds you need while we deal with this mess. Money should never be the reason you lose sleep."

"And I," Ella chimed in with a playful wink, "have a proposal that could return the money you sacrificed from your personal savings."

Georgia’s gaze darted from one to the other—Oliver’s sharp confidence, Liam’s steady reassurance, Nick’s burning protectiveness, Ella’s teasing light. The sheer weight of their support overwhelmed her until her throat tightened, and suddenly, hot tears spilled down her cheeks. She broke down, crying like a child.

The four froze, panic written all over their faces. They rushed to her side at once, the room suddenly alive with movement, their voices overlapping.

"What’s wrong? Did we say something wrong?" Nick demanded, his hand cupping her face, thumb brushing away her tears with urgency.

But Georgia only shook her head, sobs wracking her chest.

"My goodness, why are you crying like that?" Ella’s voice wavered between worry and exasperation, her eyes softening even as she bit her lip, desperate for Georgia to explain.

Georgia wiped at her tears, but more slipped free, shimmering down her cheeks. Her voice trembled as she tried to speak between sobs. "I’m just... happy. My family’s company is standing at the edge of collapse again, but this time..."

Her breath hitched, eyes flicking from one face to another, "...this time I’m not alone. Back then, when everything crumbled, I watched my father and brother fall—helpless, broken—and there was no one to catch them. I was young, naïve... powerless, but I can still remember those times."

Her chest rose and fell sharply, words thick with emotion. "But now—it’s different. I have all of you beside me. You’re giving me the confidence I didn’t even know I still had. How can I ever repay you for this?"

She broke again, tears streaming as her shoulders shook, her voice swallowed by sobs.

Nick immediately pulled her against his chest, strong arms caging her as though daring the world to touch her.

********

Thank you for the Golden Tickets!

Nanie_Garcia_5461

martina_kralj