CHAPTER 103: – I LOVE YOU –

It’d been two days since what happened with Nikolas. She’d wondered if he was okay, or if he even went to the hospital. But she couldn’t seem to call him. Yet her heart was worried for him.

Swallowing, she grabbed her phone and stepped out of her room.

The four maids who’d returned to work since her arrival back in Maison De Vesta deeply bowed to her.

"Good morning, Ms," they said in unison.

Viviana offered a smile. "Good morning. How is your daughter, Caliste?"

The red haired maid quickly beamed, responding, "My daughter is very okay, ma’am. Thank you."

Another maid asked, "How would you like the bath? Warm or very warm? And would you like bubbles?"

"Very warm and yes of course, bubbles would be nice."

"May I ask what you would like to eat?" The maid in charge of the cooking stared inquisitively.

Viviana’s expression dropped slightly. What would she like to have...? What did she enjoy? She felt she didn’t know anymore.

"Madam?"

"Pasta," she responded. "I’ll have just pasta."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else." She shook her head and slipped her feet into her slipper, making her way out into the living room. Her gaze drifted to the door, and before she could even wonder why, she found herself moving over to the door, pulling it open.

Viviana stepped out, turning her head to stare at the elevators that led to the very upper floors of the penthouse.

Nikolas was that Nikolas Bastiani. He lived on the hundredth floor, the king en suite.

’Why have we never met before?’

It’d made no sense. She’d lived in the penthouse for almost a year, before her father even took it. Though this time around, she bought the apartment herself and it was no longer the ninetieth floor.

Instead, she’d gone to the ninety-ninth floor. And right above her, he settled. Why had she even done that? Getting the floor too close to him. Was she hoping to bump into him?

Viviana quickly shook her head. "Of course not. Why ever would I care? It’s nothing like that. I wanted an apartment on the ninety-ninth and I got it. Nothing more." Turning, she stepped back inside, slamming the door shut.

Her fingers squeezed around the phone and unable to swallow the apprehension digging at her chest, she scrolled into her contact, hesitating before dialing a number.

— Francesca —

It went through, and her voice came in on the other side.

[Mommy! I’m going to be late for school. Daddy!] Lucia cried out.

[Give me a second, Lucia, I’m coming. Hello? Who’s this?]

Viviana blinked. "Oh, um. This is Viviana."

[Viviana? Niko’s wife?]

"Y-yes."

[Oh. Is everything alright?]

"Um." Viviana bit down on her lips. "Is he... Well, is he okay?"

[Okay? What do you mean?]

"He was hurt. And I’m trying to find out if he went to the hospital and if he’s alright now."

Francesca was quiet on the side of the phone. Nikolas hurt? How could he be hurt if he could just heal right away. Or did he...

Francesca blew out a deep breath. [Right. He’s hurt. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Viviana. Nikolas is okay]

"Really?"

[Mhm. You sound very worried about him. Why not speak to him yourself? I’m sure that will be good for the both of you]

"Oh. Yeah, right. You have a point." She forced a smile. "Well, thank you for letting me know."

[You’re welco—]

[Mommy! I can’t find my red shoes!]

[You have many red shoes, Lucia]

[But I want this one. Daddy!]

Viviana hung up the phone. She drank in a deep breath before slowly turning to leave the living room. But then her door bell rang.

She paused, turning. She hesitated a bit before walking to the door. There was no one there from the monitor screen by the side. So then who’d rang?

Viviana put in her finger print, unlocking the door. Just as she was about to step out, her gaze dropped to the floor, eyes flickering at the delivered large bouquet of flowers kept

"What is this?" She lifted it and grabbed the card on it, flipping open.

— I love you —

Her eyes flickered. That was the only thing written on and she didn’t need to think twice to know who it was from.

He knew she’d moved from the hotel into the penthouse. He knew she lived exactly on this floor.

Her chest pounded and she dashed out into the hallway, glancing from left to right. Nikolas, he was here.

Keeping the flowers aside, she rushed off, heading towards the security desk, uncaring that she was in her nightdress, and no slipper.

The five security deeply bowed to her. "Good morning, Ms Di-grassi!"

"Where is he?" Viviana asked.

"What?" They were confused.

"The owner of this penthouse. He lives in the king en suite."

They blinked, still confused. "Ma’am—"

"No, listen to me." She shook her head at them, proceeding to explain, "He’s really tall. About six foot six. Green eyes and brown hair. Did you see him?"

"No, ma’am," one of the security responded.

her shoulders slumped. "But how come?" She was sure he was the one who’d brought those flowers to her doorstep. His cologne still lingered after all. He’d been there and she knew she hadn’t lost her mind.

The glass exit door of the penthouse pushed open and Nikolas stood watching. A few people walked in and out. And then, there she was.

Viviana.

She stepped out, dressed in a fitted blue long-sleeved dress, with white lace on the collar, cuffs, and hem. Her hair was left in a bun, a few strands left fallen.

Nikolas stood, staring at her.

He’d been finding it hard to breathe. It felt strange to wake up everyday and she wasn’t there. He missed her presence, her warmth, everything about her, so much that he couldn’t even bring himself to keep staying at that house.

The flowers she’d planted in the pots at the balcony had even bloomed, but it was now just sitting there, possibly to wither if he didn’t go to water them everyday.

"So you’re just going to stand here and keep staring at her?" The sudden voice beside him had him jolting, turning his head to look at Francesca.