CHAPTER 111: – LEAVE –

Rafael was on the floor at Viviana’s feet. But Viviana was staring at him. No, her head was lifted, gazing at Nikolas who looked crazed with anger.

She’d never seen him like this.

This Rafael wasn’t even a little man and he’d beaten him like a little kid.

Rafael tried to speak, forced himself to. "Shh...shh—orhh...rrhyy. Ahm...ss-sory. I’m ss-sorrry."

Nikolas kicked him aside.

He glanced at the other one still knelt on the floor. His eyes were blown wide and bulging out of his socket.

He saw Nikolas approaching him with clear intent in his eyes, but before he could even run, Nikolas kicked him so hard he dropped to the floor, passing out instantly.

"Useless. Can’t even take a single kick." Nikolas felt disgusted, taking out his handkerchief to wipe his hands and the little blood that got on his shirt. "Ew."

He turned to Viviana and stalked toward her. Before she could even say a word, he lifted her with ease, throwing her over his shoulder.

"Put me down, Nikolas."

"We’re going home."

"We?"

"Yes, we."

"Do you think you’ll get away with this?"

"Get away with what?" He rolled his eyes. "Taking my stubborn wife home?"

"No, beating those two idiots up like that." Viviana glared at him. "Are you even sure they are still alive?"

Nikolas pulled the door up, sat her into the car, and buckled her seat belt. He didn’t move back after, but instead stared her dead in the eyes. "Why wouldn’t they be?"

"You’re a mad man."

"When needed be, yes, I am," he said. "If they didn’t want to get beat up, they’d have learn to be a gentleman. And I’m more than sure I’ve taught them that."

He shut the door, pulled the sleeves of his shirt to his forearm before rounding the car to the driver’s side.

Viviana wouldn’t speak to him throughout the ride, not even when he talked nor when they arrived at the penthouse.

She stepped out hurriedly and stalked through the entrance glass door of the penthouse. He followed behind her, all the way to the glass elevator.

"Are you going to keep following me?"

"I missed you," he said to her firmly.

She narrowed her eyes at him, and clicked the button, closing the doors before he could get in.

Nikolas grinned at her. "Funny." He walked out of the penthouse and lifted his head to stare at the see-through elevator that was gliding up upward along the tower.

Viviana could see him below and he didn’t need to hear it. But she scoffed. That however only made him smile.

Viviana rolled her eyes, averting her gaze to the buildings with lights. A spectacular view. But her focus shattered the next moment, because out of nowhere, Nikolas shot into her view, startling her so much, she staggered, falling on her buttom.

He’d scaled up the building with nothing but speed, now floating in midair, hands in his pocket and a shit-eating grin on his face.

She couldn’t hear what he said as he kept pace with the elevator. But she could read his lips. "You forget I’m not human, sweetheart."

Viviana was frozen, air lodged in her throat. Her widened eyes were locked on him. She couldn’t look away from him, unsure if it was from amazement or fright.

How could this be possible?

He was flying right straight up, but with the speeding pace of the elevator, clearly following her. No ropes, nothing holding him, nothing carrying him. Just his body cutting through the air like he had no gravity.

Viviana moved closer subconsciously, pressing her hands against the glass, her big eyes locking onto his.

Nikolas hunched while still maintaining his pace with the elevator, and gave a charming smile at her. "Like what you see, wife?"

Her mouth would open and close, not knowing what to say. She tilted her head up when he further flew up, going faster than the elevator completely out of her sight.

At the ninety-ninth floor, the doors dinged open and she hurried out, quickly rushing her way to her apartment. And just as expected, Nikolas was right there, leaned against the wall, ankles crossed, and his hands pocketed.

"How did you..." Viviana’s face was twisted in confusion. "You just..."

But she composed herself, stalked closer and pressed her palm against the door. The device read her palm print and the door clicked open. She stepped inside, turned and glared at him before he could follow her in.

"I didn’t say you could come in, Nikolas. Back off."

"Why are you doing this to me, Viviana?" Nikolas asked, pressing both hands on either side of the door hinge.

She huffed, "I want you to leave me alone."

"Do you really?"

"There’s nothing between us anymore."

"That’s not true."

"Nikolas."

"I love you, Viviana."

"I do not care."

"Yes, you do."

"Leave."

"I love you."

"Stop it."

"I love you, Viviana."

Viviana’s lashes flickered, and her face grew mad. "Don’t."

"But I do," Nikolas said to her. "And nothing can and will change that."

She scoffed, "Yeah, right."

"You don’t have to believe me. But you’ve got to give me a chance to show you. Don’t push me away like this. It’s not fair."

She glared at him. "You do not get to ever decide what is fair and what isn’t."

"But it isn’t fair. Don’t be like this to me." His tone and expression was begging. "I can’t leave you alone even if I want to. I can’t stop loving you even if you force me to. You don’t understand what you do to me. I can’t think, I forget to breathe, I can’t even sleep. Do you intend to be like this to me forever? Hate me? Even though you love me?"

"Nonsense!" Viviana’s pupils widened. "Who... who said I love you?" she choked out.

"You’re such a terrible liar, sweetheart." He leaned in slowly, his face lowering until it hovered just inches from hers. "You know you love me."

His eyes locked on hers, unblinking, his hot breath brushing against her lips though he didn’t close the distance.

The closeness was suffocating, Viviana’s chest tightened. She couldn’t turn away, not from his pinning gaze or the heat of him. Her gaze dropped, falling to his lips and she swallowed.

But just like him, she didn’t move an inch to close that nearness.

Instead, she forced out, "Please. Le... Leave."

Nikolas lingered, reaching up his hand to take off the wing. He wiped off the mole she’d drawn on, saying, "These don’t suit you." And then he moved in, lowering his head till he could whisper into her ears. "I’m going to keep trying, no matter how many times you push me away or lie that you don’t love me, I will keep trying. You are the woman I love and I refuse to give you up. I will make you understand just how persistent and determined I can be because of you. I will show what it’s like to be truly loved. You think I’ll give up on you? No. I can embrace your pain, your fears, everything you are. Don’t underestimate my perseverance."

"...Now have a good night, baby girl. I’ll leave you for now." He left her kiss on her cheek, taking steps back, before leaving.

Viviana? She was frozen like a statue.