Nico took me to his home. I told him to keep what happened a secret from my family. I didn't want to worry them. When we arrived, he led me inside, and made me sit on the sofa. He took his first aid kit, and tended to my wounded cheek. He also got an ice pack that I could use to ease the swelling.
"You don't deserve to be treated this way!"
"Nico, I'm fine. But how did you know something happened?"
"Agnes called me, saying you went out of the dean's office looking pale, and that she also saw Kayla with the Dean."
"Oh, Professor Agnes. I didn't know she was nearby."
"If she wasn't, then I wouldn't know something like this happened. For sure, you wouldn't even call me."
"W-Well, nothing big happened."
"Nothing big? Nyx, your cheeks are swollen, you have a wound on one of them. You were hurt because of me." I could see just how angry he was at himself.
"Nico, Kayla hurt me. Not you. So don't blame yourself." I hugged him tightly, he also hugged me back.
"Why was she there in the first place?"
"I don't really know, but I was called out to go to the Dean's office. When I got there, she was already inside."
"What were you discussing inside? What did she say?"
"The dean did all the talking. He said that Mrs. Stratford was there to fix her marriage with Mr. Stratford. He really emphasized Kayla's surname. Repeatedly."
"But that's not her surname anymore. She signed the divorce papers the other day. So why is she targeting you now?"
"Wait, what? Nico, I thought you said she refused?"
"She did at first. But I told my lawyer to handle it. Or I'll file a case against her. Since she took all the money I've saved up before going to that conference."
"The heck? She really got nerves of steel."
"She thought I wouldn't be able to trace that money. She spent them all on her lover. That money became my ground for her to sign the divorce. She wouldn't be getting anything from me. Since, $1.8 million wasn't just earned for a day."
"Oh my God! She spent all that money?"
"She did. I don't really mind it now. I can always earn them back. At least now, I'm not tied to her anymore."
"So, she already signed, but what is she up to?"
"That, maybe she's trying to hold me down again."
"That woman! You know, I think she and the dean have something going on. The dean was defending her rather than mediating."
"I don't really care what she's doing with her life now. But going after you? This is something I can't brush off. She'll pay for hurting you."
"Nico, I'm really okay. You don't have to do anything." He gently grabbed my shoulders, and looked me in the eye.
"No Nyx, she should know that hurting the person I love have consequences."
"Whatever you'll do, don't do anything reckless."
"I won't. I promise."
He gave me a warm embrace. Nico, gently graze my cheek, down to my chin. From there, he played with my lips a little, before giving me a kiss. It was gentle, and soft. I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting myself melt with his kisses. He paused for a bit, eyes gazing at mine, like asking permission if I'm okay with what his doing. I smiled at him. Then he kissed me back, this time, our tongues did the talking. The kiss became deeper, and more passionate. His hands caressing my back, while pressing his body against mine. We both stopped, gasping for air.
"T-That was intense." I whispered. "It's quite different, from when Nathan forced himself on me." Nico's gaze seemed to change. His seemed hurt.
"Nyx, I'll do everything to make you forget what happened. What you've experienced with Nathan was traumatic, I won't force my way with you. I'll respect your boundaries, and I'll wait for you. No matter how long." He pulled me close to him and made me lean on his chest. I could smell his scent. It's really soothing. I closed my eyes, and was able to sleep to immediately.
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer at the sofa. Nico's not with me either. I scanned the room, for sure, I'm in Nico's bed. I got out of the bed, and went to check my face on the mirror. My face wasn't swollen anymore. And the wound was not that visible. I went out of the room, and navigate my way around his house. I didn't open any other doors or went inside a different room. I respect his privacy of course. I went down the stairs when I heard a voice. It was Nico's. I went to where he was and waved at him. He smiled at me, gesturing me to come over. I hugged him and he hugged back. He kissed my forehead, while he was still talking on the phone.
"About the case, please file it. Make sure she wouldn't be able to do anything again. And if you could manipulate the fine. Make it something big, to dry her funds." He ended the call after giving out his instructions.
"Nico, can I ask what was that about?"
"I'm just making sure Kayla won't bother you anymore." He gave me a light kiss and led me to the table. "Hungry? I can whip up something right now."
"Yeah, I'm a bit hungry."
"Then stay right here and watch me cook."
"Of course, you look more handsome with an apron." I teased him, and he just grinned. "By the way Nico, I'm absent from my class today. What am I supposed to say to my parents when I get home?"
"About that, I'm sorry for doing something without your permission. But, I called your father and told him what happened. I'll take full responsibility for what Kayla did." He stopped chopping and made his way to me. He grabbed my hands and kissed them.
"What permission? If it's just calling my father, I can understand that. Is there something else you want to tell me?"
"Nyx, tomorrow, together with your family, we'll go to your school. We will get your credentials, and transfer you to a much better school."
"What?"
"Also, your parents will be filing a case against the dean. I'll help them move forward with this. They are determined to protect you. And, they didn't even blame me for this." I could see tears forming in his eyes.
"Nico, they won't blame you. Never. They don't just fight a battle without knowing the details first."
"I know, and I'm thankful. All I did was love you, but you gave me a loving family instead. I will protect not just you, but also your family."
He cried in silence, and just let his tears fell down in front of me. Nico was very vulnerable at the moment. A side, I got to witnessed for myself. He wiped his tears off and smiled. Then he went back to cooking. This time, with a light heart.
After cooking, we shared a meal together. He even served me food and fed me. He treated me like a Queen. I stayed on his house for a bit before going home. He drove me home, but when I asked him to stay for a bit, he refused, saying he's meeting with a friend.
"Text me when you get home after meeting with your friend okay?" I pouted. I don't want him to leave.
"Yes, I will. Go inside now."
"A-And your friend is not a woman right?" I heard him laughed.
"I'm meeting with my lawyer and no, he's not a woman."
"Just making sure. Okay be on your way now or you'll be late."
"Such a jelly bean." He even reached out just to poke my nose. I just giggled. I went inside the house, he made sure that I'm inside before he left.
The next day at school, my family and I, also Nico, were waiting at the dean's office. Not just us, but Nico's lawyer was with us too. The dean was so surprised for the unexpected visit.
"Good morning everyone, what brings you all here to my humble office?" I could see him sweating.
"Good morning Dean Carlos. It's so nice to see you again. The last time I was here was, when you and the school director fired me. How's everything so far?" Nico's voice was firm, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh Mr. Stratford, it was the director's decision at that time. I'm only following what I've been told."
"You don't have to be so defensive dean, I'm not here because of that. As you can see, my girlfriend's family is here with me."
"Y-Yeah, I can see that. What may I help them with?" The dean can't stop wiping off his sweat. He seemed pretty nervous this time.
"I heard someone came here and hurt my daughter. And that someone wasn't even working in this school. And the matter being discussed at that time wasn't even school related but an outside case. So tell me dean, why did you step in?" My father gripped his fist tightly, but mother coax him, and calmed him down.
"T-that was something needed to be discussed with the involved party. And Miss Blake's presence was requested my the complainant."
"What did my daughter do?"
"S-She interfered with a married couples--- the thing was, she got involved between Mr. Stratford and his wife's marriage."
"If my understanding is correct, you're saying my daughter became Nico's mistress. Is that it?" My father became even more furious.
"That's basically it." The dean, kept fixing his sitting position every now and then. My father was about to stand up but Xavier stopped him. And gestured to look at Nico's way. He saw just how furious Nico was too.
"Look here dean, it seemed like the information you have wasn't even confirmed or factual. Kayla came here yesterday claiming to fix our marriage right?"
"Y-Yes that's right Mr. Stratford."
"Did she even say that she signed the divorce papers the day before?"
"N-No she didn't say anything about that."
"And for the record, my relationship with Nyx was right after Kayla signed the divorce. So technically speaking, Nyx never became a Mistress. I was officially divorced when I courted her." Nico walked towards the dean, he stood behind him, with arms crossed, and leaned on the wall.
"Mr. Stratford, I don't have the slightest idea about that. Mrs. Stratford came to me crying, that you never talked to her, and that she came to reconcile with you. But she didn't know that you were fired."
"And that's why she asked for Nyx? She's no longer a Stratford dean. Please don't let things get mix up. I'm in front of my girlfriend's family. I don't want them to think that I'm still tangled in such absurdity."
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Stratford. I'll keep that in mind."
"Now that's settled, let's move to the reason why we're here in the first place."
"May I know what it is?" The dean felt pressured, we can see it in his face. I just sat there, watched everything played out right in front of me. Nico's serious about taking full responsibility to what happened to me.
"I'll let my lawyer handle everything moving forward." Nico sat beside me. While his lawyer walked in front of the dean. He then opened his briefcase and handed him some documents.
"Dean Carlos, if you have time, please read this documents thoroughly. If you read this now, you won't even be able to digest its contents. So I suggest for you to sit down with your lawyer." Nico's lawyer fixed his glasses in place before going back to his seat.
Dean Carlos, with the documents in hand, scanned a bit through them. His eyes widened, and he suddenly looked pale. There's something in those documents that made him react like that. Silence filled the room, till Nico's voice broke it.
"Since you've got your hands full at the moment, we will get going now. Be sure to give my lawyer a call after running through those documents. Also, Nyx will be transferring. She doesn't deserve to be unfairly treated by the school."
"Ahmm, Mr. Stratford about that. We can talk this one out. For sure Miss Blake have friends here already. Right Miss Blake?" He looked my way with that fake smile of his.
"I don't really mind transferring. For a year and a half in this school, I don't feel any attachment to it." I smiled back at him, and I saw how he furrowed his brows while keeping that fake smile.
"You heard her. So Dean Carlos, good luck moving forward."
We left the dean's office and went directly to the registrar's office. There, I got all my credentials. I don't have any friends to bid my farewell, so we just left the school immediately. We stopped over a restaurant and had our lunch there. Nico reserved us a table beforehand. It felt like we had an outing instead of facing the dean. After the meal, Nico's lawyer bid his goodbye. My family also told Nico and I that they'll be going home first. They insisted that, Nico and I should be on our own, and since the school I'm going to transfer to was owned by someone Nico's close with.
The school we went to was pretty big. And since I majored in Business Management at my previous school, taking that same major will be a bit out of place. The school I'm stepping my foot on now, was known as a tech giant's campus. Where students' innovative spirit runs free within. Nico held my hand as we head inside a pretty big building. Someone from the inside met us half way and shook hands with Nico.
"Long time no see Nico! It's been years since you step foot in here." A man on a white lab coat, I'm guessing in his late 60's, was so happy to see him. "And who's this pretty lady beside you? You're daughter?" I raised my brows upon hearing what he said. So I clinged even more tightly to Nico's arm.
"Haha you're still funny Mr. Francoise. This is my girlfriend Nyx. The one I talked to you about on yesterday's call."
"Oh, so this is the lady who I should be thanking the Gods with!" He happily patted my shoulders.
"Hey hey, be gentle. She's fragile." Nico brushed his hands off. But the old man just laughed it out.
"Come here both of you. Let's go to my office."
We followed him inside the elevator. His office was at the 3rd basement. I never thought such school have basements underneath it. Since the elevator's walls were made of glass, I could see every floor we passed by. Computers, machines, and so much more. They truly lived up to their name as tech giant. When we got to his office, his desk was so messy that Nico couldn't help but pick the documents up before even fully getting inside.
"You're still as messy as always." Their interactions seemed natural. That they've been in that particular situation all the time.
"Only age's number changes Nico. Not the habit." He laughed a lot, and Nico just shrugged. "So what's the lady's name?"
"I'm Nyx Blake." I answered timidly.
"Don't try something funny Mr. Francoise. I warn you."
"Oh, I'm so scared. The little boy grew up and now he talks back. I'm so sad." The old man kept teasing Nico, but he didn't seemed bothered by it even just for a bit.
After Nico's satisfied with the emergency clean up he had to do. We sat down on the sofa. Mr. Francoise offered us something to drink. When he judged that I'm now more relaxed, we then began talking about my transfer to the school.
"Nico, I never thought you'll voluntarily come back to this school."
"Well, for 18 years, I've been running away, cowardly refusing to face anything, I've decided it's time to do something about it." I could sense sadness in his tone.
"I can't blame you, you were just 16 at that time."
"Yeah, and I blamed myself everyday since then."
"You don't look like that now. Your face seemed brighter, even as you aged."
Listening to both of them talk, I knew there was something in the past that Nico's been trying to avoid. I really admire him for finally facing it, and for deciding not to run away anymore. I promised myself that, this time, I'll be his support. That no matter what he'll go through, I'll stand beside him, and always reach out to him. I'll stay beside him, and won't ask anything. I'll wait just like how he waited for me to open up. This time, I'll be his strength and I'll always tell him I love him.