shuhaige
Unsettled
Nikolai’s POV
I hated the fact that everyone stayed out of my way today. They all did their jobs quickly and efficiently, not giving me a chance nor reason to complain or yell. All it did was irritate me. I needed some kind of outlet, some kind of release. I just needed a medium to let out all the pain I was feeling. But I couldn’t find any. It was obviously because they weren’t trying to be careful on this particular day.
It was Elle’s death anniversary. Although I had spent years trying to forget it, and hoping that I would wake up one day and not remember the date, it never went away, it just kept stinging like a fresh wound.
I couldn’t afford to be distracted today, I needed to secure a very important contract for the company. I had been preparing for this particular meeting for weeks now, so nothing was allowed to mess it up. Downing the cup of coffee I had asked for, I wiped my lips and settled in to drive to my destination.
The first face I saw when I walked out of the elevator was the very man I was here to see. Richard Lowe stopped in his tracks when we nearly bumped into each other. His face broke into a smile when he saw me.
“Slade, good to see you!”
I stretched my arm out for a handshake. “Same here, man. I’m here to see you. For the meeting?” I added, wondering if he had forgotten.
He nodded. “Yes, of course. I wanted to be the one to usher you in, but you’re here earlier than expected. Please, after you.”
We walked the short distance to his office, exchanging pleasantries and catching up the whole way. I wouldn’t call Richard Lowe my friend. He was just a very influential figure in the business world that I had run into on several occasions, like parties and such.
I cleared my throat when I sat, taking out my laptop and flash drive to start the pitch when he raised a hand to stop me. “You’ll be able to start in a few minutes. We have to wait for the representative of the other company to arrive.”
I cocked an eyebrow. I had thought I was the only candidate. But nevertheless, I nodded. I was confident that my work would impress him anyway. After a while he excused himself to escort my competition up here. I nodded stiffly, annoyed that a lot of time was going to waste. To distract myself, I whipped out my phone and began to scroll through it.
The sound of booming laughter from outside the office brought my attention back to the imminent meeting. I could hear Lowe exchange pleasantries with the other person. As I rolled my eyes, annoyed about the delay, I heard the sound once more. That eerily familiar laughter. My heart skipped a beat but I shook my head wildly, scoffing. My mind was just playing with me. This was probably as a result of all the stress from work.
“Fuck,” I rubbed my forehead in circles. I needed to calm down for one second.
I sat up straighter when I heard the door open. Out of curiosity, I turned to see if my competition was a familiar face in industry. When my eyes met his, I felt my knees go weak and I stared back at those eyes in shock.
Jonas Verbeck cocked an eyebrow at the sight of me, and then he let out a low laugh. “Well, well, well, who would’ve guessed. Nikolai Slade, long time no see.” Giving one last laugh, he fell into the chair opposite me and sent me a smirk, relaxing back into the chair.
Rage pumped through my veins as I stared at the man who had caused me misery for eight years. My wolf growled in pain and I had to dig my fingers into the leather to keep from jumping across the room and ripping his throat out.
There was a human present… I couldn’t do it..
Tears of frustration threatened to spill from my eyes as I fought past my breaking point.
“Are you okay?” Lowe’s voice floated into my thoughts. My lips trembled so much that I wasn’t sure I could say a word without giving it away. My temperature had shot up and I could feel tremors up my arm.
“Yeah, you look a little… unsettled,” Jonas added.
My jaw clenched as I began to count from one to ten inaudibly.
Lowe looked at me confused for a while and then he cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re both wondering why the other is here. Well, you both own two of the most successful companies in a good number of states right now, and it was extremely difficult for me to just select one of you when you’re both capable of getting the job done. So I decided to have this meeting where you both would pitch your incredible ideas to me, then I’d pick which works best for me. If that’s understood, we may begin.” He turned to me. “Nikolai, you’re up.”
My wolf continued to growl, threatening to break free. I gripped the flash drive so hard that it shattered into tiny pieces. Lowe gave me another concerned look.
“Is anything the probl-”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
“I’m fine!” I growled without meaning to.
Grabbing my suitcase, I popped it open and grasped the files I had prepared in case something went wrong with the flash drive. I stood, files in hand and began to flip through them. But I was so blinded by rage that I could not read the words on the paper.
Jonas was seated here. Right here. I could easily have my revenge right now. I could avenge Elle and the gloomy eight years I had spent in pain. He was right there with a smirk on his face. Because he knew I was powerless… there was absolutely nothing I could do. My hands shook so hard that the papers began to fall. I clenched my fingers and turned around, grabbing my suitcase and making for the door.
“I’m sorry I can’t do this.”
I didn’t wait to hear what Lowe had to say. I knew I had already lost it. Jonas would get the contract… the same one I had spent weeks strategizing on and preparing for. I had lost the contract, I had let Jonas walk away free when I could have torn him into pieces and gotten my revenge. I had no choice but to let him go…
On Elle’s death anniversary.
I gripped my hair in my fingers, letting out a howl in pain as I punched the side of my car, making the side mirror fall and crumple on the floor.
I felt the blood flow from my knuckles but it didn’t make me feel any better. It wasn’t real pain. It would heal… I would be okay in a few minutes. But nothing else would change.
I launched myself into the driver’s seat, turning on the ignition and zooming off. I needed something strong to take my mind off today.