AFTER THE LIES, LOVE LED US

CHAPTER 4: LOVES UNFOLD ❣️

************Mrs Donald pov

I smiled,my plans were working,Paula was a smart girl just like her father,with time everything would be just as I wanted it and my sons especially Nicholas who was so stubborn would be at my mercy

I picked up my phone and texted a number 'things are going as planned,get ready....."

I smiled.

******Paula pov

I don't know why but I guessed I woke up on the bright side,I just felt happy,I had to enjoy the moment cause I knew once I see Nicholas' face or gear his voice every thing was going to change,I played music and was happily dancing to it,I got prepared for work and walked outside my room and for the first time in my whole life...I was the first person up,I knew that they would all be surprised,I had to make breakfast,I looked at the clock and sighed bowing my head,I was too early,I woke up before my alarm,I had to make breakfast,I wore an apron and prepared breakfast,Zoey walked to me"Sis are you okay?" She asked

"Uh hum" I said nodding

"Daddy"Zoey called

"Shh don't disturb him" i said

"He's up already"she barely finished her statement when dad walked into the dinning and was surprised to see me too"Paula are you okay?" He asked

"Now I'm getting pissed,what do Y'all mean?"

"It's just unlike you,tell us about him "Zoey said blushing

"There's no him,the only him in my life is daddyy"I defended myself

"Hmmm then what's behind the glowing smile? waking up early to make breakfast?"dad asked

They were both suspicious of me"can we just eat,the food is getting cold "

**********

We finished eating and I was ready to go to work,I went outside, Nicholas and Ethan were already standing outside waiting

"Uhm hii"I said,I was really confused,I just felt like fainting

"Let me drop you at work?"Ethan politely asked, looking so gentle and cute

"Paula get into the car we have a lot to do with less time"my boss said with his usual authoritative tone,he was so full of himself.

I was confused,I really wanted to follow Ethan,but I could not I had to avoid Nicholas' trouble,Ethan walked to me and gently rubbed my cheek"he's your boss and it would be rude to turn him down, just go with him,I'll just spend little time with dad and Zoey and probably help with the restaurant before coming to work"

"Ethan you..." I tried telling him not to bother but he cut in

"Shhh" he said,hid index finger was on my lip,all the butterflies in my stomach rose up"I don't really have much work to do today "

"Enough with love play or talk whatever, Paula get into the car"Nicholas said,I got really pissed,I hugged Ethan and got into Nicholas_ car

********Nicholas pov

I drove to the office feeling very annoyed, I could not stop wondering if anything was going on between my brother and Paula,I was not jealous It only irritated me because it was so unprofessional,she was my secretary so why did he bother about picking and dropping her off at work? She was Mr Smith's daughter and I only helped her with the lift to reduce the cost of transportation so that they can save more,there were no string attached and I was also trying to protect her from Ethan,I did not trust him,I stole glances at her at every little opportunity that I got,she kept looking through the window she was obviously annoyed

"I didn't enter the house cause I did not want to steal your peace"I said, trying to start up a conversation "but I got there before Ethan" I said,I knew it was not necessary but I had nothing else in mind to say and I knew I needed to say something "I'm sorry though"

She was really mad,she did not even look at me

"Is Ethan your boyfriend?"

"Do you have a problem with that sir?"she turned to me.

"Not really,you look cute together"

"Thank you" she replied and turned away,I was really pissed,I should not have talked to her at all,the drive to the office was so quiet

*******Paula pov

I was really pissed what was up with Nicholas,he was such a pain in the neck 'wait....he heard when I said he stole my peace'i said 'ohhh nooo'i used my palm to gently hit my fore head,I was so surprised and shocked when he said it in the car,I could not even defend myself,I was really lucky that he changed the topic else I wondered what would have happened to me, he really would not do anything mean though because of my dad

***********

It was lunch time,I knew Ethan or Nicholas would bring lunch or probably both of them will bring and my boss would command me to pick his,if it happened then it would be my more better cause I could eat the two food unlike the cars, I felt like a queen though,I was not happy about the fact that they both had issues because of me but come to think of it I felt so special

"Let's go for lunch"Nicholas said

"Uhm..."

"You don't say no to your boss"he said not allowing me to refuse,I hesitated for a while then I stood up and we went outside, he took us to a restaurant and we made our orders,I was not comfortable eating before him but I had no other choice.

He looked a bit cuter while eating,I did not let it get into my head anyways

"Are you shy?"he asked,he was not looking at me but was obviously enjoying his meal

"No I .."I tried to talk,I was rubbing my palms under the table

"Liar,I've noticed you for a while,feel free, nobody is going to bite you or does the food bite?"

I shook my head negatively "or it's not good enough?"

"No it's okay"

"If you don't like it next time we can go to your dad's restaurant to eat"

"No that's too far,this is really delicious trust me,it's just I... Feel like the world is looking at me right now?" I lied,I cared less about who was watching me,I was not comfortable eating with him

"So I'm the world? Cause I know you pretty well" he said

"No" I was short of words,I began to eat to avoid more questions,he was such an ass

**************

It was Saturday morning and I was happy cause no work

"Paulaaa"Zoey called knocking at my door

"There's no work today,it's Saturday remember?" I shouted

"You're such a lazy ass, someone is here to see you open the damn door now and just take a good look to your right,raise your head up a bit and on the table beside your bed lies a clock, check out the time" she said and walked away,I murmured and threw my legs on the bed,I checked the time and it was almost afternoon,I wondered who came to see me,I smiled,I knew it was Ethan I stood up and washed my face,I opened the door and almost fainted...

What the hell was he doing here???????

*******Nicholas pov

She was obviously surprised to see me,she obviously just woke up,I had not come to her room in years,I did not care,I only wanted to wish her a happy birthday cause no matter what happened she was my mom"happy birthday Mrs Donald"I said and handed over to her a small box

"Is that what it is now?" She added "Mrs Donald?"

" I have a lot of work to do before the party please excuse me" I said and walked away,I could feel her gaze on me until i left,I fought the temptation to look back and went straight to my room

********Paula pov*****

"Paulaaa" I heard Zoey scream,I woke up,I looked around,it was just a dream, Nicholas would not even bother to come to my house on a weekend,I sighed "it's Saturday Zoey" I said

"Yes but Mrs Donald invited us for a party remember?"

"Ohhhh" I jumped out of my bed,I totally forgot,I ran outside my room,Zoey was preparing to go to the rest "aren't you going?" I asked her

" I don't think so,dad is not strong enough,who will take care of him cause you obviously need to be there" she said

" Yeahh true"

"We'll all go,she invited us and you know how pissed she'll get if we don't go"dad said walking into the sitting room,Zoey and I turned to him

"Dad your health matters more" i said

"It's almost two weeks after the surgery I'm stronger"

"We insist dad"

"Then I'll call my sister to look over Me today you both enjoy yourselves"

"Dad I can't leave you"Zoey said

"I'm your dad not your baby"

"Dad you're sooo stubborn" I complained

*************"*

It was party time,dad, Zoey and I were already dressed up,I knew Nicholas would come pick us up cause Ethan was going to pick up his girlfriend,I wore an ash handless long gown and heels,I had make up on and Zoey helped me fix my hair, we were almost done when Nicholas' car drove in,he knocked once on the door and opened it

***Nicholas pov

I opened the door and I could not believe my eyes,she looked so elegant and I could not help but admire,the gown was perfect on her, I doubt if there was any perfect word to describe her beauty,I was lost in it "you look beautiful" I had to say

She blushed a bit" thank you,you look great"

I could not feel my legs, she complimented me,I did not know why it affected me,I always knew I was good looking,I tried hard to hide the fact that I was blushing

"If we keep standing here the party would be over and you both would keep staring endlessly at each other"Mr Smith said,I did not realise he entered the sitting room,we all went to the car and I drove to the party, luckily we did not run into an accident because I found it really hard to stop staring at Paula

*****Paula pov

Nicholas' looks gave me butterflies in my tommy,I felt really uncomfortable,he stole glances at me throughout the whole drive,I wondered if I was that pretty,we got down and he held my hand and walked Me inside,I could not stop blushing,his height was just so perfect, he had this cute face, people murmured softly when we walked passed them,if there was any good thing I could say about Nicholas is that he was one of the few rich sons of a CEO who was not a play boy,Ethan was one once but luckily he changed... Nicholas was ushered into the high table and he took me along,Mrs Donald smiled widely at me,I could see the evil in her eyes and any other person would think it was out of love, Nicholas was such a gentleman, Ethan and his girlfriend was sitting directly opposite us,I waved at her smiling and she did the same shyly,I chuckled,she was a very shy person but she was sweet and a talkative around people she was free with

"Ethan has a girlfriend?" Nicholas asked,he was surprised

"Yes" I replied nodding

"I thought you both...?"

"We're just really good friends, he's my closest friend,my only rather" I said,I did not know why but I felt really free with Nicholas

"Care for wine?" He asked,I nodded and he poured in some in a glass and gave it to me

"Careful though,the alcohol level is high" he whispered in my ear

I nodded,he poured some for himself too and we sipped the same time "like it?" He asked

I nodded and drank a mouthful

"That's enough Paula"he said and took the glass from my hand

"I want more" I complained

" I'll get you one,you can finish it alone if you want but not now,not here" he said

" I want it today,you'll never be this sweet again" I did not know when that came out but it already did,I could not unsay it

"I promise today at the end of the party,I'll get you one" he said and rubbed my hair gently,I nodded,I did not know of the drink gave me guts but I talked to him like I was his boss throughout the party and surprisingly he was so obedient

It was time to dance,he offered his hand and I took it,we went to the dancing floor and began to dance " you look so beautiful" he whispered in my ear,the butterflies began to dance in my stomach,I almost tripped but he caught me" thank you" I whispered back,I was totally in love with him for the night,I did not want the night to end ..it was so beautiful

***********AFTER THE PARTY

" You ready to go now?" He asked softly,I shook my head negatively,he asked one of the drivers to take dad and Zoey home,he said something to dad,I did not hear what it was though,we waved and they left

"Where do you want to go?" He asked.

" I want to watch the stars,and my drink"

"Sure" he took my hand and we walked away,we got into his car and he drove away,I kept on drinking in the car

**Nicholas pov

I took the drink forcefully from her hand

"Heyy"she complained,she was totally wasted

"Uhm we'll drink more when we get to the field" I said

"Okay" she replied,she kept staring at the stars and smiling through the window until we got to the field,we laid a mat and sat on it

"Stars are beautiful" she said smiling she pointed at one "could that be my mom?" She asked and a tear dropped from her eyes,I used my thumb finger to wipe it off,she was so cute

"She's nothing like your mom" she said " she's an angel and your mom is a devil"

My heart skipped a beat,I breath in and out,she was saying the truth,I could not get pissed"I had one Mom,I lost her,had another one and I still lost her,I hope my first Mom is still alive and I find her soon" she said,I was confused but I had to let her say all she had to

"None of my mom were cruel as yours,your mom doesn't love you,I have a secret" she whispered

" What is it?"

" You're such a gossip,I won't tell that's why it's called a secret besides your mom said she'll kill me and anybody I tell,I don't want you getting hurt"

I shivered,she said she did not want me getting hurt,I blushed but I wondered what it was Mom told her" she asked me to do something really bad to you to get money for my dad's surgery,I had to,dad is all I've got,I lost my first dad,he adopted me and loved me like his own daughter,it's the least I can do right?"she asked

I nodded,I felt so bad for her,I did not know why" all my life do I have to run from people,I had to run as a child from those evil men who had my mom and I guess I'll run from you and your mom so my family and I won't get hurt too" she said" run from her too she can hurt you" she whispered

" You said you didn't want me getting hurt,why is that?" I asked,I was eager to know,I did not know why but I just needed her to tell me what I wanted to hear"I don't want you getting hurt too cause Paula...you mean so much to me"

She laughed"you too,I guess I like you,no love . just for tonight though,you're such an ass" she said

"So tomorrow you won't love me anymore?" I asked

She nodded, tonight you're Nicholas..no you're my Nicholas, tomorrow you become Nicholas Donald,you become just like your mom,you're a mini devil"she said.

"I love you Paula" I said

"Liar you and your mom only love yourselves" she said she stretched her hand " I want more drink"

"I have to take you home"

"Noooooo I don't want dad to see me in this state,I can sleep out you know" she said

"Okay let me book you a hotel" I said,I carried her and drove her to a hotel,I checked in and laid her on the bed "you're going already?" She asked

"No I can't leave you here,I'll stay with you"

"You know tomorrow you'll become a totally different person,so hug me"she said and sat up,her arms were wide open,I hugged her tightly,age smelled so good "you're so sweet today,I know it's impossible but I hope you remain like this forever" she said,I never knew she talked so much,she was always quiet whenever we were together

"I promise" I said,I pulled back and looked at her face,she looked so cute ,I held her jaw and drew her face closer to mine,she did not resist,I had to take the chance because I knew that the next day she was going to be a totally different person and I may never get to do it again,I was not a p*****t,I had to be a gentleman so I asked "can I?" She nodded positively,our eyes were locked inside each other,I moved closer and kissed her,she responded and I was not willing to stop,after a while I had to stop before she got out of control,she was drunk and doing anything more in that state would not be out of her own will but the effect of the alcohol"time to sleep" I said and gently laid her back on the bed,I picked her forehead,cheek and lip"good night Paula,I love you " she blushed and yawned then she slept off,I could not help but admire her sleeping face,I was very sure they referred to her whenever they said sleeping beauty,I laid beside her making sure I kept my distance and slept off

***********Paula pov

The sun shone directly at my face,I had a very heavy headache,it was just a dream,I shook my head negatively,I tried to sit up and a voice said "careful" I widened my eyes,I looked up and it was Nicholas "I got pain relief for you for your head ache" he said sweetly

I looked around,it was not a dream after all,I looked up at him,he handed a bottle water and the pills to me,I silently collected them and took it,I felt so ashamed of myself,I could not look at him in the eyes,my memory was blurry but I was sure I said or did something stupid,I always did whenever I got drunk

"It's fine Paula you don't have to be shy"he said,I got pissed,why was he being so sweet,I came down from the bed"uhm sir can I go home now?" I asked I just wanted to be by myself

"Sure" he said and took his car keys.

The drive home was quite,our drive was usually quite but I was uncomfortable about that particular one,I felt so uneasy because of the other night,I knew I had to say something but the right words were not coming,I just decided to stay quiet,we got to my house and I finally said "thank you sir,for last night and I'm sorry if I said anything that hurt you" I said

He chuckled "sure would you like to know what you said?" He asked smiling,I was troubled "yes please"

" You're such a gossip"

Normally I would have gotten pissed but I decided to keep it calm

"Why then did you ask if I wanted to know?"

He laughed" I just told you what you said to me"

Me eyes widened,hell no " I said that?" He nodded"ohh my I'm so sorry"

"Get in both of you and stop the love talk already "Zoey said,she was standing by the door,we both got down and went inside,we sat down and Zoey went to call dad" what more did I say?" I asked curiously

"Story for another day" he said

"But if you don't mind sir what made me say that you're such a gossip?"

"You were saying something about a contract between you and my mom about me to save your dad and killing anybody that you tell"

"Ohhh nooo!" I exclaimed

"Don't worry you didn't say what the contract was, and I won't ask,don't think I'm ready to die or loose you yet",he said,I secretly sighed,I looked at him

"Ready to loose me?" I asked

"You said you cared about me and you don't want to loose me so you won't tell,well same here but whatever it is Paula I'm here for you " he adjusted facing me,he took my hand"my mom is very dangerous,you wouldn't want to go against her,she has tried killing me once so she won't think before harming you but what ever the issue is I'm always here for you,I know how to get to her now that's why it seems like she prefers me to Ethan,I can destroy her if I want to so she has no choice than to do as I say" he said,he gently rubbed my hair

"Kill you?" I asked and he nodded,I could not believe it,how could she be this wicked I wondered

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter" dad said walking into the sitting room, Nicholas let go of my hand and we both smiled at dad"hi dad" I said

" Your smile is so suspicious" he said pointing his middle finger at me them moving it to Nicholas,we both laughed

" Father" I called

" Mother" he said and we all laughed,we all gisted for a while and Nicholas stood up to go " see you tomorrow Paula,bye" he said and left

" Mrs Donald would not approve of any relationship between the both of you" dad warned

" I know dad, nothing is really going on" I said feeling a bit bad and went to my room

*********

The drive to work was a funny one,though it was quite,he played soft love music through out,we stole glances countless times at each other and anytime we caught each other we laughed and looked away,I could not stop blushing,it felt really good,we got to work and he was not the same wicked old boss I had"get used to the new me" he whispered in my ear,I chuckled,I could not believe it,it felt like a dream,the day was good until I got a text from Mrs Donald,my mood changed immediately,I walked to her office and we were both alone

"Paula I can see you're doing such a great job" she said,I only faked a smile "Nicholas didn't sleep at home on Saturday night so i got it that you were together right?"

I nodded"yes ma"

"And how was it?"

"Was not bad ma"

"He's good huh?"she asked and I got confused

"Ma'am?" I asked looking at her

"It's okay to be shy I mean I don't expect you to share your s****l life with me but make sure you don't get pregnant,I don't want anything to connect you and my son after the deal is over" she said

" I understand your fear ma bit I assure you nothing happened" I said

She laughed " oh please Paula I'm not a kid,it's okay to be shy and don't worry your dad won't find out what you both did,get back to work already before he suspects something "

I sighed in disbelief and walked away,I decided to check on Ethan since his office was not too far from his mother's

I walked in without knowing and he was with his girlfriend"ohh so sorry for disturbing " I said about to leave when she said"oh no Paula it's fine,I was just asking about you"she said sweetly,she was such an angel,I smiled and walked in and sat down"how's work going?" Ethan asked

"You looked so cute at the party,you disappeared all of a sudden with Nicholas "she said

"Ohhh Jasmine I was so drunk " I said feeling a bit embarrassed and she laughed

" You both didn't look like what Ethan told me at all" she said

"Well he's been nice recently and we getting along well" I said

"And hope he's going to pay you even though his mom refuses?"

" Well I signed a contract,it's fine we'll manage "

"Ethan would move out soon,I'm always not comfortable anytime I go visiting and she's around " Jasmine complained,I could feel her" no one feels comfortable around her,I really pity those working close with her " I agreed

"Enough talk of the devil,can we all go out for lunch? When you're on break Paula?"Ethan asked

"Sure" I replied feeling really excited"it's been long we all hanged out" I said

"Well then lunch it is " he said

I stood up"I'll get going now,bye see you guys lunch time"

"Byee" they both replied almost in a unison and I left to my office, Nicholas was there sitting down"coming from my mom's office?"he asked

"Uhm sir..."

"The other night you called me Nicholas,I don't know what it means but I guess I'm cool with it,drop the sir" he said,he had the same authoritative tone but in a sweet way

"I did?" I asked in surprise "I don't know the meaning either or how I got it"

"It's a cute nickname that I'm contended with Paula, back to my question"

My heart skipped a beat,I was hoping he'd change the topic but he didn't "yes sir..I mean Nicholas"

"Boutttt the contract?" He asked,he was playing with a pen on my desk

"No just work" I lied

"You work with me not her,you don't have to lie,I promised I won't meddle,I understand you can't survive without me so you won't say" he said

I looked in up in surprise,what made him think so

"Are you up for lunch? To know what you really told me that night?" He asked,I was so tempted to say yes,I really wanted to know everything I told him but I also wanted to spend time with Ethan and Jasmine

"Sir Nicholas can you make this offer some other time,Ethan, Jasmine and I already have plans for lunch to catch up"

"Sir Nicholas? Lunch catch up plans without me?" He asked with one of his eye brow up"I'll go with you guys" he said and walked into his office,he was just something else,proud and full of himself yet such a sweet soul,I wondered how a person could be a demonic angel.