TASTE ME: BOUND TO YOU BOTH

CHAPTER THREE: NIKOLAI

“Knight, there is a problem.” Knight jerked awake as the car was pulled to an abrupt stop. He sat up in his seat, and winced when the slight movement caused the pain in his groin hit him again. “What is it?” He groaned. “I have a migraine, Lee.” “Nikolai is here.” Knight jolted, his eyes widening. “Nikolai?” “He’s here with a convoy and they are blocking the entrance to your hotel residence.” "Nikolai. Nikolai cannot be here. Nikolai is trouble. This is bad. Please go see what he wants.”

Lee’s heart skipped a beat. “Knight… I’d advise you go yourself… I…” “Say it, Lee.”. Lee shut his eyes tightly, mustering up the words. “Knight… I… "Say it. Go on. Say that you are scared of little Nikolai. My brother whom I share an age difference of two with. Say it.”. Lee sighed and unbuckled his seat belt, turning to look at Knight from the passenger seat. Bella remained quiet, her hands trembling as she clutched the steering tighter. “Yes, I am afraid of Nikolai. The last time he visited, he fired half your staff and dealt blows to those who persisted. We are all afraid of Nikolai." He paused and looked at Bella. "I think Bella should go in my stead.” Bella’s eyes widened. “Why me?! Are you out of your mind? No, I am not going down to speak to Nikolai. You are Knight’s bodyguard, do your damn job!” “You can’t tell me you fear Nikolai too! You both have never met.”

“I don’t have to meet him to know how ruthless he is. I’ve heard stories and hell no, I am not stepping out of this car for any reason. I am literally trembling so much here that I might piss my pants any moment from now.”. Knight smirked. Everybody was afraid of his little brother. And he perfectly understood them. Nikolai was terrifying. “I think it’s time I get a new manager and bodyguard.” He murmured tiredly, stepping out of the car. Bella and Lee watched in fright as he approached Nikolai’s car. “Why is he here with a f*****g convoy?” “Fifteen cars, Bella. The guy’s crazy.” “I heard he has a maid for every part of his body.”

“Yes he does. He is literally a prince. Has servants at his beck and call. He doesn’t wash himself or lotion himself or dress himself up. He has a different maid for his hair, one for his bath sessions, one to oil his skin… I have never seen a kid as spoilt as him all my life.” “I heard he once fired a maid who was in charge of caring for his hair for letting a strand of his hair break.” “He fired one for taking too long to wash him up. And guess what, they are replaced with new maids almost immediately.". "Just how much maids does he have?” “I heard 30.” “Thirty?!” “Yes, and they all serve him personally. The guy’s a literal prince.” “He is violent too.” “Heartless and brutal. He doesn’t answer when you greet him and fires you when you don’t.”

“The hell is wrong with him?” Lee shook his head. “I have asked myself that question a million times. He is just a devil by nature.”

Everything Lee and Bella knew about Nikolai came from stories shared by his former servants. They had contacted Lee and Bella, asking for their help in reaching out to Knight to plead on their behalf, hoping Nikolai would rehire them.But Nikolai never gave second chances. As the second son of Armand Fointaine, and the second-in-line to Diamond d’Or empire, Nikolai Fointaines was a terror; stoic, cold and derisively mean, he was a nightmare to everyone in the Fointaine’s household. A total opposite of Knight who was literally a sweetheart. Despite the differences in their character, the bond the brothers share and their love for each other was a beautiful sight to behold.

***Nikolai leaned on his car, his arms crossed, eyes fixed ahead. As Knight drew closer, his gaze flickered to his uneven step, and he noticed the slight limp in his stride. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists. What have they done to his brother?“Nicky.” Knight managed a smile, one Nikolai failed to return.“What happened to you?” It wasn’t a question but a demand.Knight ignored it. “Why are you here? And…” He turned and gestured to the fifteen cars blaring their headlights behind him. “Why these?” “I asked what happened to you.” “Nikolai…“i********:, X, t****k… it’s everywhere on the Internet. That some f*****g b***h grabbed your balls at your show tonight. Where is she? I want her brought to me immediately.” “Nikolai, stop being so dramatic. First, why are you here with a convoy? One..two..three..four…fifteen cars? Come on!” “I am a Fointaine and I will f*****g live like one. I demand to take my servants with me everywhere I go.”

“Why exactly?” “Because I’m narcissistic and arrogant, like they say. I pay them well so I will ensure they work for what they’re paid.”.

“Just…just go home, Nikolai. This drama you’re putting up is so unnecessary.” “You are limping, Dante!” “I am not limping because a fan grabbed my balls.”

“Then why…”. “I got kicked…”

Knight immediately regretted spilling.“What?!” “I’m fine, Nikolai. Please go home.”

“Where is that incompetent, overpaid and irresponsible bodyguard of yours?” Nikolai didn’t wait for a response.He stormed across to Knight’s car, jaw clenched tight with his fists balled at his sides. As he neared the car, his eyes narrowed, fixed on the persons inside. Lee and Bella. Without a single pause, he yanked the car door open, his words sharp before either of them could even had a chance to react.“Get out.”. Lee and Bella scrambled out the car, their breath held in their throat, visibly trembling.Without a second of warning, he swung his fist, hitting Lee square in the jaw with a brutal force. Lee stumbled backward, a look of shock spreading across his face as he struggled to stay on his feet, clutching his aching jaw. Before anyone could react, he turned and delivered a sharp slap to Bella’s face. Bella’s eye widened, her face frozen in stunned helplessness, too shocked to even say a word in defense.“How much are you paid monthly to guard Dante?” The question was directed at Lee.“Five thousand euros sir.”.

“Are you doing your job well? Huh?” Lee clenched his jaw, staring head on. Not having the courage to look at him. Nikolai turned to Bella who was fighting back her tears. “Let me guess, the new manager.” She didn’t respond.“I will ask you both questions and for each answer you do not give me, one thousand euros will be withdrawn from your salaries for this month.” “Nikolai…” Knight tried to butt in, however Nikolai held up a hand, hushing him. “Why is my brother limping?” Lee and Bella exchanged looks. Knight must have told him about the crazy head at Café de Nuit.“

He got kicked in his groin, sir. In the cafeteria uptown.” Lee answered, his eyes not bulging.“By whom?”

“A girl.”. “Why did you let that happen?” “We…” Lee clearly didn’t have an answer to that. “I asked them not to come with me into the Café so they weren’t there when it happened.” Knight volunteered, unable to take his eyes off Bella who had tears flowing down her cheeks. His eyes fell in self-disappointment. He couldn’t even protect his staff from Nikolai’s cruelty .“The girl… at the concert. Where is she?” The question was directed at Lee. He swallowed hard. “I asked them to let her go.” Knight chipped in again. “You have until midnight to get her for me.” Nikolai said to Lee. “It’s will be an eye for an eye. She sexually assaulted my brother so I’ll ensure she is sexually assaulted too.” He turned to Bella. “The girl who kicked him at whatever Café, get her for me. You have twenty-four hours to do that. It will also be an eye

for an eye for her.”