A planned engagement

chapter 19

Nico's eyelids fluttered open, his head pounding like a war drum as the haze of the drugs slowly lifted. The room spun for a moment before settling, and there, standing at the foot of his bed like a sentinel, was Maxwell, his face etched with worry and urgency.

"Alexi?" Nico croaked, his voice hoarse and disoriented, instinctively calling out for her.

Maxwell shook his head gravely. "She's already left, sir. Stormed out before I could even get here."

Nico bolted upright, ignoring the wave of nausea that crashed over him. "What the hell happened? Who was that girl? I remember pushing her away, but everything's a blur..."

"We caught her trying to slip away down the hall," Maxwell explained, his tone steady but laced with anger. "Security nabbed her, and under questioning, she cracked. Said she was paid by someone to seduce you—to make it look like you were cheating. It was a setup from the start."

Nico's eyes narrowed, fury igniting in his chest like a spark to dry tinder. "And who would do something like that? Who paid her?"

"She swore she didn't know the guy's name," Maxwell replied, pacing the room. "Just that he approached her in a shady bar downtown, offered her a fat stack of cash to play the part. No questions asked. But boss... something else came up. Something bad."

Nico's heart sank further, dread pooling in his gut. "What is it? Spit it out, Maxwell."

"Mia's escaped from rehab," Maxwell said, his voice dropping to a grim whisper. "Vanished without a trace. The staff called me an hour ago—she's nowhere to be found."

Nico groaned, rubbing his temples as frustration boiled over. "Oh, great. Just when I'm about to get married and start fresh. This is a nightmare." He swung his legs off the bed, determination hardening his features despite the lingering dizziness. "Maxwell, tell your men to find Mia—put every resource on it. But right now, we need to find Alexi first. I have to tell her the truth before this tears us apart for good."

Maxwell nodded firmly, already pulling out his phone. "All right, let's go. I've got the car waiting downstairs."

Meanwhile, across town in Kimberly's cozy apartment, a frantic knock shattered the quiet evening. Kimberly hurried to the door and flung it open, her eyes widening at the sight of Alexi standing there, mascara-streaked tears streaming down her face like rivers of betrayal. Without a word, Kimberly pulled her into a tight embrace, guiding her inside and shutting the door against the world.

"Here, sit down," Kimberly said softly, leading Alexi to the plush couch in the living room. She bustled into the kitchen, quickly brewing a steaming cup of chamomile tea to soothe her friend's shattered nerves. Handing it over, she settled beside her, concern etched across her face. "What really happened, Alexi? Take your time."

Alexi clutched the mug like a lifeline, her voice breaking as she recounted the horror. "Everything I told you on the phone... It was worse in person. I walked in and there he was, half-naked with a lady all over him. Well , he says he didn't know her and swears he was drugged. but... How can I believe that?”

Kimberly placed a gentle hand on her arm, her voice calm and reassuring. "You have to hear him out, Alexi. What if he was really drugged? People do crazy things to sabotage relationships especially being that famous things tend to happen so please Don't throw it all away without the full story."

Alexi shook her head, fresh tears welling up as she stared into her tea. "I don't know anymore. All I know is I had to get away from him at that moment. My head's a mess—I just need time to think, to breathe."

"All right, it's okay," Kimberly murmured, pulling her into another hug. "You can stay here for now, as long as you need. My place is your place."

Alexi managed a weak smile through her sobs. "Thank you so much, Kimberly. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You're welcome. Come here," Kimberly said, wrapping her arms around her friend even tighter, offering the silent comfort of solidarity as Alexi's world crumbled around her.

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow over the quiet neighborhood, a firm knock resonated through Kimberly's apartment door. She paused her mindless scrolling on her phone, setting down her glass of wine, and padded over to answer it. Swinging the door open, her breath caught in her throat. There stood Nico Vincenzo, towering and impeccably dressed in a tailored black shirt that hugged his broad shoulders, his dark hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly charming, and his piercing eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her knees weaken. He was even more handsome in person , like a movie star stepping out of a dream. Kimberly's words evaporated; she stood there, mouth slightly agape, utterly stunned.

"Is Alexi here?" Nico asked, his voice deep and commanding, laced with a hint of desperation. But Kimberly could only blink, her mind racing as she tried to process the surreal moment.

From the living room, Alexi's voice floated through the air, curious and unsuspecting. "Kim, who's there?"

The sound of her name was all Nico needed. Without waiting for an invitation, he brushed past Kimberly, his presence filling the doorway like a storm rolling in. Kimberly remained frozen in place, her hand still gripping the doorknob, her cheeks flushing with a mix of shock and unexpected admiration.

Alexi was lounging on the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket with a half-eaten bowl of ice cream in her lap, when she heard the footsteps. She looked up, and her heart plummeted. Nico strode into the room, his eyes fixed on her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. She shot to her feet, the blanket tumbling to the floor, her face paling in disbelief. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a cocktail of anger, hurt, and confusion.

Nico stopped a few feet away, his expression softening into one of raw vulnerability. "So you actually thought I wouldn't find you?" he replied, his tone a blend of gentle reproach and unwavering determination. "Alexi, I couldn't just let you walk away like that. Not without explaining."

The room crackled with tension, the air thick enough to cut with a knife. Alexi crossed her arms defensively, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Explain? What's there to explain, Nico? I saw you with that woman—half-naked, in your hotel room. How could you—"

"Listen to me, please," Nico interrupted, taking a cautious step closer, his hands raised in surrender. "It was all a setup. I was drugged .That woman... she slipped in somehow, trying to make it look like I was betraying you. But I swear on everything I hold dear, I pushed her away the second I realized what was happening. Maxwell caught her; she confessed she was paid to do it.”

“ Paid!” Alexi was surprised “who paid her.”

“ I don't know yet but I promise you I will get to the bottom of this. It is clear someone is trying to sabotage us. I would never, ever hurt you like that. You're my world, Alexi. Please, forgive me for letting this happen to us. I promise you it won't happen again.”

His words hung in the air, sincere and pleading, his eyes searching hers with a depth that made her walls crumble. Alexi hesitated, her resolve wavering as memories of their love flooded back—the laughter, the promises, the way he made her feel alive. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and slowly, she nodded. "I... I believe you, I am so sorry I ran out like that I was just heartbroken.”

“It's okay, you have every right to be angry. I am truly sorry Alexis.”

Relief washed over Nico's face like a tidal wave. He closed the distance between them in an instant, pulling her into his arms with a tenderness that belied his strength. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, slow at first, then deepening with the fire of reconciliation—hands tangled in hair, bodies pressed close, the world fading away in that electric moment.

But just as the kiss intensified, a throat cleared awkwardly from the doorway. "Uh, hello? Still here, you know," Kimberly said, finally snapping out of her daze, a playful smirk tugging at her lips despite the blush on her cheeks.

Alexi pulled back, her face flushing with embarrassment, but a soft laugh escaped her. "Oh, Kim... I'm so sorry. This is Nico—Nico Vincenzo. Nico, this is my best friend, Kimberly."

Nico turned, offering Kimberly a charming smile that made her heart skip another beat. "Kimberly, it's a pleasure. Thank you for taking care of her. I owe you one."

Kimberly waved it off, though her eyes sparkled. "Yeah, well, just don't make me regret it. You two are cute, though—I'll give you that."

Nico chuckled, then turned back to Alexi, his gaze turning serious yet affectionate. "We should go back to your apartment, Alexi. Let's talk more, just us."

Alexi bit her lip, a shy blush creeping up her neck as she glanced away, her fingers twisting nervously. After a moment's hesitation, her shyness melted into a tentative smile. "Okay... let's go.”