Her Edge

On Edge

Chapter 7

He clearly has been on edge since that day. He wants to protect his son, but at the same time make him happy. That seems impossible at the moment.

"You sent for me sir?"

His gaze falls, hands clenched in his pockets. He sighs.

It's for the best.

"Write to his school tomorrow, asking for a transfer".

Malysh hesitates, she's surprised.

"Yes sir". She whips around, just to meet the questioning gaze of Leo. It flickers between she and Nickolai.

His dark brows furrowing from confusion. "Why?"

Nickolai's heart sinks, guilt overshadowing him instantly. He wasn't supposed to hear that.

Leo's voice trembles, tears brimming in his eyes. "Papa, Why do you want to transfer me?"

Malysh sighs. There is nothing she can do to salvage this situation. She's relieved that he's asking Nickolai for answers, not her. She couldn't bring herself to lie to him.

"Leo..." He whips around to look at his son. He is all dressed up for school. Guess he came in to say goodbye when he overheard them.

"I like it there at Evergreen! I like miss Elaine! I like Jacob!" He yells. "So...so why do you want to take me away?" He sniffles.

Nickolai walks up to him. Crouching with his hands on his son's shoulders.

"Look, I don't want to take you away..."

"Then don't ".

"I can't. If I don't transfer you, you might get hurt. I don't think Miss Elaine or Jacob would want that for you". He pats him on the shoulder and pulls him in for a hug.

"I'm so sorry Leo,but it's my duty to keep you safe. I can't afford to loose you". He mutters.

Leo dabs his eyes with the sleeves of his sweater vest.

He's six, not dumb. He understands his father, he just hates the idea of starting over.

He can't leave. Not now, especially when Miss Elaine finally remembered.

"Papa, please.... Please". Leo's pleas cut through Nickolai like a knife. He has never heard his son plead for something this much before.

That school must mean a lot to him.

He bites his lower lip....

"I'll think about it". He finally gives in.

Leo straightens up. His face lit with happiness and satisfaction. Nickolai's heart flutters.

"Really?"

"It's not a yes but_" he gasps softly.

He hugs Nickolai, tightly. Not saying a word, leaving Nickolai in shock after he releases him.

He turns to Malysh, beaming with joy. "C'mon Malysh. I'm running late!" He runs out of the room to go get his stuff.

Malysh's heart melts. She tilts her head towards Nickolai, his hand is on the nape of his neck. With an expression caught in between fatherly love and helplessness.She chuckles. "You are doing great. Don't beat yourself up".

He sighs." Thanks Malysh".

"It's no-" Leo barges in and pulls her out. Malysh tells him to calm down as they leave the room.

Nickolai exhales. He reaches for his phone in his pockets.

"Mateo...."his eyes turns cold, breath thick and steady. "not a scratch".

He walks over to the portrait of baby Jesus in Mary's arms hanging on the wall.

He doesn't have a good feeling about this....

*Elaine*

She runs out to meet Becky in the car. Struggling with her seat belt for a moment before finally leaning into her chair.

She's looking straight ahead, pretending not to feel the intensity of Becky's stare.

"Stop staring. I'm not an exhibition, we're late".

Becky shakes her head. "Good morning to you too". She starts pulling out of the driveway when Elaine slams her head onto her palms. Literally.

"What's got you all jumpy this morning? Hangover?"

"You're a psychic. I had a couple of bottles last night and now I feel like s**t". She groans shuddering.

"Little drunk".

Suddenly she snaps her head up. "Aw s**t. I have to meet a parent today!" She gasps in horror.

Becky turns into the next street. "Isn't that your job?"

"She's got the Sophisticated rich wife complex!"

"Oh, I kinda get it now". Becky snorts. But it's obvious Elaine isn't in a good mood today.

Elaine shoots her a quick glare. "She always has one excuse or the other to see me because I'm her son's homeroom teacher".

She muses. "I wonder if she's into me".

Becky breaks into a laugh.

"It's not funny!" Elaine says smacking her friend's arm. She's also trying to hold her laugh.

Her smile turns sour.

Why she hates meeting with that parent is because she painfully reminds her of a certain someone- her mother. She is a strict intimidating workaholic who's also a control freak.

Her both parents actually, her mom's just worse.

If she wasn't at her company, she was at the club or on some business trip or the other.

She rarely stayed at home.

Her father couldn't careless about her mother's work life. He believed in independence. Married just to form an alliance between their companies and to compensate the years of friendship between their fathers. Of course, they also had their individual business goals so a marriage of convenience wasn't too difficult . They further sealed the deal with three children, in which they managed to control the lives of two_ making her the black sheep of the family.

She glances at the Maserati. Someone's pretty early today.

"Hey, could you come over to RVB today?".

She muses, reviewing her schedule for the day in her head. "Yeah, I will be there. It's been a while".

Becky arches a brow at her friend who seems to be lost in her own thoughts, even though she gave her an answer.

Elaine is already walking away from the car when something pops into Becky's mind.

Why did she drink that much in the first place?

She takes one last glance at her gloomy friend before driving off.

"Hello miss Roosevelt!" The gate man greets her. She smiles, replying his greeting..

"You're looking quite...dull today". Another teacher says patting her on the shoulder as she walks past.

Elaine walks through the hallway, she takes a moment before she steps into her class. Her gaze meeting that of her favourite people.

The heaviness in her chest lifts from just watching them laugh and play.

No doubt this job is her form of consolation and independence. Yes, she still has RVB. But this....

She smiles at Leo.

All this is hers.

* * *

He waves casually at one of the teachers. It's almost time for recess.

He gingerly makes his way to the storage room. He tosses his glasses to the floor and crushes it with his foot. Within seconds he strips, unzipping his black bag to change to a new outfit. A blue overall.

He glances at the gun and lighter in his hand.

He smirks devilishly.

"Too bad I won't be getting to feel that ass". He says staring down at his waist.

He slips on his mask.

The door swings open, it's not him.

Before the man can get his words out, he hits him in the jugular and strikes his temples with his fist.

He pulls him into the closet after tying him up.

He strikes the lighter and throws it to a corner. Immediately, flame trails down the corners and up the wall.

He taps the Bluetooth earpiece in his left ear. "Coming in on second".

Suddenly, a loud bang is heard on second floor. Terrified screams follow.