not happening...

17

Greta nods: “I can understand that, of course, but I think it would be good to talk about it. And why do you think he doesn't deserve to be called your ex?” Leila closes her eyes and begins to tell her story in a quiet voice. She tells her how she woke up in a hotel room and had s*x for the first time, but can't remember anything else. A tear rolls down her cheek. How it was only supposed to be for a few months, but then her grandfather became very ill and she was forced to clean, wash, and cook as a maid... always watched by the servants. How she was beaten bloody with bamboo sticks and how Nicholas never came back to see if she was okay. She tells her about the attic. About the bitter cold in winter and the sweltering heat in summer. She tells how she only saw Nicholas once, when she was in the hospital visiting her grandfather. How, after donating part of her liver and with the wound still fresh, she was beaten again immediately. How she stole Serena's phone without permission and called Cole for help. Tears run down both their faces and Grate says, "I understand what you're saying. What a jerk. But why was he on your side?“ Leila shakes her head. She wipes away her tears and smiles at Greta. Then she sees several waiters coming in and an extra table being set up with a huge pan of paella on it. Greta beams: ”Oh, paella... perfect. Thank you so much."

Nicholas

The two men sit back down at the table and Cole looks a little surprised: “Why did they stand up for Leila?” Nicholas: “That's what I should have done from the start, and I'm very sorry I didn't protect Leila from harm. If I had taken care of it, but I didn't, and no one else is to blame.” Cole sips his wine: “That's not correct, you didn't hold the bamboo sticks and you didn't order her to do the housework.” Nicholas: “Nothing would have happened if I had taken better care of her.” Cole: “Well, those are thoughts that are too late now.” Nicholas looks around and notices that Leila is sitting on the balcony opposite. He says, “Leila.” And Cole: “What?” Nicholas points to the balcony, “Leila is sitting there with, if I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Castello.” Cole smiles, “Ah, yes, they're having dinner together.” Then Nicholas sees: “Why is Leila crying?” Cole sighs: “Well, I guess Leila is explaining to her what happened.” Nicholas grumbles, “Wonderful. What happens now?” He watches as a box changes hands and Greta starts screaming and throwing her arms around Leila. Then he sees Greta pick up a necklace, and when his gaze falls on it, he blurts out, “That's from Moonlight Serenade. How did Leila get that?” His gaze falls on Cole, who says very matter-of-factly, “No, that piece isn't from Moonlight Serenade, it was made especially for Mrs. Greta.” Nicholas narrows his eyes: "How could someone like Leila Smith, with no connections whatsoever, get hold of that necklace? Who is Leila?“ Cole: ”Well, it's not my place to tell you who Leila is. Besides, she's just someone from her past.“ Nicholas: ”I want to be a part of her future.“ Cole: ”We'll see if you can achieve that. But I have to tell you one thing: if you hurt Leila in any way, I will take action against you and ruin your company. I mean that seriously. Furthermore, I won't help you. Since Leila doesn't think highly of you and you behaved like an asshole at the last dinner, I won't influence her. The question is whether you can make it work.“ He takes another sip. ”You should ask yourself whether Leila is worth your time and effort. In the past, she certainly wasn't.“ Nicholas swallows, ”Harsh words! But I understand why you're saying them.“ Cole shakes his head: ”No, you don't understand. I saw her bloody back, I counted every single rib, she was dehydrated and malnourished. Some of the welts had become infected. So no, you definitely don't understand.“ Nicholas: ”Did your men rescue her?“ Cole nods: ”Yes, she managed to steal her friend's cell phone and call me.“ Nicholas feels shame rising within him. He, the high and mighty CEO, had failed so badly. He feels his cheeks redden: ”I didn't find out what had happened until shortly after she disappeared." Cole looks at him: “And? She needed time to heal, and as far as I can tell from my research, no one was punished—except the service staff.” Before Nicholas can say anything, Cole continues: “Leila already knows that no one was punished. That's why I think she'll assume that she was actually fine with the treatment she received at your house.” Nicholas's face turns pale: “No, that's not true. I've been trying to find her the whole time so she can dish out the punishment herself.”

Cole grins, but there's no friendliness in it: “That's probably something she can believe after they called her a gold digger.” Nicholas runs his fingers through his hair. “It's all so messed up and I know I screwed up – she totally ignored me at dinner and I wanted her attention.” Cole: “Well, that's definitely the wrong way to go about it.” Nicholas explains: "Yes, I know that too. It's just that Leila was the first... um... I was intimate with and there's something about her, everything about her speaks to me. Every other woman makes me feel sick when they hang on my arm. Not her.“ His voice grows quieter and Cole rolls his eyes: ”Well, normally you handle things like that differently."

Both men are lost in thought, and Cole slowly begins to understand why Nicholas kept his distance from her. Still, Leila suffered.

Coffee is brought in and Nicholas takes a big sip: “But something else, I saw her at the jewelry gala. You were there with your father.” Cole nods: “Yes, my father and I were there.” Cole puts down his coffee cup, “Why do you ask?” Nicholas: "I want to be honest, since we seem to be talking openly today. My gut feeling tells me that something groundbreaking is going to happen at the trade show next week, and I think it has something to do with the Future company.