Chapter 5 Five

Nica looked disappointed, but Jordan suddenly started smiling.

"I was just kidding," he said. "That contract is only for you, and you alone."

Nica was stunned and did not know what to say.

Jordan asked her to follow him, and soon they arrived at his office. Nica stared in amazement.

"Wow..." she whispered. The exterior of the building was breathtaking.

As they entered, she was even more shocked. The inside looked like heaven itself...elegant, luxurious, and beautifully designed.

Jordan offered her a seat and told her to wait, explaining that he had an urgent meeting to attend.

While sitting alone in his office, Nica carefully observed the setting and arrangement of the room. Her eyes landed on the portraits hanging on the walls, and she stood up to admire them.

Suddenly, thoughts of betrayal from her ex-boyfriend and former best friend flooded her mind. Her expression hardened with determination. She would expose her so-called best friend's lies and make her boyfriend beg for forgiveness but by then, it would already be too late.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed when Jordan's guard walked in.

"Do you need anything while waiting for Mr. Jordan?" he asked respectfully.

"Just a bottle of water will do," she replied.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, Jordan listened as reports of Chris's mismanagement were presented.

Chris quickly interrupted. "Uncle, please... such conduct will never happen again."

Jordan's face remained cold.

"I do not give second chances."

With those words, he fired Chris on the spot.

Chris refused to accept it and continued begging desperately, but Jordan ended the meeting and announced that a replacement would be found immediately.

As Jordan walked back toward his office, Chris followed closely behind, pleading nonstop. Jordan ignored him completely.

When Jordan opened the office door and stepped inside, Chris caught sight of Nica sitting there. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"No... no, no. Nica can't be here," he muttered. "Maybe I'm imagining things."

To clear his doubts, he remained outside the office.

Back inside, Jordan asked gently, "Are you okay?"

He then ordered his guard to bring the contract documents for Nica to review and sign.

While waiting, Nica pointed at a portrait titled Golden Muse.

"How did you get this?" she asked softly. "That portrait belonged to my mother." Nica said in her thought.

Jordan looked at it thoughtfully.

"I once helped a woman who was in danger," he explained. "She insisted I accept it so she could feel at peace."

Nica wanted to ask more questions, but the guard returned with the documents and handed them to Jordan.

Jordan opened them, pointed to the pages, and showed Nica where to sign after reading through them carefully.

Nica signed.

Jordan felt deeply satisfied. I must win her over, he thought.

For a long time, Jordan had admired Nica from a distance. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that she had been dating his nephew, a complete disgrace in his eyes.

He gently took Nica's hand.

"I will never force you to do anything that hurts you," he said. "And always remember this... you are mine now. I will never let anyone harm you."

For the first time in a long while, Nica felt safe... protected... valued... like someone's priority. It was everything Chris had never made her feel.

Lost in those emotions, she barely heard Jordan ask, "Are you okay?"

"Yes... I... am... fine," she stammered.

Jordan smiled faintly and told her to wait outside while he went to get the car.

As Nica stood outside, Chris suddenly attacked from behind with his words.

"Well, well, well... look who is here. What are you doing in a place like this? This place is far above your class."

Nica smirked coldly.

"That's rich coming from a nobody who survives by hiding behind family connections."

Chris glared angrily.

"At least it's better than where you come from."

He tried to grab her, but Nica swiftly stepped aside, causing him to stumble face-first onto the ground.

She looked down at him without emotion.

"We are done. It's over between us."

Without another word, she walked toward Jordan's car.

Jordan had already opened the door for her. She entered gracefully, and then he turned to Chris.

"This is my final warning," Jordan said darkly. "Never lay your hands on her again. Next time, you may not be so lucky."

Jordan then drove Nica to her house and helped carry her bags to the car.

As they both reached for the same bag, their hands touched.

They froze.

Their eyes locked intensely, neither willing to look away.

Slowly, Jordan leaned closer, about to kiss her......

But suddenly, a cat meowed loudly from behind them.

Nica jumped back in embarrassment.

"Sorry!" she blurted out.

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Sorry for what?"

Flustered and speechless, Nica quickly turned and walked away.

Jordan simply stood there, smiling at her adorable reaction as he made his way back to his car.