Chapter 5 Five

"Mr Collins, could you please bring me the Johnson merger file," Nicholas demanded through the intercom.

"Yes Sir. Right away Sir". A brief moment later his assistant knocked on the door before opening the modern frosted designed glass door disguised more for privacy, and approached the huge antique styled mahogany table where Nicholas was swamped with work, papers strewn, scattered all over the desk, occupying unnecessary space, and reached to where he was typing furiously on his laptop.

"There you go, Sir". Dean, his ever efficient assistant placed the requested file along with his regular coffee beside him, clearing away the rest of the consumed Starbucks paper cups with an unspoken understanding.

Unknowingly fulfilling Nicks yearning, craving of the beverage in turn relieving his frustration level a bit. It helped, interceded in keeping him sane if he had to be honest.

"Thank you, Mr Collins." He replied with a small tired smile and a nod to which Dean Collins acknowledged with a warm smile and exited the office. The thought of one erratic female counterpart species had escalated his frustration for the past few weeks. Damn that wench really infuriated him to no end. She had somehow hijacked over his dreams now, as much as he hated it whenever his thoughts strayed towards Jane Jensen's bold shiny brown eyes which somewhat darkened to pools of black in anger when provoked, if that is even possible. She did not even need to be provoked deliberately.

No. No way, Miss Jane Jensen was a walking dynamite all on her own, always invariably ready to explode, detonate anytime without any voluntary ammunition. Try as he might, Nicholas could not forget what Jane had wrought, done at their last encounter. It was quite difficult to let it go. He couldn't turn a blind eye on her actions. He couldn't believe her boldness even. She had the effrontery to question his integrity. The nerve of her.

Admit it Nicholas Fortune, you did like spending the night with her though, cradled in your arms all night. You could have put her in the guest bedroom for the night but you preferred your own bed.

His mind consciously pointed out. He relived their previous encounter in his mind again just as he had done for the past few weeks.

"I'm starving, won't you serve breakfast to your guest Mr Fortune?" Jane had demanded after he had grilled her with various questions.

"Feeding a girl is kind of expected. She could die of hunger you know." She leaned a bit back right where he had put her on the bed, folding her legs, placing her hands on the bed behind her for support, unaware that the movement had thrust her chest out pointedly.

Providing Nicholas's vision with a spectacular view of her front valuable assets. He inhaled deeply. The sight in turn had left him breathless. He must have stared at her for a moment at length because he noticed her shifting awkwardly on the bed.

Lowering her gaze to her lap and biting her lips in nervousness. Not meeting his gaze anymore from where he was standing in front of her. Nick's face transformed into a playful smirk.

Not so confident now are you Miss Jensen!

"Let me see what I can find in the kitchen," he replied. When suddenly his cell phone rang to life, startling them both. Nick stalked to where his jacket was lying on the recliner positioned at the right corner of the room and pulled out his phone and answered it immediately not bothering to check the caller ID.

"Fortune." he answered curtly.

"Sir, your meeting starts in thirty minutes. Will you be long Sir?"

"Have them seated at the conference room, I'll be there in fifteen." He bit back, cutting the call, then turned to face Jane.

"Why don't you help yourself in the kitchen, there must be something in the refrigerator, unfortunately I have to leave. Make yourself at home".

"And here I was thinking of making you serve me food as my own personal gourmet chef " she pouted, making doe eyes at him.

"Shut up, that is something that will never happen. Ever." He glared at her and headed towards the en-suite master bathroom.

"Are you sure ? Never is a really long time, Mr Fortune" her eyes narrowed hearing the word 'shut up' Nicholas ignored that.

"As much as I'd like to stay and chitchat and verbally sparr with you on this even though I don't have time for it, I need to leave. " He said while disappearing inside the huge en-suite bathroom.

"And while you're here do not touch anything else that you're not supposed to. Another thing before I forget lock up after you leave." He poked his head out the door and said casually his tone strict. As if disciplining a child to be good. He headed back inside, closing the door with a thud.

" Yes Sir." Jane had sweetly answered, Nick had been unaware of her gaze shooting daggers at his back.

A moment later Jane's face turned red, flushing bright. Nicholas had to have an immediate record breaking score worth of shower, brushing a hand through his disheveled wet hair. He was going to have to forego breakfast, not preferring to counter through Jane's fiercely gruesome company, takings shots at him, deliberately provoking him to ignite his anger, trying his patience and snipping comments at his character.

He scrutinized his face in the mirror, while fixing his navy blue tie adjusting the knot in it. It took him a few minutes to style his wet hair after which he deemed himself ready to face his opponents for this mornings early meeting, his thoughts now completely focused on the meeting scheduled, going through the ideas and the arguments to land the massive mega deal, the most highest bid, his intention in obtaining the contract followed by the discussions of the merger agreement. It was most certainly a million dollars worth of deal, he could not let this particular opportunity slip through his fingers without getting those papers signed by the Oscorp Group. They expected to find common honesty and sincerity of men dealing in business although they admired his scrupulous professional integrity. Something he also looked forward to whilst operating, carrying out important transactions, however also not something he looked forward to at that exact moment.

Nicholas approached the bathroom door, in a rush to leave, turned the doorknob, attempting to open the door.

The door did not budge. He tried it again. Thinking the door might have some tight hinges. Turning the knob again with a deliberate forced friction but still the door did not open. It seemed jammed. At least that's what he thought. Impatient now, Nick tried the knob again and again. Tapping on the door, trying to get someone's attention.

"Hello, anyone out there." He called out louder now.

"Jane, are you there?"

"Jane, if you're there, open the damn door this instant, it's not funny anymore. This is not the time to play pranks." He shouted louder, bellowed even, anger building inside him along with the realisation that she must have bolted the door from outside. He never shouted. It was just not in him to ever shout. In fact, there was never any need of it before. He was feared. No one ever dared defy the enigmatic Nicholas Fortune. Ever. The audacity of that tiny short human. He was going to wring her neck for sure, throttle that little tomcat to her imminent life altering climax purposely inviting her own end. Jane's actions portrayed her childish side of behavior regarding this situation as per him. If he could get his hands on her right about now.

Thinking of various numerous ways to kill her and going scot free. Turning back to face the rest of the bathroom, Nick perused the black and white designed modern styled, decorated with luxurious fixtures, looking at everything with new eyes, on the look out for any possible object to aid him in getting this damn door open. Nothing. There was nothing worthwhile. He could not just break down the door. He would have to do that eventually he surmised. He released a restless sigh.

With a last attempt, Nick leaned against the door and tried opening it again, hoping for a miracle somehow.

When he suddenly heard his bedroom door being opened with loud thud. Footsteps leaving faint echoes on the white tiles.

"Nicholas, where the hell are you?" Margaret, his housekeeper slash cook demanded.

"Your phones been blaring continuously. A pause. And then.

"What on earth happened here?"

"Mrs Margaret. Oh thank God. In here. If you don't mind unlocking the door please, it's been locked from outside."

Nick felt relief rush through his entire being. For a moment there he felt claustrophobic and kind of suffocated. Never ever had his housekeeper's voice brought this much joy to him. Just as instantly, it was replaced with anger, recalling just how he came to be in that situation, trapped on the other side of the door.

As soon as the door opened from outside he moved out of the bathroom, entering the bedroom, stepping on something soft instead of the hard tiled floor he was expecting. Confused, he looked down to find his own favorite Levis T- shirts. That brat!

"Where is she?" he demanded between clenched teeth, scanning the room for her presence.

"Where is who? Nicholas Fortune, what is going on in here? Why are all your clothes scattered around the room?" Mrs Margaret moved towards his bed, bending down near the bed to pick up his shirts lying nearest to her.

"And why on earth are all your clothes cut into pieces like common rags ? I do believe this is not the right age at which to show your rebellious side throwing tantrums young man."

Holding up the shirts to him and scanning for the damages.

"Oh My God, and why do these jeans have big holes in them." Holding up Nick's jeans to show him the huge hole pitched on the crotch part. A hole that had not been there before to begin with.

"Don't just stand there. My goodness, Nicholas, please explain what happened in here?" Mrs Margaret continued muttering loudly all the while roaming around the room picking up at his strewn clothes one by one. Nicholas was shocked. More than flabbergasted even. Did he or didn't he just quite earlier heard her sincerely thank him for rescuing her. Was it all in his imagination then?

After looking around his room he felt as if he really had imagined all that. There was no way he could have conjured up his conversation with her. So why did she do all this? That was the question. Probably for the day. Best if he asked her himself. So where was she?

"Mrs Margaret, have you seen the witch downstairs, I mean the girl? She was a guest of mine."

"No to both. You still did not answer, the reason why your room is in chaos, it doesn't make sense. And why are you referring to her as a witch if she was your guest?" Mrs Margaret's inquisitive nature kicked in, fishing for answers from the stone silent walled man. "Most probably because only a witch would leave a mess like this, and my room in chaos similar to this."

"Would you pick that up already? It's been ringing continuously, driving me insane?" She demanded when suddenly Nick's phone vibrated loudly, announcing his previous ignored calls. He surmised eventually it was most probably Dean, inquiring about his whereabouts.

First things first, he'd deal with Miss Jensen later, presumably she was not here after all, she would mostly likely have already left, he figured she wouldn't want to face the consequences after wrecking havoc with his wardrobe. Oh yes. Later. He would definitely enjoy making her pay for it. He'd think of something after this. After he had signed the deal adding to his millions. He walked swiftly to where his Jacket was placed neatly on top of the recliner, somehow escaping the damage all his other clothes went through, Jane must have missed it somewhat.

He hung the suit jacket on his shoulder and made a move towards where he kept all his car keys, randomly picked his red Ferrari keys, a change of cars might somehow level his mood a bit.

When he suddenly noticed his favorite rides keys missing. Where are to the keys to the Lamborghini? He tilted his head to the side trying to remember if he misplaced it somewhere else.

"Mrs Margaret, have you seen my car keys, with the black tag. I remember putting it back here". He asked his mother figured housekeeper absently. A frown also gracing his unshaved handsome face.

"No I haven't and uhh Nicholas, your cars not in the driveway either especially not on the spot where you usually park it. To begin with, I thought you already took it to work but then I saw you here." She informed him meekly with a traces of a forming frown marring her wrinkled face.

"I guess Albert must have taken it to the car wash, or maybe the garage it did need a bit of maintenance done on it, why don't you check with him and let me know. Meanwhile I'll get to the meeting." Nicholas arrived promptly on time as he had informed previously to his office with a few minutes to spare. He grabbed his Starbucks coffee that Dean brought him when he had arrived and after which stalked to the conference room to get through with the meeting. He already had skimmed through the contract with his lawyers, so he was more than ahead of his game. So it was of no surprise when he eventually scored the contract with the owners of the Oscorp Group. He was more than ready to work along with another professional company, challenging as it seemed to be sometimes. But then he was a Fortune first. They never did tolerate it when there were rooms for mistakes. After the meeting, while all of the members, a few head of employees working under him especially dispersed afterwards, Nicholas convinced them to join him for lunch, to which the owners agreed. When his familiar ringtone blared and vibrated in his pockets, he excused himself to answer it.

" Fortune."

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything Sir."

" What is it, Albert. Have you got the car back?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you in the morning Sir. Your guest from yesterday took the car out for a ride. I figured it would be you Sir. I'm afraid I have bad news for you. The car is being towed away as we speak. It's been wrecked and dented in a few places. And there's a message for you inside it. It'll be best if you see it for yourself Sir."

"Is she there right now? Is the girl okay? Was she injured in anyway Albert?"

"No to all Sir. In fact she was not present at the scene. What do you want me to do Sir?"

"Listen to me carefully Albert , here's what I want you to do." He ordered or rather laid out the instructions he needed Albert carrying out for him.

Quite adamant in his demands. I've had it with that hell raiser. That little tomcat, calling Jane a few other ridiculous names in Italian and a few other languages he knew. Knowing quite well that nobody at least any from his staff was going to understand what he had just muttered belligerently. She truly was an ungrateful witch. Wasn't she supposed to be grateful he had come along when he did on the scene of the crime and rescued her. She had gone too far this time. Far too much.

"As for the car, tell them to get it fixed by the end of the day, Albert get the car ready, no excuses." A very pissed off Nicholas paced back towards the conference room. Passing by several other employees specifically females wanting to attain his attention with short tight skirts showing off their killer legs. A wickedly evil smile enveloped his face. Someone's gonna get visited today by that very same car! Or not. It all depended on his mood. If he had his way he would go to her place, break down any doors before grabbing her crush her like a mosquito with his very being. And if he thought about it calmly with a sane cool head he could just have her reported to the police or sued her. it was going to be the former instead of the latter. Evidently she had just made the game turn towards a more personal grounds and he never lost. He was going to have fun reenacting his revenge.

Ahh speaking of revenge, was that it? Was she really getting her revenge with him for what exactly then? For colliding with her at their first encounter? Nick answered his own thoughtful questions with questions. His mind swirling with possibilities of the reason why he had to go through this today of all days he could have coincidentally met her.

Nicholas guided the Oscorp Groups CEO , and a few board members also to his favorite restaurant. New York had a reputation of its fine dining establishments. He had intended introducing his lunch guests to the finest that this city offered. Inviting Dean along with him, Even to lunch so that he would take notes while they continued discussing their business proposals taking it right back to where they had left off with their discussions from the meeting. He excused himself to visit the restroom and when he was done he moved to where the hand wash was placed on the handbasin. Washing his hands when suddenly he somehow sprayed water on his suit jacket with the force of the water.

Great! Just what he needed to complete the chaos he needed all for today. Instantly he called Dean to immediately get him another jacket to replace the soiled clothing since wiping the clothing with a paper towel didn't help in drying it out. Forcing to himself to switch his attention back to present. The vendetta against Miss Jane Jensen would have to wait for now. What he had planned required time to execute, needing in her being caught unawares.

Taking a few paces behind only to leap ahead with abandon energy, isn't that what or how enemies executed their plans, getting the element of surprise. Well that was exactly what he was going to do. He was already looking forward to the outcome of this game plan. With Jane going after his car had changed their or rather commenced with the beginnings of their relationship. They were officially enemies now in his opinion. Now that he actually considered the fact that right from the start they had started arguing and throwing out snide, crude comments at each other, the only time, instance they got along at a decent conversation was when Jane felt vulnerable relating the incident. Nick thought, absently twirling the black inked pen with 'Fortune' engraved on it in cursive font styled. The shrill sound of his cell phone timing disrupted his wayward thoughts.

"Shoot!"

"Nick Darling, are we still on for tomorrow?" A sickenly sweet sultry voice spoke from the other end.

"Still on for what?" his voice stern now, irritated not recognizing, unfamiliar with the voice.

"Oh My God, don't tell me you forgot?"

"Forgot what, woman would you just go on with it already?"

"Nick, It's Jennifer. Did you forget about the charity gala, we were supposed to go together remember."

"Of course, I remember," he lied.

"So what time are you gonna pick me up tomorrow?"

"Be ready by Seven." He replied and immediately cut the call while she would have continuously chatted on, not getting the hint.

To be honest, Nick had totally forgotten about the charity gala invitation for Saturday. Heck he barely survived throughout all day. Not his day at all. Today was no better than tomorrow even though it was Friday, exceptionally he loved Friday's compared to all the other days. Preferably on the weekends he occasionally got the time to unwind sometimes to savor his own company, other times when his mood striked then he would gladly accept invitations to party with friends and colleagues.

There were lots of events scheduled for Nicholas everyday but he always instructed Dean to accept ones that he felt like attending, after all he had his reputation to keep up with as the millionaire bachelor.

Circulating in the business world, there was something as keeping up with socialist for appearances sake. Constantly circulating amongst these crowded frequently was so exhausting that he felt like giving up but apart from himself he had to ruminate, consider the lives of his employees who were contingent upon him, their lives and income depended on him and all responsibilities fell on his shoulders and that surpassed all other possibilities.

However, attending and traveling amongst these social circles and to all those parties also meant that there were always female human vultures hanging around him persistently in the means of ending up in his bedroom or trapping him in marriage, that consisted for mostly gold diggers. Nicholas had always played the field on his own terms, making it clear to women that he was only interested in a no strings attached affair whilst enjoying his normal rendezvous tryst.

The next day, on the evening of the charity gala. Nicholas stood under the beautifully designed chandelier, the lights sparkling adding a certain glow to the room, it's luminosity measured relative to that of a bright sun light. And the ambience of the room was that of an atmosphere of excitement and of a feeling better left indescribable.

Consistent chatter followed from every direction, carried on around him. He stood on one corner of the room scrutinizing the room emerging admiration of the event planners job, they had done a great job , the setup and decorations and everything was so impressive and grand. He grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waitress and took a few small measured sips, savoring the rich taste of the dull white sparkling liquid tasting bubbly foamy fluid. Nick took another sip of his champagne, observing the crowd in various kinds of chatter and laughter engulfing the entire room.

A faint instrumental music playing on the background, low enough to not surpass the conversations. A few men, mostly business rivals of his spotted him and moved to his secluded corner occupying space and formed a small circle between them and warding off the rest of the crowd. A strict circle made to discuss businesses and sharing of ideas to keep their companies flourishing. He spoke and smiled only when he needed to otherwise just listening to flow of the conversation jumping from one topic to another.

When suddenly he felt someone tap on this shoulder from behind, and slip something on his pocket. Weird, because when he turned to look back there was no one.

Bemused, shaking his head, he slipped his hand inside his coat pockets and pulled out the object something that felt like paper. He retrieve his hands from his pockets looked down at the small note.

'Having a good evening Mr Fortune!! Let's see if we can make it even better.'

Stupefied at once, not at all surprised that the person or stranger knew his name. It must be one of the those women attempting to come on to him. He experienced stuff like this collectively at a bunch of other events where women came on to him boldly in public, also the reason why he ditched Jennifer canceling on her as well as calling things off between

them.

He ignored the note crumpling it with his fist and placed the note along with his empty champagne glass on a tray nearby carried swiftly by a waiter and picked another full champagne glass from the tray, dismissing the person instantly.

However, a few minutes later he felt another note being slipped inside his pocket. Nick deliberately disregarded, ignoring the person again but slipped his hand inside his coat pocket again to find another ridiculous note.

' I do feel neglected Mr Fortune. Didn't ever think I'd get scot free after what I pulled off. Should I try it again with the other one?'