Chapter 2 Misunderstanding

"Do I know you?" Daria asked, surveying him with her eyes. "No," he answered, his smile growing wider. "My name is Nicholas Raceanu at your service" he continued stretching his hand towards her.

She stared at him, hesitantly she took his hands "Daria Jones" she replied giving a half smile.

"You look stressed" " do you need help?" he asked the waiter, "I just have a lot......" She paused and looked at him, laying her face on her palm. She leaned forward and asked, "why do you care?" raises an eyebrow.

Nicholas let out a soft chuckle. "You're a beautiful lady, and you looked stressed so I decided to offer my help" he replied relaxing on his chair.

Daria stared curiously at the man before her, his dark lustrous hair, his tuxedo cladded his body enhancing his features. "Don't worry about me, I can handle it" she rejected.

"Okay then, but can I sit here?" he asked, "yeah I guess" she agreed, returning back to her work. Nicholas sat at the table taking several glances at Daria who was visibly struggling. "Let me see" he broke the silence and reached out for her laptop.

"How...." Daria flared but was caught off by Nicholas raising his hands. "Here is your problem, do it like this" Nicholas turned the screen back to her.

She stared at the screen shocked and amazed. "How did you do that?" She stuttered. "I do a lot of work like this," he replied with a smirk.

Daria looked through the work again and she couldn't believe her problem was solved. "Thank you..." She said but Nicholas was gone.

She quickly ran out to find him but he was nowhere to be seen. She returned to her table to pack up and left the cafe, happy and sad.

Daria arrived at the Jones mansion her face sparkled as she got down from her car 'a cherry red Porsche'.

"Why are you smiling?" Adi blocked her path into the house, stunned Daria wiped the smile off her face "nothing" she replied dodging him, "I am your older brother, I know you" he insisted.

"I am just excited, I finished the project" she replied avoiding the question. "Okay.... But be careful we just moved here" he advised rubbing her hair leaving it in ruffles causing Daria to grumble.

Daria walked through the hallway into her father's office, "good evening Dad" Daria embraced her father Jacob Jones placing a light peck in his cheek. "My darling" he responded to her with a kiss of his own.

Jacob smiled lovingly at his daughter. "I have finished the project and I am positive we will bag the contract tomorrow" Daria informed happily, placing the file in front of him.

Jacob looked through the file, he's eyes beamed with pride smiling at his daughter "this is good we are definitely getting the contract tomorrow" he said happily.

"Thanks Dad, I'll just head up to my room and rest for tomorrow" Daria picked up her bags and went for the door.

"Daria, please come" her dad called out in a low tone, "yes" Daria responded turning towards him,her eyebrows knitted together.

"You know how much I love you" he started, looking at her facial expression but Daria just nodded in response "I know you love business and you want to help out" he continued still looking at her for a change in expression

"But I don't want you to get consumed, I want you to also find a nice guy and get married.... What about"

"Dad, don't worry about me I am fine and I will but for now let's focus on tomorrow's contract and then we can talk about my love life" Daria cut him off assuring him.

"But.." "Dad" Daria cut him off again "I will consider it okay" "good night" Daria added as she closed the door behind leaving a worried father to himself.

Daria got to her bedroom tired and just laid on her bed fully clothed, reminiscing on her day. Suddenly she remembered the guy at the cafe

Nicholas, 'how am I going to find him and thank him' she thought to herself. An idea popped in her head: her best friend Elena, she grabbed her phone and dialed her number.

"Hey baby girl" Elena responded, "hey ermm, how was your day" Daria asked biting her fingernails. "Good, how are you" Elena replied

"Good, I need your help," Daria said slowly, "anything for you girl, what is it?" Elena asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I met this guy or rather a guy came up to me and I want to find him" Daria paused, waiting for a response "okay, who is he, do you like him" she asked excitedly.

"No, I don't" Daria replied immediately "he helped me out and I want to thank him that's all" she added.

"Okay, what's the name?" Elena asked "Nicholas Raceanu" Daria replied, "you got it, don't forget our celebratory dinner, tomorrow evening" Elena agreed, ending the call.

Daria stepped into her bathroom and prepared a bath for herself, soaking herself she closed her eyes.

Meanwhile earlier that day Nicholas had left Daria without a proper goodbye, he had received a message from Antonia informing him of his clients arrival plus he loved the suspense between them.

"Do we have an upcoming project tomorrow?" Nicholas asked as he entered Antonia's office which he rarely did, "I don't know sir" she fumbled, he cheeks became red",

"check" he commanded. Antonia scribbled on her keypad "yes, the Jones merger" she replied.

"Who is handling it?" Nicholas asked again. "It's the contract Manager, they have a meeting tomorrow".

"Transfer the deal to me" he commanded, walking away leaving Antonia confused.

The next morning Daria got up early and went for her morning run, she had run a few miles when she spotted Nicholas also in his gym wear cutting into the street she was running.

Daria sped up and tried to catch up with him, but as she was about to reach him another woman came up to him and two of them ran together.

They were flirty with each other and shared a hug separating their part. Daria stopped in her tracks and walked back slowly 'there is no need to thank him' she convinced herself and continued her run.

Daria ran only 14m and spotted Nicholas again this time around with another woman, she immediately got irritated she quickly walked up to him and began to reprimand him.

"You are so disgusting," Daria screamed, drawing attention towards them.

Nicholas frowned on hearing her, "are you playing them" she continued drawing more attention towards them.

"Hold on miss" his bodyguard who was in hiding stepped out towards her, Nicholas gestured for him to stop.

"Hey, Daria" Nicholas replied calmly but Daria frowned disgustingly "don't call my name you two timer" she said shoving away the pleasantries.

"I can't believe I actually wanted to thank you" she continued her face contorted with disgust.

"I don't understand" Nicholas stared at her confused. Daria raised her arms stopping him "thank you for helping me out earlier, but I never want to see you again" she said storming away leaving Nicholas and everyone around confused and some amused by the scene.

Nicholas let her go to prevent causing a bigger scene, he decided to return home and get ready for his day instead.

Daria ran back home angry, and bumped into her brother, scattering the papers he held on the floor

"hey!!" He exclaimed. "I'm sorry I didn't see you there" Daria apologized picking up the papers from the floor, Adi bent over and helped her pick them.

"You seem angry" a he asked concerned, "I ran into a scumbag" she replied causing his brows to knit together

"but he is taken care of, don't worry" she quickly added. "What do you mean, it's okay?" "Did he try to hurt you?" he began checking her arms.

"I'm fine, it wasn't to me, someone else" she assured. "Be careful" he said, glancing at his watch "I am late, my clients will be here soon" he rushed off waving Daria goodbye.

Quickly she remembered she also had a meeting and ran up to her room to get ready.

Few minutes later Daria stood in front of her mirror scrutinizing her look, she wore a black corporate pants and a dark blue blazer with a black sleeveless ruffled top underneath,

her hair was straightened out flowing to her waist. Her blue six inch heel sparkled in the light, taking a deep breath she headed out and found her father leaving as well.

"You look so beautiful" Jacob said lovingly as he gazed at his daughter, and the memory of his wife flashed in his mind.

Daria gave him a warm smile as she approached him "thanks Dad".

"Shall we?" He offered his hand to her, letting out a soft giggle Daria took his hand and they both got into the car already waiting for them.

Daria walked into her office complex, alongside her father. They were both greeted by the workers but quickly separated when Daria was approached by the staff.

"Good morning ma'am, the meeting begins in an hour, would you like to go over it again?" Sarah greeted, informing her of the meeting time.

"Yes, gather everyone at the meeting room, I'll be there shortly" Daria instructed. "That's all for now, please everyone we need to be at our best behavior and re read through the file we need this contract to place our name on the business map" Daria concluded addressing her team sitting in front of her.

They all nodded in affirmation, the double doors to the meeting room opened up and they all stood up to welcome their clients.

Daria welcomed them with a warm smile but the smile disappeared and her face turned pale when she spotted a familiar face among them.

Nicholas walked into the room, his face hardened, his aura enveloped the room, all eyes were on him. There was no doubt that he was the head as his team made way for him.

His eyes searched the room until it spotted Daria standing in front of the table and a smile curled up his lips.

This didn't go unnoticed as Antonia noticed the smile on his face as he looked at Daria.

Everyone sat at their designated sits and the meeting began, but Daria felt her heart race a thousand miles and small beads of sweat began to form on her forehead

She couldn't believe her eyes, he was seated in front of her 'what the hell was he doing here and why is he seated at the head chair' Daria peered at him.

This also doesn't go unnoticed as Antonia watched the two of them stare at each other.

Daria suppressed her emotions and began explaining. She got distracted when she noticed the growing smile on Nicholas' lips as he watched her and she wanted nothing but to snack it off his face.

Due to the distraction Daria makes a mistake, "I am sorry, I will excuse me.." she apologized "my assistant will continue from here.

Quickly she walked out, with Nicholas in tail.