One of the guards stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with undisguised annoyance and anger. "Who are you?" he demanded, his gruff voice cutting through the tense silence. Without a hint of fear, Nicholas calmly dipped his hand into his pocket, extracting a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. With unhurried movements, he placed a cigarette between his lips and flicked the lighter, the flame dancing as he drew a deep, steadying breath. Exhaling a plume of smoke, he fixed the guard with an even stare. "I.... am Nicholas Loughty," he replied evenly. At the mention of his name, the guards' eyes widened in shock. They exchanged startled glances, the tension palpable. They couldn't believe their ears. Same Niçholas Loughty? They all stood frozen, not knowing what to say or how to react. How did Niçholas know about this Creole place in the first place? Finally, one of them spoke up, his tone almost drawling in disbelief. "Are you... Nicholas Loughty? Of the Royal Group? Lord

Nicholas sat composed at the beautifully decorated table, the ornate gold and crystal décor of the five-star restaurant glittering around him. An array of delectable delicacies adorned the table - tender grilled meats, fresh seafood, artfully crafted desserts, and bottles of the finest vintage wines. Perfect set up for a VIP. He checked his wristwatch once more, the hands now indicating it had been over thirty minutes since he first arrived and took his seat. Where was India? Nicholas tried to tamp down the growing anxiety creeping up within him. This was meant to be a special evening, a chance for them to finally work through the issues that had been steadily driving a wedge between them. He had booked this private alcove, carefully selected India's favorite dishes, and even had a bouquet of her preferred lilies waiting on the table. Everything was set, but her absence left an unsettling void. Maybe she just lead him on to believe she had agreed. “No! She won't do

"They are complete now! These are the ones on duty that night," the head guard reported, saluting as he stopped in front of Nicholas. The air in the lounge was thick with tension as Nicholas sat on the plush sofa, his fingers drumming anxiously on the armrest. A tumbler of amber liquid sat on the table before him, untouched for now, its golden hue glinting under the warm light. Across from him, Michos perched on the edge of a matching chair, his posture tense and alert. He was looking nervous, restless and uncomfortable. One could tell that something was going on in his mind, with the serious expression worn on his face. The entire security team that was on night duty two days ago all stood quietly on front of Nicholas, their gazes fixed straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the unease permeating the room. They didn't know what was going on, but for Niçholas to have summon all of them, there must have been a problem. Nicholas exhaled a heavy sigh and reached for the tumbler, s

The soft click of Nicholas's polished leather boots echoed through the foyer as he descended the staircase. He was putting on a neatly pressed black button-down shirt and trousers, with a black sunglasses on sitting gently on his nose. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Nicholas's gaze immediately fell upon Michos, who was waiting patiently by the front door. Michos met Nicholas's eyes, a flicker of anticipation and nervousness flickering across his features. "Are you ready to go?" Nicholas asked, his voice calm and even. Michos chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders visibly easing. "Of course," he replied, nodding slightly. "I am very ready when you are ready." Nicholas gave a slight shrug of his broad shoulders. "Then let's be on our way," he said, turning towards the exit. Just as the duo were about to step outside, a hurried clatter of footsteps drew their attention. Corer came rushing towards them, her expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Mr. Lought

Nicholas plopped down on the hard bench in the hospital reception, his body tense with worry. Sweat dotted his brow as he stared at the double doors leading to the emergency ward, beyond which Michos was fighting for his life. The earlier commotion of nurses and doctors rushing to tend to Michos had left Nicholas's heart pounding in his chest. And even the doctor's words didn't make any positive impact, rather it worsen it. The guard standing beside him placed a steady hand on Nicholas's shoulder. "Try to relax, sir. The doctors are doing everything they can for Michos. I think they know what they are doing, they have all the equipments. So, let's be rest assured. Everything is going to work smoothly and Michos will definitely survive," the guard said, trying to comfort the restless Nicholas. Nicholas exhaled a shaky breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I know, I know. But I can't help but worry, you also heard what the doctor said. Michos is..