Chapter Four

Nicolas was busy on his computer when Camilo entered his office. Nicolas glanced at him as he walked to his desk.

"You're late!" Nicolas said with his gaze on the screen.

Camilo didn't respond. He was already tired and exhausted from the trekking. He removed his jacket and hung it behind the chair he sat on. He leant his back on the chair and enjoyed the air conditioner in the office. Nicolas pulled open the drawer and brought out his phone.

"Hey,you forgot this!" Nicolas said airily, placing Camilo's phone on his desk.

"Thanks!" Camilo replied and took his phone.

He unlocked the phone with his finger print and saw the notifications on the home screen.

"I missed five calls! Thanks a lot,Nick!" Camilo said ironically.

"If it wasn't for your unapologetic attitude,I wouldn't have trekked to work today." 

"I didn't ask you to trek. I simply told you to get out of my car. You could have taken a bus or stopped a taxi." Nicolas said flatly, without making eye contact.

"I left my wallet at home and my credit card was in my phone case which I forgot in your car." Camilo said.

"But you have your phone and card back. Problem solved!" Nicolas said and rang his P.A through,

"Mady, please come to my office." 

He hung up and picked up the paper cup with coffee in it. He drank a little and kept the paper cup on his desk. He looked forward and saw that Camilo was still in his office.

"You're still here? Shouldn't you be in your office, working?" Nicolas said plainly.

"Sometimes,I wonder where the Nicolas Gonzalez I knew is. He was nicer and understanding." Camilo said.

"That Nicolas died in a car accident three years ago. Maybe you should go to his grave and dig him up. Pray he wakes up." Nicolas said.

Camilo stood up from his seat , grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He had walked through it and almost hit Mady with it.

"Sorry Mady! I didn't see you there." Camilo apologized.

"It's okay! I'm fine!" Mady replied.

He nodded and left. Mady knocked on the door and waited for Nicolas' approval.

"You don't have to knock when I can clearly see you." Nicolas said flatly.

"Sorry sir,I-." Mady said, entering the office.

"What time does the meeting start?" Nicolas said, cutting her off. 

"At 3 p.m.!" Mady replied.

"Okay. I want you to get all the files for the presentation ready. I don't want any slip ups,you got that?" Nicolas said and she nodded.

Mady could stop but admired Nicolas. She had had a crush on him ever since she was employed. Even before he assumed office as the CEO of Prime Pictures Enterprises. Nicolas noticed she was still in his office. 

"What are you still doing here?" Nicolas asked dryly.

His voice snapped Mady out of the trance. 

"Nothing I-I was just about to leave." Mady said nervously.

She had turned to leave and quickly remembered something.

"Mr Nicolas?" Mady said.

"Yes,what is it?" Nicolas replied.

"Your mother called." She informed him.

"What did she say?" He asked,less concerned.

"She said she wants to see you." She said.

"Call her back and tell her I'm busy." He said, tapping the keys on the keyboard.

"I did but she insists you see her. She says it is urgent. She gave me the name and address of the hotel she is staying in. She says she has been calling you but you refuse to answer her calls." Mady said.

"Okay. I'll call her as soon as I'm done." Nicolas said dryly.

She replied in a nod and left his office.

**Hours later**

After the meeting with Mrs Jimenia, Nicolas returned to his office. He worked overtime and stayed in his office until it was dark. Everyone in the building had gone home except his personal assistant and Camilo. Camilo was on his way and walked passed his office. He looked through the glass walls and saw Nicolas was still in his office. He opened the door and stood close to it.

"Still working?" Camilo asked, knowing the obvious.

Nicolas nodded and focused on the files in front of him. They were the documents Mrs Jimenia had presented at the meeting. He wanted to revise the content written in it before signing it.

"Well, good night. I'm going home now. Say hi to Ivan for me, would you?" Camilo said.

Nicolas didn't respond and Camilo nodded. He knew he heard what he said and left his office. He met Mady in the hall and was curious.

"Hey Mady?" Camilo called.

Mady turned to her side when she heard her name. She was seated on one of the chairs in the hall, close to the wall. 

"What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be home by now?"

"I'm waiting for Mr Nicolas. I wanted to know if he needs anything before I go home. You know how angry he gets if things aren't in order." Mady said, trying to convince him.

"Oh! He is in his office. Why don't you go and ask him? I'll wait for you here so that we can both go home together." Camilo offered.

"No!" She replied sharply.

"Why?" He asked confusingly.

"That won't be necessary. You go and I'll go home once I ask him." She said, trying to convince him to leave.

"Are you sure? You don't want me to wait for you?" He asked and she nodded.

"Okay." Camilo shrugged.

"Take care of yourself."

"I will! Goodnight!" Mady said.

Camilo replied in a nod and went to the lift. He pressed the button and the doors slid open. He waved at her until the doors closed. As soon as the doors closed,Mady let out a sigh of relief. 

"Thank God he has gone, otherwise my plan would've been ruined." She said inwardly.

She sat down on the chair and waited for Nicolas. She kept her bag and dozed off while waiting for him. Nicolas couldn't finish reading the whole content and decided to take it home. He put it in his briefcase as well as the other files on his desk. He turned off the light switch and left his office. He was on his way to the lift and was surprised to see Mady in the hall. She was sleeping. 

"Mady?" Nicolas called but got no response.

"Mady?"

"Matilda!" He said, raising his voice.

She woke up and stood on her feet when she saw him.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home like the rest?" Nicolas asked, keeping a straight face.

"I-I-I-." Mady stuttered.

"Speak up! I dislike it when people stutter!" Nicolas said sternly.

"Actually sir,I forgot something on my desk and came back to get it. I was on my way home but the doors of the lift won't open." Mady lied.

"This lift?" Nicolas said confusingly, pointing at it.

"Um,yes!" She said.

"Huh? That's strange!" Nicolas said flatly.

He got closer and pressed the button of the lift. The doors slid open. Mady had thought he would believe her and not the other way around.

"It seems fine to me." 

"You fixed it." Mady said but Nicolas didn't fall for her false praise.

He entered the lift. Mady followed suit and bumped into him as she came in.

"Sorry sir!" She apologized.

He pressed another button and the doors closed. They arrived at the underground car park. Nicolas walked to his car while Mady stood at the lift. He unlocked it and got in. He turned on his ignition and put it in drive. He was about to drive out of the car park but saw Mady. He drove to the direction where she stood and wind down the window of the passenger side. 

"What are you waiting for?" Nicolas asked plainly.

"I'm waiting for the taxi I called." Mady said, wearing her blazer on her forearm.

Nicolas sighed and pressed a button on the side of the driver's door. 

"Get in. I'll drop you off." He said.

Mady didn't hesitate and entered the car.

"Seatbelt." He hinted and she put it on.

He stepped on the accelerator pedal and they drove off. 

<>

Maurice was walking passed Alejandra's office and saw that the lights were still on. He opened the door and walked in. Alejandra was fast asleep,with her head on her desk and part of her hair covering her face. He took off the strap of his briefcase from his shoulders and kept it on the desk. He walked to her chair and stood beside her. 

"Alejandra!" Maurice called softly and tapped her on her shoulder.

"Ale-."

"I'm awake! I'm..." Alejandra said as she woke up,

"... awake."

She turned to her side and saw Maurice standing beside her. He smiled at her. She removed the paper that was stuck to her cheek and arranged the scattered documents on her desk. 

"I must have slept off. What time is it?" Alejandra asked as she glanced at her untidy desk.

"It's ten minutes to ten p.m." Maurice said, checking the time on his phone.

"I still have work to do." She replied.

Alejandra yawned while covering her mouth and stretched her hands in the air. She was already tired and worn out from the workload.

"Nonsense! You're clearly tired and need to get some rest. Look! Your body is out of battery and you obviously need a recharge." He said.

"But Maurice,I've to finish this ahead of tomorrow's presentation. I don't want Mr Anderson to get mad with me." Alejandra said, putting the arranged papers in a file. 

"You can continue tomorrow. Right now,you need to get some rest." Maurice insisted.

Alejandra didn't want to protest and gave in. She knew Maurice wasn't going to give up until he had his way. She grabbed her handbag and put her phone in it. She stood up from her seat and yawned again.

"C'mon, I'll drive you home." Maurice said, wearing the strap of the briefcase over his shoulder.

Alejandra nodded and stood up from the chair. They walked to the door and Maurice opened it. Alejandra turned off the lights and walked through the door first and Maurice last. 

The building didn't have a lift,so they used the staircase. They got to the car park in front of the building. Maurice unlocked his car with his car key and held the passenger's door open for Alejandra. He closed it and walked to the driver's. He got in, turned on the ignition and drove off.

<>

Nicolas drove Mady to her house. He followed the directions she had given him and made it to her block of flats. 

"That's my house over there." Mady said, pointing at the block of flats ahead of them. 

Nicolas drove a bit further and parked along the pavement. Mady took off the seatbelt and opened the door. She got out of the car and looked at him through the passenger's window. He had wind it down earlier on their way. 

"Thank you sir,for the lift home!" Mady thanked him.

"It's no problem." Nicolas replied flatly. 

He switched it from park to drive and drove off. 

"Good night,sir!" Mady said and waved him goodbye.

Nicolas drove straight to his house. Sofia heard his car drive into the compound. He got out of the car and locked it. He walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Sofia was closed to the door and unlocked it immediately.

"Good evening,Mr Nicolas!" Sofia greeted with a curtsy. 

Nicolas reciprocated with a nod and walked through the archway. Sofia closed the door and followed him.

"Is Ivan asleep?" Nicolas asked as he got to the living room.

"Yes!" She replied.

"Do you need anything,sir?" 

"No! You can go to bed now!" He said, climbing up the stairs.