Chapter 26

They managed to get out of the restaurant without Ethan noticing Nikkita, and she sighed in relief. As they were strolling along the streets toward the hotel, they were chatting and laughing at the silly situation Nikkita was in, which of course, she didn't appreciate.

Soriya was, as usual, being her baby self and came to hook her arm around Chan's. "Chan, can I have one of your scented candles Nikki gave you?"

Chan laughed. "No, you may not."

"But why not?" She looked pleadingly at Chan with a puppy dog face. "Please?" She rested her head on her sister's shoulder.

Chan laughed. "All right."

"You're spoiling her," Dara said.

Soriya poked out her tongue at her sister.

"I can't believe that was your boss, Nikki," Ruby said. "I would have thought you'd be all over him, being you."

Actually, Nikki thought, Ruby's right.

She had been all over him, what with him being such a hunk and all, and most importantly, an Asian. It was her dream to date and wed an Asian hunk. But then the damn man had to go and mistake her for her half-brother Nick and told her he'd take her under his wing, because for him, she was like a brother he never had. Yes, she might behave like a boy most of the time, and yes, she might dress and look like a boy most of the time, but that didn't mean she wanted to be treated as one where he was concerned.

Nikki was so pissed by his misunderstanding and his kind manner toward her that she started resenting him and disobeying his every order. Besides, she was also pissed at her dad, who'd never given a shit about her or her dead mom. And now? He suddenly worried about her bleak future?

Furthermore, she'd found out it was all Kelly's idea, cunningly persuading her dad it was a good idea for Nikki to learn the ropes of managing a farm and all that shit, since she was a tomboy and farmwork suited her best. Like she'd ever want a farm, for God's sake.

"Well, at least I'm safe now," Nikki said, nodding her head. But it wasn't long, because a few moments later, they saw Ethan again, with those guys from the restaurant.

Nikki wanted to die. "Shield me!" she demanded, hiding herself amongst her friends.

Once they safely got into The Harrington, Nikki sighed in relief, and Chan couldn't help but laughed out loud.

They headed across the lobby while they all chatted about Nikki's misadventure. When they reached the other side of the hotel, Nikki grabbed Chan by the arm and said, "I need to use the bathroom."

"Oh, okay," Chan said. "We'll see you guys there," she called out to her sisters and friends.

The girls nodded and headed off toward the restaurant and bar. Chan and Nikki headed in the opposite direction across the corridor, toward the bathroom for guests.

Once inside and alone, Nikki said, "Okay. Make that call."

"What?" Chan was confused. "I thought you needed to use the toilet?"

Nikki laughed. "Of course not."

It was then they heard a very frustrated, angry growl echoing within the space. Chan and Nikki looked at each other, not knowing what to think.

Nikki made a face to ask Chan if the woman was okay or something. Chan shrugged to tell Nikki she didn't know.

They were about to return to their conversation when the woman came out of one of the stalls and Chan gasped in shocked surprise. It was the woman she'd seen with Lilly and her father last Sunday at StarFish Café, the woman she assumed was Lilly's mother.

She was now strolling elegantly toward the basins. She appeared pissed and grumpy, though she still looked as beautiful as ever with her hair all curled up into the classic style of the twenties, her face made up beautifully, and her cocktail dress… God, it was to die for. A perfect rich blue with simmering gold and silver about the waist and bust. Her heels looked like they cost an arm and a leg.

Nikki cocked her head to one side and asked the woman, "Err… is everything okay there?"

"We heard noises," Nikki said. "Are you okay?"

Chan noticed the woman looked like she had trouble trying to control her emotions and her facial expression. Mostly, those emotions were anger and frustration.

"I'm fine," she snapped. Then she returned her attention to washing her hands, dismissing Chan and Nikki completely.

Nikki turned to give Chan a weird look, while the woman continued to mutter under her breath.

"What a stupid night. So fucking boring. All they talk about is business. Shit! Shit! Shit! He hasn't even looked at me once tonight. What the fuck is wrong with him? I went to all that trouble to look this good and what? He doesn't even notice? What a waste of my time. What a fucking waste!"

"Hey," Nikki whispered to Chan. "What do you think she's talking about?"

Chan didn't know and shrugged.

"Probably a guy," Nikki said and snickered.

At that, Chan's mind wandered toward Lilly's dad. If this woman was here, did that mean Lilly's dad was here, too?

Her heart skipped a beat and then began to race. What was the chance of them meeting here? Probably zero, of course, and she hoped they weren't going to meet tonight, or ever again for that matter. It was hard enough trying to forget about him with just that one incidental meeting. And she hadn't even seen his face properly at all. That was, of course, insane indeed. How could she be falling in love with a guy she hadn't seen properly?

Nina was finally done and then stalked out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Nikki pulled a face. "Wow! What was all that about?"

Chan didn't want to think about it and was about to leave as well when Nikki held her back.

"Call him," she said. "Call Jeremy. Your date. You're waiting to get time alone to call him, aren't you?"

Chan just laughed at that statement. Nikki wasn't giving it up, was she? She sighed and said, "I can call him when we get home."

"Oh my God. I can't believe you're going to make him wait."

"It's not that," Chan said, staring at the bunch of white roses in a vase on the countertop near the basins.

Nikki raised her brows, and when she saw the painful expression on Chan's face, she understood.

"Shit. I'm so sorry, Chan. I guess I was just so glad you and your sisters got out of all that mess with that bastard Dave and your ex-stepmother and everything, I didn't think. I mean, you're the one who is most affected."

"You know, I'm trying very hard to move on. I think I did forget about him. But lately, he's back."

"What do you mean?"

Chan suddenly felt tears in her eyes. "He's been sending me threatening messages. I mean, I've changed my phone number and email address and everything. But it just kind of freaked me out, you know?"

"Bastard!" Nikki said and gave Chan a tight hug. "You know what, darling? It's over. He's not going to find you. And if he does? So what? Call the police. That's what you need to do."

"I have, back in New Zealand before we moved here," Chan said.

"Good for you," Nikki said. "And you know, if dating this Jeremy is too soon for you, then don't."

"Actually, Nikki, I've already decided Jeremy is really nice and I should give him a go."

Yes, she needed to move on. She needed to give life a go and live freely—live life the way she wanted, the way that pleased her, not other people.

Nikki laughed. "Then give him a call."

"I thought I'd just wait until I get home."

"You can't let him wait too long, my love. And, of course, I just figured out you can't call now because you're upset. Here, give me the phone."

Nikki took the phone from Chan and started texting. A moment later, she said, "There, done."

Chan looked at the screen and saw Nikki had sent Jeremy a text message.

Dinner sounds great. See you tomorrow, then.

Chan laughed. Nikki was still Nikki. She'd never change.

"Right. You, darling, need to make yourself look gorgeous, and I'm really going to pee now. The girls are waiting for us."

"Me? Gorgeous?" Chan remarked, chuckling.

As Nikki headed toward one of the stalls, she turned her attention to the mirror. Sure enough, she looked a little disheveled. She sighed, grabbed a tissue from the box provided, and began to tidy herself up.