Nik's POV

I was startled when I felt something light and gentle make my ear twitch. I looked down only to discover Maya was beside me tingling me with the end of her hair.

" Welcome back " she said giving me a sheepish smile that made me froze.

How could she look so adorable right now with those puffy cheeks that had a hint of dimples and that red adorable lips.

" Hey " She waved her hands in front of my face " Earth to Niklaus "

I snapped awake realizing I've being gaping at her for a while now as my jaw shut close.

"I'm sorry " I apologized and readjusted the seat making space for her to sit on my laps.

"Are you sure? " Maya asked with hesitation when I gestured for her to sit on my thigh.

" Yes "

She gave me a questioning look

"No groping " I assured her.

But she still gave me a doubting look

"And no wandering hands " I added and this time she smiled satisfied as she slowly but cautiously sat on my laps , her legs swinging at the side.

"I must have done it again " I said to her but she gave me a confused look.

"Done what? "

"Ignore you while working " I explained to her "I have the tendency to immerse myself in my work a lot thereby losing connection with the outside world "

" Oh " She nodded 'I do that sometimes but not to the point of ignoring everyone around me - no pun intended by the way "

I chuckled , sometimes I just admire her frankness and her ability to say what's on her mind , though I can't say the same for her bravery - she can be quite headstrong when it comes to making sharp and witty comebacks in a conversation. She can be adventurous but not a big risk taker, she's just like a chicken. A cute adorable chicken.

" Tell me a story " She requested out of nowhere.

"I'm a businessman not an author, that's not my forte "

"I don't mean you should create a fiction or whatever , just something from your everyday activities " She clarified, her hand stroking my exposed chest absentmindedly.

"Trust me Tigress , my every day activities isn't suitable to be adopted into a story for the innocent minds cause it features a lot of R-18 contents " I answered with a knowing smile while wriggling my brows suggestively and she hit me on the chest.

" Seriously " She hit me on the chest again "Can't you be serious for once?"

"Fine " I gave in.

I had annoyed her a lot today, perhaps it's time I granted her a wish.

Seriously Nik, since when did you begin to grant her every whim?

"Fine then " She agreed before adding her terms " But this time, tell me something from your childhood .."

Her voice faltered when she realized the sudden change in my demeanor.

My jaw flexed while I stiffened involuntarily, I didn't like recalling my childhood but I had given my word.

She bit her lips nervously "But if you don't want to..... "

"I had this childhood friend " I started, interrupting her on purpose and a grateful smile graced her face.

Thankfully out of the dark memories I had as a child, there was still some that stood out from the intense and gloomy ones.

"I would normally came over to his place to have some fun, I think I was ten? eleven ? or so? I think so " I pondered but still couldn't come up with a definite age, so I continued.

"He had this really strict parents and they forbade him from having a girlfriend until he was aged enough. But as kids would always be kids , he didn't listen and went ahead to get one ; a pretty girl at that "

I heard Lia chuckle, she probably had a faint idea how this was going to end.

"One day, I came over as usual and we had our usual fun - Play video games, music, gossip about pretty girls, munch on junk foods and so on when his parents returned and told me to stay over for lunch -"

"And his girlfriend came over? " Maya reasoned , interrupting me in the process.

I pinched her cheek "Don't be faster than your shadow, Little Tigress "

She pouted her lips in an aggrieved but adorable manner and I shook my head inwardly - I was slowly becoming one big softie.

" As I was saying " I went on " I agreed to stay for the meal and started having this cool conversation with his family, coupled with soft music playing in the background when all of a sudden, his phone rang and his girlfriend's number flashed across the screen .

Panicking and in a hurry, he picked the call and rushed to the toilet, intending to have their sweet conversation there while forgetting that his phone was connected to the audio system through the bluetooth in the parlor where all his family members were just chilling.... "

My body shook with Maya's boisterous laughter, her loud and incessant fit of joyous laughter circling the room.

But that single moment captivated me: I was ensnared by the way her lips stretched wide exposing pearly white teeth and the pronounced dimples on both cheeks.

The way she threw her head back each time she roared with laughter , the way her face lit up like christmas and the way she would hit my chest playfully - I was slowly losing my mind for sure.

"So what happened next? " She asked amidst tears of laughter

" Well " I pursed my lips " The whole family pretty much heard everything and then when he came out of the toilet grinning like an idiot, his parents gave him the evil eye making him realize he has been caught red "

Maya let all her weight fall on me as she hide her face on my chest, bubbling with laughter. She clenched and unclenched her fist not knowing how to handle the intense emotions rippling through her.

"And you? " She glanced up at me " What did you do? " She asked wiping away tears from her eyes.

I shrugged my shoulders " What do you expect me to do? I simply said a silent prayer on his behalf and sneaked out through the door once the tongue-lashing sermon from his parents began "

She giggled " What happened to the poor boy?"

"His cellphone was confiscated and he was grounded half the entire summer" I finalized but frowned when I discovered my phone was ringing and the name 'Judy ' flashed on the screen.

"I need to take this " I said and let her down before picking the call.

"Should we proceed with the plan? His girlfriend has taken the bait " came his words once I answered.

Ah, now I remember.The fool, Andrew.

" Sure, proceed with the plan " I confirmed while making sure Maya was not within earshot.

The call ended at once.

Now it was time to have my revenge on that stupid ex-boyfriend of her's, did he think I would go easy on him after disgracing my Tigress like that?