Reina's point of view

"What's she doing here?" her heated gaze settled on me. However, when she turned to Niklaus, she assumed a meek and calm demeanor. Women were pretty good pretenders.

"She became my guest after Isabella bailed out on her," Niklaus answered.

"Your guest?" Her assessing gaze scanned me and trust me, I chose that moment to tactically display the hickey on my neck.

Her eyes darkened but she covered it up with a smile, "Oh, so that was what happened,"

Jennifer sauntered over to me, stretching her hand for a handshake, "Hi, I'm Jennifer, Niklaus' fiancée," she emphasized on "Fiancée" to the point that Niklaus became clearly uncomfortable.

"Hi, I'm Reina. It's nice meeting you," I accepted her firm handshake.

"Honestly," she pulled her hand away, "I didn't know what to think of you when I saw that video of you kissing Niklaus," She added, "I thought, who is this hole kissing my fiancée but seeing you now, I guess it's all a misunderstanding. You look like a fine, young lady who can cater for herself and more," she said all this with a sweet smile on her face.

It was good to know that my intuition wasn't wrong, the quiet ones are always the best pretenders.

"And Reina was just leaving, " Niklaus was not pleased by her comment even though she tried to make it seem harmless.

I raised my hand to stop Niklaus, two can play this game, "Oh, about that, I'm truly sorry," I mustered an apologetic face, I guess being an actress in the past does come in handy now.

I continued, "You see, Niklaus and I met that day to clear some problems between our company, I just never expect him to mistake me for his late ex-girlfriend and you know…" I shrugged, "The kiss happened which I'm truly sorry for even though he's the one who initiated it - he must have loved his ex dearly, " I said innocently.

Jennifer struggled to keep her boiling emotion in check but her mask was cracking. I warned her never to start a war she couldn't fight.

I had gone through training and experiences that had taught me to perfectly hide my emotions and the right time to use them as a weapon, manipulating them to my advantage. The only person who could ruffle my feathers at the moment was Niklaus - which I seriously don't like - Jennifer was just a piece of cake.

When she tried to speak, I quickly added, "But don't worry, Niklaus and I are very good friends now thanks to Isabella," I turned to him gleefully, "I give you the exclusive right to use those designs,"

Niklaus gave me a wry smile, he wanted to flatter me but the tense atmosphere plus the pinning look from Jennifer shut him up.

"That's good to know," Jennifer smiled at me as a show of her gratitude. Oh please, who was she deceiving? "At least dear, you won't have to stay up all night thinking about the company anymore, right?" Jennifer said, going to wrap her arms around his waist possessively.

"Get off,"

"What?" Jennifer's face distorted in belief.

"Fuck off this instant!" Niklaus bellowed, startling Jennifer who jumped away from him with a look of horror.

My brow raised at the sudden turn of events, what brought on this sudden change in him? Niklaus had been condoning her wiles all these while, why was he suddenly disgruntled?

"You know where the door is Reina, make use of it," He dismissed me and grabbed onto Jennifer, "Follow me," Niklaus dragged her out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"I guess this is my cue to find my way out of here," I mumbled and picked my things to leave this place. I don't know everything about Niklaus but that fierce look on his face told me things are about to get pretty intense in there.

"Maya?" I heard someone call my name when I successfully made it to the living room. I turned around to see a middle-aged woman who had this frigid smile mixed with doubt on her face.

"Who..?"

I was slammed to her plump body with a great force that knocked the breath out of my lungs. Alright, she's a hugger.

"How can this be possible?" she teared up which I hated, to be honest - tears were threatening to fall off my eyes too? No, I had to be strong!

She pulled away, taking a good look at me, "How are you alive? You were proclaimed dead, we even had a burial for you! Do you know how much Niklaus suffered thinking you were dead?" she bombarded me with questions.

"Niklaus suffered?" That was the only one I was able to understand.

"How could you be alive and not notify us?"

"I'm sorry but I'm not -" I could not finish the rest of my words because she hugged me again.

"Niklaus wasn't himself when you died, Maya. If it wasn't for his daughter Isabella, I was sure he would jump down that bridge with you,"

I was just about to push her away when I heard that comment and for some reason, my heart ached. I felt sadness wash over me. Wait a minute, was I actually feeling compassion for Niklaus?

"I'm sorry but I'm not Maya," I pushed with my might, making an escape for the door while she kept on calling after me with the name, "Maya,"

I made a mad rush for my car and out of the corner of my eyes, saw Isabella moving toward me, yelling "Maya!" too.

"You all should just leave me alone!" I screamed, climbed into the car, and drove off.

I felt underwater. Everything I was told since I came out of that coma was crumbling down, they were lies? I didn't want to believe it, father loves me so much. He wouldn't go to the extent of fooling me just to exact revenge on the guy I loved, right? Loved? What joke? He's playing with your feelings, the evidence is there.

My head swelled with so many thoughts that I found myself driving straight to my father's place. I needed the truth and it was time someone provided it.

At the mansion, I didn't even respond to the greetings from the gang members, heading straight to my father's office.

"What do you plan to do to Niklaus?!" I stormed in.