"...the devil is well packaged to seduce you into sin..."

ick's POV

"Hey! Why is it impossible to reach you?"

"Sorry. I have been in surgery all morning. Are you all right? What do you need?"

"A big favor!"

"Ask away."

"I need you to be my alibi."

"What did you do?" Ferrer asked me in a high pitched tone. He almost squeaks when he's panicking.

"It's more of what I'm doing. So Helena is on my case and I know she will call you-"

"Why would the ice queen call me?" He asked.

"Because you're my alibi!"

"How can I be your alibi when I haven't consented and I'm not even sure what you've done?"

"You consented when you told me to ask away. I'm supposed to be in a meeting with her. I didn't-" I can hear my phone ringing. Keira is walking towards it. "Don't answer! Don't answer that!"

She backed away from the phone. I left the living room and closed the glass doors. It's a hot day. I want to take the yacht out and I hope she will come along.

"I had a meeting with her and I skipped it. She's pissed and I can't tell her where I am. This is where you come in. Tell her I'm with you."

"I have surgeries all day! Unless you're in the OR with me-"

"Come up with something!"

"Why me? Why not Tony?"

"He's doing another favor for me."

"Cole?"

"Public engagements, he will be very visible today."

"Bruce?"

"He's off grid."

"So that leaves me."

"Very clever of you to conclude that. I'll make it worth your while if you lie. You know those Czech models you like? I have their numbers. I can introduce you."

"Deal." He agreed immediately. "I'll tell her we are together."

"In the Caribbean. Get creative. You're a life saver! Grazi." I hanged up.

I returned into the house to pick the ringing phone. She has a personal assistant whose job is to call until someone answers. She will call until my battery gives out.

"Hi."

"Nickolas. I'm starting to think you're purposely ignoring me. Do you know where I am? At Bale Industries. I am here for a meeting that started an hour ago and the person I'm meeting is not here. Where are you?"

"I'm with Ferrer in the Caribbean."

"That's convenient. It looks like we will have this meeting over the phone."

"Right now?"

"Are you doing something more important?"

"Of course not. What is more important than you?"

"I appreciate the sarcasm. I'll get to the point. Terminate your business with the Ballards." My eyes took notice of Kei. She's setting up the breakfast table. "Did you hear me?"

"Why?"

"Because image is everything. I value my personal image and that is extended to Bale Industries! We don't get into contracts with convicts."

She's talking about Keith Ballard. Damn it! "I'm sure it's a misunderstanding and he will be out soon."

"Physical assault. Resisting arrest. Embezzlement. The list is long. Should I keep going?"

"No." I put distance between Keira and I. She's seated, waiting and I'm stuck on this call. "It's paying off. Keith isn't tbe face of their contract anymore. Just let me see it to completion."

"His father is old and retired." Helena should be retired. But i won't say that out loud. "Who else? Wait, don't tell me! The daughter! Are you banging her? Is that it? She has you by the balls?"

"It's a professional relationship."

Yeah right.

"And I'm Grace Kelly of Monaco! End it! I swear if you don't end it, I'll fire you! I'm still your boss! My company's image was my be tarnished because you are using your other head to think. End it Nickolas!"

She hanged up.

My grandmother will be the reason my heart stops beating.

I went back inside, joining Keira for breakfast.

"Is everything all right Mr Bale?"

"Yeah." I shrugged.

"I made S-sfakianopita." She laughed at her struggle over the word. She has a light beautiful laughter.

Sfakianopita is a thin pancake-like pie. It's infused with cheese. It

"Where did you get the raki and myzithra?"

"I bought the ingredients before we travelled. I had this little menu I wanted to prepare for you. I hope you don't find it a cliche that I chose a Greek menu."

I'm a foodie. My favorite things in the world is Greek food, Italian food and gelato. I love gelato. If she can make it from scratch like my mother does it, then I'll love her forever.

"I don't mind. I think that is thoughtful of you. I can't help but feel special right now, to know that you were thinking of me."

She blushed softly. "Well... you're thoughtful too. I'm grateful for your generosity towards my family."

"It's not really generosity if I'm getting something out of it. Don't think much of it. What else have you made?"

"Koulouri thessalonikis." She sighed. "I got it right! I practiced saying this all night."

"When did you wake up?"

"4am." She beamed.

"You're w morning person."

"I am."

"Me too." We will have great morning sex. That is when I'm especially horny.

"Why is Greek so difficult?"

"My grandfather would say it's because we are damn impossible." I chuckled. "Grazi."

"Is that Greek too? That word?"

"Italian. Don't ask. I'm a terrible mixture of things."

She served the rest of what she prepared and sat down. "Do tell."

"Grandparents on my father's side are Greek. On my mother's side, my grandfather is Italian. My grandmother was Colombian."

"Greek, Italian and Colombian. That's interesting."

"What about you?" The ring breads are delicious!

"Uh... All American. Nothing interesting."

"No one is all American. We all come from somewhere."

"Okay, maybe my mother. Her cultural heritage is interesting. She has a red Indian heritage."

"No way! That explains your hair. Right?"

She touched the long hair that flows past her waist like a waterfall. Damn she's beautiful! Does she know how much? Especially when she's smiling like this.

"I guess. But that's it. My father is proudly from Texas."

"Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with me."

I love the avocado toast. She passed me a glass of yoghurt. We enjoyed our breakfast in comfortable silence. For me,just having her here is enough. We are alone, uninterrupted and I command her full attention.

"I was thinking we should take the yacht out later on in an the afternoon."

"That's a great idea." She agreed.

"Wonderful." I should throw my phone away. It's ringing again and at least it's not Helena. "Excuse me." I left the table. I closed the door to the office downstairs. "This better be important Cliff."

"I filed the divorce papers." He informed me.

"That's great! I need you to rush it. I can't stay married to Margaux any longer without losing my mind."

Cliff Waterford is one of the best divorce attorneys in New York.

"These things can't be rushed. She has lawyered up. So prepare for the worst. Tell me you signed a prenup. That is why I'm calling. Did you sign a prenup?"

I rubbed the back of my head.

What Margaux and I had was a whirlwind romance that lasted as long as she was not pregnant. After that, things went the hell. She wanted to get an abortion but I don't believe in abortions. So I offered to marry her. We moved fast because I knew my family won't approve especially my mother and Helena. I did not stop to think about a prenup. It never crossed my mind.

"No. No prenup."

"You'll lose half your net worth to that woman."

"I know. I'm thinking of ways out of this. But while I have you,get me a good custody lawyer. I want full custody of my daughter."

He cursed. "Nickolas, listen to me carefully. It almost a guarantee that custody is granted to the mother. In this case, the child is female and three years old. She's going with her mother, like it or not. Unless you have compelling reasons why she is unfit for custody, you will lose."

"I don't lose."

"This will be a very publicized and ugly divorce." He warned me with a brutally serious tone. "You'll be under scrutiny as to whether you're a good father. Are you sure you two can't share Madeline? It will be best to be very amicable about things."

"Two things about me you should know. I'm not amicable and I don't like to share. Get me divorced and get me full custody." I demanded. "Quickly."

There is no patience in either my divorce, the custody or Keira. I want it all and I want it fast.

"I'll do my best. I'm the meantime, get in touch with your accounting firm and look for clever ways to hide your money because this woman will take everything."

"Thanks man." I hanged up.

I know another reason why Helena was in New York is because she wants to talk about my divorce. That conversation won't end well.

Keira's POV

I

was nervous about coming to Miami. There's a part of me that knows what Nick will expect. He isn't exactly hiding his interest on me. I should be shutting him down but it feels like the warm embrace of the sun after a long winter. It feels like I'm being caressed by warmth I have never known before. Is it wrong to just want to bask in it a little more?

I am nervous yet again. It's not about Miami but about this swimsuit. The last time I wore it was on my honeymoon. It still fits the same way but I have become self conscious over the years. Jason picks on me. He will always find fault in me and my m just not that confident anymore.

He's leaning on the edge of the railing in nothing but a pair of shorts. His back looks toned. Mr Bale is physically attractive. His personality is challenging.

I wrapped the chiffon rove around myself. "Hi."

"Hello beautiful." He smiled at me. I can see my reflection on his dark sin glasses.

"Hi. Wow! It's beautiful out here!" I noted the expanse of the ocean. It's late in the afternoon. We prepared lunch together, something I enjoyed. He knows his way around the kitchen but he kept pretending he's clueless. I found that to be cute. He's growing on me.

My grandmother used to tell me that all men are devils. Some are outrightly evil like Jason while others are well packaged to seduce you to sin. They are physically irresistible to capture your attention. Perhaps with dirty blond hair in a buzz cut. Tempting pale blue eyes. An aura of sexiness and a presence so arresting you lose yourself entirely. These tight six pack abs sculptured to perfection have my fingers itching to touch him. My grandmother would be chanting prayers if she was in my shoes as she was very pius. I'm not. I was raised by two people who don't believe in anything but what is right in front of their eyes.

"It's beautiful." He agreed but he pushed his sunglasses out of the way to expose the pale blues of his eyes. "You're beautiful."

At his office he was clear about this not ending up in an affair. That was the right thing to do until he got me to come along to this trip. Now he's telling me I'm beautiful. If things are purely professional, why is it that I feel this way around him?

"I don't mean to be forward but do you tell all your business partners that?"

He chuckled. "No. I rarely complement my business partners on their physical appearance. It's just that you have the kind of beauty that should be complimented. Keira, you are hauntingly beautiful."

Hauntingly beautiful...

I looked away in a serious blush.

"What are we looking at?" He is right behind me.

"It's beautiful here."

"You keep saying that." His hands settled on the side of my arms. They moved over the thin fabric down my waist where he held me firmly. I turned my head and looked up to meet his gaze.

"What are we doing Mr Bale?" I asked him.

"Looking into each other's eyes... I'm drowning in yours. They are so blue! I haven't seen eyes so blue!"

I ended the eye contact. He pressed his cheek against mine.

"What do you want from me Mr Bale?"

He denied it at the office but now I need us to get past it by being honest. We cannot continue like this.

"I want to see what is under this thing you have worn." I felt his fingers slipping under the thin fabric. "Per favore, take it of."

"Mr Bale-"

"It's okay." He insisted pulling the kimono away. It fell to my feet. He moved back probably to gaze at me and I turned quickly to look at him. His eyes are hooded. Do I still need a verbal confirmation?

"Its... You're... Perfect." He took his time to look at me. He is pleased. He seems to stare more at my breasts. I covered the slight cleavage with my hands giggling like a little girl. "Don't be shy."

He gently pried my hands off.

"It's not that... it's just that I want to understand what this is."

"Me too." He responded. "I want to understand why I have a strange craving for your attention."

My jaw nearly dropped. "I'm married."

"I don't give a fuck about him. Pardon my french." He frowned.

"And your wife? What about your wife?"

"I'm getting divorced so that doesn't count."

"I think we should... keep things professional."

"I think those lines are blurred and we are not going back." He answered. He cupped one side of his face, the other hand held the metal rail. He closed the gap between us. "I felt something strange when I first saw you. I thought it's going to go away but it hasn't. It's not a crush. That tends to go away as fast as a fascination. This is... it's more like a strong attraction towards you and damn it Keira! I dint give a fuck about the rules that should govern us. I only care about being this close to you. I like you. I like you very much."

"Mr Bale-"

"Please call me Nick and don't respond to anything I have said. When the time is right, I'll ask for a response."

He stood beside me, his hand on my lower back. We stood in comfortable silence, staring at the vast ocean.

I wasn't wrong. I didn't read him wrong. He feels something for me and I... I feel something for him. What now? What will happen next? What will I do with these things I'm beginning to feel?