"...change is hard at first, messy in the middle

but beautiful in the end..."

Nick's POV

I learned to play chess from Helena. She would never let me win unless I earned it. I learned three lessons from my chess games with her. Easy wins are not part life. Always think ten steps ahead. Strategy is everything.

She whooped my ass in our recent fame of 'chess'. Helena now owns 55% of the architectural subsidiary of Bale Industries. She can sway decisions to anything she wants them to be. I have been informed she is on the verge of owning another 8%.

She has successfully pushed me up against the wall and I have no choice but to end the business relationship between the Bales and the Ballards.

Keira isn't answering her phone when I call her. I think she's ignoring me. I have no choice but to show up at her doorstep. I waited until her husband left before I rang the bell.

"Kei I know your home. Open the door or I'll cause a scene!"

She opened it quickly. She craned her neck to look at both sides of the street. "Mrs Robinson is a nosy one. Get in here." She pulled me inside and closed the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you wearing make up?" I asked her. I have never seen her in make up. She is a plain Jane. She looks even more beautiful.

"Yes. What can I do for you?"

"May I sit down?" I asked her.

"I'm sorry. I'm being rude." She helped me out of my coat. She hanged it on a hook near the door. "Can I get you anything? I have tea. I baked some cookies an hour ago."

"I'm afraid it's not a social visit."

"What's wrong?"

I want to blur the lines so badly! I want to mess this up so that Helena blows her top off. But I am terminating a business relationship and kissing her won't help.

"Sit down please."

She took a seat right on the edge, knees tightly pressed together and hands neatly folded on her lap. "My employer reviewed the contract made with your father and she has terminated it." I am so blaming Helena for this! "We are no longer in business together. I'm sorry."

She became pale. For a moment she didn't seem that move or blink. How can such a beautiful girl be so sad? I have just added to her sadness by bringing this up.

"It's all right. Sometimes things don't work out as we hope." I raised an eyebrow at her. Is she seriously not going to put up a fight. She got on her feet and walked to the door. She picked my coat from the hook. "Thank you for coming."

"Kei, I understand you're upset-"

"I did everything you wanted. I risked my life to come to Miami like you wanted."

"Risked your life? What are you talking about?"

She put my coat in my hands and opened the door. "Good day Mr Bale."

I closed the door. "Is your life in danger?"

"It's none of your business." She told me softly. "Please go."

"I haven't forgotten anything you said. I promise I'll help you get a sustainable job to help out your parents."

"It's best if we cut off every tie we have. I don't want to owe anyone anything. Thank you for the opportunity you gave us. Kindly leave my house. Please."

Our eyes met. My soul felt crashed but I have to understand what she's going through and how I have not made it easier by ending the business relationship.

I brought my hand to cup her face but she moved back. "On a personal level, I still want you. I won't stop pursuing you."

She closed the door as soon as I stepped out.

Why does this hurt?

Michael Ballard's POV

I met Nickolas when he was just a boy. My career in the navy is the reason I met his father. His father was an Admiral in the Greek Navy. I didn't serve the Greek Navy but our paths did cross and we became good friends. One day I showed him a photograph of my family and he told me he too has a son. He promised to introduce me. I had no idea he would grow into a successful man.

He happens to be a very busy man given how hard it is to get an appointment with him. I have waited a month to get this chance to see him. I have been sitting outside his office for a few hours now. I'm fairly patient and I believe I can wait a little longer.

I wish he met Keira when she was a girl. That little play date we set up when they were kids didn't work out. They never met. I would have suggested a marriage between him and my daughter. Keira would be better off than she is now.

Over the past few weeks, she has been strange. She doesn't visit like she used to. She only calls. She says she's busy but I know she hasn't been fortunate enough to get a job. She isn't busy. It makes me wonder what could be wrong. She didn't even open the door when I dropped by to see her yet I saw the light on when I arrived. When I left it was off. I'm worried about her.

"Excuse me miss," I took off my hat as I approached the receptionist who is now packing up to leave for the evening. It's 6pm. "Would you know what time he is going to be available?"

"I'm sorry but Mr Bale is never really in one place for long. But he is certainly coming back. Just give him a moment-" she paused and her eyes lit up. "There he is."

She left just when he came out of the elevator. He has his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his tie hanging loose from his neck. He yawned twice before he reached me.

I stood up and took off my hat holding it to my chest as a sign of respect.

"Mr. Bale."

He noticed me only when I spoke.

"Mr. Ballard." He frowned. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long." I lied not wishing to add to his stressful day.

"Okay, come on in." He spoke holding me by the shoulder and leading me into his office. His resemblance to Nathaniel Bale is uncanny. "What can I offer you? Tea, coffee, vodka, whiskey or wine?"

"Tea will do it for me."

"With milk or just water?"

"Just water will do. No sugar."

He whipped up a steaming cup in his bar area and he poured himself some whiskey.

After we both sat down on a couch near the large floor length windows, he smiled. "I'm sorry. I've been so caught up in meetings today." He paused peering closely at me. "Have I ever mentioned your daughter has your eyes?"

I laughed softly sipping my tea. Keira does have my eyes and my personality. She is cool headed and docile but the sweetest girl. She is one of the few decisions I've never regretted.

"You noticed."

"Only a blind man wouldn't notice your daughter's beauty. She's perfect."

When I first sent Keira to Nick, I had hoped he would like her. In my own twisted way, I hoped he would save her from living a life of misery.

"Thank you." I told him.

"So, what brings you here? You could have called instead of coming all this way. It's a two hour drive, right?"

"It is. Besides, the favor I need from you had to be asked in person. Keira told me about what you said. You are terminating our contract."

He sighed deeply. "Unfortunately yes and you will be compensated for the trouble."

"May I ask why?"

"I am an employee of Bale Industries. I don't own it. My employment can also be terminated and I had to decide what is more important. I'm sorry that you didn't make the cut."

"It's Helena, isn't it?"

"Honestly, yes. But she's right to a certain level."

"What do you mean?"

"You are old. You faded from the business scene and not in a graceful way. I understand it wasn't your fault but Keith's. Keira told me about his actions and why he's in jail. But you see it's negligence and baseless trust that led you here. Helena doesn't think you are at the caliber we expected from our business partners."

"Keira-"

"Is a chef. She is not a business woman. She doesn't think like one and to be honest, I'm too floored by her to even let her pull her weight. I end up doing everything and she will only get paid which is not right."

"Then out her to work! She's smart. She learns quickly."

"I have feelings for your daughter. It takes objectivity out of the picture. I can't work with her."

I was really counting on this deal.

"Nick, this is probably the last thing I should be asking from you considering you took me up as a business partner when no one else would but I'm stuck and I have no one else to turn to. I need this to work out. I'm devastated that it hasn't."

"I'm all ears, talk to me."

"You know that Keira is married." He nodded. "She signed a prenup that she would... please don't repeat this to her. She's very sensitive about it. She should have given Jason a child by now but it's not working out."

"She doesn't want to?"

"She can't." I answered. "She's struggling to get pregnant. No baby means I have to pay back the money the Burkes lent us after we almost became bankrupt."

"How much are we talking?" He asked calmly.

"Twenty eight million."

"I can write you a check for thirty million."

"I can't afford to pay you back."

"When I said you'll be compensated for what you've out in so far, I meant you'll receive a check at the end if the month. It's worth twenty million."

"And the ten million deficit?"

"I'll disregard that."

"Why?"

"Because a small emotional part of me feels it's unfair to cut you off from this project. Give me a second."

He walked over to his glass table and brought back a check book and a pen.

"Who should I make this out to?" He asked.

I gave him the bank details. I owe the bank fifteen million. "Can you write two?"

He copied the bank details. "Who is the second one to be made out to?"

"Keira." I sighed. "Lily and I are old. We don't need it like she does."

"If you owe money to Keira's husband, pay it. I'll write you a check worth twenty eight million. I'll write a second one worth fifteen million to clear your bank debt. The third one is worth a million for you and another million for Keira. Does that sound good? You'll be debt free."

"Thank you Mr Bale. Thank you for everything."

"It's all right Mr Ballard. I'm sorry it hasn't worked out. If you need me to help you, per favore, never hesitate to ask."

"I'm forever going to be grateful. I don't know how to thank you."

We both stood up and he led me out. I couldn't stop gazing at him wondering what my life would have been like if I had a son as responsible as he is. Keith is a disappointment and Keira is helpless. Nathan Bale is fortunate to have a son like him.

"For a brief time, I served under your father in the navy." I told him.

"Was he as bossy as he is now?" He asked.

"Yes." I laughed. "He was strict, tough and ruthless but at the end of the day whenever any of us screwed up, he took responsibility. Looking at you feels like déjà vu. You two look exactly alike."

"Yeah we do. It's actually scary. It makes me wonder if my son will be a spitting image of me; if I ever have one."

"I bet he will. I'm sorry about your upcoming divorce."

He scoffed dryly. "I'm not. I'm relieved actually that I'll be free to pursue another interest." He spoke gazing at me knowingly.

He just admitted to being attracted to my daughter."

"Well I hope that interest satisfies you."

"I don't doubt the satiety she will provide." We stopped outside the elevator. The moment grew a little intense. "Do I have your consent sir?"

"All the lights are green, go for it."

Once the elevator doors opened, we got inside. Instead of going down, we went up to the roof top where there are three helipads. Two are empty but one had a chopper ready to go.

"I thought I would save you more than an hour on your journey home. Don't worry about your car. I'll have someone deliver it to you. Give my regards to your wife. I hope to meet her soon."

"Thank you Mr. Bale. Thank you." I spoke appreciatively before heading for the chopper. "Will you join us for dinner on one of these nights?"

"I'd love to." He answered with a smile.

He stood there and waved me off. He didn't leave until I faded into the distance.