When they reached Nic's loft, Jimmy parked the car into the parking space and turned off the engine. Raymond was waiting for him out on the street. He turned to Victoria and felt ashamed. How could Nic leave her like this and walk away? Her face was tear-streaked and she was still shaking. He shouldn't have let her in the gate. He just didn't know what else to do. Eddie had planned on letting her stay out there, but Jimmy couldn't treat her that way. She was such a sweet person, and he was sick of these games that Nic was playing with her. He knew it was coming. He was going to have his own argument with Nic about all of this before too long.
Victoria finally unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out. She didn't even look back at Jimmy, as she made her way into the building. She got on the elevator, pressed in the code and rode up to the top floor still in shock.
Once inside his loft, she removed her shoes and placed herself into a ball on the couch. Her body felt as though she had run ten miles. Her eyes hurt, her throat was sore. She was actually still a little in shock. The only person she had ever attempted to hit in her life had been Nic. And both times he had deserved it. But tonight she had lowered herself another notch to something she never thought she would do. She had actually tried to fight another woman. And over a man at that! Something she used to laugh about when she saw women do it on shows like Maury Povich and Jerry Springer that her mom still watched. Stupid women, she would call them, while shaking her head. And now in her mind, she was no better. A part of her wanted to walk out of the door right then. She was sick of letting herself get humiliated over and over again. She had thought they were past all of that, but apparently not. But part of her wanted to hear his excuse. She wanted to know what had caused this. So she fought against her need to leave, and stayed to give Nic a chance to explain. Her eyes began to feel so heavy, until she finally closed them and fell into a deep sleep.
Nic pulled into his parking space at his condo around one fifteen in the morning. He did the impossible...by pulling Ensor away from Sonny and back to his business. He met them for dinner, but he could tell that Ensor had wanted an apology from him for missing their meeting. He definitely didn't know Nic if he thought that might happen. Nic wasn't the apologizing type. He stepped around it and made them feel silly for coming all the way to the U.S. only to work with a two-bit hustler like Sonny, instead of a proven, hardcore businessman like himself. Eddie launched a bunch of figures and deals at Ensor, proving that Nic had an impeccable track record. Ensor seemed impressed. Plus, Ensor kept checking out Kim. Nic silently prayed that Ensor would take her off his hands. She was probably more annoying than his wife.
After dinner, Ensor had shaken his hand and the deal was set in motion. Nic had gotten back into his car with Kim. She had tried to run her fingers through his hair, to get a little action going...but she was completely surprised and pissed when Nic dropped her back off at her place and said goodnight. She just stared at him incredulously with her hands folded across her chest. He hadn't spared another glance at her as she got out and slammed the door.
Nic had raced all the way back to his loft, where he was now sitting in his car. He knew she was up there with a million questions, but he wasn't ready to answer them. Truth was, she made him crazy and he couldn't think half of the time when he was around her. He didn't want this 'thing' that they had to end, but he wasn't sure what to do with her. He agreed with Eddie, in the sense that she was definitely bad for business. He had never had to balance his personal life with his business life before. They were always intertwined. Amber was more a second thought, on most occasions. For that, he had to blame himself. He never gave their marriage a shot. Because he hadn't wanted to marry her. But she seemed to fit with his lifestyle, and most nights she didn't care if he didn't pay her attention.
But with Victoria in his life this way...he was slipping. When dealing with a situation like Mark Hinson...that needed to have been done quickly and efficiently, but his men were stuck waiting on him because he was sitting in a movie theater with his phone turned off. He knew it wasn't Victoria's fault, but he still wanted to blame her. Her words at Jimmy's house had done something to him. They had changed him. And he didn't know if he liked this new change. He prided himself on being the guy you didn't want to fuck with, and now...he felt he was becoming, well...a pussy. And THAT was unacceptable. He exhaled and exited the car.
Victoria opened her eyes when she heard the front door close. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was one thirty-six in the morning. She immediately sat up on the couch and stared toward the door, watching his tall frame lurk there before turning on the light.
Nic found her staring at him as he set his car keys on the counter. "I need you to get dressed. There's an after party down the street and I need to make an appearance for a friend."
Victoria just stared at him like he was crazy. "That's it? You're not going to explain why you never called and who that girl was?"
"Victoria, I don't have to explain my actions to you. And I'm not going to discuss it further. Now get dressed. You have fifteen minutes," Nic said, glancing down at his watch.
She just continued to stare at him, her eyes wide and mouth open. Nic sighed and walked to his bedroom. He removed his shirt and searched for something a little more casual. When he turned around, Victoria was waiting by the closet door. She looked so hurt. He glanced back over his clothing and selected another shirt. Anything to avoid staring into her sad face. Fuck, this was harder than he thought it would be.
"I don't understand, Nic. What did I do?" she softly asked, while gripping the door frame.
"You didn't do anything. Just leave it alone, and get dressed."
"But..."
"End of discussion, Victoria," he snapped. He was not going to lose control of this situation. Hell, there shouldn't even BE a situation. She was an arrangement, and that was that. No questions asked, no complications.
"No, it's not the end of the discussion. I thought..."
Nic turned around angrily. He had to get this through her head. "You thought what? That I would want you as my girlfriend? Some slut who fucks me in every way just for money?" he barked out at her, his eyes as cold as a winter's day.
All of the air in Victoria's lungs vanished. She couldn't speak for a few seconds. His words caused her to wince. Smacking her would have probably caused less pain than those nasty words piercing her heart. How could he...? How could he say something so hateful to her?! This wasn't Nic talking. He was different with her. He wasn't as callous about her feelings as he once was. He had changed. No, this wasn't him talking. He would apologize in a minute. In just a few minutes, he would take back those malicious words. She hoped...
Nic stood there staring down at her. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, but he refused to acknowledge it. He knew his words...had hit the mark. Oh, fuck...
"Take that back," Victoria whispered when she could finally catch her breath. Tears were already glassing over her red puffy eyes. "Take that back right now, Nic," she whispered again.
"You know me, Victoria. I always say what I mean."
"You're just saying that because you're hurt or upset for some reason. You don't mean it. Just talk to me and tell me what happened!"
Nic brushed past her as he made his way back into the bedroom. Victoria followed him. "Nic, I'm serious, take it back!"
Nic turned to look at her. "What, are we fucking four years old? Now get dressed, I have to be there in five minutes," he said.
"Nic," she whispered, "please take that back. Please say you didn't mean it. Please," she begged.
Nic stared down at her. The look in her eyes was killing him. He really hurt her. There was no other emotion there. No anger, resentment, hatred...just pure sadness. Fuck! Nic felt dizzy for a moment. He hesitated. 'I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry I hurt you and I lo—' were all on the tip of his tongue. He licked his lips in preparation for delivering that message to her. Here goes...
He opened his mouth..."Get dressed, Victoria," was all that c
ame out.
Victoria could feel the sadness in her body giving way to another feeling that was coursing through her body. A numbness fell over her. She looked up at him, staring into his stone cold, expressionless face. It was gone. Whatever tiny thread of a connection that they had the other night...had now disappeared. He was looking at her like he had that first night she met him. When he didn't give a shit about her. That's exactly the way he looked now. Victoria continued to stare at his face until she could no longer see it. She looked through him while her mind was deep in thought. She was done crying. She was done with this rollercoaster. She was done with Nic Andretti. For good. Her heart, mind and body couldn't take it. He had called her a slut and pretty much confirmed that she would never be anything more to him. She wanted to punch him in the face and scream I hate you over and over to him. But that would show that she cared. She just couldn't anymore.
Nic left the bedroom and walked down the hall. His stomach hurt. He stood by the bar nervously, wondering what the fuck he should do. He was never this indecisive. He was never this nervous. Even at dinner tonight with the Russians, he knew exactly what to say to land the deal. He had them in the palm of his hand. Even afterwards, Eddie had congratulated him on being the best, but he couldn't even smile. What had he just sacrificed to be the best?
After a few minutes, he took a deep breath and walked back toward the bedroom. He saw her slipping into a short black dress he had bought for her. She looked so damn good, but she wouldn't look at him. She walked to the bathroom and he followed. He leaned against the door, watching her apply makeup in the reflection of the mirror. Her hands were shaky, and her eyes were swollen and red. 'I fucked up,' he said in his mind, but couldn't verbalize it. She was so beautiful. Inside and out. A combination he had yet to come across until he met her. Even after she applied her eyeliner, a small tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly blotted it, and pulled her hair into a messy up do. She picked up a necklace Mina had chosen for her and tried clumsily to snap it behind her neck. She missed twice, before Nic gently took it from her hands and snapped it. He stood behind her, his chin to the top of her head, looking at her in the mirror. She glanced up at him, but she looked different. Withdrawn. He knew in that moment, he should have said something, but again...for the third time that night, he said nothing and walked away.
When they returned from the after party, Nic removed his jacket and sat his keys on the counter. Victoria quietly followed in after him and walked to the bedroom. She hadn't said a word to him all night. She shook the hands of different people she had been introduced to at the party, and talked to those people, but she refused to speak to him. Fine. Maybe it was for the best. She was supposed to be here for only one reason anyway.
Nic made his way to the bedroom, and found her pulling her dress down and stepping out of it. She removed her strapless bra and panties, but before she could put anything on to sleep in, Nic grabbed her and gently pushed her back on to the bed. She just stared up at him. Nothing really registering in her eyes. Nic removed his shirt and unbuckled his pants. He pulled them down and eased his way on top of her, resting in between her legs. He pulled the covers up over them and then pushed his thick shaft into her pussy. He braced himself with his arms as he began to stroke in and out of her.
As always, she felt so good, but he looked down at her face, and she hadn't changed her expression. She was literally just lying there while he had sex with her. But Nic knew how to make her come and forget their problems. He put on his wicked grin, picked up the pace and started licking and biting her neck. He raised up to glance at her face again, but still nothing. He stilled himself within her when he saw a single tear roll down the side of her face. Fuck. It had never been like this between them. Even when she hated him, he was able to turn her on. Her body naturally responded to him. But now...nothing. He pulled out of her and rolled over onto his back. She still hadn't moved an inch. He would have felt better if she would have screamed at him or tried to smack him like she had done in the past. Nothing. He needed to clear his head. He needed to get away before he broke down his wall and fucked everything back up again by telling her how he felt.
He got up from the bed and pulled his pants back up. He placed his shirt back over his head, put his shoes on and walked out of the bedroom. He quickly grabbed his keys from the counter and left.
Victoria rolled over onto her side when she heard the front door slam. She had never felt so empty and hurt in her life. She would never wish this kind of confusion and pain on anyone. Maybe Amber. But not anyone else. He had kissed her. He had made her feel so special just two nights ago, and now...he pretty much equated her to a prostitute who he had no respect for. She could have been a fucking blow up doll tonight, for all it mattered. She didn't understand what had happened and she figured she probably never would. Perhaps there was nothing really ever there to begin with. Maybe it was all in her head. She had never had much experience with men, and the few she did know, she could have done without. Nic had used her in every way, and just the thought of that was making her sick. She felt like such a fool.
But Victoria knew what she had to do now. She had to take control of her life, and stop letting people run it for her. She had to be smarter and stronger and grow a thicker skin and stop being the victim. She knew of one option. One way to end this all now. It was definitely a long shot, but she had to try. She would wake up early in the morning and set her plan in motion.
Victoria woke up extra early the next morning and called Nic's house, praying that he wouldn't answer. Her prayers were answered, when Jimmy picked up. She begged him for an address, and after a few minutes, he reluctantly gave it to her. She could tell that he probably knew what she was about to do, but at this point, she really didn't care. She just hoped that he wouldn't tell Nic until after she was done.
Victoria arrived an hour later at the address Jimmy had given her. It was Paul Marconi's estate. He immediately buzzed her in and she drove down his long driveway. Like Nic's, his house was also extremely beautiful. It looked like a large villa that belonged in Tuscany or somewhere exotic. There was a fountain with Koi fish that set directly in the center of the circular driveway.
Paul came outside to greet her with a large smile on his handsome face. "Victoria Davis, how are you?" he said, giving her a handshake and then pulling her in for a hug.
"Hi Mr. Marconi," Victoria said.
"No, none of that. Paul. Just Paul," he smiled down at her.
Paul hooked his arm through hers and led her into his stunning house. She could see through the windows in the back of the house that he had a tennis court and a pool. He quickly showed her around before they retreated to his office. Once inside, Victoria sat opposite Paul, looking around at his artwork on the walls. She then glanced at him, but quickly lowered her eyes. She couldn't believe she was about to do this. She was so nervous. He would probably just think she was crazy.
"So, how can I help you, Victoria?" Paul asked, sensing something was wrong. It wasn't every day someone like her showed up at his house, out of the blue.
How do you ask something like this? Victoria balled her hands up, took a deep breath and stared straight into his face. "Mr. Mar—Paul, I have a problem that I can't solve on my own. And if I had any other option, I would take it. But I don't think I do. I need...um, I need to borrow some money. Seventy thousand dollars," Victoria rushed out.
She stared at his face, looking for any change or surprise in her request. But she found none. He just sat looking at her. She hated that she was asking him for this. He probably had people asking all the time, and now she was no better or different than them. God, she hated money.
"And, I—I would try to pay you back as soon as I can. I realize that's a lot to ask for, but it's important to me. I'm a hard worker, and I'll pay you back one day. I promise."
Paul still sat unmoving, just staring. Victoria realized what she must look like. She barely knew him. They had only met once briefly at a party before his son
had interrupted them. For all he knew, she could be playing him, just seeing if he would give her that much. She felt so stupid. She quickly grabbed her purse and stood.
"I'm so sorry, this was—shit, I'm sorry," Victoria said about to walk out.
"Victoria?"
She turned back around, "Yes?"
"Can you please sit back down so we can discuss this?" Paul asked.
Victoria hesitated for a few seconds, but then walked back over to the chair and sat down.
"Victoria, that's a lot of money to ask for, without really knowing what the investment is or how you plan to pay it back. What would the money go toward?" Paul asked, leaning back in his chair.
This was the part Victoria didn't want to deal with. In her mind, when she accepted Nic's arrangement weeks ago, it seemed like her only option at the time. But...the idea of explaining it to people, made her feel weak and cheap. And although Paul seemed like a nice man, maybe in telling him of the arrangement, he would want a similar payment as Nic. At that moment the shame that washed over her was unbearable.
Seven Days: A young black woman makes a deal with a mob boss. Page 14