Redemption (The Bet)

by Phal, Francette

  "Nothing would please me more, then to have Nicholas out of our lives. Since his arrival, he has done nothing more than thrust a wedge of unease between Ellie and myself. Deliberate or not, he is wrong for doing it and it would be a foolish man who refuses what you offer. But I cannot, in good conscience let harm come to him, no matter my feelings. He is Isabella and Dylan's father and they've began to love him as such, I cannot take him away from them.” He sighed. “I trust Ellie and the love she has in me, to be faithful. I cannot allow myself to think that Nicholas is a threat to me. "

  He fell to his knees before his mother and rested his cool, large hands against her own delicate, warm ones. "And you, mother, cannot think so either. I must ask that you allow me to handle this in my own way. Nicholas and I are men who will handle this delicate situation like rational adults."

  Miranda pulled a hand free from her son's grip and tenderly she caressed his strong jaw. "My sweet, Devlin, it is truly a great and loving man who can find strength to offer an olive branch to his rival. And it is an even greater man, who can calm the vexing worries of his aging mother with such logical clarity. I will do as you say and wash my hands clean of this issue. My sole concern, from this moment forth, will be arranging your wedding."

  Devlin should have found it odd that she acquiesced so easily, but Miranda did not give him reason to doubt her façade of sincerity.

  Her benevolent child, as ambitious as he was in business, lacked the shrewdness that made some men, like Nicholas Grayson who he was. There was no denying that Sonya's son was a great man, in everything that he did. His touch was as good as Midas's own, able to turn rock into gold, but Nicholas was now at a disadvantage, because Devlin had what was once his and Miranda was smart enough to know what was of value.

  Just as she'd made her darling husband, God rest his soul, the hardened tycoon that he'd been during their days, Miranda would pull strings from the shadows for her child.

  Chapter 14

  On his twenty-third birthday, along with the vast Grayson holdings, Nicholas inherited the handsome pile of bricks otherwise known as Grayson Manor, his ancestral home and the epicenter of his unconventional upbringing. Knowing that the worst sort of memories awaited him in every crevice of her lavish walls, he'd wanted nothing more than to install the world's finest explosives and implode the horrible structure to the next dimension. But something always held him back and it wasn't until recently, last week in fact, that he'd discovered exactly what or rather who it was that held him from destroying something he'd hardly miss.

  Their names where Isabella, Dylan and Sophie, they were the sole reason why Nicholas was now standing in the immense kitchen of his childhood home, flour covering the better half of his designer clothes and his hands buried deep in bowl of a grayish green substance that should've resembled cake batter.

  His face scrunched in disgust, Nicholas lifted his hands from the bowl and brought them to view. The gooey substance reeked oddly of fish and not for the first time since embarking on this futile mission to prepare his children something to eat, did he not wonder who exactly had given him the idea that he was capable of baking.

  The soft giggle emitted from the impish creature to his right, gave Nicholas his answer.

  "I don't think cake batter is supposed to be green, Daddy." Bella judiciously informed her glowering father. Nicholas turned his fierce gaze from the offending bowl of green cake batter and looked at his daughter, blithely showing him rows of porcelain white teeth. The little imp acted as though she wasn't a perpetrator in his failed baking attempt.

  "'Trust me Daddy, Mommy puts the green stuff ,after putting the eggs in the bowl' isn't that what you said to me, young lady?"

  Bella brought her hand to her mouth to cover her giggle as she shook her head. "But Mommy does put in the green stuff and then she puts in that oil thingy." She pointed to the green bottle, which they'd both assumed to be the 'oil thingy' Bella insisted Ellie put in her own cake recipe, but now, looking at the offending bottle, Nicholas wanted nothing more than to break it.

  With resigned sigh he looked at his grinning daughter. "Well, I guess you should lick it and see if it tastes the same as your Mommy's." He playfully wiggled his fingers as he slowly made his way around the marble island counter top. Bella quickly jumped from the stool she'd been seated on and squealed with glee as Nicholas chased her around the kitchen.

  "No way Daddy, You taste it!" Her high pitched protests brought her brother and sister to the kitchen and quickly taking in the scene unfolding, with Bella cornered against the subzero fridge and Nicholas closing in on her, Sophie grabbed the bag of flour and threw a handful at Nicholas, pretending to be a monster with smelly green hands.

  Sophie earned Nicholas's attention and soon enough flour, confectionary sugar and fishy cake batter where being thrown about the seldom used kitchen. It was amazing, Nicholas realized how the sound of laughter... his children's laughter, could transform the bleak atmosphere of his childhood cage into an actual home.

  Ellie's suggestion that he take the kids for the weekend so that she and Devlin could have some time alone, had been met by uncertainty from the Nicholas. He’d been skeptical of his ability to watch his children without Ellie present to guide him. But Ellie’s reassurance that he would be just fine led Nicholas to finally agree. Looking at his children across the marble island, faces smeared with gunk, Nicholas was glad that he’d taken the chance.

  The sound of the kitchen door opening surprised the four occupants of the room as they simultaneously turned their heads to greet their newest arrival.

  "Mommy!" Bella settled the bag of sugar her sister had given her as ammo and ran to her mother. "Mommy, guess what? Guess what?" Her eyes twinkled with unrestrained glee as she bounced with excitement.

  Ellie crouched down before the flour covered child she assumed was her daughter, "what, Bells?" She futilely tried to brush the flour from her hair.

  "Daddy tried to make us a cake and…and he tried to make me taste the batter like you do, but I said no and he chased me around the kitchen until Sophie and Dylan came to help me and then Sophie hit Daddy with some flour and Dylan got a handful of the batter and tried to put it on my head, but Daddy stopped him and…and we…"

  "Wow, it sounded like a good time." Ellie cut her off so the poor thing could breathe.

  Bella bounced in place. "It was Mom! Daddy even let us stay up late last night to watch this movie called Nightmare on Elm street and…"

  "Bella!" her sibling's chorused, frustrated that she'd blabbed their secret.

  "Oops," dismay swept over pretty features. "Sorry, Daddy."

  Ellie looked up and narrowed her eyes at a sheepish Nicholas. "You let them stay up to watch a horror movie?"

  "I wasn't scared, Mommy!" Bella quickly tried to rectify her mistake.

  "Don't worry about it, Princess. Tell you what, why don't you guys go get cleaned up and we'll go out for dinner before you leave?"

  "Come on, Bella," Sophie grabbed Bella's hand and led her away, Dylan not too far behind them. "Tattletale." He grumbled and was made to apologize when Ellie forced him to do so.

  "Before you start yelling, can I say in my defense that I distracted her through all the scary parts?"

  Ellie's lips thinned, her eyes burning bright with fury, she crossed her arms and waited.

  "I tried to put in a Disney movie, but I was outnumbered. Three against one." Nicholas pleaded his case while washing his hands, unfortunately for him Ellie looked as though she'd already formed a verdict.

  "How can you let them watch horror movies, Nicholas?"

  With a resigned sigh, Nicholas threw the dish towel on the island and leaned against the counter. "It was a stupid idea, I know that." he shrugged, raking his fingers through his hair he came away with flour. "You've had all this time to be with them, you know them, they love you. I don't know, call it stupid but I wanted them to like me too. It's hard when you're the estranged parent trying to buddy up to your kids and you don
't even know the first thing about them. I don't want to make a mistake and have them hate me for it."

  Anger deflated, Ellie uncrossed her arms with a sigh. "Believe it or not, it's hard being a parent in general. But no one expects perfection from you, Nicholas. They're the kids, we're the parents. We're not supposed to be their friends, were not supposed to worry about whether they'll like us or not. Our job is to raise them, love them unconditionally, teach them lessons they'll hopefully remember.”

  "Does it get any easier?"

  Ellie took a contemplative moment to ponder the question, before shaking her head. "Never. Come on; help me clean this mess, before our little monsters come down again."

  Our little monsters, Nicholas wanted to pretend that that little endearment meant nothing, but the warm feeling in the pit of his abdomen wouldn't let him. Three weeks ago, they'd come to a truce and for the children, they'd agreed not to let past differences effect how they would raise Bella, Dylan and even Sophie. They were two grown adults, raising their children in a platonic relationship that was not quite in reaching friendship, but was slowly working its way there.

  Ellie had it made it perfectly clear to him that under no circumstances would there be any sort of rekindled love between them. She was happily engaged to Devlin and was joyfully awaiting the day they said their vows. Nicholas of course believed she was full of shit, but was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. No need to spark the dying embers of a ten year grudge.

  "At least I didn't set off the smoke alarm this time."

  Ellie laughed as she gathered the measuring cups. "It was a sweet gesture, trying to cook breakfast for, Sophie. Good thing I managed to clean the kitchen before Gabe came back."

  "Did he ever find out?"

  "Nah, I just bought him a new Cast-Iron."

  Nicholas took the remaining ingredients from Ellie's arms putting them back where they belonged. "You didn't have to do that. I would've paid for it."

  "It's no big deal, Nicholas, it was a long time ago. Besides he would've killed you if he found out it was you, you weren't exactly his favorite person."

  "Well glad to see things haven’t changed all that much."

  Wiping down the counter top, Ellie gave Nicholas her back while speaking. "Can you blame him?"

  "There's so much I've done in the last ten years that I'm not proud of, Ellie, and each day I have to live with the consequences of my actions. So many nights I wished that I could turn back time and…"

  "Well, that's life, Nicholas. Time doesn't go backwards, it only moves forward and no matter how much we wish it were different we can’t change anything. The damage's been done." Her acerbic response only supplemented to Nicholas's remorse.

  "I don't know what to say, Ellie, except that I'm so sorry for what I did. I was really fucked up back then. I…I didn't mean to hurt you."

  Ellie turned and found Nicholas's gaze. "But you did, Nicholas. You destroyed everything. It's a good thing that you did though, because I wouldn't have had the chance to meet Devlin…" The kiss was unexpected and as hard as Ellie fought not to respond her body ultimately betrayed her. The very instant his lips touched hers, the world grounded to a screeching halt and the only thing in motion was the rapid beating of her heart and the whisper of his breath against her mouth.

  The fire she’d long believed extinguished roared to life, searing any thought she may have had. He kissed her so sweetly, handled her masterfully, prying her lips apart with gentle dexterity to gain entry to the warmth of her mouth and Ellie succumbed. He framed her face with his hands, desperate to deepen the kiss, desperate to have all that she was willing to give. He toyed with her, his tongue gliding along her own in the most sinful way, delving deeper tasting every bit of Ellie’s desire.

  He needed to stop.

  Nicholas knew he was pushing too quickly too soon, knew that he was trespassing on territory neither one was ready to tread, but the need to kiss her, the urgency he felt to have just a taste of her won out over logic. Where Ellie was concerned, Nicholas lost all reasoning and simply lived for the emotions she conjured.

  When he finally pulled away he did not release her completely but held her captive between the kitchen counter and his body. "It almost killed me the day I pushed you away and it hurts even more every time I see you with him." he murmured against kissed bruised lips.

  Ellie settled her hands on Nicholas's wrists. "What good is that supposed to do me now?” She quietly inquired. “I’m sorry it hurts you seeing me with him.” She met his gaze with a sad smile. “But you gave up on us before we even had a chance to begin. What we had, whatever it was, it was beautiful, but it’s our past and I refuse to relive that past. I won’t.” She pulled his hands from her face and pushed her way out of his hold. But before she could walk too far away, Nicholas's hand shot out to grab her wrist.

  "He won't make you happy."

  "Maybe, but at least I know I can count on him not to leave.” Nicholas released Ellie's wrist. "Drop the kids off after you've eaten dinner."

  He watched her walk away and fought the need to call her back.

  Nicholas leaned over the counter top, palms flat against the cool marble. He closed his eyes and tried to keep his sorrow at bay. But alas, the prickles of oncoming tears did not give him time to do anything but silently wait for them to flow.

  "I'm sorry, Elle. I'm goddamn sorry."

  ~*~*~*~

  Ellie brushed the back of her hand across her cheeks before stepping away from the kitchen door. With her hands clenched painfully around the car keys, she ran out of Nicholas's home, cursing him every step of the way.

  He'd been the one to end it. He'd been the one to push her away. He'd looked Ellie dead in the eye and said, very clearly that he'd fallen out of love with her. So why was he doing this? Why was he trying to rekindle something that he'd thoroughly killed? What the hell did he want? An affair? A relationship?

  She couldn't do this!

  She couldn't handle Nicholas being like this. The abrasive, emotionless, clone that had broken her heart all those years ago, Ellie could deal with. But this Nicholas, the one who showed glimpses of the boy Ellie had fallen in love with, the man who yearned for nothing more than the love of his children, was the Nicholas Ellie hated...the Nicholas she wouldn't dare approach.

  She didn't want this!

  Ellie wanted a nice, quiet life with Devlin, where they could live in idyllic bliss and grow old together. She was deserving of it and it would happen. Her wedding would happen regardless of sorrowful ex-lovers who didn't know how to keep the past where it was supposed to be.

  ~*~*~*~

  Samantha stood silently aside and watched as yet another unfortunate employee of Grayson Corp was mercilessly castigated by Nicholas's razor sharp tongue. Not the first in a queue of staff members the CEO had interrogated, Leah McKean from human resource was on the verge of tears by the time she exited the office; failure to hire the 'right' sort of persons, had almost cost her five figure job. To anyone else who didn't know what was happening, Nicholas seemed like the proverbial bastard on a rampage, unsatisfied until everyone was as miserable as he was. But seeing as Samantha was one of the few members of staff privy to what had transpired, she did not blame Nicholas his ire and annoyance.

  In fact she believed he was quite justified in his need to ferret out the mole who had deliberately leaked company information to its competitors, a crime punishable by expulsion if she had any say in the matter. But seeing as she couldn't exactly say much, Samantha resigned herself to stand by Nicholas's corner and lend him her support. Exactly what she'd been doing from the start of the arduous week until now, making life for him as stress-free as she could, despite all that was happening.

  "I'm working with imbeciles." He sounded haggard, his tone gruff and as the last employee slinked out of the office he slumped back against his chair and wearily rubbed his eyes. "Was she the last one?"

  Samantha flipped open the manila folder she held in front of her. "Yes, for
today. David Nakamura called earlier and asked that you return his call immediately."

  Nicholas scowled at nothing in particular. "Of course the bastard called, the stocks are bound to plummet after this fiasco." he stuffed his fingers between the collar of his shirt and the royal blue silk tie around his neck and brusquely tugged. "Have the jet ready by noon and all my calls forwarded to the Tokyo office."

  Samantha pulled out her PDA, jotted a few things down and furtively looked up. "You have a meeting with the VP of Guthrie Robotics, later this afternoon."

  "Cancel…"

  "He's been waiting months for this meeting, Nicholas. I don't think canceling on him again would be wise." After years of being at the receiving end of Nicholas infamous glares, Samantha had become quite immune to them, so, she did not bat an eyelash when that inscrutable gaze fell on her.

  "Do you understand what could happen if I don't take this trip to Tokyo today?" He asked his composure belying the simmering fury brewing beneath.

  Not the least bit cowed, Samantha logically responded. "I more than most, understand exactly what is at stake here, Nicholas. But canceling this meeting would not be in the best interest of Grayson Corp or your own."

  Of course she was infuriatingly correct in her assumption. Nanotechnology would inevitably be Grayson Corp's next venture. Something that had caught Nicholas's attention a few months back when he witnessed a demonstration on exactly how powerful micro technology could be, forming a partnership with Guthrie Robotics was their key into that untapped field.

  "What time is the meeting?"

  "He requested an early dinner. The location is to your choosing."

  "Call BeSo and set something up. You will be joining us."

  "But I have plans."

  "Plans with whom? Ben and Jerry again?" He grabbed the jacket she offered and slung it over his arm, while she staidly followed his hurried gait outside the office. His briefcase and notebook tightly held in each hand.

  Not that she needed to explain herself to him, but she was more than a little flattered that he actually cared enough to ask. It flattered her so much that Samantha had to quickly think of something to say, before he realized that she had just lied through her white teeth. "No, Ben and Jerry have decided to spend some time alone tonight. I had plans to go out with a guy I met."