Nikolai
Standing by the door, I stared dazedly at the shards of glass on the floor, and traces of blood.
The room was a mess.
Before I could ask what happened, I caught a glimpse of Isabelle’s feet amidst the crowd, lying on the floor, and instantly, a pang shot through my chest.
My face crinkled, and my breath hitched.
I forced my feet to move forward, but it felt as though it was rooted to a spot, until I caught another glimpse of her feet stained with a red liquid.
Blood?
My hands clenched into fist and my muscles tightened.
Her delicate, pale feet, fitted in Christian Louboutins, gleamed under the light, the anklet I had bought for her on my last vacation catching the glow.
I quickly pushed the people aside, moving closer, and when I finally reached her.
I saw her cuddled in a man’s arm.
Red liquid spilled everywhere.
I could smell blood and wine, making me wonder how much of the red liquid was actually wine and how much was blood.
And what the hell happened here?
When she looked up, her eyes were filled with tears and her cheeks reddened.
I stretched and carried her frail body in my arms.
My eyes scanned her body for any bruises or cuts, but she was fine.
“What happened Isabelle?” I searched her eyes for the answers, but instead of responding, Isabelle looked down and cried-
“He is bleeding.
Help…the chandelier fell, he is hurt.”
It was only after she said that, I looked down and realized it was Adrian who was laying there.
Sitting in the midst of broken glasses, he was drenched with a mix of red wine and blood from head to toes.
His eyes were locked with mine.
His lips slightly apart.
His chest was rising and falling, and in his eyes were traces of fear and shock.
The sound of breath seemed to drown every sound from our surroundings.
And when his blood dropped on the floor, it sounded like raindrops.
I looked down and saw both his hands bleeding.
Instinctively, I reached out to help him up, but his gaze followed my arm, and he slapped it away.
The fear vanished from his eyes, replaced—as always—by the familiar glint of hatred.
The liquid drips from his hair down his face, leaving the traces of red on his beautiful skin.
When it slowly dropped on his lips, Adrian flicked out his tongue, sensually wiping the drop away, and then-
Instead of taking my help, Adrian placed both his hands on the floor.
The glasses pierced into them, and he helped himself up.
“Are you crazy?” Isabelle rushed to him and held his arm.
She led him to a chair and stared at his hands, mumbling she looked into his eyes-
“You have to go to the hospital.”
“I’m fine.” Adrian muttered but Isabelle didn’t seem to agree with him.
Just before I could interrupt, Gregory held my hand and muttered, “Boss, it seems the chandelier was cut off.”
Rage like wildfire rushed through my veins and I frowned, my insides turned in fury.
“How?”
Gregory picked up the rope and brought it to me.
Indeed, it was a fresh cut.
My eyes deepened as I looked around, fetching for any suspicious person but I couldn’t find any.
My grip tightened on the rope and I mustered in a deep threatening tone, “I need a complete report before the wedding.”
“On it Boss.” Gregory took the rope and started searching around for more clues.
By the time I walked back to where Isabelle and her fiance were seated, the medics already got there and Adrian’s hands were bandaged.
“Are you sure this is enough doc?” Isabelle wasn’t satisfied with just the first aid.
“It’s not, he will need to go to the hospital for a stitch.”
“You heard her.” Isabelle yelled.
“This wouldn’t be the first time I got hurt, Isabelle, don’t cause a fuss.”
“Let’s go for the fitting.”
“Like that?” Isabelle argued and then stood up flared in anger as she stared at me-
“Uncle Nikko, tell him that he needs to get a stitch.”
I raised a brow, “If he says he is fine, then he is fine.
Why do you care?”
The disappointment in her gaze was oddly familiar.
More like the look she have always gave me anytime she expected something more but I end up being-
‘As she would call it’-
‘An emotionless bastard.’
“Why do I care?” She pursed her lips, “He is going to be my husband.”
“Oh, I forgot.”
She squinted in frustration.
I feigned a smile and she rolled her eyes at me.
“Then I leave him in your care.
If anything happens to him, just know that you are responsible?”
She grabbed her purse and walked toward the door.
“Your fitting honey!” I strodded towards her but she stopped in her tracks and turned almost instantly.
“I’m going alone.
You go with him.” She yelled and instantly made her way out.
I snapped my hand in the air, and Gregory understood.
He quickly followed after Isabelle, while I had to stay here and babysit.
I turned to Adrian, and surprisingly, he was just behind me.
“Where are we going?”
He had an indifferent look, and I looked down at him.
“The best designer in the city.”
He nodded curtly and walked past me to the car.
A smirk appeared on my face unconsciously, but I didn’t let him see it.
When we arrived at the designer, I took a seat while he went through the designs with the female staff.
They seem to be arguing over which suit was better.
I took a sip from my glass, glancing through the pages of their latest magazine designs.
But then-
“Mr Nikolai, your nephew-in-law seems to have a hard time with choosing a color.
Which color do you think would be perfect for him?” The female sales representative asked me.
She walked closer with both suits, one of deep emerald color, and the other plain glistening black.
“Why don’t he change to the emerald suit now, and get the black for the wedding.”
I looked at him waiting for his response.
But he kept his gaze on me, waiting for me to explain.
“There is an engagement dinner in a few hours, and your outfit wouldn’t suffice.
Since it’s wet.”
“I wasn’t informed of that.
Do you people just make appointments without asking for others’ opinions?” He gulped.
“I won’t be attending.”
“Your father had arranged it.” When I responded, he froze for a moment and then said to the sales rep.
“I will be taking both suits.”
“Perfect.
You can try it on in the dressing room.”
Adrian took the emerald suit and walked to the dressing room.
It didn’t take a minute before he got out.
“Do you have a male employee available?
I hurt my hands, it’s difficult removing my clothes” He asked, but the employee nodded.
“I’m sorry sir.”
Instantly, I felt a wave of nervousness rush through my body.
My mind seemed to be fuzzled.
My fingers whizzed the glass around, trying to get busy as though I wasn’t listening to their conversation.
And finally it happened –
“Why don’t your uncle help you out.” The employee turned to me, and foolishly I held her gaze.
“Mr Nikolai…” She called.
“Yes…” The word escaped my lips.
“Could you help him in the dressing room?”
My eyes drifted to Adrian instantly and I emptied my glass.
I gobbled it down forcibly, and then stood up, “Sure.
I can undress and dress you up.”
Adrian seemed a bit reluctant.
The skepticism of his gaze caused me to wonder!
‘Would he even let me?’
It was as though he had heard my thoughts, when he said-
“Sure, I can let you do that.
I don’t seem to have a choice.” He raised his both bandaged hands in the air and I chuckled.
Adrian drew the curtains, leaving us both in the dimly lit, cramped room.
I tried to control my breathing so he wouldn’t sense my urge of wanting to pull him closer and taste the dried up wine on his cheeks.
“What are you waiting for?” He asked, eyes boring into mine.
I removed his jacket, and then his buttons.
Throwing his shirt on the floor, Adrian’s lean muscular build was bare in front of me.
Every ounce of control I had left betrayed me, as I couldn’t look away from his body.
“The pants.” Adrian muttered and I reached for his belt.