A Night with The Billionaire

Five

The continuous knocking on his door made Nicholas tighten his grip on his pen. He let out a deep breath and fumbled, trying to straighten the papers on his desk.

"For the third time, no one was given the order to disturb me!" he roared, his voice reverberating throughout his office. He ran his hand through his messy hair, giving it a disheveled look.

The door opened, revealing Nicholas's great aunt, Izora, with furrowed brows. "You have visitors in the hall. Why are you hiding in this messy room?" she stated, her displeasure evident on her face. Nicholas wondered how long she could keep him at bay. He was exhausted from signing the never-ending piles of papers. Couldn't someone remove her from his sight before he lost his cool?

"Don't give me that look, Nicholas! You know how important this gathering is for the future of Florence—"

"Not now, Izora. You've already put too much pressure on me," he interrupted, knowing that cutting her off was the best way to stop her from lecturing him. It worked for a while, but not for long.

Her lips thinned into a line, expressing her growing displeasure. Nicholas could see the resemblance between her and his late mother if she wasn't so grumpy. Twins had a way of mimicking each other's expressions.

"Was that low-key woman the reason behind this rudeness? You better not make an unforgivable mistake that would jeopardize your position, Nicholas!" His jaw clenched as he looked up at her bitter face. He couldn't bear the mounting pressure anymore.

"So, you spied on my business in New York?" he shot a glare at her, his knuckles turning white as he tried to cool down his temper. If he wasn't mistaken, she was the cause of all this unnecessary engagement.

"It's not like I enjoyed doing it, my dear nephew. I gave my word to your mom to look after you before she died—"

"Not like this, Izora. Not like this—having spies everywhere I go, interfering in everything I do!" he roared. His chest heaved up and down as he slammed his fist on the table, causing piles of signed documents to fly into the air. There was no peace in this place!

"You said it yourself; you only gave your word to look after me. Not to take control of my life and give orders as if I'm a robot!"

Silence fell between them. Izora averted her gaze. "This discussion ends here, but you're going to get out of this room and greet your guests; they're your people," she said with a glare before storming out.

Nicholas slumped into his chair, massaging his temples as a headache throbbed in his head. He hadn't had a proper rest since he returned. Being a duke wasn't pleasing at all; it sucked with all the pressure and responsibilities. Nicholai better pays him for saving his ass.

The peaceful vacation he had planned in New York had only added more confusion to his mind. Yet somehow, it had given him something he was lacking. Seeing those pair of chocolate doe eyes had ignited a sense of aliveness within him. Those innocent, kissable lips always made him crave a taste. But this damn responsibility had ruined it all.

For a brief moment, he felt a sense of freedom amidst the eternal pressure. He wanted to see her again—desperately. But the only way he could do that was by cooperating with Izora and putting up a pleasant front. This time, he wouldn't let her take control of his fate.

Glancing at his wrist, he saw that it was already eight o'clock in the evening. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and moved his legs. He grabbed his phone and put it in his pocket after checking his reflection in the mirror. He stormed out of his room and headed to the grand hall, where everyone awaited his presence.

Confidently, he strode into the grand hall, his shoes echoing against the marble floor. The room was filled with a crowd of well-dressed guests and businesspeople, all eager to hear the speech he had prepared. The chatter gradually died down as he made his way to the podium, replaced by a palpable sense of anticipation.

His height and broad shoulders made him stand out the most as his jaw tightened, his piercing emerald eyes scanning the crowd. Izora stood among them, wearing the same grumpy expression.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is his honor to welcome you here tonight," he began with a deep and commanding voice. "As many of you know, our city is facing significant challenges, and it is his duty as your Duke to ensure that we navigate these challenges together and emerge stronger on the other side."

His eyes swiftly glanced at Izora, recalling the headline about the engagement, which made him want to curse in front of everyone. That only fueled the hope of Mr. Smith's spoiled brat daughter that he would marry her. Not a chance.

After delivering a long speech about the city's need for increased trade, the importance of investing in new technologies, and the preservation of the city's cultural heritage, the room erupted in loud applause.

He mustered a pleasant expression, despite needing some space and a break from everyone. He greeted some important businesspeople and engaged in endless pleasantries when his pocket vibrated.

"I have to take an important call. Excuse me," he said, excusing himself and making his way out of the crowd. It was an urgent call that made his heart race in his chest.

He quickly reached for the doorknob, pulling the door open. Closing it behind him, he leaned against it and glanced at the caller's name displayed on his screen.

"Milord, I hate to bring this bad news, but—"

"Get to the point," he interrupted, impatiently waiting for the person to continue.

"I followed Ms. Morty the entire time, and nothing unpleasant happened. But tonight, she's in the bar with her friends, dancing in the crowd."

Images of her flashed through his mind, piece by piece, causing his vision to blur. Unwanted anger surged through his veins as he dialed another person's number. "Prepare for an emergency flight to New York now."