His Beautiful Addiction

Nicklaus stopped the car and turned off the ignition. Claire sulked silently, although they did not speak to each other, she didn't want to leave him soon. Her lips pouted as she watched him walk over to her side and open the door for her;

''Thank you for today '' Nicklaus said as he slammed the door close. Claire nodded.

''You don't need to thank me, I had fun too. '' she blushed, pushing some strands of her hair to the back of her ear.

''Alright, goodnight ''

''Yeah, drive safely. '' Claire watched him go back into the car and drive out speedily.

She wasn't expecting anything but she had imagined what hugging him would feel like. Pouting her lips sulkily, she turned and walked into her house.

…

Nicklaus's hands tightened against the steering as he drove speedily to the ancestral home. He needed to hear the truth from grandpa. He needed to know what grandpa had said to Tiana that day.

He knew she wouldn't hate him that much for not telling her about his sleep issues, he had thought it was because she never forgave him but with what she said today, he knew there was something else he was oblivious of.

Grandpa… what did you do…

Nicklaus's fingers drummed impatiently as he watched the wrought iron gates open on their own accord. Driving in speedily he didn't bother to park properly before jumping out of the car and racing into the house.

Grandma, who was watching a movie stood up in shock when she saw Nicklaus run into the house like a mad man. Her face drained of all color as she walked to him;

''Nick... Nicklaus, what is wrong? '' Her heartbeat increased when she thought of the only thing that could make him come over to the ancestral home in the dead of the night.

Did he find out…?

''Where is grandpa? ''

Grandma gulped when she heard Nicklaus; ''what's wrong? why are you looking like a battered dog? ''

''I said. where. is. Grandpa? '' Nicklaus spoke curtly and pointedly, his eyes flaming with anger, Grandma looked away from him. She knew he would find out soon, she had warned grandpa to tell him after he had resolved the issue at the company, but when he found out that Claire was now interested in him, he didn't want to anymore. At first, she was in support of his decision because it was the best for the company, but when he had refused to resolve the issue between them, she knew he was just being selfish.

 But she couldn't do anything because he had warned her not to; he wanted to know if it would work out between Nicklaus and the president's daughter because it would be of a greater benefit to the company. But now Nicklaus was standing right in front of her almost about to explode; she knew it was not going to end well.

''He's in his study… '' Grandma stuttered and Nicklaus disappeared immediately the words left her lips.

She breathed out heavily; just when she thought there was going to be peace at last in her home. She turned and walked to grandpa's study with heavy steps.

Nicklaus pushed open the door without bothering to knock. Grandpa who had his eyes closed on the reclining chair, opened them slowly with a slight crease of his brows, wondering who had intruded into his privacy, his eyes flashed with surprise when he saw Nicklaus in front of him.

''What brings you here in the dead of the night? ''

Grandpa asked sitting up on the chair, his face looking unperturbed.

''Grandpa, what did you say to Tiana? ''

Grandpa froze for a second but he regained his composure immediately; his gaze watched Nicklaus for a moment and then he hummed;

''it's been so long, I thought you had moved on from her by now. ''

Nicklaus's hands fisted on his sides; ''Grandpa, that was not my question. I just want to know what you told her, and please do not lie to me. ''

His face was as white as frost as he spoke, grandpa watched him for a moment. If he didn't tell him the truth, he would find it out himself; he sighed. 

Tiana made a promise to him not to come back to Nicklaus; did she go against her promise?

''Does it matter what I said to her, it's been ages ago. And besides, it's not like she can ever come back to you, she made me a promise, which she can't go against''

Nicklaus creased his brows; ''what promise? ''

''Well, she promised never to meet you again, so what I told her is not going to change a thing. ''

''I thought you liked her? What did she do wrong? '' Nicklaus eyes clouded with pain, he couldn't even put his head around any of this.

''Nicklaus, I don't hate that woman, I just had to weigh my options and I chose a better one.''

Nicklaus gritted his teeth as he forced himself not to say anything wrong, he had not gotten the information he came for yet. Taking in a deep breath, he calmed himself;

''Alright, but can I at least know what you told her? Please…''

Grandpa sighed; ''Well, I just told you both the same thing but at different times. That is, I met with her before I met you, and I told her that you had already accepted to marry the president's daughter, but I think she already had a grievance for you before then, so it was easy convincing her. Nicklaus, you shouldn't let emotions get in the way of success, I heard that the president's daughter is interested in you, shouldn't you use this for your own gain and get married to her…''

Before Grandpa could complete his words, Nicklaus turned and dashed out of the room, almost knocking grandma down, who was standing outside the door.

Grandma watched him in fright as he ran out of the house and to his car, driving out with great speed.

She turned to look at grandpa with a disapproving gaze;

''He's not going to forgive you for that you know. ''

Grandpa laughed; ''He's going to come around when he realizes that what I did was for the best. ''