Sometime In December 2002
"Nikolas, there's no easy way to say this." Gia started. She rolled her eyes and flopped onto the couch. She was at Wyndemere and she was supposed to meet Nikolas at, well he was late. She had some pretty important news to tell him and she knew that he wasn't going to happy. Not one bit but she had made up her mind. She was going to do this no matter what.
"Nikolas I—" She started practicing again.
"You what?" Nikolas asked, coming into the room.
"Nikolas!" Gia exclaimed, turning to him in surprise. She immediately stood up and smiled at him.
He went over to her and tried to kiss her but she moved so that he kissed her cheek. He frowned but wrapped her in an embrace. She hugged him back but she was tense in his arms.
"Gia, what's wrong?" He asked his voice filled with concern.
She pulled him down so that he was sitting on the couch with her. "Nikolas, there's no easy way to say this." She repeated.
It was Nikolas's turn to tense up.
She reached out and grabbed his hand, embracing it in her own. "I don't think this is working out. That much has been evident for a while now. Both of us know it but neither of us wanted to admit it."
"But—"
"Let me finish," She interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say. That we can make it work, that we'll just try harder but Nikolas, we've already tried that. This isn't good for either of us."
"So you're saying that you want to break off the engagement?"
She nodded, looking down so that she didn't have to see the hurt in his eyes.
"If that's what you really want…"
"I think it's better for us."
"So are you going to give me the whole 'we can still be friends' speech?" He asked, pulling his hand out of hers.
"I wish I could but I'm not sure that even that could work. You see, I'm moving to Paris."
"What?!"
She looked up just in time to see the surprise register on his face. "Marcus arranged for a modeling job for me there."
"Marcus? How could he…"
"Apparently he knows some people there."
Nikolas nodded; it was all still sinking it for him. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"So soon?" He inquired. "Why?"
"I thought it would be easier that way."
"You thought or your brother thought?" Nikolas asked bitterly. He knew that Taggert didn't like his sister being involved with him and he wouldn't put it past him if he were bribing her to leave town.
Gia sighed heavily making Nikolas cringe.
"Sorry," He said, only half apologetic. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, as sure as I've ever been about anything."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I really don't know." She answered honestly.
"Well if it's really what you want then I guess all that's left for me to say is good luck."
"Thank you Nikolas, you have no idea what that means to me." She didn't want to leave town on a bad note with him. She extended her arms, asking for a hug while she smiled at him.
He leaned forward and embraced her tightly, inhaling the scent of her perfume one last time. "I do love you Gia."
"I love you too," She said as she pulled back. She quickly wiped away a few tears that were making their way down her face, hoping that he wouldn't see them.
He did though. "Please don't leave."
"I have to…" She stood up abruptly and started to walk out. She turned back and smiled. She blew him a kiss and walked out the door.