"I just met with a client," he says, walking towards her to give her a kiss.
Liz wants to say something else but feeling her husband's soft lips on her lips makes her forget everything. She had missed those lips. She had missed all the times he would just kiss her and cuddle with her. His tight embrace, the endless 'i love you's'. Everything. She misses everything about her husband.
"Why don't I take my beautiful wife out to lunch, huh? What do you say, Mrs. Edwards?" he says smiling.
On his drive to work from Nikita's house, Michael had a sudden feeling of guilt. He felt horrible about everything he's done. He knows what he's been doing with Nikita is wrong, and he is well aware of the consequences and what he could lose if this dark secret is exposed. Then all of a sudden, he realized how much he had missed his wife. How much he's been neglecting her and their daughter, and how stupid he's been to allow another woman into his life, into their marriage. Somehow, he wanted to make it all better. He wanted to make it up to Liz.
"Of course, I'd love to have lunch with my husband," Liz says, kissing him on the lips.
xxx
Percy is busy reviewing some documents when Michael knocks on his door.
"Do you have a minute, sir?" asks Michael.
"Yes, come on in. What can I do for you, Michael?"
"I was wondering if I could take a family leave for 3 weeks? I've been working hard for the past year and so, I figured I'd make it up to my wife and little girl. Take them on a short trip or something like that," he explains.
Percy takes a moment to think. "You know what, I think you should. You worked your butt of with the Smith case, you could use a little break," he says smiling.
"Thanks, Percy!" he says excitedly.
"You're welcome. Now go and book that trip. Say hi to Liz and Hayley for me."
"I will. Thank you!"
xxx
Liz is gardening and does not hear Michael sneak behind her. He wraps his arms around her and hugs her tightly. She turns around and is surprised to see Michael.
"Honey?"
Michael immediately kisses her lips. "Hi, honey. Surprised?" he says smiling.
"What are you doing here?" she asks confusedly.
"Well, I'm done," he says with a playful grin.
"You're done for today?"
"For three weeks, honey. I filed for a 3-week family leave and you, me and Haley are going to the Bahamas for a vacation!" he says, picking up Liz and turning her around. He puts her down on her feet and hugs her tightly.
"Are you serious? Is this for real, Michael?" she asks, eyes teary.
"Yes, honey. I've already planned everything. I booked our flight for tomorrow morning," he says, caressing her cheek. "I've been a lousy husband lately and I want to make it up to you."
Liz couldn't help but cry. She cries and hugs Michael really tightly. Michael hugs her back and a tear escapes his eye. He knows he had messed up. Taking them on this vacation is nothing and could not erase everything he's done. But to him, this is a good start.
xxx
Nikita gets to the office and is quickly greeted by Owen and Ryan.
"Goodmorning, Ms. Hottie," says Owen.
"Oh, shut up," she barks at him.
"Sorry," Owen says, looking down.
"Hi, Nikita. How are you feeling?" asks Ryan.
"Feeling much better, thanks," she says looking around. "I'm surprised Attorney goody-two-shoes isn't here yet," she teases.
"Micheal? Well, he's not coming today. He's on a 3-week leave. I think he's taking his family to the Bahamas," says Ryan.
Nikita suddenly feels sick to her stomach. How can Michael do this to her? He came over to see her yesterday and even fucked her in her living room, and now he's taking his wife to the Bahamas? Hell, no!
She excuses herself and heads straight to her office. Her heart is pounding really fast and she is feeling this strong rage within her. A feeling she is not familiar with. She has never felt this way before. She usually is the one to cause such feelings to guys. She usually is the one to walk away and leave without saying a word. She has never been in this position.
xxx
Michael, Liz and Hayley spend the afternoon snorkeling in the beautiful ocean. He and Liz sit on the sand and sip coconut juice, while they watch Hayley make a sand castle.
"Are you having fun, honey?" asks Michael.
"I'm having a marvelous time," she says, pulling him for a kiss. "I wish we could stay like this forever," she says, tears threatening to fall.
Michael can clearly see the pain in her eyes and it pains him to know that he is the one who caused it.
"Things will be better, hun, I promise," he says, holding her tightly and kissing the side of her head.
Liz closes her eyes and smiles. "I love you, Michael."
"I love you, too, Liz."
xxx
Nikita does not show up at her weekly date with Alex and Alex tries to call her several times but she doesn not pick up. Alex suddenly becomes worried. Ever since they were kids, Nikita has always been on time. She's someone who never misses appointments, ever. So when she calls her and she doesn't pick up, she knew right away something was wrong. She drives straight to Nikita's house and sees her car parked in the driveway. She climbs the stairs and knocks on the front door. When she doesn't answer, she goes behind the large vase and retrieves the hidden key. She opens the door and sees Nikita's shoes and purse laying on the floor.
"Nikita? Are you here?" she calls out.
She continues her way upstairs to Nikita's bedroom, and she is not there. She heads back downstairs to the kitchen and finds her sitting at the table. She is wearing a robe and her hair is a mess. She has a cigarette on one hand and a glass of gin on the other.
"Oh, my God, Nikita! What happened? You're a mess!" says Alex.
Nikita does not answer. She smokes her cigarette and drinks her gin straight. Alex walks over to her and wraps her arms around her.
"Sweetie, talk to me. What happened?" she says concerned.
"Mich-Michael," she finally says, voice almost inaudible.
"Michael?" she asks confusedly.
"Yes! That son-of-a-bitch!" she says angrily. "That fucking son-of-a-bitch!
"What happened? What did he do?"
"He took his wife to the Bahamas!"
"What?"
"After fucking me in my living room, he went behind my back and took that bitch on a vacation!"
"Nikita, she is his wife," she says, trying to reason with her.
"I don't give a fuck!"
"Niki-"
"He's mine, Alex. Fuck it!," she screams. She takes another glass of gin, "Michael is mine! Do you hear me?"
"Nikita, he's married."
"Get the fuck out!"
"What?" she asks suprised.
"Just leave me alone, Alex," she says, but this time, her voice is calmer and softer.
Alex walks up to her and kisses her on the cheek. For all the years she's known Nikita, she has never seen her like this. She has never seen her fall apart, certaintly not over a guy. Then it hits her. Nikita is in love with Michael. "I'll call you."
xxx
Michael returns to work after 3 weeks. He feels and looks great. He enters the building and greets everyone he sees. Then he gets to his floor, and as soon as the elevator doors open, his eyes automatically drifts to Nikita's office. He tries so hard to ignore her and everything that has anything to do with her. He walks pass her office and sees her talking on the phone in the corner of his eyes. He knew Nikita saw him but she doesn't even try to take a second look at him. And oddly, that hurts him a little. It hurts him to see that she doesn't care one bit.
He managed to get through the day withouth having to deal with Nikita. She herself seems to be distancing herself from him, which he does not know how to really feel about it. I guess a part of him wants her to chase him, or show some interest or little emotion. And seeing none, hurts his feelings and ego beyond words.
xxx
He is on his way back to his office when he passes the employee lounge and sees Nikita standing in front of the mirror, fixing her make-up. She doesn't see him but he sees her every move. "God, she looks beautiful," he thinks to himself. But he fights the urge and walks away. He tries to keep himself busy to get his mind off her, and he tries to stay in his office so he wouldn't have to see her.
An hour later, he is finally done with work. He walks out of the building and walks over to the parking lot. Then he sees her. He sees her and she is not alone. She sees her hop into another man's car. This infuriates him. Suddenly, he feels jealousy taking over him. The thought of another man touching her and kissing her is driving him dangerously mad. The thought of her being with someone else drives him crazy. His possessiveness and obsession with her is all coming back and is now becoming difficult and impossible to control. He has to see her. He needs to see her.
xxx
Nikita and Collin, a guy she met from a bar the previous night, arrive at her place. They make a quick stop at her place to change so they can grab dinner and go clubbing afterwards.
Nikita runs upstairs while Collin stays in the living room. Then a few minutes later, the doorbell rings.
"Can you get that for me, please?" yells Nikita, voice echoing in the house.
Collin walks over to the door and opens it.
"Hi. Can I help you?" he asks.
"As a matter of fact, yes. I need to speak to Nikita," says Michael, eyes burning with anger.
"She's upstairs changing," he replies, looking a bit confused.
"Changing?" he says angrily. He pushes Collin and runs upstairs to Nikita's bedroom.
Nikita is wearing a short, black dress and is about to put on her shoes when her door suddenly busts open.
"What the fuck?!" she says.
"What are you doing? Who is that guy?" he says, grabbing her by the elbow.
"Get the fuck off me! Don't you fucking touch me, Michael!" she warns.
Michael does not let go off her, instead, he grabs both of shoulder and grips them tightly. His face is only inches away, "Who the fuck is that guy?" he yells, lips inches away from hers.
"None of your fucking business!" she yells, yanking herself out of his grip. "Now leave!"
"Leave?" he says, taking a few steps closer.
Nikita turns around and heads to her dresser to grab her earrings. "Yes, get the hell out!"
"Oh, yeah?" he says angrily. He grabs her waist from behind and hold her tightly, almost squeezing the life out of her.
"Get off of me!" she says, trying to escape his tight grip.
He holds her even tighter and starts kissing the back of her neck aggressively. "You're not going anywhere, Nikita! Do you hear me?! You're mine!"