Since I made you wait longer for this one - sorry - it's extra long!
When Nicole and Xander touched down in Salem, they had a multitude of various feelings. They were happy to be home and get back into the groove of things; they couldn't wait to hang out together and see where their relationship took them; they couldn't keep their wandering hands off of each other for any reasonable length of time; and they were more than a little disappointed that their magical time in New York had come to an end. They talked about telling Philip and even joked about how he'd react to them seeing each other and working together, especially when the reason they made the trip to New York in the first place was because a couple of employees up and eloped, but they also knew this was happening whether Philip approved or not. However, they wanted to handle it delicately and discreetly while being upfront about it. But today the consensus was to keep it between themselves until they heard what this unexpected announcement was that Philip had to make at Titan.
(Titan Industries 11:30 am.)
"Nicole, Xander, great to have you back," Philip said as he welcomed Xander and Nicole into his office with a firm handshake for each.
"Great to be back," Nicole responded with a huge smile.
"Nice leather bag you have there, Nicole," Philip grinned slyly when he noticed her holding the briefcase he had bought for her.
"Oh, I almost forgot about this. I love it, by the way. But you didn't have to buy me a new briefcase. I was going to get one, eventually."
"It was my gift to you for being such a team player, Nicole. You really got me out of a jam by going to New York last minute."
"Just doing my job, boss," she said happily.
"Well, you deserved it. And not to mention, you were a certified hit. You really exceeded my expectations in every way. I saw some of the pictures. They're truly fantastic. Not to mention, I haven't stopped hearing your high praises from all those involved in front of and behind the camera. They all want to work with you again. I knew I picked the right person for the job."
"Thank you, Philip, but I didn't do it alone. Xander here was instrumental in this project being a success," she added, looking over at Xander who was just standing there quiet thus far.
"I guess it's lucky he was also able to go in my place," Philip said, giving Xander a nod of gratitude with a little hint of suspicion attached to it.
"Well, I couldn't have done it without him," she continued to throw compliments her man's way.
"Nicole, I'm well aware of Xander's capabilities, but I just wanted you to know personally how much I've valued having you here. You've really proven yourself. I just want you to remember that."
"Wow, I don't think I've ever heard so many nice things come out of your mouth about me at one time. Thank you for trusting me and trusting my abilities to do this job. It means the world to me. I love working here. I don't know what I would do if you hadn't taken a chance on me, especially when your father hates my guts."
Xander studied Philip's expression as he listened to Nicole and caught something in Philip's demeanor that didn't sit right with him, almost as if he felt guilty about something.
"Nicole, why don't you go grab yourself some coffee, a doughnut, croissant, whatever, until we're ready for the board meeting. There's also a ton of messages on your desk that need your attention," Philip informed her.
"Oh, okay, sure," she responded and then glanced over at Xander. "Do you want to get a croissant with me? We didn't really eat on the plane."
"Actually, I need to talk to Philip for a minute alone, if you don't mind," Xander spoke up wanting to get an explanation for Philip's strange vibe he picked up on.
"Now?" she responded with a puzzled look on her face as she tilted her head at Xander wondering what he was up to.
"Nicole, there's some things I need to discuss with Xander as well. You go ahead. I'll see you in about thirty or so minutes. You don't mind, do you?" Philip asked.
"No, why would I mind?" she said as she threw an "oh-shit-are-we-busted?" look in Xander's direction as she began to back up at a snail's pace out of the room.
"Oh, Nicole," Philip yelled out, "will you close the door behind you?"
"Sure," she said as she looked at Xander with 'what's-going-on' eyes and then closed the door slowly.
"Xander, there's something we need to discuss before the meeting," Philip said directly and to the point.
"I kind of got that impression. What's this about?" Xander asked straightforwardly, wondering if this had to do with him and Nicole or if it had to do with the missing file situation he was assured by his accomplice would never be linked back to him.
"Let's sit, shall we?" Philip suggested and then proceeded to sit down in the chair behind his desk.
"I'll stand, if you don't mind. I'd rather you just say what you need to say, Philip."
"Okay, I'll just come out with it then. I have some news about my father," Philip commented as he leaned back in his chair.
"Victor? Is he all right? He's not -"
"No, he's not dead," Philip answered. "That would probably be easier to tell you than what -" Philip mumbled inaudibly under his breath.
"What was that?" Xander asked for clarification. "I didn't hear you."
Philip took a deep breath in and out.
"What is it? Tell me." Xander demanded more information on account of Philip's reluctance to spit it out.
"My father has gotten a lot better," Philip said plainly.
"Come again?"
"Victor is coherent and talking. He's in a wheelchair but he's moving around," Philip explained.
"Well, that's great. Why in the world didn't you just say that? You looked like you had really distressing news."
"There's more to it than that," Philip said plainly.
"Like what?" Xander asked. "When did this all happen anyway?"
"It actually happened two days ago, right after you and Nicole left for New York. He woke up, started barking orders at the nursing staff and demanded to be released from the facility. I thought about calling you as soon as I heard, but you had just left and I didn't want to throw a wrench in what you were doing down there. I needed you to have your focus completely on what you and Nicole were sent there to do. We needed that photo shoot to go off without a hitch and to have no unwanted complications, and by the looks of things, I made the right decision."
"You still should have called me, Philip," Xander said in an agitated tone. "Victor is my family too."
"And what would you have done? Canceled the trip and rushed back here? That would have cost the company thousands if we had to cancel that shoot at the last minute. You know my father is all about good business and he would have demanded you handled Titan business first. Knowing about Victor would have just distracted you from what you were doing over there. I knew you'd be back in a day - well, it turned out to be two, but that's only because you and Nicole were such a success."
"I suppose you're right, but you could have called or texted me on the plane this morning and gave me a heads up at least," Xander informed him.
"Well, what's done is done," Philip said. "I can't change it now."
"So how is he?" Xander asked in a concerned tone. "Last I heard, they didn't think he'd be able to even talk normally again, let alone function properly."
"He made a miraculous recovery considering. He's talking and in good spirits. They may be evil spirits but they're holding their own and so is he. He's rolling around like a champ in his wheelchair right now because he's still partially paralyzed on his left side, but if you were to speak to him, you'd think he was his old tyrant self."
"I want to see him," Xander said. "I've got so much to tell him."
"Well, before you see him, I need to fill you in on some things around here."
"Can't we talk about work later? I want to see my uncle," Xander said impatiently.
"Well, you'll definitely be seeing him. He's the one that called the board meeting."
"He's here, at Titan?" Xander said surprised.
"Yes."
"Where is he now?"
"He's in the boardroom working on his presentation. But Xander -"
Xander swiftly turned to walk off and Philip immediately got up, ran over to him, grabbing him firmly by the arm to stop him.
"Xander, listen to me. There's more to this than you know."
"What are you talking about?"
"When I say Victor is here, I mean he's here and he wants control of Titan back."
"Control? You mean he doesn't want to take time to recuperate? He wants to run the company in his condition?" Xander questioned the very idea of that. "Just how ambulatory and level-headed can he be to run the day-to-day operations right now?"
"He doesn't care about all of that. His mind is intact and he's made it perfectly clear that is what he intends to do," Philip answered him.
"Why can't he just let us help him? We've been getting along just fine," Xander said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, you know my father, he's stubborn, power hungry, and driven, and those three things are enough to motivate him, mind and body, to do things most people in his condition couldn't, shouldn't or wouldn't do."
"So what does this mean exactly?" Xander inquired of Philip.
"It means there are going to be some changes around here...and some cuts," Philip responded with a not so encouraging expression on his face.
"Oh, right. Now I see why you wanted to talk to me alone. Let me guess, he wants me out of here. I'm a detriment to the company and not worthy of working in the family business. Am I right?"
"No, as a matter of fact, he was quite receptive to you working here when I told him. I've filled him in on what's been happening and he's heard what you've accomplished since you've been here. He's got no problem with you staying on as long as productivity is up. You know my father, he's all about two things, the bottom line and getting respect."
"Well, then if he's not kicking me out on my ass, than who are the unlucky recipients of his wrath?"
"There's really only one particularly unlucky person my father intends to target," Philip said rubbing his hand over his forehead.
"Who is it?" Xander said still unsure where Philip was going with this.
Philip looked at Xander and his serious yet overly apologetic expression said it all.
Xander suddenly realized why Nicole wasn't a part of this private conversation. "Wait one fucking minute. Don't tell me my uncle is going after Nicole."
"I'm sorry, Xander, he wants her gone and I don't have the authority anymore to do anything about it."
"Why would he do this? I know there's no love lost there, but you hired her based on her qualifications alone and she's proven she's good at what she does. You've even said she's been an asset to this company since she's been here."
"You're preaching to the choir, Xander. I told my father all of this. I even begged him to let me handle it as I saw fit, but him and Nicole go way, way back. I don't have to tell you that. They were married and it wasn't pretty. It's personal with him. It's about respect, remember?"
"Goddamn it, Philip, she lives for this job. You should have seen her in New York. I've never seen someone so happy. She can't lose it now. I won't let that happen."
"Xander, it's out of my hands."
"So you're just going to fire her, just like that?" Xander shouted angrily as he got closer to Philip's face.
"I'm not the one that's going to be doing it," Philip answered him and then looked away visibly apologetic.
"He's going to personally fire her?" Xander gasped with disgust.
Philip nodded his head, his face showing sincere regret.
"When is he planning on doing this?" Xander demanded to know.
"At the board meeting that is happening in about 15 minutes."
"He is going to do this in front of everyone? He would fucking humiliate her like that?"
"I'm sorry, I truly am. I pleaded her case, I promise you. I had my doubts about Nicole at first, but she's proven herself to me. I even tried to pull the rank card on him, but then he proceeded to demote me down to Vice-President of the company and resume his position as CEO and President. At this point, until he retires from this company, is ruled incompetent to fulfill his duties, or dies, he calls the shots and there's nothing I – we – can do about it. This is total bullshit, I know. I love my father but he's set in his ways. Personally, I was resigned to the fact he was never going to come out of his catatonic state, from what the doctors said, let alone come back to work after his stroke or I would have had a contingency plan in place."
"I have to talk to my uncle now."
"Xander, it won't make a difference. You know how he is."
"I have to try. I can't let him do this to her. I won't let him."
"Look, I know you care about her – and I know that's a whole different discussion we need to have at another time – but taking her side in this issue will only get you fired too."
"I don't give a fuck about myself right now. Nicole is about to be ambushed and I have to stop him and try to make him understand how much she loves this job and how good she is at it. This company can't afford to lose her."
"He would rather lose profits than have Nicole working here, Xander. It's a losing cause."
"I have to do something. I have to try."
"Okay, but don't get your hopes up. They'll only come crashing down around you."
Xander walked out of Philip's office and looked straight into Nicole's open door. He gazed over at her from the distance and noticed she had her feet propped up on her desk with a pencil in her mouth while she was having a lively conversation on her phone. Her body was relaxed, her face was full of expression, and her cheerful, carefree mood was enough to show him she was exactly where she wanted and needed to be, and he wasn't about to let Uncle Vic take all that away from her.
"Uncle?" Xander called out to Victor as he entered the boardroom closing the door behind him.
Victor was sitting quietly in his wheelchair near the head of the table when he looked over at Xander with a familiar smirk on his face, then proceeded to wave his nephew over to him.
"Alexandros, by boy," he exclaimed as if he was happy to see him.
"Uncle," Xander said short and sweet as he walked over to Victor and sat down in a chair next to him.
"It's good to see you doing so well," Xander offered a caring sentiment while faking the sincerity of it.
"I should say the same thing about you. I heard how you stepped up and helped Philip handle things around here, rather competently, since I've been temporarily indisposed. I'm proud of you, Alexandros."
"You are?" Xander said, not quite sure what to take of his uncle's sudden acceptance of him.
"Of course I am. You didn't abandon me or this company when we needed you most."
"Well, I wanted to help any way that I could. You know I'd do anything for you, Uncle," Xander's hidden anger momentarily ceased as his uncle shared his unexpected and strangely timed gratitude with him.
"You've finally proven that you're a Kiriakis, Alexandros."
"I've waited for a long time to hear you say that, Uncle Victor."
"You've earned it. But by the same token, let's not screw it up this time." Victor's sudden and blunt reminder of Xander's past mistakes redirected him back to the reason why he was there.
"Well, to be fair, the work I've done here, I haven't done it all alone," Xander offered an explanation, suddenly ready to confront Victor head on.
"I give credit where it's due, Alexandros. You should learn to take full credit of that, especially when I don't have a reason to offer it to you very often," Victor spouted in a more condescending way Xander was familiar with.
"Uncle, we need to discuss something," Xander said taking a deep breath in and out to prepare for the battle he anticipated would follow.
"And what do we need to talk about exactly?" Victor said, clutching his hands tightly as he leaned back in his wheelchair.
"We need to talk about" – Xander paused momentarily to allow Nicole's name to sit safely on the tip of his tongue before he let it roll off his lips – "Nicole."
Victor sat eerily quietly as his face grew dark and cold almost instantly with a scowling overtone.
"Alexandros, that subject is dead and buried and none of your damn concern."
"But it is my concern. I have been working with her here at Titan."
"Well, that situation is about to be satisfactorily rectified. Nicole Walker, the working-class slut, won't be working at Titan after today, I can promise you that."
"Don't talk about her like that, not in front of me," Xander's voice began to rise.
"Don't tell me you still carry a torch for that parasite. I thought after she wrote that tell-all expose about you you would have wised up. Where's your sense of pride? Grow some balls, boy."
"Uncle Victor, that was all a misunderstanding. Things are different now. You don't understand."
"I understand that everything that tramp does is calculating. You're a damn fool if you believe otherwise."
"I care about her," he blurted out honestly to him.
"Well, get over it," Victor demanded.
"Look, I know we're blood and I've always looked up to you, Uncle, but I can't let you throw her out of here like she's yesterday's garbage. She deserves better than that."
"What is it with the men in this town and that woman that make them gullible fools? That hussy sucks you poor saps in and then you keep going back for more of the same. She's been nothing but poison to Brady, Daniel, Eric, Lucas, EJ and every other man she's come into contact with. I should know, I married the bitch. I won't let that happen to you too, Alexandros. Take it from me, that gold-digging whore isn't worth all the time you'll waste on her. She'll just destroy your life and move onto the next idiot who has more to offer her than you do."
"I know about her complicated history, yes, but most of the shit that's happened to her stems from an abusive past. She isn't to blame for everything that's happened to her. Nicole has had a tough go at things and she's trying to turn her life around. Can't you just leave her alone?"
"Bullshit! She's a black widow and if you're not careful she'll shoot her venom into you, too. I should have killed that harlot years ago when I had the chance."
"SHUT UP!" Xander raged as he stood up from his chair, his veins protruding from his neck. "I will NOT allow you to speak such disrespectful things about her. You've crossed the line, Uncle."
"There you have it. Exhibit A: The moronic wide-eyed fool. I guess I was out of commission too long to prevent this from getting this far. She's already gotten her hooks into you. I will tell you this, Alexandros, she will not destroy another member of my family while I stand by and do nothing."
"There's nothing you can do about it. I'm a grown man and I will not allow you to dictate –"
"It's in your best interest not to finish that sentence, I assure you," Victor threatened. "Now sit your ass down," he demanded and Xander complied and let out a heavy breath as he did so.
"Uncle, can't you cast your personal feelings aside just this once? You've given me a chance to prove myself. Can't you do the same for her and just stay out of this? Have you seen what she's done since she's been here? She's helped keep this company afloat while you were lying in a bed incapacitated. That has to count for something, doesn't it? She knows how you feel about her, yet she has done everything to help this goddamn company succeed."
"This conversation is over, Alexandros."
"No, it is not over. I'm not done talking to you. You are going to listen to me," Xander commanded passionately.
"You'd do well not to tell me what to do," Victor warned him.
"So you're just going to take her job away from her and that's that; is that how you're going to play this?"
"As a matter of fact, I'm going to strip her of her goddamn title, give it to you, and then throw her out on her skinny little ass. Congratulations, you are now President of Publications. You should be thanking me."
"You're giving me her job?" Xander gasped with shock.
"It's already done," Victor grumbled.
"I don't FUCKING want it," Xander yelled at him emphasizing the profanity.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?" Victor raged as his facial expression was terrorizing enough to scare ten grown men. "Don't you disrespect me after all I've done for you, boy. I will not tolerate it. You will do as I say," he taunted as he leaned forward in his chair, showing he hadn't lost one ounce of his ability to browbeat and intimidate Xander even in his apparent fragile state.
"Uncle, please, I beg you, don't do this. I'll do anything you ask of me, please, whatever it is, but please don't take this away from her. She's tried so hard. Don't make this mistake just because you hate her. Think of the company."
"Think of the company? I'm the only one doing that here. Your dumb whipped ass is thinking between your legs like every stupid, unsuspecting man before you."
Xander's fists rolled into clinched balls under the table. He was seconds away from pummeling this old disabled man in his wheelchair. He took a deep breath in and out and held his anger as best as he could.
"Isn't there anything I can say to make you change your mind?" Xander begged for him to be reasonable.
Victor sat there with a sly, devilish look on his face pondering Xander's offer.
"Please, Uncle," he pleaded again.
Victor sat there weighing his other options and in a matter of seconds had an answer. "I will consider letting Nicole stay on here in her position on one condition."
"Name it," Xander responded without hesitation.
"You can go work at the overseas office for me. I've needed someone there for a while I could trust to head things over there and now I see you're capable of doing that."
"You want me to leave Salem?"
"That's my condition. Take it or leave it, but you better hurry. The board meeting is about to start in a few minutes."
"When do you expect me to leave?"
"You'd pack up and leave first thing tomorrow morning for Japan. I'll have the jet ready for you."
"I can't leave tomorrow!" Xander scoffed at the thought.
"XANDER, you're trying my patience. You're lucky I'm offering this to you at all. Having Nicole stay on here was not negotiable five minutes ago. See, I can be reasonable when the situation calls for it."
"But there's things I'd need to handle here first before I could just leave." How do I explain to Nicole we'll need to have a long distance relationship when we just started seeing each other?
"I'll make all the arrangements you need. You just have to pack."
"How do I know you won't make Nicole's life a living hell around here as soon as I'm gone?"
"You don't," Victor said smugly. But then again, I didn't really want to be here full time anyway. If I have you handling things for me overseas, I'll just leave Philip as CEO for the time being, and I'll liaison from home. That way I won't have to see that blonde tart every day."
"If I do this, you guarantee you won't fire her as soon as I leave?"
"As long as she does her job and Philip reports to me she's doing it well, I will leave it up to him whether he wants to keep her on board or not. God help him."
"I'll do it," he instantly agreed. "But I have to explain all of this to Nicole. We are working on a lot of projects together. I respectfully request an extra day here to say my goodbyes to her."
"No, that is one thing you won't do."
"What are you talking about? I can't leave her without an explanation. I told you I care about her. Whether you like it or not, that's not going to change. Just because I'm out of the country doesn't mean I can't fly back in to see her."
"That's exactly what it means," Victor said stone-cold.
"Are you saying you never want me to come back here?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"I can't do that," Xander shook his head in astonishment.
"Sure, you can. You can just tell her you've decided to make a fresh start or you got a better offer, either/or."
"Uncle, I won't do that."
"You will do that. You will have a clean break so that there's no chance in hell that she'll be here waiting for you to return if I prematurely kick the bucket. I'm not getting any younger. My stroke was an eye opener."
"Obviously, it didn't soften your sadistic mind," Xander said under his breath.
"I want her to hate you, just like I hate her," Victor spouted showing his hatred for Nicole knew no bounds.
Xander sat still in his chair unaware of how he was going to get out of this mess without looking like a total lying douche bag in Nicole's eyes.
"Don't look so sad. Judging from Nicole's past, she'll find her next victim within a week of you leaving town, give or take a week."
"You make it hard not to hate you, Uncle. I've wanted to be like you all of my life, but this is cruel, even for you."
Suddenly what Nicole said to him on the plane about everyone leaving her crushed him like a ton of bricks. He was about to break his promise to her and it would all be a lie.
"Tsk, tsk, Alexandros. You'll get over her like everyone else does. Everyone always ends up leaving her anyway. She's used goods."
"THAT'S ENOUGH! That's the last ill word I will allow you to speak of her, Uncle - the. last. fucking. word." He looked dead straight at his uncle without blinking, letting him know he could be as menacing and as intimidating as him. "I will knock your ass clear out of that chair without hesitating. Not one more word, do you hear me?" he repeated his threat.
(Victor began to clap slowly) "Wow, you almost sounded like me, Alexandros," Victor smirked as if he was proud he passed one of his traits onto him. "I'm impressed you're not a wimp and a failure like I thought you once were."
"What the hell has made you such a bitter old man?"
"I was born this way. No one made me. You need to grow up and get with the program. Women only exist to bring you down or go down on you."
"That's nonsensical ramblings from a petulant and spiteful man whose wife left him."
"Xander, you best hold your tongue before I throw you out on your ass, disown you, and leave you penniless. I'm still the one with the power, remember that."
"I don't care what you do to me. It doesn't matter anymore. It's Nicole I care about."
"Well, if you care about her, then this decision should be easy for you. You said she loves it here. Are you willing to take that from her for your own selfish reasons?"
"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
"This is your last chance, Alexandros. What's your decision?"
'I'll do it. Are you fucking happy?"
"I will be, knowing you and that" - he refrained from using the derogatory word he wanted to, heeding Xander's recent warning - "you and her will be thousands of miles apart," he grinned devilishly, feeling all kinds of proud of himself.
"You've destroyed my chance at real happiness and I'm about to prove to Nicole what she's always believed, that she can't take any man at their word because they're all lying bastards."
"Cry me a damn river. By the way, don't think of going to Nicole and saying anything other than hasta la vista baby, it's been nice knowing you. Because know this, I have people watching everywhere and I'll know if you defy me. And I'd hate to see any harm come to her for an ill-advised mistake you create. You know how accidents happen when you least expect them, right?"
"Are you fucking threatening Nicole in front of me right now? YOU ARROGANT PIECE OF SHIT!" Xander stood up from his chair ready to take a swing.
"Oh, look, Alexandros, the troops are gathering outside," Victor said as he looked through the window of the boardroom. "Oh, I see Nicole heading this way. Time is running out. What's it going to be – me humiliating her in front of everyone by taking her job and dignity or you taking me up on my offer? Tic toc, tic toc."
As the doors to the boardroom swung open, Xander promptly said, "I accept your offer, you sorry son of a bitch."
As Nicole walked into the room and saw Victor, she practically gasped where she stood. She knew this couldn't be good for her but she had nowhere to go now. She was in the room and the rest of the executives were piling in on top of her.
"Now that everyone is seated, I have a few announcements to make," Philip said standing up behind Victor unaware of what had just transpired.
"Actually, Philip, I have a few things I want to say first," Victor interrupted.
Philip looked confused but intrigued by his father's sudden decision to make an announcement.
"I'd like to say, first off, I'm glad to be back. I've heard many of you have been instrumental in helping to keep this company together; others, not so much," he glared at random people around the room, "and that will be unfortunate for you once we weed out the incompetent, but that's not on the agenda today so you can all close your mouths for now. You'll live to fail miserably another day."
"What a dickhead. Even a stroke can't cure that ailment," Nicole said to herself while shaking her head at the other end of the table.
"Anyway, I had a talk with my son, Philip, about me maybe returning to the CEO position here at Titan, but I've decided against that."
"You what?" Phillip remarked loudly as he glanced over at Xander wondering what the hell did he say to his father to get him to change his mind so quickly.
"I've decided with my health not fully back to where it should be, it would be in the best interest of this company to leave Philip as CEO and President. I'd still have a hand in the company, but I'll just work from home and come in only as I'm needed. Philip is fully capable of running things and I trust in his judgment and capabilities to do just that.
"Thank you, Father," Philip said as he placed his hand on Victor's shoulder. "That means a lot coming from you."
"Speaking of judgment calls, it's been brought to my attention that my son hired Nicole Walker to run the Publishing side of things."
"Here we go, I'm getting fired," Nicole said quietly as she put her head down completely unaware of what was about to happen.
"Nicole, I don't much like you. Actually, I can honestly say I despise you and I don't trust you, but that's no real secret."
"Thanks, Vic," Nicole mumbled in her seat from afar. "The feelings mutual," her inner self blurted out as loud as it could.
"But business is business. And according to Philip and others, you have been a real asset to Titan the short time you've been here. I want to congratulate you on your position here and I hope to hear only good things from Philip about you in the future."
"Huh? You're not firing me?" Well, slap my ass and send me to bed with no supper. What just happened?
"Not today. So don't blow it like you always do. I'll be keeping tabs on you regularly."
"Understood," Nicole said flabbergasted.
"Just keep up the good work," Victor uttered while silently throwing up in his mouth.
Nicole's jaw hit the floor as she heard Victor's words. Yes, he threw some backhanded compliments in there, but it was Victor for God's sake. Those were the nicest words he ever said to her. Usually bitch or home-wrecking slut were included at the end of every sentence that involved her.
"I'll do my very best," Nicole said still reeling from the moment.
The other employees in the room gave her a round of applause as she sat there giddy and proud of herself but fully taken aback.
Xander couldn't stop staring at Nicole. He was sitting in the middle of the long table looking diagonally across at her where she was sitting down near the other end. She was beaming inside and out as she was swiveling in her chair and whispering to the person next to her with the biggest smile on her face. A few other people began to high-five her on a job well done, and she was taking it all in. She was so happy and he knew he made that possible for her, but yet she would never get to know that. All he knew was she was never going to look at him the same again. In a matter of seconds, she was going to hate him. He just hoped one day she could forgive him for what was about to happen. After all, it's not like she had fallen in love with him or anything yet, so she could easily move past this with a minimum of regrets, right? The only problem was, at that very moment, looking at her from across the table, memorizing the curves of her face and the infectious smile attached to it, he realized he had already fallen in love with her.
"Now, I have another announcement," Victor interrupted Nicole's mini celebration to bring on Xander's worst nightmare.
"As you know, my Nephew Alexandros has been working here in my absence also. He's done a remarkable job here. But seeing I can't travel as I used to, he's agreed to run things for me in our overseas office. So I want everyone to congratulate him. He'll be the new CEO at the Japan office."
A round of applause filled the room but Xander sat silent, his heart beating out of his chest.
"Wow, when was this all decided?" Nicole interrupted the applause, not understanding the timing or the meaning of all of this.
"Oh, I called Xander in New York yesterday while you were on the photo shoot and told him the good news," Victor lied, sticking the knife deeper into Xander's back and breaking Nicole's fragile heart almost instantly.
At the photo shoot? Wait, what? So before the spa? Before the Broadway play? Before the penthouse? BEFORE WE.. Oh, my God, I'm going to be sick.
As the room again erupted in applause for Xander, he hadn't yet mustered up the courage to glance over at Nicole to gauge her reaction to Victor's latest announcement. He wanted to avoid seeing that for as long as he possibly could. When the clapping died down, he hesitantly looked in her direction, praying to God it wasn't as bad as he expected it to be. But when his eyes eventually met with hers, he almost broke down inside at the haunting expression she had on her face. It was mixed with confusion, disappointment, hurt, and anger, all rolled up into one horrible nightmarish image he never ever again wanted to see on her face staring back at him.
"Well, meeting adjourned. If you have any other issues, just let my son know. He's in charge now," Victor said looking at Philip.
Philip started to roll Victor out of the room and other people started slowly dispersing as well. Xander was hoping for a moment alone with Nicole, even though he had no idea what he would say to her to explain the sudden change of plans and him up and leaving her, but he had to say something to soften the blow without Victor taking it as defiance. As he stood up, waiting for the last few people to leave, Nicole suddenly got up, turned away from Xander and began to walk out.
"Nicole, can I have a word with you, please?" he said with desperation as she stopped and glared at him.
"Xander," Victor called out from the door. "I need you now. There's a lot of things to do before you can leave tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Nicole said as she looked desperately at Xander with a bewildered and defeated look on her face.
Xander closed his eyes immediately throwing his head down, feeling the sting of what Victor just said loud enough for Nicole to hear and realizing the weight of what this was doing to her. He had just promised her he wasn't THAT GUY. How is this happening to them now? He reluctantly looked back up at her, dreading the moment he knew he was about to have with her, fearing that horrid look on her face screaming and defining clearly how he failed her miserably just like everyone else before him.
When he forced his head back up and turned his watery eyes back toward her, he took a deep breath in trying to catch his breath, but then his heart sunk all the way into his chest as she mouthed silently, "Liar."
"Xander, let's go," Victor yelled out, interrupting them long enough for Nicole to turn and run out the door holding back tears.