This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but well, I wanted this chapter
to focus solely on Gia returning to New York.
Chapter Fifteen
Gia walked into her bedroom in the New York apartment she had grown up in. She would have been happy never setting foot in the place again but now she preferred it to her large, empty bedroom at Wyndemere.
Gia set her suitcase on the floor and looked at the double bed that sat in the left corner of the room. No doubt it was half the side of the bed she slept in at Wyndemere. But at least she wouldn't be lost in the blankets, longing to feel Nikolas' arms around her. Or would she?
Gia shut the door and sat on her bed. Where would she go from here? She'd left her job at Deception. She didn't have a college degree and she still hated the thought of going back to Columbia. They probably wouldn't taker her back anyway.
Gia sighed, realizing she was back in this apartment again, living under her mother's roof. So much for having her own life. So much for being on her own. She was back in the blue-collar world, a world she had longed to get out of for years. She had even resorted to blackmail because she was that fixated on money. Her career as a model had taken her places, and when she was with Nikolas she had taken the money for granted. She didn't give money a second thought because with Nikolas, she had that much of it.
Gia remembered that within the next few months Nikolas' estate would be settled and turned over to her. She could live anywhere she wanted to. If her mom would just hold off pushing her until the money came through. But could she really enjoy the money? Gia would hate herself if she did. It was death money. Money she acquired through Nikolas' death. Money she would use to run from everyone and everything that reminded her of him but would not allow her to escape the deep grief and sorrow she felt. In escaping one she would be trapped in another. Life's ironies were hopelessly cruel.
Gia set such thoughts aside and began to unpack. When she was finished she grazed her hand against the top of the white oak dresser. It was filled with make-up, perfume, and other cosmetics and toiletries. She had left the picture of her and Nikolas behind. Her life with him was over. A new chapter had begun. It was time to turn the page.
"Gia, I'm going to order pizza, is that okay?" Florence barged into Gia's room without even knocking, just like old times.
Gia gave her mom and small smile. "Pizza's fine."
Florence took a seat next to Gia on the bed. "I know this is hard." Gia didn't reply. "But you will get through it, honey."
"I don't want to get through it!" Gia exclaimed softly. She took a deep breath. "I know I have to move on but I don't want to. I don't even know if I can."
"Honey, moving on doesn't happen overnight. And even when you have moved on, Nikolas will still be with you, still a part of you."
"That's not enough," Gia cried quietly. Florence pulled her into a hug. Gia cried for the death of the only man she'd ever truly loved, as well as for the life with him she had come to love almost as much.
Chapter Fifteen
Gia walked into her bedroom in the New York apartment she had grown up in. She would have been happy never setting foot in the place again but now she preferred it to her large, empty bedroom at Wyndemere.
Gia set her suitcase on the floor and looked at the double bed that sat in the left corner of the room. No doubt it was half the side of the bed she slept in at Wyndemere. But at least she wouldn't be lost in the blankets, longing to feel Nikolas' arms around her. Or would she?
Gia shut the door and sat on her bed. Where would she go from here? She'd left her job at Deception. She didn't have a college degree and she still hated the thought of going back to Columbia. They probably wouldn't taker her back anyway.
Gia sighed, realizing she was back in this apartment again, living under her mother's roof. So much for having her own life. So much for being on her own. She was back in the blue-collar world, a world she had longed to get out of for years. She had even resorted to blackmail because she was that fixated on money. Her career as a model had taken her places, and when she was with Nikolas she had taken the money for granted. She didn't give money a second thought because with Nikolas, she had that much of it.
Gia remembered that within the next few months Nikolas' estate would be settled and turned over to her. She could live anywhere she wanted to. If her mom would just hold off pushing her until the money came through. But could she really enjoy the money? Gia would hate herself if she did. It was death money. Money she acquired through Nikolas' death. Money she would use to run from everyone and everything that reminded her of him but would not allow her to escape the deep grief and sorrow she felt. In escaping one she would be trapped in another. Life's ironies were hopelessly cruel.
Gia set such thoughts aside and began to unpack. When she was finished she grazed her hand against the top of the white oak dresser. It was filled with make-up, perfume, and other cosmetics and toiletries. She had left the picture of her and Nikolas behind. Her life with him was over. A new chapter had begun. It was time to turn the page.
"Gia, I'm going to order pizza, is that okay?" Florence barged into Gia's room without even knocking, just like old times.
Gia gave her mom and small smile. "Pizza's fine."
Florence took a seat next to Gia on the bed. "I know this is hard." Gia didn't reply. "But you will get through it, honey."
"I don't want to get through it!" Gia exclaimed softly. She took a deep breath. "I know I have to move on but I don't want to. I don't even know if I can."
"Honey, moving on doesn't happen overnight. And even when you have moved on, Nikolas will still be with you, still a part of you."
"That's not enough," Gia cried quietly. Florence pulled her into a hug. Gia cried for the death of the only man she'd ever truly loved, as well as for the life with him she had come to love almost as much.
