Always Been Yours (Tessa and Nicholas)

Chapter 12 Too Many Coincidences for Comfort

“Yes, sir!” The bodyguards immediately moved in synchronization as they dragged Sophia and Lauren like the women were two burlap sacks of potatoes. Upon reaching the entrance, they unceremoniously threw them out the doors.

The members of the orchestra who had gathered around to watch this were stunned speechless, and a stifling hush followed Nicholas’ ruthless and unforgiving gesture.

Tessa, too, took a while to recover from the initial shock of it all, and she didn’t snap out of her daze until Nicholas spoke again.

“Greg, are you hurt?” Nicholas drew closer to Gregory, a warm, fatherly concern filling his dark orbs. He looked entirely different from the intimidating and domineering president he had been moments ago.

“I’m fine, Daddy,” Gregory answered with a gentle nod of his little head.

When everyone heard this, they let out a collective sigh of relief.

Knowing that she was the cause of this fiasco, Tessa stepped forward with her shoulders squared and said apologetically, “I’m terribly sorry, President Sawyer. Those two were after me, but Gregory nearly got hurt in the midst of the chaos. This is all my fault!”

When Nicholas heard this, he gave her a brief, frosty look, then retracted his gaze as he replied stoically, “Yes, this all happened because of you, but since somebody else has been punished for it, I’ll let you off the hook.” He paused, then added in the same frigid tone, “It’s almost time for lunch anyway. I’ll bring Gregory home after we dine at the restaurant. Come along.”

With that, he deftly picked Gregory up into his arms and headed for the doors.

As Gregory leaned against the curve of Nicholas’ broad shoulder, his mind began to race. He was desperate to come up with a plan to stay by Tessa’s side for the rest of the day.

Tessa, on the other hand, dared not dawdle as she straightened her clothes and followed Nicholas out of the building.

…

good as any Michelin-star chef, and he had once been involved in the food preparation for a national banquet. Members of the upper-crust society and famous icons had tried to

normal circumstances, Tessa would never be able to step foot into a place like this. It was only because of Nicholas and his powerful connections that she was able to sit here today for what would be the most

came along with such fine food was insurmountable and suffocating. Tessa sat stiffly in her seat, unsure if breathing was something she

seemed rather at ease, if not overtly impassive. He ordered a few dishes, and when he handed the menu over to Tessa, he said

she

with a three-digit price tag? What,

small order and picked out the cheapest fruit juice there was, then shakily handed the menu back to the waiter. “Thank you.”

for the dishes to be served, and all of them looked as delicious as they smelled. They were arranged neatly at the center of the dining table, so aesthetically pleasing

of surprise that

dishes before her would at

loss for words as she mused wistfully to herself, These rich folks sure live

“Lunch will be on Daddy today, Miss Pretty

a gentle smile upon hearing

in, but she hardly

worriedly, “Why aren’t you

pressed, “What is it? Does the food

Everything’s delicious,” Tessa said hastily, then

and son said nothing more after this, and the three of them

help Gregory load up his plate every