Chapter 5 That Time He Encouraged Me To Be A Villian

Elizabeth's pov Nikolas' words stunned me. To the core. So much that I could not say a thing. I parted my lips and softly released a sigh, my body trembling with the honesty of his words and the promise dripping from it. I made a mental note to stay away from other men. Throughout the whole evening, till he dropped me off at my apartment, I remained quiet only muttering a low thank you when he dropped me off. The following morning, I woke up to the doorbell going off. “It had better not be that motherfucking cheating couple…” I grumbled, angrily walking to the door. “Who the hell wakes up at seven in the morning… oh.” I leaned back a bit at the smiling face. “Good morning love.” “Chairman Torrington. Why are you…. I mean come in.” I stepped aside to let Nikolas in but he stood by the door and extended a large bag out for me. “For you. Something lovely for the banquet.” I grabbed the bag and stared at him, the confusion about why he would be this obvious in my expression. “Errm…thank you.” He gave me a faint smile and patted my head softly. “Things like this, you need to get used to them. You have been taking care of yourself for so long. It is time to let me do it Elizabeth.” His words warmed my heart and gave me a fuzzy feeling in my stomach. It also made me want to cry for no reason but I choked on it. “Thank you.” “I have to get to work now. Do you need someone to help you pack?” He questioned tilting forward a bit to see the huge boxes in my living room. I had dragged them out yesterday to pack but felt tired and went to sleep. “I will be done with it. I don't have much stuff.” “Okay.” Nikolas stood there for a while, his hands in his pocket, icy blue eyes twinkling with an indescribable emotion. “About your step-sister and my nephew...” I noticed his jaw clench at the mention of the bastards. “...do you need help dealing with them?” I shook my head and held onto the bag tightly. “I am grateful for that but I can handle it on my own now. As long as I am sincere, the truth will always help me.” He shook his head with a smile and gave me a faint flip on my forehead. “Little girl, life does not care about your sincerity or truth. It is sad but villains win these days.” His eyes carried a deep sense of reminiscence when he said this. “Elizabeth, if you don't coerce or force the truth to prevail, in whatever ways you can, regardless of how pure or impure it is, you will never be able to win this battle. Your enemies have schemes, you have wits.” “If I act the same way they do, am I not any different from them?” I shifted my weight onto my left leg wondering why he simply wouldn't come in. “If you want to take down a monster, do you not have to be a monster as well? To get to where I am today, do you think it was by being always kind and letting the truth run its course? No love, my opponents are not like that. Why should I be?” I furrowed my brows at this. “Think Elizabeth, although I am always here to help.” After saying this, Nikolas didn't wait for my response and stepped forward to place a kiss on my forehead. Waving at me, I watched him take the elevator and leave. When I opened the bag he had given to me, a quiet emotional sob escaped my lips. It was not just any dress but it was the first from a collection I made when I first began work. It was a limited edition with just six pieces and even I didn't have one. To have gotten this, the other person must have sold it at a high price. As I prepared myself for the banquet that night and packed my things in between, Nikolas's words kept ringing in my head. After a while, I made up my mind and phoned my friend. “Naomi, darling I really need your help.” My smile was cunning as I spoke into the phone, feeling inspired all of a sudden. Naomi was elated when she heard what I asked for and happily agreed to help. She has always had a strong aversion towards Sophia. It was evening when Nikolas came to pick me up wearing a black tuxedo with a powder blue tie to match my powder blue dress. The dress was ankle length with a ruffle around the neck and the back completely exposed. It hung loosely on the skin giving off an effortless beauty. I had pulled my hair up in a tight bun, leaving no strands falling. The aim was to go for a young lady in wealth look. “You are breathtaking Elizabeth.” He greets extending his hand out to me. I took it and the man gave me a twirl, contentment dancing in his eyes. I giggled and stepped closer. “And you look as dashing as always.” “This ass…” Nikolas places his hands around my bottom and squeezes a bit making me lean into his chest. “You are driving a man crazy.” “You..you pervert!” I pushed him off, my whole body suddenly becoming itchy. He laughed and grabbed my hand, leaving me to his car. “I love it when you blush.” Was his ending compliment before the car fell into some kind of eerie quietness. When we had almost gotten to the Torrington family house, I turned to Nikolas and asked him. “Are you mad at me for something?” “What?” He seemed shocked as he drove into the house. “I would never. Elizabeth, I am trying to restrain my thoughts. I don't want to go the whole night with a raging hard-on. Pleaseee…” his plea was desperate and it made me feel somewhat satisfied knowing I wasn't the only one turned on by him. The banquet was teaming with guests all around. From my seat, I could see Sophia and Mason laughing while talking to some guests. They gestured with their hands and Mason had his hand on the small of her back. The reporters were furiously taking pictures of our car and it drew everyone's attention. I sucked in a deep breath, feeling nervous all of a sudden. “Ready?” I stared at the man's soft expression and nodded my head. Never had I felt more ready at the moment. Nikolas stepped out of the car and the reporters went crazy with their snapping. Cameras clicked and their flash almost blinded me even though I was in the car. They were murmuring questions I couldn't hear when Nikolas threw the key to a valet and stepped around to get the car door for me. The confused expression on the media's face was satisfying. Slowly, I extended my legs to the ground, steadied by Nikolas's strong hands on mine. My heels were Dolce and Gabbana. Studded with one-of-a-kind emerald. When I finally stepped out, the crowd went crazy with screams. Even the elite guests who were lingering around began to scream. Cameras flashed before my eyes but I only looked at Nikolas. Linking my arm to his elbow, my smile was light yet cheerful as I waved at the cameras. The whole time he watched me as though he didn’t want to let me go. His gaze filled with adoration and twinkling amusement. “What do you have planned for tonight?” I raised my head and smiled at him. “Mr Torrington, why don't you relax and enjoy the show Mrs Torrington has to offer?” “Now I am more than delighted.” He kissed the top of my head and the media went crazy again. “You should be. It will be worth it.” Although the reporters couldn't get through to us, they were leaning against the barricade and shouting. “Chairman Torrington, why are you together with Miss Darby?” “You two look very lovely. It is almost like a dream.” “Miss Darby, aren't you married to Mr Mason Torrington?” “What is the relationship between you two?” “Is this one of the Torrington family's ideas of joking with the media again?” Nikolas glanced at me, eyes asking if I wanted to say something and I shook my head. It wasn't yet time. Sophia hurriedly stepped forward with Mason, her eyes full of mist. “Sister, what is this? Because of Mason and I, you had to sell yourself out to his uncle.” She faked a sob and wiped the corners of her eyes. “Elizabeth don't be like this, please. You can't keep jumping from one man to the other.” My expression was plain when she stepped forward but once she was done speaking, I pretended to look hurt and I gathered tears in my eyes as well. I opened my mouth to speak but a reporter interrupted. “She doesn't dare to speak a word does she?” A reporter shouted, running to the front with his camera. His eyes were bloodshot red and he continued. “She left the nephew for the uncle in hopes of higher alimony.” The crowd fell silent and I could feel Nikolas getting defensive beside me but I squeezed his arm. “Miss Darby, is it true that you bullied your sister and tried to force her to abort her baby?” The reporter questioned. Everyone went crazy and the cameras began to click furiously. I looked around with shock, Sophia seemed to be sad but the gleam in her eyes was obvious to me. It was finally time to start my show. In the next second, I did something unexpected. “Yes, it is true.” I then broke down and began to cry.