### Chapter Five: Welcome Back, Tina **Nik's POV** “How do I look?” A voice chimed, pulling me from the pages of the glossy magazine I had been idly flipping through. My gaze shifted, landing on Maya as she stepped out from the dressing room, her nervous energy palpable. “Wow,” I breathed out, almost reverently. Her smile lit up the room. “You look...” “Different?” she interjected, a spark of hope in her eyes. “Yeah, different and sexy,” I affirmed, a playful smirk tugging at my lips as I watched the color rise to her cheeks. She was absolutely killing it in that sleek black designer denim that hugged her curves perfectly. “We should go,” she said, glancing at her watch. “My father doesn’t have much patience, and I’ve kept him waiting long enough." I'd rather not think about the explosion that awaited me on that front. “Sure,” I replied, and while she stepped outside, I settled the bill. As I emerged, she was already perched in the car, waiting for me, a ball of nerves and excitement. Before I slid into the driver's seat, I scanned our surroundings, ensuring we weren’t being tailed by anyone unwelcome. Satisfied, I joined her in the vehicle. “What were you looking at?” she asked, a hint of mischief woven through her voice. The once obstinate girl now had an uncanny ability to read me like an open book. “Just checking if we’re being followed,” I replied, trying to sound casual. Maya frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. “Followed? Why would anyone follow you? I mean, aside from kidnappers and robbers, considering you’re rich and...” “And what?” I nudged, curiosity piqued. “And enemies,” she finished with a shrug as if it were a common thought. “You know, business enemies. The kind you make during a deal, desperate to take you down. Those competitors who—” “I know what business enemies are, Maya,” I found myself cutting in, charmed by her animated blabber. She paused, awareness washing over her. “Oh, right. Of course you know! Why wouldn’t you? You’re smart, intelligent; you’ve got it all figured out.” She blinked wide-eyed, realization dawning on her. “Wait a minute, am I blabbering?” “Yeah, a little… or maybe more than a little?” I chuckled, relishing her flustered tone. “I tend to talk a lot when I’m nervous. It’s an affliction, an incurable one.” I gazed at her, bemused, trying to unravel why she was so anxious. It wasn’t as if the old man posed any real threat to her, nor would Tina go after her without my say so. “What?” she finally broke the silence, squirming under my focused stare. “Nothing, I was just… thinking,” I mumbled, my eyes lingering on her. Why was she so nervous? Other girls would practically kill for a chance like this. “If you keep staring at me like that, you might bore a hole in my head…” she remarked wryly, breaking the tension. “Seriously, Maya, why are you nervous?” I found myself asking unexpectedly, driven by an urge to understand. Why was I so invested in her feelings? My past dates had never elicited such concern, yet here I stood, captivated. “Excuse me?” She looked at me, surprise flickering in her brown eyes. “What’s making you afraid?” I pressed, my gaze unwavering as I searched her expression. “I’m scared,” she admitted softly, her vulnerability cutting through me. “Scared of what?” “Scared of being a failure. Honestly, I’ve never been good at anything.” A slight laugh escaped her lips, but beneath it lay a deep-rooted pain. “Even if I tried, I never succeeded. My sister Kim was the star; my parents adored her, often to the point of forgetting I even exist. To them, I’m a disgrace. So, I left home,” she recounted, turning her gaze away as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I was only eighteen when I chose to go. They never even bothered to look for me. Thankfully, I was in college by then, working part-time to support myself. I kept hoping that maybe one day… just maybe… they’d come for me, until I found out the truth. I wasn’t my father’s child; I was Kim’s half-sister. My mother was… she was coming home one day from work when she was… assaulted by a stranger, and I was the result…” “Oh God,” I murmured quietly, my heart breaking for her as I wrapped my arms around her. She melted into my embrace, holding me tightly as she sobbed, releasing a flood of emotions. How had she withstood such brutal treatment? I knew she wasn’t faking it; no one could cry twice on the same night without ruining their makeup. I gently cupped her face, lifting her gaze to mine. “Maya, you’re not a failure,” I insisted, searching for the right words to comfort her. She chuckled nervously, “You’re just saying that to make me stop crying.” “And is it working?” I asked, a soft smile breaking the somber atmosphere. “A little,” she admitted, dabbing at her eyes. “I meant every word, Maya. You’re not a failure. You’re simply pacing yourself, waiting for your moment to shine—trust me, that moment will come sooner than you think.” A tentative smile broke through her tears. “I guess I’ll just have to believe that.” Suddenly, a frown creased her forehead. “I’ve ruined my makeup! Now your dad will think you beat me into coming here.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, my dad will think you were so overwhelmed with joy upon receiving his invitation that you cried.” Her jaw dropped in astonishment. “You are so bad!” I silently celebrated her playful spirit. She was a fighter, unlike so many girls I had met, ready to battle against the cruel hand life had dealt her. If the old me had been around, I might have swept her off her feet by now. But that version of me was gone, and she deserved someone who would value and be loyal to her. “Maya?” I called, catching her attention. She turned to me, surprise glimmering in her inquisitive brown eyes. “What?” “Andrew doesn’t know what he lost.” “Huh? Why do you—” she began, but I jumped out of the car before she could finish. “Wait, why are we—” she stammered, looking around with wide eyes. “We’re here,” I responded, nodding as I arrived at our destination. Her complexion paled, and she muttered, “Oh.” I took a steadying breath, facing her and placing both hands on her shoulders. I felt her tremble under my hold. “Are you cold?” I asked, concern painting my voice. “No... I mean, you know, goosebumps? I get those when I get nervous,” she replied, leaving me more perplexed than ever. I scrutinized her, a smile playing at my lips. “So, you seem to have a whole host of ‘illnesses’ when you’re anxious?” She hastily looked away. “Yeah, you know… blabbering, goosebumps… I told you, it’s incurable.” Deciding to play along with her defenses, I let it pass. If she wasn’t going to acknowledge the chemistry between us, so be it. She was too good for me anyway. “Maya, you don’t have to be nervous. Everything’s going to be alright. I’ll make sure of it.” I squeezed her hand lightly, feeling her tension ease just a bit. With a strained smile, she said, “Let’s do this.” “Yeah,” I answered, returning her smile, hoping the old man would be merciful today. Just as I reached for her hand to lead her inside, my phone rang, causing me to pull back. “Give me a sec,” I said, and she nodded. I walked a short distance away, pulling my phone from my pocket, glancing at the screen—it was Tina calling. “What now?” I muttered under my breath. “I decided to call off the meeting,” she sighed on the other end, frustration threading through her voice. “So you don’t have to worry. I’m on my way to your father’s place. I’m guessing you’re already there, so just wait up.” My thoughts whirled—what was I going to do? I couldn’t disappoint Maya, especially after she had exposed her vulnerabilities to me. But if my father found out that she wasn’t Tina, and then Tina showed up… it would be pure chaos. “Where are you now?” I inquired, desperation creeping into my tone. “Probably five minutes away from your location,” she replied. “Fine, you should hurry. My father doesn’t really have much patience,” I stated, my voice tinged with urgency. And with that, I returned to Maya, my heart racing at the unpredictable storm that lay ahead.