C7 Chapter 7

~NIKLAUS~

~NIKLAUS~

I drive through the quiet street of Valtry, another estate which only the affluent can have assess to just like where my house is at. Meeting with the witch isn't even what is on my mind, I can't stop thinking about the girl who boldly sneaked out on me. The situation is one that I haven't experienced before and it's still baffling. I stop my car outside the huge golden low carbon steel gate in front of my family's glass mansion. Within seconds, the gate squeaks open and I slowly drive my Lamborghini into the circular driveway which is encompassed by beautified grassplot and spotless gardens. This is where I grew up, this is supposed to be my home where I can come and visit whenever I feel like it but that's not the case with my family.

I always have to be threatened unless I will not come here. This house brings nothing but sad memories and hurtful feelings for me. I step out of my car and make my way over to the entrance.

"Welcome, Sir Niklaus." The head butler, Ronald, who has been working for our family for the past 10 years, stands in front of the entrance with a smile on his face.

"The madam has been waiting for you. She's um, she's really pissed." He informs me.

I roll my eyes inwardly, he doesn't have to tell me, I already know.

I nod my head before I walk into the house. I climb up the stairs and make my way over to the witch's room. I poke my head inside the room and see her standing close to the window. As usual, she's wearing a black dress with her usual stern expression. I turn my head and I see my 16 year old sister, Diana, sitting on the chair beside her with a frightened expression on her face.

I heave a sigh and slowly walk into the room. As soon as I step inside she turns around to me and her already stern expression becomes sourer.

"And look who finally decided to show up." She says in her voice which can send chills down anyone's spine but since I'm already used to hearing it again and again, I can manage.

"I was busy." I say curtly.

"You were busy?" She scoffs. "Just when are you going to grow up, Niklaus? You are 25 years old for Christ sake!"

"I am 26." I correct her. Yeah, it's not shocking that she does not know my age. I bet she would even forget my name soon.

She pauses before she frowns harder, "What's the difference?! You are still not a child anymore! If you can't act like a proper adult at such age then when would you?"

I heave a sigh and roll my eyes. "What exactly have I done to prove that I am not an adult?"

"Listen to me, Niklaus. I don't care about how you live your life or how many girls you sleep around with. The only thing I care about is our family's reputation and over my dead body will I allow you taint it! You had better act right and present yourself well in the company."

"I am trying here, mother! You forced me to pull out from what I loved doing and I did. Now, you want me to play the perfect role of a CEO all of a sudden?"

"All of a sudden. Did you say all of a sudden? How the hell is this all of a sudden? You are supposed to have fully resumed your duty as CEO at the company two weeks ago but instead, you kept partying around and sleeping around with every cheap girl that you see! "

"I am just trying to adjust!"

"How long will it take you to adjust, Niklaus?! Noah would never do this if he was here!"

My hands tremble at the sound of his name. My legs turn heavy, and I stumble back, my chest tightening until every breath feels impossible. She knows what it does to me—how hearing his name shatters me—yet she uses it anyway. Always. Because it gives her power. Because it’s her way of blackmailing me.

"Don't bring Noah into this, mother!" Diana says loudly as she stands up to her feet.

I can feel sweat already gathering on my forehead and I clench my hands tightly in a fist, trying to keep calm, but my body is still shaking badly.

"Your brother never hesitated to take care of the family business but you! That's not the case with you! It's your fault. Noah would still be with us if not for you! Why can't you just do this one thing? At least, he would be at peace..."

"Stop using Noah to blackmail him, mom! That's not fair!" Diana says loudly again.

"Shut up, Diana! I still haven't decided if I will let you keep your piano or not, so shut up!"

At the mention of her piano, Diana stops talking at once. She does this all the time, using him to blackmail me, and it always ends up working.

"I did not say that I would not take care of the family business, mother."

"But you are not acting like it!"

"I have everything under control okay? Is it compulsory for the CEO to always be present at the office?"

"You will take over the company one day, Niklaus. It is important that you take it seriously."

"That is exactly what I'm doing."

"No..." She shakes her head. "That's not what you're doing. What you are doing is wasting your time in clubs and with women."

Oh, fucking Jesus! I'm about to lose it.

"You have to go to the company at once, check what has been going on during the times that you were absent. Organize the board meeting and do things the way your brother would have done them."

I gulp hard, "Do you have to bring him up all the time? Do you have any idea how that feels like?"

She walks away from me and closer to the window. "You should get used to it. I didn't become weak after your father died, instead, I became stronger. If I was weak, I wouldn't have been able to keep the family together this day."

I scoff, "Keep the family together? You think you have done that?" I shake my head. "No, you have done the complete opposite. You have turned this family upside down! You are partly at fault for Noah's death!"

"I am at fault? Was I the one who took his brother to the cliff despite being aware that he's scared of heights?"

I bit my lower lips, "Fuck you, mom."

And that earned me a hard slap on my cheek.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that! I am only doing this for your own good, why can't you see that?!"

I bit the corner of inside my mouth, which hurts from the slap. "Is that all you have to tell me? If that's all, I will take my leave then." I turn around and start walking away.

"And you had better stay away from that friend of yours who disobeyed his family just to become a good for nothing writer!"

I don’t bother turning back. Talking to her will only turn into another fight, and I don’t have the energy for it. The so-called good-for-nothing writer she keeps spitting venom about is my best friend, Lester. To her, he’s worthless because he refused to run his family’s business. But the truth? He’s one of the top writers in the country. Editing companies fight over him, begging for a partnership.

Yes, he defied his family. Yes, his father disowned him. But at least he chose what he loves. He earns good money. He has recognition. And he has a name for himself. So why should his family’s approval matter at all?

Talking about that asshole, he's been in LA for a fan signing event and will be back tomorrow. He should hurry up and get his ass here real quick, or I might eventually lose it.