Chapter 6 Nicoll Frazer

By Pupy

I was finalizing the last few figures and some sales strategies that I was going to send to the marketing department when I thought I heard an argument.

I listened closely; I was about to close my office door—my sister insisted I have it reinforced.

The double doors leading to the hallway that opens into my office are also reinforced, although no one knows it.

I suppose Sandy is exaggerating.

That’s why I couldn’t make out what was happening.

A message from Kika on my cell phone—one I never got around to reading.

I heard those double doors open and calmed down when I heard Nicoll’s voice. “Did it take you that long to open the door?

” It was definitely that unpleasant voice—I don’t know at what point I ever found it attractive.

Nicoll was a radio announcer; in fact, she’d earned her degree in broadcasting after we got married—I don’t know how much she paid for that degree.

She never worked as a radio announcer or anything else.

She spends her time traveling and having lunch with her friends—other empty, shallow women in our society.—

“Don’t you get it? I shouldn’t have to ask you the same thing twice.” I didn’t know who she was talking to.

—“You don’t

know who I am. You’re just some lowly employee who, if I snap my fingers, will lose your job and end up mopping floors.”

Apparently, instead of coming in to tell me something that surely wasn’t nice, she took the time to humiliate some employee—perhaps with the sole purpose of making her cry and venting her frustration.—

You’re new here. You must be my husband’s latest acquisition! “A nobody who thinks she’s superior just because of a few coins.” “Do you really think all women sell ourselves?

” I hear Emma’s voice, answering Nicoll.

I don’t know what my wife’s intentions were, but I know that after confronting Emma, she’s going to be even more furious. “Another

thing: I don’t think I’m superior—it’s obvious that I am

.” “Insolent brat!” Pupy is going to find out that you disrespected me. Do you think you’re better than me?

“Let go of me!

” I don’t know what she was doing to her, but Nicoll was out of control.

We’ll see how Emma defends herself.

The situation was funny, almost epic, because I could picture Nicoll, stunned by Emma’s retort.

A second later, the two of them appeared in front of me.

My wife was holding Emma’s arm tightly. “I fired this brat!

” That was the first thing Nicoll said. “Let her go

,

” I told her in a firm voice.

“What?

” “Let her go—you heard me clearly.”

Nicoll let her go, her eyes wide and her face red with indignation.

“I can’t believe it! You have to fire her!

” I saw Emma’s mocking smile, and my wife turned her gaze toward her.

“And you’re laughing on top of that? Are you in cahoots? Are you lovers?

” “Ma’am, I already told you, I don’t have lovers, and just because I’m young and beautiful doesn’t mean I’m someone’s mistress—I’m smart enough to stand on my own two feet.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“An employee who has no reason to put up with abuse from anyone, and if you don’t calm down, I’ll sue you—and let you know that I’m a lawyer. Now, either you apologize or I’ll sue you.”

“No one’s going to believe you, and I have my husband as a witness—I didn’t do anything.”

Emma’s smile widened, as did her poise.

“Since

I have sensitive skin, your fingers left marks on my arm.” “You can’t

prove anything.”

“You’re forgetting there are security cameras—and their footage can’t be tampered with.” Nicoll was flustered; no one had ever stood up to her like this, especially not someone as tall as Emma, who never lost her composure.

It seemed as though she was always in control of any situation.

“I’m waiting for you to apologize.” “Apologize

,

” I told Nicoll.

“What?”

“Enough—just apologize already.”

Nicoll, oozing hatred from every pore, realized she had to apologize.

“I… I’m sorry…”

she said in a low voice. “I

don’t forgive you,

” she replied insolently and continued,

“However, with that apology, you’ve prevented me from suing you—only because I’m having a good day. Excuse me, I’m getting back to work.”

Without waiting for a reply, she walked away confidently; I couldn’t help but let my gaze sweep over her from head to toe. “You’re

like a caveman, always surrounded by women with no self-respect—women you have thanks to your millions. It’s unacceptable and humiliating.”

I laughed, and then I realized that my laughter was almost a confession.

“That’s your opinion. You see a woman you find beautiful and you make a scene—you’re jealous and insecure.”

“On the contrary, I’m a confident woman; everyone admires my beauty and my class.”

“You’re frivolous, and in reality, you wouldn’t even care if I had a lover—and by that I don’t mean to say I do.”

Meanwhile, I saw from my computer that Emma was closing the second door; she hadn’t stayed to listen, though perhaps she’d walked a little slower than usual.

Emma continually showed me that she wasn’t just another woman—she stood up to whoever was in front of her.

A certain admiration grew within me, but at the same time, I wanted to double down on my bet.

My wife’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “It does matter to me

. I’m sick of looking the other way. Last night, at an event, two models were talking about you and even arguing with each other.

Those damn idiots—I told them not to mention my name.” “I

don’t know what you’re talking about. Last night when I got home, you weren’t there, so I ended up having dinner with Santiago.”

I turned the accusation back on her.

"You knew there was a launch party for the perfume released by that fashion host I love, and we’d even received an invitation, but you didn’t even bother to come with me." "

Those events are for women; I can’t waste time on nonsense." "

Yet when Grace Obban has a personal appearance, you go with her." "

Those were just two events, and I wasn’t going with her—we were the sponsors.

" I’m defending myself as best I can; I think I’m clearing all the balls, but I’m just kicking them into the corner—I’m not clearing them cleanly.—Grace

Obban had a few words with Odri García.—I don’t

know who Odri García is.

I said with a stony expression.—I’m not

stupid.—Nicoll

, I’m sick of your distrust. You just attacked an employee, and that’s unacceptable. That young woman is a lawyer and could bring us down.—She won’t

dare; she’s just an employee.

I knew Emma wasn’t just an employee—I had no proof of that, but I had no doubts either.

There was something about her that set her apart; she wasn’t just any employee, and she wasn’t just any woman.

Everything about Emma screamed that she was different from the rest, and it’s true that her behavior often irritated me, and I’d like to dominate her… in every sense.

“Since she’s an employee, you have to treat her the way she deserves—not like a doormat.”

“Your words confirm that there’s something going on between you two.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s never been any kind of close interaction between her and me, even though she works in my department.” “Your

department is the whole company.”

“My department is sales management.”

There was a silence, which my wife broke.—

I came to tell you that yesterday two models got into a fight over you, and when I heard them, I put them in their place.

—What?

—I joined their conversation and introduced myself as your wife.—If

you make a scene, you’ll come across as a jealous and unstable woman, just like you did a moment ago.—

Just now, there were no witnesses.

Nicoll wasn’t naive; she knew I was sailing in other waters.

She also knew that if we got divorced, she wouldn’t get anything from my empire.

The prenuptial agreement we signed had no loopholes or vulnerabilities.

Nicoll would receive only a one-time, substantial lump sum; everything would have changed if we’d had children, but at first we put that off. Later, when she sensed my infidelities, she thought it best to always look beautiful and spectacular so my interest wouldn’t fade. Later still, she suggested we have children, fearing I might propose a divorce—and that way she’d secure several million.

I refused to have children with her; on top of the distance between us was the increasingly deep rejection she had been provoking in me over time.

Nicoll probably knew that there was nothing left of our marriage.

She hardly ever made demands, which is why today’s outburst surprised me.

From what she said afterward, I realized she was overwhelmed because last night, at that event, she must have felt humiliated.

I got married in love, but that love faded away during the first half of our marriage.

Two years ago, I met Grace Obban, and I believed she was the one—true love. Grace was an up-and-coming model, and I helped launch her career—so much so that I sponsored her until she made it to the podium as a contestant in the Miss Argentina pageant.

She ended up winning that competition; she’s truly beautiful, elegant, and sexy, with intense blue eyes and dark, shiny hair that highlighted her beauty. She drove me crazy for quite a while.

That’s why she didn’t sign any documents.

I think she’s the woman who’s attracted me the most in my life, even though I knew perfectly well that if I were a penniless wretch, the love she claimed to feel for me would vanish in two days.

I have money, and with that I can buy her love.

As the months went by, she demanded that I break up with her; she wanted more from me, and the more she pressured me, the more I pulled away.

She wasn’t going to control me.

I still had feelings for her—the passion was there, I wouldn’t deny that—but monotony had also set in.

I was still supporting her, even though I’d had several replacements for quite some time.

I told Nicoll to calm down. “Go

home and think about your behavior; you’re not going to embarrass me.” “But…” “I have nothing

more to say,

” I told her coldly, as I sat back down and kept my eyes fixed on my laptop.

Nicoll stormed out of my office.

I opened the second door for her, and before it closed, I heard shouting—almost screams. “What are you doing here?

” It was Nicoll’s voice.

I thought she’d run into Emma, who might have come by with some documents.

Kika wouldn’t get her ass out of her chair and acted as Emma’s personal servant, unaware of how much I enjoyed every confrontation with the beautiful blonde.

Out of habit, I glanced at the security cameras, though before I could focus on the image, I heard Grace’s voice. “Surprised?

” she replied to my wife.

Behind them, a little way off, stood Emma, and it looked like her smile was too big for her face.