Nikolai sat while speaking to the Minister.
"By the way, I heard about your lost daughter," he said.
"Mila. Her name is Mila."
"Yeah, they are back home," Nikolai said.
"That's wonderful, Nikolai," he said. "I need some goods delivered to my private warehouse," he whispered.
Nikolai nodded.
"He transferred the money."
"Received. The goods will be delivered tomorrow," he said.
"Good," the Minister said.
They chatted more.
"Nikolai, it's a pleasant surprise seeing you here," a lady said.
Her name was Calypso, half Russian, half Spanish.
She smiled at him.
He stepped back when she blinked at him.
"Excuse me," he said, leaving as Calypso followed him.
"Nick!" she said.
He got a call.
"Yeah?" he said.
"Good," he said again as some group of men came forward.
"Yeah, it's for the suit. I want the design unique. The cufflinks should have (M) on it. Yeah, it's for my baby girl," he said.
The men looked at each other.
The main man stared at Nikolai.
He was Nikolai's main rival and also the senior who broke his leg back in school.
His name was Dagon Clerk.
He smiled coldly at Nikolai.
"Yeah. When can I get it?" he said, still on the call. "The wedding is on our anniversary."
"Is Nikolai married, boss?" a man said.
"Thank you," he said as the call ended.
"Hello, Nick. Long time no see," Dagon said.
Nikolai kept typing while watching him.
"So, Nick. Ready to lose again?" he said.
Nikolai's face twisted.
"What the hell?" he said as he saw Lilith and Mila taking ice cream.
He grinned.
"Dammy, look," he said.
Damian saw the mother-and-daughter duo giggling.
"I got it, Mama!" Mila said.
"Are they stealing ice cream?" Damian said.
Nikolai sighed while rubbing his face.
"Gosh," he said with a little laugh. "Those two are something. I kept it out of their reach, and now they team up."
Damian chuckled.
"Nikolai, we are talking to you," another man said.
"What?" Nikolai said.
"We have a match," Dagon said.
"And?" he said.
"You're gonna lose again," Dagon said.
"Whatever," he said as another call came in.
"Tell me?" he said, walking away.
Dagon watched him.
"Let's see how you last," he said with a dirty smirk.
Meanwhile, in New York…
Sohan held Riyana in his arms.
They were having their moments together, and Riyana was choosing wedding outfits.
"Great choice, Baby," he said.
Ishaan was feeding both his twins, Reyansh and Ridhima.
They were four years old.
"Papa, all okie now," Reyansh said.
"Yeah," Ridhima said, swinging her legs.
Riyana's phone rang.
"Hello?" she said.
"Greetings, Mrs. Sohan. It's Kaal's aunt, Sanjot," she said.
"Greetings. How are you doing?" Riyana said.
The phone was on speaker.
"We are doing well. Actually, we called because as the groom's family we have to sit and talk, but you all live in New York and we are in India. Kaal doesn't know our traditions, so we are doing this for him," Sanjot said.
"We know. I understand," Riyana said.
Sohan held Riyana's hand lovingly.
"Well, we have a list to present. It's Kaal Daaj (dowry)," she said.
Sohan's face twisted.
He tightened his grip on her arm.
"Oh… okay. Does Nikolai know?" Riyana said.
"Uhmm… Kaal will know, so we are doing this on his behalf," Sanjot said.
"Well, our grand aunt will be at the wedding. She has brought the list. I mean, you are Mrs. Sohan. Of course you can fulfill it. Besides, it's just small things. They let you work and not be a housewife. I'm sure it's possible," she said.
Sohan and his sons were getting angry.
Riyana rubbed his face.
"Sure. We'll be in India soon," Riyana said.
"Great! See you soon!" Sanjot said.
The call ended.
"How dare she!?" Ariz said.
"That was harsh," Amala said.
"She indirectly insulted Mumma," Reyan said.
Sohan burned with anger.
"Nick, should we tell him?" Rafsan said.
"No, my dear child. He doesn't know about their traditions, so let it be. Besides, they are Punjabi people. It's fine," Riyana said.
Sohan hugged her.
She was hurt, but this was a test.
"Wook, Dada!" Mila said.
The cameras moved in the hall.
It was live.
Both mother and daughter giggled.
Nikolai sat watching them.
He smiled at his phone.
"Good evening, everyone. I hope you all enjoy the performance. So today… the awards," the Host said.
The awards ceremony began.
Everyone clapped.
People collected their awards.
The Dominant Apex also won the Best Company Group Award.
"And lastly, here are the nominees for the award…" the Host said.
Lilith and Mila watched everyone too.
Nikolai was typing about the ship to Karim, his head down, not knowing that the camera was showing his face on the screen.
Women whispered.
He smiled at Lily and Mila.
"Boss, you're live," Vishal said.
"Huh?" Nikolai said, looking up as they saw his face..
"The Titan of Global Enterprise Award goes to…"
Dagon stood up, thinking it was his year again.
He had won for eight years straight.
"…Nikolai William Devereaux!!!"
The hall exploded.
"YES!!!!"
Mila and Lily shouted together.
"Dada win! Dada win! DADA WIN!!!!" Mila shouted, jumping.
Nikolai was too stunned.
"Go, Boss!" Oliver said.
Nikolai stood up with a nod and walked onto the stage.
He checked on Lily and Mila, who were cheering.
Dagon's ego was hurt.
He was embarrassed as he sat back down.
"Don't worry. You've got the match," a lady said while drinking.
Nikolai took the award.
"Thank you," he said.
"Any few words, sir?" the Host asked.
"Honestly, I thought Dagon would get this award again. Looks like the tables turned," he said.
Some people laughed.
"This award goes to both groups, my family, and two important people watching this now. I got the award. Now drop that ice cream and go to sleep before I get back home."
Everyone laughed.
"Your siblings?" the Host asked.
"No. My lovely wife and my daughter."
Everyone clapped.
Lily and Mila looked at each other, giggling.
"Uh-oh. Dada caught us," Lilith said.
"Oh no," Mila said.
They giggled.
After two hours, they fell asleep with the ice cream tub empty.
The award show was fading.
People congratulated Nikolai.
Dagon walked to him.
"That's mine, Nick," he said.
Nikolai didn't even reply.
"Hi, Nick, baby," the lady said.
He turned to see her.
She smiled at him.
He looked disgusted.
She was Dagon's girlfriend.
The one after Abellona, who was a cheerleader in school.
She had once been Nikolai's close friend.
They had been this close to dating until the match.
She chose a winner over their friendship.
Her name was Solstice.
She eyed him slowly.
"Wow… you've grown to be a huge man," she said.
His phone rang.
"What?" he said, picking up the call.
"Alright. Just send them."
"Forest green. She loves green," he said while rubbing his face.
"And tell the other team to take the yacht on a test drive. Six hours under the sea," he whispered the last part.
"Thank you," he said, ending the call.
"So, ready for the match?" Solstice said.
"We should catch up."
"No. My tiny lady wouldn't like that. I don't do catching up. Besides, I don't do catchups," he said.
He saw Lily and Mila asleep.
"Let's see how long you last in the field. This Saturday you will still be a laughing stock," Dagon said.
Both groups stood behind him.
"If I win, you will hand that award over to me… and maybe your woman."
Nikolai's eyes widened.
"HEYYYY!!!!"
Nikolai grabbed Dagon by his throat, choking him.
Guns were drawn.
He lifted him up.
Dagon's legs shook in the air.
"Let him go!" Solstice shouted.
She slapped Nikolai.
"Hey!" Darya shouted as she punched Solstice in the face.
Nikolai's grip became tighter.
"How dare you?" he said, looking at her.
She moved back, holding her bleeding nose.
"My wife will return the favor, you slut," Nikolai said.
He threw Dagon onto the floor.
"You!" Dagon said as they took him away.
"She slapped Boss. She's going to pay," Urlima said.
"No kidding. Lily's gonna be so mad," Vishal said.
"Yeah, she will," David said.
Alexio walked over as he saw a beautiful pregnant woman wiping her tears.
He walked to her.
"Are you okay, Ms.?" he asked.
She shook her head and pointed at a man holding another woman's waist.
"He cheated on you?" he asked.
She nodded.
"He used my money. I gave him everything all these years to become a designer. Now he got me pregnant and says I'm not his type. He is in the higher class," she cried.
"Please sit," he said.
Alexio bent down.
"Mom wanted us to get married. It was her last wish. The money was everything I had. He promised everything, and now his mistress just publicly embarrassed me, calling me a dirty fat pig," she said.
"She secured a deal for him with Nikolai Devereaux. He…" she said as she held her bump.
"Easy there. Take a deep breath," he said.
She took a deep breath.
"That's it. Keep going," he said.
"I have to make him pay. He took everything from me, and now I will take the deal away from him and his mistress. I'm done playing housewife," she said.
Alexio grinned.
He looked at the man who kept looking at her.
"He doesn't deserve you. Come. I'll take you home," he said.
He removed his jacket and covered her.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"M-My name is Ivelle," she said.
She was twenty-one years old.
She was half American-Latina and half Russian.
Alexio was thirty years old.
She looked at her ex-boyfriend one last time.
He stared at her.
His eyes burned with anger.
She looked away and left with Alexio.