stay away

"Murray didn't joke around," you breathed out, feeling the chilly air stabbing your skin. You were lucky that he gave you a purse filled with stacks of money and cents — at least enough for you to sleep at a decent hotel for a while.

The bar you were standing in looked like it came out straight from the Great Gatsby. Men dressed in suits and women in flapper dresses and feather headpieces. "I should leave," you sighed, running your fingers through your hair.

Jazz music and laughs, they filled up your head. You wanted for nothing but to leave this building. Only to find a man with dark blond hair smiling at you and walking in your direction.

"You don't enjoy the party, toots?" He asked, tilting his head to side. He gave you a disappointed look, asking why you left so early while everyone was having fun. "I'm not supposed to be here," you replied and tried to leave — yet, he was faster to stop you.

"How about a drink? It's on me tonight," he winked, giving you a charming smile. You knew you weren't supposed to fool around, but, he didn't seem dangerous nor harmful as you found your arm lingering around his.

"Would be an honour for me," you smiled, following his lead to the bar. You read down the list and chose Manhattan, earning a full laugh from the man. "I'm a Brooklyn gentleman and this sugar I found is into Manhattan?" He raised an eyebrow, smile didn't leave his lips, "what should I do then?"

You let out a chuckle, enjoying the attention he gave. A hand found a way to his shoulder, making him surprised. "Maybe, introducing yourself?" You asked, earning a brief gasp from him before he hid it with a cough.

"The name's Nicky Valentino, sweetheart," he took your hand into his grasp, pressing a kiss over it. You pulled your hand away, hiding couple of giggle behind it. Nicky was full of charm, but, he was in your way to leave.

You decided to stop playing around and finished your drink off, collecting yourself before getting off from the seat. "Wait— you're leaving?" He scrunched his eyebrows, expecting a different outcome as you brushed his hand off, giving him a curt nod.

"Do you need a ride? Where are you going? I can have my—"

"I'm fine all by myself, kind sir," you cut him off, earning a silent groan from him. It seemed like he wasn't one to be rejected.

"The name's Nicky, already forgotten, kid?" He asked before a train of thought hit him. "Can I get your name, at least?" You pressed your hand against his chest, feeling his broad chest under the expensive suit, "dear sir, I'm busy and I hope you'll be kind enough to let me taking care of them."

You were both tired and hungry — yet Nicky still wouldn't let you go easily. "How about this," you sighed, looking at him, "I'll take you out for a coffee tomorrow morning and introduce myself properly if you let me go this instance."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly feeling amused with your offer. "How can I feel sure you won't run away from me?" He asked, challenging you. With a soft sigh, you clicked your tongue before telling him the answer for his question, "Where the most expensive hotel around here is? I'm in need of proper rest and will be happy if you meet me at the lobby there."

He crossed his arms over his chest, letting out a laugh before a man rested his hand over his shoulder, giving you a quick smile. "New arm candy?" You shot him a smile, shaking your head lightly "Just a lady in need of hotel."

He tipped off his head, holding out his hand in your direction. "The name's Ralph Della Rosa," you have him a smile, shaking his hand gently before telling him your name. Nicky looked at both of you in disbelief, feeling cheated on.

"You didn't even tell me your name and I bought you a drink," he sighed exasperatedly, lines showing up on his forehead. "I would never told a flirt my name," you winked, waving your hand in certain manner.

Nicky was in daze before broke into a chuckle, shaking his head with a smile. "Ralph, drive her to the most expensive hotel in the whole New York, "Our Manhattan princess needs her beauty sleep before a morning date with this putz," he flashed you a grin.

"I'm not from Manhattan, but, being a princess doesn't sound bad," you smiled before excusing yourself and followed Ralph outside, finding an expensive looking vintage car in front of you. "Get inside. I'll make sure you reach your destination safe and sound," he grinned before you entered and sat down.

You were a girl from far east and came to here for a new chance and future. Even though your parents were against you before, but they finally let you go to find a path you could never find back at home.

"You don't look like you're from here. Immigrant?" Ralph asked, looking at you from the rearview mirror. You shook your head, feeling not sure about your position in this country and era. "I'm here because of my education," you replied, playing with your thumbs.

"Beautiful, smart and rich — you're truly a princess," he chuckled out, resting his hand on the gearshift, humming out a song you had never heard. "Thanks. But, I'm not planning to continue it anymore," you sighed, playing with the ends of your dress. It was a simple qipao that blended with this era, making you felt a bit reassured.

'I supposed my clothes changed as soon as I entered that place,' you rested your head against the seat, enjoying the scene outside. The night looked cold, but somehow, it comforted you.

"Well, being a student can give you burnt out sooner or later," he replied before stopping in front of a grand looking hotel, opening the door for you to get out. "This hotel is everything that can fit a foreign princess like you," he winked before you entered inside and watched Ralph taking care of the reservation.

"No need to spend those money, kid. Nicky beat you before you can open that expensive purse," he tipped his head before leaving with the car, not giving you a single glance back.

"I'll escort you, miss," a staff smiled before you followed her to your assigned room.

From the interior only, you were sure that this hotel only accepted people such as tycoon and politicians. But, here you were, a girl that got stranded in different era, laying down on a king-size bed with silk sheet. "I should buy some clothes by tomorrow morning," you tapped your arm lightly, rolling over to your side.

The view from up here was magnificent. Nothing like what you had seen before. The twinkling lights from cars and apartments nearby with faint sound of a fight between gentlemen and some laughs from ladies around them. They sounded amazing, like a lullaby that made you fell asleep in no time.

A knock woke you up, looking at a clock nearby that showed '6.20'. You rubbed your eyes lightly before approaching the door, asking who it was. "Room service, miss," you opened the door and found a staff, smiling at you brightly. Line of food lined up behind him with two other staffs holding flowers.

"Mr. Valentino sent this for you," you nodded your head, letting them inside before shifted your gaze at the man. "Any note? I'm afraid he might poison me and wanted me to know it," he chuckled lightly at you before handing out a small note and excused himself with his friends.

'I will be waiting downstairs XO

P.S. The breakfast is poisoned with my love and the only antidote is my kiss, toots'

"Ugh," you rolled your eyes, finding a faint smell of his perfume and kiss mark on the corner of the note before throwing it into the bin. The smell of your breakfast was divine and there was a lot of choices, ranging from french toast to full breakfast. You took a seat and started your day with the light and fluffy breakfast, hoping it wouldn't kill you here.

"I should go now," you huffed out, walking to downstairs and found Nicky, dressed in a more casual attire with flower in his hand. He seemed like hadn't noticed you, talking and chuckling with a lady in his seat.

You knew that it was a chance for you to escape, walking in a crowd and smiling at the outside of the hotel. "Thought you be with Nicky," you jumped out at the voice, finding Ralph with a lopsided smile and tipping his hat at you.

"It seemed like I mistook our coffee break for today," you chuckled out, didn't seem to mind about it. Ralph looked at you with a small grin, knowing Nicky is quite of a flirt and never thought there was someone who didn't mind to have their date flirting with others.

"Well, what if you changed it with me? I'm a great coffee buddy," he smiled before you let out a soft giggle and nodded, feeling happy that Ralph made you feel at home almost easily here. He led you to a small café, almost empty if it wasn't for few people enjoying their morning coffee before starting their day.

The café wasn't far from your hotel, maybe around thirty meters away and it looked pretty high-end with couples of expensive chair and table outside. Ralph pulled a chair for you to sit on before taking his in front of you as a waiter approached both of you.

"I'll have cappuccino, thank you," you smiled, watching the waiter left with your and Ralph's orders. "How's New York? I'd never take you as someone that suited this dangerous city," he straightened his lapels as you hummed lightly at his comment.

"Not bad, but can't say it's my home now," you replied, watching your drink came in a white porcelain cup. You took it in your hand, enjoying the bittersweet smell it had before sipped on it. "This is amazing," you smiled, finishing your coffee.

"Good to hear. Would be a problem if the king beheaded me for making his daughter dissatisfied," he chuckled out, already got his cup empty on the table. Ralph began to tell you about places in New York that you could enjoy while telling you to visit the bar you came from once in a while.

"It's good to see a girl like you, kid. You're truly a sister I always wished to have," he smiled, giving your shoulder a light pat followed by a cough. "You need any water, Ralph?" You looked at him, earning a head shake.

"But, Casanova behind you might need one," he half-smiled when you turned your head, finding Nicky with a wry smile and now wilting flower in his hand. "Can I join the two of you? I believed you owed me a coffee date today, toots, not my cousin," he sighed, earning a hearty laugh from Ralph.

"Our principessa here seemed to find her prince engaged with another. So, here I am, cheering her up," he smiled as Nicky looked away, feeling dejected with it before handing out his bouquet to you. "You coulda tell me and, yeah.." he trailed off before noticed two empty cups on the table.

"I hope you enjoyed the coffee," he smiled bitterly at you. You weren't aware of his feeling behind that smile and let out a giggle instead of pitying his misery. "I did! Ralph told me places around here that we can enjoy and I might drop by at the saloon to meet him once in a while."

Now, his heart felt broken and crushed.

Nicky shot a sharp glare at Ralph, who smiled at your excitement. He wasn't aware that his cold cousin could find someone to fancy and worse thing, it was someone he fancied, too. A date he looked upon from three in the morning, crushed almost instantly by the sweet smile you had.

He was disappointed, but even more to himself. He tried his best to impress you today to fix his bad first impression for you. He even looked around for the best florist in the whole Manhattan to look like a proper gentleman than a last night putz. Yet, it was ruined by a simple flirt with a lady he didn't even know what her name was.

"Relax, after all, there's no string. It might be a good thing for me," Ralph smiled at him, making him rolled his eyes before giving Ralph a sharp punch on shoulder. "Fine, fine. I'll drive both of you to Central Park," he sighed.

You were now inside Nicky's car at the backseat beside him. Ralph drove and took few turns before stopping at the Central Park, looking crowded as usual with children, couples and families. "I'll pick yous up before sunset, lovebirds," Ralph drove away, leaving both of Nicky and I at the park.

"Well, toots. Mind to give this dork another shot?" He looked away, biting his lower lip. You laughed lightly, taking his hand in yours. You might won't admit it but perhaps there was another side of Nicky you hadn't seen — the one that could only be seen by Ralph and his closest ones.

"Doesn't sound like it'll kill me, so, yeah!" You grinned, feeling his tightening grip on your hand. Nicky was happy to hear that, he could swear that his heart almost bursting out of excitement.

The stroll was delightful for him. There wasn't many words exchanged, but the silent was comfortable, like a thick blanket. He was so close to you and able to identify your distinctive scent. A combination of peach and cherry, reminding him of summer. A memory he wouldn't want to forget under a crabapple tree.

"The flower was supposed to be yours. But, it's not fresh anymore, shoulda come to you faster before Ralph got you hitched to him with cappuccino," you let out a laugh, not knowing his comment on your platonic date with Ralph would be that extreme.

Nicky laughed with you, the corner of his eyes crinkled and a dimple showing up on his cheek. "Should I get divorced now?" You raised an eyebrow, earning a small pinch on your arm from him. "No! It meant you truly got hitched by him," he frowned before you let out another laugh, enjoying his expressive reactions.

"How about we visit somewhere for lunch? I'm sure you're hungry," he said, taking your hand and leading you to a saloon with people chatting around with each others. You identified some artists and performers from this era that created masterpieces, feeling amazed to see them in flesh.

"I can't believe a saloon is built here," Nicky gave you a knowing smile, chuckling lightly at your nickname for the building. "This is a speakeasy, toots — an illegal saloon," he tapped your nose affectionately before his smile changed into a scowl.

"A rare beauty you have here, son," Nicky wrapped his arm around your shoulder protectively, shielding you away from whoever he talked to right now. Your face was squished against his chest, noticing his rapid heartbeat. You weren't brave enough to look away and it seemed like Nicky wouldn't let you see this man in the meantime.

"I should at least introduce myself to her as a gentleman," Nicky let out a grunt, looking downward and met your eyes briefly before letting you go.

"The name's Floyd Capo. You can say I'm Nicky's parental figure," he gave you a grin and shook your hand firmly, making you a bit uncomfortable.

Nicky, being a blessed, perfect little angel of God, wrapped his arm around your waist securely and saved you from this unwanted conversation. "Thanks, Floyd. But, I have a date to finish with her now," he smiled begrudgingly before led you outside, exhaling a heavy sigh from his chest.

You weren't sure if you made this date went downhill or if something happened between these two men. But, for sure, you were in need of new outfits.

"I think we can wrap it up, Nicky," you whispered gently, pushing him aside. "You seem to be in need of time and space," you took few steps away from him, fiddling with your sleeve.

Nicky's ears perked up at your comment, feeling alarmed by those sentences. He didn't want this day ended with another bad impression. It was supposed to be a great date between the two of you. But, somehow, he kept getting it messed up and the sudden appearance of Floyd made him in rage.

"You know what? I'll be off," he was furious. You couldn't even act as if you were interested in this date as him. He spent hundreds to make this memorable. But, nothing went out right.

You gulped down lightly, holding on your purse tightly. "Have a great night," you bowed down, turning on your heels and walked away from him — or what you were supposed to. Nicky held your wrist tightly, stopping you from taking another step away from him.

"I'm hurt, do you really want this date to end?" Nicky asked, looking upset. You were stunned, unable to give him any answer. Even though you weren't keen on him, you couldn't say you wanted this to end early. But, Nicky seemed to have a lot on his plate including you.

You let out a sigh, taking his hand in yours to give it a light squeeze. "I do not. But, I believe you're in need of more than a simple stroll, Nicky," you smiled, trying not to make him more upset.

You rested your head against his chest, feeling sleepy after your last glass. Nicky ran the back of his hand against your cheek, feeling your skin against his. It was warm and welcoming, with a sweet combination of cherry and pear from you and the wine.

"Sleepy already, toots? The night's young," he chuckled, feeling you stirred up in your sleep.

He carefully took off his jacket and put it over your smaller frame, enjoying this closeness and silence. "You said it but cover me with your jacket? A hypocrite, I say," you huffed out, secretly enjoying the warmth it provided. You could smell Nicky's cologne — a spicy combination of amber, sandalwood and oak.

He let out another chuckle, pulling you closer to his side. "You're impossible, kid. It scares me," he whispered, looking at your sleepy eyes with adoration. "Good to hear it worked," you hummed, wrapping your arms around his waist.

You're sleepy and tipsy, Nicky thought, you won't remember any of this when you wake up tomorrow morning. He placed a kiss on your lips before a wry smile crept up to his lips.

His kiss with you was sweet — too sweet for his taste. It was the best kiss he had yet made him want to punch his gut to kiss a sleeping, vulnerable lady in his speakeasy with no one to see.

"A move you had there, son,"

"Shut up, Rocky," he huffed out before Rocky let out a chuckle and kissed his cheek. "She looks comfortable in your arms. Meaning she doesn't know anything yet," Rocky lit up his cigarette, finishing up his drink.

Nicky nodded, feeling guilty to hide his identity from you. If you knew something about him, you could have been in danger. But, even if you didn't, you would be in one — because at this point, everyone in his world knew about you.

He never wanted to let you inside his life. It was something dangerous with every word uttered would be counted as his last word. You were a ball of energy that kept him on going now and he would do everything to keep you around ironically.

It was almost ten, you needed to go back but Ralph wasn't around. "Take her home, kid. Bar isn't the best hotel here," Rocky went away without any word as Nicky carried you outside and called for a taxi.

The ride was silent but it was great for him. He felt at ease because he knew he can protect you from everything. "We're here, sir," the driver informed before he gave him couple of bucks with a generous tip, slipping away to enter his penthouse with you.

He watched your sleeping figure on the bed, as dainty as a daisy, his sister's favourite flower. The white dress you put on after a walking around the park made you looked even more innocent. He would trade everything to keep you stay that way — unaware of every danger because you had him to protect you.

"Honey, what should I do when you're around me," he sighed, ruffling his hairs. He was in distressed, unable to choose a side for you. A lady he met at his speakeasy, knowing nothing of the dark side of this city.

He laid down on the bed, draping his arm over your waist. "I hope God will forgive me for this," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on your nape. He loved the intimacy he had with you right now.

Just the two of you — laying down on his bed after a hectic day and falling asleep.

It was a peaceful night, nothing could bother the two of you. The faint sound of crickets made the sleep even more than satisfying as Nicky, even in his sleep, kept you close to him until the sun began to rise up.

Your head pounded hard. You could swear that you need a bottle of pain killers and wouldn't care if you for overdosed. "You okay, princess?" Nicky called out, pulling you closer to his chest.

You were nervous and anxious. There wasn't anything familiar in this room. Nicky didn't seem to budge, laying down still. Both of you still wore clothes from yesterday, meaning there was nothing happened. "Headache," you replied before he let out a coo, pressing kisses over your temple and forehead.

"Do you want something specific to eat?"

"Seaweed soup? Do you know where I can buy one?"

He shook his head, telling you that there wasn't anyone he knew that can make it. "Is it traditional food from your place?" You gave him a nod. It was your favourite comfort food, imagining it wasn't available around made you a bit upset.

Nicky put his arm around your shoulder protectively before running his hand over your arm. "How about some brioche, gelato and compotes? Good?" He ran his finger over your cheekbone, smiling at your peck on his cheek.

"Amazing," you wrapped your hand around his upper arm, pressing another kiss on his cheek with his arm around your waist.

Sitting down in front of each other in a high-end restaurant, you couldn't help but feeling out of this world. The scene was great, but you missed your place. The place where you grew up from a spoiled brat into a proper lady right now.

"How's it?" You gave Nicky a satisfied hum, enjoying the sweet compote and French toast on your tongue. "Well, could have been better if I'm with Ralph," you gave him a cheeky smile, earning a pinch on arm from him.

"Alright, sweetheart. Coffee or tea?" You gave him a raised eyebrow, not expecting such the question. "Of course it'll be tea — with milk, two cubes of sugar and cream," you smiled innocently, ignoring Nicky's eyes on you.

"Ain't trust one who drink no coffee," he shakes his head, making your tea. "But, this princess here is the reason why the word 'except' exists," he winked at you and gave you the tea, earning a hearty laugh from you.

The lingering sweet smell of the tea began to fill your sense, giving you some comfort in this strange world. "Can't say I'm any different," you smiled, looking down at his coffee, "Dark and bitter, is that you, sir?"

He let out a snort, enjoying his coffee. "I can assure you that I'm romantic," he hummed, enjoying the rest of the breakfast with small banter from one side to side. The breakfast that he enjoyed the most after a while.

Both of you walked in front of clothing stores, finding dresses that were in season for you. "Most of them weren't my taste, I'm sorry, Nicky," you replied, placing down another dress on an ottoman.

You were never one that was interested in 1920's fashion trend in States. These qipao you had were obtained from places from your memory when learning about history and where people like you could keep their culture stay with them here.

Which costed me quite a lot, you thought to yourself. "It's alright. I'll have it tailored," he gave you a tight side hug. You gave him a nod, feeling curious about how it would turn out.

Nicky took you to a store, it looked pretty with some details that you couldn't help but found beautiful. "After you, my sweetheart," he opened the door for you before entered inside and took off his hat and overcoat, placing them over a small table beside your plushy wing chair.

"An exotic dress you have right there, lady," A man in his late smiling, holding a measuring tape in his hands. Nicky let out a satisfied hum, looking at him with a keen eyes. "Do you mind to make couple of similar dress for her? We had a hard time to find them, so I thought making one won't be a hassle for you."

The tailor looked at him with a curt nod and asked you to stand up, calling for his assistant. "I'll talk with Nicky while you're getting measured here with my assistant, miss," he left without any glance back as you stripped your outerwear down.

The measuring didn't take a long time and was quite happy that the assistant didn't ask you anything or be nosy, giving you peace of mind. You stepped out from the room and found Nicky sitting down beside his tailor, nursing his champagne and laughing at jokes in Italian.

"Oh, you're already done, toots?"

You gave him a curt nod before the tailor offered you a smile. "It's alright, miss. This ol' Luca already got your size, he only needs your preferences here and now," he took a sketchbook and pencil, resting it on his lap.

"You said you want this kind of dress, right? Anything else that I need to change?"

He showed you a few pages on qipao with a hint of European style. "Actually, I want it to be more fitting than this, especially around this part," you pointed on the waistline, watching Luca begin to reconstruct it.

Luca was obedient, following your orders and fulfilling your requests. But, of course, as a professional, he'd help you around. "Fashion is an art that you wear, show off and enjoy every day, miss," he smiled, giving the book to his assistant.

"It'll be done at least in three months," he sighed, placing his hand against his forehead. "I hope you don't mind because I'm here not to play around with these masterpieces," he gave you a wink, before looking at Nicky with a stinky eye, "and also hope you're not impatient like that man over there."

Nicky shrugged his shoulders off, giving you a wide grin after finishing off his champagne. "Well then," he got up from his seat, putting on his overcoat and hat, "time for me to leave."

Nicky gave Luca a small kiss on cheek before he pulled you into his arm and left the store as Luca watched two of you with a couple of small grin and head shake, "They're truly a match made in Heaven."

Nicky didn't waste time to have you walking around in his arm, chuckling once in a while at your witty comment. "Well, Ralph should be here for now now," he smiled, looking at his watch as a car approached us.

"Nice to see you again, princess. Need something dull to hit Nicky?" Ralph chuckled out, looking at your laughing figure from the rearview. "Well, I might need one after Nicky said that my body had nothing to show—"

"—to the public, sweetheart. I won't let them ogling you," he replied, letting out a groan while keeping you close to his chest. "Mhm, sure," you smiled, resting your head against his chest.

Ralph took a brief glimpse of the two of you, noticing Nicky's smile at your curling figure on his chest and wrapped his arm around you tightly. "You're awfully clingy lately," he chuckled before you proceeded to sit away from him and got knocked into his lap.

"I'm just joking around," he pressed a kiss on the tip of your nose.

"Where are we going to anyway, Ralph?"

You looked at the outside after he took the same turn for five times and stopped near Manhattan Bridge, looking at couples of people enjoying the surrounding. "I'll pick you up later, okay?" Ralph drove away as you followed Nicky.

"Do you like the sight, doll?"

It wasn't anything crowded or flashy like it would be in the future. You could see couple of shops at the Chinatown. "Do you wanna go there?" You asked Nicky, earning a head shake and pulling you close to him.

"Oh, dear. I don't have a good relationship with the Chinese," he gave you a slow headshake, feeling disappointed in himself when you gave him a frown.

He took off his overcoat and draped it over your shoulders, "It'll be a bit cold down there, my sweet," he smiled, pressing a kiss on the top of your head before both of you left the bridge to visit the Chinatown.

You were pleasantly ignorant, unable to notice the stinky eyes Nicky earned while the rest of people at Chinatown gave you a soft smile. But even so, as long as you still have that smile on, Nicky wouldn't mind to be treated like this.

"Young miss, are you new here?" An old lady smiling at you, speaking in your mother tongue. You couldn't help but giddy up and asked her for a restaurant nearby.

"There's a small restaurant there, maybe you want to try it out," she smiled before you gave her your thanks and left to the location she showed with Nicky.

The lady seemed to be a bit off with the description because the restaurant was a three-stories building with patio on the second and third floor. "I like this already," Nicky let out a low whistle before we entered into the restaurant and met a waitress that led us to an empty table.

The interior was magnificent. There was a lot of decoration that seemed like shipped from the mainland due to its authentic appearance like a vase and some paintings on xuan paper hung up on the walls.

"Uh, oh," Nicky held your hand, standing up abruptly from the chair as the waitress came with her notes and menus for you.

"What's wrong, Nicky?" You asked, feeling worried about it.

"It's too late, I guess.." His shoulders slumped down as you following his eyes, finding a group pacing towards your direction.

A man no older than thirty and dressed in British suit, sprinting in my direction after he noticed me then pulled me into a tight embrace, sobbing against my shoulder.

"Madeleine, is it truly you? Did this Italian the one who brought you here for me—"

Nicky pulled you away from his hug, looking at the man with sharp eyes. "Alfred, you're mistaking her," Nicky hissed, eyes stayed on Alfred as he realised what he was doing.

"I—I'm sorry, miss. I wanted to make sure about.." Alfred was hesitant, unable to finish his sentence and coughed into his fist, composing himself.

"I'm Wang Zihan," he offered you a kind smile, "these people around me know me as Alfred, though."

He shifted his eyes and looked at Nicky, full of spite. It was different from when he saw you, full of adoration and warmth. Nicky gave you a soft smile, walking to Alfred with confidence.

"Still angry at me, Alfred?"

"Everyone will if they find an arsonist in front of them. Especially the one who burnt five of their biggest stores," he replied before taking a seat on the same table as you.

Nicky sat down beside me, looking at Alfred dangerously. "This restaurant is run by my family — the crown jewel for generations," he read down the menu carefully, ordering almost everything on the list.

"I saw your eyes keep looking at the seaweed egg soup, so I ordered it," he sent you a polite smile. "Don't worry, it's our pride and joy," he chuckled out, enjoying your flustered face.

You couldn't help but feel scared. You were currently sitting down with a man who committed arson and the other suspected you as their lover. Alfred's men didn't make the situation any better because even if they sit down on a big table few feets away from you, they still looking intimidating.

"So, Alfred," you called, trying to ask him about the previous conversation. "Who's this Madeleine exactly?" You asked carefully, looking for answer in his eyes.

"She's my lover back in British Hong Kong and promised to meet me here," he replied, looking at his lap with saddened eyes. "You look and sound awfully similar to her, miss," he added, looking at me as wry smile found its way to his lips, "as if you are her."

Both of you and Nicky were silent because of few things in mind. Nicky might suspect you as Madeleine herself, Madeleine might be your ancestor and lastly, it was just a simple mistake.

The foods finally arrived as you finished your soup greedily, licking your lower lip and made sure no drop was left in your bowl. "This soup is Madeleine's favourite," he muttered under his breath mindlessly, tears on his waterline. "I hope she truly is on her way to here and agree to elope with me," he added, missing her every second.

After the last food that served was already in your stomach, you thanked Alfred and offered to pay for the three of you — earning a sharp glare from the two of them. "I will pay for you, toots," Nicky proceeded to take out his wallet before Alfred ran to the cashier, telling the whole meal was on him then came back with a smile to you.

"It's already paid," he threw me a grin as you shook your head, standing up from my seat. "It's too generous of you, I shouldn't have had you to do it for us," you replied before taking out few dollars from your purse, "let me pay you back."

He stopped you, telling you it was his duty as the eldest one in this table before giving Nicky a small smile. "I supposed this hearty meal will be the reason why you're not hated here anymore, Valentino," he said, lighting up a cigarette.

Nicky looked at him, feeling shocked about it because Alfred wasn't subtle with his hatred beforehand. "Thanks for your white lotus here, not you," he replied before excusing himself from the table and gave the whole staffs a quick announcement before leaving this building.

I hooked my arm around Nicky's, walking around the Chinatown and found smile on his lips. "And not even a day ago, they looked ready to devour me alive if it's not because Alfred's policies to not make a ruckus in public," he laughed out before looking deep into your eyes, pressing his lips on your head.

"You didn't know how much you saved me from Alfred's rage, toots," he whispered, playing with your collar in his hand before guiding you to the car with Ralph inside, looking unamused as usual.

He gave the two of you quick glance from rearview mirror, hiding a smile before you found yourself feeling sleepy. "Do you know Hamptons?" You gave him a soft nod, remembering it somewhere at the Long Island—where only rich folks who could afford a house and land there.

"We'll go to there—my place. Is it good with you, kid?" You gave him another nod, snuggling against his chest as he let out a deep chuckle, covering your frame with his coat.