Author's note:

Because of the length, I've had to split Chapter 24 into two parts. Part 2 is coming later on today.

Enjoy it!

-

Nikki stretched out in her bed and took a deep breath, opening her tired eyes. Sunlight was already penetrating through the opened lids on the windows. The woman blinked several times, trying to get used to the light. She wanted to wake up a little more and get away from the dreamland. According to the light's strength, she could say it was a wonderful and sunny Sunday. It brought a smile to her face. Well...that wasn't the only thing she was smiling for.

Nikki remembered yesterday's day on the Keys and Daniel. It couldn't go better. The tall man really made an effort in convincing her they deserve another chance. He told her his rather unbelievable family story, which only made her love him more if it was possible. She loved everything about him, from his connection with the sea to his overprotectiveness. Daniel was perfect to her.

„What's happening to me?" she asked herself, screaming cheerfully and stuck her head into the pillow. She couldn't help it.

After a couple of minutes spent in bed, she finally got up and started with her morning routine, which hadn't taken her much time. When she got out of the bathroom, she turned her laptop on. The black thing immediately ringed, giving the notification about a new mail. Nikki furrowed her eyebrows in curiosity. It took her a few seconds to access her mailbox. The name on the top of the inbox immediately made her serious, taking her out of this big balloon of happiness.

Alexander Turner. General Editor of New Libri Press. Her editor.

„Damn it!" she muttered, not being able to avoid reading it. She had to open the mail.

To: Nikki Hamilton

From: Alexander Turner

Subject: The Silhouettes Sequel

Dear Miss Hamilton,

You manager Addison Barek informed us about your several months' long absence from Seattle and gave us instructions about contacting her for everything important. However, New Libri press wants to inform you that it's necessary for you to arrange an appointment with your editor, Mr. Alexander Turner as soon as possible, to discuss your future in New Libri Press.

In anticipation of your fast response, we wish you a pleasant day.

Alexander Turner

General Editor

New Libri Press

Nikki's eyes went several more times through the text. She cursed quietly. Then, she noticed something else. Alexander seemed to sent her e-mail from his private address. She opened it right away.

To: Nikki Hamilton

From: Alexander Turner

Subject: Call me!

Nikki,

I don't know what's going on but the office practically forced me to send you a warning e-mail. You have to come back as soon as possible so we can arrange this meeting because otherwise, the house will stop co-operating with you. You promised another sequel. Please, call me as soon as possible. It's really urgent.

Have a nice day.

Alex

„No, no. This is not happening," Nikki uttered. It's crazy how much these two e-mails destroyed her mood. The woman immediately grabbed her phone and called Addison.

Addison: „Nikki? It's six o'clock in the morning. Is everything all right?"

She was panicking, walking in circles.

Nikki: „They contacted me from the house. They want me to go to some kind of meeting. Alex sent me both, official and unofficial e-mail. Apparently, they're threatening with breaking co-operation."

Her words seemed to wake up her friend as she heard some kind of noise from the other side of the line.

Addison: „You're joking, right?!"

Nikki: „Do you think I'd call you so early if I'm joking? What do I do, Addy?"

There was a silence for some time. Nikki assumed she was trying to enter her official address.

Addison: „They haven't informed me."

Nikki: „What does that mean? Can you handle it?"

Addison: „It means they've had enough of waiting. I told you they're requesting your personal arrival. I can try to influence the house but I doubt that at this point anything would satisfy them permanently. I have to give them some time frame."

Nikki sighed, her hand going through her hair. This was the worst possible moment.

Nikki: „I can't leave now, Addy. I don't understand why they are so persistent?"

Addison: „Because you promised them another sequel but they haven't heard a word from you since May. Nikki...what the hell is going on? Why can't you come home?"

The woman was silent for a few moments but she knew that this time she wouldn't be able to avoid answering to her. She had to clarify things with Addison.

Nikki: „Daniel and I...we are finally together."

Addison: „Oh, my God...I...Nikki...at this point, you have to decide what's more important to you. I'm sorry. Look, you can come back to Seattle for a few days to solve everything and then return to Naples. Your profession doesn't require work at one place. You also can write in Naples."

However, Nikki wasn't convinced this was a good idea.

Nikki: „You know it won't work. If I go back now, I won't leave Seattle again. If I run away like that again, mom's gonna kill me."

Addison: „It was just a suggestion. I don't know what else I could suggest to you."

Nikki started to walk nervously around the room again. She couldn't be calm.

Nikki: „I need more time. Addy. I really need more time because I don't know what to do. I can't leave him now."

Addison: „I can buy you some more time but you have to give me at least one date. Something, that's gonna convince them...temporarily."

All the upcoming dates were racing through her mind. She needed at least a month with Daniel.

Nikki: „September, 20th."

Addison: „This is more than a month."

Nikki: „I know...but I can't offer another date."

A sigh was heard from the other side of the line. Nikki could imagine her frustrated friend rubbing her temple. It wouldn't be the first time she gave Addison headaches.

Addison: „All right. I'll try to persuade them and then I'll let you know."

Nikki felt a huge relief going through her body. It was temporary but it was there.

Nikki: „Thank you, Addy. I owe you big time."

Addison: „Yeah, you do. And you...talk to him and try to find some common solution to this situation. Two heads are always smarter than one."

Nikki: „I will. Thank you again."

Addison: „No problem. And don't reply to your emails. Let me handle this."

And Nikki intended to listen to her. Addison was a good manager and she had faith in her. Her friend would solve this problem.

After interrupting the call, she lied on her bed again. She already missed the enthusiasm she felt this morning, after a good night's sleep and realization that her relationship with Daniel was finally at the right place. Now, she was feeling exhausted again. In spite of that, her cell phone rang again and Nikki was upset with it. She took the device, seeing Brian's message.

Breakfast at Jane's? We need to talk. I'm waiting for you and try not to take too much time. Brian.

His message returned her back to reality. Nikki was still in Naples. Brian. Maybe Brian was her solution. She had to talk to him. The man was a very reasonable person and he could give her the right advice.

She quickly changed into her bikini, which she covered with short jeans and narrowed blue t-shirt. She picked up all the necessary stuff and let her friend know she was on her way. There was Aline at the reception desk so Nikki said a quick hello. Luckily, there was an empty cab in front of the hotel which took her to the cafe where she had often eaten breakfast with Brian and Marina.

However, when she got out of the cab, Nikki could see a well-known figure just a few feet away. Daniel. Had Brian invited the tall man too? She wondered what was so important that Brian immediately wanted to see both of them?

Daniel approached her, smiling slightly. She smiled back.

„Hey..." he greeted her briefly.

„Did you get Brian's message?" she instantly asked as he nodded.

„C'mon...let's go inside to see what he wants," he replied, putting his hand on the small of her back, leading her to the entrance. Nikki was a little disappointed because there's was no kiss but she knew both of them are still adjusting to their new relationship status.

As soon as they entered, they saw their friend, sitting at the distance with his eyes lowered to the ground. Daniel and Nikki exchanged glances and approached him. When he raised his head they just froze at the place. There was an angry blue and purple bruise around his eye.

„What the fuck happened to you?!" Nikki asked, both shocked and concerned.

Brian was just looking at them. They came together. He wondered if it was just a good timing or have they spent the night together?

„Brian?" Daniel called his name. „Haven't you heard what Nikki just asked you?"

„It was Ronnie."

Nikki gasped in surprise while Daniel's eyes became dark. The jerk was provoking them again. Daniel was ready to break his neck but Brian grabbed his wrist, pulling him to the seat.

„Sit down. Let's order breakfast and then we'll talk. I have a lot to tell you," he said calmly. Daniel and Nikki listened to him. They settled in their places. The waiter approached them soon, getting them big jugs of water. The guys ordered Caprese Benny with bacon and tomato and Nikki English muffin with mozzarella and basil.

„Speak!" Daniel said firmly, immediately after the waiter departed from them.

Brian sighed, then looked at Nikki.

„Darnell came to Naples!" he fired the truth. At this statement, Nikki chocked on the water she was drinking and started to cough uncontrollably. Daniel gently patted her back to help her calm down.

„What?!" she almost shouted.

„How do you know?", Daniel asked.

Brian leaned his elbows against the table.

„Yesterday, I was in the store with Diego, when Ronnie appeared, bringing Darnell with him. Ronnie introduced him as a man looking for his fiancée Nikki Hamilton," he explained as Nikki just leaned her face against her palm, shaking her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe this was happening. Would something else go wrong today? She felt a hand on her back. It was Daniel, trying to calm her down.

„I couldn't hold back and I hit him," Brian continued. Again, his confession made Daniel and Nikki look at him again. „He fell down but Ronnie hit me to get me back. That's why I have this bruise. We made quite a mess...I told him you don't want to see him and that he should leave Naples but...I'm not sure he accepted it. He's probably going to try to find you...if he already hasn't. Ronnie knows in which hotel you're staying. It was odd to me that he hasn't taken him to you in a first place but then I realized he knows about Daniel. He thought it was me. Ronnie probably told him everything."

Nikki banged her head against the table, while Daniel was sitting still, looking straight ahead.

„God..." she groaned frustratedly. „I can't believe it. That man never accepts no as an answer."

The tall man embraced her with his right arm, pulling her toward him. Nikki allowed him to hug her. Brian was looking at them with raised eyebrows.

„So...you came together?" he asked carefully.

Both Nikki and Daniel looked up. At first, they were a little confused but then realized what Brian was thinking about. He almost laughed loudly but managed to stop himself.

„Stop fishing. We met in front of the cafe," Daniel replied. Nikki felt somewhat embarrassed.

Then, the waiter brought them ordered food and the trio dived in.

„So, you cleaned the air...right?"

Daniel nodded.

„Yeah. Everything is great."

Brian wanted to know what his friends were up to now but he didn't know how to formulate the question, so he just stared at them until Nikki dropped her fork at the plate.

„For God's sake, just ask!" she told him.

Daniel was looking at them in amusement.

„Are you together or not?!" he asked.

The duo exchanged glances. They smiled widely.

„Yes, we are," Daniel replied, making the other man smile. Finally. Brian finally felt that huge relief and hoped that this time, both of them would be cautious enough before entering something new.

They continued to eat breakfast in peace.

„Our biggest concern now is Darnell. Nikki, what are you going to do about him?" Brian asked, wiping his mouth.

The woman sighed, not responding. Daniel did it instead of her.

„Nothing!" he replied firmly. „Like I'm going to let him go anywhere close to her. If he tries it, I won't stop only at one punch."

Brian shook his head. He wasn't agreeing with Daniel approach. Nikki too. She put her hand over his and looked up at his eyes.

„This is not the way, Dan," she told him. „Brian fighting with him was enough. This is not how we're going to solve the problem. I have to convince him coming here was a mistake...but not with fists."

The tall man just crossed his arms over his chest. Nikki wasn't sure she convinced him.

„I agree with her," Brian replied. „He came to see you, Nikki. You have to talk to him.

At this statement, Daniel just scoffed.

„I won't stand aside, looking at that dick doing what he likes. Forget it."

She once again turned her gaze to him.

„He won't do anything."

„How exactly do you plan to stop him?"

It was Nikki's turn to smile.

„By being honest. Darnell isn't stupid. He takes the psychical resistance that you two are providing as a challenge but the honest answer about my current feelings will force him to think about it. I'm sure of it."

Her response gave an idea to Brian.

„I absolutely agree," he said. „Listen, I have an idea. Nikki, you have to call him and tell him to come to your hotel..."

„Are you out of your mind?!" Daniel almost shouted. „You want her to invite him to her hotel after you beat him up yesterday? What if he does something to her?"

Brian waited patiently for the tall man to end up with his monologue.

„Don't interrupt me before you hear the whole plan," he replied and then continued to speak. „Yesterday, when he came to the store it didn't seem to me he was there to force the answers out of me. He came to talk. I was the one who started it because I couldn't hold back. Darnell just answered to my provocation. As for your hotel room, Nikki, that's where you are on your own field. Darnell doesn't know the city but you do. If you catch him in your field, it'll be a lot easier to convince him to leave you alone...trust me. And you won't be alone with him. Both, Daniel and I will be with you."

Nikki was weighing options in her head. Brian had the point but Daniel didn't seem to be convinced. She faced her boyfriend.

„Darnell has to leave. We have to do something. Brian came up with the best plan and I already know what to tell him. If you're so worried, then come with me."

Her response calmed him down a little but he was still frowning.

„Call him!" Brian pressed.

Nikki gave Daniel a light kiss on the cheek, then took a deep breath and pulled the phone out of her bag. She typed Darnell's number. To speak the truth, she didn't want to be anywhere near her ex-boyfriend but he hadn't left her a lot of choices. This day had already brought a lot of trouble. If there's an opportunity for her to solve at least one problem, she surely would accept it. The voice from the other side of the line snapped her out of her state of thinking.

Darnell: „Nikki...what do I owe the honor?"