A wedding night Love Affair With The Billionaire
Chapter 54 They're on a Nickname Basis Now

Nicholas was in a good mood just an hour ago, probably because he'd see that interesting young woman again, or perhaps he just had a good night's sleep. Hence, he came to the company bright and early.

He didn't wait for Eliza at the entrance this time. He could use the excuse of showing her around the day before, but it wouldn't be justifiable if he waited for her again. His assistant didn't work in his office, and he had always been alone before he went abroad. So he never thought it was a big deal, but it somehow felt a little empty. He smiled, thinking perhaps because he had been lonely for too long, he started wanting more the moment he had company.

The hands of the clock kept turning, but Eliza never showed up, and it was already almost eight-thirty.

Nicholas began to wonder if she had woken up late... or she had gotten sick? Perhaps he should call. But what was he supposed to say? He couldn't just straight up ask her if she was sick, could he?

He was rendered at a loss for words for a moment...

Nothing he came up with sounded right. Plus, the issue with the name...

Though they had agreed to go by first name basis, he had been living abroad for quite a while; the natives there were quite open-minded about hypocorism, so he still thought it was a little strange to call someone by their legal name.

After some consideration, he decided to call her Liza in the end.

Liza, what a beautiful name.

Even so, he still debated on whether to make the phone call.

Few and far between, he paced back and forth in his office.

And thanks to his hesitation, it was close to nine.

Checking his watch, he thought it was definitely justifiable for him, Eliza's boss, to remind his employee to come to work, right?! So what was there to hesitate about? Making up his mind, he called.

The line tried to connect for quite a long while, but it still wasn't answered.

She must have overslept as he had expected...

No, something could have happened to her as well!

Thinking of that possibility, Nicholas grew anxious.

Luckily, the call connected just as it was close to going to voice mail.

He called out without hesitation.

"Liza."

After a moment of silence, he heard a man's voice.

Meanwhile, in the mansion, Tanner flipped the moment he heard Nicholas's voice.

Liza? They were on a nickname basis now?!

But he didn't let his anger show, only looking at Eliza with an unfathomable gaze, somewhat hostile even!

And his stare sent chills down Eliza's spine.

What was going on? Why did he look like that right after answering the call? Nicholas should be calling to ask her to go to work. It should be nothing but an ordinary call, no...

With that thought in mind, she tried her best to fish out the pen and drawing block under her pillow.

Judging from his look, he probably didn't realize she had lost her voice. Even if she had mimed, she understood she shouldn't expect he was observant enough to notice her abnormality when he had taken excellent care of her so unprecedentedly.

With her voice lost, she wouldn't be able to defend herself if she didn't get her pen and paper ready for when he got angry. Seeing how furious he was, she thought it really was possible she'd lose her life there and then.

With her fingers devoided from strength, no way could she hold a pen like she normally did! Alas, like a child, she held the entire thing in her hand.

So she could write now, but it looked to be of a child's, crooked and twisted, unsightly. Even she wanted to laugh at it.

Just as she finished writing, Tanner's voice traveled to her ears.

"What's up, Mr. Abbott?"

Eliza listened to the conversation. Yes, it sounded normal.

Despite his fierce look and cold tone.

She slowly lifted the drawing block. The handwriting was... childlike.

It was unsightly but clear enough for him to read.

It said, "What's wrong?"

Tanner's gaze turned grave. So she hadn't said a single word and even had him answer the phone because she had lost her voice.

Just what sort of medicine had he fed her last night?! He couldn't believe there were side effects!

He reached slowly for her neck, caressing it lightly.

That sense of tingling returned again. Eliza couldn't withstand even the smallest of his actions.

Nothing came from the other end of the line.

For a while, there was silence. Never did Nicholas expect him to answer the phone, rendered speechless for a moment.

Coming back to his senses, he smiled and spoke.

"I'm looking for Liza, Mr. Deleon. Is she there?"

Since he was the one who answered, no way was Nicholas going to change the address.

That haughty man was probably going to explode from anger.

Liza again?! Who did he think he was to be on a nickname basis with her?!

Tanner glared daggers at her.

He couldn't believe she allowed another man to address her so intimately. If she wasn't sick, he'd make her realize what a wife should actually be doing! Eliza looked at him blamelessly, having a bad feeling...

He leaned over to her, sniffing her neck before planting a kiss there.

Then his mellow whisper traveled to her ear.

"Liza."

Her heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he had ever called her that.

"You gave him permission to call you that?"

Sarcasm then laced the mellow voice the next second, and her heart plunged to the depths of the abyss in an instant.

Just what was he talking about?

Not giving her a chance to explain herself, Tanner went back to talking to Nicholas.

Nicholas only heard rustles coming from the end of the line before Tanner's voice returned.

"How is your company doing, Mr. Abbott?"

Nicholas's heart sank.

He knew it! His company received some business assault the day before, and he hadn't minded it until several partnering companies unilaterally scraped their contracts.

No one in San Francisco had the guts to provoke the Abbott family, nor did they have the ability to.

No one except for the powerful man on the other end of the line.

"I'm surprised you'd make such foul play, Mr. Deleon."

"I'm just a businessman seeking worth."

Seeking worth? Bah!

Emerald and Moth Intelligence were no rivals; what worth could he seek?

"He was obviously lying through his teeth. How shameless!" Nicholas thought.

Though this incident hadn't affected the Abbott's main business, he was fully responsible for Emerald. Nobody liked to be chased down!

"So, what do you want?"

Nicholas had enough of talking with this man. Tanner was indeed powerful, and it was useless to talk, so he'd hear what deal he was making. "Nothing. I'm just reminding you of your boundaries."

Tanner's tone was calm, but even so, his aura would still have people thinking it was an order.

Nicholas was no exception.

It had been a long time since someone had spoken to him in such a commanding tone.

Boundaries? Nicholas laughed.

It was his business what to do with it.

Since Tanner had mistaken, he didn't mind letting him continue doing so. After all, he was more than happy that he could make him feel annoyed.

Hearing them talk about Emerald, Eliza strenuously wrote, "Is everything okay with the company?"

She had already lost her voice, yet she was still caring about that b*stard's company?!

Receiving Tanner's glare, Eliza submissively put the drawing block down.

These two outstanding men would originally never cross paths, kind of like two alpha wolves who would never meet.

However, they interacted for the first time because of a woman.

"Where's Liza? She hasn't arrived at the company."

Nicholas hadn't forgotten his purpose of calling.

Liza again! He really didn't know what was good for him!

However, the all-mighty Mr. Deleon wasn't going to admit he had a problem with the nickname.

"She's sick and will be taking the day off."

He replied grumpily.

Eliza was right in front of him, so his grim expression and attitude were laid bare.

That was her boss! Was it really good to be so arrogant? Though Tanner could afford to do so...

Tanner would never grovel; being arrogant seemed to suit him more.

With that thought in mind, she didn't express her objection.

Then Nicholas's gentle voice came from the other end of the line.

"Why am I having trouble believing you? Hand the phone to her; I want her to say it herself."

He indeed doubted the authenticity of his words, and it was within reason for him to make the demand as her boss.

However, Tanner heard cynicism in his words!

He dared doubt his words? Who did Nicholas think he was that he needed to make up such lies?!

Tanner took a gander at Eliza. He wouldn't be wasting his time on this b*stard if it weren't for her.

"She just woke up, and she lost her voice. She can't speak right now."

Despite his grim look, he still spoke the truth.

He wanted to make sure she got the day off. His heart would shatter to bits if his Eliza still went to work while she was sick.

He had barely responded when Nicholas suddenly got emotional.

"How are you even taking care of her?!"

Tanner couldn't believe his ears; had he just been roared at? What a fearless man; how dare he talk to him like that?!

He quirked his lips into a smile, one that was rather frightening.

Eliza received the full-frontal. What was going on? The conversation all sounded normal up till now, only that his tone was off.....

"Physically and emotionally, of course."

Eliza was his woman, and she was nobody else business!

A few words, and he declared she was his.

Nicholas actually regretted right after he said what he had.

What was wrong with him? His family had always kept a respectful distance from the Deleons, and he agreed with the move. Even if he wanted to provoke him, he wouldn't do it so obviously.

However, upon hearing she had lost her voice, a flurry of anger rose in his heart.

How sh*tty of a job was Deleon doing that he failed to even take good care of a woman?!

Lost her voice? She must have gotten horribly sick!

Despite his regret, his anger never subsided. Right then, he heard Tanner's reply.

Physically and emotionally? How could he not understand the underlying message?

He could have just said she belonged to him. Need he come up with such wordplay? Childish!

However, he was then at a loss for words after he lost his temper; he wasn't hot-tempered. Say no matter how annoying Josephine got, he could take it all in and coax her.

But he'd seem to get agitated if it had to do with Eliza... The inexplicable feeling got him even more irritated.

Seeing that silence followed his answer, Tanner thought he got the message and gave up.

He smirked a little. He would never allow anyone to steal Eliza away from him.

"She'll be taking the next few days off."

After reminding Nicholas one last time, Tanner ended the call.

Hearing the call had been cut off, Nicholas felt somewhat down. Looked like it'd just be him and himself in the office.0000000☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐