Taming A Billionaire

The third point of view

"Woohoo!"

Women clad in bikinis flooded the pool area, dancing to the music blasting from the speakers. Drinks were being served by passing waiters while games were played in the water.

"Whose idea was this?" Niklaus had a scowl on his face.

Eden and Pablo pointed at each other - they had thought Niklaus would be overjoyed at their setup but the reverse was the case. Ever since Reina left with her friends to Lincolnshire, the man had become a brooding fellow.

Niklaus wiped his face with his palm, all he wanted was a low-key party to commemorate his long gone bachelor days until Eden came up with his own devices. Left alone, he wanted a cool time with his groomsmen, play golf or some "guy sports", something like that, not this headache-inducing party. 

"You don't like it?" Eden finally took on the blame. 

"Do I look like I like it?" he glared at his cousin.

"Niklaus..." Eden came and put his arm on his shoulder in the middle of accepting a drink a waiter offered him, "The purpose of a Bachelors party is to get together with all your closest friends, say goodbye to the single life, as you prepare to start a new chapter with your chosen partner for life - this is the day to have fun you'd never be able to for the rest of your pathetic marriage confined life - I included, technically, " 

Niklaus grimaced, staring at the half-naked women playing with the water balloon in the pool. One even came up to him enticingly, "Hi handsome," the woman purred, circling him as she checked him out. 

Niklaus in question looked casual in his grey sweatpants and a black tank top that revealed the tattoos running down the length of his right arm to his neck, back, and receding at his chest. 

He had gotten the tattoos after Maya allegedly died, choosing to have her pictures drawn on his flesh to remember her in case his memory of her eventually fades with time; he could always look at the mirror and see her. Moreover, with her images on his body, it had made him feel she was with him. 

Niklaus' cold gaze regarded the woman slowly, watching and wondering what she was up to. 

"Cool tattoo you got there," she reached out, trying to touch his arm when Niklaus caught her hand, tight. 

"Back off, I'm taken!" he growled threateningly like one of those alpha werewolves shown in fantasy and sci-fi movies. 

"Ouch!" the lady yelped in pain. He was almost crushing her wrist. 

"Niklaus," Eden intervened, successfully detaching his cousin's unbelievable tight grasp. 

"You're such a bastard!" the lady huffed and stormed away. 

Eden facepalmed, this wasn't going the way he planned it, "You can't keep scaring the women away with that murderous gaze," 

"I'm going to stay out of this one," Pablo quickly escaped. He had a feeling things would escalate pretty soon and he would not be there to experience it. 

Niklaus ignored him and began to walk into the house but Eden blocked him saying, "You're in this party today to have some fun for once," 

"I can't seem to agree with your definition of fun," 

"Let loose," he urged.

"I can't exactly let loose in a pool filled in and out with fifty or so almost naked women. I'm sorry Eden but I'm not that same old Niklaus, my conscience is guilty," 

Eden didn't give up, "Nobody is asking you to sleep with any female. Just play around, loosen up a bit, tough boy, " He beat him on the chest but Niklaus wasn't amused at all. 

"Fine, since you feel guilty, I would tell you with a hundred percent conviction that your soon-to-be wife is out having the time of her life - she must have even forgotten you exist. You're hesitating to have simple pool fun but the girls are out there having a much better... " Eden trailed off when he realized he might have spilled more than intended in the process of trying to change Niklaus' mind. 

At once, Niklaus narrowed his eyes at his cousin, something was not right here," Are you hiding something from me? "

Eden gulped, Niklaus had sensed something? He was dead meat. He wondered whose hand he was going to die today, Niklaus or Camille's. 

Camille had told him of their intention and he had not objected to their plan since he was cool and trusted her enough. But knowing Niklaus's extreme possessiveness and jealousy, she had begged him to keep Niklaus distracted hence the reason for this party - who knew it wasn't going to work? 

"What are you talking about?" Eden laughed it off but Niklaus's stern expression showed he didn't buy that bullshit. 

"Eden," Niklaus growled warningly. 

Though Niklaus was taller than him with barely noticeable inches, Eden felt towered over this very moment. 

"W-what?" he now stuttered. 

"My patience is thinning," He cautioned.

Eden tried to look for a source of escape but Niklaus blocked his path, demanding, "The truth now," 

"Fine, they are having company,"

"What?"

"They are having a private party with the presence of strippers," Eden finally disclosed and he swore he saw grim reapers descending from heaven - Reina better run far. 

A trace of rage tore across Niklaus' features, his gaze darkened and his form vibrated; the fury of the heavens was about to descend on the earth. 

"God damn it! I should have known!" He roared. Unlike the sleeping tigress called Maya, Reina was an untamed cat who just showed off her paws and he was going to tame them.

"Where are you going to, Niklaus?" Eden blocked his way.

"Where do you think! " he snapped at him.

"This is exactly why they never told you knowing you'd react this way!" Eden retorted.

"Exactly. They guessed right! " Niklaus was blinded with anger.

Eden drew him back, " I seriously can't understand what Reina saw in you because I'm sure I won't and would never deal with your pathetic grumpy ass,"

"And you can never be her," He brushed his arm off.

"This is her bachelorette party, do not ruin it for her out of your selfishness," Eden told him.

"I lost her for seven years - I'm not about to let some random bastard lap dance on her," He added, "You can choose to come or not, I would simply capture the picture of the male with your woman," He spat

"Damn you!" Eden swore and strode after Niklaus. He was not going to lie, though he told Camille to go ahead with whatever they planned to do, he was still damn curious - he was just trying to be an understanding fiancé.

And just like that, they began the journey to Lincolnshire after alerting Judy beforehand - however, they didn't tell him about the stripper part.

Eden stared at his cousin Niklaus who had been quiet since the flight began; it was a journey of three hours. He wondered what was on his mind considering he looked so deep in thinking. Eden was sure Niklaus was not going to hit Reina but she sure better have a special strategy of coaxing him.

Nonetheless, Eden had a smirk on his face while observing his cousin. This was the first time Niklaus was this stirred up because of a woman. Even when he had Kay, their marriage was just so so, there was no passion. But with Reina, Eden was sure his sometimes stupid cousin would dive head deep into trouble for her. 

Ugh! Camille would definitely deal with him later. 

Niklaus sat staring out at the cloud, his mind far from the present world. He still couldn't believe Reina lied to him, no wonder she had been secretive and touchy about her bachelorette party plans. 

Just the thought of a stupid male stripper standing before his woman, titillating his hips in those leather pants that showed off his bulge, touching and rocking her sent rage coursing through him. May God help that stripper! 

In no time they arrived in Lincolnshire and Judy was there to welcome them as expected. 

"If you had given me a better notice, I would have given you both a grand welcome," Judy told them as he led them to the car. 

"You don't need to bother yourself, I have more pressing issues than a grand reception," Niklaus said tautly climbing into the car, alongside Eden. Judy got in the backseat with them too as the driver took off, the discussion began. 

"Where is Emily?" 

"She's with Reina and the rest, which you know already," Judy mused over it, "What's the reason for this impromptu visit? " he wanted the truth now. 

"Reina and Camille organized a party- which should have began already-they extended their invitation to strippers," 

At the mention of "strippers," Judy's expression shifted - talk about another possessive partner. 

"Damn Emily," Judy cursed under his breath, brought out his phone, and called her at once. 

"The number you dialed is not available at the moment, please try again later," was the reply he got. 

"I can't get to her," Judy notified them after the fifth try. 

"I can't connect to Camille either," Eden had his phone on his ear. 

With a frown, Niklaus called Reina too, "The number you dialed does not exist, please check the number and -" he cut the line. 

"Something is not right," There was a grave look on Niklaus' face.