The next morning, Nicholas stood in front of Theora's door trying to gather enough courage to knock. He had been awake all night long thinking about how much Theora had changed since he screwed things up and that's when Nicholas thought the only way he could redeem himself was to fix things. He didn't know how but he knew he had to start somewhere and that start was by talking to Theora. Finally when he calmed his nerves enough to knock on her door Nicholas blanked forgetting the whole speech he had prepared in his head last night. He thought of making a run for it but before he could move an inch Theora opened the door. Theora had just put her hair into a ponytail after getting dressed into a loose fitting shirt and sweatpants and was about to leave the room when Nicholas knocked. As her gaze fell on Nicholas, Theora narrowed her eyes angrily and attempted to shut the door but Nicholas put his foot between the door just in time.

"Please Theora just hear me out" he pleaded "just this once"

Taking a deep breath Theora relented opening the door but stood in the doorway.

"What?"

"Can I come in atleast?"

"No"

"Fine. Theora I know I've apologised before but this time I'm not here for that not that I'm not sorry but I don't expect you to forgive me either. After what I did, I don't deserve to be forgiven but Theora please don't let my stupidity affect your life in anyway. I don't want you to alienate your family or subject them to anger that should be directed at me" Nicholas said

"You done" Theora interrupted

"Theora I.."

"You asked me to hear you out and I think I've heard enough. What happens between me and my family is none of your business and as far as forgiving you that I agree on you don't deserve to be forgiven. Now please could you move to the side I'd like to go downstairs" with that Theora pushed past him and made her way downstairs. Nicholas stood there for a good minute feeling utterly useless and thought this must be how Theora felt everytime he told her off or yelled at her.

"Karma you are one unmerciful bitch" he muttered to himself slumping into the wall behind him.

Down at the Botsaris home, Yaiyai was beside herself her anger grew by the second as she thought of yesterday and when Yaiyai got angry she got angry with everything that moved.

"You stupid fool!" She yelled at the maid "why is my tea so sweet? Take it away and don't show me your face ever again!"

"Yaiyai please calm down your blood pressure will go over the roof" Demos said patting her hand

"All the better, I wish it had killed me yesterday before your girl humiliated me at Carmen's" Yaiyai spat

"I'll talk to Theora, Yaiyai"

"No! That girl Demos. I saw something in her now I might be old but I'm not stupid. That rage I saw yesterday can only mean one of two things either Nicholas is dotting on her too much so she feels entitled"

"But that's a good thing Yaiyai why are you worried about that?"

"Let me finish Demos." Yaiyai scolded before continuing "OR there's something wrong with their marriage making Theora this angry"

"Yaiyai yesterday could've been a one time occurrence" rationalised Theora's mother coming into the room. She had been avoiding Yaiyai all day but couldn't help herself once she overheard their conversation.

"What else can be expected from you? Taking her side after what she did yesterday"

"I'm not taking her side but maybe your seeing too much into this"

"I don't need you to teach me how to act Fiona. I have given my entire life to upheld the Botsaris name even if it mean swallowing my pride and going to that house to see for myself what's going on between those two"

"Yaiyai I don't think we should be meddling in their lives" Demos said trying to persuade her against the idea.

"I've made up my mind Demos and I would like to see anyone try to change it" threatened Yaiyai and with that she shut everyone up.

Theora busied herself with baking cupcakes in the kitchen with Misha after Nicholas left for work. Theora always found baking and decorating cupcakes always put her in a good mood and it was already working as she hummed to herself mixing the batter. The house phone rang and Misha went over to pick it up.

"Nicholas Markopolous residen... Oh Theora... I'll give it to her right away" Misha said before handing Theora the receiver "it's your mother"

"Mama?" Theora said putting the receiver to her ear.

"Where is your phone young lady I've been calling you nonstop for the past fifteen minutes" her mother said exasperated

"It's upstairs is everything alright" Theora asked worried something had happened to papa again.

"Your Yaiyai is packing her bags at this very moment and is planning on going to your home for a few days" Theora let her mother's words sink in for a good minute. Yaiyai coming here she thought to live with Nicholas and I.

"She can't!" Theora unintentionally screamed into the receiver almost dropping her batter on the floor but thankfully it hit the table and managed to stay there.

"You know your Yaiyai well Theora there's no stopping her once she sets her mind to something. The best I can do is stall her for an hour maybe an hour and a half but that's all the headway I can give you"

Theora felt like the whole house was spinning around her suddenly.

"I'll talk to you later Mama" she managed to say hurriedly before hanging up.

"What's wrong?" asked Misha

"Yaiyai's coming here to stay for a few days" Theora said feeling out of breath all of a sudden.

"Oh lord! With you and Nicholas occupying separate room" Misha gasped "we need to get his stuff into your room now! How long did your mother say till she gets here?"

"An hour, hour and a half tops"

"Well get moving woman there's no time to be anxious"

"You're right" and with that Misha and Theora ran upstairs to Nicholas' room.

"Leave the clothes on the floor" Misha said pointing to the piles of clothes on the floor "I'll take all of them to the laundry room later"

"Why are there so many?" Theora asked shocked to see the mess in Nicholas' room.

"Sir Nicholas goes through half of his wardrobe before settling on something to wear. We'll discuss your husbands habits later for now just take all the clothes off the racks and into the empty side of the walk-in closet in your room" Misha commanded.

Theora was thankful Misha had taken charge of the situation as she couldn't even think clearly at this point. Theora placed all of Nicholas' clothes and other items like underwear, socks, ties and whatever else he had in his drawers into her closet as Roberto brought them to her whom Misha managed to rope in to help. Misha cleaned up the room, picking up all the clothes on the floor, changing the bedsheets, and then dusting and vacuuming the entire room. It took them half an hour to completely clear the room and place everything in Theora's room. With still time to spare Theora gave Nicholas' room a final inspection checking all the drawers and making sure they hadn't left any of his products or things in the room or the bathroom. Theora picked up a stray sock under the bed when she heard the door bell ring. She jolted upright and stood up by placing all her weight on the bed with her legs feeling weak all of a sudden. After composing herself and throwing the sock into the laundry basket, Theora ran down the stairs to greet Yaiyai. Misha had already let her in and she was standing in the middle of the hall with three bags surrounding her.

"Yaiyai!" Theora plastered on the best surprised face she could make "I'm so glad you came"

Yaiyai said nothing just let out a low grunt choosing not to look at Theora.

"You what's your name make me some tea" Yaiyai ordered Misha

"Misha, I'll bring the tea right away Madam"

"And you boy take my bags to the guest room" she told Roberto.

"Do I take the bags to one of the rooms upstairs or the downstairs guest room?" asked Roberto

"Downstairs please Roberto. Yaiyai has weak knees she can't go up the stairs" Theora said motioning him with her head to take the bags immediately before Yaiyai said otherwise.

"Melania I would like my tea today please" Yaiyai said moving past Theora and going into the living room when Theora realised the couches had no cushions.

"Yaiyai we're planning on redecorating the living room why don't you come with me I'll show you the tv room or would you like to sit in the library it has a superb view of the garden?" Theora said feeling like a gameshow model giving Yaiyai a choice of two doors. Yaiyai answered her with a grunt and opened the second door.

"Library it is" Theora muttered before following Yaiyai into the library. It was going to be a long long day she thought.

Nicholas got off work early and debated whether to go home or go out in order to avoid getting Theora angrier than she already is. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel he looked at the time it was quarter past seven. He thought about going to a bar or a club but felt too tired and just wanted to get to bed. After four meetings back to back and a whole bunch of paperwork, Nicholas had zero energy to go anywhere but bed so he resolved to go home eat something quickly and head to his room without bothering Theora. As he reached home, a weird feeling care over him like sometimes was off. All of the lights downstairs were on while usually at this time after Misha left only the light in hallway and kitchen would be on. Nicholas opened the front door and was surprised he could hear the tv in the tv room which was on the other side of the house. He could even hear the news commentator speaking in Greek clearly from where he was standing. Nicholas was on his way to inspect it when he was stopped by Theora grabbing a hold of his elbow and dragging him into the kitchen where she came from.

"Yaiyai is here" Theora whispered

"YOUR YAIYAI?!"

"Shh.. she'll hear"

"Sorry but in all fairness I doubt she'll hear us with how loud the tv is"

"Nicholas this is no time for jokes. Yaiyai will be staying here for a few days"

"A few days but why?"

"I don't know why! Misha and I have already taken your stuff to my room. DON'T get any ideas this is only temporary as soon as Yaiyai leaves you go back to your room. Understood" warned Theora. Nicholas nodded backing away slightly.

"Yaiyai can immediately tell something is wrong so I'm afraid we're going to have to sleep on the same bed but if you so much as move an inch to my side I swear Nicholas Markopolous your future generations will regret it" she threatened jabbing his chest with her finger Nicholas gulped nervously and nodded obediently.

"That's it for now but be careful around her as I said she can tell immediately if something is off. Plus she refuses to speak to me so you'll have to do most of the talking." Theora said . Nicholas' face fell that woman was a nightmare how was he going to have a conversation with her?

"Dinner will be set in the dining room in five minutes till then keep her company" Theora turned around and disappeared into the kitchen.

Nicholas let out an annoyed sigh so much for going straight to bed.

Author's note:

Hey guys, I'm Amal and I wanted to first thank everyone who took time to read my story. I know the story has a couple glaring mistakes but please ignore them for now once I finish the book I'll fix them in the edit. Although there aren't many of you like maybe twenty I believe but I'm open to suggestions so please comment or contact me however you like. I upload like every other day so please don't go anywhere more updates coming soon.