Chapter 22 – Natalie
Chapter Twenty-Two
NATALIE
I clear out the rest of the emails in my inbox, trying to get wrapped up for the day. All I want to do is go home, but that’s not an option tonight. I promised to meet up with the girls after work. I can’t be the girl that gets a man and then falls off the map. Luna isn’t that way, and she’s engaged to be married. Though I don’t think she is really in love.
I know I’ll have fun, so I need to suck it up. Still, I miss Dylan every second I’m away from him. It’s only getting worse, but thankfully, he seems to feel the same way. We haven’t slept apart since we made love. We alternate between staying at his place and mine. Mostly, it's his since it’s bigger, and he keeps his kitchen stocked and me fed. It’s been nice sharing space with him.
"Natalie." I know who it is before I even turn my head toward my office door. There stands the bane of my existence at the moment. I've written up a letter of resignation but never sent it. I can't quit. I need this job to keep a roof over my head. I was pissed at myself when I thought about how Dylan and I could live together, but I knew that would be messed up on my part. I don’t want him to think that I only wanted to move in so I could quit my job.
We have said that we love each other, but it might hurt him. I'll keep the stupid job if it means keeping Dylan and me in a good place. Right now, he's all I look forward to each day. He’s my light at the end of my tunnel.
I never knew how much I was missing until I had him. The companionship, the love, and all the other things that he’s brought into my life have shown me.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Morris?" I inquire, even though I couldn’t care less about what he wants. I wish I could tell him exactly what I think of him.
"Yes." He steps into my office, shutting the door behind him. The blinds to my office are open, and people can see in, so I don’t feel as uneasy. I want to tell him to open the door, but what he might need to say may need privacy.
"Should I call in Drake?" I begin to reach for my phone.
"No, this is between you and me." He welcomes himself to one of my chairs.
“There shouldn’t be anything that is only between you and me.”
“I’m still not happy about settling.” I fight letting out a loud sigh. He should be thanking the gods for how lucky he got on that. Instead, he’s still throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old. Actually, saying that is insulting two-year-olds because they don’t know any better.
“We don’t always get what we want, but we are trying to make sure this isn’t a PR nightmare for you,” I remind him. “That’s why you needed to make that deal.”
“What about your PR nightmare?”
“What?” I have no idea what he is talking about with that creepy-ass smile that spreads across his face.
“Why didn’t you just say you had a boyfriend?” He acts as if I lied to him. As though anything that happens in my personal life is any of his damn business. If I make it through this day without quitting, it will be a miracle. Think of Dylan , I keep reminding myself so that I don’t get up and just leave.
“My personal life has nothing to do with anything related to my work.”
“Dylan Wolfson knows every lawyer in this city, and you’re sucking his cock to what? Get into his practice?”
“I think it’s time for you to leave.” I stand up from my desk.
“Happy hour tonight?” he asks as though he didn’t just say degrading things to me. What the hell? My heart starts to race in my chest. I know he can’t do anything right now with people right outside my office, but the darkness in his eyes is chilling. His dilated pupils make them appear almost black.
“I want you to leave my office now, Mr. Morris.” He smirks at me, taking his time to stand. I think he gets off on this.
“I’m on to you, Nat.” His gaze sweeps across me. “Play hard to get all you want, but I always get what I want in the end,” he says before he turns, leaving my office.
I wait a few seconds before packing up all my crap and heading over to my boss's office. He waves to me when he sees me at his door.
“I want off the Morris case. He just?—”
“Not this again, Natalie.” He sighs, getting up from his chair and putting his suit jacket on.
“Sir—”
“I don’t have time for this.” He picks up his phone off the desk. "Remember that you're relatively new here. Now, I have a meeting I need to get to.” Drake walks right past me, letting me know this conversation is over.
I wait a few seconds, not wanting to ride the elevator with Drake before I head down myself. When I make it to the sidewalk, I call Dylan. He answers after half a ring.
“Hey, babe.” The sound of his voice relaxes me.
“Hey.”
“What’s wrong?”
"You could tell something was wrong with just a 'hey'?"
“Yes, now tell me what’s going on. Are you headed to meet Frankie?”
“She’s meeting up with Frankie?” is asked in the background.
“Shut up, Kade,” Dylan tells him, and I hear him move around.
“Yes, I’m on my way to meet Frankie now,” I tell him. “Morris came into my office today. He said some things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Things that make me think he’s watching me.” I glance up and down the busy sidewalk.
“How far are you from Hot Spot?”
"It's just a few blocks away," I tell him.
“Go straight there and do not leave any public setting. I’ll be there shortly.” I smile. “You hear me, Natalie?”
“Yes, I hear you,” I tell him. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. I’ll be right there.”
When we end the call, I make the short trek over to Hot Spot. Frankie is already there and got us a table. “What’s wrong?” she says the second she sees me.
“Am I that easy to read?” I sit back, putting my bag down.
“Not always, but you’re a bit pale.” There aren’t many things that scare me, but the look that was in Morris' eyes has me frightened.
“It’s Morris.” Frankie’s eyes widen.
“As in Daniel Morris?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s here.” My stomach drops. Frankie keeps a straight face, only moving her eyes in the direction of the bar. Slowly, I turn my head to see him standing there, staring right at me.