Chapter ten
I walked into Charlotte’sroom and found her propped up with a pillow and baby Erin asleep in her arms. It was such a beautiful sight, I felt a little teary-eyed. Charlotte looked up as I walked in and a big smile formed on her face.
“Rose, you’re back! I didn’t think I’d see you for a while. How are you?” Charlotte asked happily.
“Good. How are you? How is the baby?”
“She’s great. The doctors say we’re both strong and healthy. We can go home in a day.”
I sat down in a chair next to the bed. “Where is Liam?”
“He’s at the house making sure everything is perfect for when Erin goes home.” The smile dropped from Charlotte’s face. “When do you think you’ll go home?”
“Nathan said I can go home whenever I like, but Liam has to turn himself in to the police,” I sighed. “I don’t want Liam to go to jail, even though he deserves to. I’m not having such a bad time though, I have no bills, no responsibilities, I have a maid, a cook and a limousine and driver. Why would I want to go home?” I was trying to make light of my situation, and I hoped my smile didn’t look as forced as it felt. Charlotte didn’t need the stress, not today.
“Rosie, I’m so sorry,” Charlotte whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m fine, Char, really. Nathan isn’t as bad as he’s made out to be. He has a soft heart deep down and he’s been good to me. He hasn’t made me do anything I don’t want to do,” I raised an eyebrow slightly. Charlotte and I had always been close, she understood what I was saying and a look of relief washed over her face. “Anyway, let’s not talk about Nathan. I want to talk about this beautiful baby. I brought her a present.”
Charlotte and I oohed and ahhed over all the tiny clothes I had brought for baby Erin and we chatted casually for the rest of the hour, avoiding anything to do with Nathan or Liam. I knew Sam was standing in the hallway and could probably hear everything we said. However, not talking about them was exactly what I needed.
Sam knocked on the door and nervously told me that he was needed back at the house so he had to take me to the office now. I suspected that Nathan had called him and told Sam that it was time for me to go. I didn’t want Sam to get in any trouble so I said my good-byes and followed him out to the car.
When I pulled up out front of Nathan’s office building, I really didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but it wasn’t the thirty-odd story building that stood in front of me. The building was immaculate and it was surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. I wasn’t expecting something so big and grand. Sometimes I forgot just how rich and powerful Nathan was.
“I have to go with you to Nathan’s office,” Sam said, looking slightly embarrassed.
I laughed. “In case I slip out the back door?”
Sam smiled. “Something like that.”
I followed Sam inside and we walked through an expensive looking foyer. Sam nodded to a receptionist behind a large desk in a business-like way that made me smile. We got in the lift and Sam reached out and pushed the button for the top floor, his hulking frame looking even bigger in the small space. It started up smoothly, and we were both quiet as it took us all the way up to the top of the building. The lift stopped with a soft ping and Sam and I got out and walked into what I guessed was Nathan’s secretary’s office and waiting room.
“Good morning, Lucy. Could you please let Mr Davenport know that Miss Sommers and I are here,” Sam asked politely.
Lucy gave me a quick look up and down, in a way that was more curious than judgemental, and she gave Sam a curt nod and picked up her phone. I could hear her quietly relay the message to Nathan and she listened for a moment and hung up the phone back up. She looked up at Sam and I and smiled.
“Mr Davenport would like Miss Sommers to go in and he said you are right to go, Sam. He also wanted me to remind you that you have to pick up Mr Burke at two o’clock.”
Sam nodded and said good-bye to both of us as he got back into the lift. I opened the door to Nathan’s office, feeling a slight wave of trepidation, and walked straight in. Nathan was sitting at his huge, intimidating desk typing something into his computer. He briefly glanced up as I sat down in the chair opposite him, but went straight back to typing.
“How is Charlotte and the baby?” he asked as he typed.
I smiled at the thought of my beautiful niece. “Good. Both are healthy.”
“And your brother? Was he there?”
“No. He was at home, getting the house ready for the baby.”
Nathan glanced up at me. “You believe that?”
I raised my chin slightly in defence. “Yes, I do.”
Nathan sighed. “Alright, we’re not here to talk about your brother. Can you type?”
“Of course. Do I get my own office?”
“No, you can stay in here with me,” Nathan replied calmly. The ‘I’m not taking no for an answer’ look firmly on his face.
“Aren’t you getting sick of the sight of me?” I asked, sighing out loud.
“No, I’m not. Actually, you’re quite nice to look at.”
I couldn’t help but blush, which caused Nathan to smile at me with a cheeky glint in his eyes.
“I’d be even nicer if I had my own office.”
Nathan simply shook his head and handed me a pile of handwritten notes. “I want you to type all of these into the computer using the spreadsheets provided and print out a copy of each for me.”
I looked at the pile and frowned. This would be mind-numbingly boring and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d chosen to give me this task for that very reason. “Don’t you have an assistant for this sort of thing?”
“Yes Rose, you. You wanted to work, so work. I don’t think you’re up to running the company just yet. You have to start at the bottom.”
Now I knew Nathan was going to give me horrible jobs in an attempt to make me want to give up and go home, but I’d never given up on anything. I would handle anything he threw at me and I’d do it well.
“Fine. Where are you going to work?”
“Don’t worry about me, just type up those notes,” Nathan said in his ‘talking to a child’ voice.
I sighed and walked around to Nathan’s side of the desk. Nathan stood up, lightly pressing his body against mine as he went to walk past me. I sucked in a breath, not to make more room, but because the closeness of Nathan always took my breath away.
Nathan leaned down and put his nose in my hair, taking in a deep breath. His hand went to my waist to pull me closer against him and my body stiffened in response. He nuzzled down my neck and softly kissed the skin on my throat. I could feel my body relaxing into his with every kiss, which only encouraged him to go further.
His hand travelled up into my shirt and cupped my breast, causing a moan to escape my lips. Part of me wanted him to keep going and to finish it right there on his desk, but the other part of my mind took control and I asked him to stop, my voice coming out low and breathy.
“We can’t do this here, Nathan. What if someone walks in? What if your secretary hears us? It’s not very professional.”
Nathan sighed long and low, but nodded in agreement. He let me go and walked around to the other side of the desk, sitting in the chair opposite me. As I began to type, he picked up his phone and punched in a number.
Nathan spoke on his phone the whole time I typed. I was a little surprised by his business side. I knew it was a huge part of who he was, but it was a side of him I hadn’t really seen before. He intrigued me. I found myself not listening to Nathan’s conversation as such, more how he was talking. I noted that he could be quite abrupt when talking to people, especially when they weren’t considered ‘important’. I also noted that he was very business-like and straight to the point, never once did he stop and have a chat or ask ‘how are you?’ in the whole two hours. Not one ‘normal’ conversation was had.
When I’d finished typing from the last page, I stood up and stretched. Nathan was still on the phone, so I went and had a quick look around his office. It was quite impressive, but I had expected nothing less, with state-of-the-art equipment and modern furnishings, nothing at all like my old boss’s office. But it was completely void of any personality. There were no photos, personal items, or knick-knacks. Just something that looked like it had been done by an interior decorator, exactly like his house.
I heard Nathan hang up the phone and I walked back over to him. “I’ve finished those notes. What else would you like me to do?”
“Nothing,” Nathan answered as he stood up. “It’s one o’clock, come and have lunch with me.”
I realised I was starving and gladly agreed. I followed Nathan out of his office and waited as he told his secretary he was going out to lunch. Lucy looked at him, shocked for a moment, and quickly regained herself. She smiled and told us to have a good time. I guess Nathan was an ‘eat in his office’ kind of guy.
We got in the lift and rode it down to the basement where Nathan’s car was parked. The small lift felt even smaller with Nathan in it and I was completely aware of our closeness. I could feel Nathan glancing at me during the short trip and I knew he was thinking about touching me. I also knew there was a camera on the roof watching our every move. Nathan wouldn’t put on a show for his security team. We climbed into the Aston Martin and Nathan drove us through the city to a small restaurant by the harbour.
“Do you always go out to fancy restaurants in your lunch break?” I asked smiling, as a waiter brought over our meals. I knew the answer but I couldn’t help but tease him.
“I hardly have time to have lunch these days, let alone go out for lunch.”
“Why do you work so hard? You could hire someone to help you. I’m sure the place won’t fall apart if you’re not there all the time.”
“I like to know everything that’s happening in my companies.” Nathan took a mouthful of his drink and sighed. “I haven’t even had a weekday off like yesterday in over three years.”
I noted a sad look flicker across his face, like he was remembering something that hurt. But like always it went as quickly as it came, replaced by that unreadable blank expression he always wore. He would make a great poker player, I noted to myself.
“Where did you go?” I asked after a moment of silence.
“Sorry?” Nathan frowned, looking up from his meal to look me in the eyes.
“Your last day off. Was it a holiday? Where did you go?”
Nathan shrugged. “Fiji, I think.”
“Yeah? I’ve always wanted to go to an island like that. Maybe somewhere like Hawaii. Did you enjoy it?” I asked. I’d always wanted to travel, but never had the money.
“Yes and no, it was a bad time in my life, I wasn’t really enjoying anything. It is a nice island though. I’d like to go back there one day.” Nathan swirled the ice in his glass before taking another mouthful, that sad look sweeping quickly across his face again. “When I was twenty-two, I finished university and just travelled the world for a year. I backpacked around Europe, America, Asia, India, and even a bit of Africa. I used to take four holidays a year when I was in my twenties,” he sighed.
“What’s stopping you from taking a holiday now?”
Nathan looked at me and shrugged slightly. “Nothing, I guess. I’m just too stuck in my routine, too busy. I suppose there is no reason why we can’t go away somewhere now.”
“Now? I didn’t mean right now. I can’t go anywhere now, Charlotte is going to need help with the baby, Liam still has to have treatment. If we wait a few months...”
“I think now is a good time to go away,” Nathan said, cutting me off.
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. Liam and Charlotte need to do this on their own. We’ll leave tomorrow.” He flagged down the waiter and asked for the check.
“Nathan, I’m not going anywhere,” I said again, firmer this time. I was trying to keep calm. What did he know about what Liam and Charlotte needed?
“I’m not discussing this, Rose. I’ve made up my mind.” The waiter handed him the check and Nathan gave him his credit card as he stood up. “Come on, let’s go back to work. There are things I need to organise.”
***
“NATHAN, YOU CAN’T BEserious about going away tomorrow, are you?” I asked as Nathan drove us back to the office. I tried to keep my voice light, so not to make Nathan angry, but it was a struggle.
“Yes,” Nathan said calmly. “I think it’s for the best.”
“Nathan, please...”
“Rose, do you have to fight everything I say? It’s a holiday, one-week. Liam and Charlotte will survive without you, Charlotte has family too.” Nathan’s frustration was showing in his voice and I hated fighting with him after we’d had such a great day.
I let out a sigh. I knew he was right, Charlotte and Liam would do just fine without me, and a holiday sounded wonderful. I definitely needed to relax. I felt as though my whole body had been tensed up tight for days.
“Well, where are we going to go?” I asked.
Nathan glanced at me, and I know he could hear the touch of excitement growing in my voice. He smiled. “Where do you want to go?”
“I get to choose?”
Nathan shrugged one big shoulder, amusement clear in his eyes. “Sure, wherever you want.”
I thought for a moment. “What about Hawaii? I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Good choice. Alright, Hawaii it is. I’ll have Lucy organise it when we get back to the office.”
When Nathan and I returned to his office, Nathan went and spoke to Lucy, while I went back to work on more spreadsheets. I looked up briefly when Nathan came into the office, but I didn’t look up again until six o’clock.
I stood up and stretched, a yawn escaping my mouth. “I’m done with these notes.”
Nathan looked up from the papers he was reading and he glanced down at his watch. He put the papers down on his desk and had his own stretch. “Alright, let’s go home. We still have to pack. Our plane leaves early in the morning.”