Chapter 6

Nicola's pov 

"What was that about"

I say to myself still struggling to catch my breath.

I hate this man … he had totally disoriented my morning. Fuck my stupid body for responding to his proximity

But how couldn't I?

I've literally been starved of any type of physical relationship. 

That was probably why I reacted that way to his closeness

When I walked into his office and saw him sitting behind that magnificently large desk cladded in that beautiful army green suit with that perfectly white shirt and three of the buttons undone , his flawless hair and soul-peircing eyes staring back at me I felt myself shudder…he's an extremely beautiful man in every sense of of the word.

And when he walked up to me and edged me against the door of his office leaving us locked in and the rest of the world a heartbeat away yet still too far away I just couldn't breathe… I couldn't stop myself from feeling.

How am I supposed to survive these three months?

There's no positive feeling I have towards him and now I have to see him everyday and even live across from him

This isn't okay .

How is it supposed to work 

" You'll be okay…there's nothing wrong with reacting to a man's closeness"

I say to myself aloud just as the door opens

 " Oh hi miss Reynold good morning it's good to see you"

I smile when I see it's Jeremy, William's…I don't know but they work together and are obviously close 

" Hi Jeremy. It's nice to see you too and please call me Nick."

"Ahhh that means we're friends doesn't it?"

He says with a nice smile …he's handsome undoubtedly so .

"I actually came over to tell you to feel free to talk to me about anything and call me when you need something "

I smile at that 

" Thank you Jeremy"

He turns to leave but turns back and adds 

" And …don't mind Will he's a good guy , he just feels intimidated by you that's all. You're not the kind of woman he encounters everyday."

Then he walks out of my office.

Intimated?? People who feel intimidated by others don't back them against the wall and make them want to do sinful things with them. 

He's simply just very arrogant.

Urgggh

It's been an extremely long day

I didn't think Hawthorne was being serious when he said there'd be punishment for every wrong doing but he actually punished me ….

I have to spend the entire day here doing absolutely nothing yet I can't go home 

I can't even take a look at my schedule…fuck I don't even know why the hell I'm here.

He refuses to attend to me and has refused to let anyone tell me anything either.

He's been in a meeting with Jeremy all do so I can't even meet him … like what the hell William!!!

I've been staring at my phone for so long my eyes are going to pop out soon and it doesn't help that D finds the entire situation enticing because she feels he's acting in his " alpha male capacity".

All I see is a rude stupid arrogant stubborn man who is full of himself and too used to getting his own way .

Well what he doesn't know is that I'm just as stubborn and not about to let him have this one.

I can't keep sitting here doing nothing… it's more exhausting than actually having something to do

The door to my office bursts open and he's standing there looking straight at me 

"We're leaving"

That's all he says and then turns like he hadn't just said something weird .

I sprint out of my chair half running till I'm standing in front of him and I ask 

" Going where exactly?"

" We're leaving. We're going home. I'm assuming you don't know where that is so I'm obliged to carry you along"

Is he nuts 

"Well I'm not going with you cause I'm going home"

He looks at me with a raised eyebrow like I'm not making any sense

" I mean my dad's house not yours . I have to go home and put my stuff together before moving into your apartment."

" Well Nicola there's no need for that. I spoke to your dad already and he doesn't have a problem with it … he's going to have your stuff sent over tomorrow by em…what her name again? Ahh Diana . He's going to have your stuff sent over by Diana tomorrow. I've already given her the address and I'll inform security to let her in tomorrow. So if you don't mind can we leave already I have other things to attend to."  

" This is so annoying. I'm calling my dad"

He coughs and says something like 'spoilt daddy's girl' under his breath

" Uhm hey dad…yh it's fine…sure it's good …how's mom .. okay ..about the apartment thing…come on daddy …nooo I don't want to have to…seriously dad…"

He ends the call

" Great …guess I'm stuck with you now."

" Unfortunately so princess "

He says with a smirk on his lips

" Don't be too happy about it. "

Something about the look on his face made me smile .

This is getting crazy .

I definitely didn't expect any less

This car is beautiful. It screams of luxury. Not the kind of luxury I've not known but the kind of luxury not at my disposal

The seats of this sporting SUV is so comfy it's easy to never want to leave . 

He comes around his side of the car and has slid in and turns on the ignition

" Your car is beautiful and it smells wonderful too."

I recognize that smell to be his . It's masculine yet unbelievably soft too…how?

"Thank you . She's my baby"...he smiles 

"I trust you had a great first day."

" You just have to be an asshole don't you? I almost forgave you for what you did today because of the beauty of this car but no you just have to revel in your arrogance and ruin it right . I retract my forgiveness and trust that my first day here was horrible"

He's laughing…really?

" What's so funny. Why are you laughing?"

" You're funny do you know that? I'm not exactly sure I'm going to apologize for your first day here cause those are the rules . You mess up you get disciplined for it ."

"Jackass"

He's laughing and when I turn to look at him I realize I hadn't said that in my head 

" Oh shit…well I'm not apologizing for that either"

"Well at least I know what you think about me"

He says with a glimmer in his eyes and a slight smile on his lips…those lips…they looked very firm and plum…the kind of lips that don't get tired of kissing a woman and any woman would want to kiss forever. In that moment he smiled and something about that smile made me hot 

I didn't even realize what was happening until the car came to a halt. I looked at his face feeling mortified.

"It's normal to get lost looking at me . I'm that hot."

"Stupid inflated ego." I said with a hint of laughter

I can't believe I was fantasizing about his lips. Well I can't be blamed …he is that hot 

"Hope down Reynold. We're here ."

I come down feeling a sense of loss as I exit the magnificently made car but all that thought is swept away by the view of thr even more magnificent building standing beautifully and mightily above me.

This is one of the biggest buildingls in the city and he owns it???

I've been dying to get a booking in one of these apartments for ages and I've always been declined. 

Thinking about it that's probably because of the personal vendetta he has with me or rather Mariana (fyi I'm Mariana and he absolutely detests me) and for some reason I've always made my books in that name .

I wonder what will happen if and when he finds out … no he can never find out …that can never happen.

"You own Stargaze"...that came out more as a statement than a question

"It's one of the biggest hotels there is in this city . It has a record for almost always been full with a ton of bookings which are declined due to lack of vacancies. It's also one of the best paying agencies there is. No staff is paid less than two hundred dollars per month and that includes security, room service and even the Gardners and you own it."

This time I said it in a matter of fact tone because the idea of him owning it sunk in and wasn't all that foreign

" I'm impressed…you actually do your homework."

"Hahaha …very funny Hawthorne."

" I didn't become rich by luck muffin. I put in work . This is by far my best investment, deciding to build this place and own it after almost being convicted . It's not where I started but it was my breakthrough."

I can see the look in his eyes and I'm filled with mixed emotions

" I gave this place my all. Days , nights time , money and energy and this was the result . It's one of the biggest and most sort out in America."

"You must be so proud."

"I am ."

There was a long pause as we just stood and stared up at the building… I could see how much this building meant to him.

" Come muffin. I'll take you to your room."

"Yh you will."