chapter eight

Chapter eight

Andrea's POV

Natalie was out with someone yesterday, I thought she said it was an after shoot party. When I got to the restaurant she was sitting inside alone, the restaurateur recognized me immediately and I stepped into the building. He gave me her purse and coat.

He is the reason I know for a fact she was not with a team, she was in fact dining with someone.

 "A young lady, you just missed her, she called for a designated driver to take her home. Poor thing was too drunk to drive herself home." Mr Dante said to me as he helped me drag a very wasted Natalie to my car.

Natalie is a very levelheaded lady, one of the many reasons I have entertained her company for so long.

She is a stickler to rules, hardly does anything gossip worthy.

 Imagine my surprise when she drunk dialed me yesterday professing her feelings over the phone.

Was that the alcohol talking? Bullshit

I know for a fact that moist times alcohol makes one truthful. 

When did those feelings start? And just how deep are they? 

 Her answer will determine if we can continue this arrangement. Because I can't give her what she wants. 

 What kind of Influence was she with last night?

This treadmill feels too fast,I am losing my breath and my mind from it all.

Between seeing Hazel on Natalie's shoot modeling and Natalie's confession I am at loss.

My past and my present working together. What are the odds?

 

I fully intend to ask about Hazel from Natalie when I get back home, she was asleep when I left.

I know she will be up when I get back, it's almost mid day. I have been out of the house since 7am.

Normally, I would work out in my gym back at the penthouse, but today I am at a public gym.

Not so public though, the gym has an exclusive clientele.

I work out here mostly during the weekends after my morning run. 

Stopping on the treadmill, I wipe my pouring sweat and take a long drink from my water can.

I still have about 45minutes to spend here. 

I move to the heavy workout bag at the other side of the room to release some endorphins.

 

It is the weekend, I want to have a nice long shower and relax today.

 

As soon as I got home, I heard clangs in the kitchen.

Is the cleaner here? 

But, She is off during the weekend to clean and cook for herself when I am at home. Part of the relaxing process I enjoy.

I am just about to call out to her when I see a pair of long tanned legs walking towards me. 

Shit, Natalie!

I totally forgot about the fact that she slept here.

The look on her face throws my plans of a relaxing weekend out the window.

She wants to talk, I notice the way she digs her left foot deep into my pure 100perceng Hartebeest rug. 

 She looks nervous.

Dang it! I never knew I would even have this 'talk' with Natalie. 

With her I felt things will just fizzle out and our arrangement will come to a natural end.

But here we are.

"Hi, did you have a nice run?" She asks 

"Yes I did, good morning hangover?" 

"Not much, I had coffee" she looks mortified.

Good, what you did Yesterday is irresponsible.

" I made sandwiches, come join me" I understand it's code for when we need to talk. 

"Alright,let me have a quick shower I'll join you shortly." I am half jogging to the bathroom when I say this.

I come down to the kitchen dining wearing grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt. I didn't ever bother to dry my hair.

Natalie is already seated at the kitchen dining a half eaten sandwich in one hand and a coffee of what I assume is a latte on the other hand.

I take my seat at the chair directly opposite her, diving straight into the sandwich before anything. I worked up quite an appetite this morning.

"I am sorry for my abhorrent behavior last night,I am embarrassed to even apologize" she says I'm a small voice.

"It's fine, I guess you had a lot of fun" I say waving off the apology. 

Her gaze remains on the table using her fingers to dust off crusts from the sandwich.

She looks so defeated I almost feel sorry for her.

"I like you Andrea, and drunk dialing you and ambushing you with it last night was not the way I wanted you to know about my feelings for you. But I am relieved I did get it out there. " She says in a rush. 

Natalie rambles? 

She always seems so put together I take a moment to absorb this version of her before I reply.

"Natalie I do care about you too, but I know that's not what you want right now, I can't give you a relationship. I made it crystal clear the terms of our relationship when we met" it's painful to watch her. 

A small part of her tugs at the crestfallen expression in her eyes. 

 Although she covers it up with a smile.

"I am aware of the terms in our relationship, I just wanted to get it out there. I am not expecting anything from you." She stretches her sad lips into a tight smile.

 Now would have been the perfect opportunity to ask her about Hazel, they must know each other if they model for the same brand.

I don't want to appear insensitive. 

She looks uncomfortable and embarrassed, her checks are flaming red.

I need to change the topic, the air is thick with awkwardness.

Hearing a buzzing from my cell phone that indicates an incoming call, I glance at the screen to see 'John'.

I hope he is not calling for another rendezvous tonight. I'd rather chew my own tongue. 

I pick anyway, his call is the right distraction I needed to end this conversation.

"Excuse me" I turn away from her facing the glass wall to stare at skyscrapers as I pick up John's call.

"What's up man?" I say into the phone.

"Good morning to you, Andrea I have some bad news; your grandfather is at the hospital. He had an attack last night". John says into my ear.

"What hospital is he at?" I say to him, my voice sounds calmer than I actually feel.

"St Louis house. Doctor Randolph is out of the country, they are the next best thing " he replies

"Alright thanks, take care" Natalie is watching me with questions in her eyes.

"My grandfather had a heart attack, he is at the hospital right now, I need to get going" I stand from the chair, shoving the remaining piece of sandwich into my mouth. 

I rush down to get changed.

Natalie is dressed when I come out of my room. 

"Can I get a ride to the hotel, it's along the way. Hope you Don't mind?" She asks

"Yeah, sure, let's go."

e to the hospital. On getting to the hospital, I met the doctor and he said granpa’s  condition has been stabilized, he needs to relax. I met john at the corridor and he said we should go out for drinks since I look like I need it.

We went out together, John was a bit uncomfortable. He wasn’t just my best friend, He was also the family lawyer. I felt a bit of anxiety with the look on his face. Is grandpa dying? Is there a will already? What could be going on? I do love my grandpa though. How easy will this be? I asked John to tell  me what is going on as I couldn’t hold the suspense anymore.

John explained that my grandpa is stepping down to retire, He wants me to take over the company. That Is such a great news. I lived all my life for this day. “but” john said. I paused and looked at him. That can’t be good. He told me the condition to take over was for me to get married. What!!!! I couldn’t believe my ears. That is the last thing I want to hear. Marriage! What does this man want? I looked at John with great fury stormed out straight to the hospital.

On getting there, grandpa was still sleeping and can’t be woken up. I left the hospital with so much fury and nowhere to pour it. Natalie, grandpa everything is so sudden. I think it is time to end what is between me and Natalie. It has lasted a bit too long.

Hazel

I got home to  a dark room, while wondering where maia was in my tipsy state. I put on the light and there she was on the chair. Why are you sitting in the dark? I was scared shitless. She just sat there looking at me. She could pick the scent of alcohol and guessed I was drunk or almost. She was asking how come, who I went out with and all. I told her off and slept off.

The next day, I woke up to a serious hangover. Maia was in the kitchen, she already made a soup to help me get better. She brought up last night again and I filled her up on it. While we were joking and laughing, the news announced that Andrea’s grandfather had an heartattack. I sat there paralyzed. I know how important his grandfather is to him. Will he be fine? What is he doing? How worried is he?

I couldn’t shake off all these thoughts.