Chapter Ten : Thoughts

NICHOLAS.

I slowly opened my eyes while adjusting to the bright light.

The pounding in my head - a reminder of what I was up to last night.

I heard soft snores and looked at the other side of the bed.

I groaned at the sight.

Why was she still here?

I sat upright prepared for what comes afterwards.

I tapped her a few times before her eyes fluttered open. She smiled and leaned her head on the bedrest.

The comforters hiding her naked body dipped a little to show off her beautiful skin.

I wouldn't mind taking her again if I didn't have the one-time rule.

Having sex with a woman more than once always made them think I felt something for me. That always led to a lot of emotional baggage. One, I wasn't ready to deal with it.

I cleared my throat before staring back at her. "Why are you still here?"

She looked shocked, but she quickly masked her emotion. "We’re both exhausted from last night's activities."

"Leave now. It's morning."

Her eyes narrowed at me.

Expected.

I got out of bed and wore a pair of joggers I found lying on my sofa.

"You’re really what girls say."

I almost snorted in response. "And you girls never stop wanting me."

She gasped and scrambled out of bed. She wore her dress in record time while packing her things.

"Bastard," she spat.

"I have heard worse, baby."

"I don't blame you. I blame myself."

"Whatever," I retorted. "Be gone before I come back here."

I entered my bathroom to brush my teeth.

I went back into my room and breathed a sigh of relief.

I have dealt with more dramatic ones.

I stepped out of my room and headed to the kitchen.

I had a slight headache. I need to take aspirin and then caffeine in my system to start my day.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. I opened the familiar cabinet and took out the aspirin tablet. I popped a pill in my mouth before gulping down some water.

I noted the time on my phone before heading to the coffee maker.

I turned it on and scrolled through my feeds to kill time.

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

My last night endeavor wasn't as discreet as I thought it was.

I zoomed in on the picture of the girl and I in front of the club, lips locked.

'Nicholas Bianchi can do better.'

The caption had me chuckling. It's funny.

Do they mean my reputation or the girl?

A squeal pierced through the silence just as the coffee maker stopped.

I turned around and was surprised to see Ashley.

I actually forgot she lived here now.

And her outfit had me subtly checking her out.

I have never seen her in anything other than work clothes. The tiny shorts and tank top revealed a lot that her work clothes were hiding.

Her shape was... damn.

"Good morning," she said, and I forced my eyes to her face.

Her hair was sticking out of the bun she put it into. Her face was bare.

Yet, she looked beautiful.

"Good morning. Do you want coffee?" I asked.

"Yes, please."

I smiled at her before pouring the coffee into two cups.

"How do you like it?"

Her face flushed, leaving me confused.

"One tablespoon of milk and sugar."

I nodded and did as instructed. She settled on the counterstool watching me. The short rode up, revealing her bare thigh.

I handed her the cup, my fingers grazing hers slightly. A spark jolted through me at the contact.

It's weird.

I have never felt anything like it before.

I sipped my coffee while going through my phone.

"Uhm," she started, and I met her gaze. "Aren't you cold?"

I cocked an eyebrow at her as I caught her trying to avert her eyes from my body.

I looked down at myself and finally understood.

I smirked while folding my hands over my chest.

She started coughing hysterically, and I took a stride towards her. I patted her back, trying to calm her down.

I moved back after she stopped coughing. "Do you need water?"

She shook her head before sipping her coffee.

My lips curved up slightly just enough to see her cheeks tinted pink. "I could say the same about you."

"I wasn't expecting to see anyone so early. This is just my usual nightwear. It_"

I interrupted her rambling by putting a hand over her mouth. "Trust me, I get it. I feel more comfortable in this, too."

She nodded, and I retracted my hand.

"Have you gotten another assistant?"

I shook my head in response. "There’s an interview today."

"I hope you find someone efficient."

"One like you, hopefully." I smiled.

"Thought I was replaceable," she smirked.

"More reason to find one like you."

She hummed in response. She got down from the counterstool and headed to the sink.

I tried not to stare at her back.

The way she moved.

Keyword, tried.

'You are not my type.'

The words replayed in my head.

I quickly forced my illicit thoughts to the back of my head.

I gulped down the remaining of my coffee and set my cup down on the counter.

I shouldn't think of her that way.

I shouldn't blur the lines between us. I needed to think about the girl and my reputation.

I couldn't afford to let anyone else know about the girl.

She didn't even look like a one-night-stand type of girl.

I strolled back to my room to take a cold shower.

Living with her wasn't going to be easy at all. I needed to get her out of my system.

One that required not having to sleep with her.

I finally got out of the bathroom and headed to my walk-in closet. I picked a three-piece grey suit. I put on my Rolex wristwatch and sprayed my usual cologne. I left three buttons undone to reveal my usual silver chain.

I grabbed my phone and laptop bag before heading back to the kitchen.

"Good morning, boss." I heard the voice before I saw her.

"It’s Nick to you, Kat," I grumbled before taking the head chair.

She rolled her eyes before placing a plate in front of me.

Katrina took care of me alongside my dad. She's literally the mother figure in my life. She always treated me like her own. I offered her the opportunity to come live here with me, and she took it.

I like my privacy.

She knew about the girl, and I trusted her to keep it a secret.

I took bites of the pancake after pouring my favorite maple syrup on it.

"How is Olivia and her baby?" I asked after swallowing the food in my mouth.

Olivia was her only child. They used to live together in my dad's mansion when we were younger. We're friends. But she

moved away to London for college, and that distanced us. She met her husband there, too. Kat took a few weeks off to welcome her grandchild.

"They’re fine. She loved the gifts you sent. Thank you."

"It’s the least I can do."

She patted my shoulders before heading back to the kitchen.

I finished my food quickly and stood up from the chair.

I heard voices behind me as I was about to walk out of the house.

Ashley had changed into something better. Something that my fucked up mind could handle. The girl in her arms.

I knew her name. Calling her that was going to feel right.

Feelings I wasn't ready for.

I knew her name. It was going to feel personal - weird to call her that.

I couldn’t wait for my private investigator to find out who the mother was.

The girl smiled at me expectantly, and I frowned.

She shouldn't expect anything from me.

I was going to find her mother and offer her a price she wouldn't be able to refuse.

I don't want her in my life.