Semua Bab SLEEPING NEXT TO A STRANGER : Bab 111 - Bab 120

Nina’s POVThe kitchen smelled warm with the cooking of dinner. Nothing too fancy, but something that would make everyone feel full. I’d done everything just right: Morel’s vegetables, Drew’s steak, and Lilian’s cake. I hoped that perhaps it would settle things. We had been quiet all day, all because of Drew, and him being so distant in his own head.Morel chuckled at his mashed potatoes. Drew savored his steak and Lily looked as usual with a quiet look in her eyes. But she didn’t say much. There was something heavy around us, but we weren’t talking about it, really.Then, as I went to cut into my own food, there was a knock, knock from the front door.I froze. The silence broke. Drew didn’t hear it, either. He was so deep in his thoughts and didn’t see his steak as he ate it. I heard the tension rise.I directed my gaze first at him then at the door.“Take a look,” I said, trying not to reveal my nervousness with my normal voice yet my voice came out shaky. Drew didn’t even look up

DREW. Seconds turned into minutes and then into hours, as I stood by the window, gazing in shock at the scene playing itself out before me. First there was the brilliant sunlight that somehow dimmed and drew back from the sound of the busy street as Mr. Tony strode up to the gate with all of his authoritative demeanor. There he gestured to open the gate peremptorily by uttering in discontent, "Open the gate." As I watched, disappointment washed over me over and over again. From the way anyone could tell he was so angry at what Ashley displayed. “How could she be so careless, so inconsiderate? I shook my head in wonderment. "What a disappointment," I whispered quietly in a world of my own. My body felt utterly ready to collapse into a chair, staring at piles of papers on my desk, but my mind would not comply. I was drawn back to thinking about Mr. Tony. An angry thought came to my mind: "Mr. Tony is an evil man. He is going to wreck our name," I said to myself with dread. “I

DREW. After a million ticking moments, I reached the bar, a kind of refuge from life in which to lay my want for some solitary calm; the moment I parked was the moment I felt alive, knowing very well that it was here that I could finally go through the mental motions of dropping down my guard and spending some time just soaking in time. With that feeling hanging on, I turned off the engine; all fell silent, broken only by the faint chirping of birds somewhere high in the trees. I threw the door open to the evening chill and headed for the VIP area. The bouncer acknowledged my entrance with a nod; the doors opened to luxury and opulence. The interior had plush finishes, with reclining sofas and chrome accents sending light back at their source in scintillating reflections. A waitress clad in a fitted uniform greeted me, her smile so wide it almost seemed to be able to pierce through a storm. She had grabbed a file that was to be my menu. "What may I offer you, sir?" the waitress

NINA. I woke up feeling completely exhausted with my body heavy from fatigue. "Yesterday was way too stressful," I said to myself almost whispering as I sat atop my bed nursing an idea concerning the new day. Then I swung my legs over the side of the bed toward its floor, my eyes fell on the tray with food, carefully lined with a letter on top. My heart jerked fast as I picked the letter up; it was filled with all the sweet words from my loving husband. "Good morning, my queen, I love you so much," it said, and every word radiated through the letter itself. A warm smile spread across my face as I just sat there cherishing and adoring. The very end made me think, "This is such an intentional man," my heart swelling in gratitude. I mean, how could I not be touched by that gesture in the form of starting my day right? I picked up the fork and started eating, chewing lovely bites of the delicious food that he prepared for me. My tongue danced with the flavor, while I felt my energy le

DREW. I walked into the company where my attention was caught. The cleaner was smiling as she worked like bright sunshine across her face. "Good morning, sir," she said. Her voice was friendly enough and cheerful enough to glow holistically. I stood watching her for a while in a puzzle as to what must have been the cause for her smile. “What could have caused that smile?" I asked myself, curious about it. I stood there, she walked up to me and stretched her hand for a handshake. "Congratulations sir," she said, sparkling in her eyes as she did it. I confused myself since I found it utterly meaningless. "Congratulations for what?" I asked her with a confused look on my face. "Are you not aware, sir?" she said, looking at me in a combination of shock and fun. I shook my head as if I had to shake off the doubt. "No, I'm not. What's the congratulations for? Did we snag a multi-million contract?" I asked, trying to figure out what exactly was her reason for congratulating me. "No