Chapter 7: Chapter 7

She bolted upright, her face a mask of terror, hastily pulling the sheet up to cover herself.

“God, what have we done?” she gasped.

His face split into a wide grin as he reached out to touch her arm.

“I think it’s pretty clear what we’ve done,” he replied.

“This isn’t a joke. I shouldn’t have let this happen; it’s not right,” she protested.

“Kat, we didn’t do anything wrong. We both wanted this, so why are you freaking out?” he asked.

“I’m not the type to sleep with someone I barely know. You’re my brother’s boss. What will people think if they find out?” she worried.

“My personal life is nobody’s business. Who cares what they think?” he countered.

“I care. If Kurt finds out I slept with you, he’ll think I did it to help him get the promotion,” she said.

“Did you?” he asked.

She glared at him.

“Absolutely not. But did you think I slept with you for that reason?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t. And it wouldn’t have mattered either way,” he replied.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

He sat up and gently placed his hand on her cheek.

“I had already decided to promote Kurt to CEO. I made the decision the day before the party,” he explained.

“Why didn’t you say something earlier instead of keeping everyone on edge?” she asked.

“Even though I’d made up my mind, I wanted to see how they’d react to the suspense. I needed to be sure Kurt was the right choice,” he explained.

“Why did you choose Kurt over the others?” she asked.

“Charles lacks charisma; he doesn’t draw people in. Arthur is good at his job and can manipulate clients, but he cheats on his wife, which tells me he can’t be trusted,” he said.

“Why did you choose Kurt?” she asked again.

“He’s dedicated to his job and his clients, making them feel secure in their decisions. He’s honest, hardworking, and trustworthy. I know he’ll do what’s best for the company as CEO. Plus, he’s a devoted husband who loves his wife,” he explained.

“How do you know all this?” she asked.

“I always research the people who work for me and learn about their personal lives. You can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his loved ones,” he said.

“What kind of man are you?” she asked.

“I’m the kind of man who doesn’t take kindly to being put in a position where my cruelty might show. I value honesty and can tell when I’m being lied to,” he said.

“Xander, you said that I now officially belong to you,” she reminded him.

“Yes, I did say that,” he confirmed.

“You’re a strong and powerful man. You should be with a strong woman, someone with class. I’m not the right one for you,” she said.

“I disagree; you’re the perfect woman for me,” he countered.

“No, I’m not. I’m weak and broken, I have issues. Let me go and find someone else,” she pleaded.

“I’m never letting you go, and whatever issues you have, we’ll work through them together. But you need to tell me what’s wrong so I can help you,” he said.

She lowered her head. “I can’t talk about it,” she whispered.

He gently lifted her head and kissed her softly on the lips.

“Once you learn to trust me, you’ll tell me. I won’t force you to stay with me, but I need to ask you something. Do you want to be with me?” he asked.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Yes, I do, but I’m scared you’ll hurt me one day,” she admitted.

“I will never hurt you,” he promised.

“I grew up with a father who was supposed to love and protect me. Instead, he did the opposite. If I couldn’t trust him, how can I trust you?” she asked.

He was finally starting to understand her. Knowing her issues had something to do with her father made him angry.

“Get to know me, and you’ll see I’m not your father. Will you give us a chance?” he asked.

“I want to, but on one condition,” she said.

“Name it,” he said.

“I don’t want Kurt to know about us yet. Let’s keep this a secret until I’m sure about where this is going,” she requested.

“Okay, but only for a while. Now let’s get some sleep, and tomorrow I’ll take you sightseeing,” he agreed.

He held her as she slept, loving the feeling of her in his arms. He wasn’t thrilled about keeping their relationship a secret, but he would do it until she was ready.

***

The next day, after seeing many of the sights, they went for a bite to eat, and she had a question for him.

“Do you see your parents often?” she asked.

“Not as much as I should,” he admitted.

“Why not? Don’t you get along with them?” she asked.

“We get along great; I’m just so busy that I never seem to have time to visit them. What about you and your father? Were you close?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

“Was Kurt close to him?” he asked.

“No,” she said again.

He noticed that she stopped talking and kept looking down at her food. He wanted to know why she became so upset at the mention of her father.

“Kat,” he said.

She knew he wasn’t going to let the subject drop.

“My father was not a nice man, especially when he was drinking. He was always yelling, breaking things, and calling us horrible names. Please, let’s drop this,” she pleaded.

Seeing how upset she was, he decided to let it go, but he was determined to find out what had happened in that house.

After another two days, it was time to head back home. During their stay in Paris, he noticed a significant change in her. She seemed more relaxed and smiled more. He would have loved to spend more time in Paris with her, but he had business to attend to.

He was going to miss having her in his bed at night and the passionate lovemaking they shared.

When they returned to New York, he accompanied her to her apartment. Once inside, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“I hate to leave you so soon, but I have an early appointment that I can’t miss. I want you to know that I’ve never enjoyed myself as much as I did with you,” he said.

“I enjoyed myself too, and I want to thank you for giving me the best time of my life. I never thought I would see Paris; it was a dream come true,” she said.

He used his fingertip to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes.

“I’ll make all your dreams come true. I’ll be busy for a few days, but I’ll call you,” he promised.

Once he was gone, she hung up her new clothes and checked her phone messages. One was from her therapist, saying she had missed her last session. So, she called and made another appointment. As luck would have it, there was an opening later that day.

^At the therapist’s office^

“Kat, it’s good to see you again. So, how have you been?”

“Much better than the last time I was here,” she replied.

“There’s something different about you. You’re glowing, and you don’t look as stressed as before. Has something changed in your life?” the therapist asked.

“I’ve been seeing someone, and he whisked me off to Paris for a bit.”

“Wow, that’s a big step for you, considering how much you dislike leaving your apartment. Can you share a bit about this guy?”

Her lips curved into a smile.

“He’s a bit cocky and incredibly persistent. But there’s something about him, I think he’s a good person at heart.”

“You’ve had issues trusting men in the past. Do you trust him?”

“I want to, but remember what happened with Tony? Men always seem perfect at first, all sweet and caring, until they reveal their true selves.”

“Not all men are like that.”

“It took me forever to trust and let a man in, and my ex shattered all that. I’m not sure I can ever trust or love again.”

“But you trusted this guy enough to travel with him. What makes him different enough to pull you out of your comfort zone?”

“He didn’t exactly give me an option.”

“Kat, everyone has a choice.”

“You don’t get it. He’s my brother’s boss, and he hinted that Kurt’s promotion hinged on me spending time with him. He didn’t outright say it, but it was implied.”

“So, you went with him solely to secure Kurt’s job. Can you honestly tell me if there was another reason you went with him?”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“I…I was drawn to him. He’s the most powerful man I’ve ever met. When he looks at me, it’s like he sees me. I can’t put it into words.”

“How did it feel to be away from home, surrounded by strangers?”

“At first, I was terrified, but Xander was patient. When he noticed my anxiety, he’d remove me from the situation. Gradually, I relaxed and started enjoying the sights, the opera, the museums.”

“That’s a significant change for you. It seems like he’s gently coaxing you out of your shell. Did you take your anxiety meds?”

“Um…No, just one before the flight. I didn’t even think about it while we were there. I guess I didn’t need them.”

“Have you talked to him about your father and your childhood?”

“No, just that my dad was a mean drunk. He wanted me to open up, but I couldn’t.”

“Do you think you might trust him enough to tell him everything?”

“Maybe, someday.”

“Kat, it seems like this guy is good for you, but I advise you to take it slow. Get to know him better. We’re almost out of time. Anything else you want to discuss?”

“I feel guilty about not telling Kurt that I’m dating his boss.”

“Why haven’t you told him?”

“If he found out, he’d be livid. He’d assume Xander was coercing me into dating him. I’m scared he’d do something rash and lose his job. So, for now, our relationship is a secret.”

“Secrets have a way of surfacing, so don’t wait too long. I don’t think you need a refill on your meds. You seem to be managing fine without them.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like to see you again in a month to check in. But if something comes up before then and you need to talk, call me, and I’ll fit you in right away.”

“Thank you. Before I leave, I want to express my gratitude for these past few years. Without you to confide in, I don’t know where I’d be. I always feel so much lighter after our sessions.”

“I’m always here for you. Remember, if you find yourself in a situation that triggers your anxiety, remove yourself and find a quiet place. Practice the breathing exercises I taught you, and hopefully, you won’t need any pills.”

Kat left the office feeling more confident, as she always did. Now, she was ready to tackle the work Xander had sent her. It was time to start earning to pay him back for all the gorgeous clothes she’d acquired.

That night, Kurt called to say he’d be home in a few days and would drop by to check on her. As much as she was excited to see him, she was also anxious. She had never lied to him before and hated doing it now.