The morning work shrivelled to nothing as my head was shrouded with thoughts of Nathan and Aurelia. Though it was pathetic, I managed to get minimal work done through the afternoon. I had hoped to have lunch with Nathan but was later informed that he'll be having his over a business discussion.
Feeling the air get unbearably still in this office, it felt as if it was closing on me. I made my way over to the personal pantry, one that was well furnished and clean, only to see Timothy preparing a cup of tea. An exorbitant tea, no doubt.
"Is this for Nathan?" I asked, hoping that it was indeed, for him. I needed an excuse to see him. Afterall, despite being his girlfriend, we were still restricted to a professional relationship. There was no way that I could stroll into his room without a reason.
"Yes." He answered.
"I'll bring it in. There's something that I'd like to ask him."
"Sure." He handed the cup over with a comforting smile on his face. By the looks of it, he knew what was going on.
"Thank you." I said, before heading over to the office, taking a deep inhale and exhale in hopes that it will calm my heart. As I pushed through the doors, the sight of a Nathan going through the stacks of files made me beam.
Just a look of him warmed my soul. He, who was still oblivious to my arrival continued drowning his head in the piles of papers.
"Who's she?" I asked, prompting him to stop his scribbling as I placed the cup in front of him; hoping that I didn't sound too concerned. Nathan looked up and made his way to me, attempting to wrap his arms around me. But I dodged away.
The first reason was the curiosity I held for the conversation he had with Aurelia, and the second, I was frightened that his touch would melt away the concerns I had, preventing me from asking the needed questions.
Sighing, Nathan plopped down on the black couch situated against the wall, patting the seat next to him. Reluctantly, I sauntered over, hearing the crinkles of the leather skin as I sat.
"I need you to trust me, Ava." Nathan said, engulfing my hand in his.
"Then tell me who was she."
As with Nicholas, there was much that wasn't known about him. The gossips that surfaced in the daily news isn't reflective of who he was pertaining to the secrecy of his private life. I needed to know more.
"Alright." His voice wavered a little while gazing at our intertwining fingers. "Remember the time when I told you that my parents were divorced?"
I nodded my head, reminded of the conversation that dampened the birthday dinner.
"Technically, they are 'divorced'." He continued. "My mother, Diana Bailey was the only daughter to Victor. They were wealthy. And as for my dad, he wasn't so. James... was his name. Victor wasn't particularly excited when he got to know that his daughter was marrying a nobody."
"Victor?" I asked.
"My grandfather." He replied, causing me to nod knowingly. "But with much persuasion from my mother, he relented, but only on the condition that he takes up the Bailey's name. Their marriage was a hard one. Victor loathed my birth and my father. I remember every word he spoke to my dad, the hardship that my father had to suffer. You should have seen my parents, Av. I bet they would have loved you just as much as I do. I remembered their expression of love not just to me, but also between themselves. They were the ones that built this company to what it was today, not me."
"When was just about the age of eight, I remember my mom looking extremely distraught that morning. Her eyes were filled with so much pain and unbelief when she broke the news that my dad was dead. We didn't know how it happened. There were no signs of struggle nor marks left on his body when he was found in the office. But eventually, the autopsy revealed that the main cause was poisoning."
As I heard about his father's death, it pained me to see the scars he had to carry; a childhood without a father.
"My mother received most of the impact. The few months of lifelessness, turned into fits and eventually violence. There was not a day that the house was not in a mess. The gentle and loving mother that I knew was no more. It was only until then when I had just got home from school to find that my mother was gone; realizing that Victor had already sent her to a psychiatric hospital..."
I heard a gulp from Nathan as he struggled to find the right words.
"I came to hate him. I hated him for sending my mom away from me. I hated him for pressuring my father. I hated him for trampling on his pride as a man. When I grew a little older, I made a choice to take up my father's name, Crosby; and to make a deal with Victor. In exchange for the company and my surname, I would have to answer to a condition of his; that Aurelia Harrison is to be my marriage partner."
His words daunted me, the complexity of his life and burdens were far greater than the pettiness that had grown in my heart. I was ashamed and guilty.
"But now that I'm with you, everything is different. My hands are tied, Ava, and I want to make things right, not just for my parents, but for you as well. So, please believe me when I say that my heart belongs to you. I'm sorry if I haven't been living up to your standard and for not being able to tell you and your family the truth. I was afraid that you would abandon me when you knew my background and the dangers that came with it. But I promise that I'll definitely do better. So I beg of you, please don't leave me."
The fear and distress in his words tore my heart as I felt his agony tug and stir my emotions. If anything, I wanted to shoulder his hurt and burdens together with him. I wanted nothing but for him to be happy.
"Silly boy, I'm not going anywhere." I chuckled, feeling the wetness trailing down to my chin as I wiped away his fallen tear. It was the first time I ever saw him cry, and the last time I ever want to see him shed a tear.
"I'm the one that should be sorry for not being more understanding; for doubting you. And it hurts me to see you hurting. If anything happens, I implore you to not keep me in the dark. Let me share your worries and pain. Even when nobody is on your side, I will remain. Okay?"
"Okay."
At that instant, it felt as if his burdens were lifted as his eyes beamed brightly, a happiness that overtaken despite his tear-filled gaze. The somber aura was quickly replaced by a light one. Sniffling, Nathan closed his eyes and rubbed the sobs away.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" The trace of sadness completely diminished as he focused on other issues.
"Well, I'm planning to catch up with a friend later."
'Who? Where? What time? Is your friend a boy or a girl?" The wave of questions came quicker than I could answer them.
"Nathan Atlas Crosby, are you a stalker?" I teased, suppressing the urge to smile.
"I'm your boyfriend. It's only right that I worry for your safety." He huffed, pouting in the process. "Besides, I'm only a stalker for you." His smooth talk led me to giggle, glad that everything was back to normal; maybe even better than before.
***
"Come on! Give me the juicy details. What's up with you and that Crosby guy?" Alice blurted, prompting me to hide my face behind my hand, away from the disapproving looks of other patrons.
"SHHHHHH!!!" I hushed, "Do you have a horn installed in your throat? Keep your voice down!"
"Come on! I have not seen you in weeks! There must be some development, right???" Alice continued pressing for answers, even louder than before, while I simply sighed, letting out a smile.
"Yes. There have been some developments?"
With Alice ecstatically asking for updates, we spent the entire dinner chatting about my love life as I patiently answered each question.
"So...do you love him?"
Her question made a grin surface unknowingly as I recollected the night where we confessed our feelings.
The last time I loved someone, it left me in pieces. Although I felt a shadow of Nicholas cast over Nathan, as if he were a carbon copy, he was different; truthful in revealing a vulnerable side to him, a side that I knew Nicholas would have trouble committing.
"What's that?" Alice asked.
"What's what?"
"That smile! And that drunk-in-love expression." She teased, causing my smile to grow wider.
"Yeah, yeah. I do adore him, okay? Satisfied?" I surrendered, taking a sip of soda to cool the heat on my cheeks. After all, it felt a little embarrassing for me to confess how I felt towards Nathan to Alice.
"I think the word you should be using is love." She winked, before a sudden seriousness washed over her.
"Hey...Don't get hurt again, alright?" The look of worry and anxiety consoled me as I felt the endearment Alice possessed for me. It was one that was well beyond a simple friendship; it was family.
I bowed my head in agreement as my lips curled. "I won't." After today, the newfound confidence gushed through me as I grew aware that somehow, this time, nothing that happens will be able to stand against the way of us both.
"Anyway, your prince charming is here to fetch you home." Alice wiggled her eyebrows, making me turn to see Nathan in his casual clothes. The V-neck apparel that accentuated his masculine shape and deep-blue Hawaiian Bermuda shorts was indeed a refreshing sight; dripping with immense sexiness as his fingers combed through his luscious and non-gelled hair.
Damn! This man was mine.
I continued to admire him from a distance before I heard Alice's announcement.
"You better get your engine started if you don't want your man talking to another girl."
I felt a pang of jealousy when I saw a stranger dressed voluptuously in a red tube top and shorts that barely covered her goods, catwalk up to Nathan; placing her scrawny fingers on his chest. Hastily, I gave Alice a hug and uttered a goodbye, making a beeline to save him from the woman.
The closer I got to him, the clearer the conversation became. Her whiny and high-pitched voice as she pestered him to have a drink with her gave me an idea of a way to bring her down; an idea that would deflate her confidence thinking that she would seduce her way to my boyfriend. That is, of course, if only Nathan plays along.
"Hey stranger, care to give me a ride home?" I purred, catching Nathan's hand before interlocking them with mine as I pushed myself against his arm. On normal accounts, I would have been flushing red with how forward I was, but now, there was not one ounce of embarrassment.
Immediately, Nathan crashed me into his chest and surrounded me with his body heat as the vague scent of his cologne and minty freshness reached my nose.
"Just tell me where and I'll take you wherever you desire." His voice dripped with seduction. I could feel myself sweat as Nathan acted along. His response turning me up to a temperature warmer and hotter than the summer heat.
This man is going to be the death of me.
"Hmm, how about..." I positioned my lips beside his ear, making sure that there were lightly touching and kissing his earlobes, whispering just loud enough for the lady to hear.
"Home."
By now, she looked like she was ready to pounce on me, prepared to draw her claws to scratch my eyes out as I stole her dessert away from her.
"Your wish is my command, princess."
***
"Hey mom, hey dad!" I burst into the house, feeling extremely satisfied over the win.
"Did Nathan send you home again?" My mother inquired. Ever since dad's celebration, Nathan has made it a routine to send me home. Given how busy he was with his clients, I tried rejecting his offer. But with Nathan and his smart mouth, he had me thoroughly convinced that he was extremely concerned for my safety; adding that he will feel more comfortable after seeing me home.
"Yeah. Why?" I asked, placing the keys on the counter and my working bag on one of the dining chairs.
"Why don't you ask him to join us for dinner? It's been a while since your dad and I last saw him. And we want to get to know him better if this relationship of yours develops even further."
"Mom!" I could feel my cheeks blush.
Meanwhile, dad interjected, "it's true. Your mom and I have a good feeling about him. In all honesty, we want both of you to be happy. So what better time than to help him blend in and get used to the both of us?"
My heart fluttered and gleamed with joy at the love and support my parents provided.
Truly, I am blessed.