Chapter 99
KATE
"Good morning, caught in the act, miss!" Lisa says, playfully patting my butt.
"Good morning." I pull out a chair to sit down, and she does the same.
"Wait..." She stares at me, analyzing me. "You had sex last night, and made breakfast, but your face doesn't look happy at all. Did Ryan disappoint you?" I roll my eyes.
"It's not that."
"Well, that's a relief because, with that physique, he doesn't seem to have a micro penis."
"Oh my God, Lisa!"
"It's the truth. I understand that you couldn't stay away from that."
"Enough... I'm going to be late." I get up and grab my bag.
"You're going out with me tomorrow."
"That didn't sound like an invitation."
"It's not. Come on, Kate? We haven't gone out together in ages." She pouts. Nathan is going out with his friends on Friday, so it seemed fair.
"Fine. Now, goodbye."
"Love you too!"
I get out of the car in Ryan's parking lot.
"Miss Collins?" I hear my name as I walk toward the elevator. I turn around and find Niels with a smile.
"Mr. Coleman."
"Just Niels, please."
"Alright. You're here early."
"Many matters to attend to today." He presses the button to call the elevator.
"I understand."
"And how are you doing?"
"Fine." We enter the elevator together. Why do I feel so uncomfortable? I lean against one of the cold metal panels.
"I have a curiosity if you don't mind. You're not from here, are you?"
"No. Texas." He blinks several times.
"I never would have guessed. I mean... you don't seem..."
"Texan? Don't be fooled... I love beer and country music." I joke. He smiles.
"Alright. It was a pleasure. Perhaps later you can introduce me to some good Texas-style beer."
"It would be a pleasure." Why did I say that? He disappears, and the doors close. It was just a courtesy.
It's almost eleven when Nathan arrives. I'm tempted to make a joke about his lateness, but he doesn't seem pleased at all. He doesn't even say good morning. He stops, and spins on his feet before reaching his office door.
"Let me know as soon as Julie arrives. And tell Mrs. Johnson I want her in my office in ten minutes."
"Yes, sir." No good morning. What happened? I make a call to the marketing department. In less than five minutes, Emilia comes out of the elevator.
"Katherine, good morning!" Emilia is the Marketing Director, she must be around forty, of average height with dark hair. I walk around my desk and go to his door.
"Good morning! Just a second." I greet her before knocking on his door and opening it.
"Yes?"
"Mrs. Johnson is here."
"Okay." He says. I gesture for her to enter. Then I return to my desk.
What's going on? Did I miss something? I call Meg.
"Kate?"
"Hey! Do you know what happened?"
"No. What's going on?"
"Ryan seemed restless and asked Emilia to come here."
"Wait... I heard some rumors from the Marketing team. Something about a problem with a project, I think."
"Alright. I haven't heard anything about it."
"It's hard to hear anything when you're right next to the boss's office."
"Maybe. Oh, I ran into Niels in the parking lot today."
"He's been more present these last few days. He's usually always dealing with external matters. Is there something new here that interests him?"
"Like?"
"Like the all-powerful boss's assistant."
"Meg, please don't repeat that." She laughs.
"I have to hang up now, Kate. We'll talk later."
"Okay. Bye!"
Problems with projects, well, I wouldn't want to be in Emilia's shoes right now. I pick up folder number one, out of the ten in the drawer, to start the analysis. I'm glad this is my job, for now.
I'm on folder number seven when Julie arrives. It's almost three in the afternoon. Nathan is still in his office since eleven. He didn't even leave for lunch. And judging by the way Emilia left the office just before lunch, we'll have a new Marketing Director.
I go through the same procedure before letting Julie in.
The hours fly by as I work. When I realize it, it's almost five. Julie hasn't left, and I haven't heard a sound. I stretch in my chair before finishing folder number ten. I take the time to review tomorrow's schedule. There's only one meeting and planning for Ryan for the rest of the day. It's going to be a boring Friday. I organize my desk, almost ready to leave.
An email notification pops up on my screen before I can shut down the computer. It's from Meg.
16:52
From: Megan McCartney
*Niels came by here and asked me a discreet questionnaire about you. With a strange focus on your current relationship status. I allowed myself to say that you're "available" haha. (In a more discreet way, of course.) Sorry, but I was tempted to give him your number. You won't kill me, will you?
Megan McCartney, Assistant in Finance at Ryan Enterprises.*
Is she crazy? Damn it. Using the work email. I grab my phone after deleting the email and shutting down the computer.
From Kate: Yes, I'll kill you for using the company email. I like my job, Meg.
I press send, and right after that, Julie walks out the door.
"See you later, Kate."
"Bye!"
Nathan appears at the door just as the elevator doors close. The bastard looks exhausted, but still incredibly sexy.
"Are we done?"
"Did you finish what I asked?"
"Yes. Tomorrow I..."
"Alright." He gestures with his hand to interrupt me. Jerk. "Are you doing anything tonight?"
"A run." I decided earlier that I need to get back to exercising, mainly because of him.
"You run?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Why that face? Am I that out of shape?"
"You know you're not, but..."
"But nothing. The best thing you can do is stay quiet. If you must know, I've always been athletic. But it's not easy to juggle university and a healthy lifestyle."
"I'd love to go running with you, but I prefer training at home. Remind me to schedule another day; I'd love to see you running ahead of me." I roll my eyes, but I smile at the idea of going running together.
"Good luck, Mr. 'I train every day.' See you tomorrow!" I grab my bag and stand up, ready to leave.
"Wait, what do you mean 'see you tomorrow'?"
"See you tomorrow, here."
"No."
"No, what?"
"I want you at my place."
"Do you think my running route will be from my house to yours?"
"It's a great idea."
"That was sarcasm."
"Now it's a challenge."
"No!"
"Come on. It's not that far. Or maybe you don't believe in your physical abilities." What a jerk.
"I'm not doing it because I know you would love the idea."
"You don't make an effort to please me even once. What kind of relationship is this?" What a mood. He didn't even say good morning, and now he's trying to be funny.
"The kind of relationship where you don't even say good morning to me and want to fuck me at night." He smiles mischievously.
"You're already making me want you."
"Idiot."
"Alright, it's no longer a challenge. It's a bet. If you fail, I'll come to your house after eight, and you'll give me whatever I want."
"I already know what you want, Ryan. The answer is no. And this bet doesn't seem to benefit me in any way."
"If you manage to reach my house, you can ask for whatever you want." He bites his lip, getting closer. That seemed more interesting.
"Okay." I take a step back before he can kiss me. "See you at eight." I walk towards the elevator.
"I'll give you an extra ten minutes," he says. I show him the middle finger before stepping in. "Either way, I'll get what I want."
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