Chapter 20: In which she decides to let go.

Holding the tray tightly in one hand, I lifted the other and knocked on Nate's door. Thrice.
No answer.
So I repeated the process again...and again.
Still no answer.
Strange. I know he's still in because I could see that the lights were on inside his cabin through the small stained glass section on the door. And Nate always turns the lights off when he isn’t inside his office.
Discarding formalities, I twisted the doorknob and pushed opened the door. I let Nate have his way throughout the day, but now it's time for the girlfriend to step in.
But when I opened the door, my anger at being ignored all day disappeared into thin air.
Nathan sat in his chair, working on his laptop, but instead of working, both his hands were on the table, one lying limply on the laptop keyboard and the other folded at the elbow with his head lying on top of it.
What surprised me was that he had reading glasses on, which I didn't know he needed and that he looked adoringly sexy sleeping with them on. His midnight black hair was a mess and fell onto his forehead, covering his brows. It made me want to run my hands through them, but that made me remember that I still had the tray of food held securely in my hands and that I was leaning against the open door.
"Shit!" I whisper cussed at myself for day...ehm...night dreaming. This door's gonna make a loud noise when it shuts and it's gonna wake up Nate for sure.
Oh well! I was gonna wake him up anyway. He has to eat dinner after all the work he'd been doing the whole day, that too without eating lunch. So I moved inside the room and let the door shut with a loud click, startling Nate awake.
"Sorry ," I apologized when his startled gaze landed on me, after searching the entire room.
I walked over and took a seat in front of him, on the other side of the table and placed the tray in front of him. "I brought dinner."
"Savannah? You're still here? What time is it?" Nate asked, his tiredness clear in his voice.
"A little after 10.30PM, I had things to sort out so I stayed back. Here," I gave him the recorded from my pant pocket. "I recorded everything that had been said at the meetings and the files are ready if you want to lo-"
"Shit! The meetings!" Nate cussed, taking off his glasses and running his hands down his face. "I'm really sorry Savannah, I completely forgot about it."
"It's okay, Nathan. I understand. You had more pressing matters to deal with, besides it wasn't that big of a deal. I took care of it and the files are ready for you to sign…tomorrow." I added the last bit pointedly.
He closed his laptop and set it aside, then he reached for my hand and took it in both of his from across the table. "How did I survive without you for so long?"
He said it with a straight face but I could see the amusement in his eyes. Nonetheless, it made my heart swell with pleasure. "Well, intelligence and wisdom comes with age." I smirked.
"Are you calling me old, Miss. Tresscot?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Hmmm," I pretended to think with my free hand tapping on my chin. "I don't know Mr. Synclair, you tell me. After all, looks can be decisive."
"You're right," he gave in. "Who would have thunk there would be such a sexy lady under the nerdy clothes."
"Thunk? Really?" I glared at him playfully, which earned me a breathtaking smile that knocked the air right out of me.
Right now, sitting here in his office opposite him, brought back old memories when we were still 17 year old kids, trying to find our place in the world, making rash decisions, simply living each day as it came; not 25 year old adults dealing with the death of their entire family or planning revenge on the person who left us to fend for ourselves when we needed them the most.
"What did Johan cook today?" Nathan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as he removed his hands from mine and lifted the tray. "I bet it's fried vegeta-"
Nate stared at the food for some time as I bit my lips in anticipation. Then he looked up at me with eyes gone sapphire with emotions. "Thank you, Savannah."
Just like that, he knew it was me who made it without me having to say anything.
Dinner passed by silently as Nate and I devoured our plates of spaghetti in butter sauce with shredded chicken and veggies. There wasn’t any wine but Johan had pulled out a carton of apple juice that we enjoyed with the pasta. It was past 11pm by the time we were done.
"I need to get home now…think Roan can give me a ride?" I asked Nate, since Nikki was on a hot date tonight with her boyfriend, as she kindly texted me. Although kindly wasn't the word I'd use as the text read something like:
"Out on a hot date with my bf. Don't you dare interrupt bitch or I swear I'll murder you and dump your body into the gutter!
P.S: I still love you."
I got her warning loud and clear.
"Actually Roan's on a break. His daughter broke her leg today at the fair, so he rushed home to take care of her. Since it was an emergency, I allowed him to take the car." Nate explained, much to my disappointment. I have to take a cab home now since the busses have already stopped....or maybe I can still make it on time for the last bus. Nah! Considering my luck, no chance in Hell.
"Wait there's a fair? Where? When?" I asked, surprised that Tina hasn't babbled about it to me yet. I swear she knows everything that goes on around town and beyond.
"Central Field, Bellevue and it'll stay till coming Sunday. You wanna go? I can take you there for our first date." Nate declared.
"Nate, you only called me your girlfriend in front of Hugh, you never really asked me out." I said, to which I got a shocked look on his face. "What?"
"Were you really that stressed out or were you really that hungry that you forgot?" Nate asked astonished.
"Forgot wha-" And that's when I remembered. The first night I spent at his house.
"Not before you tell me what this meant!" I wanted to snap at him, but my voice was still breathless from his kiss.
"This", he crushed me to him once again. "Means that you belong only to me." His face was dead serious. He meant every word.
"Is that the newest trend in asking a girl out?" I raised an eyebrow.
"No. It's my way of saying that I want you to be my girlfriend." He said simply.
Damn! I had forgotten all that. I face palmed myself when I remembered. And why wouldn't I, Nathan had given me such an amazing night but then Samuel had sent me that message and everything had kinda slipped my mind.
"Remember now, my girlfriend?" Nate teased causing me to turn tomato red all over.
"Yes Boss," I said in a small voice, still embarrassed.
"Now that's not enough, you should be punished for forgetting such an important night." He smirked, an evil glint in his eyes.
"W-What would that be...Boss?" I asked, suspiciously.
"Let's make another memorable night together then shall we?" Nate said, seriously. "Stay with me tonight?"
I didn't expect this from Nathan, but it made me feel excited and nervous at the same time. "Umm...," I tried to think of something to say but came up blank.
"Hey, I'm not saying anything has to happen, just sleep. We both need some after the day we have had. And...I sleep better when you're around," he admitted sheepishly.
Awww! Someone hold me please before my legs turn to jelly.
"But stay where? It’s really late and you just said Roan's on a break. Didn’t he take the car with him?" I asked.
"Savannah, I have a penthouse apartment right here for a reason. And if you feel awkward about going home in the morning, there's an elevator from it directly to the garage." He explained and the held out his hand, "So, what's your decision gonna be, Miss. Tresscot?"
I stared at his hand for some time, deciding what to do. What if Nate found out? What will happen to us then, if I say yes to him now? Will Nate ever be able to forgive me? Will I ever be able to live without him?
But as I was having a mental debate, my conscience kept on nudging me to live a little, to not think about the consequences for once. So I decided to let go. For once, I wanted to do something for myself…to love and be free.
So I placed my hand in his larger, stronger ones and tugged him towards the elevator.
"Yes Boss!"