Nick
Where the hell is she? I told her to be ready by 8 a.m.
and here I was, leaning against my car parked in her campus parking lot like a fool.
When she looked out her window, she seemed so surprised to see me.
Did she not get my message? I was getting bored of the number of girls throwing glances my way,
trying to start a conversation and walking past my car to get my attention.
Their giggles were giving me a headache.
I almost pulled my phone out to call Caroline but then I finally saw her walking in my direction.
For some reason, she had a small smile playing on her lips.
I felt my heart warm at that and I wondered if I was the reason behind that smile.
But no, she never smiles at me.
I frowned.
"Good morning, Mr.Sinclair."
"Morning, Ms.Stewart" I muttered.
As we got into the car, her smile slowly vanished and out of the corner of my eye, I could see her
cutting glances at me.
"I'm sorry for making you wait.I was so tired last night that I overslept this morning.’ Last night! When
she was with that guy.
I suddenly felt my temper flare.
Taking in a deep breath, I kept my eyes focused on the road.
"That's okay.The unexpected rain must have slowed down the bus service.And you probably reached
your dorm late and slept late"
"Oh, no" she said.
"The bus service was fine-"
I pressed my lips into a thin line, waiting for her to speak further.
It's like she's hesitating.
"Okay, I finally said.I cut a glance in her direction and she was looking outside the window.Why
wouldn't you tell me about the coffee shop and Liam, Caroline? But then, why would you? "Actually"
she started and I quickly averted my gaze back to the road, "I work at this coffee shop near my college"
Was she a mind reader? "Oh" I said.
"Yeah.
And since I've been missing all my shifts recently, I need to fill in some extra shifts tomorrow and I also
need to volunteer for something in the afternoon, so I was wondering if I could get a day off?"
Her eyes were hopeful, like a little kid asking for candy.
"I see.What kind of volunteering?"
"Oh, it's just for a stall at the college carnival."
"Okay" I nodded.
"You can take tomorrow off" "Thank you."
She smiled.
I couldn't help but smile back.
She looked so beautiful when she smiled.
She always looked beautiful.
"What time does your shift start every day?" I asked.
"8 if I go in the morning or 6 in the evening whenever I used to intern at Mr.Andrews’.
I thought for a moment.
"Do you like working there?"
"At the coffee shop?" I nodded.
With a sigh, she leaned back into the seat.
I'll take that as a no.
"Everything's got its ups and downs.Some co-workers are so bitchy—I'm sorry" she apologized and I
held back a chuckle.
"Some co-workers are really impolite and sometimes I don't even wanna go there but I need the money
—"
"Quit it,’ I said.
She blinked at me.
Don't be so fucking blunt, Sinclair.
"I can't, she muttered.
"Like I said, I need the money."
"You're working for me, Caroline.I'll be paying you a lot more than you make at that coffee shop."
"Only until Penny comes back." She smiled.
I frowned.
How could I forget that she was only my temporary assistant and that after a few weeks, she'd go back
to Blake's company?’ I won't be able to see her every day.
That thought bothered me.
"Right" I said and looked ahead.
"Mr.Sinclair?" she called after a few seconds.
"I told you to call me Nick” I said.
She pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Okay, Nick."
She spoke as if testing my name.
"Yes, Caroline?" I smiled.
"Where are we going?"
"To a restaurant. I smirked at the look of realization on her face.
Maybe Rebekah filled her ears about this being a date.
It's funny how I knew she would do that for me.
She cleared her throat.
"Is it a business meeting?"
"Of course, Caroline.Why else would I ask you to dress casual?"
She stared back at me blankly.
At this, I chuckled.
She was silent for the rest of the ride.
I probably scared her.
Dammit! I finally parked the car in the parking space and stepped outside.
Caroline had already stepped out of the car and was looking all around the place to avoid my gaze.
I didn't know if she nervous or if it was a sign of I-do-not-want-this.
"Come on" I said and walked towards the building.
"This isn't a restaurant" she muttered.
"Nope.
"Where are we?"
She eyed the delicious sweet items behind the glass counter.
And then, as unexpected as it was, a laugh escaped her lips.
"I know you like sweets but coming this far in the morning just for some cakes and pastries?
Seriously?"
She looked up at me.
"What are we doing here?"
"We're here for a cake tasting.’ Her smile slowly dropped.
"What?"
"Yeah.Big occasion coming up." I nodded.
"Oh! I didn't know you were getting married." She frowned.
"Because I'm not. It's for my birthday."
If I wasn't looking for it already, I might have missed the look of relief that crossed her face.
"Oh"
She let out a laugh.
"But why bring me along?"
"Because you're my assistant.Why wouldn't I bring you along?"
She nodded and looked around the decorated place.
"Nick" two voices, one of a girl and one of a boy, spoke in sync.
I turned around to find my eight-year-old twin cousins, Layla and Jack, running in my direction.
"You guys,’ I laughed as they literally climbed up my body together, one from each side and gave me a
hug.
"What are you doing here?"
I asked in confusion while setting them down.
"Didn't you have school?"
"We did."
They both spoke in unison and then stared at each other, rolled their eyes and turned to me.
"But Dad brought us along" Layla said.
Their dad, my uncle who owned this place, was my mom's younger brother.
Uncle James’ family and my grandpa were the only close relatives I knew from my mom's side.
As for my dad, he had no one else besides us, no relatives, just his friend Walter Reed, who he
considered more than a brother.
The Reeds were good family friends.
"Nick?" I looked up from the twins at my uncle.
"Uncle James." I went forward and hugged him.
"How are you, Nick?"
"I'm good" I smiled and my uncle looked somewhere behind me.
I followed his gaze to find Caroline smiling down at the twins as they talked to her.
"That's Caroline Stewart, my assistant,’ I told him and Caroline walked up to us at the mention of her
name.
"My uncle, Mr.James Price,’ I told her.
They shook hands.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr.Price"
She smiled, seeming a little uneasy all of a sudden.
"Likewise, Ms.Stewart."
He nodded with a smile, then frowned a bit as if trying to remember something.
"Have we met before?" he asked her.
I could see her nervous demeanour but she quickly concealed it with a smile.
"I don't think so" He nodded and then turned to his kids.
"Come on.Let's go’’ The moment they were out of our sight, I turned to her.
"Caroline?"
She looked up at me.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah"
She nodded.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Her gaze broke away from mine and once again, she was looking around the place, this time to avoid
my eyes.
"Okay.I directed her towards the table and a few slices of cakes were brought to us.
Whatever it was that she was worried about, she was now over it as she looked down at the slices in
thought, tasting each one carefully.
I was on the third slice when I looked up and found her staring at me with amusement.
She blinked and looked away.
"I know what you're thinking,’ I said.
"That tasting isn't tasting when you're literally gobbling down all the slice.That's okay."
I chuckled.
"It's what my mom says to me and my dad.’
’ "I'm sorry.’’ She let out a laugh.
"I didn't mean to stare like that.
"I don't mind if you do."
I smiled.
I could tell that for a moment, she couldn't take her eyes away from mine, and honestly, I liked it that
way.
What I really wanted to do was reach forward and pull her in my direction— Stop! Clearing my throat, I
looked away and went back to eating the cake.
"So, I asked once I was finished, "which one do you like the most?"
"The fudge cake" she replied.
I didn't know why but I expected her to choose that one.
"What about you? Which one is going to be your birthday cake?"
"I like them all"
Placing the fork in the plate, I leaned back.
"Honestly, I knew I would have a hard time choosing, which is why I needed a second opinion.So for
my birthday cake, the fudge it is.Thank you, Caroline-"
"You're welcome, Mr.Sinclair.’ She chuckled.
I raised a brow and she realized her mistake.
"You're welcome, Nick."She smiled.
Every time she said my name, it did something weird to me.
Like I wanted to hear it more.
Almost like I could hear it all day.
"Good.”I nodded.
Once I had gotten a few pastries packed, since I was running out of them at my apartment, we were
ready to leave.
"Do you have your shift at the coffee shop today?"
I asked her while buckling my seatbelt.
"Yes."
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