Nick
"Caroline Stewart?"
I asked the guy standing in front of me, who stared at me weirdly like I'd asked a rocket science
question. He shrugged.
"Rebekah Andrews?"
I raised a brow.
His eyes lit up in recognition and I frowned.
"Last door down the hall on your left"
Nodding, I walked over to the door and stood there for a few moments like an idiot, debating if this was
a good idea or not.
Finally, I lifted my hand up and knocked.
Footsteps were heard after a few seconds and the door was swung open.
Rebekah stood there, surprised, before a frown took over her lips.
"Rebekah, I greeted.
"Nick"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Is Caroline—"
"Wait"
She cut me off, went inside the room and came back a few seconds later.
With a baseball bat in her hand.
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm here to see Caroline,’ I stated.
Her eyes turned murderous.
"You have some nerve showing up here and asking for her."
"I see she told you what happened—"
"Get out" she snapped.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance.
"I'm not leaving unless I see her’ "Look.
She raised the bat up in the air and pointed it in my direction.
"Caroline is a very strong woman.
Now, I don't know what manwhoric tricks you played on her but for the first time today, I saw her on the
verge of tears."
Damn! 1 made her cry? I didn't like what I was hearing.
I never meant to hurt her.
"And if you ever—"
she narrowed her eyes, "—ever do that again, I will personally sneak into your penthouse and smash
one of your expensive vases on your head’ I narrowed my eyes for a moment too.
"Where is she?"
"Are you not listening to me?" she snapped.
"You will not see her" "Sorry Becs, but that's impossible.
I hope you realize that she's my assistant’ She scowled.
"Now, if you're done with the drama, I'd like to see Caroline’ "Well, too bad.She's not here right now."
"What? Where is she?"I frowned.
"Happy searching.’ She gave me a sarcastic smile.
And then the door was shut in my face.
"Dammit!"I cursed under my breath.
Where the hell was Caroline? Maybe Rebekah was lying and Caroline was in that room listening to
everything.
That thought made me furious.
I looked down at my watch and realized something.
It was 7 p.m.and Caroline had a shift at 6 p.m.
I quickly went to the parking lot, got into my car, searched on the internet for the nearest coffee shop
and started driving towards it, hoping that I would find her there.
After a five minute drive, I was standing in front of a small coffee shop.
Its modern interior was displayed by the huge glass windows.
Then, I saw her.
She was standing next to what looked like a broken coffee cup, facing a man in about his thirties who
seemed to be shouting at her.
Before I could contemplate what I was doing, I found myself walking into the place and stepping
between the two.
He raised a brow at me and almost opened his mouth to say something but I shoved a fifty dollar bill in
his hand.
"Keep the change and leave her alone"
He eyed it for a moment and raised a brow.
Without a fuss, he turned around and disappeared somewhere behind the cash counter.
I turned to Caroline.
Her lips were slightly parted in surprise as she blinked at me.
"Hello, Caroline."
I flashed her a smile expecting her to do the same, but she scowled at me, turned around and
disappeared down a corridor, then came back a few seconds later with her bag.
Without a glance at me, she walked out of the coffee shop and I followed after her.
"Caroline."
I called her name a few times but she did not listen.
My temper flared when anyone ignored me like that and before I could think, I had grabbed her wrist
and pulled her in my direction.
Her short, petite body was pressed up against mine and her palms were lying flat on my chest.
She was breathless from my sudden action as she stared up at me with wide eyes.
And then I saw it.
The hurt in her eyes.
I immediately let go of her and cursed myself when she stumbled back a few steps.
"I didn't mean to...I trailed off.”She blinked a few times and nodded.
"Why did you leave, Caroline?"I frowned.
"My shift was over, she said in a low voice.I sighed.
"I meant earlier.At the restaurant’Something flashed across her eyes—anger, or maybe jealousy.
"I just figured I was supposed to leave once your real da—"
She stopped abruptly and cleared her throat.
"Since your date showed up."
"But to disappear like that?"I scowled.
"I was worried about you"
"Oh" She looked away, obviously avoiding my gaze.
"Look, I didn't mean for any of that to happen.Everything Cassandra said was..."
I trailed off again.
Go on! Tell her it was an act to get a jealous reaction out of her.
That should make her like you even more.
"It's okay.’ She gave a slight nod.
"I was backup.I get it."
"No.I spoke in soft whisper and took a step in her direction.
"That's not—"
"I'm tired," she cut me off.
"It's been a long day.I just wanna go back and sleep"
"Okay,’ I sighed.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"No, you won't.’ What the fuck! "Caroline."I frowned.
"I won't let you quit because of what happened today—"
"I'm not quitting.
I asked for tomorrow off but maybe you weren't paying much attention.
I blinked at her.
"Right.I just remembered.You have to work shifts at the coffee shop and volunteer at some—"
"Go home, Nick."
She spoke with a straight face.
I was taken aback when she said that and didn't know what to do.
She was really mad at me.
I took another step in her direction and before she could take another step back, I had barely left an
inch between us.
"Not unless I know you're okay"' I muttered.
Left with no choice, she lifted her face up, locking her deep brown eyes with mine.
Her chest heaved up to suck in a breath and I relished the sound of her soft breathing.
My gaze fell on her lips.
Don't do it, Nick.
It's wrong— Fuck it.
Slowly, I leaned forward and she shut her eyes.
Then ever so gently, her lips brushed against mine.
I'd never felt a touch more electric.
I suddenly lifted my hands to her face to pull her closer but my fleeting pleasure was snatched away
when she stepped back.
"I-I'm okay, she stuttered.
"You should go"
With that, she turned around and walked away.
And this time, I didn't follow her.
I couldn't.
Because I got rejected.
I didn't know for how long I just stood there, watching the empty road ahead of me.
And as unexpected as it was, a laugh escaped my mouth.
Nick Sinclair got rejected.
Shaking my head, I walked back to my car.
Only you, Caroline Stewart, could do that.
Throughout the ride back to my apartment, I couldn't stop thinking about that one tiny moment.
Just how close I'd been to finally having her.
Just how close I'd been to finding out if a kiss was what I really needed to get her off my mind.
And— To see if she felt what I felt.
But then, I guess I did find out that last one.
She wouldn't have rejected me if she felt something.
Maybe I was just rowing the boat to an empty island.
I reached my apartment, had dinner and was trying to sleep but the thought of her wasn't leaving my
mind.
I couldn't stop thinking about that almost kiss.
I didn't realize it when I fell asleep.
Maybe I dreamt of her.
Because the first thought in my mind in the morning was— I want her.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda