Unwanted Heat

Kenzie

I broke down and called Hunter this morning so I could go food shopping, something I had put off as long as possible because I thought it would be weird. He immediately offered to go to the store and pick up whatever I needed but I couldn’t let him do that. It’s hard enough to get used to the idea that I need someone to drive me places and accompany me through the grocery store. I can’t let him actually go food shopping for me that would be too much. Surprisingly it was not as awkward as I thought it might be. We left as soon as I woke up and the store was pretty empty so we didn’t have to worry about any press.

Last night before I went to bed I searched the gossip pages for information about me and Nicholas. As Nicholas said, PFS released a statement confirming that he was in a “serious relationship” with someone and they asked for the press to respect our privacy. What surprised me was the statement did not release my name or really anything about me, which I suppose was purposely done to try to maintain my privacy a little longer.

There were several pictures of us on the sites from the different events we attended and the business dinner that I accompanied Nicholas and Alex to. For the most part the comments are pretty neutral, although everyone seems to be wondering how long I will stay with Nicholas. Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing but I’m trying not to think about that and instead just focus on our current arrangement, now including me living in this beautiful apartment.

When I was shopping with Hunter, I picked up a few items that I would need to bake Nicholas a basket of goodies as a way to thank him for everything he did last night. The kitchen is not only stocked with most of the basic staples you would find in any pantry, but it also has a large mixer, a handheld mixer, baking pans, muffin tins and more utensils than I could ever imagine using. I start baking as soon as we get back to the condo and manage to have a couple different varieties of muffins and cookies made before lunch time which was my goal. I don’t expect that Nicholas is going to eat all of these but I figured he could share them with the people who work for him; besides, you really can’t just make one muffin…

“Good morning Ms. Rose,” Hunter answers the phone before the first ring even stops.

“Good morning, Hunter. I have something for Mr. Parker’s office, so do you have a few minutes to take me there?”

“Um… of course. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”

“Thank you!”

It’s obvious from Hunter’s response that going to PFS was probably the last thing he expected from me which makes me wonder if perhaps I shouldn’t go there. I’ve met Nicholas at PFS twice now for dates so I just assumed it would acceptable for me to drop the basket off today but Hunter’s response has me second guessing myself. If he’s busy or can’t see me for some reason I’ll just leave the basket with Carter who I know is with him during the day. By the time Hunter knocks on the door, I feel a little less nervous but still unsure if I should be going to PFS.

“We’ve arrived Ms. Rose,” Hunter announces after a very short drive. I hadn’t realized until now just how close the condo was to PFS. I’m actually looking forward to not having to wake up so early for work tomorrow because I won’t need to take the subway and then a bus to get to the bakery. If it weren’t for Nicholas insisting that Hunter take me to work, I would probably just walk the couple of blocks to the bakery. The condo really is convenient to everything.

“Ms. Rose,” Carter greets us in the lobby.

“Carter, I wanted to drop something off for Nicholas but if he’s

busy-”

“I believe he is in between meetings and phone conferences at the moment. He probably only has a few minutes to spare but he should be in his office.”

Carter escorts me to the elevator and just before the doors close I see a few women in the lobby whispering and looking back at me. I look down at what I’m wearing: a simple pair of black dress pants and a button down shirt which I thought would be suitable to drop off something but after seeing those women I’m doubting my attire completely. When we finally arrive on Nicholas’s floor, I’m greeted by another one of his employees who is impeccably dressed, almost as if she walked off a designer’s photo shoot. I silently vow to add at least one or two outfits to my closet that I could wear here if we weren’t going to on a date so I would at least look like I fit in a little more.

“Melody, is Mr. Parker free?” Carter asks.

“Yes, he is… but-”

“We’ll only be a minute,” Carter quickly dismisses her and escorts me to a large door across from the reception desk.

“Yes,” Nicholas’s voice booms from behind the closed door.

“Go on,” Carter chuckles when I make no move to open the door.

“Nicholas?” he hasn’t looked up since I entered his office; his is obviously focused on whatever he is looking at. There are papers strewn all over his desk plus several more in his hand. I immediately regret coming here, as it’s obvious that I’ve disturbed him.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Kenzie? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” he drops the papers onto his desk and immediately stands up to greet me.

“Everything is fine… I’m sorry to have bothered you,” I apologize quickly.

“Nonsense, I needed to step away from this stuff anyway,” he shrugs as he looks at all the papers on his desk. “Everything is okay though? The condo… it has everything you need?”

“Oh yes! It has everything I need and many things that I don’t need,” I laugh. “I wanted to thank you… and well apologize for my reaction the other night-”

“Kenzie, that’s not-”

“It is. I overreacted to the situation as I was caught off guard and then took it out on you when you told me about the background check. I wanted to apologize for that. I understand why Carter would run a background check on me and while I don’t like the idea that it was done without my permission, I understand nonetheless. Regardless, blowing up at you was wrong and I’m sorry. I baked you some muffins and cookies to apologize for my behavior but also to thank you for what you did the other night.”

“I didn’t-”

“Nicholas, I know very few people who would have stepped up and helped someone who is practically a stranger-”

“I wouldn’t say that you’re a stranger.”

“You’re probably right, I wouldn’t say we’re strangers but still… there aren’t many people who would have rushed over to help someone they barely know. I just wanted to thank you for coming over to my apartment that late at night and then arranging for me to stay in the condo. It was very generous of you.”

“Kenzie… it was nothing, really. I’m just glad you’re in a place where you are safe. You didn’t need to come here to thank me, but if those are the delicious muffins that you make at the bakery, I certainly wouldn’t refuse one.”

“Mr. Parker, you’re appointment is here,” the receptionist alerts Nicholas through his phone intercom.

“I know you’re busy-”

“Melody, show them to the board room and let them know that my previous call ran over so I’ll be in with them in a few minutes.”

“I don’t want to make you late for your meeting-”

“They can wait a few minutes; I haven’t had a chance to eat lunch yet so you have perfect timing after all.”