17 Dinner Tonight

One week later...

We land in a snowy New York. It looked beautiful from the plane and even more beautiful now. As beautiful as it always is everytime I am here. I have been to New York for a number of times. Earlierit was just partying and hangover. But this was different. I am not with people I know or trust. David is nice, of course but he is busy with Nathan.

"Drop her to the hotel, David." Nathan orders in a voice hoarse from sleep.

"You are not...." Nathan raises his hand to cut me off.

"Nathan you can't just shut me up."

"Yes I can. Now stop arguing with me and get in the car." he says as rudely as possible. What happened to him? In the past few days I have had barely any interaction with him. He just used to come late night and leave early morning maybe that's why I have lost the habit. I don't argue with him and get in the car with David.

"Don't mind him, he's stressed about this deal." David covers for him.

"It's okay. The last thing I care about is his behavior towards me. I know it'll never change so you don't have to cover for him."

"I'm not covering for him, April. Why don't you get it that he is a good person?"

"Because it doesn't matter, David. He won't ever show that good side of his to me. Now please turn down the radio I need to sleep." I lay my head back comfortably and try not to think about Nathan. Or should I say my douche bag so called husband.

We reach the hotel sooner than I expected. As usual I check into the 5 star suite Nathan booked for us...him.

"Wow." I say to myself as I look at the view from the window. I can see Empire State and many other buildings. Cool. Manhattan, the last time I was here was for an interview in Columbia but than I got into Stanford and I decided that was better for me. It's been quite some time.

I throw myself on the bed and start reading one of the cliché romantic novels. Bad boy, good girl. I know it's a typical love story. The girl turns the boy's world upside down and he completely transforms from the secretive asshole to the sweetest boyfriend anyone could imagine. I wish I was one of those girls. I wish I had a bad boy in my life who would avoid me so that I come closer to him. So that I keep thinking about him.

I shake my head to get rid of these stupid thoughts. Why couldn't we just go in the market and buy a bad boy for us? Ahhh, here comes another one. Sometimes I think am I having a spilt personality disorder? My eyes widen at the thought of it.

"Why are you so shocked? Haven't you seen me shirtless before?" spoke a rude voice in my head. I wake from my daydream and see shirtless Nathan standing in front of me. Shit! I didn't even realise. Mental note : Remind me to stop daydreaming.

"Grey, are you okay?" he asks.

"Yes, yes absolutely." I reply after a moment.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"I spilled some coffee over my shirt so I had to change."

"Okay." I say as I tug at the hem of my top.

"W-what are you doing?" he raises an eyebrow.

"What? Why are you so shocked? Haven't you seen me shirtless before?" I mimic him. I couldn't control my laughter at his priceless expressions.

"I'm just messing around with you, Walsh." I get up and ruffle his hair. I feel a sudden jerk and the next moment I'm pinned to the bed with him over me.

"Don't ever, I repeat ever, try to touch me!" he growled. I cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"Nathan, it was just a joke." I say careful not to further provoke him.

"Then don't fucking joke with me! You have already made my life a joke!" he raises his voice. I squeeze my eyes. He's too close to me I'm not liking it. He grips my wrist tightly, very tightly that it hurts.

"Nathan, you are hurting me!" I say.

"Really April? I'm hurting you? What about you? Do you even realize how much you hurt me?!"

"Nathan..." I don't know what to say, "I didn't hurt you. It's your father's decision. You could have easily denied it." I manage to speak out.

"Of course!" he scoffs, "You have to argue about that as well." his breath is hot fanning my neck.

"Lemme go!" I yell and struggle out of his grip, only to make him hold me tighter.

"You have a habit of making things normal right? So let's have it your way then. Let's behave like a husband and wife. Let's do stuff that they do." he loosens his grip and makes eye contact with me. I'm curious and scared at the same time.

Suddenly he let's go of my wrists and his hands travels down to my waist, waking every single nerve in my body. His weight heavy on me, keeping me still. Panic and anticipation builds inside me.

"Nathan..." he shuts me by keeping a finger on my lips. I gulp. Shit, this is bad news. His green eyes never leave my blue ones as he starts leaning further into me. His lips connects my jawline and electricity runs in my body. What is happening? And why am I not able to stop it? He travels up to my cheek, his lips never leaving my skin. He starts towards my lips. Emergency! Emergency! My brain shouts but I can't do anything. Why has my body freezed?

"You think you are the only person who can kiss without one's will." he whispers against my lips. Before he could press his lips against mine a knock on the door startles us.

"Mr Walsh, are you ready?" David speaks through the door.

"Ye-yeah. I am ready." Nathan gets off me. I breath out realising I have been holding my breathe for a long time.

I can't get the picture of what happened in the morning. What the hell was that? I move downstairs to the dinning area and make my plate.

"Emma, behave yourself!" the girl next to me scolds her younger sister (I think). She seems about my age so Emma can definitely not be her daughter. Emma is cute and little, I guess she is no more than 4 or 5. Emma's innocent chocolate brown eyes meet mine and I give her a smile.

"Hi," I bend down to her level.

"Hi," she whispers and waves her hand frantically.

"I'm April! What's your name?"

"I'm Emma." she says.

"Hello, nice to meet you!" the girl says to me.

"You too." I give her a smile and she reciprocates.

"I'm Rebecca!" we shake hands and I join them to their table.

"She's your sister?" I point to Emma after a long moment of silence.

"Uh- no. She's my daughter."

"Wow. Umm, I'm so sorry. It's just you look really young." I clear my throat.

"No problem. People often mistake me as her elder sister but I like it." she laughs away, "And yes, I'm only 25."

"Okay."

"Mommy I'm done." Emma interrupts us.

"Great, do you want to go back to the room and play with your doll?"

"Yes!" she cheers. How cute!

"I'll be back." Rebecca says politely and lifts Emma in her arms. When I'm finished with my food I move to the lobby and bump into Rebecca again.

"Hi! Here we are again!" she chirps.

"Yes! You wanna go out for a coffee or something?"

"No I can't go outside the hotel leaving Emma alone. She's asleep for now but she can wake. I hope you understand."

"Of course I do! She's a lovely girl."

"Thank you. We can go to my room if you don't mind?" she asks shyly.

"Of course! That's a wonderful idea." I say and follow her to her room.

"Which room is yours?"

"The suite upstairs."

"Wow you must be rich. Oh, or your company is paying for it?"

"Umm.... Actually... My husband is rich. I am not in the corporate." I say. It feels so weird calling him my husband.

"Oh you are married?"

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

"23."

"Wow, you must really love him to get married so early."

"It was arranged. But let's not talk about me only. Tell me something about you as well."

"My life is not so interesting. I am from Boston originally. Just here for work."

"So why didn't you leave Emma with her father? What will she do when you go to office?"

"Well... Emma's father was my high school boyfriend. I loved him like crazy. He was a playboy that I thought changed for me. And for once he did. We went to the same college. But then when he knew I was pregnant with his child. He left us." She says in an emotionless voice.

"I'm so very sorry, Rebecca." I reach out to her and keep my hand on hers. I'm such a jerk. Why did I pressed where it hurt her?

"It's okay. I got a job when I graduated and thankfully blessed with an amazing daughter. She's my life now." She gives me a weak smile.

"You are very strong." I say to her.

"Thank you. Now your turn. You were quick to change the topic when we talked about you." she complains.

"Okay okay!" I give up, "Well I had a pretty simple life till I graduated. A few boyfriends and amazing friends. Then one day my mom and dad decide to trade me in exchange of business and bam, I became Mrs Walsh from Miss Grey."

"Oh, I'm sorry too." she says.

"Not a problem at all." I smile.

"But he treats you well right? Otherwise you won't be in such a big hotel."

"Yeah I guess." I shrug.

Emma wakes up when we finish our coffee. I play with her for a couple of hours. While playing with her I realise how much I love taking care of kids. My mind wonders to the orphange and the pamphlet it had published. Emma is hungry again Rebecca prepares her milk, while I take my leave.

I come to my room and fall asleep after watching some TV. When I wake up it's evening and I wonder why Nathan isn't here yet. Maybe he is just not in the room. Thinking of Nathan send chills down my spine. He was actually going to kiss me if David didn't interrupt. Thank God, David interrupted us. My phone beeps and I see a message from Nathan.

Meet me at Eleven Madison Park @8:30 sharp. David is coming to pick you.

What? Why? Him and me? Dinner? Doesn't sound good. Sounds... I don't know..sounds strange.

Don't think too much..I'm not going to kill you.

He texted again as if reading my mind. I look around the room to find cameras. I'm sure he is playing a prank with me.

Oh and yeah, dress nicely.

Arghhh he just wouldn't shut up! I thump my foot and open my suitcase to select a dress.

I pick out my favorite white dress and earrings that Zack gifted me for the wedding. I wait outside the hotel for David. It's quarter to an hour since Nathan texted me. Why is David not here yet? Should I text him?

Hey I'm waiting outside the hotel. Why is David not here yet?

I press the send button with great hesitation. After a minute or so my phone beeps.

I'm sorry but David has some urgent work...why don't you take a cab here.

He's sorry? Nathan Walsh is sorry? That too to me? I read the message again, he really wrote that. What has gotten in him? Something is wrong. He won't talk to me like this. So politely. Never. I take a cab and go to Eleven Madison Park, anyway. He's right. He won't...he can't kill me, so this won't be that bad I guess.