chapter 2

Ok,so Chase was Hank's brother.Oh god how had I not known?!

Hank and I became friends about 2 months ago.We had met at a restaurant where he had mistaken me for his blind date and somehow that awkward suitation led to a great friendship.

But since then never had Hank even once said Chase's name.So how was I supposed to know ? And not to mention that there isn't only one Chase in the world and the world isn't that small, so even if he did mention it,I might have have ignored it (after fretting about it for hours ofcourse). But clearly the world is a small place.Or atleast my world is.

Chase cleared his throat, clearly as uncomfortable as i was.

"So, you both know each other?" asked Hank, clearly sensing some tension in the air.

I looked at Chase, waiting for his response, because honestly i didn't know how to respond to this suitation, so I was going to let Chase do the talking.And secretly, i wanted to know how he would handle the suitation.What would he call me?His friend? His ward?Someone he had saved about 9yrs ago?Maybe he must have mentioned me to Hank. Ofcourse, he must have,after all they are brothers.Hank just didn't realise I was that girl.But he will when Chase will mention it.

"No, never met her before",came the curt reply.

For two seconds what he said didn't register.And when it did, I felt like smashing that paper weight (which was lying on his table ) on his head. (Author's note: Dont worry, she won't actually do that.Feeling like doing something and actually doing it is different.Afterall ,she also feels that she should do exercises everyday, but does she actually do it? Yeah, you guessed it right).

Anyway, back to the story, I tried to hide the expression of hurt on my face.

"Oookkkk", said Hank,with raised eyebrows,. clearly not buying it.

I was kind of frozen to the floor.I mean what do you say in this suitation where you are so unwanted that people don't even acknowledge that they know you.

When Hank stopped coming about 7 years ago,first i believed it was because he was busy.Even when he told me during the last visit that he would stop coming. After all,he still kept sending the money to the orphanage.Then when he didn't, I worried maybe he was sick or something.Thats what my poor heart believed for the past 7years that maybe he was with some chronic illness and i actually cried for him.Oh the tears I shed for this guy's imaginary illness while here he is, standing in front of me,looking as hot and happening as ever.

The suitation was becoming even more awkward by the second.He couldn't meet Hank's eyes and was fidgeting like he had ants in his shirt.I hoped he really had them.Would serve him right for hurting my tender heart.

"Ok, so Nikki will work as your secretary, Chase", said Hank, finally breaking the silence.

i waited , knowing Chase would find an excuse for not letting me work, after all, the guy didn't even want to acknowledge knowing me, i doubt he would be okay with me working as his secretary.

"Yeah, she will, listen Hank, get me that file on the MRI machines I want to purchase.", replied Chase.

Hank and I both knew that Chase was clearly trying to get rid of Hank, but none of us could say anything.

The moment Hank left the room, i finally found my voice and said , " I can leave if you want me too.I can make an excuse.Its ok ,i understand (I actually didnt, but I wasn't going to admit that) I will leave.This is clearly uncomfortable for you", I started turning towards the door.

"No, stay," said Chase as he turned towards me," I was just surprised to see you".

"yeah, i can understand," I replied, "So was I".

He frowned, "you didn't know you were going to work for me?",he asked.

"No, actually Hank never mentioned your name", i replied .

"Really,I find that hard to believe,Ms Shaw",He said with a smile on his face.It was more of a mischievous smile and it actually reached his eyes.

"And why is that",i asked in a challenging tone.I don't know where suddenly the courage came from.

"Ms Shaw, u can't expect me to believe that Hank never mentioned my name.After all, you have been friends for quite sometime,I presume? And he must have mentioned me when he asked you to take the job".

The smile was now a full blown grin.

"Oh, the thing is, he did mention you, but its not my fault that he kept on referring to you as 'That Ass'.Its kind of hard Equating :That Ass with Chase Williams',I replied but immediately regreted saying it.Damn it, that smile had clearly messed with my head.

Surprisingly Chase laughed, and that laugh, it did something to my stomach.Control ,Nikki control,I reminded myself.I am not a teenager anymore who was crushing on her saviour.I have to crush this stupid crush before i get crushed under its weight.I winced at the ridiculousness of my internal monologue.

"Well Miss Shaw,I guess i will have to live upto my name then,dont you think?",he asked and suddenly his face became serious.

"You, miss Shaw ,were 15min late, on your first day of work."

The opening of the door saved me from replying and Hank came in with a file in his hand.According to Hank, the hospital which "the brothers" were running,which actually Chase was running , was very successful but the MRI machines where not functioning properly at all, and had to be sent for repair everyother week, so they decided to replace them all.

"Here's the file, brother", said Hank.

"Ofcourse, now i am "brother", otherwise i m supposed to be "that ass", muttered Chase.

"Did you say something?" asked Hank.

Chase ignored his brother and turned to me ,"I heard about you cat,and I am sorry to hear that", he said.

"What cat?",I asked him, confused.I was allergic to cats.

"Your cat Nikki," said Hank to me,giving me some weird expression.

"The one who was sick" said Chase,"I may be a hard boss, but i am not inhumane.I can understand why you were late"

"Oh thaaat cat,"I laughed , finally realising that Hank must have given the excuse of a sick cat for me being late to work,"Yeah, she is much better now.Thank you for your kindness"

"But Hank said she died," said Chase with an unreadable expression,"And that's why you were late". I stared at Chase for a full minute and half.

i couldn't believe Hank had killed my cat for just being 15minutes late.Granted it was an imaginary one, but still, a sick imaginary cat would have done a better job.

"My dead cat!", I started wailing as i hid my face behind my hands.i knew i was being an epitome of overacting,but damn it, it was totally Hank's fault.I didn't know how to show i was mourning for my dead cat when i myself had said she was feeling better.

"Oh dear, don't cry," Hank came to me to give me support."You are right, she is in a much better place right now, she is with her dead cat parents in heaven.The ones who died when she was an infant and left her in that alley where you rescued her.I am sure she is watching you from heaven and her parents are sending you blessings."

i wanted to hit Hank so hard.If i was overacting,he was just being ridiculous.

"So what was the cat's name," asked Chase as he started doing some paperwork.

"Daisy", I said, just as Hank said "Catty".

Daisy was Chase's previous secretory's name.That was the first name that came to my mind and i babbled it without thinking.But Hank's "Catty?" , I cringed,we were so dead.

"So was it Catty, or was it daisy?", asked Chase as he looked at us again.

i gave a nervous laugh, "actually when we saw the poor "infant" kitten in the alley, we both were togather and i gave her the name Daisy and Hank called her Catty."

"And i called her Catty and not Kitteny because i knew she would feel insulted by that name when she was older", said Hank with such conviction, anyone would have believed it if it wasn't such a crappy story.Clearly, being horrible liars ran in their family, i thought as I imaginary face palmed myself.

"Ok,so you are better now?" Chase asked me but i am sure he wasnt buying it and was just letting it go

"No, Chase, actually, i think she needs to rest today", said Hank as he started dragging me out the door.

"Sure ,take the day off,on your first day of work, but its ok, after all your cat died", said Chase just as the door shut behind us as we exited Chase's room.

"What is wrong with you! Couldn't you have told me my cat died before dragging me into the room?!" I scream-whispered to Hank.

"Well, i told you to make the saddest possible face!",said Hank.

"So making the saddest possible face is equal to having a dead cat?"

"what's the big deal?"He scream-whispered back, "didn't i just save your butt?"

"Well,I could have used the excuse of a sick cat when I actually needed it!"

Hank stared at me,"Its ok, i told him you have many animals".

"Ofcourse you did",I sighed."Why did you have to make up a story?I mean 'she had a cat who was sick' would have worked perfectly, but cat's parents in heaven sending me blessings?"

"Oh come on, details make a story more believeable,you should know that", replied Hank as he started dragging me towards the lift.

"Not if you are the storyteller", I muttered to myself.

"Come on, "he said ignoring me,"we are in mourning,lets watch a movie".