Standing in the green room, I let out a sigh of relief when Jake, another student, calls, “End scene.” He grins at me. “Tess, if production doesn’t work out, you should go into acting. That was really an awesome scene.”
Walking to where he’s standing behind the camera, I wait for him to rewind, and as I watch the footage, I try to look from a third person’s perspective. “I hate watching myself,” I mutter.
“We all do,” Annette adds, scrunching her nose as she comes to watch as well. “But Jake’s right. You’re good. With all the footage you got of the city, the final product is going to be awesome.”
“Will you be okay processing today’s recording with the footage we have?” I ask her. “I have a program that should do the trick and can make some time to help.”
Everyone has their part to do for the project. I wrote the screenplay with their input and had to get footage of the city. Annette will put it all together, with our input of course, and Jake will add the sound.
Annette’s face flushes with excitement. “I’ll work on it this weekend. Oh, I wanted to show you the final product of the footage you sent me.” We all head to where she pulls her laptop out of her bag, and when I see what a good job she’s done, especially with the water scene, I grin from ear to ear. “Damn, that’s awesome.”
“I had great footage to work with,” she passes the compliment back to me, then a curious expression flutters over her features. “By the way, who’s the man?”
“What man?”
Annette fast forwards to the scene of Nikolas, then lifts an eyebrow at me.
Damn.
“He’s… family.”
I watch as her curiosity morphs into interest. “Single?”
“No,” the word pops from me before I can even think of something to answer. Going with the lie, I add, “Married. Three kids.”
Then it hits that I don’t actually know whether Nikolas is in a relationship.
God, what if he is?
Worry gnaws at me because I seriously don’t like the idea that I kissed another woman’s man. I need to find out if Nikolas is single or if he’s seeing someone, just to soothe my conscience, of course.
“Shoot,” Annette mutters. “His wife is one lucky duck.”
“Are we calling it a day?” Jake asks.
“Sure. I have to get ready for a function anyway,” I mention as I gather my bag and place the strap over my shoulder. “Same time, Monday?”
“Yeah,” Annetta agrees. “What function are you going to?”
I have no idea. I just know I have to be there at seven p.m. “A family thing.”
So much for these events only being once a month.
Walking out of the green room, we head toward the exit. I see James hovering down the hall and suppress a sigh. Whenever people at school ask why I have guards, I never know how to answer.
When Grant comes into view, Jake takes hold of my arm. “Have a good weekend, Annette.” She grins at us as if she knows something I don’t, then Jake looks at me and asks, “Do you have some time free this weekend?”
“I planned on recording some more footage tomorrow. Why?”
He grins at me. “Want some company? A fresh eye might help.”
“Ahh…” Why does it feel like he’s offering more than just help? Not wanting to make things awkward, I shrug. “Sure. We can meet at Boba Run. They make the best bubble tea.”
I feel James and Grant hover behind me, and their presence must bother Jake as well, because he asks, “Will they come along?”
Letting out a huff, I mutter, “Yep. I’m kinda stuck with them.”
“Okay, so nine a.m. tomorrow?” Jake asks, only then letting go of my arm.
“Yes.” Giving him a smile filled with platonic friendship, which I hope gets through to him, I walk away.
James and Grant breathe down my neck as I walk down the street toward my apartment. My thoughts turn to Nikolas, wondering how the atmosphere will be between us tonight.
I haven’t seen him for the past twelve days. He missed lunch last Sunday because he was away on business. With the time passing since the kiss in his office, it’s made things feel awkward.
Part of me isn’t looking forward to the event at all, but there’s a small piece of me that’s a little excited to see Nikolas again.
Wearing a silver pencil dress that stops beneath my knees, the sleeves off-the-shoulder in a classy way, my toes wiggle uncomfortably in the matching heels.
Tonight I have my hair tied in a sleek ponytail because I was too lazy to wash it.
I’ve been following Athina around like a lost puppy for the last hour, greeting whoever she introduces to me. My eyes keep scouring the hall, though, for a specific someone.
Just as I’m about to give up and think Nikolas isn’t going to show, the girl we’re talking to, I think her name is Natali, gasps. An alluring smile spreads over her face.
A firm hand settles on my lower back, my spine stiffens, and instant heat floods every inch of me.
Nikolas pushes between Athina and me, presses a kiss to her temple, then turns his head my way. Our eyes lock, but there’s zero emotion in them before he presses a quick kiss to my forehead.
“Ladies,” he murmurs, “You both look beautiful.”
He sounds exhausted.
My eyes dart over his face, the tired lines around his eyes and mouth doing nothing to diminish his power or attractiveness.
“Nikolas, so good of you to make an appearance,” Natali says, her eyes practically devouring him.
Nikolas only gives her a curt nod. His hand slips further around my waist, settling on my side with a tight grip that has my stomach flip-flopping like a fish out of water.
“I need a word with Tess,” is all he says in warning, then I’m pushed to the side by his body. With Nikolas gluing himself to my back and breathing down my neck, I once again find myself being steered toward a hallway.
We’re having this talk now?
My stomach bunches tightly with nerves, my mouth drying up.
Unlike before, I’m not cornered in a restroom. Nikolas tugs me to a stop in the middle of the hallway, his hand flirts with my bottom, then he takes a step back. Turning around to face him, there’s zero patience in his gaze, which takes mine prisoner.
“You have a date tomorrow?”
My mind does a double-take, and I shake my head. “Date?”
“James said you’re meeting some clown from school?”
Oh.
“To work on a project,” I explain. “Jake is just a friend.” I don’t know why I added the last part.
Nikolas’ eyes drift over my face. The intensity of having his full attention focused on me makes me feel nervous, and I fidget with the thin strap of my purse.
“You’ll cancel,” he demands.
“Why? It’s for school.” There’s zero determination in my voice because I am worried Jake might think it’s an actual date.
Nikolas lets out a tired sigh. “Not tonight, Theresa. Just do as I say.”
I have the sudden urge to wrap my arms around Nikolas, to hug him tight, to give him the strength I don’t have. Instead, I grip my purse tighter. “Okay.”
Nikolas stares at me until my skin prickles with the need for more than just his eyes on me.
“We’ll talk about what happened when I’m not so busy.”
I nod, my tongue nervously darting out because I’m not sure I’m looking forward to that talk.
He lifts his hand to the side of my neck, the touch only increasing my need to be physically closer to him. When he leans into me, I desperately suck in a deep breath of his scent. My eyes drift shut when his lips press to my forehead.
We stand still for the longest moment. The attraction I feel toward him grows into something so powerful I wouldn’t stop him if he tried for more. I’d let him fuck me right here.
Nikolas lets go of me, and without another word, he walks away.
My gaze drinks in the wide expanse of his back, his firm shoulders, his confident stride.
That was… different.
He didn’t bite my head off. Still bossy and demanding, but not aggressive.
Don’t get your hopes up, Tess. It could just be because he was too tired to fight with you.
