The following morning Natalia was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She had a busy schedule today, but after what Cliff had done, she didn't feel like getting out of bed. Why did men always think a woman owed them? She had worked for him at one point but never asked for favors or special treatment. She didn't owe him anything. Natalia didn't believe in empty threats, and if he had raped her, she wouldn't have hesitated in filing charges.
She groaned as she got out of bed and headed for the shower. She had taken an hour-long shower the night before to get any trace of Cliff off her. Even so, Natalia felt like she needed another one.
Thinking of how Hayden had put his jacket around her and hugged her as she cried made her feel humiliated. She didn't like making anyone see her as a damsel in distress. She looked around with a smile as she walked back into her bedroom.
She loved this apartment. It was larger than what she needed, but it was the only one they had available this high up. She had two bedrooms with two and a half bathrooms. She converted one bedroom into a home office with a large cherry wood desk and bookshelves along one wall.
Natalia had set her bedroom up with comfort in mind. She had a teal loveseat and chair facing the fireplace. The floors were light grey wood, so she had large white rugs placed sporadically throughout her bedroom. Her bed had a teal headboard with pale grey and white bedding.
She went into the walk-in closet pulling out a black skirt suit and a green blouse. After putting on light makeup, straightening her hair, and getting dressed, she walked out of the bedroom in her four-inch black heels.
Her living room had a dark grey leather sectional with black tables. In this room, she had a large bright red rug and throw pillows to counter the grey and black. There was a nice-sized television hanging on the wall, but she preferred to look out at the panoramic view of the city.
She walked into the kitchen and made herself a cup of black coffee. There were black stainless steel appliances and a six-burner gas stove, but Natalia didn't cook, so she thought it was wasted on her. She had a small dining area that she had never used, with a black rectangular table and six white high-backed chairs.
She grabbed her briefcase, purse, and Hayden's suit jacket before walking out the door after draining her coffee in a matter of seconds. Her car was waiting for her when she got outside. The drivers were professional and knew not to make small talk unless the passenger initiated it. Natalia never did. That's why she used the car service rather than a ride-share.
NC headquarters were located on the sixteenth floor of one of the many skyrises in the city. When Natalia walked through the door, many of her staff were already busy at work. She had twenty employees, and they all respected her as a boss. She was fair and approachable. As soon as she stepped into her office, her assistant Patrice came in behind her.
"How did it go last night? Did you get any leads?" Patrice asked her hopefully as she sat down.
"Shut the door." Natalia trusted Patrice. She had been with her from the beginning when it was just the two of them working out of her brownstone. Patrice looked at her friend in concern.
"What's wrong, Nat?" She asked as she sat back down.
"Last night Cliff Judd tried to rape me. He pretended he had a company to discuss, then attacked me." Natalia took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn't lose it while she was at work.
"Oh, my goodness. Why would that pig try something like that? Did you call the police?" Patrice frowned when she saw Nat look away.
"No. I didn't want that type of attention on myself. Cliff was stopped before he could do anything more than grab my arm." Natalia shuddered at the thought of what he would have done.
"You should have still reported him. Now he thinks he got away with something. What if he tries to do it again?" She knew Patrice was right, but at least she didn't let him off unscathed.
"I did knee him in the groin before I left. Hopefully, that pain sticks with him for a while." She gave Patrice a small smile.
"I think that may help keep him off you. Any business news?"
"Well, I did meet Hayden Sumner last night." She didn't think she needed to tell Patrice she'd cried all over him.
"Your talking about Hayden Sumner, the CEO of Sumner Enterprises? He's the most eligible bachelor on the east coast. Women throw themselves at him just to get him to look their way. Is he as handsome in person as he is on television?" Patrice asked dreamily, thinking about how she would love to meet him.
"He's easy on the eyes; I'll give him that. Speaking of which, can you send this to the cleaners?" She handed Hayden's suit jacket to her.
"Whose is this?" Patrice asked, staring at the jacket in her hands.
"It's Hayden's. He came into the room right after I stopped Cliff. He put the jacket on my shoulders when he walked me outside. I forgot to take it off when I got in the car." She avoided Patrice's smirk as she opened her laptop.
"Sure, I'll have it cleaned. Do you want to deliver it to him yourself?" Patrice asked with a raised eyebrow. If she didn't already have a fiance, she would have begged Nat to let her take it to him.
"I'm sure we can get someone else to take it to his office." Natalia turned back to her laptop to get to work, and Patrice stood up with a smile.
"Just in case you change your mind, I'll let you know when it's ready for pickup." As she opened the door, Aimee, the receptionist, was getting ready to knock. She was carrying an enormous bouquet of pink lilies mixed with white roses and baby's breath in a clear vase. The petite brunette smiled.
"These were just delivered at the front desk." Aimee set the flowers on the corner of her desk as Natalia stared in surprise. Who would send her flowers?
"Who are they from?" Patrice asked.
"I don't know, but there's a card." Aimee took the card off the top and handed it to Natalia. When she opened it, she smiled softly, and the other two women looked at each other in question.
I hope you're feeling better. I don't like that nickname, the ice queen. Let's talk about changing it over dinner sometime. Take care. - Hayden.
"Who are they from?" Patrice asked as Nat continued to stare at the card.
"Hayden." She said quietly, re-reading the small writing. She was wondering if he wrote it himself or had it transcribed.
"What? Hayden Sumner sent these to you?" Aimee exclaimed in excitement. She and Patrice exchanged a knowing smile. Many men had sent flowers to their boss, trying to win her over, but she never had the reaction she was having now.
"Okay, that's enough. We have a busy day so get back to work." Natalia put the small card on her desk and pointed to the door so they would leave. She didn't want to answer any more questions about last night.
When her phone rang a few hours later, Natalia was busy looking over a proposed contract for another business and comparing it to the research gathered. Her office phone was ringing, but it wasn't the main line; it was her personal line. Only a handful of people had that number, so she picked it up without hesitation.
"Natalia Crawford." She answered distractedly.
"Did you like the flowers?" Natalia's heart started racing when she heard Hayden. His voice was smooth as honey.
"Yes, they're beautiful. How did you get this number?" She asked, trying to talk with her business voice.
"I have my ways. I was worried about you and needed to ensure you were alright. I didn't like leaving you alone after what that moron did. I'm sorry, and I hope he hasn't ruined your image of other men in this business." Hayden was sincere. He had thought about Natalia all night, worrying that she was crying in her apartment alone.
"I'm fine. Don't apologize for something you didn't do. I typically don't get myself into situations like that, but I thought Cliff was harmless. I have your suit jacket too. It's at the cleaners. I'll have someone bring it to you when it's ready." Natalia's heart was still thumping loudly in her chest. She didn't like having this reaction. It reminded her of how she felt with Jon during her freshman year in college.
"How about you let me take you out to dinner, and you can give it to me? I think it's time our two companies meet to see how we can collaborate in the future." Hayden held his breath, hoping she would say yes. He hadn't planned on calling her so soon, but he couldn't help himself.
"I don't typically go to dinner with business associates; we meet in conference rooms. Why should I make an exception for you?" Natalia asked with a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Well, I am the most handsome of all the others, and I'll be on my best behavior. I'll even let you choose the restaurant if you want." He felt a sliver of hope, knowing that she was considering it. He had expected her to turn him down immediately.
She thought about having dinner with Hayden. Natalia didn't do dinner dates, whether they were business-related or not. However, he had shown her compassion the night before, so it wouldn't hurt to hear him out to see how they could work together.
"You've got yourself a deal. I don't care where we go. Text me the details, and I'll meet you there." Hayden wanted to pick her up, but being that it was a business dinner, he didn't want to scare her off by making it look like a date.
"Thank you, Natalia. You won't be disappointed." She gave him her cell phone number and then sat at her desk in a daze. She quickly picked up her phone and called Patrice when she snapped out of it.
"Hey, boss." She said in her usual greeting.
"Make sure you put a rush on the suit jacket and have it back here before I leave. I'll give it to Hayden myself." Natalia watched as Patrice turned around in her chair, looking at her through the glass walls of her office.
"You got it." Patrice grinned from ear to ear. Maybe Nat would finally find someone to make her happy.
Natalia was on edge the rest of the day after agreeing to dinner with Hayden. She thought about canceling a hundred times but stopped by reminding herself it was a business dinner and nothing else. Patrice had brought the suit jacket back about an hour ago, fresh from the cleaners. She was supposed to meet him at a rooftop garden restaurant at six. She'd never been there before because her typical dinner was take-out. She sometimes was at the office until after ten and came back first thing in the morning. It didn't leave much room for a social life. She thought about running home to change but decided against it wanting to wear what she would wear to a business meeting. At five-thirty, she received a text that her car was downstairs. She grabbed her briefcase, purse, and Hayden's suit jacket as she walked out. Everyone else had left for the day around five, so she locked up after turning off the lights. The ride to the restaurant took about twenty minutes in traffic
After their dinner, Hayden saw Natalia to her waiting car before walking home with a spring in his step. He enjoyed his time with her. She was intelligent, funny, and easy to talk to. It had been a long time since he had appreciated the company of another person as much as he did with her. As he was walking, lost in thought, he felt someone tap his shoulder. When he turned around, he instantly became annoyed. "What do you want, Shania?" He asked, shaking her hand off him. "I saw you inside, and I wanted to know if you wanted me to come to keep you company tonight. We haven't seen each other for a couple of months. I thought maybe you were ready to take me back." She tried to give him what she assumed was a sexy smile as she tried to take his hand. However, to her dismay, he looked at her in disgust and pushed her hand away. "How can I take you back when we have never officially been together? You need to stop this, Shania, and get a life. We will never be together." H
After they finished breakfast, they began walking in the direction of their homes. Neither wanted to end their time together. Hayden didn't want to push her too fast, and Natalia didn't want to encourage him that she was open to more. He took her hand casually as they walked, and she felt her heart race. When they got to his building, they stopped. "This is where I live. Do you want to come up for some coffee?" Hayden wasn't ready to let her go. He held her hand a little tighter, liking how it felt. He had never been the hand-holding romantic type, but with her, it felt natural. "I should get home so I can do some work," Natalia said reluctantly. She had fun with him this morning but was hesitant to go into his apartment. She didn't think he would try anything, but she was scared to get any closer to him. What if she got hurt again? "Then how about I walk you home and make coffee there while you work?" He said with a smile, and she laughed. "You want to come to my
After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. "Are you sure you want something more than a casual relationship? Typically I'm with men who have no idea who I am, and it's a one-time thing." Natalia slid her hands over his t-shirt that covered his well-muscled chest and abdomen as she looked up at him. "Honestly, I've always been the same way. I only slept with women casually because I never wanted anything more with them. You're different, Natalia. You make me feel alive, and the thought of you being with another man fills me with rage. I couldn't stand only being casual with you. I want a lot more than that
Natalia went against her norm and did not return to her office to work. Instead, she decided to continue talking with Hayden. She wanted to make sure she was making the right decision to get involved with him before they went any further. Hayden felt like he had just won the lottery when Natalia said she would give them a try. He hugged her tighter and felt a sense of relief. "Do you have any family?" He asked her. "My parents were killed in a car accident when I was eighteen. They were hit by a drunk driver and died instantly. I have no siblings or any other family." Natalia kept the tears from falling. She missed her parents every day, and it still hurt to talk about them. "I'm sorry about your parents. If you didn't have anyone, how did you take care of their affairs, funeral, and everything else?" He couldn't imagine being eighteen and suddenly alone with no one. Even though Hayden disagreed with his parents on many things, he wasn't alone. "My parents
Natalia quickly finished the fantastic meal Hayden had made her, with excitement growing in her belly. She wasn't new to sex, but she had to admit that each man she'd been with hadn't been worth mentioning after they were done. It was always quick and unspectacular. When Hayden said he wanted to show her what making love was, it made her anxious to see what she'd been missing. Hayden watched her with amusement as she finished her dinner. He planned to do things with her that he'd never done with anyone else. He wanted to bring her so much pleasure that she was going out of her mind. He scarfed down the rest of his food and headed to the kitchen to clean up. "You cooked; why don't you let me clean up?" Natalia asked, joining him in the kitchen. "It will be faster if we clean together. Although, I did say I would be your butler for the day." She smiled and opened the dishwasher that she had never used. "I think faster is better." They quickly cleaned up and put the
Natalia woke up Sunday morning and stretched. Her body was sore. Who knew having so much sex was more of a workout than going to the gym? She was wrapped in Hayden's arms and rolled over until she faced him. He was softly snoring and had some stubble on his face, making him look even more handsome. As she watched him sleep, she was conflicted. What if all they had was one amazing weekend? Would he come to his senses on Monday morning and realize he doesn't want anything more with her? She frowned as she thought about how fast things escalated between them. Was she too quick to give her heart away? "Hey, what's wrong?" Hayden woke up and saw the sadness on Natalia's face. He leaned down and kissed her hoping to cheer her up. She was smiling when he pulled away. "I was thinking that you may wake up tomorrow morning, go to the office, and decide that you were wrong about wanting to start anything with me." She was always honest about what she was thinking. "Tomorrow
"I said, what the hell are you doing here?" Hayden asked, furious. How did she get in? "I was waiting for you. I didn't want you to be lonely, so I thought I would surprise you. Now, why don't you get rid of the blonde bimbo and come warm me up." Shania had no shame. She was hoping Natalia would think that there was something between them and leave, but to her astonishment, the woman started laughing. "What are you laughing at, and why are you in my boyfriend's apartment?" Shania asked, not caring that she was still on the bed naked. She was hoping to entice Hayden, but he was holding onto Natalia while looking at Shania in disgust. "I'm laughing at you. Hayden told me about you and how pathetic you were. Breaking into a man's apartment to throw yourself at him is beyond desperate. Why waste energy on someone who clearly doesn't want you? Now we're going to have to burn everything on his bed." Natalia looked at the naked woman with pity even though she felt like dragging her out by