Chapter 11
Nina
“Sir, Mr Logan has arrived for your one PM meeting with him,” Maria’s voice was crisp and loud in the room when Cole walked over and pressed the button on the intercom.
“Thanks Maria, I’ll be with him shortly. Please ask Dan to show him into the conference room,” Cole spoke authoritatively and then cut the call.
I straightened up in the chair, modestly covering my bare breasts with my arms. Without turning to look at me again, Cole began dressing himself. I smoothened the top of my hair and taking in a few quick breaths, then I slid down from the chair and started collecting my own discarded clothes.
“I apologize, Nina, I have a pressing meeting to attend,” he spoke almost harshly, without looking at me still. I couldn’t tell if he regretted sleeping with me already, but either way, I was utterly embarrassed that I had allowed this to happen again.
“Of course. I need to leave, I have an event coming up in a few hours that I need to prepare for anyway,” I said and felt foolish for trying to give him an explanation.
“You’re singing tonight?” he asked, finally turning to me once he had his shirt tucked back into his pants. I had already started pulling up my jeans. Clothed now, I could finally bear to face him, but I was aware of my watery eyes and flushed cheeks. He could very easily tell that I wanted to disappear into the ground.
“Yes, the usual. An engagement party,” I said, as I buttoned up my own shirt and smoothened the front of my clothes.
Within minutes, Cole had managed to make himself look impeccably presentable again. Not one strand of hair was out of place. While I didn’t have to look in a mirror to know that I looked like a mess.
“I would have liked to hear you sing again,” he said and thrust his hands into the pockets of his pants. I stared at him for a few moments…guilt, rage and embarrassment rising in me again. Sleeping with him a second time was an utterly foolish mistake. The first time had been wrong enough. Now there was no hope for me. I felt like I would never be able to get over him. The more time I spent with him, the more hopelessly floored I was by him. As complicated as this situation was.
“You don’t have to be kind to me. I know what this is. We don’t need to pretend like it’s anything else,” I said and clasped my hands together in front of me defensively. Cole’s eyes narrowed and a sour look came into his gaze.
“I don’t know what you think I’m doing here. I was only being honest. I like your voice, you’re a talented singer,” he said sternly and I gulped. It was breaking my heart to know that there was no future with this man. I wanted to hate him. I wished I despised him, but Cole Emery was leaving an impression on me that I couldn’t deny.
“Well, thank you,” I said bluntly and forced a weak plastic smile on my face that he didn’t return.
“I can see that you’re trying to hate me,” he said in a quieter voice.
“I don’t hate you. I just want this to be over, so that I can forget about it,” I said and was reminded of the cold brass ring on my finger that was digging into my flesh.
“And I told you that I’ll take care of it,” he said.
“Have you spoken to your lawyers?” I asked, still a little dazed from my explosive orgasm. It was strange to be having this conversation so soon after we had just had sex.
“No. But I will. You can leave it to me,” he said and I glared at him. I wasn’t lying. I did want it to be over. I didn’t want there to be any excuse remaining for me to see him again.
“I did and you still haven’t done anything about it,” I said in a harsher voice and Cole took in a deep breath. He didn’t seem pleased by the tone of my voice.
“What is the rush? Are you planning a wedding?” he asked, without any humor in his voice and I licked my lips.
“The rush is because I don’t want something like this happening again,” I told him and he arched an eyebrow at me.
“Something like this? Like sex, you mean?” he asked, finally a flicker of a smile appearing on his face and I blushed again.
“Yes,” I replied bluntly and Cole nodded his head.
“I thought we were just having fun. It had nothing to do with a stupid piece of paper,” he said and I turned from him. I didn’t want to talk about it any more.
“You give it too much importance, Nina. It’s just a document. It doesn’t have to mean anything,” I could hear him saying, while I walked towards the shut door of his office. I needed to get out of there. I didn’t want to have to spend another moment talking to him and explaining what that stupid piece of paper meant to me.
“Marriage is more than just signatures on a document, Nina,” I heard him say and I stopped in my tracks, just when my hand was on the door knob. I gulped and bit down on my lip. I couldn’t find the words to reply to that.
“It has nothing to do with vows, a party or the first dance or the first kiss. Marriage is about the relationship, the connection and trust,” he continued and I turned the knob. I couldn’t believe that a womanizing, selfish man like Cole Emery was lecturing me on marriage. What did he know about it and who had made him an expert on the subject?