Chapter 8
Nina
The next day
I had no idea what I was doing there. I should have been in my own apartment, behind closed doors, practicing my set for that night’s engagement party. But I had barely been able to sleep. The conversation with Clara the previous day, only seemed to have made matters worse. Now I couldn’t stop thinking about Cole, about why he had chosen me to spend the night with, why he had made such a rash decision when he was known for all his good ones. And most importantly, I was curious to know what my husband was like in his world.
My husband! I was a fool for even thinking of that word in my head. Who was I kidding? I didn’t even want to be married to him. But there was something inexplicably attractive about Cole that I couldn’t shake off. And my curiosity had got the better of me.
So, I was standing there, in the lobby of his office building, silently facing the receptionist’s desk as she typed away at her computer. I only wanted a peek inside his world, and I was hoping that I wouldn’t bump into him. The building was lavish, sleek, designed to minimal tastes, quiet and reeked of wealth and success.
Outside in the parking lot, only the fanciest cars were parked, a beautiful driveway greeted me and a manicured lawn was being tended to by a smiling gardener. A calming koi pond was stationed in the waiting area, and now I stared at it, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. What was I doing here? Why was I spying on Cole’s life? He had said he would take care of everything. I had no need to see him again. But somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to completely forget about the man I had married, even if it was only for one night.
“Can I help you with something?” I heard the receptionist’s voice, which snapped me out of my thoughts and I forced a smile on my face.
“Yes…y yes,” I was fumbling with my words as I walked towards her. I could see that she was looking me up and down, trying to figure out who I was. I doubted that someone, as casually dressed as me, ever walked into this building.
“I was wondering if Mr Emery is in?” I asked, completely surprising myself. This wasn’t the plan! The plan was to quietly survey the territory and disappear. I was here to only quench my curiosity. What was I even going to say to Cole? I would die if he thought that I was spying on him.
“Do you have an appointment with him?” the receptionist asked, and suddenly I felt relieved. The problem had solved itself. I smiled at her more genuinely now.
“No, I don’t. I’ll come back with an appointment. Thank you,” I said and turned to walk away from her.
“Excuse me, may I have your name for my records please?” I heard her say and I half turned to look at her.
“No. I mean, I’ll just call you later for an appointment and give you my name then,” I wasn’t speaking clearly. I was just desperate to leave at that point without making a scene.
“Nina?” I heard his voice, loud and clear. While I had turned in that moment to speak to the receptionist, Cole had walked in through the glass sliding doors of the lobby.
“Cole!” I said, in a much louder voice than was appropriate.
“Sir. She doesn’t have an appointment,” the receptionist came running towards us, sounding nervous. That made it obvious to me that Cole ran a very tight ship around here. He held up a hand to her, with his brows crossed and his gray eyes focused on me.
“It’s fine, Maria. Thank you,” he said gruffly.
I had stopped in my tracks, just a few feet from him, clutching my hands together in desperation. I knew my cheeks were flushed, I was growing hot under the collar of my plaid shirt. Cole was looking me up and down, trying to figure out what I was doing there.
He was in a sharp steely gray suit to match his eyes, and a dark navy shirt underneath with the collar left casually open, so that I could peek in and be reminded of his rock solid chest from the other night. Just the sight of him, how the stubble on his chin was still there, how his dark wavy hair was lazily brushed back, how tall he was…his presence just struck me and I felt like my feet had turned to jelly. I couldn’t move or say a word. This was the man I was married to. I couldn’t stop thinking that in my head, no matter how silly it was.
“I didn’t expect you to take your wifely duties so seriously. Have you come to lunch with me?” he asked, with a sudden absolutely unexpected smile breaking out on his face. His eyes were still narrowed and focused on me, and I could feel my cheeks burning. I shook my head.
“Of course not,” I said stupidly.
“I just wanted to find out if you’ve made any progress on the annulment,” I added and Cole squared his shoulders. The smile dropped from his face as suddenly as it had appeared.
“Lets talk in my office,” he said and walked past me. I had no other choice but to follow his lead.
“And Maria, going forward, Ms Philips doesn’t need an appointment to see me if I’m in my office,” he said to the receptionist as he walked past her.
My heart was beating out of my chest. Why did I deserve this special treatment? And also, I had not expected him to remember my last name.