Chapter's song:  SIDE TO SIDE - Ariana Grande - Diamond White & KHS COVER (I love KHS covers!)

I'm in my office ignoring all the emails I have to read or the next theme I'd like to tackle for an article. I feel so guilty, that every minute or so, I look up to check that no one is glancing my way. I see Tom, my next-door office buddy glance up and I minimize my window in an instant. He gazes away, pretty much ignoring me, and I click on it again.

I'm staring at different pictures of Mark.

I'm so embarrassed, but I can't look away. I see him wearing tuxedos, in jeans and plain shirts and a few on his army uniforms. In pretty much all of them, a different girl is hanging on his arm. They're all bimbos. All posh and stylish. So different from me. So very different from me.

Why the hell did he take me to the bungee jump?

The worst part is that I'm going crazy trying to understand it. I can't figure out what is his deal, and it's killing me. Especially since every time I see a picture of him, my heart does this stupid somersault and it's freaking me out.

I start reading different articles about him and even though I know they're bullshit, I keep at it. 

I reach out for my tea when the phone rings. The mug slips out of my hand and lands on my laptop. "Shit!" I stand up, trying to clean the mess, but my computer screen is frozen in one of Mark's close-ups. "Bloody hell!" Tom, and pretty much everyone around me is looking at me.

My phone is still ringing and I close my laptop, reaching out for the devilish thing. "Yes?"

A deep chuckle sounds on the other side. "You really need proper etiquette lessons, Kate."

My heart is racing. Feeling guilty, I gaze at my computer. "Hi Mark, how are you doing this fine day?" The words are hurried and they're not sarcastic as always. Darn. I hope he doesn't notice.

"Do I sense some sort of edge in your tone?" Fuck. Of course.

I stand up and start pacing around the room. "You're mental. I'm my usual charming self."

"Right." I scrunch up my nose as he adds, "Are you free?"

My stomach flips. "Why? Do you feel like climbing the London Eye?"

He cracks up. "I'm hungry, actually. Do you have plans for dinner?"

My whole body tenses. I try not to swoon at the fact that he's trailing so carefully, quite aware that I have a life. I don't, but he doesn't know that. I glance at the clock. It's almost five. "Okay." My tone is high-pitched and I so want to bang my head against the wall because of it.

"Does sushi sounds good? I know a great place."

"It sounds good." I bit my lip. "You're not making me rappel or anything, right?"

"Wouldn't that be fun?" I swear I can see his stupid smirk. The same one that is plastered on my screen. "But don't worry. We'll do that some other time."

My eyes widen. "I'm only—"

"I'll pick you up in an hour, okay?"

And now he's all bossy! I'm about to retort when he hangs up.

I blink for a moment as I pull away from my phone. "He hung up." I so want to be mad, but I can't. I hate to admit it, but I'm actually excited to see him.

Fuck. I'm so pathetic.

Six rolls in as I'm still trying to unfreeze my laptop. The stupid tea ruined it and I've gone through the warranty twice but all I've learned is that I'm basically screwed. Sighing, I lean back on my chair when someone knocks on the door. I look up to see the guy that it's frozen on my screen. His hair is longer and he's wearing jeans, a blue shirt and a navy cap over his head. His smile is softer, not forced like in the picture, though.

"Hi." My heart skips a beat. I close my laptop at the same time he steps inside the room. "Rough day?"

I shrug, my hands still holding the screen. "I killed my laptop."

The scent of his cologne fills the room. He raises an eyebrow. "I have to know what happened."

I stand up. "Too bad. We're leaving, right?" I'm scared to get my coat that's hanging on the other side of the room. I don't want him to look at the screen. Instead, I gesture him to get moving. "Let's get going, the traffic is horrible at this time."

Mark's smile widens. "What are you hiding, Kate?"

"Pfft. Nothing." I'm still standing in front of my computer.

"Let me see if I can help you. I'm good with computers."

"Don't worry about it. I needed to get one new, anyway."

He doesn't look convinced but he doesn't push it. Thank God.

I lock my office glancing at my laptop one more time. Gosh. There go my savings.

She's hiding something. I know it, and she knows I know it too. It feels like I have the upper hand, but on what?

Women are utterly complicated.

Still, I'm glad she agreed to come. I've had the week of hell and I just want to relax. Oddly, when I thought what I'd like to do, she's the first person that came to mind. Although, I shouldn't be surprised. I've been thinking about her every day. And unlike with other girls, that I forced myself to stop thinking about them, I don't really mind it with Kate. In fact, I like it.

I've reserved one of the best sushi restaurants in town. And when I say reserved, I mean the whole place. My brother is gonna flip when he learns about it, but I think it's worth it if I happen to impress Kate a bit. Sushisamba is a restaurant on top of the Heron Tower. It overlooks the whole city, and tonight, it's just for us.

She has to be impressed. I've impressed myself. I've never done this for anyone.

We reach the top floor, talking about the best brands of computers and such. I don't even know what I'm talking about. I know shit about computers. But I'm intrigued with what happened to hers. There's something there, all right.

The elevators doors open and we're greeted by the chef himself. Kate's body freezes as she notices the whole place empty. Her blue eyes turn to me. "Did you do this?"

I try not to smirk, but it's so bloody hard. "Are you impressed?"

Kate smiles before turning away. "Maybe."

Warm radiates through my body as I puff out my chest. This is worth it.

"But you know, you're the prince of England, I'm sure you do this every time you want to impress a girl." My shoulders sag. Goddammit, woman. I don't even try to correct her. She won't believe me. I've been a player all my life.

The chef leads us to a door in the terrace. I specifically asked for this. There's a tree in the middle, sparkling as if it were the only tree in the world. 

There's a large counter that wraps around the tree like a snail. But the best part is the view. You can see the most of the city from each point of the restaurant. Right now, the sunset is on full display as we take a seat by the only table on the terrace.

Kate is staring at the distance. "This is beautiful." Her tone is soft and laced with awe, but she's so stubborn, that she can't admit it.

Her hair is glowing under the sun's last rays, the golden is sparkling with orange and purple. 

She's beautiful.

I stay quiet, admiring the city, but really, admiring her.

The chef brings us the menu and introduces us to our waiter. We choose a combination of sushi and Kobe meat, right after asking for a bottle of wine. I give back the menu to the waiter when Kate clears her throat.

"Mark, I have to ask. Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"This." She gestures around the room and I can't help but follow her movements with my eyes.

"Why not?" She bites her lip. She wants to say something, but instead she reaches for her wine and takes a sip. "I like...being around with you. You take no bullshit from me and you're you without tags or masks. I can be myself, too." I like you, but I'm a coward because I can't say it out loud.

Her baby-blue eyes are intense as she nods and tips her glass. "Thank you for this."

"You're welcome," my lips tug up. "Now, are you going to tell me what the hell happened to your computer?"

She bursts out laughing. "Never!"

Playful, I roll my eyes. "You're impossible, Kate."

"Back at you, Mark."

We spend the rest of the night bickering and talking nonsense. She does tell me about this secret admirer of hers and my stomach clenches. Who the hell is that guy? What are his intentions? After the episode between Emily and her ex, I've learned to be cautious, and I don't like this one bit. I keep it to myself, though. Kate is finally talking to me and I don't want to be a creep or something. Or at least, I can be a creep in private.

We finish dinner and I get a text from Paul, my bodyguard. He always keeps his distance because he knows how I feel about strolling around with him next to me, but he's around, mingling with the people, always cautious. He tells me someone tipped the press and now there's a herd of paparazzi downstairs. Damn it.

Usually, I'd be happy to flaunt my latest conquest. Not Kate. She is more than that. I feel the sudden urge to protect her, to try to keep her away from all of this. I want to get closer to her in our own terms, not with the pressure of the press on our backs.

"Kate, someone tipped the press and they're here."

She wipes her lips with a napkin, before shrugging. "I figured something like this was bound to happen. I mean, you did rent the whole restaurant."

I stare at her in some sort of daze. "You don't mind?"

"Well, we're friends, right? There's nothing wrong with that."

I purse my lips. Awesome. Now, I'm friend-zoned.

"I'd rather keep this...thing, out of the paparazzi. Would you mind leaving on the back?"

She smiles. A soft, sweet smile that makes me feel weird inside. "It works for me."

I text Paul to let him know that we're leaving through the back kitchen, and as we leave the building, I can't help but feel like Kate is going to be one tough girl to crack. Almost impossible, it seems. But so worth it. 

Thank you so much for your incredible support! I love you all so much! :)