Chapter 8: Nathan's house, not my home.
" I can't believe this is the first time I'll see Nathan's house." I mummer to myself, as I put his address in my car's GPS.
Is it funny that I am least intimated by the fact I am going to live in Tartarus? Actually, I am looking forward to what Nathan has planned for me. For the past three years he had just ignored me and now he is taking interest to make my life miserable as if it is not already. I believe my life became miserable the moment I got married to him.
After 15 minutes drive, I reached his apartment building and I am not surprised he owns a penthouse, how unusual? Note the sarcasm. What's with a penthouse and a rich guy?
I entered the elevator carrying my backpack and suitcase and press the top floor on the panel. Soon I reached the top floor and I drag my suitcase towards his apartment after getting out of the elevator.
I rang the bell and wait for someone to answer the door.I hope Richard informed Nathan about my arrival, I don't want to walk into something awkward.
I was about to ring the bell again when somebody opened the door.
"Hello, Abigail.." Miles happily says, as he quickly gives me a side hug.
I never expected Miles to answer the door, maybe he also lives here. I wish that's true, although I have met him hardly two or three times, he seems nice and friendly.
"Hey!" I smile.
He comes forward to grab my bag and suitcase, he asks me to follow him inside and carried my stuff inside ignoring all my protest.
First thing, as I walk in, I notice the house was light and airy. The theme of the house is white and black, as much I saw the white color is prominent. The interior of the house is modern and contemporary, however, it lacks the homely feeling.
Miles puts my luggage down and turns to me, "Oh! sorry, I forgot to say one thing," I look at him questioningly.
He grabs my shoulders, I slightly flinch but he didn't notice, and gives me a warm smile, " Welcome home Abigail..."
This took me by surprise, I never expected someone to welcome me here. Even if it's Miles who welcomed me, his words warm my heart.
"I appreciate Miles that you are trying to make me feel welcomed, but this is Nathan's house, not my home. " I give him a small but genuine smile, "I am sure you know the reality of this relation."
He slowly nods his head, " I just want you to know that I am not only Nathan's friend, but I am your friend too."
Miles removes his hand from my shoulder and steps back, as we hear footsteps approaching us.
"Am I interrupting something?" Nathan smirk, his eyes flickering between me and Miles.
Miles shakes his head exasperatingly, while I stare at him with a straight face. Honestly, my blood is boiling and my hand is twitching to slap him across his face.
"Never thought you'd agree to move in with me so quickly, desperate much? huh?"
"Yeah! You have no idea." I say sarcastically. Yes, I am extremely desperate to finish all of this.
"Women are always desperate to be with me," He takes a small step towards me," I never knew you also want me."
"They must be, but I never want used things," I smirk. I could clearly sense his anger as he clenches his jaws.
Miles also feels it, so before Nathan could say anything else, he quickly says," Abigail you should settle down, come I will show you your room." He once glances at Nathan, who gives a small nod.
I follow Miles as he carries my stuff to the room down the hall. Once he placed my luggage in my room, he leaves after giving me a small nod and smile. How can a nice person like him, is a friend of such an arrogant human?
After unpacking my stuff, I lie down on the bed. Different thoughts are going through my mind. Now, I truly understand the meaning of "easier said than done". It is hardly been two hours in this house and I can see how much difficult is going to be, to live with him.
I internally groan as I realize I have to buy some books, that means I have to get out of this room. "I can not sit in this room all day...it is not like I can completely avoid him." I talk to myself.
I slowly open the door and comes out of the room. I have planned to walk to the bookstore, which I saw nearby. I make my way to the kitchen to grab a water bottle and see Nathan standing in the kitchen cooking or let's say struggling to cook.
Nathan looks over his shoulder as I enter the kitchen, but didn't say anything. I open the fridge and take out a water bottle. Should I help him? or just ignore and let him struggle. However, if he doesn't know how to cook then why even he is trying, can't he just order it from somewhere.
I see dishcloth placed on the side of stove catches fire, even before I realize what I am doing, I shove him aside.
"What the hell you are-" He stops in mid-sentence, as his eyes widen. I hold dishcloth by the corner and throws it into the sink and turns on the tap.
"You should be more careful when you cook." I turn off the knob of the stove.
"I..um.." He furrows his eyebrows and peeks over my shoulder, as he doesn't know what to say.
" Move aside, I will cook." I look over the ingredients and decided to make Chinese.
He still hasn't moved and staring at me with irritation. I turn to him," You can stare all you want, but first tell me are you ok with Chinese?"
He looks bit confused but nods his head. I quickly get into my chef mode, as I start to cook. I don't know why I am cooking for him, maybe my mom's good upbringing has something to do with it.
Nathan turns around and leaves the kitchen, after a few seconds I can hear the humming sound of the television coming from the living room. It is a bit odd to see him like this because most of the time whenever we have met it was quite formal. Not that now we are having friendly chats or something.
I am lost in cooking not knowing how much time has passed when I feel a light tap on my shoulder, which startles me. I, instantly, stop stirring the pan and turn to see sheepish looking Miles.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, it is fine-" I swallow and try to calm myself, " I..I just didn't hear you approaching." I didn't feel like telling him, I get uncomfortable if someone stands too close to me or touches me.
" I just want to thank you for cooking lunch for us." he looks grateful, " Nathan's cook is on leave, and the doctor asked me to avoid outside food since I was down with food poisoning."
"Oh..No problem, it is not a big deal. I enjoy cooking." I shrug, as I chop some vegetable and add in the pan. This is why Nathan was trying to cook, perhaps he actually cares for his friend.
"Do you need some help?" He asks while looking around the kitchen.
"No...um...actually yes." I point to the fruit basket with the knife, " hand me some bananas."
"Here." he hands me some bananas. I take four bananas quickly cut them and put them in a small bowl, and add slight salt, sugar, and pepper. I mix and hand it to him." Eat"
He looks perplexed but complies, he takes a small piece. "Hmm...This tastes good." Then he takes a mouthful of a spoon. "I never ate bananas like this, never knew salt, sugar, and pepper can make such a difference in taste."
"Bananas are good to eat when you suffer from food poisoning. I like to eat fruits, so I also experiment with it a bit. I thought you will like it too." I take the pans off the stove, one by one, and place it on the side.
I take out vegetable chowmein, sesame ginger chicken and rice in serving bowls and place it along the two plates which I have set earlier on the kitchen counter.
Miles washes the bowl and leans against the fridge," This smells amazing and I can't wait to dig in." then he suddenly yells, "Nathan!"
Nathan barges into the kitchen and looking around to figure what happened. Then he glares at his friend.
"Food is ready." He shrugs and strolls over to the kitchen stool. Nathan glances in my direction, then sit beside him. I fold apron and put down on the side.
"Man...This is better than any Chinese food which I have in restaurants." Miles takes a mouthful and appreciates. He turns and lightly nudges Nathan motioning him to say something.
"It is just fine," Nathan says, without looking up from his plate, in a disinterested tone.
Miles scowls and shakes his head in disbelief. He looks at me mouths "asshole" nods his head to Nathan.
He furrows his eyebrows and says "Hey, why aren't you eating?" maybe this got Nathan's attention as he discreetly looks at me.
"I don't prefer Chinese much, also I am not hungry at all."
"Maybe she added something in food to kill us," Nathan says accusingly.
Is he serious? Instead of, getting angry I find his comment funny. I start to laugh, an actual laugh which I hadn't had in days, maybe months. I can see Miles have a small smile playing on his lips, as both him and Nathan looking surprised at my reaction.
"If I needed to kill you guys, I would have let you cook the food, instead of saving this house from burning to ashes." I do exaggerate a bit, obviously, he would not have burned the house.
The look on Nathan's face indicates he wants to kill certain someone and that certain someone is definitely ME. Miles is clearly enjoying this as I can see him quietly laughing. Nathan narrow his eyes at me, as he wants to say something, but stops when he hears my phone ringing.
I pull out my phone from my jeans pocket. Number displaying on my screen is not familiar, I take a moment to recognize the number. Anyhow, I answer the call.
"Hello, Prescott speaking." I wait for someone to answer.
"I like that you are still speaking Prescott." I hear a familiar, but a cold voice from the other side. I can feel the blood draining from my face. I close my eyes and take a deep breath to compose myself.
"Who are you?" I say in a strong voice.
"You already know who I am," he laughs humorlessly.
I clench my hand into a fist and hold the phone tightly from another to keep my hands from shaking " What do you want?"
"Nothing, for now, I just wanted to check on you."
I chew inside of my cheeks while I wait for him to continue. After a few dreading moments he speaks." And I also wanted to tell you I am coming to get you and will make you pay for your mistake."
As these words left his mouth I can feel the pressure building in my chest, making me difficult to breathe. But, I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing that after all these years, he can still frighten me.
"I will see you try," I say in an emotionless voice.
He laughs evilly and hangs up the call not before saying," This is going to be fun."
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