Nathan's POV

I put Ananya down once we reached the penthouse.
"And now the house looks complete with you in here my love."
She did not look pleased at all.
"What the hell was this Nathan? Explain right away..wait I need to lie down. My head it hurts. Its as if all my blood has rushed up to my head."

She held my hand, looking dizzy. Seeing her state I just picked her this time in my arms like a little baby and this time she did not protest. I took her inside to my bedroom while her eyes were still closed.
I lay her down on my bed and sat beside her.
In the dim lights in my room, i realised she looked even more beautiful.

"Nathan..I hate you so much for what you did. But my head really hurts. Please do something."
She spoke as she opened her eyes.

"Give it a minute sweety. I am so sorry. But you wouldn't talk to me. And i really need to clear it out with you. This distance is killing me."

I bent down to look into her eyes directly.
"Distance? What distance? Dont you think you are just too close to me now to complain about distance?"
I smiled at her feeble attempt at humour.

"Baby, you need to lie down for some time. I will get you some juice."

When i returned with the juice, Ananya was standing near the bedroom balcony door.
"This view is beautiful."
"Here have some juice."
"Nathan, we need to talk first. I think you may misunderstand me still standing here in front of you."
I kept the glass on the table and getting closer to her i kept my finger on her lips.
"Sshh sshh sshh.. not a word. I know i behaved like a jerk that day. I don't know where to start explaining nyself from. But i would prefer we start once you drink your glass of juice."

"Lets go to the living room. And we can talk." Saying, she picked up her glass of juice and i followed her out.

Her eyes were trying to check out every corner of the house. I bet she liked it.

************
Ananya's POV

I sat at the centre of the white couch in the living room. It felt very soft and comfortable. I picked up one of the many soft feathery cushions lying around and held it close to my chest.
"So you were saying.." I did not like the idea of sitting here and talking to him. I still felt I was betraying Alex, as it was Nathan who humiliated Alex, my best friend.
On one side i felt the same tingly feeling in my stomach that i felt everytime Nathan had come closer to me and on the other side i hated him for doing what he did to Alex.
Nathan gave me a mischievous smile. "The first thing that I wanted to say was that I missed you. I have missed you terribly. And..."
He was now standing at a distance from me looking at the floor and brushing his fingers through his hair.
"Can i kiss you first and then apologise?"

"What? Are you out of your mind? Oh!! Now I see how serious you are about everything. I am just a joke for you. Aren't I Mr. Swornwell? "
My blood was reaching its boiling point seeing how casual Nathan was. My heart was longing to get something out of this conversation but each and every word that came out of his mouth showed that may be I don't really truly matter to him after all.

"Ok ! Ok! Calm down. No kissing till the end of this. Oh god! I really screwed it up didn't I? "
I was fuming with anger when he came and kneeled before me keeping his hand on my knees. I was now looking straight into his ocean deep eyes. He was staring back at me with this intense gaze that made me freeze for a moment. I was lost in his eyes when he spoke,
"You know Ananya,that day i really meant every word that I said about my feelings for you. I didn't know how you feel about me. I am not really sure now but I do care for you. In this short time that I had been with you I have felt this immense attraction towards you. I dream about you when I am asleep , when I am awake all I do is think about you. I can't point to even one reason why I feel what i feel about you, but i know I am being honest for sure when i say, Ms. Donavan I am in love with you. I want to not just dream about a future with you but I want to walk the walk of life with you and build that dream into reality. Please give me one chance."
For a moment I believed him. Each cell in my body wanted to believe him. But the reminder of what he did to Alex broke my trance.
"Mr.Swornwell, I may for a moment believe the feelings you say you have for me. But it will never justify what you did to my best friend."

I could feel him flinching in his position. His expressions now changed to that of rage. It reminded me of him when he lost his temper the last time we talked.

***********
Nathan's POV

I really wanted her to believe me this time. I have given it a good thought in the past two days and I was in no mood to let her go so easily. Thought of Alex being with Ananya made me lose my temper.

Still i counted backwards from 10 and took a deep breath.
"My dear Ana, I agree I was wrong in picking on Alex. But I beg you to look at it with my perspective. Anyone who would look at you two together will think that you are a couple. He knows you in an out and so do you. What was I suppose to feel? I did not think it through rationally. I was jealous and insecure. But don't punish me for being a jealous lover. "

For a moment she looked confused, but then she looked into my eye and said with a straight face.
"You say you love me. I confessed my feelings for you. But you accused me of being a cheater. Accused me of having feelings for Alex. You know he is my best friend. And he always will. And you should know and accept one thing, if I am in your life, so will Alex be. Coz he is a big part of my life that inunder no circumstances I can leave behind."

Oh she looks convinced. I just have to agree to whatever she says for now.

"Yes. I am fine with him. I accept him."

I got up and held her hands in mine. I was about to kiss her knuckles when she pulled her hands back. What just happened? I agreed with her. Do i need more convincing?

" No Nathan. This doesn't change anything. I need to know that you really mean what you are saying. And so you need to prove it. "

" I can do anything for you my love. Just give me a chance. "
What is she going to ask for.?
"You..you need to apologise to Alex." She startled me.
How could i not guess that it would be related to him?
I cannot back out now.
"You want me to apologise to him?"
"Nothing official. Just personally a sorry should do. I know him, he would understand."

"No he won't. And i already did issue an official apology after meeting Lexstur senior that day."
I turned my back to her trying to hide my displeasure.

"Its alright Mr.Swornwell. i didn't really expect you to do it. I shall take your leave now+."
Shqit! I messed up again.
"Wait. I didn't say I won't do it."
I took a deep breath in and tried to
exhale my rising temper with it.

"What all things a man will need to do to prove his love? Ok. I will set up a meeting with him and clear the air. But i am doing this just for you."
She smiled for real for the first time since i almost kidnapped her that morning.
I took this as a good sign and moved closer to her to steal a kiss. I cupped her face in my palms to make a move with a smile but she pushed my chest a little making me stop. Now what does she want.
" i want us to make a fresh start."
" i can surely act as if this was my first kiss with you." I still had her face in my palms and she was touching my hands trying to break free.
" No. You hurt me once. I want you to win me over again and not take undue advantage of my feelings for you."
I just let out a laugh and let her face go.
"Ok..win your heart over again. Fair enough. But i am not the romantic types. So you will be in for a rough ride."
She was blushing now. Staring at the floor and smiling. I liked it when she was shy. It ignited unexplainable sparks inside me.

"But i think i have earned this little treat for myself!!." I exclaimed and picked her up in my arms as she protested and laid her on the sofa.
" Nathan. No! You have not earned anything yet. I will decide..."
I towered over her in the not so comfortable available sofa space and placed my finger over her lips.
Her lips felt soft. Surprisingly she stopped her little protest charade and like a little puppy looked into my eyes not knowing what to expect.
I slowly moved closer to her. She was panting heavily now but did not utter a word.
I gently rubbed the tip of my nose against hers feeling the warmth of her breath against my lips.
She closed her eyes as I whispered in her ears,"even if i have not earned a treat yet I am ready to break some rules and steal one."
She arched her back as I blew little wet kisses on her neck. She let out a sigh and parted her lips a little for me to explore.
I kissed her gently at first and she just put her arms around my neck.
When the kiss became more and more passionate with are tongues entwined, she tightened her grip giving me full control as her feet rubbed against mine.

We kissed till we were gasping for air.
I broke the kiss to let her breathe in.
She opened her eyes and gave me one look into the eye. Her anger had finally subsided and she her cheeks were now reeking red with shyness. She smiled and pushed me off her to the side and I let her too.
She quickly got up and straightened herself. Her hair now flowing freely to her waist.
She ignored me for a while as I lay on the sofa staring at perfect body from behind. I stood up with a jerk when she tried to set her hair into a bun.
"I like it when you let them flow freely."
I encircled her waist with my arms and rested my chin on her shoulder.

"That was enough. I have work to do. I should probably be going."
She set herself free from my hold. But I smiled as she let her hair be the way i like it.
"I am your boss, so you will do as I say Ms.Donavan. "

"Mr.Swornwell, you need to do one more thing."
"To prove my love? Oh what will it take for you to believe me?"
She smiled but changed her expression quickly to a more serious one.
"No. Its more of a request. After your little stunt today with the flowers and gifts, i dont think i will be able to sit on the Solutions floor ever again. People will stare and talk and I don't like all the attention."
I brushed the back of my head with my palm.
"Ok. I was anyways going to ask you to join me in my floor going forwards. Didn't know it would become so easy. So Ms.Donavan starting tomorrow you will report to me directly. See problem solved."
"No. Not yet."

"What now Ms.Donavan? Seems you are taking advantage of my situation now."
I joked.

"Actually I have my stuff down there and i don't wish to go there alone to collect it. Help me." She gave a pleading smile, raising her eyebrows.

I stepped closer to her wrapping her in my arms. " and what would i get in return?"

She was quick to respond this time but didn't try to escape my hold. " you already had your way. Consider the dues clear Mr.Swornwell."
She pinched my nose making me loosen my grip around her.

"Ok.lets go. You are making me confess in public Ms.Donavan. very smart move,"

"Its all your karma Sir."

"Stop calling me that. Call me Nathan. Please."

"I'll see. Wait the gift is in the basement. We need to collect that too."

"I will buy you a new one Ana."

"No i want to see what that one had."

"I will tell you. I picked them all up myself."

And she went on and on while we hopped on the lift.