Chapter Four - Harsh And Sweet

Caroline

"And then," I pointed my glass towards Rebekah before gulping down its contents and cringing at the taste, "I ran out of his office."

She was raising her eyebrows every five seconds to force her eyelids open.

"So your day sucked balls," she slurred.

"Yep."

"But you didn't?"

I narrowed my eyes for a moment and opened my mouth to say something, but instead drank another shot.

"I think I need to pee," she muttered while getting up from her bar stool on wobbly feet, then grabbing the counter for balance.

"Do you need me to—"

"Nope." She was already walking away and I shrugged, watching her disappear somewhere in the crowd in the dimly lit room.

I moved my shoulders with the music and sang the lyrics along with the song.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone take the seat beside me, but it was only when I felt his eyes on me that I turned my head.

Deep blue eyes stared back at me.

What!?

"No way," I groaned, burying my face in my arms on the bar counter.

Expecting him to be gone, I opened one eye and peeked. But he was still there, watching me in amusement.

"No way am I hallucinating my boss," I slurred while sitting up straight and blinking furiously.

"Hello, Caroline." He spoke in that deep, sexy voice of his that made my stomach flip.

"Are you real?" I blinked again, not realizing how stupid I must look while doing that.

"Nope."

"Am I really...hallucinating you?" I frowned.

"You can only hallucinate someone if you're thinking about them. So I don't know. You tell me."

I looked down at the glass and almost lifted it up to my lips, but it was pulled away. My eyes followed it on the counter as my boss held it, circled his finger on its salty rim, then lifted his finger to his lips.

That was so sexy.

"It's possible," my gaze matched with his, "that I'm hallucinating you."

"Why?"

"Because you've been on my mind all day."

The corners of his lips lifted up into a smile. "I have?"

I nodded, reaching for the glass, but he was quick in gulping down my drink.

He gave me a lopsided smile while sliding the glass back in my direction. "I think you've had enough, love."

My heart skipped a beat when he called me that. He's definitely not real.

"Are you here for your...blazer? I don't have it right now."

A deep chuckle reverberated from his throat. "No, I'm not here for that."

"Oh."

"I'm here because I'm curious," he said and I rubbed my eyes to keep them open.

"About what?" I muttered.

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter, smiling in a way that could melt my insides.

"Why am I on your mind, Caroline?"

"Because—" I paused to think what I had to say. "Because you're my boss."

He raised a brow and smirked.

"And I embarrassed myself in front of you."

"You did?"

"Yes! Of course I did. First my blouse, and then...ugh," I groaned. "That dampness on your hand after taking the files from me? Yeah, that was sweat."

"I know." He chuckled. "I figured it out when you stormed out of my office like that."

"And...and you're not grossed out?" I made a face.

"No. Actually, I find it pretty hot that I made you sweat like that."

My jaw dropped open. "That's...that's not—ugh, never mind."

I shook my head. "I don't like you."

"Why not?"

"It's a general dislike," I muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He frowned.

"I've met you like, twice—three times, but right now won't be counted since you're not real—and I can tell you're the kind of person who never accepts defeat." I let out a breath. "Like...it's like you will go to any extent to not hear a no. You know what I mean?"

He looked past me, like he was deep in thought, and then he shook his head.

I sighed. "Like you suddenly gave me all those files to work on today just to prove a point."

"What point?"

"That you're the boss."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "First, I am the boss. I don't need to prove that." A smirk formed on his lips. "And second, I wanted to go easy on you on your first day but you provoked me."

Well, that's true.

"And what about...yesterday?" I stifled a yawn, my eyelids dropping.

"What about yesterday?" he asked in confusion.

"When I told you what happened with Penny—" I slurred, "—and you believed me, I thought you were nice."

I folded my arms on the counter and rested my head sideways to look at him.

"But then you threatened me," I muttered. "Knowing full well that I didn't do anything."

He frowned.

"You were so harsh," I muttered, my eyelids dropping again.

And that's not nice.

I wanted to say it out loud but couldn't.

He suddenly shook my shoulder very roughly and I jumped in my spot, staring at him with wide eyes.

Only, it wasn't him.

It was Rebekah.

"Where is he?" I looked around.

"Who?" She frowned, seeming a lot more sober now.

"Nick Sinclair. He was here."

She blinked at me for a moment.

Then, she groaned. "Oh God! This can't be happening."

I frowned. "What?"

"Caroline, please tell you weren't dreaming about him."

"What? No." I looked around the place in confusion. "He was here. Really!"

She looked up at the ceiling dramatically. "Why God, why?"

I hit her shoulder. "I swear I wasn't dreaming. He was here. He even drank my—"

My jaw dropped open as I stared at the glass full of vodka sitting in front of me.

"He...he refilled it," I concluded.

"Yeah, sure." She nodded.

"Rebekah." I frowned. "I'm not lying."

"Of course. I believe you." She patted my hair and then pulled me in for a hug. "Come here, my lovestruck weirdo."

I pulled away with a frown. "Stop it."

"Fine." She raised her hands up in surrender. "We have to get back to our dorm now. Go wash up and we'll talk about this tomorrow."

"Okay." I nodded and went to the bathroom to wash my face.

We usually just walked back from here. The bar was barely a ten minute walk from our dorm. It was usually packed with our college crowd and Nick Sinclair wasn't a part of it.

What could he possibly be doing here?

Maybe Rebekah was right...but why would I ever dream about him?

Shaking my head, I quickly washed my face, used the bathroom and walked out, feeling much better now.

We silently walked back as neither of us had the energy to talk and the moment we were inside our dorm, we collapsed on our beds.

The next thing I knew the sun was shining in my face and my head throbbed like crazy.

My eyes fell on the nightstand and I gasped. I was going to be late for work.

I ran to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and took a very quick shower.

Since I didn't have any formal clothes and had ruined Rebekah's only dress shirt here at dorm, I decided to wear casuals.

I left my damp hair falling over my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom in a towel.

Where was Rebekah?

I could look for her later.

After getting dressed into a solid black collared t-shirt and denims, I reached for my bag and almost left when Rebekah walked in with two to-go coffee cups and muffins.

Her hair was literally all over the place, her lipstick and mascara smudged, but she wasn't one to give a shit about that stuff before going out.

"Here." She handed one of each to me. "For the hangover."

I smiled brightly through my terrible headache.

"You are the best, Reb," I muttered while walking towards the door.

"I know." She smirked. "And when you get back in the evening? I'll be looking forward to the story."

"What story?"

"The story where you tell me what events led you to dream about a certain boss of yours."

My mouth opened slightly as I remembered last night.

"Oh God! I can't believe—"

"Caroline," she cut me off. "It's getting late."

"Right! Bye." I practically ran out of the dorm and through the campus to catch the bus in time.

Once I was sitting in the bus and having my to-go breakfast, I thought about yesterday.

Was that really a dream?

Well, what if it wasn't?

I said so many stupid things. God!

For all I knew, Mr. Sinclair might be waiting for me in his office to say the word 'fired' in the most satisfactory way ever when I wished him good morning.

I listened to some music to calm my mind but every calm thought washed away when I reached Sinclair Enterprises. Now I was standing outside his office debating if I should knock or not.

Taking in a deep breath, I finally knocked on the door. But there was no response.

I knocked again, but still nothing.

I looked around for Trent but couldn't find him.

Maybe Mr. Sinclair wasn't coming to the office today.

Relief washed through my veins as I turned around and went inside my temporary office.

I didn't know what work I was supposed to do so I decided to wait in case Mr. Sinclair showed up or I could find Trent and ask him.

I was placing my bag on a chair when something unusual on the desk caught my attention.

A small, decorated basket filled with chocolates. Pretty expensive chocolates. All wrapped in different coloured foils with a ribbon.

For a moment, I thought it was for me, but then I remembered that I had no one to do something so adorable for me. Not anymore.

Was Penny back? Did someone, unaware of her accident, place it here for her?

I picked it up to leave it at the reception desk but noticed that there was a note sitting among the chocolates.

It was written in black ink and the writing wasn't great but it was readable.

I might have been harsh but these will be very sweet. You have my word.

My jaw dropped.

There's no way...

Nope. Not possible!

I placed the note back in the basket and stepped back. It wasn't for me.

A knock made me jump in my spot and I turned around.

"Trent," I breathed out. "Hi."

"Hey, Caroline." He gave me a weird look. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Okay. I just came to tell you that Mr. Sinclair wants to see you."

"Mr. Sinclair?" My eyes grew wide.

He raised a brow. "Yeah? Your employer? The guy who showed up while we were talking—"

"I-I know who Mr. Sinclair is, Trent." I sighed.

"Okay." He nodded. "Then you better hurry up. He doesn't like to wait."

Oh God! How could I face him after all those things I'd said to him last night?

Trent cleared his throat. "Caroline? Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I nodded and without another thought, left the office and stood at his door debating if I should knock or not. Déjà vu!

You got this, Care.

I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. He told me to come in and I slowly opened the door, resisting the urge to peek my head in before running away.

His eyes lifted up from his laptop and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Mr. Sinclair." I managed to keep my voice from wavering.

Then, as unexpected as it was, a smile formed on his lips and it somehow soothed my nerves.

"Good morning, Caroline."

"Good morning, Mr. Sinclair."

"Sleep well?" he asked.

"Uh-I..." His question caught me off guard but I nodded anyway.

"How is the hangover?" His index finger rubbed his chin.

My mouth opened slightly.

"I-I...You were there last night," I breathed out.

"Yes, I was," he smirked.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I didn't mean all that."

"That's okay. Nothing I haven't heard before."

I can bet on the sweat part.

I was suddenly reminded of something he'd said. I find it pretty hot that I made you sweat like that.

Oh my God! He said that to me.

"So, Caroline, are you feeling like working today or would I be too bossy if I gave you some work?" He was trying to suppress a laugh.

I could actually cry right there.

"Mr. Sinclair, I—"

"Nick," he cut me off.

"What?" I blinked in confusion.

"You can call me Nick."

I can?

"Oh, okay...Nick."

Why was I so awkward with my employers' first names?

I wasn't even used to calling Mr. Andrews Blake yet.

"And," I spoke to have his attention but his eyes had never left me, "I saw something unusual on my desk a while ago."

"Oh, did you?" he asked innocently, like he knew nothing.

"That wasn't needed," I said politely. "I can't keep them."

Those chocolates would cost me a fortune if I ever bought them.

"Don't you like chocolates?" He raised a brow with a frown on his lips, almost as if he would fire me if I said no.

"I do. Of course I do."

"Well then, I hope you get a sugar rush and end up spilling more secrets." He smirked.

I shut my eyes in embarrassment.

"I can't apologize enough for everything I said yester—"

"So," he cut me off, "let me ask you again. How do you feel about working today?"

"I can work all day," I spoke honestly.

"Okay." He thought for a while and then an idea seemed to have popped into his mind.

"What do you think about a trip to your ex-employer?"

Blake Andrews?

Nick

A day ago

Trent was in her office. Again.

For some reason, one of my most loyal employee was annoying the crap out of me.

And what the fuck did he want with Caroline?

The way he was so brazenly talking to her and making her laugh right outside my office, when I had specifically told him to send her inside, made me want to punch him square in the face.

But when I saw her face, all I wanted to do was tell her that I wasn't mad at her.

She looked so scared.

Sighing, I walked over to the mini fridge in the corner of my office and pulled out a candy bar.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Dad.

"Hey, Dad."

"Nick, where are you?"

"I'm at work. Why?"

"I need you to go to the mansion."

"Is everything okay?" I frowned.

He sighed. "Your sister has planned an outing with her friends."

"So?"

"At night. In a club."

"Jeez! And she told you?" I shook my head.

"Don't make me kick your ass."

I let out a laugh. "Alright. What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to go after her. Don't make your presence known to her, just keep a close eye on her and the people she meets. Make sure she's safe."

"Jeez, Dad. Should've trained me to become an undercover agent."

"I'm not joking here."

I sighed. "I think you should let her be. She's smart now."

"And I'm smarter, Nick. I know how those clubs are. Filled with douchebags like you. The last thing I want is some horny creep taking my daughter home."

"Ouch." I narrowed my eyes for a moment. "You still think I'm going after that blow to my ego?"

"Yes. Because if you don't, I'll literally kick your ass through the phone."

"I'd love to see you try, my man."

The door to my office opened and I turned around in confusion.

Dad barged inside, advancing straight in my direction.

"Whoa," I said while sprinting behind my desk.

"That's cheating. You said through the phone."

"You keep forgetting that I'm just a floor away, son." He smirked.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Okay? I'll go," I snapped.

"Good." He smiled.

Man! My dad is one scary guy.

I couldn't help but shiver remembering our kickboxing matches. He could still defeat me easily with his expert techniques.

But at least his training exercises had given me this absolutely swoon-worthy body and amazing stamina.

I'd never lacked strength. Blake would always complain that I'd never even give him a chance to hit me whenever we sparred.

Guess I could defeat anyone but my dad.

"What time is she leaving?" I asked.

"7 p.m. Be at the club near her campus."

"Okay, fine," I sighed.

"And go home today. Meet your mom. She's missing you."

"I'll see her in the evening."

"No, you won't. She's busy."

I thought for a moment. "You're taking her out for dinner, aren't you?"

A smile formed on his lips.

I couldn't help but chuckle. I always saw my dad as this rock who could only melt for my mom.

I'd never seen two people more in love and I never understood how they did that. And owing to my Casanova epithet, I probably never will.

Not that I was complaining.

"Alright." I cleared my throat. "I should probably leave then."

Dad nodded and left my office.

I was halfway home when I remembered Caroline.

I had left her with so much work! But she asked for it.

When she'd spoken to me like that...damn!

Shaking my head to get her off my mind, I focused on the road ahead and reached the mansion.

Mom was in the living room, reading a magazine. She turned around at my voice, her eyes growing wide and a smile stretching across her lips.

"Mom." I smiled and gave her a hug, kissing her cheek.

"Aw, here's the person who doesn't miss me at all." She pecked my cheek.

"You know that's not true," I chuckled.

"How are you?" she asked.

"I'm good. How are you?"

"Still hot as hell." She gave me a lopsided smile and I burst out laughing.

"So, your dad really talked you into stalking your sister, huh?" She frowned.

More like threatened to kick me.

"You know Dad." I shrugged.

"Yeah, more than anyone else." She let out a laugh.

We sat down and chatted for some time, but then I had to leave before Emilia came back home or she would know I was up to something.

At exactly 7 p.m., I was at the club and my sister was nowhere to be seen.

I had a few drinks and then it was 8 p.m. but Emilia was still not there. At 8:30 p.m., I got a text from dad saying that she cancelled her plans and was now at the mansion, sleeping soundly because of an early test tomorrow.

"Ugh," I groaned.

What a bummer!

As I was leaving, a certain brunette sitting on a bar stool caught my attention.

Caroline.

She was there with Rebekah.

"Check those two out," I heard a man saying to his friend, pointing in Caroline's direction.

"I like the blonde," his friend said.

"I'll take the brunette home. She's got a fine ass."

Like hell you will!

My fist clenched and I resisted the urge to pummel them both right there.

I watched as Rebekah got up and disappeared into the crowd. And Caroline was just sitting there all alone, so innocent amongst these horny assholes.

There was this sudden instinct to protect her.

I found my feet moving in her direction involuntarily and before I could comprehend anything, I was sitting next to her, watching her exhaustingly beautiful face.

She turned in my direction and then, once again, there was this spark within me when our eyes met.

What the hell is wrong with me?

We started talking. She said a lot of things but the one thing that rang in my ears for hours, the rest of the night, and even the next morning until I saw her again was—

You've been on my mind all day.

I had never enjoyed talking to a girl like that before. Minutes felt like seconds with her sass and innocence coming through her voice at the same time.

It was only when I saw Rebekah walking back towards us that I got up and hid in the crowd.

I wasn't sure why I just stood there or what I was waiting for, but I couldn't bring myself to leave yet.

It was only when I secretlyfollowed them to their dorm and made sure that Caroline was safe, could I gohome.

At least I had stalked someone.

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