Erisha stood there, wondering how to react.

She was shocked, yes, but she hoped..that there was an explanation.
Deciding to face the situation, she moved forward.

Treyton stepped away from her, but it seemed as if the woman was reluctant to let go of him.
As he did so, his gaze fell on Erisha, and he waved her over, a grateful look on his face.

Erisha nodded, before going upto him.
She, however, saw the woman's head snapping around to see what had taken up Treyton's attention, a look of disdain crossing her features at the sight of her.

'Erisha!'
Treyton caught her in a hug, before giving her a lingering kiss on her cheek.
'You are late!'
He admonished playfully.
'But, with the way you are looking, I forgive you!'
He said near her ear, his breath hot, causing her to shiver with pleasure at the compliment.

'I'm sorry..I..'
Erisha tried to focus on the woman, but was having a difficult time, with Treyton's hand enclosing her waist, to keep her beside him.
She glanced at the woman just then, and saw a look of pure envy on her face, before she masked it.

'Treyton! Won't you introduce your friend..'
The emphasis was not lost on Erisha, although Treyton seemed unaffected.

'Sure!'
Treyton didn't even look at the woman, his eyes on Erisha.
'This is Erisha, Erisha..this is Marissa..also a..friend..of mine..'

His pause confirmed what Erisha had been thinking. That she was one of his ex girlfriends.
Knowing that, she now gave the woman another look, and realised why.
She was beautiful, with dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and a stunning figure.
'Hello..'
Erisha said, more to be polite, than to be friendly.

Marissa nodded, her eyes not missing Treyton's hand stroking Erisha's hip.
'So, Erisha..what do you do? Besides..'
She raised her eyebrows at their closeness, which caused Erisha to flush, but didn't affect Treyton any.

Erisha tried to shift away from Treyton, but he didn't let go.
'I own an antiques' shop..in the central market..'
She saw Marissa's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, as if she had expected her to be some dumb, dependent woman.

'Interesting..'
Marissa smiled, but there was no real joy in her eyes.
'Have you guys known each other long?'
She laughed, as if at her own private joke, not caring that they didn't look amused.
'Well, Treyton doesn't usually take very long to bed a woman..why, it only took him a week to use his charm on me..'

'Marissa!'
Treyton broke in, sounding irritated.
'I don't think it's any of your business of the when and how. But, since you seem very interested, I'll tell you. Erisha is moving in with me!'
It was hard to say who was more shocked by his announcement, Marissa or Erisha.
He felt her stiffen against him, and knew why. But, right now, he had to get rid of Marissa.

'Ohh..I see..'
Marissa didn't look like she did, her eyes now running over Erisha, as if to see what was it about her that had gotten Treyton hooked.

'Yes..you can see..and now, if you would excuse us..me and my girlfriend are late for breakfast..'
He moved to pull out a chair for Erisha.
'Come sit, sweetheart..'
He smiled down at her, already dismissing the other woman, before seating himself in the chair opposite hers.

Marissa had no choice but to leave, but not before Erisha saw her redden with anger.
But, honestly, Erisha was more concerned with what Treyton had just said, than the other woman.
'How dare you?'
She snapped, as soon as Marissa left.

Treyton had expected Erisha to react, ofcourse, but not like this.
'What?'

'Yeah! What! What was all that about?'
Erisha's eyes flared.

'Erisha..'
Treyton put a hand over hers, but she struggled to free it. He tightened his hold, not letting her free it.
'I'm sorry!'
He looked at her.
'I didn't mean to announce it like that, before talking with you..but, I didn't like the way she..'

'Oh, you did? Did you?'
Erisha tried to hold her emotions in check.
'How could you..'

'Relax!'
Treyton squeezed her fingers gently.
'Atleast, hear me out! Please!'
He requested softly.
Erisha nodded finally, and he continued.
'The other night..was one of the best I've ever had..then yesterday..'
His voice lowered.
'Yesterday, after you left, and then when I couldn't get through to you..I realised..that I want you near me, around me..all the time..I need you!'
His eyes were serious, as was his tone.
'I missed you like crazy! And that feeling..it was something I've never felt before..you get what I am saying?'
He asked her.

Erisha was getting more and more astonished by the minute.
Even in her wildest dreams, she had never thought that Treyton Elrod would be saying all this to her, and she didn't know how to react, what to say, so she just gave a bare nod.

Treyton let go of her hand, and ran his through his hair, as if suddenly unsure of something.
'I..I..have a very cynical view about marriage. My parents..they hardly had an ideal one..'
Treyton paused, as if telling her was difficult for him.
He was looking at her, but there was suddenly a faraway look in his eyes.

Erisha remembered KK telling her about his childhood, and could have stopped him, but she knew he wanted to tell her, and she needed to hear it from him. So, she stayed quiet, waiting.

'Contrary to what people may believe, I didn't have any ideal childhood. My mother..she..she left me for another man and the high life when I was very young. I didn't even know how to survive at that age. And my father..he drank away everything we had in his sorrows..and disappeared one day. No one cared about me..what I will do, how I will survive. To this day, I don't know if they are alive or not.'
Treyton spoke without feeling, as if reciting someone else's story, instead of his, but Erisha felt his pain as if her own.
'I ran away from one shelter to another, lived on the streets..learnt things no kid of that age ever did. And then..one day..I lost all my will to live..'
He snorted.
'Hunger and poverty can do that to a child, you know..but, as if that wasn't my destiny, KK saved me..'
Treyton smiled now with fondness.
'He clothed me, fed me, taught me about life. Sent me to school, then college..you know the rest..'
His eyes focused back on Erisha, who had damp eyes.
'I've never told all this to anyone before, but I know you have some knowledge of what happened through your Nanna. I just wanted you to understand, why I don't want to marry. I don't believe they last.'
He became quiet now, as he waited for her reactions.

Erisha swallowed.
Any thoughts she might have had of a future with Treyton, had just flown out of the window. 
But, his questioning gaze unnerved her, and she knew she had to say something.
'I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure it must have been so difficult..not to mention painful.'

'Yes..it was..'
Treyton couldn't gauge what she was thinking.
'But, coming back to the point on hand..will you move in with me?'
He asked, his heart thudding, as it had when he had heard her tell him she loved him.

'I..I don't..'
Erisha began, but he caught hold of her hand again.

'Don't say no..not just yet!'
He brought her hand to his lips, and brushed them over her knuckles.
'Think about it..'
His green eyes deepened with feelings, and she couldn't refuse him that atleast.

'Okay..I'll think about it..'
She got out past a throat tight with several emotions.

'Thankyou..'
He leaned back on his chair, looking more relaxed now.
'So, I think we missed breakfast..'
He looked at the dwindled crowd, and then at his watch.
'Want coffee and something light? Then I have to go to work..'

'So do I, especially after yesterday. Yeah, coffee sounds good..and maybe a croissant..'
She said, as Treyton called over a waiter to take their orders.

As they ate and chatted in general, the only thing on Erisha's mind, was his offer.

What am I going to do?

***************************

'Thinking of me?'

Erisha smiled, as Treyton's voice came over the line.
She had just lain down in bed after a long day, when Treyton had called.
'You know I do..'
She replied.

'Then why don't you give in? Why hold yourself back?'
Treyton implored, not for the first time since he had made the suggestion of moving in together.
'Don't you want the same things I do?'

No! I want more than you are willing to give me..I want it all! A marriage, children..the whole works..
'Treyton..I told you..I need more time to think..'
Erisha had been stalling him with the same reply for the past one week, but he had been persistant in his quest.

'How much more time?'
He sighed woefully.
'I want to be with you every day..every night..'
His tone lowered to a sensual one.
'I want you in my bed, in my arms, my body wrapped around your nakedness..your breasts in my hands..'
Erisha sucked in her breath, his words creating passionate images in her head.
'..my mouth sucking your nipples as they harden for me..me thrusting deep inside of you..'

'Stop..please!'
Erisha croaked out, her whole body thrumming with sensation.

'Why don't you stop too?'
He threw back, as soon as his voice became normal.
'Why can't you just say yes..I know you want me as much as I do you..'

'I am trying to..'

'Try harder..'
He demanded.
'Put me out of my misery! I can't work, sleep or think about anything else these days..wait a minute..'
He paused, as if he just thought of something.
'Is this because of KK? Is he stopping you from taking this step? Does he have a problem?'
His tone was completely serious and incredulous at the same time, as if amazed at why he had never thought of that before.

Erisha didn't reply.
Instead, she thought of her grandfather's reaction when he had made her come clean two days ago.
Erisha had been thinking of nothing else, not eating, not talking much, and her grandfather had noticed.
He had prodded her, and she had ended up telling him what Treyton wanted.
But, she had been surprised, when Nanna had just nodded, and told her he understood.

'I sort of expected that..'
He had said.
'With the kind of trauma he suffered in childhood, it is only natural for him to think like that. I still remember when he used to wake up at nights, screaming for his mother to come back, not to leave him..poor child..'

That had reminded her of when he had done the same, the day she had brought him home after rescuing him.
Her heart had gone out to that little boy, who had gone through so much, and then emerged so strong, that he had become the most influential man in Austria today.
And that man loved her..her..if she sat and thought about it, she was the luckiest woman in the whole world.
Because, knowing everything, if it was possible, she had fallen more in love with him.

'My child, he deserves to be happy, having spent all his life being cynical. If he has let someone into his heart after everything he's been through, I'd say give him the benefit of the doubt. If living with you is what makes him happy, I'm sure you can comply.'
He had watched the expressions flitting over her face, and had taken hold of her hand.
When Erisha had looked at him, amazed at her Nanna's understanding, he had astonished her further.
'I know what you are thinking. How can Nanna be so open minded, right?'
When Erisha had continued to stare at him, he had smiled.
'I loved your grandmother like mad, did everything to make her happy..so much, that when she died, all I wanted to do was die with her. But instead, I moved here, started a new life, then you came to live with me..I chose to live life again..but I've never, not for a single day, not missed my love. And if there was anything I could do to bring her back, I would have. So, I understand love, and how it feels to be deprived of it..'
He stroked her cheek, and she realised that she had been crying, and he was wiping her tears, amid his own running down his cheeks.

'But, Nanna..I want more than he can give..I love him, but..I..you..'
Erisha paused, and he raised his brows.

'I'm content with my life, soon I'll have a new job..'

'What? What job? When?'
Erisha had been stunned.

'I was going to tell you..Treyton has offered me a job at his office, better than what I was doing at Hubers.'

'Oh God, Nanna! That's wonderful!'
Erisha had jumped with excitement, hugging him.

'Yes, it is!'
He had laughed at her sudden joy, after her tears.
'So, you needn't worry about me, and do what your heart tells you to..'
He had become serious again.
'If you feel that moving in with him is a mistake, then don't. But if you love him, and want to be with him, then do it. It's that simple..'

'Erisha! Are you still there?'
Treyton's voice in her ear, brought her back to the present.
'I'm right, aren't I? KK doesn't want you to live with me..'

'No, no!'
Erisha spoke.
'Nanna's not the reason..'

'You sure? Then?'
He asked again.

'Treyton..I..'

'Erisha!'
His voice became hard.
'Either you love me and want to live with me, or either you don't! I can't offer you anything else! So, let me know when you come to a decision!'
With that, he disconnected the call, leaving Erisha stunned at his sudden anger.

Tears stung her eyes.
Oh God! What is wrong with me? He's offering me more than he's ever done to anyone, and I'm just dragging things..I love him..I want to be with him..yes!
Erisha sat up in bed, suddenly all wired up.
'Yes! Yes! I'm doing this! I'm going to move in with Treyton Elrod!'

She was amazed at how good that made her feel.
She got up and in a flurry of activity, began to pack.

***************************

Her heart raced, as she got off the cab in front of Treyton's building.
The driver took out her luggage, and helped to move it inside the lobby.
Thanking him, Erisha paid him, and watched him go, with a big smile on her face.

She hadn't told Treyton, had wanted it to be a surprise, so she was really excited to see her reaction.
Her plan was to leave her things at his place, before going in for work, so when Treyton came back, he would  know that she loved him, wanted to be with him.

Seeing no receptionist in the lobby, she decided to buzz Gordon by herself.
Smiling, she moved towards the intercom.
But, just as she picked up the cradle, something heavy hit the back of her head, and she fell, everything becoming black.

To be continued..