by Dawn Doyle
His own nightclubs.
He needed Emily.
“Emmy, can I see you for a moment?” he asked as he opened his office door. He didn’t like it to be closed these days, because he got a great view of Emily when it was open, but he had to keep it closed or he wouldn’t get any work done.
That and she’d probably call him out on his staring at her.
Emily didn’t say a word as she got out of her chair and walked to the office.
Nick sat at his desk and gestured to the chair in front.
She still didn’t say a word.
“You know I own nightclubs other than this company.” He began.
Emily nodded.
“Well, that side of my business is growing, as well as the investment business. Darren, the guy I have Managing the local club which you visited, also helps out with the other two.”
Emily looked uncomfortable as he referred back to that night. Maybe because of the nasty comment he made to her the next day, or what she’d said to him whilst she was drunk.
“The thing is…” he continued “… it’s going to be a lot more work running both sides of the businesses.”
“And this involves me, how?” she said as she crossed her legs. Nick tried to keep his eyes off the silky skin that showed when she did.
“Well, you work twice as efficient than anybody I’ve ever employed and I think your skills would be better suited to running a company.”
“What are you saying, Nick? You want me to leave?” The look in her eyes tore through his heart. She seemed hurt that he would want that.
“What?! God no! I don’t want that ever.” He assured her.
Ok, calm down! Keep that up and she’ll know something is wrong with you.
“What I’m saying, is that I have a proposition for you. I physically won’t be able to keep up with everything and I don’t want any of the investments to suffer because of it. I’ve been thinking about you running things with me. You’re pretty much doing that anyway and since you’ve been here, all I’ve had to do is read reports and sign checks. I’ve not had to lift a finger to fix anything. However, I don’t want you getting burnt out so, you could hire an assistant to help with whatever you need.”
Emily looked in thought about what he’d told her. Which was that he wanted her to run Lake Ventures with him. There were going to be too many new business accounts for him to deal with by himself, if he took them on, and he couldn’t be everywhere at once. The companies that had tried to keep profits from him, were the ones he hadn’t visited in a few months.
“You’ll have your own assistant so I’ll hire somebody else to assist me with the clubs.” He added.
“I’ve worked for you for nine weeks and now you want me to run your company with you?”
“It wouldn’t be right away, as it’s just a thought I’ve had, but essentially yes. If I take on a lot of new ventures, I’ll need a lot more help.”
“Why?”
Good question.
“Didn’t I just explain that?”
Not good, Nick!
“Don’t be a smart arse, I know what you said. I meant why me? You could get somebody else with a lot more years of experience behind them. You don’t even know me that well. For all you know, I could be waiting for the right moment to screw you over and take you for everything.”
Emily had a point but Nick knew that she would never do anything like that to him. She may put on a brave front but he knew she was a nice person behind the facade.
“You wouldn’t do that, and I know you well enough to know you’re perfect for the job. Why would I want somebody else when I have you?”
As the words left his mouth, Nick knew that he meant not only for the business but personally too. He didn’t want anybody else other than his Emmy.
“I don’t know why you’re asking me this, if it’s only a thought. Shouldn’t you have something in place before you start offering things like that?”
God, she’s quick on the ball! I love that about her.
“I wanted to tell you now, rather than have things set up only for you to say no and then I’ll be up to my eyes in work that I can’t handle alone.”
“Wouldn’t I be more inclined to say yes if there was something physical to agree to?”
I’d like to agree to a lot of physical. Fuck!
Nick adjusted his sitting position as he was beginning to get uncomfortable in his pants.
“I wanted to give you a heads up first. Give you something to think over before anything was started.”
“I would definitely need to think it over, but I’m not happy about you having a different assistant.”
“Why?” Nick wondered what the hell she meant by that. If it was because she didn’t want to leave his side then he was so on with that.
“Because I don’t like Louise.”
There it was.
The punch in the balls he had been expecting.
She knew he wouldn’t hire Louise but she was throwing it in his face anyway.
“I wouldn’t hire Louise, I don’t like her either. Would you hire Lee?”
Emily’s eyes ignited and Nick knew he had taken it too far.
“You know I didn’t want him to touch me, cock ‘ed. You saw it, I know you did.” Her fists bunched on her lap as she spoke.
Emily hadn’t called him that name for a little while and now he was right back up on her shit list.
“Emmy, I don’t know how this went from a business proposition to a fight but can we please not?”
“Fine.” She said through clenched teeth.
She was really pissed about something and he had no clue what was wrong with her.
“So, will you think about it?”
“I have one question.”
“Shoot.” Nick was nervous with what she might ask. Emily could potentially screw it up with just a few words.
“What if I was planning to leave?”
And there you go.
I would die. Say something to make her stay!
“I’d have to hire somebody else, get frustrated when they didn’t compare to you. Fire them, hire somebody else that also didn’t compare to you. Fire them and so on and so forth.”
“Do you think I’m that gullible? You want me around to run your business with you and you say that crap so I won’t think of leaving? Well, you’re wrong, Nick. So wrong.”
“Emmy, Christ! What have I done to piss you off so much?” Nick ran his hand through his hair in frustration and noticed Emily’s eyes followed the movement as he did.
What the hell is going on with her?
“Is this about the elevator this morning? You didn’t help me with that irritating girl and, yeah, I was pissed at that but I… I mean…”
Nick wasn’t about to tell her that he was so close to kissing her.
“That has nothing to do with this.” She replied slightly raising her voice.
“Then what is it? You need to give me a clue because I have no idea how offering you to be a partner has gotten you so mad!”
“Look, Nick. It’s not… you. Ok?”
“Seriously? The ‘it’s not you, it’s me?’ Come on Emmy.”
“You didn’t let me finish!” Emily glared at Nick, with flames shooting him right in the heart. “You don’t know me, Nick. You saying this… it’s not… I can’t…”
“You can talk to me, Emmy.” He said gently. It was obvious that Emily had some issues of her own that he didn’t know about.
“I can’t Nick. Which is stupid after what you told me, I know, but I can’t do this right now. It’s too much.”
Emily got up from the seat and started to walk towards the door, pausing before she opened it.
“I’m sure you mean well and I’m sorry I took off on you.”
Nick watched as the door closed softly.
“What the fuck just happened?”
*****
“What’s the matter love? You don’t look too happy today.” Kim said
as they drove through the city after delivering her bedroom furniture to her new place. They’d done that straight from work and Emily was tired.
She hadn’t been in the best of moods since the talk with Nick, a couple days ago, and she felt bad for taking off on him.
He had no idea.
“I’m fine Mum. Just a work thing.”
“Has Nick been getting on your nerves again?” She chuckled.
Emily knew her parents were aware of their run-ins but she didn’t like to talk about it.
“No, not really.” She didn’t want to tell her Mum that, the day before, Nick had offered her a fantastic opportunity but she’d gotten defensive because of what had happened in the past.
“Then what, love? You’ve been quiet lately and that worries me. After you started working for Nick, you’ve been different. What’s going on?”
Emily took a deep breath and sighed. She’d have to tell her Mum something or she’d go on at her and she didn’t want to end up snapping at her.
“It’s just the stress of coming here, the new job, fitting in with everybody and now moving. It’s a lot in just a short time.”
Emily hoped that her Mum believed that it was just that. She didn’t want to go into any more details. If her Mum mentioned anything to her Dad about it then there was a chance that he would say something to Nick. Even if it was just to warn him about winding her up. Then he would know that she talked about him outside of work.
“It is a lot. When we first came here, it took me a little while to settle and we’d been coming back and forth for a while too. I think Holly was the only one who settled after a couple of weeks. When she met her friends it was like she’d been here all her life.”
That was true. The quietest and shyest of them all, Holly had had no trouble settling at all. Well, apart from her huge crush on Alex and not telling anybody but Dev, Alex’s twin sister and that was only because Dev figured it out. Alex crushed on her too and when they finally admitted it to each other…
Wow.
Not even two weeks later they were engaged.
Emily was happy for her, she knew Holly had found ‘the one’ but she also felt envious that she’d wasted a year and a half of her own life with somebody that took advantage of her. Somebody that didn’t have any feelings for her, even though she realised she didn’t have those feelings for him either.
“Yeah, well, I think I’ll feel more settled when I’ve moved into my apartment.”
Emily and Kim browsed through some of the stores and she picked out some kitchenware and small appliances. After choosing some towel bales for her bathroom, she decided she’d had enough.
Coffee was next on the list before she could do anything else.
Cal’s coffee wasn’t far from where they were shopping and Emily liked the place, even though the last time Harry had been there… and Nick.
Sitting at a table, Kim went to order their drinks and snacks.
Emily’s mind wandered to that time.
After dealing with Harry, Nick had been there, witnessing everything that had happened. Seeing him sitting there, she’d stared at him. Thinking about it, she realised that they’d stared at each other.
Until Harry called her name out again.
“Is this seat taken?” She heard a male voice from beside her. Bringing her out of her thoughts.
Looking up, Emily saw a man smiling down at her. He looked to be in his late twenties, short blonde hair and brown eyes. He was good looking but not doing anything for her. Wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans, the guy looked to have a defined physique but again, not doing anything for her.
“Oh, it is. My Mum’s just getting our drinks.” She said as politely as she could.
“Wow, I love your accent. Where are you from?”
Oh for fuck’s sake!
“Liverpool.” She looked for her Mum, who was at the front of the queue. Hoping that she would be back soon so the guy would go away.
Instead, he did something she was really wished he hadn’t.
He sat down.
“So, do you live here or just visiting?” He asked with a smile.
Oh just go away!
“I’m Charlie, by the way.” He said when she didn’t answer. “What’s your name?”
“Emily!” A girl’s voice shouted from the doorway.
Emily turned to see Cora coming towards her, followed by Nick. He didn’t look happy.
“Hi! How are you?” Emily asked, completely ignoring ‘Charlie-by-the-way’.
“I’m good! Nick just picked me up from dance class and we’re going to get some goodies before we go home.” She said excitedly before noticing the uninvited guest. “Who are you?”
“I’m Emily’s friend.” He said with a grin. “I hope.” He winked at Emily.
“Cora, come on, leave Emily with her friend.” Nick said as he approached.
“He said he ‘hopes’, which means he’s not her friend.” She said as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Nick! Hi sweetie!” Kim said as she approached the table with hers and Emily’s order. “I think you’re in my seat.” She said to Charlie with a glare.
“Oh… um… sorry.” He said as he stood up. “Emily…”
“Bye” Kim said abruptly, clearly telling him he wasn’t welcome.
Charlie walked away and straight out of the door in embarrassment.
“Who was that?” She asked, turning to Emily.
“I have no idea.”
Emily tried not to make eye contact with Nick but she could smell him and it wasn’t doing her any favours in trying to ignore that he was there.
“Well, he was trying to be your friend and you looked like you didn’t want him to.” Cora said with a look that Nick usually pulled when he was getting annoyed. One eyebrow raised and pursed lips. “Nick, I’ll get our order. You stay here with Emily and her Mom.”
“Cora…” He began to say.
“Nick. I’m grown up now and I’m perfectly capable of ordering.”
Nick rolled his eyes and handed Cora some money.
“Be right back.” She said before walking away like she was far older than her years.
“So, how’s work going?” Kim asked.
“It’s going great, thanks. Emmy’s helping me a lot.”
Emily looked down at her hands. She was embarrassed for how she acted when Nick was being nice to her. Still not looking at him, she took a deep, calming breath.
Not a good idea. She inhaled more of his scent and it went straight between her legs.
“She’s a good girl, My Em.”
“Yeah, she is.” He said before Cora made her way back to them with their order.
“See? I told you I can do it.” She said with a big smile.
“So, what are you two up to?” Kim asked and Emily wished she would stop trying to make conversation.
“Well, Nick’s making dinner for me and then we’re going to play on the Xbox. He bought it for when Ryan came over and he got some games just for me to play.”
“Oh how sweet!” Gushed Kim.
Yeah, how fucking sweet! I’m trying not to like you, damn it!
“Yeah. I’m going to play Kinectimals and then the Dance games.”
“No makeovers tonight?” Emily added, without looking at Nick, and Cora laughed.
“I think it’s time to go.” Nick said quickly and gestured for Cora to follow.
“Ok then, bye Kim, bye Emily.”
“Bye Cora. It was lovely seeing you again, Nick.”
“You too. Say Hi to Oli for me.”
“Bye Princess.” Emily said as Cora hugged her.
“Bye Emmy. See you tomorrow.” He said quietly as if he was being careful not to set her off.
“Bye.”
Emily couldn’t watch as they walked out of the door but she could hear the chatter of Cora’s voice as they did.
“Oh my God, I knew it. You think just because I’m eleven I wouldn’t notice?”
What was that
all about?
“Ok, young lady, care to tell me what that was?” Kim said as she rested her elbows on the table.
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me. You know damn well what I mean. You didn’t speak to that poor boy once, except for ‘bye’. You didn’t even acknowledge he was there. What did you do?”
Emily couldn’t take it anymore. She was sick of her family siding with Nick and seemingly not caring for how she was feeling.
“What makes you think I did su’n? I don’t believe you and Dad. First, he goes and tells Nick about the job offer, which Nick throws in my face to keep me workin’ for ‘im, then he makes it out like Nick is the fuckin’ golden boy, and now you. I’m a little quiet and you assume I’ve done su’n.” Emily could feel the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “Well, thanks a lot Mum. Thanks for being on my side and standin’ up for me.” She said sarcastically.
“Em, what the hell?!” Kim was shocked at Emily’s rant.
“Dad, Holly, and now you. All tellin’ me ‘ow great Nick is and makin’ me feel like I’m the one who’s causin’ a problem. ‘Ow the ‘ell do you know it’s not ‘im that’s causin’ the problem and makin’ me this way? Did any of you think of that?”
Emily stood up from the table, picked up her large bag of items and began to walk out of Cal’s.
“Emily, where are you going?”
“I’m getting a cab and then taking the rest of my stuff. I’m moving out tonight.”
Emily rushed out of the door and flagged a passing cab before her Mum could catch up with her.
She got home and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. Her old bedroom. She wasn’t due to be taking the rest of her things until the next day but she didn’t want to waste any time in leaving.
Even though she felt bad at making out like Nick had done something, Emily wanted her family to ask what he had done, not her.
Emily called a cab and grabbed her suitcases.
