Noah
The smart thing in my situation would probably be to listen to Elias, my mother's husband. He admitted to having a daughter but told me Natalie is filled with lies.
I asked Elias what kind of lies, to which he never replied. My mother walked inside the room and took over the conversation. She claimed Natalie was a thief and told me to stay away.
Yet here I am, waiting for Natalie to step inside my new office. I realize I could get a more luxurious place or work from home, but I wanted something in town to be connected to society.
Now I'm sitting on top of Natalie's future desk, trying but failing not to smile when I see Natalie. She is holding our coffee while wearing shades and a jeans jacket. Her brown hair cascades down her back, and her delicious curves are framed by her tight leggings.
My cock approves of her attire, but I repress the urge to fuck Natalie against the wall.
Today I shouldn't be thinking with my second brain, even if Natalie is the type of woman I like; curvy and not afraid of owning it. She seems comfortable in her skin, even if she isn't the skinniest girl around, and I find that incredibly sexy.
Natalie pushes up the door with her shoulder. "Some gentleman you are for not helping me with the door when I bought you coffee..."
My lips curve, and I silently walk over to her. I grab the coffee and even take her bag, lifting my eyebrows at the weight. "What do you keep in here? Bricks?"
"Yes, in case someone would ever try to rob me."
I snort. "Seriously?" I like this woman. She is funny, prepared... And different?
Also gorgeous, but I'm trying not to be shallow here. I should focus on Natalie's personality, not on her tits.
"I'm a mother—I wouldn't hesitate to murder anyone coming too close to my daughter."
I find myself paralyzed by the end of her sentence, not because of her words, but how her sentence makes me feel. I let my eyes roam her determined face, and there are... Butterflies?
I shake it off. I'm curious about Natalie—attracted to her, but these flutters are new. And dangerous since I can't fall in love with the person my family considers their enemy.
Natalie and I probably don't even have chemistry. The physical attraction is there, but it would probably be hard to hold a conversation.
"I see," I say. "You never know when someone might attack you on the street these days."
She breathes a laugh. "Yeah."
I sip my coffee and realize I probably should talk to Natalie about her new job. We are the only ones here right now. Everyone else is at the office by the resort.
"As my assistant, I need you to schedule my meetings, answer phone calls and hang up the phone whenever my mother tries to reach me. It's summer now, and not much is happening, but you're still expected to be my shadow. You go where I go, is that clear?"
To my surprise, Natalie is on her phone. I smirk, about to call her out on it and fire her on the spot, but then I see she is taking notes. Her eyes travel to mine, and her smile is attentive.
"What else?"
I'm taken aback. This woman is shocking me at every turn. First, she remembers my coffee, and now, despite disliking me, she is willing to let off that hatred to actually take notes.
"I don't keep anything of value at this small office. I'm just keeping it for the summer since I like being close to town. I will only be holding virtual meetings here, but you will have to arrange the physical ones, as they will happen at the resort's office."
"Got it."
"And I need you to go through my mails..." I sink my teeth into my lower lip, hoping I'm not putting too much on her shoulders. "Could you do that for me today? Check what is important and what can wait."
"No problem."
Natalie is still discreetly smiling at me, but even though I should leave her alone to get acquainted with her desk. I can't bring myself to leave. And now I'm just dumbly smiling at her.
She must think I'm so creepy.
I'm still dreaming about Natalie, and somehow, being in her presence is helping me relax and breathe. She is like her own form of oxygen; I might choke if there is any removal.
"You can leave me alone now," Natalie says. "I will look through your mails and the papers on the desk, and... I could get back to you in maybe an hour or so?"
"Sure—" I freeze on my way up. "Wait, you have some crumbs around your mouth..."
I reach out my hand and wipe the crumbs away from Natalie's lower lip without registering what I'm doing. She holds her breath, and my heart thumps against my ribcage.
Natalie's green eyes are so gorgeous and soothing. I'm drawn in like a moth to a flame, but there is no way out; Once I've looked into her eyes, she has branded me for life.
"I'm sorry..." I say, aware of the knocks against my chest. "I don't understand what came over me."
Natalie stares at me with glazed eyes, and my heart falters when she blinks away a couple of tears.
I don't understand why, but it makes my body act. This woman might be my mother's enemy, and her own father calls her a liar. But I don't give a shit. Natalie is also my step-sister, and no one should appear so... Broken.
I know that emotion too well—I've felt it every day since I woke up at the hospital. My soul is crying, which must be why I embrace Natalie in a gentle hug. Her body turns tense, and I wrap my arm around her, pressing her nose into my chest.
I speak in a soft voice, stroking her back. "Look, I don't know what you've been through, but you looked like you might need a hug."
Natalie inhales sharply, but she pushes at my chest. She doesn't want my comfort, and even though she is shaking, she tries to flee. It makes tears appear in my own eyes, even though I got no clue.
"I don't like it when you hug me," Natalie sobs. "Because you're the reason behind why I'm crying, Noah."
I chuckle. "Ten minutes at the new job, and you're already hating the boss, is that right?"
"I don't hate you..." Natalie mumbles into the fabric of my suit. She is hugging me back now but shaking. It's as if touching me is the very reason behind her pain. I don't understand why.
"Then why are you crying?" I ask, scared to hear the answer.
My head is hurting, reaching for something that isn't there. It feels like I should know the answer to my question, but I don't, and it kills me. My soul is shattering to pieces.
And seeing Natalie cry?
It breaks me apart from within.
"You wouldn't believe me," Natalie whispers and leans away from me, meeting my eyes with a sad smile. "But one day, I hope you will."
I blink at her, unsure about the meaning behind her words. Sadly, I don't get the opportunity to ask her. Natalie walks over to the coffee machine, and the moment is blown away.
But my chest is still hurting with every heartbeat.