Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Drew unbelievably stares at his phone like he just spoke to an alien, and angrily decides never to call her again. I mean nobody has ever used a tone like that with him, no one dares, his ego brutally bruised. Nadia begins to walk fast as if she can walk out on Drew s thought and his loving ways, tears, blurring her vision. She enters into a café to get her bearing. She sits close to the window, orders for a glass of soda, and stares at the paper still in her hands. She places the paper on the table and takes a sip of her soda. Peter observes the beautiful girl that walks into the café, she seems troubled and that is his area of specialization, helping a damsel in distress. Peter walks up to her, "Hello Darling can I sit?" she looks at the guy uncertainly Sensing her hesitation, "I mean well, just a friendly chat over glasses of soda." She looks into his eyes, satisfied with his friendly smile and open expression, she shrugs her acceptance. "Thank you," Peter says, observing the paper on the table "Is that your picture?" he asks her Nadia makes a futile attempt to cover the picture with one hand. ?"Yes," she answers. "You are beautiful and fresh," he says looking at the picture from behind her fingers on the table. Her expression becoming guarded "what?" Sorry, I have not introduced myself; bad manners please forgive me…. Standing up to his full tall frame he extends his hands "I am Peter Anderson an artist and a photographer at your service."He feigns bows that got Nadia smiling, in spite of her mood. "Oh, a smile that s a good one." Nadia chuckles and takes his hand my name is Nadia Simon……. "Let me guess a model" Peter interrupts... "No," She says "Why can t you? You can easily be a model; in fact, my agency is in need of a fresh face, if you don t mind" Nadia looks at him incredulously "Really?" "Yes, I actually came here to meet a proposed client, who is in need of a fresh face to advertise his brand." He put his portfolio on the table to bring out a card and set of pictures of beautiful models for Nadia to see. She finds his work very interesting and fascinated by the different pictures, they both forget their purpose for being in the café as a new bond of friendship gently buds between the two. Soon they were both interrupted by a man in an expensive-looking suit; Peter greets the Man and introduces Nadia as a friend. "Is she our Model?" The Man asks extending a handshake to Nadia. No…… "Yes," Peter informs the Man, looking pleadingly at Nadia. Great, she looks good; they finalize formalities with the man writing out 50% of the check, to complete the payment when the project is completed. The man leaves them and to meet his next appointment. Nadia observes the exchange in a dream-like state. What just happened? She asks Peter looking as the man departs from the café "You just got signed on your first job as a model." "I…. not sure I want to do this" Nadia responds skeptically about the ongoing event. Peter launches to reasons why Nadia should do this. She promises to give him a response after thinking about it. Peter takes her number and drops his card, promising Nadia to come barreling on her door if she didn t answer in the affirmative in just 3 days. Nadia smiles at the goofy expression on his face as he said it. "I will call you" Nadia promises "If you didn t, I will," Peter responds playfully blowing her a kiss before strolling out of the café with his suitcase in his hands. Nadia ruminates over the day s event. Life is such a rollercoaster. Just within few months in Manhattan, New York, she had passed out in a public place, attracted the press, got the attention of a billionaire, and now going into modeling; her life is full of drama. Drew sits at the table with his parents on Friday night, Beatrice the housekeeper sets the table as befitting a royal family rich with several delicacies. But for the first time in 28years, she notices Drew as he picks at his food. There is the silence after the usual welcome back home banter, except for the cutleries doing justice to the delicacies on the table. Beatrice observes Drew unusual mood and asks from her standing position at the edge of the table, "What hails you son?" drawing his parents attention. Drew smiles at the woman who is definitely more than a housekeeper, she was Drew s nanny but became the housekeeper as he grows up not needing a nanny anymore. "I m fine Beatrice, Thank you," he says trying hard to hide his anger at the golden eyes goddess, who refuses to leave his head alone. Beatrice nods but not convinced as she leaves the family to have their dinner. "Does it have something to do with work?" Bryan asks his son dampening his mouth with the handkerchief "No Dad"….. "It must have something to do with that girl in the news" Lovett directs at his son, Always the romantic Lovett. Drew was shocked at his mother s ability to go straight for the jugular, where his emotion is concerned. He averts his eyes denying the accusation "of course not Mum" "For the records, I like that girl, not that you need my permission or anything," Lovett tells her son and smiles exchanging looks with her husband, and getting all the answers she needs. There is something about her, even from the picture, the innocence and sadness like she is alone in the world. "Mum, how can you even say that? You are too romantic for your own good Mum" Drew berates his Mother. The Dinner went well, but Drew tries hard to hide his sulk and broods. He remembers Nadia's birthday but not sure to go or not, he did not like the way he spoke to him on the phone but at least he will send his gift. He owes her that. ********** Nadia opens her eyes, finally, it is her eighteenth birthday, and she has many reasons to be thankful. She lost a family but God has given her another family in Darrel. Pam raps on her door as customary; "come in" she beckons Happy birthday to you she sang in an off-tone voice, but Nadia loves it. She hugs her and presents her gift of a beautiful birthday card and a customized wrist band reading- "I found a big sister in you." Both girls hug again with tears of joy in their eyes. The doorbell rings and Pam rushes to the door only to find a beautifully wrapped box, of course, it s for Nadia. She picks it up running back inside the house but looking round to be sure the person is not lurking around. Nadia opens the box with Pam peering over her shoulder, and it is the most beautiful diamond teardrop earrings. The girls scream with joy, quickly looking for the card but it only reads- "enjoy your day" ?Nadia knows without a doubt who the gift is from, no one else knows about her birthday except Drew. His action melts her heart. She did not want to have anything to do with him because keeping him close spells trouble. She is really confused about what to do. A man that sends you a gift after being rude to him, might be worth considering a friend if nothing more. Decision made she will keep Drew as a friend. "Who is this from?" Pam asks his cousin. "I don t know but I can guess" she smiles at her cousin. Pam smiles, she sneaks out of the room to call Drew, He has given her his number the day he brought Nadia home, or rather she requested his number. ************* Drew has an important conference call that will run through the afternoon. He didn t want to attend the party, he already sent his gift but he wants to know why she was rude to him over the phone. He thought they were gradually becoming friends but he was wrong. The beep of the phone interrupted his thoughts. He picks the call without checking the ID "Hello" "Hello Hero" Only one person calls him that. He smiles "How are you, Pam?" "Thank you for the gift you sent," Pam rushes on "but are you coming later today?" "How did you know that was me?" Drew wants to know Pam chuckles into the phone "I have my ways" Drew finds her amusing. "Don t change the subject, you promised to come remember?" "Yes I did but something came up" Drew makes an excuse. "A Promise is a promise you have to come." Pam pushes "Oook I will see how I can come in briefly," Drew gives in "Yes!! Thank you, see you later" She says and ends the call before he responds. The young girl has managed to boost his mood. He has to get to work fast if he wants to have enough time to spare for that party. *********** The Darrel s organized a little get together planned by Pam and her Mum. They invite a few of Nadia s new friends- Trina and Pablo are there too they embrace her saying how much they missed her at work. Nadia feels distracted; her eyes constantly on the door, and hoping to see only one face walkthrough, eventually, everyone bids her farewell. Drew, gets to Nadia s house at exactly 7 pm in the evening, immediately he knocks on the door she opened it and both stayed transfixed lost in each other s eyes. She looks beautiful and it's all Drew could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless till they both lost control of time. "Hello," he said instead, his voice husky from all the emotions. Nadia holds the door frame staring into his blue eyes, she could see his desire for her but quickly replaced with indifference. He looks different in jeans and a blue sweatshirt doing nothing to hide his masculine glory. He looks like a regular guy, not the high and mighty CEO. Hi, Nadia says helpless to the pull of attraction she feels for him, her young heart seems to expand times over in her chest looking at him and wishing she could throw herself at him in abandonment. "Can I come in?" he asks not breaking their eye contact "Yes" she whispers, are voice overridden by the love in her heart, still holding the door in her hands, but Pam comes behind her to open the door wider. "Hey Hero!" the younger girl greets pulling him into the house, breaking the spell Drew casts Nadia steps aside, allowing the two to go in before her. Drew meets Chris Darrel again, since the eventful afternoon at the Airport. Both men shake hands and Chris thanking the younger man again for what he did for his niece. ?"I thought she was your daughter," he says jokingly. ?"Would you have treated her differently if you knew she was my niece?" Chris asks pulling Drew s legs "Not at all" he smiles ?Drew likes Nadia s small family and he shows it by relaxing and genuinely enjoying himself. He discusses politics and business with Mr. Darrel, fashion and college life with Pam, and of course gardening and flowers with Mrs. Darrel. Nadia looks on, although ignored either consciously or not, she enjoys that her family truly like Drew Sebastian. Drew stands up to take his leave, making Nadia sees him off to the car, and everyone else gets back in to give the friends a level of privacy. He shoves his hands in his pocket, trying hard not to pull her to him, while her family watches. It is a beautiful night, Nadia comments when the door has finally closed after them, her hands crossed over her chest. "Hmm," He responds Drew has never felt what he is feeling making him unsure of how to handle the situation. They get to his car; Drew pulls her to him with his back resting on the driver s side of the door. She went into his arms willingly, forgetting her last warning to him. He looks into her eyes ….. "Nadia, what exactly are you doing to me?" He asks in rhetorical, and "Don t expect me to keep my distance." He lowers his head and brushed his lips with hers, then takes over her mouth, his mouth doing all the things it has wanted to do since he laid eyes on her. ?Nadia visibly shakes as she returns the onslaught, two souls merging as one. He finally releases her gently pushing her away, before he does something they both regrets right there in his car. Nadia s eyes reveal all the emotions she has tried hard to keep but failing, looking in all innocence into his beautiful eyes, her lips swollen from his invasion, her pupils dilated from unfulfilled desire, she is a true picture of innocence and seduction. Drew looking at her pulls her again to him moaning her name as he kisses her once more, this time with all the desires in his heart Nadia what will I do with you? He moans in between kisses. Finally letting her go holds her shoulders and turns her towards her door, "please go in, I don t want to mess this up before it starts" Nadia follows his instructions like she is Zombie, her brain like melted marshmallows in her head as she walks reluctantly to the door looking tentatively over her shoulder at him in the same spot, still waiting for her to go in and close the door before getting in his car. Once Nadia closes the door in slow motion never breaking eye contact with him, till the door closes, Drew stands to his full height adjusted his jeans before getting in the car, and drives off.