Michael sighed and thought over Nate's parting words. Taking over SSE would not be fair to Katie San Sebastian and there was no way Michael could logistically run both companies. Their meeting had gone on well over two hours. Thoughts whirled in his brain like a tornado. How had his life changed so completely in 3 weeks? Everything had been so orderly and controlled, chugging along according to the plans he'd laid out for himself in college. And then out of nowhere Dame Ballbuster came along with her blackmail and scheming to shoot it all to hell. She had brought Lila into his life, to steal his heart.
Wait a minute... his heart? Michael groaned and slumped forward on his desk to bury his face in his hands. God damn it. Disbelief gave away to grim acceptance and then trepidation. It wasn't because he was afraid of Lila, no she was the sweetest, kindest and sexiest person he had ever known. She was nothing like that viper Danielle. But loving people... it hurt.
He loved the Robison's and Nate, but it wasn't the same as loving his parents, uncle or Lila was. With the Robison's no matter how they tried to make him feel included, he was on the outside looking in. They weren't his but he was okay with that, it made life less complicated. But with Lila... he couldn't separate himself from her. He felt everything she felt. Her smile made his heart lighter and her sadness made him shrivel up inside. She had the power to make him grovel at her feet, begging for her smile, her embrace, her kiss, her approval. Fuck, he sounded like a sappy love song. He wanted to make her life perfect. He wanted to be perfect... for her, but he knew all too well how far from perfect he was.
She would soon become his wife but did she love him? Love him the way he loved her? Did he even deserve her? She was so young. Marrying her would be taking away her chance to experience other things in life. She'd be going from taking care of her grandmother, sister and everyone in that god damned mausoleum she called home to becoming his wife. Would she come to resent him? He'd been ignoring these questions, but lately it had become harder to continue ignoring them.
The only reason he was being given the opportunity to marry her was because the Dame wanted him to lead SSE. Could someone please tell him how in the hell did the situation went from "blackmail" to "opportunity" anyway? And now because of Nate's advice and Lila's worry for her sister he was considering refusing the position. Michael laughed bitterly to himself. He didn't want to lead SSE, he had clung to the idea that he did, in order to avoid acknowledging his infatuation with Lila.
But now that he had recognized his desire, his need and love for her, he wanted to do everything in his power to make her happy. Even if it meant letting her go and letting her grandmother destroy his business? The thought had his chest aching.
That harpy sister of hers could have SSE. He had made this company with Nate, he had invested a piece of himself in Hiron. He couldn't abandon it. He had a feeling that if Katie San Sebastian loved SSE the way he loved Hiron, she would never forgive Lila for helping to take it away. And the divide between Katie and herself was taking its toll on Lila. Her cheerfulness often seemed forced, and she'd been drifting off in a pensive mood lately. She spent every night at his house. Not that he minded (hell no, he didn't) but it would have been better if it didn't feel like avoiding her sister was part of the reason she stayed at his place.
There was no use for it. He was going to visit SSE tomorrow. A plan was forming in his mind, but it would require help, specifically, Katie San Sebastian's help.
**************************
Two weeks. It had been two whole weeks since Nate Robison had stopped shadowing her. Katie felt depressed. She'd almost called him to hear his voice like some sort of stalker. She wondered if he was okay, if he thought of her or if he'd found someone else. Perhaps it was the abruptness of his departure that left her feeling this way? He'd come in the next week, after that night. Katie had passed him in the hallway, determined to be cool and unaffected. Unable to help herself though, she had chanced one glance in his direction. He hadn't smiled and his gaze had cut through her as if she wasn't there, leaving her feeling stunned. Nate had met with grandmother for a half an hour and left, without saying goodbye or making any sort of acknowledgment.
Katie sighed. He was everywhere. In her office, the boardroom, he'd even invaded her favorite eating places. There wasn't a space left Nate-free, except home. She had sulked around at the mansion the past few days, feeling sorry for herself, and taking her anger out on Lila when her sister had come to speak to her. She couldn't even blame Nate for being angry. She'd been so cold to him that night she'd left him. She'd squealed her car out of the parking lot when he'd come out of the building disheveled, ignored his phone calls and canceled shadowing for the remaining week.
She'd felt so vulnerable and exposed after that night, she'd needed to retreat and regroup. Well she was tired of being scared and of wallowing in self-pity. She needed to get back to SSE. The bastard Hirsch had been visiting since Nate had left. Avoiding him was an added bonus of staying home but now she was ready to fight. It would be satisfying to take out her anger on someone who deserved it for once.
The only problem was that he'd spent the day sequestered with grandmother. After ripping through a phone book, returning phone calls and e-mail, Katie had given up waiting for a chance to get at him and taken her lunch. Only to sit, picking at her wilted lettuce and sink back into depression.
"Excuse me miss, there's a gentleman who would like to join you, if that's okay."
Katie was startled out of her thoughts by the waitress. Who would know she was here? Nate? Katie's heart skipped a beat.
"That's fine." Katie replied as her heart resumed function and began to race. She tried to keep her composure and adjusted the napkin on her lap.
"Thanks for letting me join you."
Not Nate. Katie's heart sank and she tried to keep the disappointment off her face as she looked up... and met cold green eyes. She quickly regained her composure.
"Well, well, well... the bastard finally comes to see me himself. I thought you were going to hide behind grandmother all day." Katie taunted, a smile spread across her face, tinged with a dangerous anger.
Michael didn't flinch or respond in any manner. He pulled out a chair to take the seat across from her.
"We need to talk." He began quietly.
****************
Nate Robison loved cookies, especially his mother's cookies. During his stint in the military he'd dreamed about them. Even the store bought ones had a special place in his heart. A good cookie had never failed to perk him up... until now. This week he'd had several and they hadn't done shit to make him feel better. There was something wrong with him, maybe that little blue eyed witch had put a hex on him or something. Nothing had ever come between him and his cookie love. He needed a mom cookie stat. Thank god his family had set up a family barbeque to meet Michael's fiancé. Maybe he could get a good sized tin out of her to take home. Thoughts of chocolate chip and macadamia treats danced in his mind for about 5 seconds before thoughts of Katie San Sebastian began to intrude. God damn it, why couldn't he keep his mind off of her? The woman was a menace.
He grabbed his keys and headed over to his parents place. It was perfect timing. Early enough to help set up but not so early that his mom and sister got to pump him for information. The Robison's loved Michael, they had known him since he was a sad eyed little boy who had moved down the street to live with his uncle. Michael's uncle, Roger had been a good man and loved his sister's kid but hadn't known what to do with a child. Mary Robison had taken one look at the boy Nate brought home and done her best to incorporate him into her brood. Yep, she would want to know everything about Lila.
Parking his car in the driveway Nate hopped out and headed into the house. His youngest brother, 14 year old Ty was coming down the stairs.
"What's up nerd?" Nate grabbed him in a loose chokehold to ruffle his hair.
"Ouch... what the hell dude? Get off! " Ty used his bony elbow to try to jab his brother in the stomach.
"Nate! Is that you? Boys quit horsing around and get out here to move this table!" yelled Mary from the backyard.
Nate let go of Ty, "Where's Joe?"
"Taking a shower, he just got up 20 minutes ago and started. So he'll be down once we're done with set up and the food is ready." Ty replied in disgust.
"Lazy asshole."
"Yup."
