Billionaire Nick

Chapter 4.1 : Harsh And Sweet 

Caroline

"And then,’’ I pointed my glass towards Rebekah before gulping down its contents and cringing at the taste, "I ran out of his office."

She was raising her eyebrows every five seconds to force her eyelids open.

"So your day sucked balls,’ she slurred.

"Yep."

"But you didn't?"

I narrowed my eyes for a moment and opened my mouth to say something, but instead drank another shot.

"I think I need to pee,"

she muttered while getting up from her bar stool on wobbly feet, then grabbing the counter for balance.

"Do you need me to—"

"Nope."

She was already walking away and I shrugged, watching her disappear somewhere in the crowd in the dimly lit room.

I moved my shoulders with the music and sang the lyrics along with the song.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone take the seat beside me, but it was only when I felt his eyes on me that I turned my head.

Deep blue eyes stared back at me.

What!?

"No way, I groaned, burying my face in my arms on the bar counter.Expecting him to be gone, I opened one eye and peeked. But he was still there, watching me in amusement.

"No way am I hallucinating my boss,’’ I slurred while sitting up straight and blinking furiously.

"Hello, Caroline.’’ He spoke in that deep, sexy voice of his that made my stomach flip.

"Are you real?"

I blinked again, not realizing how stupid I must look while doing that.

"Nope."

"Am I really...hallucinating you?"

I frowned.

"You can only hallucinate someone if you're thinking about them.So I don't know.You tell me."

I looked down at the glass and almost lifted it up to my lips, but it was pulled away.

My eyes followed it on the counter as my boss held it, circled his finger on its salty rim, then lifted his finger to his lips.

That was so sexy.

"It's possible’’ my gaze matched with his

"that I'm hallucinating you’’

"Why?"

"Because you've been on my mind all day."

The corners of his lips lifted up into a smile.

"I have?"

I nodded, reaching for the glass, but he was quick in gulping down my drink.

He gave me a lopsided smile while sliding the glass back in my direction.

"I think you've had enough, love."

My heart skipped a beat when he called me that.

He's definitely not real.

"Are you here for your...blazer? I don't have it right now.’ A deep chuckle reverberated from his throat.

"No, I'm not here for that.’’

"Oh.”

"I'm here because I'm curious,’ he said and I rubbed my eyes to keep them open.

"About what?" I muttered.

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter, smiling in a way that could melt my insides.

"Why am I on your mind, Caroline?"

"Because"

I paused to think what I had to say.

"Because you're my boss."

He raised a brow and smirked.

"And I embarrassed myself in front of you.”

"You did?"

"Yes! Of course” I did.

First my blouse, and then...ugh,' I groaned.

"That dampness on your hand after taking the files from me? Yeah, that was sweat."

"I Know.’ He chuckled.

"I figured it out when you stormed out of my office like that."

"And...and you're not grossed out?"

I made a face.

"No.Actually, I find it pretty hot that I made you sweat like that."

My jaw dropped open.

"That's...that's not—ugh, never mind."

I shook my head.

"I don't like you."

"Why not?"

"It's a general dislike’’ I muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He frowned.

"I've met you like, twice—three times, but right now won't be counted since you're not real—and I can tell you're the kind of person who never accepts defeat."

I let out a breath.

"Like...it’s like you will go to any extent to not hear a no.You know what I mean?"

He looked past me, like he was deep in thought, and then he shook his head.

I sighed.

"Like you suddenly gave me all those files to work on today just to prove a point."

"What point?"

"That you're the boss."

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"First, I am the boss.I don't need to prove that."

A smirk formed on his lips.

"And second, I wanted to go easy on you on your first day but you provoked me."

Well, that's true.

"And what about...yesterday?"

I stifled a yawn, my eyelids dropping.

"What about yesterday?"

he asked in confusion.

"When I told you what happened with Penny" I slurred,

"and you believed me, I thought you were nice’ I folded my arms on the counter and rested my head sideways to look at him.

"But then you threatened me; I muttered.

"Knowing full well that I didn't do anything."

He frowned.

"You were so harsh,’ I muttered, my eyelids dropping again.And that's not nice.I wanted to say it out loud but couldn't.

He suddenly shook my shoulder very roughly and I jumped in my spot, staring at him with wide eyes.

Only, it wasn't him.

It was Rebekah.

"Where is he?"

I looked around.

"Who?"

She frowned, seeming a lot more sober now.

"Nick Sinclair.He was here’’ She blinked at me for a moment.

Then, she groaned.

"Oh God! This can't be happening."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Caroline, please tell you weren't dreaming about him."

"What? No."

I looked around the place in confusion.

"He was here.Really!"

She looked up at the ceiling dramatically.

"Why God, why?"

I hit her shoulder.

"I swear I wasn't dreaming.He was here.He even drank my—"

My jaw dropped open as I stared at the glass full of vodka sitting in front of me.

"He...he refilled it; I concluded.

"Yeah, sure."

She nodded.

"Rebekah."

I frowned.

"I'm not lying."

"Of course.I believe you."

She patted my hair and then pulled me in for a hug.

"Come here, my lovestruck weirdo."

I pulled away with a frown.

"Stop it"

"Fine."

She raised her hands up in surrender.

"We have to get back to our dorm now.Go wash up and we'll talk about this tomorrow."

"Okay."

I nodded and went to the bathroom to wash my face.

We usually just walked back from here.

The bar was barely a ten minute walk from our dorm.

It was usually packed with our college crowd and Nick Sinclair wasn't a part of it.

What could he possibly be doing here? Maybe Rebekah was right...but why would I ever dream about him? Shaking my head, I quickly washed my face, used the bathroom and walked out, feeling much better now.

We silently walked back as neither of us had the energy to talk and the moment we were inside our dorm, we collapsed on our beds.

The next thing I knew the sun was shining in my face and my head throbbed like crazy.

My eyes fell on the nightstand and I gasped.

I was going to be late for work.

I ran to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and took a very quick shower.

Since I didn't have any formal clothes and had ruined Rebekah's only dress shirt here at dorm, I decided to wear casuals.

I left my damp hair falling over my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom in a towel.

Where was Rebekah? I could look for her later.

After getting dressed into a solid black collared t-shirt and denims, I reached for my bag and almost left when Rebekah walked in with two to-go coffee cups and muffins.

Her hair was literally all over the place, her lipstick and mascara smudged, but she wasn't one to give a shit about that stuff before going out.

"Here.She handed one of each to me.

"For the hangover."

I smiled brightly through my terrible headache.

"You are the best, Reb,’ I muttered while walking towards the door.

"I know."

She smirked.

"And when you get back in the evening? I'll be looking forward to the story.’ "What story?"

"The story where you tell me what events led you to dream about a certain boss of yours."

My mouth opened slightly as I remembered last night.

"Oh God! I can't believe—"

"Caroline; she cut me off.

"It's getting late."

"Right! Bye."

I practically ran out of the dorm and through the campus to catch the bus in time.

Once I was sitting in the bus and having my to-go breakfast, I thought about yesterday.

Was that really a dream? Well, what if it wasn't? I said so many stupid things.

God! For all I knew, Mr.

Sinclair might be waiting for me in his office to say the word ‘fired’ in the most satisfactory way ever when I wished him good morning.

I listened to some music to calm my mind but every calm thought washed away when I reached Sinclair Enterprises.

Now I was standing outside his office debating if I should knock or not.

Taking in a deep breath, I finally knocked on the door.

But there was no response.

I knocked again, but still nothing.

I looked around for Trent but couldn't find him.

Maybe Mr.Sinclair wasn't coming to the office today.

Relief washed through my veins as I turned around and went inside my temporary office.

I didn't know what work I was supposed to do so I decided to wait in case Mr.

Sinclair showed up or I could find Trent and ask him.

I was placing my bag on a chair when something unusual on the desk caught my attention.

Asmall, decorated basket filled with chocolates.

Pretty expensive chocolates.

All wrapped in different coloured foils with a ribbon.

For a moment, I thought it was for me, but then I remembered that I had no one to do something so adorable for me.

Not anymore.

Was Penny back? Did someone, unaware of her accident, place it here for her? I picked it up to leave it at the reception desk but noticed that there was a note sitting among the chocolates.

It was written in black ink and the writing wasn't great but it was readable.

I might have been harsh but these will be very sweet.

You have my word.

My jaw dropped.

There's no way...

Nope.

Not possible! I placed the note back in the basket and stepped back.

It wasn't for me.

A knock made me jump in my spot and I turned around.

"Trent” I breathed out.

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"Hey, Caroline."

He gave me a weird look.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah;' I nodded.

"Okay.I just came to tell you that Mr.Sinclair wants to see you."

"Mr.Sinclair?"

My eyes grew wide.