Amanda Berry - L A Cinderella

“Martin, we know about the cash payments. We also know that the extras didn’t turn in any expense reports.” Chase was calm and matter-of-fact. He didn’t project the anger or betrayal that Natalie knew he felt. He was cold and direct.

“I don’t know what you are suggesting, Chase, but I haven’t done anything wrong.” He swiveled in his chair and pierced Natalie with his gaze. “What did you find that you didn’t bring to me?”

Natalie cowered in her corner. Her palms sweated and her stomach churned.

“Natalie did her job.” Chase drew Martin’s attention back to him.

She breathed in and out slowly.

Robert stood and walked around the desk behind Chase. “The police are here to take you into custody, Martin. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”

“Not as sorry as you’ll be.” Martin stood and straightened his jacket. “Not as sorry as you will be.” He glared at Natalie as he walked out the door.

Natalie couldn’t slow the beating of her heart and knew it was only a matter of minutes before her breakfast made a repeat performance. She lunged out of the chair and out the door. Shoving into the bathroom, she made it to the stall before the heaving began.

“Natalie?” Chase’s voice was directly behind her. His hand soothed her, running down her back.

Mortification filled her as her stomach turned over again. His hand continued slow soothing circles as tears streamed down her face. His hand left her, and a moment later, he draped a wet towel over the back of her neck.

Her stomach finally stopped convulsing. She slid from her knees to lean against the stall wall. Her eyes closed as exhaustion overwhelmed her.

Something wet touched her face, and she jerked her eyes opened. Chase gently wiped her face with a towel. He brushed away a tear with his thumb.

“We need to get you home.” His hand smoothed back her hair. He leaned over her as if he were going to pick her up.

She wanted to rely on him, to give in and let him take care of her, but she knew what was on the other side of the bathroom door. Martin’s very public exit from the company had drawn a number of press vans. Chase couldn’t carry her out of even the bathroom without making a scene. She wasn’t prepared to deal with that.

She placed her clammy hand on his warm arm. “No, Chase.”

“What?” He seemed genuinely confused.

“You can’t. The press.”

“Damn it.” He slammed his hand against the metal stall. “What does it matter? Maybe I’m just a really good employer.”

“That’s not the way it works, Chase, and you know it.” She pressed her shaking hand against his cheek.

“So now I can’t even take care of you.” His jaw was tight. He’d push it if she let him.

She wanted to let him and that scared her. Instead she lifted her head. “I’m fine, Chase. It’s just nerves. By the way, you know you’re in the lady’s room, right?”

His eyes narrowed, and he didn’t smile like she’d hoped. He stood and helped her to her feet. “Go home, Natalie. Get some sleep.”

He tossed the towel in the trash and left the room. She stumbled over to the sink and turned on the faucet. So much for another week or two. She splashed water over her face and swished some in her mouth to get rid of the taste.

Her makeup was nonexistent. Her face was pale. She had work to do, but the boss had told her to go home. With the hours they’d put in she’d already worked a forty-hour week anyway. She could face the fallout on Monday morning, especially if anyone had witnessed Chase following her into the bathroom.

Besides, Chase was upset with her and she didn’t want to face the anger in his eyes.

Did he want to get caught together? She didn’t think he did, but she was the one who’d put the restriction on their relationship. He hadn’t protested, so she figured he didn’t care. She’d thought he understood.

She pushed away from the sink and dried her face. The real problem was for one moment she hadn’t cared that the press surrounded the place. She’d just wanted Chase to continue looking at her like that. Concerned and caring. She’d wanted him to carry her out and take care of her.

Instead she’d go home to her empty apartment. Maybe she’d pop on a movie. She wasn’t going to see Chase any other way tonight.

It was Alexis’s turn. Her stomach clenched again, but there was nothing left. She definitely had to leave before Alexis came to retrieve her prize.

Chase’s head lolled back on the cab seat. He snapped it upright again. “Here, turn here.” He handed the man a hundred-dollar bill as he pulled to the curb. “Keep the change.”

His eyes weren’t working quite right, but he could still put one foot in front of the other. It had been Alexis’s idea to leave his car at her place for the night while they went clubbing. He was really too old to go clubbing. The stairs wavered before him as he climbed them.

He raised his hand and pressed the button. The chimes rang inside the apartment and he pressed it again. One more time. Why was he pressing this button again? Oh, well, press it again.

“I have a bat and I’ve called nine-one-one.” The sweet sound of Natalie’s voice reached his ears.

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your fair hair.”

The door snapped open and the light blinded him. “Chase?”

“Ah, my fair Rosalynn, let me slay a dragon for you, my fair maiden.” His grin felt like it would split his face.

He stumbled into the apartment and heard the door shut and the locks snick into place.

“What are you doing here, Chase?” Natalie was suddenly directly in front of him.

“Why, I’m here for you. To slay whatever needs to be slayed. To lay whatever needs to be laid.”

Her nose wrinkled, and she raised her eyebrow. “How did you get here, Chase? Please tell me you didn’t drive.”

“Of course not. I’m the spokesman for drunk driving. I mean, against drunk driving.”

Her image wavered before him, and he reached out to steady her. Maybe those shots hadn’t been the smartest move.

“Chase, you can’t stay here.”

“Why not? A bed is a bed. Your bed is serviceable if I recall. Of course, the floor is good, too. We could always try the wall.” He moved in close to her.

Her cheeks turned bright red, and she stepped back right into said wall.

His body flared to life as he noticed her kitten pajamas and a smudge of chocolate on the corner of her mouth.” Do you know I find kitten pajamas very sexy?” He tugged on the hem of her shirt.

“Chase, you should go home. Let me call you a cab.” She tried to slide along the wall, but he put his hands on either side of her head. “Chase?”

“What, Natalie? Are you afraid someone will find out? Are you afraid someone will snap a shot of us kissing inside your apartment?” He leaned into her until his mouth brushed against hers when he spoke. “Or are you afraid you’d like being watched?”

“Chase-”

His mouth covered hers, cutting off any protests she might have. He’d had an Altoid in the cab. She tasted like chocolate, smooth and creamy. The mint and chocolate blended perfectly. Her tongue was cold as it brushed against his. Ice cream. He smiled.

He lifted his head. “Did you want me to leave?”

“No.” Her voice was light and airy. “But maybe we should go to your place. Rachel will be home soon. And if we leave now maybe the shutterbugs will still be outside the clubs.”

Though Chase hadn’t always been friendly with the paparazzi, they were a part of his life. A part he had had to learn to live with and they weren’t going away anytime soon. It didn’t matter tonight. All he wanted was Natalie.

He brushed back a strand of brown hair and tucked it behind her ear. “Why don’t you drive us back?”

Her eyes fluttered as she leaned into his hand. She turned her head and kissed his open palm.

“How soon did you say your roommate would be home?” He rubbed his thumb across her lips.

“Too soon.”

He replaced his thumb with his lips. She opened beneath him. Her hands gripped his shirt and pulled him closer. He gathered her into his arms and backed her down the hallway.

He dragged in a breath. “Haven’t we been here before?” he said as he pushed through the living room door.

Her smile took his breath away. “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.”

As he traced the sensual curve of her lower lip with his fingertip, he glanced over her shoulder and saw the credits rolling on If Only. “At least this time you got to finish.”

Her eyes sparkled up at him. “I always finish with you.” Wherever this playful woman had come from, he hoped she’d stick around for a while. His beautiful accountant seemed to be blooming all around him.

She took his hand and pulled him toward her bedroom. He went willingly. Even though he’d had a few shots, the effects were starting to fade, leaving behind that easy, relaxed feeling.

He sank on the edge of the bed and held his arms out to her. She stepped between his knees, and he wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as her hands stroked over his hair. Her heartbeat was strong beneath the cushion of her breasts.

“For what?” He never wanted to let her go, but knew it was coming. The pressure of a public relationship would kill this tender thing they had. His arms squeezed her tighter.

“For being so damned paranoid.” Her hand brushed the side of his face.

He closed his eyes and absorbed what she was making him feel. His heart filled his chest and he knew he wouldn’t be able to let her go. He lifted his head and took her face between his hands. “All I want is you, Natalie.”

Their lips met. He surrendered himself to whatever would happen in the future as he pulled her down to the bed with him.

“What was that?” Natalie put her hand against Chase’s glistening shoulder. “Chase?”