Strangely her words didn’t have any effect on him as he just walked over and climbed into her passenger seat.
“I knew Hayley wouldn’t agree to go. So it seems you’re stuck with me,” said Nicholas with a smirk that Alyssa wanted to erase. After forcefully kissing her, after proving his point, he now had the audacity to accompany her to the movie when it was because of him that she was going. She needed to get him out of her system.
“I don’t need company, Nicholas. I just want to be alone.” Nicholas shook his head and took out his mobile phone.
“Hey, Mike! Can you come down and collect my car from Barclay mansion,” he instructed someone over the phone. “That was my neighbor. He’s coming over to pick up my car and then we’ll be able to go.”
“You’re not invited, Nicholas.” Nicholas clutched at his heart and grinned at her.
“Don’t push me away Alyssa. I know now that you’re not immune to me. So I still will chase you to the end of the world.” Alyssa’s jaws dropped hearing his weird reasoning.
“Can’t you take no for an answer? I am immune to you. A momentary distraction doesn’t prove anything. Pursue me to your heart’s content but don’t blame me if you end up in the hospital for the second time,” she warned him but Nicholas touched his heart with a wide smile on his face.
“I’m willing to go to the hospital because of you, Alyssa!” he said, the amusement twinkling in his ocean blue eyes. With his dimple playing games with her head, any girl would fall head over heels for his charms but not Alyssa. She knew exactly why he was doing this and she refused to be a pawn in his game against her brother.
“Stop the melodrama, Nicholas. It doesn’t have any effect upon me.” A guy of around eighteen came jogging down from Nicholas’s apartment and knocked on his window but his eyes were glued upon Alyssa. Nicholas grinned at him and rolled down the window and greeted the guy.
“Hey, Mike! Thanks for the help bro. Here are the keys,” he handed the keys over to him but he stood there rooted to the spot.
“Hey, Nick. Won’t you introduce me to your friend? Where are you guys going? I was kinda bored at home. Would you mind if I tagged along?” he asked, his eyes still glued upon Alyssa. Nicholas gritted his teeth and glared at the guy.
“Sorry, bro. Meet my girlfriend, Alyssa Van Every. We’re going out on a date tonight. So maybe some other time,” said Nicholas, pushing the guy away while Alyssa’s eyes widened at what Nicholas just called her. When he was out of earshot, she turned towards him angrily.
“Why did you lie? I will never be your girlfriend.” She seethed at him while he frowned at her.
“Never is a very strong word, Alyssa. I wouldn’t have used that if I were you. For your information, Mike was giving you dirty looks and that was the only reason I saved your as* but you know what? Your too blind to see that.” He opened the door and stormed out towards his granny’s house leaving her gaping after him. She felt a little guilty for jumping to the wrong conclusions when he was just helping her. With him gone, she had no wish to go to the movie and drove home instead. Nicholas’s words rang in her ears and she wondered why he was pursuing her. Was it only to get back at her brother?
She hunted for the spy cameras but didn’t find any. Ordering pizza for herself, she switched on the television instead and watched a movie at home. After a boring Sunday, Alyssa went to work early on Monday. However, from the moment she sat in her cubicle, she felt acutely aware of herself as if someone was watching her. Had Nicholas placed spy cameras here as well?
“So, how was the movie last Saturday?” asked Nicholas’s seductive voice from behind her. Was she dreaming or was he here early in the morning? She slowly turned around and saw him leaning against the cubicle behind her.
“I didn’t go.” Nicholas pulled a chair and sat down beside her with interest.
“Really? Was it because of me? I’m sorry for spoiling your evening. We can go out tonight if you want to. I have two tickets.” Alyssa was in two minds unable to decide. While her heart wanted to go out with him, her mind revolted knowing how furious her brother would be if he found out.
“Stop thinking so much. I’ll pick you up at 5:30.”
“No, tell me the place and I’ll be there.” She knew what they would end up doing if he came over to her apartment. On the last two occasions, they surely ended up eating each other’s faces. Not again! She needed to stay away from him and his addictive kisses and not let him creep into her system.
“Are you afraid of a repeat?” he chuckled, getting up to leave.
“No, driving there is the most convenient option. Else forget it,” she shrugged.
“Reach Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas on W 23rd street by 5:30. Wouldn’t it be convenient if we went together? I promise I won’t cross my limits.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready by 5:30. You can pick me up from home but remember your promise.” Nicholas gave her a mock salute and walked away. The other employees who had started pouring in gave her knowing glares and she knew she was the topic of discussion today. Who cared? She was used to their jealous ways!
The whole day, she didn’t see Nicholas and by the time it was 5 o’clock, she longed to rush home. However, Mr. Delaney seemed to be in a foul mood and kept piling work upon her. It was 5:15 and she knew she had to go home.
“Sir, please can I leave for the day? I’ve finished all the work you gave me and the rest I’ll do tomorrow. My parents are coming over and I have to get home.” Mr. Delaney dismissed her and she rushed down to the parking area. Quickly sending a message to Nicholas, she drove home.
Just leaving the office. I’ll be ten minutes late Alyssa.
She reached home at 5:25 and dashed into her bedroom to freshen up quickly. Emerging from the washroom, she quickly changed into a black dress that accentuated her curves. In ten minutes, she was ready but surprisingly there were no signs of Nicholas. In fact, he hadn’t even checked her last message. What was wrong with him? Did he forget that he was supposed to pick her up?
She waited for him for another fifteen minutes, yet Nicholas hadn’t arrived. She was about to call him when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Nicholas. Angry at him, she accepted the call.
“Sorry, I got held up. Granny isn’t well and I’m with her at her house. We can’t go ahead with the movie but once granny sleeps, I can bring dinner over. Will that do? Please forgive me, Alyssa!” he pleaded as if her forgiveness meant the world to him. Alyssa couldn’t hold a grudge against him anymore. It was sweet of him to leave everything and rush to help his granny.
“I forgive you, Nicholas. I’ll be waiting for dinner.” Nicholas released the breath he was holding and smiled.
“Thanks, girlfriend,” he whispered, instantly making her fume but he disconnected the call before she could say a word further. She stared at the phone angrily wondering how she agreed to his proposal in the first place. When did she agree to be his girlfriend?
After an hour’s wait, the doorbell rang and she rushed to open it. Nicholas strode into her apartment as if he owned the place, holding a heavy food parcel. “Have you brought food to last me ten days?” she rolled her eyes while he smirked.
“I wouldn’t want my girlfriend to starve, would I?” he started to unpack the food.
“I’m not your girlfriend, Nicholas. It’s okay that you told Mike to ward him off but stop this nonsense immediately,” she warned him while he grinned at her.
“You don’t know what happened, do you? Well, Mike met mom and granny today at the store and blurted out everything. Now, mom and granny are after my life to bring you home.” He chuckled more seeing the horrified expression on her face and carried the food to the table. Alyssa followed him in a daze carrying the plates and cutlery. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? Now, what would she do?
“Why didn’t you correct them?” she asked, dreading his reply.
“Granny was unwell and the doctor was there. So when they happily announced the good news and decided to stop hunting for girls for me, I kept shut.” Alyssa felt restless and knew she needed to correct them.
“When granny is better, I’ll definitely clear the misunderstanding.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Nicholas with a shrug. It didn’t look like he was interested in correcting them.