“I don’t fall for crooks, so you can keep your crooked plans to yourself.” Nicholas laughed as her warning didn’t deter him even a tiny bit.
“I can’t leave my crooked ways. Let’s see if they work or not.” He drove out of his granny’s driveway but Alyssa was now more concerned about the trip he had announced for tomorrow.
“What time are we leaving tomorrow? Shouldn’t you have told me earlier? I haven’t packed anything yet,” she complained giving him a pointed glare.
“I can help you pack. We’ll leave at 10 o’clock in the morning. Be ready, I’ll pick you up.” Alyssa gave him an exasperated look wondering how in the world she would pack everything tonight.
“No thanks, I’ll manage somehow. So for how many days are we going? Will it be just a business trip?” she asked, glancing in his direction to notice the smirk that momentarily appeared on his face.
“It’ll be a two-week long trip. Yes, mostly carry your business suits along with some semi-formals. We will be free during the afternoons and evenings, so carry whatever you may need to go out.”
“My God! That’s a lot of packing. I won’t get any time to sleep tonight,” she wailed while Nicholas laughed.
“Why would you need a lot? Just a couple of dresses and bikinis would do.” Alyssa rolled her eyes at his suggestion.
“Are you just carrying a couple of formals and swimming trunks?” she asked with a glare. Nicholas laughed and leaned in towards her, his eyes glinting with mischief.
“I’m carrying more, microscopic briefs, scented condoms..,” he started but Alyssa interrupted him placing her hands to her ears.
“Stop. I don’t want to know. You can keep those details for the women you intend to entertain,” she scolded him.
“I just wish to entertain you and no one else,” he said, his husky and heavy voice sending a tremor down her spine.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Nicholas. I’m not going to entertain you in any way. You’re uselessly wasting your efforts. I’m going on a business trip with you because I signed an agreement that clearly stated so,” she clarified but Nicholas seemed unaffected by her lengthy speech.
“So? It won’t stop me from trying. I don’t hide my motive that I want you and I’ll try my best to get what I want. It’s up to you to give in to me or not.” Alyssa gaped at his determined face as he drove over to her apartment and stopped the car.
“I hope I won’t have to pull you out of bed tomorrow. Be ready by 10,” he said, his eyes twinkling with an underlying excitement.
“I’ll be ready, bye!” she said, opening the door.
“Aren’t you forgetting something, girlfriend?” he asked, making her freeze.
“No, I’m not your girlfriend and I’m definitely not kissing you, Nicholas.” She noted the disappointed look on his face but he immediately recovered from it.
“Maybe some other time. Good night, Alyssa. Don’t dream about me much, you need to sleep tonight.” Alyssa rolled her eyes and got out.
“I think it’s the other way around, Nicholas. Can you stop yourself from dreaming about me?” She said with a laugh, walking towards her building.
“No, I can’t and tomorrow I’ll tell you all about them,” he yelled back, driving away, while her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. As she unlocked the door to her apartment, a strange thrill went down her body thinking about her upcoming trip with Nicholas. He was so creepy and unpredictable, that she hardly could imagine how she would spend two weeks with him.
For the next two hours she was very busy packing for her trip. She had no idea why she even listened to Nicholas’s suggestion and threw in a few dresses and bikinis too. Finally, she fell asleep after setting an alarm. She definitely didn’t need Nicholas to arrive early in the morning to pull her out of the bed.
So when Nicholas called in the morning to ensure that she was up, she quickly dashed all his hopes. “I’m almost ready. Just need to shower and wear my clothes.”
“Oh, I see! So I take it that you aren’t wearing anything right now!” came his husky reply making her freeze. What?
“I’m wearing my pajamas. Stop being creepy, Nicholas. You know what I meant,” she said with an eye roll finally understanding his line of thought.
“No, I don’t. Send me a picture of you in your current state,” he continued like a creep.
“Bye. See you at ten.”
“Okay, never mind. I’ll see you in those every day in the next two weeks.” That was the last comment she heard before she quickly disconnected the call. Alyssa’s face flashed to a deep shade of red as she wondered how she would survive this trip without falling for the crazy guy. There was no denying the attraction between them and it was mounting all the time even with Nicholas being a weirdo. She had no idea for how long she could keep him at an arm’s length with him desperately trying to get into her pants. Would he stop if she once agreed to give him what he wanted?
‘No, Alyssa. Don’t even consider it. Things will be awkward at work,’ prompted her inner mind.
Quickly taking a shower, she changed into a pair of jeans and a comfortable top and waited for Nicholas’s arrival. She scoffed when the doorbell rang at 10:10. Who was ten minutes late now? Opening the door, she glared at a beaming Nicholas, who looked drop-dead gorgeous in a pair of figure-hugging jeans and a sea-green tee shirt with sleeves rolled up to show off his muscles.
“Wipe off the drool,” he said, his eyes glinting with mischief as he brushed past her into the apartment.
“You’re hallucinating. I’d rather drool on Zac Efron than you,” she rolled her eyes at him while he groaned with jealousy.
“What does he have that I don’t? I’m real and available while he’s only on the screen. Can you kiss him if you want to?” he muttered. It was clear that he was upset. His eyes fell on her luggage and he gasped, staggering back melodramatically.
“Are you moving out again?” he asked looking at the two suitcases and hand luggage with wide eyes.
“No, silly. These are for the trip.”
“Why do you need so many clothes? We’re not going to a jungle. We can buy if we need something,” said Nicholas.
“I can’t. You’re forgetting that my dad has frozen my bank account. The advance you gave me is all I have. Out of it, I’ve stocked up for Eva as well.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. You can always tell me if you need something,” he offered sincerely.
“No, then you’ll demand a payback in terms of se*. I’m fine with what I have.”
“I’m not that bad, Alyssa. It’s true that I want you but I’ll never force myself on you.” He looked upset and picked up her luggage and strode out of her apartment. Alyssa was confused by his behavior and his words made her feel a little guilty. It was true that he always unnerved her but it was also true that he wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, he was a good and nerdy guy with the best character record than most his age. Given his good looks and financial status, it was strange that he wasn’t at all surrounded by women and pursued her this way instead!
She went out of the apartment, locked it well, and followed him down the elevator towards his car. The chauffeur loaded her luggage into his car and Alyssa was surprised that he had only one suitcase for himself. “That’s all you have?” she asked, looking surprised.
“Who needed so many clothes?” he asked, opening the door for her to get in. He climbed in too and they sped away towards the airport.
“So, first we’re going to Singapore, right? I would need the details please, client details, agenda, and the like,” she reminded him.
“I’ve emailed you everything. Singapore is twelve hours ahead. So we’ll reach at 5 o’clock in the evening. You’ll get ample time to study the schedules. Download it to your mobile phone,” said Nicholas. Alyssa downloaded the schedules to her mobile phone to study in detail later.
They reached the airport and soon they headed towards their aircraft. The cabin crew led them to a luxurious first-class suite and left. Alyssa’s eyes widened seeing the double occupancy suite room. Was she supposed to share that bed with Nicholas for eighteen hours?
“Where’s my room, Nicholas?” she asked him warily.
“We’ll be sharing this one. Come in and close the door,” he said, going inside and looking around.
“How can we sleep together? Never mind, I’ll spend the next eighteen hours on that chair,” she said, going into the room and closing the door.
“Seriously? When I’m willing to sleep with you, why can’t you? It’s not like I’ll jump on you in the middle of the night. I can if you beg me to,” he continued and Alyssa groaned, covering her ears.
“This is sheet torture. I really don’t know how I’ll tolerate you for the next eighteen hours,” she groaned with agony.