Chapter 75 You are special to me
Yesterday after our first date I went back to my apartment with Natte, I expected to find Darla, but she was not around, we had a wonderful evening cuddling on my sofa and doing all the extras between us.
In the morning I wanted to go to work with my own car but Jake insisted I use his, Ben came to pick him, he's taking over Alpine resort.
We hadn't even stepped out of the car at the resort when employees and tabloids paparazzi surounded the car.
I asked Natte how many were around
“How many?”
“Enough. And the questions have obviously brought some attention, and well now the room has gone tense because people know it’s me standing up here.” He sounds really uncomfortable and embarrassed saying this to me.
“Oh,” I say.
“The staff here are trying to settle everyone down in the conference room, but Devi has called Steve and he’s on his way to come get me now before this turns into more than a board meeting.”
“Okay.”
“I’m so sorry about this, Shia.” He puts his hand on my face, but I can’t even enjoy the feel of his skin on mine, because I’m so conscious of the fact that people are staring.
I feel like I’m in a zoo and I’m truly on the wrong side of the fence.
“It’s okay,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. “It’s not your fault. This is just how things are. I understand. Come on, let’s go.”
I take hold of Natte’s hand, and we start to walk through Alpine Resort following Devi. Ben is behind us, the resort staff with us too.
People are watching us, and stopping what they’re doing as we pass by.
Honestly, it makes me want to break out into a sprint.
All these beautiful things here at Alpine Resort and all people seem to want to do is stare at Natte.
I get he’s beautiful. I want to stare at him all day long too, but it’s just plain rude to stare so blatantly, and to follow him us when we are clearly trying to get through his first day here without any sense of privacy whatsoever.
I hold on a little tighter to Natte’s hand. He squeezes it, giving me a small, uneasy smile.
He’s feeling bad that we’re having to leave, and I know he’s worried as to how I feel about it, especially after what we talked about in the car just before we arrived.
How do I feel?
Stressed, a bit panicky, annoyed that we can’t even get through a simple day here together without attracting the crazy.
Is this how it’s always going to be?
I don’t know if I’m cut out for this. It’s scary, the level of attention Natte receives.
We reach the conference room doors and Devi pushes one open, then I’m hit with a wall of silence. The board members are all out there.
I thought they would still be seated? How the hell did they know we’d be coming out this way?
“So you are taking over effective immediately then, Natte? Are you planning changes already? Is Shia attending this with you?”
The voices are coming from left, right and centre.
Jesus Christ, this is insane.
I keep my head down. Natte’s arm is around me now, tight, holding me to him. Devi is on Natte’s right, arm on him guiding us over to the side entrance of the conference room. Ben is at my side, staying close to me.
“Shia! Over here please, are you joining the executive team?”
I need to get out of here. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as uneasy in all my life as I do right now.
I tilt my head further down, practically tucking my chin into my chest.
The next thing I know, we’re at the conference table. Devi has the chair pulled out and Natte is guiding me in. I shuffle along, sitting near the end of the table, and then Natte quickly takes the seat beside me.
Devi closes the door, moving a few people back in the process. Ben takes his place near the wall and then Steve steps inside a moment later, pretty quickly.
My heart is bumping around my chest.
I turn in my seat, looking toward the glass wall, worrying more eyes might be watching.
I can’t see any clearly from where I am, but then there are plenty of reflections in the glass. And I’m thankful in this moment that the blinds are partly drawn in this room.
Natte takes hold of my hand, pulling my attention to him, and it’s only then I realise my hand is shaking.
“Hey, are you okay?” His voice is soft and soothing. He takes hold of my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
“I’m fine.” My mouth’s dry. I moisten my lips with my tongue. “That was just um a little crazy.” I take a deep breath. “Is it always like that when you step into meetings here?”
“Not always, no,” he shakes his head. “That was a little more hectic than normal, but I’m guessing it’s because this is my first day taking over, and everyone wants to see how I handle it.”
“And the announcements weren’t enough?”
“Apparently not.”
“I don’t get it though, Natte. You’ve handled business before, that’s not exactly a rarity.”
That sounded a little shittier than I intended.
He gives me a look. “No, Shia. I’ve handled business deals before. I’ve never stepped into Alpine Resort on my first day taking over with everyone watching me like this.”
“How did they even know we were together?” My voice is shrill again.
“Well, baby.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, and I’m relieved by his touch. “Anyone who took one look at us together could have easily worked that out, figured out that I’m crazy about you.”
“But we only started seeing each other properly yesterday!”
Okay, so I’m freaking out a little, a lot.
“It doesn’t take them long, Shia. You’re in this business, you know how it works.”
“I might be a tabloid, but I am nothing like them!” I say with indignation.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” He gives me a look. “I’m just saying, you work at a magazine, you see how things are with people in the spotlight. My life is not private in a lot of ways, no matter how much I try to keep it as such. And this is their job, the board, the executives, the staff. They build their lives around the shit going on in this business, and the lives of the people running it. It’s just how things are. Not all the time, but a lot of it, and if something happens in my life, like me stepping in as CEO, the possibility of me having a girlfriend, well then people become interested interested in you.”
“But I’m no one special.”
“You are to me.” His voice is intense. “You’re everything to me,” he adds in a lower tone. “And I’m sorry this hasn’t been a first day here like it should be.” He cups my cheek with his hand. “I will make it up to you, I promise.”