Going Up (Up & Down Book 1), page 4
George shrugged, and took the key from my hands. He handed me a receipt and explained he didn’t have to give me a refund. Instead of fighting it, we left.
Nick put my suitcase in his boot and then we got back inside the skyline.
“Thank whatever deity is out there, that you’re out of that hell hole.” Nick murmured, starting up his car.
“it really wasn’t that bad Nick.” I lied, I had fooled myself in to believing it was okay out of necessity.
“It was. Look, I have a spare room, crash for as long as you need. It’s right by work, and I’m not a bad housemate, I cook and clean and I put the toilet seat down.” Nick joked.
“How about your fiancee Nick? How is she going to take the news that you’ve brought some girl into your home.” I asked, ruefully wondering why I’d not used it earlier to put him off this ridiculous idea.
Nick sighed and rested his head on the back of his seat
“She’s away for another two weeks. Besides she has her own place. She wants to save living together for marriage,” Nick replied finally “She won’t have a problem with this arrangement.”
His voice was higher in the second half of his sentence, and I knew he was lying. I knew she’d have a big problem with it. I felt guilty that I was potentially going to get Nick in to trouble, but there was no turning back now, not until I was paid in a weeks time.
We arrived back in the city 30 minutes later, When Nick had said his place was close to work, I’d imagined just outside the city, but when nick pulled into an underground car park for an apartment complex in the block just before ‘booked up’ I was ever so slightly shocked
“You weren’t kidding about being close to work.” I remarked.
“Most days I walk, but since I wasn’t planning to be there all day I took the car.”
Nick parked the car and we headed up toward a foyer like entrance, Nick swiped his wallet against a pass-card reader and the door into the foyer opened. In front of us were three silver elevators and a stair case.
“Let me guess. Another lift?” I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was get into another elevator with is man. We'd kissed twice and somehow, I was now going to be staying in his apartment. This had all happened in less than 24 hours. One more elevator ride was just asking for trouble.
Nick just laughed and nodded.
“What floor are you on?” I asked, completely serious about running up the stairs.
“The top floor Sarah, the 20th.” He replied as he pressed the button, he placed my suitcase on the ground while he waited.
Of course he had the penthouse suite. Why wouldn’t he.
I walked to the stair case and glanced behind me, Nick looked confused, shocked even
“Right, well see you soon.” I exclaimed as I kicked my pumps off my feet.
Around 8 minutes later I stood in front of the penthouse suite on the 20th floor. Before I could catch my breath and knock, the door opened.
“wow, you’re pretty fast.”
“yeah” I replied, breathlessly. I didn’t bother to explain why. But the harsh reality ate away at me anyway.
From a young age my father had given me an hour to get home from school, He’d time me and if I was even a minute late the barrage of abuse I would face was never ending. School was an hours walk away, so to give myself more pockets of time I began running. Fast.
I followed Nick inside and gasped. I’d never seen anything so exquisite before. It was perfectly furnished and the place smelt amazing too, like vanilla and coconut.
“I feel like I’ve walked into a home and living magazine.” I muttered, looking around.
Then my eyes caught the view, I walked across the hard wood floor, surprised that There was more warmth under my feet than I had expected. I stood in front of the floor to ceiling window, and sighed softly, it was truly amazing.
“This view is insane.” I whispered.
“I have to eventually put this place on the market, I’m surely going to miss the view.” Nick replied, he sounded sad, annoyed even. His footsteps stopped beside me and he looked down at the cars below. “Amelia has a house in Santa Monica and isn’t really willing to move.” he explained, even though it wasn’t needed. After everything that had happened today, I was the last person that deserved explanations about his relationship.
“Come, I’ll give you the tour,” He said with a chuckle.
I followed behind him as he walked to the top deck door. We went outside and the view seemed ever more spectacular from outside. He walked around a corner and I followed.
“This is the pool area, a great deal of summer has been spent in here.”
“Being in your house is giving me delusions of grandeur Nick.”
“Why delusions? 8 years ago I was broke and homeless. This was all a pipe dream.”
“I have no idea what I want to do with my life Nick. That is why it is a delusion.”
Nick frowned and shook his head.
It was deluded to think I could make something of my life. Or make Nick’s kind of something with my life. I was probably destined to a humble life in the suburbs, in a 1 bedroom house with 10 cats.
Suddenly I was ripped from my daydream as I found myself being hoisted over nicks shoulder. I screamed, an odd high pitched scream that I wasn’t even aware I was capable of making.
“Don’t you dare!” I screeched at Nick as he took steps in the direction of the pool.
“You look awfully hot after that exhausting run up the stairs. You need to cool off.” Nick replied playfully as he teetered on the edge of the pool.
My heart thudded against my chest like a freight train, half from excitement, and half from complete and unbridled fear.
“You ready to make a splash Sarah?” Nick shouted hoisting my body around until I was cradled in his arms. Our faces were far to close and we both knew it, but neither of us bothered to put any of the distance that was necessary between us. I took a deep breath and nodded. I really was, more than Nick knew. I was ready to break free from the shackles my life had been. Ready to make a splash in life and start a new series of ripples.
I wrapped my arms around Nick’s neck and his eyes widened.
“What are you playing at Sarah?” Nick whispered.
“If I’m going in, so are you.” I teased.
Nick didn’t say anything else, only shrugged and then jumped with me in his arms into the water. As my body hit the water I enjoyed the touch of the crisp cool water against the steaming hot day. But my clothes became heavy, much to heavy to swim in. Once I came up for air I swam as best I could to the edge. I pulled myself up out of the water and stood dripping wet by the edge. I looked back at the water, and nick lay on his back, relaxing, In everything but his shoes.
“You’re insane.” I replied folding my arms across my white top.
“Maybe I am,” he replied, as he unbuttoned his own shirt. He pulled it off and threw it to the side of the pool. I blushed as he stood there, topless. His bare chest clearly had an effect on me, and effect I’d never experienced until now. Nick looked up at me and smirked, he’d caught me checking him out.
My eyes darted around, finally I looked down at the ground and fought the blush creeping up my neck.
He chuckled as he walked to the edge of the pool and climbed out.
I stood there, literally unable to move. My pants were on the verge of falling down because they were so sodden, and my top. Well my top was doing a very spectacular job of being see through.
“I’ll go get us a towel each.” Nick laughed walking past me. He’d taken his jeans off now, and was wearing only a pair of navy blue cotton boxer shorts. I felt the same effect from before, a stomach flipping feeling and I closed my eyes hard to avoid looking.
A few minutes later Nick returned, a towel wrapped around his waist. He handed one to me and stood there, watching me.
“Uh…” I whispered, motioning for him to turn around. He made an ‘O’ with his mouth and turned around.
I unbuttoned the wet shirt and let it drop to the ground as I wriggled out of the black pants. I wrapped the large white towel around my body.
“Alright,” I said as I picked up my completely saturated clothing “I hope you have a dryer.” I said with the realization that I didn’t have anything else work appropriate.
“Yeah, I do. Are these your only work clothes Sarah?” Nick asked turning back around to face me.
I nodded and shrugged at the same time. Surely it wasn’t that much of a surprise to him, he’d just made me leave my shit hole of a motel after all.
He didn’t say anything else, just walked and picked his own clothes up.
We walked back inside the house and he took me to the laundry. We chucked our clothes in the machine and then he continued the tour, in towels. He showed me around the house, to the bathroom and games room.
“Finally this is the guest room.” Nick said opening the door we stood in front of. I looked around and took it all in. There was a king sized four post bed in front of me with an bright eclectic styled bedspread on it, I smiled to myself, glad that his style was showing through in his home. Beside the bed sat my ratty completely out of place suitcase. The room had lots of sunlight and its own small balcony. I walked across and opened the doors.
“This is amazing,” I whispered leaning up against the edge of the balcony. “Thank you for taking me in until I find something else Nick, this is just beautiful.”
“No problem Sarah. Uh look why don’t you get cleaned up or dressed or something and I’ll go Skype Amelia.” Nick replied, shuffling backwards out the door. “En-suite there.” He said quickly, pointing toward another door.
Once he was gone I walked back in to the room from the balcony and over to the en-suite door. I opened it and almost died from shock. The room had a 1920’s black and white theme, the bath sat in the middle of the floor, it was huge and claw-footed. I walked in and put the plug in and ran the taps. I noticed an iPod dock with an iPod in it and walked over and pressed play. Radiohead filled my ears and I smiled with appreciation. Around 15 minutes later the bath was finally full. I climbed in and relaxed in to the hot water. It had been ages since I’d felt relaxed, and the feeling although foreign was completely welcome.
The song Creep started and as I lay in the water, deep in relaxation I began singing, forgetting where I was. When the song ended I felt myself blush, suddenly aware of my surroundings. A few stray tears rolled down my cheeks, I’d really let myself float away with the song. I prayed Nick hadn’t heard. It was embarrassing enough without having to have him, a prominent talent agency CEO have to tell me to shut it because my voice was shit.
I got out of the water and pulled the plug out. I realized a little too late that I’d forgotten to grab clothing from my suitcase so I dried myself, wrapped the towel back around me and walked out of the bathroom with my eyes closed, although why my eyes were closed is a mystery to me. Before I could walk very far though I crashed in to Nicks still very bare chest. I jumped back and looked up. Why was he in here?
My stomach dropped, the proximity of our half naked bodies causing me to feel a little uneasy. I pulled the towel tighter around me and bit my lip.
Nicks eyes were wide and a look of utter confusion and bewilderment struck his face.
“That was you right?” Nick asked.
My face blushed, Crap he’d heard me.
“Uh....” I stuttered, as I stepped around Nick.
I walked as quickly as I could to my suitcase and lifted it on to the bed. I grabbed some jeans, underwear and a superman t-shirt then hurried back in to the en-suite and closed the door behind me. Once I was back in there I leaned against the door and sighed deeply.
“Sarah,” Nick called out. “You didn’t answer me.”
CHAPTER FIVE
I pretended I had not heard Nick and walked over to the iPod. I turned the volume right up to drown out any further attempts to talk.
I pulled my clothes on, then turned off the iPod before I walked to the door I peered out the door before opening it all the way. Nick had left, which was a relief. However I still had to take my wet underwear to the laundry.
I left the room and tiptoed down the hall and across the lounge floor to the laundry. However, my attempt at avoiding Nick was thwarted when he walked inside from the balcony.
“You shouldn’t be a filer.” He said simply, as he walked in to the kitchen and opened the obscenely large black fridge. He took out two cokes and walked over to me. He held out one of the cans.
“Huh?” I replied confused, taking the can from him. Was he firing me?
“You should be on my books. Booked talent, ready to sign.” He explained walking over to his table. “You’re amazing. Literally” he finished sitting down.
My mouth hit the floor, and I could feel my eyebrows raising at his words.
“No.” I said, without thinking.
“Why not?”
“Just no. I’m not a singer.” I replied, although I had to admit that the prospect of music as a job sounded amazing.
“I’ll politely disagree. You’re a singer. You’re an amazing singer Sarah.” He exclaimed with a passion that surprised me. He really did have a love for discovering new and wonderful things, but he was barking up the wrong tree this time.
“Too bad, I’m not interested.” The last thing I needed was eyes on me. My father couldn't know where I was.
After that Nick didn’t say anything else about putting me on the books, and we didn’t mention the morning, or the kisses either. Which was a relief.
Before I went to bed I dried my work clothes and lay them out on the desk chair in the room. I slept well. Better than I’d probably ever slept. It wasn’t because of the expensive furnishings though, I’m happy with subtle and humble, it was because for once in my life I actually felt safe.
Once I got up I dressed and done my hair and make up before leaving the bedroom. Nick was making what looked to be French toast.
“Morning Sarah.” He said with a chirpy voice, turning from the oven he placed a plate of French toast and bacon in front of me where I sat at the breakfast bar.
“Morning,” I replied. “thanks for breakfast.”
“No problem.”
Without another word Nick finished cooking and then sat down beside me.
We ate in silence and when I finished I ran off to brush my teeth then came back to wash the dishes.
“You don’t have to do those,” Nick said “I have a dishwasher.”
“You’ve given me a place to stay, let me wash some measly plates!” I shot back with a chuckle. I reached in to the water and grabbed the next thing, only to be greeted by a searing pain in my hand.
“Argh!” I screamed, pulling my hand from the water, Hot water splashed on to my work shirt and blood spilled from the palm of my hand on to the sink and floor, luckily avoiding my clothing by an inch.
“Fuck. Sarah are you alright?” Nick shouted getting up from the breakfast bar. He ran in to the kitchen and grabbed a towel then pressed it in to my hand
“There must have been a knife in the sink.” I said feeling stupid, I should have checked.
“God, I am so sorry! I should have kept my dishes on the bench. Fuck. Take your shirt off.” Nick ordered softly, Confused and in pain I looked up wondering why things had taken this kind of turn.
“huh?” I replied.
“I’ll chuck it in the drier while I grab the first aid kit.” Nick explained.
I attempted to undo my buttons with my left hand, but it was almost impossible, the eyes were small and the buttons were big. I looked up at Nick, without another thought he took his hand from the towel “Put pressure on the cloth.” He urged as his fingers moved to my top.
My eyes didn’t leave his face, and I forgot about the pain because even though this was only happening because I’d cut my hand. I was turned on. The feeling was natural, but new. A ripple from the splash I'd been ready to make the evening before.
Nick's fingers slightly brushed against my white bra and I had to bite my tongue to hold in a moan, he was barely even touching me, but it felt explosive.
As he reached the last button he looked up at me, our eyes met and I bit the inside of my cheek out of nerves. Nick moved my left hand out of the shirt, taking it away from the cloth for a moment, but his eyes stayed with mine. He did however, look down to gently for a second as he pulled the shirt it delicately off my right arm.
I stood there exposed, my boring white bra on display, but surprisingly I didn’t mind. In fact I was pleading silently for him to kiss me again. Nick returned with a first aid kit, gently he took my right hand and removed the blood soaked cloth. The cut wasn’t deep, which was a relief.
“It won’t need stitches.” He murmured, grabbing some gauze and a bandage from the kit.
“Okay.” I replied, my throat was caught on my breath and my body was aching for something it had never ached for. The feeling was foreign to me, and I wasn't sure how to process it.
Nick gently applied the bandage then threw away the rubbish and zipped the first aid kit back up. The dryer wasn’t finished yet, so I stood there in my bra, with Nick looking at me, a hint of red in his cheeks. I smiled and rubbed my right arm before leaning against the bench.
“Are you blushing Mr Jackson.” I teased, making a joke of the situation seemed the only viable solution at this point
Nick’s mouth opened slightly, he licked his lips and his right eyebrow twitched. He had a certain reaction when I would call him Mr Jackson, a reaction that both humored and excited me. I looked away. I didn't know much about any of this, but even I knew I was playing with fire.
“I don’t blush.” he replied his voice tight.
“Your face disagrees Mr Jackson.” I joked.
