Fighting You

At The Office

"Could we talk elsewhere? Some place private...like an office maybe?" Derek had asked Natalie in the dining room.

So here she was leading Derek Morgan to her office ! She absolutely did not want to take him there. Truth be told it wasn't actually her office. It was more sort of... a den Natalie thought. Her private space. A place which was going to be intruded by this stranger Natalie mumbled.

Natalie never really invited anyone inside her office. Even her aunt or Jason had been inside just once or twice maybe. Stonehedge was not really a five star hotel. All the guests conducted their business at the reception near the entrance. No one had ever asked her to see her office. Up until now!

When Derek had asked to go to her office it was just out of sheer pride that she agreed to take him there. She didn't want to see that smug look on his face had she told him that she didn't really have one. Her office was actually hidden behind the stairwell. And now that they were here Natalie lead the way inside with Derek following closely behind.

Standing in the dining room before, Derek could sense Natalie's unease right from the moment he had asked to see her office. She wouldn't meet his eyes which Derek knew she did when Natalie was really uncomfortable. It was something Derek had picked up since his stay here. But why? And then it dawned on him. Looking around the place he realized the inn was more like a home to Natalie. Not a workplace. She obviously did not have an office here. Derek decided to suggest they meet outside when Natalie surprised him.

"Sure Mr.Morgan. Please follow me."

Following Natalie Derek stepped into the Natalie's office. Looking around the place Derek recalled his own office back in NY. Natalie's had a fireplace at the far end of the wall complete with two huge armchairs. The room was quite big. To his right was a home library. Walking towards the it Derek noticed that Natalie owned a fantastic collection ranging from encyclopedias to literature to even politics. Derek was quite impressed. At the opposite wall were two huge French windows. They gave a fantastic view of the mountains. Next to the window on the wall were pictures. Derek crossed the room and stood there watching the frames with interest. There was Natalie with her aunt..Natalie with Jason...few with only Natalie in them. There was no picture of her with her parents though. Looking around the room Derek thought of his own office. Natalie's office seemed cosy and inviting whereas his must feel comparably... cold.

"Nice place you've got here" Derek told Natalie. The only reply he got was a stiff nod from her. At the corner of the room was an antique wood table. There was her laptop on top of it along with a printer and some ledgers at one corner. Natalie ushered him towards the table and seated herself.