AMB~she~OUS

FORTY.

I felt sick.

Correction, I was sick and I blamed all the street food I had consumed the previous night. This is why people pleasing is extremely discouraged, I was now suffering for trying to cheer Nick up.

"You don't look too good, are you okay?" Nick asked from across the table.

"No, and if I keep sitting here I'm going to throw up on these delicious-looking croissants." I groaned just thinking about how I had really been looking forward to breakfast but knew I wouldn't stomach any of it.

"Let's go." Nick stood abruptly and before I could completely register what he was doing, he had his hand wrapped around my waist prompting me to get up.

"I'm sure I'm still capable of walking on my own." I whined, trying to move out of his grasp.

"I don't trust you would've made it out of this room, just accept my help." My body relaxed and I let Nick lead me out of the room.

We were almost out of the room when I felt my steps falter after making eye contact with a man sitting on the table by the entrance.

"What is it, you okay?" Nick stopped and one of his hands reached for my face, eyes searching mine. I almost forgot to breathe for a second before I reminded myself that there were eyes everywhere.

"Yes, I just--that man sitting over there, isn't he the same one that bumped into us last night right outside the sky lounge?"

My eyes followed Nick's as he eyed the man with scrutiny but there was no recognition on his face.

"I'm not sure."

Was this just some sort of De Ja Vu? But I could swear I had seen hi-

"Why? Are you worried about him? I could ask the manager to-"

"No, don't bother I'm sure I'm experiencing some dejavu that's making me a bit paranoid." I shrugged deciding to brush it off even though it felt like I was missing something important.

"Let's go get you rested, we have two whole hours to spare before our flight back."

A comfortable silence engulfed us on our back to my room but I could feel something in the air around us. There was a clear shift between Nick and I, everything felt different somehow. Long gone was the heavy air filled with sexual tension and replaced with something that felt much more meaningful.

One conversation had done that much.

"You don't have to stay with me, I'm not that sick." I told Nick who was adamant about staying by my side till I was feeling better.

"Nausea and lightheadedness, you could be coming down with a bug. I need to make sure." He insisted.

"Suit yourself, I'm just going to lie down here."

I had barely managed to drift into a sleepy state when I felt the bed dip beside me.

"I wonder why you didn't ask further about my father's past affair, isn't that what a normal wife would do?" I heard Nick whisper.

"I didn't marry Craig because I loved him, why should I care about his affairs?" I murmured sleepily back to him.

"Does that mean you don't care if he cheats on you or not?"

I would be bothered, I already was. But for an entirely different reason.

I ignored his question.

"I do." He said after a brief silence.

"Hmmm?"

"I care about whether he cheats or not. I would have an excuse to take you for myself if he ever does." I didn't need to look at him to know that he meant it, which is why I spoke up again.

"Don't worry, he would never."

"Then promise me you will accept my offer if he does." It was a cunning bargain on Nick's part but refusing would raise his eyebrows.

"Okay." Was the last thing I heard myself say before sleep completely engulfed me.

                            ****

"If I didn't know better I would think Nick was your new best friend." Alex complained from the couch in the corner of my bedroom.

"I feel like I have been apologizing too much lately and haven't really filled you in on what has been going on."

I knew I had been neglecting my friendship with Alex and Nick's arrival had a lot to do with it.

"I miss my best friend." A little crack in her voice at the end was like a punch to the gut.

"How about we take a vacation after I'm done with all the work related to the hotel openings?" After the main events the office won't be as busy, and I could use those leave days on a much-needed vacation.

"As long as I get to pick the destination and you tell me everything, no detail is too small."

"Deal."

I was suddenly looking forward to that upcoming trip, it would do me good to share some of the things that had happened especially between Nick and I.

"So am I still good enough to wear a custom design to the gala tonight?" I teased.

We had only returned from Switzerland a few hours ago and had to get ready for the company's charity gala and hotel opening. It suddenly made sense why Craig was passionate about this suicide prevention charity gala. It was way extremely close to home for him.

"Mmmm what choice do I have, you are my most prized brand ambassador after all." She countered with a smirk knowing he didn't pay me a penny for all my ambassador work.

"Since I'm feeling all better now, can we go have a check of the pieces you've brought me?"

Sleeping had done the trick, I was feeling much better now turns out it wasn't a stomach bug after all. Being sick was the last thing I needed on such an important night.

"You are just going to love the pieces from the new collection, let's go now if we don't want to be late." My best friend beamed at me.

It was going to be an exciting night, I could feel it in the air.

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