Caught in the Middle

Chapter 11

I stood by the window in my room, overlooking the Hudson River.  I could see Queens on the other side.  It was strange and somehow fascinating how Manhattan was known as the financial capital of the world.  Manhattan was such a small place but yet it was such a diversified world.  Most of the successful businesses were located downtown Manhattan and yet I was standing in the Penthouse from one of the successful buildings to see Queens.

I shook my head. I struggled by working two jobs so I could afford rent on an apartment that was the whole size of my room and Dane owned a Penthouse, which probably housed eight apartments below his floor.

The sky was getting dark and the lights were going on in the city.  "New York City is the place that never sleeps," I said to myself.  I was so busy admiring the city that I completely missed Dane's entrance in my temporary room.

"The city is beautiful at night isn't it?" he asked.

My body jerked. He caught me unaware. Blinking my eyes, I got a good look of his reflection on the glass.  "Yes, it is and you should have knocked on the door."

"I wasn't aware that I had to knock on the doors in my own apartment," he said with a hint of a smirk appearing on his lips.

"Well, this is my room now unless you want me to leave," I suggested as I turned to meet his stare right on.  I crossed my hands over my chest.

"I was going to ask you if you wanted a tour around Manhattan but I guess you rather stay inside."  His eyebrows raised with the challenge.

"Of course, I want to go for a tour.  If I stay in this apartment without something to keep me productive than I'm going to go insane."

He extended his arm, his hand was facing up and open as he waited for me to take it. 

I bit my lip, hesitating to trust him.

"What are you waiting for?"

I scrutinized his hand before looking up at him.  "How do I know you won't lead me somewhere and then try to kill me?"

He rolled his eyes.  "Seriously, if I wanted you dead, I could have killed you before."

"But your doorman saw me and it will be too much work to kill me here because you won't be able to hide my body."

He lowered his arm and with his other hand, he rubbed his temple.  "We're going to debate on how I can get rid of you when I locked you up in my apartment?"

"Yes, I still don't believe a lot of stuff you told me."  I was not letting up from our conversation easily.

"How about we discuss about this while I give you a grand tour of Manhattan?"

I eyed him for a moment before I decided it was better driving around Manhattan with him than staying in his apartment. I nodded my head. His eyes flashed with triumphant and he held out his hand for me to take it.  I ignored it and walked past him.  I left him with no choice but to follow me as I paused to slip on my ballet flats before heading to the elevator.

I glanced behind me as he pressed a button on his cell phone.  Before I could comprehend what happened, the elevator beeped and the doors opened.  I blinked and watch his lips curled into a sensual smile.  My breath caught in my throat and I forced myself to look away from him.

"We better get going."  He slipped on fancy black polished shoes, grabbed his car keys and strolled into the elevator.  "Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?"

I blinked again and his chuckle filled the elevator.  Then I realized that I was suppose to be leading the way and my cheeks reddened.  I humphed as I stomped into the elevator and watched him press a button.  The next time the elevators opened, we were below ground instead of the lobby.  The place looked like a parking lot.  Dane made his way through a whole bunch of fancy cars until he stopped at a gray Hummer.  I frowned.