Protect

Chapter 8

"Hi how many?" The hostess asks me and Gemma as we enter the restaurant. Gemma was raving about this place the entire walk here. Its called "Karen's Diner" and apparently has the best pancakes ever, according to Gemma. I wish Harry could be here with us.

"Two please!" Gemma tells the hostess. "Right this way" The girl says. She leads us to a table and we begin to look at the menus. "So, I dont want to be intrusive, but what exactly is the relationship status between you and Harry?" Gemma asks while placing her elbows on the table and leaning her chin on her hands. "I think we are official!" I say with a smile on my face. "Aww! Yayy! I was hoping you were! I noticed you slept in the same bed last night." She winks at me. "Dont think I'm creepy, you are my friend and this is girl talk so you can tell me anything." She tells me. "Yes, he slept in my bed with me, but thats really all that happened. It is way too early for anything else." I emphasize my last statement. "And I have never really had girl talk before." I tell her, speaking the truth. "What? Ok we need to have girl talk more often then! And okay I am glad you two are taking it slow, but the chemistry between you is so beautiful." She says her eyes filled with joy. Her british accent is so lovely just like Harry's. "Thank you." I say smiling.

We order our food and spend the rest of the breakfast talking about random things. We went over how much rent is and we talked about where Gemma and Harry grew up, a little town in England called Cheshire. It was mainly Gemma talking and me listening. As we leave the restaurant Gemma flags down a cab and says, "Do you want to stop by my office? I have a surprise for you!" She says with a grin on her face. "Oh no, I'm scared." I tease her while laughing.

Within 15 minutes we reach a large building with a huge sign on the front reading "News day." "You work for the news paper?" I ask Gemma. "Yea I work in publishing." She tells me. "There is a position open for a secretary. I was thinking maybe you can apply? I'm sure you have a great resume, and I have already spoken great things about you!" Gemma says. "Wow thank you so much! I am so grateful!" Gemma is the sweetest person I have ever met. It is so amazing that she is going to help me get a job, and working for a newspaper would be so cool!

We walk into the building and Gemma stops at a cubicle with a blonde lady typing. "Hey Jess!" Gemma says. "Hey Gem!" She replies then continues typing. "That was Jessica Martinez. Really good friend of mine, I'll introduce you later she seems busy. " I nod my head and follow Gemma into a huge office with a name plate on the front saying, "Daniel Samuels."

"This is my boss's office. He is head of publishing. Really nice guy, but very strict. I told him good things about you and he wants to meet you." Gemma says as we reach the glass door to his office. "Really? Now? I'm not even dressed nice, I'm wearing jeans and a beanie!" I tell her. All of a sudden I become a nervous wreck. I have never been on an interview before let alone a job! He never let me leave the house. My college experience was strictly online. I start to sweat and take off my beanie for some more air. I quickly smooth my hair back into place and look to Gemma for guidance. I barley know her, but just like her brother, I know she has my back.

"Kris. Stop it. Its fine. Daniel is a wonderful man and there is no reason to be worried. You look fine just go in there. Its not even an official interview, he just wants to meet you. Last night when I left the apartment to grab papers from my office, I ran into Daniel and he was mentioning how he was looking for a secretary. I immediately thought of you and starting telling him about you. He is interested. Now go in there and show him what Kris Jensen is all about." She opens up the door and pushes me in, walking behind me. There is a man, who I assume is Daniel Samuels, sitting at a large glass desk, writing on some papers. Behind him is a glass wall overlooking the city.

He looks up and he smiles, staring at me the whole time. Gemma begins to speak and his attention switches to her. "Good morning Mr. Samuels! This is Kris, my friend I was telling you about last night." She smiles and slightly pushes me forward. "Hello." I say and reach out my hand to shake his. I tuck my hair behind my ear. "Hello Kris. Its a pleasure to meet you." He stands from his desk. He looks to be in his mid thirties or so with brown hair, blue eyes, and an overly tan face. He almost looks fake. He acts like it too.

"So Kris, do you have a resumé?" He asks me. "Not on me but I attended Delaware University and have a business degree." I reply in the most professional tone possible despite my jeans and beanie in my hand. "Ah, Delaware, nice. Well Kris it was lovely meeting you, but unfortunately I have tons of work to get through. I would love to have Gemma give me your resumé." He smiles a fake nauseating smile at me. "Great thank you." I tell him and exit the glass door. "Thank you Mr. Samuels! See you tomorrow!" Gemma says then shuts the door behind her.

"Great! So now he knows you and I will hand him your resumé!" She squeals and hugs me. I hug her back returning the tight hug. Just in my few short days in New York both Harry and Gemma have helped me begin my new life, and I couldnt imagine it without either one of them in it. "You are such a great friend Gemma." I say to her releasing myself from her loving yet suffocating hug. "No problem! Lets catch a cab back home." She says.

As Gemma and I are in the cab her cell phone rings. "Hello?" She answers. "Oh no! Really? Ok no problem. Yea I'll talk to Kris and Harry, shouldnt be a problem. Oh Kris is our new roommate and Harry's girlfriend. Yea he is living in New York, well he stayed for her." She smiles and looks at me. "Ok Carrina, I'll talk to you later. Ok bye." She hangs up the phone and says, "Sorry about that. That was Carrina. Her flight got canceled for over booking or something so she is going to be flying in next month. Thats okay with you right?" She asks. "Yea fine with me." I tell her nodding my head. After everything Gemma has done for me I dont want to give her a hard time but I would much rather Carrina stay in England, especially if she is still obsessed with Harry. "Okay great!"

As we enter the apartment Harry is sitting on the couch with one leg over the other, how most guys sit, and watching tv. "Hey Harry." Gemma says then sets her keys on the counter. "Hey Kris." He says and smiles at me. I walk over to him on the couch and he puts his arm around me and I lean my head agains his chest.

"Okay lets just pretend like I'm not here." Gemma says from behind us. I laugh and Harry says, "Hey Gem." She crosses her arms and shakes her head. She walks over to us and says, "Just got off the phone with Carrina, long story short, she is coming next month. Thats cool with you right?" Asking Harry. "As long as I dont have to see her." He says looking past Gemma directly at the tv. I get that Carrina was obsessive and annoying and no one wants visits from their ex's but I cant help but think there is more about Carrina then Harry is telling me. I mean why does he hate her so much, and why does Gemma get so nervous talking about her? Harry looks down at me as I am deep in thought.

"You are so beautiful." He tells me and kisses my head. I blush then kiss the corner of his chest. "Gemma was texting me about the job, you will definitely get it." He says to me. "Thank you." I say. "Did you find a job yet?" I ask him. "Nah. I will, I'm still keeping my options open." He says. I admire that Harry has patience. Me? I need my new job right away.

I look down at my ring, then at Harry. I feel like I am living two different lives. Will Harry hate me if I tell him the truth? Should I tell him the truth? Only time will tell.