Best In Show

three

Ella stands in the middle of the living room inside Nicholas's apartment, or better known as a condo that happens to be on the other side of town. Nicholas wasn't too thrilled when Ella arrived almost an hour later, but she couldn't help it. She had to take two different subways before walking up and down the streets trying to find the building.

Once she did, Ella became even more confused because after the third level, each floor are individual condos, and Nicholas's is all the way at the top, level twelve. Ella didn't know if she was in the right place until the elevator doors opened and showed a very mad Nicholas there with his arms crossed. From there, Nicholas instructed her to stand in the middle of the living room while he went to go do something in one of the back rooms, he refused to tell her what.

And this is where Ella is now, her thumbs grazing her knuckles every now and then as she looks around Nicholas's condo.

From where she stands, the condo is two levels, there's a spiral staircase, there's silver leather furniture and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and there's also a balcony. Abstract paintings and sculptures hang throughout the condo giving it a modern, yet expensive look.

He must make a lot of money doing what he does, Ella thinks.

"Sit."

Behind her, Nicholas walks out with his iPhone in one of his hands and a thick stack of papers in the other.

"Huh?"

"I said, sit," Nicholas repeats.

His eyes glances at the single chair beside her and Ella's eyes follow. Quickly she plops down, placing her hands on her knees.

"So, when do you begin?" Ella asks.

"Calm down, now," Nicholas orders. He wanders over to a chair that's across from Ella, putting his phone and papers down on the coffee table made entirely out of glass. "I'm pleased at your eagerness, but don't be in a rush or none of this will work, at all."

Nicholas finally sits down, crossing his legs one over the other while his hand cups his chin and his elbow rests on the armrest. Then he just stares at Ella.

Those magnificent blue eyes zeroing in on hers, not once do they blink, not once do they move. His eyes are glued to Ella's and hers do the same. It's almost like a staring contest.

Her cheeks flush with warmth, it's something that's happened before, but something different happens at the same time. Down near her stomach, something deep inside of her, deep somewhere where her groins are, pulls in the most foreign and most lustful way.

Stop, Ella mentally screams as she crosses her legs. Nicholas, without a doubt, doesn't want you that way. And if he does, he's going a weird route by asking you to do this Best In Show thing, whatever it is.

"What's wrong?" Nicholas asks after a complete minute of silence. "Are you... nervous?"

Ella begins to panic. "What? No, why would I be?"

"Your facial expression, you're incredibly easy to read," he points out. "You're also a terrible liar, so I'll ask you again. Are you nervous, Ella?"

She weakly nods. "Yes, a little."

"Why's that?"

"You asked me to come here and I still don't know what I'm doing," Ella begins to explain. "Can you please at least tell me what this Best In Show is all about?"

"Yes, Best In Show is a contest where people show off their best humans. There's three sections, appearance, talent, and obediences. All three sections will be judged at the same time by ten professional judges, and there will only be four winners."