To New Beginnings. Sequel -(On Hold)

Chapter 13

Nathan

It had been a hectic few weeks, pending the decision of father.  His condition grew better, but he'd yet to come to his sense regarding his role in the company.  All he had to do was retire, keep what shares he had left and live out the remainder of his days in solitude. I was more than capable enough to take care of the company. If only he'd had a little more faith in me; like he did with the booze to get him by.

"Mr. James... Mr.-"

"I heard you the first time." Natasha immediately stopped talking.

"I'm sorry sir! You seem... a tad bit... distracted?" I could tell that she was reluctant to say anything to me ever since I brought our adventures to an end last week building up to the day I saw... her!

After I had her looked into. I was urgently curious and a bit too anxious for comfort. It crossed my mind all the possibly ways she could be living her life and the only full stop that has consistently flooded my mind was her being married. It hadn't dawned on me that I shouldn't care as much as I did, considering that I am a married man myself.

"I shouldn't care!" I accidentally blurted out, catching Natasha off guard

"I'm sorry?" She leaned in almost positive that she heard me but wanted me to verify.

"It's nothing.  Just think out loud." I brushed off casually.

"Oh," the round shape on her lips was prominent from saying the the word.

"Anyways, make sure you take detailed notes. I want these email to-" I was interrupted by a knock at the door. "What the fu..." I grumbled under my breath. "Come in!" I yelled!

There was silence for a second, then the knob rotated and the door was ajar, slowing revealing the face of my assistant, Randy.

What did he want this time?

"Yes Quimby!" I curtly greeted. Not bothering to look up at him and rather pay close attention to the scattered papers on my desk that could use some organizing.

"I have the um..." he sounded as if he was short of breath. I still kept my focus on gathering these papers.

"Um what?" I waited.

"The uh... The fi-fil." He had a hard time executing the sentence and my patience were wearing thin.

"You better have a good reason for inte-" my head flew up to emphasize my annoyance but the sight of the Beige Manila envelope waving frail in his pasty hand was enough to shut me up! "Why didn't you text me ahead of time?" I gave up on continuing with the papers and instead splayed both hands on my desk to contain my anxiety. 

Why was I anxious?

"The mailman was on his way to your office and I thought  I'd deliver it personally." Randy managed to slide into the room and his eyes nervously glanced over to Natasha's seat. There she say with her legs crosses, looking back and forth between Randy and I with utter confusion.

"Mizz Kirby," Randy was seemingly abrupt with his greeting. The man practically drooled over Natasha whenever she was in a safe distance of him, however, being in her presence, she reduced Randy to a bumbling fool.

"Oh hey Randy!" She readjusted herself in her seat to give him a full view of her front. A white ruffled blouse with the top two buttons undone. Leaving the eyes to wander. Both Randy and I at least had that in common. She uncrossed and recrossed her long  pale legs. Her flowy skirt danced over her thigh, following her movement.

I didn't realize that Randy and I were in a trance. Solely focused on this one being. I could tell Randy wanted nothing more than to pull himself away, whilst I, the latter, felt compelled to do the same.

"A-hum! Well then..." I trailed off  once I cleared my throat. "We can continue this meeting tomorrow, Natasha. We just need to pull a few more numbers and I'll do a once over before we submit all the documents."

"Um, y-yes sir." She hesitated at first. Her eyes zeroing in on face. Searching carefully.

"Great, you can take a lunch if you like!" I suggested before I realized that it was only ten thirty in the morning.

I did mental face palm.

"Ah well... ok." I assumed she picked up on what I meant.  She gathered her belongings thoughtfully.  Scooping up papers and a tiny pile of folders to slide them right inbetween her tricep and rib, so that she could have a spare hand to the rest of paperwork.

"I'll call in later this afternoon with updates." She was just about ready to exit the room.

"Very good!" I muttered, patiently waiting for her to leave the room!

Without another word, took her long strides and later the soft shut behind her was a clear indication.

"Let's have a look." I held my hand out to Randy,  who's head looked on at the the empty area near the door. He was not paying attention. "QuiMbY!" I slammed my hand on the front of my desk, just loud enough to bring him back. He jolted accordingly, right before stumbling over to hand me the folder that he gripped, just a bit too tight.

"Thank you!" I shook my head examining the condition of the beige crumpled mess.

"Did you wrestle to get this?" I rhetorically asked, as I pinched the corner to flip open a can of worms, that I wasn't sure I was ready to reveal. Was this even a good idea? I froze! A chuckled left my throat out of nowhere.

Having second thoughts? My subconscious teased. The trouble Randy must've gone through to get this! Or did he even break a sweat? I mean, how complicated was her life, I-

"Sir-" Randy interjected me rambling in my thoughts, searching for a hundred reasons to not take a look.

"Thank you Quimby.  I really appreciate the lengths you must've gone through to get this!" I took in a deep breath.  "Do you mind giving me a moment?"

"Oh, of course sir." He didn't hesitate like Natasha did earlier. I'm sure he was waiting for me to give him the chance to run out and stalk after Natasha. I'm sure under all that, at some point I had to cut his adventures short and discuss the repercussions of not having boundaries in a professional setting and all that jazz, however today... there was so much on my shoulders.  Today alone, I was more stressed out than having to run this company. All because of this stupid, blank mishandled folder. Sitting before me, taunting me. It could possibly contain what little warmth I harboured in my heart. Or maybe it held further disdain, that could push me into deeper despair.

I didn't realize through all the contemplating that I was in the room all alone.

But with further deliberation
I decided... at this moment in time.

I couldn't open it!

But I'll build the courage at some point.