Unwanted Heat

“Kind of,” he chuckles. “I knew early on that I didn’t want to work for someone else. I’m not good at doing what other people tell me, so going into business for myself seemed like the perfect solution. I received my undergraduate degree from NYU and probably should have continued further, stopped after that.”

“How come?”

“It just wasn’t for me. I had enough of sitting in classrooms after the first four years, so I couldn’t imagine doing it any longer.”

“How did you start PFS?”

“I’ve always had a knack for looking at a problem and coming up with a solution, even when others thought one wasn’t possible. My parents insisted I get a job as soon as I told them that I wouldn’t be returning to NYU. I started working at this small telecommunications company; my primary responsibility was to show them ways to save money. However, the company was very poorly run with far too many staff being paid to sit around and be unproductive. I was there less than a year before they ended up being forced to close their doors. It was a good thing though.”

“How so?”

“I learned what I wanted to do in that moment; when I graduated I wasn’t sure exactly where in the financial world I wanted to settle. However, after working there I found a passion in wanting to help companies before they got to the point of having to close their doors. I wanted to work with them on investing their profits in areas that could help sustain them long term.”

“So what did you do?”

“My parents refused to loan me the money to start up a business on my own. Well, I shouldn’t say they refused; they agreed to lend me the money if I worked for a few years in the field at other companies. They questioned my ability to be taken seriously without more experience under my belt. I had no desire to work for someone else; I wanted to get out in the real world and start making changes. I didn’t want to work with only one company when I could be working with several at the same time making a difference.”

“Where did you end up getting the money to start PFS then?”

“My grandfather, my mom’s dad, loaned me the money I needed to start up PFS. I paid him back, with interest of course, within a year.” “Wow… you’re lucky you had someone who believed in you enough to loan you that much money even when your parents said no.”

“I understood where my parents were coming from. They wanted me to have work experience to fall back on in case the company didn’t succeed.”

“Have you ever thought about returning to school?”

“Not really. I mean, I’ve gotten this far without it; PFS is obviously a success so I don’t know that an advanced college degree would make much of a difference. I’ve thought about taking a class here or there, especially in technology as there are times when I struggle to understand some of the spreadsheet equations and how they were generated. Maybe someday I will, but right now I don’t think I have the time to sit through classes, homework and projects for hours each week. PFS takes up nearly all the spare time I have as it is.”

“I bet.”

“So… you grew up on the west coast you said?”

“For the most part; I moved around a lot when I was a child but pretty much stayed around that cost.”

“Do you have family in New York?”

“No.”

“Ah, so you must have moved here with a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Okay… ” I’m sure he can tell this is a conversation I would rather not have. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No, I’m an only child.”

“I take it you’re not very close to your family?”

“Let’s just say I didn’t have the best childhood. I would rather leave that door closed, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, I’m sorry.”

“I… my father died shortly after I was born. I don’t remember him and I was never really close to my mother.”

“I’m sorry, Kenzie.”

We spend the next few minutes in silence, both of us picking at our food, not really knowing what to say to each other.

“The shrimp is really good,” I finally decide to break the silence.

“I’m glad you like it. This place is nice because it offers a nice selection besides seafood, even though that’s what most people come here for.”

“I can see why.”

Thankfully, the former conversation has returned because some things, my things, are better left unsaid.

“Can I ask… how do you know Bridget? I know her from different fundraising events that we both attend.”

“We were strangers until she insisted a store manager hire me one day.”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“That’s Bridget. She seems like the type who is used to getting exactly what she wants.”

“Absolutely,” I laugh in agreement. “I helped her with a situation in the store one day and then she insisted the manager hire me and that I be put in charge of her account. I worked there for about a year and a half.”

“You quit because of Bridget?”

“Yes and no. I could have probably continued working, although it would have been a scheduling nightmare since I primarily worked evenings and weekends. I knew I couldn’t work three jobs, so one had to go. I really enjoy working at the bakery which made the decision easier.”

We spent the rest of dinner talking about and getting to know each other. It was surprisingly comfortable and I was grateful that Nicholas didn’t pry into my past-I think he could tell it was a topic I wasn’t comfortable talking about. The conversation stayed pretty much on the present, with Nicholas doing most of the talking, especially about PFS and the different projects they are working on. Without realizing it, we talked most of the night away and soon we were the only ones left in the restaurant.

“I guess we should head home,” Nicholas glances around the empty dining room.

“They’re probably waiting for us to leave so they can close for the night. I hadn’t realized how late it was.”

“Me neither.”

We’re both quiet on the way back to The Accord Towers, but it’s a comfortable silence. Although, come to think of it, I can’t recall a time when I haven’t been comfortable with Nicholas, surprising since it’s usually rare for me to be comfortable around anyone. Tonight is the first time when we are just Nicholas and Kenzie. There is no looming contract over our heads like during our first meeting, or people watching us when we have attended events together. Tonight is has been about us; different… nice but different. When we arrive back at The Accord Towers, Nicholas escorts me back to my condo, only this time Carter waits in the elevator for him rather than walking down the hall with us.

“I had a nice time tonight, Kenzie.”

“Me too.”

He leans down to kiss me on my cheek as he has done every time we part, only this time his lips land closer to my lips. I can feel his breath on my cheek-I know if I were to move my head just slightly, his lips would be on mine. It’s tempting… so very tempting, but I have to remind myself that this is all for show. This is nothing more than a business transaction; Nicholas is kissing me only for appearances. And not for the first time, I find myself wondering how his lips would feel on mine. If this weren’t a business transaction, would he want to kiss me? Would he even be interested in me?

“Good night, Kenzie,” he places one final kiss just next to the corner of my lips before pulling back.

“Night…” We stand there, looking at each other for some time before Nicholas finally pulls away and heads back to the elevator.

I quickly unlock my door, turn off the alarm and close the door behind me before collapsing onto the loveseat in the living room. I can’t remember the last time I felt like this: the last time I actually wanted a guy to kiss me. I need to do something because I can’t keep thinking about it. This is supposed to be a business deal: a transaction, between two people. I’m not supposed to be attracted to him. He could never want someone like me… he’s only interested in me now because of this arrangement. If it weren’t for Bridget, he probably wouldn’t have noticed me.