Her Threat

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

'He is not in love with me. He is just strange. Not in love.' I said to myself as I walked back towards my office. I paused, then I shook my head. 'No, that's impossible.'

When I opened the door to my office, I was startled to see Nate pacing around in front of my desk.

"Where have you been?! Damn! I'm so worried about you when I cannot find you. Your damn assistant doesn't even know where you are! I've been calling your phone but you are not answering!"

Was that anger and worry I am seeing in his face? Yes, he said he was worried. And he looks angry. But why? I was just having lunch with Grace.

"I...uh...I'm sorry. I was having lunch with Grace. I thought I informed Daisy about that." My assistant is getting on my nerves right now. I don't think she needs her job badly.

"And I left my phone," I added pointing at my bag that is on my chair.

"God! Don't ever do that to me again!" He looks relieved.

Okay. He is just acting strange.

"Uhm...can we talk?" I asked before Grace's words and his actions confused me more.

I saw his face turn stern before he gestures for me to follow him into his office. Once inside his office, he sat on the sofa instead of his office chair and had me sit in the vacant single chair in front of him.

I suddenly felt nervous.

"So?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

I gulp the knot that forms in my throat and takes a deep breath. I have been thinking about this since my lunch with Grace. And now I am having a hard time constructing my sentences in front of him.

"Ah...I was wondering. Maybe we could stop this..." I trailed because I am not sure what word to describe the way he is treating me. "...thing," I said the dumbest word that came into my mind.

Nate cocked his head, making me curse at this gorgeous devil in front of me internally.

"This special treatment you are giving me," I said hoping that I used the right term this time.

"Do you think I am giving you special treatment?" He asked, making me embarrassed.

"Yes. I mean, no!" Damn it!

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and decided to be straight to the point. "What I am meaning to say is, you don't have to pick me up in the morning at my apartment. I can just take an uber to your house and Stan can drive me and the kids to their school. You don't have to come with us. You don't even have to come with me to pick them up in the afternoon. And you don't have to take me back to my apartment after that. There's always an Uber for that." I said looking at the magazines on the table in front of me.

I raised my eyes and found him staring intently at me. He looks like he is trying to read what is going on in my mind. I am afraid of what he is going to say so I continued.

"And maybe, I can have lunch with Grace, my best friend from now on. You know, the one I mentioned is working in the HR Department. She had been missing my company. I can just bring my lunch so I don't have to be worried about my diet." I continued and I noticed the creases on his forehead deepened. I wanted to bite my lip in nervousness but instead, I bit my inner cheek, hopefully, he won't notice.

"Are you telling me that I don't have to take my kids to school and then pick them up in the afternoon?" He said and I wanted to say 'If that's so, why don't you pick them up yourself? You wouldn't be needing me anymore.'

But I chose to just put that comment at the back of my mind although that was the truth. I noticed that ever since he came along with me taking his daughters and picking them up. I realized that he doesn't need a nanny if he could do that. He doesn't need me anymore.

I shook my head. "Okay, but you don't need to pick me up from my apartment or take me back. You don't have to do that. That's just too much."

Nate's face turned dark and I could already tell that he was angry. Is he angry at me because I am ordering him?

"No," He said.

"What?" I frowned, not understanding what he meant. Or maybe I do, but I just don't want to accept it.

"I mean that's not gonna happen. I will pick you up and take you back home. And you will eat lunch with me." He said with finality and I immediately felt the need to revoke against him.

"But Nate..." I started but he cut me off.

"Catherine, I asked you to give me two months to treat you better. And this is my way of treating you better. And I don't think that there is something wrong with that." He said and I was like 'Everything about that is wrong!'

I wanted to cry internally. He is indeed a strange man. And an asshole.

I sighed. "In that case, I'm sorry. If you continue doing this, I will stop coming to work. You already have my resignation. I will continue seeing your daughters until I find a new job," I said with the same finality as he did. I don't want to do this but if he continues doing whatever it is he is doing, I will be labeled as a mistress, homewrecker, and a whore which I am not.

"Are you threatening me, Catherine?" Nate's tone made me want to bury myself on the chair but I cannot back down now.

"Nate..." I started though I don't know what to say to convince him because I believe that I am the reasonable one here.

"Fine!" He said in a grumpy tone then he stood up from his seat and walked towards his office desk leaving me dumbfounded.

He is strange.

He is grouchy.

He is moody.

He is unreasonable.

And yes, he is an asshole.

Still, he is a gorgeous devil.

And I hate him right now!

I pursed my lips and stood up and left without a word.

When I left his office I found Daisy lurking around my desk. My face was immediately distorted from annoyance. According to Grace, words about me being Nate's mistress came from her. Or maybe it didn't directly come from her. I don't know. Honesty, I am not sure and I don't know what to think about anymore.

And I just cannot confront her and ask her directly. No, I wouldn't do that. I don't like the girl from the very beginning because of the way she looks and flirts with Nate and I don't know why I hate that about her. But I am not one to cause conflict between me and my co-worker. Even if the said coworker is defaming me.

I sighed, feeling exhausted.

"Yes?" I asked to get her attention, but she seemed to not notice my presence. She is looking at my table. My eyes glanced at my table and saw that she was looking at my phone and my eyes instantly narrowed at her.

"I brought this," She raises a folder in the air. "I was asked to give this to Mr. Vann." She added.

I raised a brow ever so slightly. She always finds ways to get close to Nate and that fact irritates me because every time Nate gets near her she is obviously fluttering her lashes and acting coy. Anyone would be able to guess what she is trying to do.

It looks like she doesn't need only a job. She wants something else.

If I have my way, she already lost the job long ago.

But wait, actually, I have my way. I am the very reason why Nate hires her. That is to give me an assistant which in all honesty, I don't find to be necessary.

I could just tell Nate that I don't need her anymore. But I already told him that before, didn't I? And still, Daisy is here.

"Okay," I said, then walked towards my desk.

I watch as she struts her way towards Nate's office. She stopped in front of the door and knocked. When she heard Nate tell her to come in, she fixed her hair and skimpy dress making sure that she looked presentable.

I rolled my eyes. How shameless?

And why do I care?

I saw her enter with a smile. I heard her say something but I didn't understand it as the door closed.

I looked down at my table and saw my phone on the table. How did my phone end up on my table? Before I went for lunch I left it inside my bag. I was sure that it was still in my bag when I came back and found Nate pacing around my table.

Then I heard the door open and saw Daisy walking out with a frown. I noticed that her eyes were red as if she had been crying.

When she noticed me looking at her, she averted her gaze and quickened her steps away from me.

I wonder what happened? Nate's office is soundproof. And though our office is separated by glasses, the curtains were drawn so I didn't see what happened.