Chapter 37: Threats
I lay back in my bed, wondering why she
would be working there. She sounded almost sincere on the
phone like she really missed Brian. I sighed, as I closed
my eyes.
I awoke shortly to Nick bounding through the door. I sat up
quickly and looked at him.
He huffed as he plopped down on the bed.
"What's wrong?" I asked, rubbing his shoulders.
"Well we're under maximum security because of the thing at
the studios yesterday and now some guy is phoning in threats to
our management," he sighed. "We were suppose to
stay out longer, I didn't even get to finish my food before they
rounded us up and sent us back here. There's two security
guards outside of each of our rooms right now." He
threw himself back on the bed. I rubbed his chest.
Was that him? Was he calling and threatening the Boys now?
"Well we return to New York tomorrow, so maybe everything
will be okay," I lied.
"Maybe," he agreed.
~BACK IN NEW YORK~
I left Nick at my place to shower and get some sleep as I took a
cab down to the Times. I had to see for myself what was
going on.
I went through the back entrance as usual and stormed in the
office. There Felicia was, sitting at MY desk, doing MY
work.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Felicia
looked up at me, shocked that I was standing before her.
"Well she was going to cover some the book review editorial,
but she was just too good for that, so we let her take your
position," Kaylee snidely replied from behind me like it was
a simple answer that I should have known.
I turned around and glared at her.
"Where's Amanda?" I shrieked.
Kaylee pointed towards the boardroom where the staff had their
daily meetings about the next morning's paper. There were
twenty people in the room when I stormed in. Amanda was
seated in the front.
"Ah, Kate, you've returned," she replied, standing up
from her chair.
"What's going on?" I asked.
She walked around the table and took me aside.
"Felicia is doing a remarkable job, so I just don't know if
there's still a place for you."
"What?! You gave me a two week suspension and I'm
back, one day before and now you tell me this?"
"Well, we're having a chair meeting tonight about it dear,
so go home and get some rest," she insisted.
I huffed as I left the building.
When I went back to my apartment I passed two security guys out
in the hall. I walked inside and not only was Nick there,
but Brian, A.J., Kevin and Howie as well. They were
watching a pre show to the Super Bowl. I slammed the door
and threw my keys down, not even caring that they were having a
small party in my living room. I stormed into the bedroom
and started changing my clothes.
Nick set his beer down and stood in my doorway, one arm raised
overhead.
I feverishly unbuttoned my shirt one by one and tossed it to the
floor, then sliding into a big New York Giants t-shirt.
"What happened?" He asked.
"They've hired someone to take my place and they'll discuss
tonight whether they want me to stay or not." I tossed
clothes left and right onto the bed, pretending I was folding but
I was just venting my anger.
"Do you know this person?"
I laughed to myself as I slid on a pair of jeans.
"Oh yeah I do," I said as I slammed my hangers in my
closet.
"Who is it?" He asked curiously. The
doorbell sounded.
I walked passed him and went to the door. I opened it to
find Felicia standing on my porch. Brian's mouth fell to
the floor.
"Felicia?" He asked, peering around me.
"Hi Brian," she muttered as she looked at me.
"Can we talk?" She asked.
"I have nothing to say, but you can talk to Brian," I
dryly replied as I left the door open and went back into my room.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"What are you doing here?" Brian asked as she let
herself in and took a seat.
"I need to talk to Kate...and you," she added.
Her brown hair was pinned up and her skirt formed perfectly to
her body as she crossed her legs in the chair.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"Kate, what's wrong?" Nick persisted as he sat on
my bed.
"Felicia's here."
"Really? So?"
"So she's the one who took my spot at the Times, Nick,"
I huffed as I sat down next to him.
"You're kidding, how'd that happen?"
"One person, Kaylee," I said, putting my head against
his shoulder.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"Can we talk somewhere?" Felicia asked Brian.
He nodded as he stood up and led her out onto the terrace.
"Wow Kate has a nice view," Felicia started up
conversation, her and Brian looking around awkwardly.
"Why'd you come here Felicia?"
"I missed you," she quietly admitted.
"But you walked out," he reminded her.
"I shouldn't have, I've been thinking about it and I
shouldn't have left. I was being selfish, I'm sorry,"
she looked down at the ground and kicked the leaves around.
"But you were so upset, even when I told you the kiss didn't
mean anything."
"I know but, you were right. I was being a bitch, I'm
sorry. But I've had some time away to think, I've got a new
job and I'm ready for a fresh start...with you, if you'll have
me," she persuaded.
Brian smiled, his heart filling with warmth as he took her into
his arms.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"Kate, maybe you should just think about looking elsewhere
for a job. You could move to Florida with me, maybe we
could even..."
"Nick, thank you, but I'm not running. I have to find
a way to get my job back, then I'll deal with Kaylee. This
won't last forever, she will get what's coming to her, I just
play by a different set of rules," I threatened.
I pulled him by the hand and led him out into the family
room. Brian and Felicia were out on the terrace kissing
while the guys watched the football game. I sat on Nick's
lap and watched the game as Kevin and A.J. yelled at the
television set.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"Mandy! I don't care, you're not understanding
that. Get Victor and go!" Kaylee yelled down the
phone line at her desk.
Mandy huffed and slammed down the phone.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
"Kate, can we talk?" I heard Felicia say from
behind the couch. Her and Brian had just come in hand in
hand.
"Sure why not," I sarcastically replied as we stepped
into my room.
"I took the job because it was offered, anyone could have
had it," she insisted.
"But it's MY job. I worked to get that job."
"Well they were offering the position, so I took it,"
she shrugged.
"And how did you know it was up for grabs?" I
asked.
She moved about uncomfortably.
"It was Kaylee, wasn't it?" I accused.
"She just helped me get an interview with Amanda," she
whined.
"How can you even speak to her after the way she-"
"After the way she treated who, you? How about the way
you treated me?"
"So what is this payback? Stealing my job because I
kissed your man?"
She shrugged, not bothered one bit. What had happened to
her? Duh that was a stupid question, Kaylee is what
happened.
"Look, I needed a job while I'm waiting on this book deal,
and they pay good money, I'm sorry, okay?" She
insisted as she winked at me and walked away. She strolled
back into the living room and sat next to Brian.
I grumbled and went back to Nick's welcoming lap.
~THE NEXT MORNING~
I awoke to the doorbell ringing loudly. Nick turned in bed
but didn't get up.
I sighed, as I grabbed my bathrobe to answer it.
Nick sat up as I left the bed and squinted as he looked at the
clock.
I yanked the door open to see that Mandy girl standing on my
porch.
"Is Nick here?" She chirped.
"And who are you and how did you get past
security?" I asked.
"Mandah, now is he here?" She demanded.
"He's sleeping, can I take a-"
"NICKOLAS!?!" She shrieked.
Nick came walking out from the bedroom in his boxers.
"Mandy, what are you doing here? I told you to go
home," he muttered.
"Well, I'm not here to chat, I'm here to warn you."
"Warn me, for what?" Nick asked, looking at her
stupidly.
"Actually warn you both," she snickered.
Nick and exchanged looks of confusion.
"Kate's past is back in town to haunt her, right
Kate?" She smirked.
Nick looked at me oddly, wondering what she was talking about me
and how she knew my name. I even wondered.
"How the hell do you know anything about me?"
"Well anyway, that doesn't matter, but Victor says if you
don't keep the promise, he will do what he promised. Which
means..." She smiled brightly.
Nick looked at me, still confused.
"...that Nick here can come home with ME."
"Kate what is she talking about, what's going
on?" He asked.
"Get the hell out of here and tell Victor to leave me the
hell alone," I huffed and slammed the door in her face.
She smiled and let out a slight laugh as she left.
"Do you mind telling me what in the hell is going on here
and who Victor is?" Nick placed his hands on his hips
as I walked towards the couch.
"No one," I lied.
"Kate, you're not telling me something here and I want to
know, especially if it concerns me."
I sighed, I'd already told him about the past Kaylee and I
shared, was I ready to tell more? It was either I take my
chances at losing him this way or I let time take its course,
along with my fellow workers at the press and lose him for
good. I suddenly found myself yet again stuck in a
whirlwind of madness and past occurrences with nowhere to go.
I slammed myself into the couch, put my hand on my head and
sighed.
"Kate you can tell me anything, you know that," he
insisted. "I'd say we've been through a lot and if you
don't think you can by now then..."
"No it's not that Nick, it's not trust, trust isn't the
issue. Let me get some coffee and then I'll tell you what's
going on, okay?"
He nodded as he sat back and watched me, his eyes full of
confusion and so many questions I probably couldn't answer.
He bit his lower lip in anticipation for my forthcoming words.