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spent a very companionable evening, watching movies, eating my stew, sharing a few beers and laughing. I couldn’t remember having such a relaxed time with a male, except for years ago with JJ. Nathan had the most infectious laugh and he loved to mimic people. I was beginning to feel very at home.
    ‘I know you have just fed and watered me, and shared the best film I have ever seen,’ he raised his eyebrows in disgust. ‘But I have to ask, what the fuck is with those hideous dried things that sort of resemble dead grass?’
    Bella’s beer bottle jerked away from her lips and she laughed, spraying some of her mouthful over Nathan. ‘I was just thinking the same, how old are you, Frankie? You obviously cannot be trusted to shop by yourself.’ Feeling chastised I glanced at my arrangement of second-hand, dried flowers, bought earlier that day. Although it went against every grain in my body I burst out laughing with them. They were right it was vile. I probably had only bought them to prove a point to Alex about second hand thrift; thank God he hadn’t laid eyes on them.
    ‘And why the fuck are you women always covering me in alcohol?’ Nathan flicked some of the sprayed droplets back at Bella and she giggled shamelessly. It was very obvious she was starting to see some of his attraction.
    Leaving Bella and Nathan deep in conversation, I took the dirty dishes to the kitchen. I started loading them into the dishwasher. This should be hilarious, having never used one in my life. It can’t be that hard. After moving the dishes around several times, I finally managed to turn the bloody thing on, promising myself to wash up in future. Raising myself up I caught sight of my iPhone, which I retrieved from the kitchen worktop, remembering hearing an earlier ping.
    Unfortunately, the business call was anything other than short.
    I hope your evening was fun. Dinner smelt great from the hallway.
    Don’t let my baby brother take advantage of you both........make him go home soon!
    Yours Alex
    CEO Blackmore Industries
    I chuckled to myself; oh God was this his way of letting me know I had stunk out the whole of the penthouse floor?
    Sorry Alex! About your long call and the stench in the hall!
    Frankie
    Stupidly, I hadn’t thought Alex might also live here. Another ping sounded an incoming message; hastily I pressed what I needed to read the reply.
    Frankie
    I never said it stank, did I?
    I love home cooked food, even if it is English!!!!! Ha-ha
    Remember to Make Nathan go soon and please inflict lots of pain on him
    tomorrow.
    Yours Alex
    CEO Blackmore Industries
    Walking back into the living area, I took in the beautiful open fire and the lights of the city beyond. We had no curtains for the windows.
    Who needs to shut anything out from this high up ?
    It was clear that my very presence was interrupting the now flowing conversation between two very animated people. Somehow Bella’s legs were now thrown over Nathan’s lap. His hand was running up and down very gently on her shin bone. Mmmm... interesting . I raised my eyes questioning her, sniggering inside. She smiled shyly back, shrugging her shoulders.
    Shyly?
    ‘Your brother is intent on trying to get me to inflict pain on you,’ I said showing them my iPhone, jiggling it from side to side in my hand, ‘and he also wants you to go home soon.’ Nathan looked at my smirk.
    ‘Fucking dominant control freak,’ he ran a hand through his always just fucked looking hair. ‘He can never just butt the hell out, big brothers who’d have em... eh?’
    Bella sat up quick, realising what Nathan had just uttered. I shook my head at her, she couldn’t protect me from everything and he wasn’t to know.
    ‘So Alex lives here, too?’
    ‘Yeah, symmetrically to my apartment,’ he waved his hand behind his head in the right direction. ‘I assumed you would know that, as he employed you? Not that he is here that much, always working, you know the type. Thinks he damn well knows