BLUE ICE (ICE SERIES) (7 page)

‘No Katherine, I just thought you were talking about yourself on that new fan thing. And I know I shouldn’t worry, there’s nothing that interesting about me online, I’ve been really careful.’

Fuck! Don’t put yourself in the spotlight again princess! Karma is a bitch!
Just when I was comfortable talking about something funny he threw that ball. Of course he wasn’t sad, he was just annoyed because I wasn’t drooling. ‘I haven’t read it, but I’ll let you know if I find something.’

He put his other arm on the table and rested his face on his hands. ‘Enough about me, I want to know about you.’

‘Ok, shoot.’

‘Why didn’t you go to Harvard when you got accepted?’

What the hell!?
‘Whoa! No small talk, just get straight to it, right? ‘How on Earth do you know I was accepted to Harvard and that I declined?’

‘I know a lot of things.’

He was getting on my nerves, but I was curious. ‘Stop being an asshole if you want an answer.’

He lowered his hands and avoided my eyes for the first time. ‘I had you investigated.’

That’s not the plan baby, remind, cool, nice Katherine is not a challenge, pleeeaassseee!!!             

‘What the fuck, Berkeley? Why did you have me investigated?’

‘I always investigate my acquisitions.’

‘I am not a fucking acquisition! I am not even something interesting for you! Why can’t you be normal and ask if you want to know things!’

‘Watch your language. I did it because I could, now answer.’ He was mad, apparently he hated me cursing.

This was going nowhere,
stop being a fucking challenge Kate!
‘I wasn’t ready to leave my parents’ house. ‘

‘So, that explains Columbia.’

‘Yes, so you also know about Columbia. I don’t even know what am I doing here, you already know everything about me.’ I stared at him defiantly, he was even worse than what I had thought.

‘I know some details but I don’t know the story behind them’

‘Why would you want to know the stories? You’ve already gone all stalker and investigated me.’

‘I wasn’t stalking you, I was curious.’

I changed my strategy to calm myself. ‘Where did you study?’

‘Harvard.’

‘How old are you?’

‘28’

That one took me off guard. I could have met him in college!
This is weird!

He took advantage of my silence. ‘Why advertising?’

‘I love creating campaigns.’ I smiled sarcastically. ‘Why billionaire business man?’

‘I inherited. Why are you so close to your parents? It is really normal to leave home to go to college.’

‘I adore them, they are amazing parents and people. I wanted to stretch that as much as possible. How are your parents?’

‘Dead.’

Stupid, selfish Katherine! If you had paid attention to the “inherited” part you would have suspected it.
His voice was the coolest I had heard since I met him; not sad, not melancholic, just plain cold. His blue eyes stabbed me silently.

‘I am so sorry Dylan, I didn’t know.’ For the first time since I had met him I felt guilty about my bad attitude.

‘You really don’t know anything about me right? My parents’ death was big news, everyone knows about it. Don’t worry; I just don’t talk about it.’

A waiter came to our table, just in time to save me. It had been a long time, for his first appearance. Soon I learned why, he wasn’t asking for our order, he was already carrying plates full of food to our table.
Who the fuck does this man think he is?! I can order my own damn food
. I had a really small range of food. I had always entered a restaurant, chose something and asked for exactly the same thing every time I visited that place. I had the same tastes as truck driver so burgers, pizzas and meat were my usual choice. There was no way this man could know what I wanted for lunch.

‘So I don’t have a say on what I eat?’ My voice sounded harsh, I was mad and he had noticed.

‘I thought you might like this, so I ordered for us.’

‘You always do what you want, don’t you, you pretentious bastard?’

‘Watch your fucking mouth Katherine.’ Again, he was pairing my bad attitude. Anger scurried through his eyes.

‘My calling you pretentious doesn’t bother you, but the cursing part does? You are a nut case!’ I pointed at him menacingly with my finger. ‘Let’s make this clear, because you still have 45 minutes before I run through that door and never see you again. I am a big girl, I can choose by myself, drive by myself and speak for myself, so don’t try to do things for me again if you want me to keep my word of staying.’

My face was on fire with rage, I didn’t even know what made me so angry, but I hated that man more than anything in the world. I really didn’t like a lot of people to begin with so getting a first place spot was a big achievement. The worst part? His face was stone cold, just a little smirk in his eyes. I know eyes don’t smile (I don’t care what Tyra Banks says about it!), but his were at that moment. I was expecting rage, anger, but not indifference.

‘I get it, you are tough. It was my turn to ask you.’

Was he dismissing me? I hated him, every part of him. Okay maybe I hated everything but his eyes…and his mouth…and his hair, but that was it. ‘We are not taking turns; this is not a speed date jerk.’

‘So you think this is a date?’ Now he was smiling shamelessly.
You must be fucking kidding me!
My jaw simply hit the table, I couldn’t believe his nerve. ‘I am sorry Katherine, I don’t date, so this can’t be one.’ Again he took advantage of my brain’s pause.

‘I never thought this was a date, this is just a fucking pain in the ass obligation.’

He lost his cool with my language. ‘Watch your fucking mouth!’

‘Or what?’ My patience was not that good.

‘I can shut it up in many interesting ways.’

I melted in my seat with those words. Those lips were amazing and I was staring at them.
Cool off baby, you need your head straight!
I forced my brain to work again and punctuated coldly. ‘In your fucking dreams, ask me that stupid thing you want to know.’

‘What about the man you live with? Are you involved with him in some way?’

‘How dare you? This is none of your business, I can live with my best friend if I want to.’

‘So, he’s just your best friend. Good.’

              I knew it was my turn, but I was really tired, so I went where I would have never wanted to go. This had to finish and, if it was quick, I could get home in time to watch that new episode of Criminal Minds. ‘You don’t date, what do you do?’

‘Let’s just say that there are lots of woman to not date.’

‘So you just hang around with them.’

‘No, I hate to encourage fake expectations, that’s why I don’t date. They think I want to marry them if I take them out. I just fuck them.’ For someone who hated me cursing, he had no problem establishing that. Just an asshole as I had thought. I had told you, these guys wanted just one of two things, if he didn’t date, there was only one other option.

‘Such a gentleman.’ I was calm again, I love when I confirm something, and him being an ass was a confirmation of what I had thought about him since the beginning. ‘Your turn loverboy.’

‘What’s that “I don’t drink” bullshit?’

I thought about it for a second. I had created many answers for that question, but against my better judgment I went for the honest answer. ‘I guess I don’t like things I can’t control. And alcohol can make me lose control of myself. I know I may sound like a control freak but I can’t afford to lose control in any situation.’

He analyzed my answer while I looked into those amazing eyes. They were truly breathtaking. ‘That’s why you avoid men, because you can’t control them.’

He wasn’t asking, he was establishing what he thought was a fact. I felt as if I would have to pay for therapy at the end of the dinner because it was really weird that he could get to that conclusion without even knowing me. He was right, not that I would accept it. ‘You would make a good shrink Berkeley. My turn, how do you know John?’

‘I met him at some charity function.’ He was smirking again in that sexy way. ‘Do you like me?’

              I laughed, thinking it was a stupid joke. I was giving him a hard time, he was doing the same. ‘You think I am going to say yes.’ I smiled at him.

‘No… I think you are going to shout yes.’ He grabbed my hand and came to my ear to whisper. “You are coming home with me tonight, right?’

              His blue eyes were shining. He had a little smirk on his face, and the deepest voice ever. For the first time since puberty I lost it. Not a single muscle in my body was relaxed, I could feel rage on my face and I just saw black. I had to stop myself from punching him in the face. We were in the fanciest, nicest, everyone-knows-my-mom kind of place, I couldn’t. I didn’t know why I was so angry, but I guessed it was because he couldn’t avoid the chase and it was getting me tired.

‘Don’t you ever reach me again you fucking narcissistic son of a bitch.’

              With that, I grabbed my purse and ran out the door. On my way out I noticed Berkeley was interrupted by the hostess and I took that to my advantage. Outside the Plaza Big Guy was waiting on the street. He was surprised by seeing me after such a short time. ‘Ms. Bianchi is everything ok? Do you want me to take you home?’ He knew. He knew his asshole boss had messed it up.

‘Joe, it was nice to meet you.’

              Saying that, I climbed into a cab. When I was sure no one was following us I told the driver my address and ignored my phone while it rang continuously. I knew this was a mistake, a big mistake, but being a girl as I am, I always fell for the same. I thought maybe since he was noticing I was not his usual willing girl, he would treat me like a person.

‘What’s up Katie, how was the lunch from hell?’ Kevin was already home, getting ready to pick up one of his booty calls when I arrived.

I threw myself over the couch. ‘I didn’t break his nose because I was at The Plaza.’

‘Good girl! Thank God it was The Plaza, any other place and I would be paying your bail. Did he spank you?’

‘Even The Plaza couldn’t have saved him if he had done that.’

‘Spill, what happened?’

‘He was a pain in the ass. He ordered food for me without asking.’

‘I always order for girls.’

‘That’s not the point jerk. He was trying to dominate me and he’s no one to do that. So, we were talking, I was trying my best not to be a challenge, and then he said something about making me scream and taking me to his place.’

‘So, you freaked out and ran.’ My dear friend had a smile, that I couldn’t explain, on his face.

              ‘Yes, I did.’

              ‘Sorry baby, I know you hate the “assuming you will sleep with him” thing and that he’s a jerk, but I don’t see the big deal. You are always laid back, so I don’t know why this would bother you that much.’ My sweet friend was being kind. I had never been laid back. I was more of a strict, overachiever with low tolerance, witch. But he had a point, I never got angry with things like this before. I usually just kicked their asses and dropped the subject. But with Berkeley it was different.

              ‘Because he thinks he can, that’s the problem. But as you’ve said, I am not like that, so this is it. I am letting this go, and it shouldn’t be a problem since I am not seeing him again.’

              ‘He’s really getting into your nerves, babe’

              ‘I know, I don’t know if I would prefer him to want to make me his arm candy wife. The fact that he only sees me as an opportunity to fuck is really making me ill.’

              ‘He doesn’t know you are more than that Katie. He probably only knows women that are a good lay with no more expectations in life. Not all the girls in the world are Professional Barbies like you. And don’t get this wrong, but your characteristics fill the “one night stand” description, you are hot and single.’

              ‘Kev, sometimes you sound like a girl and I would have thought there were more characteristics needed, but you’re right. I just don’t want him to mess with me. I am not seeing him again and that will solve the problem.’ I went to him and arranged his messy hair making him even hotter. ‘Before you leave, make some dinner for this hungry girl while I watch Criminal Minds.’

              ‘Ok, just because I don’t want you to kick my ass with all of your contained anger.’

              I smiled at him and walked to my room.

              Every night, since I can remember, I run lists in my head before sleeping. In the middle of the night I always stare at the ceiling and remember things that I have to do, but not that night. I spent the whole time seeing his fucking face.
Yes, he’s too handsome to be true, but I don’t want to notice that. He’s everything I’ve always fought; men who think I am some kind of a prize to brag about. I am not even pretty but the impossible bitch falling for someone is kind of a challenge. No way I would fall.
But the more I remembered his face, the more my anger seemed stupid. I had never been bothered by sexual comments and if there was a real threat I could kick their asses, so these reactions were just too much for a simple stranger. Not that I would admit it to anyone.

             
Chapter 6

              The next day I knew I would have to talk about the whole thing. Keeping my promise I stopped in front of Mrs. Cherry while Jenny was bothering her. ‘Good morning Mrs. Cherry, Jenny.’

              ‘Ms. Bianchi, how was everything yesterday?’

              ‘Great, The Plaza is always lovely, and I had the best time. He’s that kind of man.’

              The disgust on Jenny’s face was obvious, but her broken voice was even worst. ‘Katherine, sorry to interrupt your fairy tale, but have you seen the brief I was supposed to give you today?’

              ‘Yes.’