NIA WOKE UP with a start. Her head was pounding but that was the last thing on her mind. She'd had a really weird dream where her egoistical boss had been in her apartment caring for her.

Caring for me indeed, she thought with a shake of her head. To that I say ha!
What a bizarre dream.

She stumbled into the bathroom to set herself a bath. Filling the tub with steaming-hot water, she added her Epsom sea salt and jasmine bath bombs. She was feeling better than she had in days, more importantly, her monthly flow was over, she could finally have peace.

Missy strolled into the room, tail high and slightly bristled. She leaped onto the closed lid of the toilet and regarded Nia with a critical eye, once she had confirmed that the human wasn't a threat, she began giving herself a bath with her tongue. Peeling off her clothes, Nia tentatively stepped into the tub and slowly sank down.

A contented sigh left her lips and she closed her eyes. "Ah, this feels nice," she murmured.

Relaxing in a tub filled with hot water was sensational, she just wished she had the jets and all.

The hot water coupled with the salt did wonders to her body. She opened her eyes when Missy meowed and watched as she cat walked along the edge of the tub. The cat stopped and looked at the water, then she sauntered closer to Nia and bopped her head. Nia chuckled when Missy licked her cheeks.

"I still don't like you," she said and submerged herself even further so the water stopped just below her nose. She closed her eyes for a few minutes.

Missy purred and bopped her face. "Meow."

"I know," Nia said lifting a hand to gently pet Missy's white fur. "I miss Ana too, as ungrateful as she is... And I miss mama." She swallowed thickly suddenly feeling the overwhelming sensation of sadness. "I just pray they're safe wherever they are."

Missy suddenly hissed and ran out of the bathroom with her tail high. Nia stared wondering what had gotten into the animal when the door opened and Robert stood in the doorway with the purring cat in his arms.

Her first instinct was to scream a litany of curses at him in Mexican, but she held her tongue and glared at him instead. She raised herself so her face and shoulders were out of the water.

"I'd appreciate it if you knocked," she said quietly.

"I didn't think you were in here," he replied equally quietly.

Nia rolled her eyes and stared at the surface of the water pondering if he could see her nakedness.

"I take it it wasn't a dream, you really were here yesterday?"

"In the flesh."

"Can I help you?" She asked after a minute of awkward silence.

He shook his head.

The water had turned tepid and now irritated her instead. Nia sighed and looked at her bathrobe; it was hanging on the wall, right beside him. She didn't take it with her because she hadn't been expecting anyone, not him in particular, to barge in on her while she took a bath.

"I'd like to get out now," she said flatly hoping he would take the hint and turn around, but he didn't.

Instead he asked, "You want me to help you out?"

She scowled at him but he looked on while petting the damn cat.

Turn away please, she thought frantically. When he showed no indication of leaving the bathroom, she sighed.

"Today is your lucky day McGregor," she grumbled under her breath and took out the plug stopping the water from draining. As the water level reduced, she rose from the tub and stood.

THE STEAM FROM the water made her cheeks red, and strands of hair clung to her face, but Robert didn't think he had ever seen a sight more beautiful. She grumbled something under her breath and held the sides of the tub.

Robert felt his heart hammer in anticipation; she was about to get up. Any gentleman would have turned away to give the lady some privacy, but not him.

She raised a brow but he didn't look away. Sighing, she carefully lifted herself up. Robert stared wide-eyed, his lips parted and lust zapping through his veins as she stood before him, naked as the day she was born.

The water cascaded down her body, and he followed it with his eyes. She was like Venus rising from the froth of the sea.

She had moderately sized perky breasts with dark areolas, her stomach was flat as a board leading down to the juncture between her thighs. She was neatly trimmed down there.

Drawing his eyes away from that part, he stared at the rest of her. The gentle flare of her hips, her tan, wet glistening skin, her slender neck and finally her face. She looked amused and embarrassed at the same time.

"You done ogling me, McGregor?"

"Not quite," he said and she flushed. Her eyes flickered to the robe hanging and back to him.

"Could you pass me my robe?" She asked finally when he didn't take the hint.

He flushed and took her robe from where it hung. Seeing her naked had sort of scrambled his brain. She gently stepped out of the tub as he approached and turned her back to him. Roberts steps nearly faltered. She'd not only shown him her front but her back too, and damn what a sight it was.

She looked over her shoulder and he quickly walked forward realizing he had stopped walking. The sultry smile upon her lips made him wonder if she was doing it on purpose, because the desire shooting through his loins was not a farce.

Reluctantly, he held up the robe so she could pass her hands through. As she tied the belt around her waist, he placed both hands on her shoulders and she instantly tensed. Robert pulled her against him so her back hit his chest with a thud. He wrapped one hand around her waist and the other around her neck as he bent his head and kissed the column of her throat.

She visibly shuddered. "S-sir, Robert... "

"Ssh," he cooed and swiftly turned her around. She stared at him with wide eyes, but he could see just a hint of desire in her eyes that became more prominent with each passing moment.

He lowered his head slowly, giving her the chance to turn away or shove him, but she did neither. So he brushed the side of her lips with his, and when she still didn't move, he pulled her closer to kiss her but stopped at the last minute. It was not the appropriate time nor place to be kissing her. Reluctantly, he pulled away and brushed her hair back.

"Get dressed before you catch a cold," he said softly and pulled the robe tighter around her.

"Okay, thank you," she said staring up at him in wonder.

"I'm glad my near kiss could rob you of your senses, but you need to get dressed love."

Her lips parted.

"Go on then," he prompted. She blinked but didn't move. "Get dressed Nia, unless you want me to do more. I'm willing to oblige you know," he said and smirked when heat creeped up her face.

"Of course, yes thank you," she said stepping back flustered.

"Stop thanking me Smithy," he said with a deep chuckle. "One might think you want me to touch you again."

Missy sashayed into the bathroom and sat. She stared at them with accusing eyes and Nia blushed. She quickly stepped away from him and hurried out of the bathroom.

She didn't smile or acknowledge him, just walked over to the door and threw it open. Robert walked over to the door and stared at her, she was avoiding his gaze. He smirked as he lifted a hand, she instantly jumped back. He chuckled and left.

Missy followed him into the living room and leaped onto the couch landing with a resounding thump because of her bulk. He was going to take a seat when his phone rang. An unknown number stared back at him.

"Hello?"

"Good morning sir," an amused voice said.

Robert sighed. "Darren, what do you want?"

"What do I want?" Darren asked in fake shock. "You're the one who asked me to look for your girlfriend's family remember?"

"Shut your air hole," Robert snapped. "Why are you using a new number?" He asked gruffly.

"Being a private detective is dangerous business, I gotta change my number every other day y'know."

Robert sighed and massaged his temples. "Just tell me what you found out." He heard the crinkle of a packet opening and frowned.

"So, I went to the immigration office and looked at the faces of the detained people there, none of the people matched the pictures you gave me. I asked around as well, no officers had been discharged on an official duty in this area which leads me to one conclusion,"—there was a dramatic pause—"They've been kidnapped."

Robert sighed and looked down. "I already suspected as much."

"Don't worry boss, I've got a lead I'm chasing right now, I'll get back to you when I'm sure of it."

And with that the line went dead. Robert looked at the hallway and contemplated telling her he was leaving. He had come hoping to tell her some good news about the whereabouts of her family, but all he had was confirmation that they had indeed been kidnapped. Grabbing his coat, he shrugged into it and gave Missy one last pet before showing himself out of her apartment.

AN EMPTY LIVING room stared back at her.

"Robert?" Nia called but no reply. Sighing, she walked to the kitchen and was pleasantly surprised to find breakfast waiting for her. "Awwn."

"Meow," Missy purred and leaped onto the counter.

"I know he didn't buy it, he probably ordered it from some fancy English restaurant but it's so sweet of him," she said drawing the plates closer. Missy moved so suddenly and Nia shrieked when the cat almost put her muzzle in her breakfast. "Damn Missy, the least you could do is say please," she grumbled.

The door bell rang just then, followed by loud knocking. Nia paused and stared at the door apprehensively, she had no idea why she was feeling scared. The handle on the door jiggled as the person on the other side tried to get in. The knocking became more insistent.

"Who could it be?" Nia asked fearfully.

She just had this weird feeling that the people responsible for the kidnapping of her family would somehow come back to take her, to complete their mission. The banging on the door jarred her out of her mindless wandering.

"Missy, I'm scared," she whispered. Missy yowled and shot out of the room. "You're such a pussy!" She whisper yelled then shook her head. Missy literally was a pussy; she was a pussy cat.

The incessant ringing and banging on the door had her grabbing a mop stick, she didn't have time to search for the baseball bat. Snatching the kitchen knife, she inched towards the door. If they had come to take her, she wouldn't go without a fight. At least one person had to die.

The door jiggled and she jumped.

"This is like some shit from some horror movie," she murmured and leaned against the wall.

Taking deep courageous breaths, she tucked the knife into the waist band of her jeans and silently unlocked the door. The jiggling stopped and she blinked.

Suddenly the door burst open and Nia lifted the mop stick with a loud battle cry.

"I'll kill you motherfucker! I'm not letting you take me anywhere!" She yelled swinging the stick back and forth.

When her weapon connected with nothing but air, she paused breathing hard and looked at the doorway. Kate stood there wide-eyed, frozen with surprise. Nia instantly dropped the stick.

"Oh my God Kate, I'm so sorry, I thought you were someone else, I didn't mean to hit you. I'm sorry, honestly I thought... "

She was cut off when Kate burst into laughter. "Oh my, oh my goodness," she laughed. "What are you doing with that stick? Hoping to... to bludgeon me to death?" She asked in-between laughs. "Gosh, that wouldn't even break my toe Nia."

Nia flushed as Kate continued with her embarrassing laughter, she even snorted.

"Oh Christ," Kate said wiping a tear as she brushed past Nia into the living room.

Locking the door, Nia walked in to find Kate chomping her breakfast. The very breakfast Robert had so lovingly bought for her. Part of her wanted to march right there and shove a fist down Kate's throat, but she restrained herself and sighed in irritation.

"Go ahead, make yourself right at home," Nia said flatly.

"Yeah sure," Kate murmured with her mouth so full she couldn't even close it.

Nia stared sullenly as Kate finished her breakfast and belched loudly in satisfaction. "You're disgusting."

Kate flipped her hair over her shoulder and flashed a dazzling smile. "So I've been told."

Nia shook her head and went over to hug her.

"I'm glad you're back," she whispered shakily.

"I know Mamacita, now, mind telling me why you tried to batter me to death? Don't miss a single detail."

KATE WALTZED INTO the living room and plopped down on the couch. She had been staying with Nia, in fact, it was her third day there.

"What's popping bitch?" She asked grabbing the remote and flipped through channels. When nothing caught her interest, she grabbed Missy who was quietly licking her paws, and squeezed the cat.

Missy cried and struggled as Kate pressed her face into the cats soft white fur. "Ooh, I just love the smell of this fat cat," Kate said sniffing.

The moment Kate let her go, Missy shot out of the room wailing loudly.

"You just traumatized that cat," Nia said chuckling. She was laying on a sofa, hugging a pillow to her chest.

"I did?" Kate asked crossing her long legs. She was wearing Nia's clothes.

"You did," Nia agreed. "I'm glad you agreed to stay with me Kate. Lord knows I would lose my mind staying in this apartment all day, all by myself. I need to do something, anything. Being idle reminds me of my situation."

Kate buffed her fingers against her shirt and scowled when she saw the peeling nail polish. "You could go back to work."

"No," Nia said sitting up. "No, I told you I quit."

"Yes yes you did," Kate said offhandedly. "But you said it yourself, you need to keep yourself busy or else you'll lose your bloody mind. Correct?"

"Not exactly my words but yes, you're correct."

"Then go back to work. Robert, sexy handsome hunk, asked you to come back to work, didn't he? Easy peesy, go back to work."

Nia curled herself into a ball and stared at the television. Could she really go back to work, especially after she caused a scene?

"I'm sure he has hired another staff Kate. It's been what, two, three weeks since I left. Surely a company like that won't leave it's CEO without an assistant for more than a week."

Kate glared at her. "Don't be such a pessimist. He denied your request to quit, he asked you personally to come back to the company and yet your negative mind won't let you see that he wants you back?" She scoffed. "Silly girl. Go there and see for yourself if he has a new assistant, if he doesn't, quietly take your place. If he does, well, I'm not opposed to threatening the poor girl on her way back from work."

Nia stared and Kate shrugged. She sighed and looked away.

"I'm just saying Nia, you can't stay in here all day living like an old bitter lady."

Wishing Kate didn't have to be so bloody sensible all the time, Nia got to her feet abruptly. "I'm going to get dinner started," she mumbled and left the living room.

She'd barely touched the fridge when a knock sounded on the door. Kate was the first to react; she jumped up from the couch and whirled around to face Nia.

"Who is that?" She asked flatly.

"I don't know," Nia replied with a shrug and grabbed the knife. "I'm not expecting any one."

"Well, go get the door then," Kate said shooing Nia away.

Rolling her eyes, Nia swung the door open and pointed the knife in a bid to look intimidating to whoever it was.

Robert raised a brow. "Jeez, could you point that knife away from my heart? I'm too young to die."

"Yes, sorry, sorry," she said dropping her hand. A low bark drew her attention to a certain black and white husky seated on her hind legs. "Aww, hello to you too Willa."

Robert brushed past her and removed Willa's leash. The dog instantly bounded into the house to explore every nook and cranny.

"There's a dog in my... Okay, there's a dog," she said chuckling but there was nothing funny.

"Oh I'm fine, work was great, thanks for asking," Robert said shrugging off his expensive looking dark coat and turning to face her.

Nia looked away feeling shy. After that moment they'd shared in her bathroom days ago, she definitely couldn't look him in the eye. She hadn't let herself think of him all day, but standing right in front of her, he was all she could remember, all she could see.

"You look flushed Nia," Robert said taking a step towards her, she instantly backed away. "You feeling alright?"

"Mm-hmm," she chirped. "I'm doing great." Her voice was high, squeaky, even to her own ears.

"You sure about that?" He asked still approaching.

Stop advancing please! Please!

"Yes, yes I'm fine thank you." Her back hit the door and she stared at him wide-eyed.

"So polite," he chuckled and stopped before her.

Her heart was in her throat as he took a brown lock of hair and twirled it around his fingers. "I've been thinking about you all day."

Her nostrils flared. "T-thinking? All day?"

"Mm-hmm," he agreed, wrapping one arm around her waist. "About... "

"What's going on here?" A voice asked and Nia froze. Robert slowly turned around.

"Oh look, it's Miss I'll-sue-you from the other day. Kate, isn't it? How do you do?" He asked tipping his imaginary hat.

Kate scowled at him then sent a knowing look at Nia. "I thought I'd come see what was taking you so long. Apparently, I interrupted your... er... your romp."

"No, we're not romping," Nia said blushing furiously.

"Well come on in, don't just stand there doing God knows what," Kate said chuckling and walking into the living room.

Nia skirted around him and hurried into the living room.

ROBERT CHUCKLED AS she scurried away from him. He followed her into the room to find Kate hugging Willa.

A part of him wanted to go over there and snatch his dog out of her arms, but he let her be. Willa was enjoying the attention a little too much. He was mildly pissed off that she interrupted when she did.

"I was about making dinner, lasagna perhaps," Nia said rubbing her hands on her shorts. "Will you be staying for dinner, Robert?"

"Sure," he said absentmindedly still glaring at Kate. As if feeling his gaze on her, she looked up and gave him a knowing smirk. Little chit knew exactly what she did, he thought with a growl.

"So Robert," Kate began in a sweet voice after Nia had gone. "Nia tells me you've promised to help her with her... family." Robert felt himself tense. "If you don't mind me asking, how far have you gone? What plans did you make?"

"Private investigator," he said flatly. "Why are you asking me this? It's none of your business."

"That's where you're wrong. Nia is my family, and everything concerning her concerns me.

Robert glanced at Nia, she was rummaging through the fridge. He turned back to Kate and scowled at her. "I don't like you," he whispered harshly.

Kate smirked. "That feeling is definitely mutual buddy."

He stared at her for a moment. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm her best friend, I don't need a reason to be here when she needs me," Kate said nonchalantly. "And you? What are you doing here?"

He began quickly. "I'm her... " Robert trailed off awkwardly. He was her what? He had no connection to her whatsoever. He wasn't her boss anymore, they weren't dating, heck, they weren't even friends.

"I just want to be here for her okay?" He muttered and Kate raised a brow.

"Aww, you're so sweet, but there's no need for that. I'm already here for her."

Robert cursed under his breath and glared at her. "Do you have a problem with me?"

"Nope, I just want you to find her family so you can be on your merry way." Robert opened his mouth to curse her but she quickly continued. "She's sad Robert," Kate said softly. "She cries all night. Of course she tries to be quiet but I hear her, she's unhappy. If you really want to help her, if you love her... "

"I never said I... "

"If you love her," Kate maintained in a strong voice, not breaking the eye contact. "You'll find her family. That's the only thing that can make her happy now. Not you trying to get into her pants."

"Is that what you think I'm trying to do?"

Kate shrugged daintily. "What am I supposed to think? You haven't given me a reason to think otherwise," she said running her hand through Willa's thick fur.

Robert stared at her. Everything she said was true, but still it pissed him off that it was true, worse, it was coming from her. He didn't like her one bit.

"I'm not just trying to just get in her pants," he murmured in a low voice. That bit was partially true. "She's... I care for her okay?"

She means more to me than I realized.

"Is everything okay here?" A voice asked and he looked up.

It was Nia, and she was wiping her hands on a towel. She looked back and forth between them and he wondered if she could notice the tension thick in the room.

"Everything is fine," he said getting to his feet and clicking his tongue twice. "Come Willa, we're leaving."

"Already?" Nia asked. There was hint of sadness in her voice. "I thought you were staying for dinner."

Shit, Robert cursed under his breath. He had forgotten about dinner. "Sorry about that, I have work to do," he lied. He thought he saw a smirk on Kate's face but he ignored it.

"Oh, okay. I'll escort you out," she said softly.

He nodded jerkily and whirled around. Willa was at his heel panting as he grabbed his coat and wore it.

"I really wish you could stay for dinner," she whispered.

"I wish so too," he said and opened the door. "There will be other times."

She nodded and looked down at her feet. He grabbed her shoulder with one hand and lifted her chin with the other. "Hey, it's going to be alright."

"Is it?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation. At the back of his mind, a small pessimistic voice asked what he would tell her if he never found her family. He couldn't tell her that, it would destroy her.

His eyes flickered to her lips, but he looked away quickly and pulled her into a hug instead. "I made a promise Nia, and I'm not going to break it."

He felt her hands go around him as she hugged him back. "I'll trust you," she whispered.

Robert turned his face into her hair and closed his eyes as he inhaled her scent. Everytime he saw her, those feeling grew stronger and harder to ignore. It took everything, every fiber of his being not to turn her face up and kiss her senseless. Self control was one thing he had in abundance, but as he held her, the thread holding his control was thinning.

Gently kissing her on the head, he stepped back and brushed her cheek. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Rob," she said with a small smile and gently closed the door in his face.

He stood there for a long moment just staring at the closed door. Willa nudged his legs and whined when he was taking too long. She yawned and looked at the door then at him.

"Right, let's get home," he murmured and turned away. He had been on the verge of admitting something to himself, but the funny thing was that; he didn't even know what the thing was.

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My exams are around the corner which means updates will be next to nothing. I apologise in advance.

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Graciás amigos...

Word count- 4180