He had never woken up this late before for work, he was extremely late and he knew it.
And he had an early morning meeting to get to
He rushed out of his apartment and headed for the elevator, passing through the empty hallway, with his keys and his hair barely combed, the elevator was about closing but he was fast enough to slid in.
"Sorry" he muttered to the blonde man in the elevator, who just gave him a small smile
Shoving his hands into his pocket.
Nate was panting hard, as he tried to catch his breath, he wasn't one to keep fit, actually it's been a while he ran this fast.
The blonde man looked at him, studying his features from head to toe, quite young, unruly brownish curls, not bulky at all, in fact he could be classified as lean and small.
This guy didn't look dangerous at all, he was quite young to even pose a threat to anyone, just 22.
He was still panting hard as the blonde man watched him, he was two, maybe three inches taller and could see a lot from up.
Why did Spade think this guy was a threat, to the point of even assigning him to watch him.
He's just a kid, he doubt he could even hurt a fly like this.
"Going somewhere"? He asked and Nate just turned to look at him, oblivious of the way the blonde had been staring at him since he stepped into the elevator
"Ah, yes, I'm kinda late actually" he rushed out smiling nervously and the blonde man just nodded
"I'm guessing you had a fun night"? He stated and Nate just scrunched his brows together his smile slowly fading
"Sorry"? He asked and the blonde just smiled
"You're late because you slept in right? Well most people usually sleep in when they had company the previous night, especially from a night club" he muttered easily and casually
"No, no, no" Nate rushed out chuckling nervously before scratching the back of his head "it's nothing like that, I just kind of had a lot to do last night, you know, work, so I kind of slept very late, and I usually wake up very early, I don't know what happened this time" he rushed out muttering the last part lowly
"Oh" the blonde mused looking at him
"Yeah, I'm not really a fan of tardiness, something I learnt as a kid" he muttered looking away from the blonde man
"Right, you must have a had a fun childhood then"? The blonde pressed still looking at him with keen interest and he just smiled nervously
"Something like that" he chuckled lightly, this is actually the first time he'd be having a conversation with anyone in this building, he didn't even know the blonde, well he doesn't even know any of the people living on the building, the conversation didn't feel awkward but he wasn't exactly looking forward to holding a conversation with a total stranger in an elevator
The elevator dinged indicating they had reached the last floor on the ground, he raised his head up as the elevator opened up, he looked at the blonde and smiled
"Have a nice day" he spoke up and the blonde just nodded with his hands still in his pants pocket
"Oh I sure will, you too" he muttered watching as Nate got off the elevator without waiting a second he dashed out towards the parking lot of the building.
Not realizing the blonde guy didn't get off the elevator, even though they were on the last floor, he just put on his shades and hit the button for the penthouse.
Compared to the problems facing Spade right now, this lanky, harmless kid was the least of them.
He does seem a little bit off, but nothing more than a closed off person, that's all there is to him being a bit off and weird.
He'd been watching him go to work and back everyday for the past two weeks, he'd been using this same elevator at exactly the same time Nate uses it, but he'd never noticed him, not until he initiated him in a conversation today.
The kid doesn't have any friends, no female companion.
To Matteo his life was pretty boring and normal, he hardly left the house, unless to go to work, or his father's house, and then back to his apartment again.
He doesn't go partying or clubbing like most young CEOs like him would.
He was hardly even CEO material, if there's one thing, all rich kids like him had the same famous personality, womanizing.
But not this kid and it was slowly rubbing off on Matteo, he couldn't go to places like that too because he was stuck watching the kid, so wherever the kid was, he would be there too, which meant he was always home too.
Stuck in that God awful penthouse
The earlier Spade realizes this kid is not a threat, the better for him because he was slowly going crazy watching someone's life as boring and regular as Nate's.
_____________________________________
Nate drove as fast as he could and arrived at the office in less than 30 minutes.
He rushed inside, without acknowledging the greeting being sent his way, he entered into the elevator and pressed the top floor.
He checked his watch and he was late for the meeting by 10 minutes, thank God his father was no longer present in the office, he would have said something embarrassing or degrading to him for coming late.
He was panting hard as he looked up and shut his eyes, trying to calm himself and get his heart to stop beating fast.
Soon enough the elevator dinged and he rushed out, without going to his office he headed straight to the conference room, taking a right turn.
He took long strides and soon spotted a very worried secretary standing at the door of the conference room
He rushed towards her, and she gave him a pointed look that said 'he was late'
"I know, I know, I'm late, wasn't my fault" he rushed out as he adjusted his tie "is everyone in"? He asked and she nodded
"Everyone but you" she mutttered handing him a file and some documents
"All you're going to need for the meeting is in there" she added and he quickly thanked her, took in a deep breath and let it out before opening the double doors and walking inside.
All eyes turned to him the moment he walked in, he counted four people, The CEO he was meeting with, his Secretary, his lawyer and his son.
He rushed to the head of the table and set the things down facing them all
"I'm so sorry for coming late, huge traffic on the way" he lied smoothly before stretching his hands out for the old man sitting by his right.
"Mr Kline, sorry for keeping you waiting" he apologized and the man just smiled before taking his hand in a firm grip
"No worries Nate, I haven't been waiting for too long" he muttered gently with a gentle smile before sitting down back.
Nate followed and soon enough they got down to business.
It wasn't much talk, they'd already finalized it the last time they met, Mr Kline just needed to go over a few things, with his lawyer present.
An hour later and they were done.
The old man got up and stretched his hand out for Nate
"It's always a good pleasure doing business with you Son" he muttered and Nate just smiled taking his hands.
"Thank you Mr Kline" he returned the warm smile
"Oh come on, we've been doing business for over a year now and you still call me Mr Kline, please call me Gerard" he muttered making Nate chuckle and nod his head.
"Okay Gerard" he finished and the old man and his entourage laughed out
"My secretary will be here with the plans in three days, I expect the best as always Nate" he muttered and Nate just smiled
"I never disappoint Gerard" and the old man just winked and chuckled before walking out of the room with the three other people, leaving just Nate and his secretary there.
He let out a deep breath.
"That was a good one" he muttered and she just smiled and nodded
"You're good at what you do" she muttered putting her hands on his shoulder, gently squeezing, almost like she didn't, but Nate knew she did.
He smiled uneasily at the flirtous smile she had on before politely shrugging her hand off his shoulder and getting up and picking up his car keys.
"I'll be in my office, I need to rest, you should take a break too" he muttered before quickly walking out of the conference room.
He trudged slowly towards his office, he took the right turn that'll take him to his office, when he spotted someone that made his blood run cold.
What is he doing here?
He rarely ever comes here?
Did something happen to Su.
He walked towards his father, dreading what he'd say.
The man had already spotted him and was walking towards him already
"Nate" he called from a few feet away, with a bored expression, he sighed out looking at his father.
"Dad" he muttered "what are you doing here"? He asked trying not to sound too forward
"You forgot I own this place"? He asked watching his son and he just shook his head
"I don't mean it like that, I just...." His father cut him off
"I don't care how you mean it, that's not why I'm here, I need to speak to you, now in your office" he grunted out before walking away from his son and heading towards the direction of his office
Nate sighed out before slowly following his father.
He kept wondering why the man had come here, couldn't he just call to say whatever he wanted to say?
He just hopes it doesn't involve Su.
Something hasn't happened to her.
He opened his office door and walked in, his father was already seated on the chair in the office with his back to the door.
Nate walked slowly until he went around to the other side of the table, sitting down and facing his father.
"What can I get you"? He asked already attempting to call his secretary but his father just stopped him raising his hands up
"I'm not here for that, there's a business deal I want you to close for me" he goes straight to the point
"Okay, they'll have to speak with my secretary and she'll schedule a meeting here in my office with them" he rambled on, his father just sighed out stopping him again
"That won't be necessary, I already have a meeting set up for tonight, at Lust club" he muttered, making his son look at him with rapt attention and a bit of confusion, why there?
"Why can't we have the meeting here, it's much better and safer" he started but his father's hard glare and voice stops him
"I've told you countless times not to question me, if I tell you to do something, boy you do it without questions, you know what happens when you start asking question, don't you"? He asks, his voice going dangerously low making his son to swallow and nod his head.
Fear already clouding his eyes
"Good, now you're gonna meet the person there at exactly 9pm tonight, all you have to do is collect a file from them, do not open it, bring it to me first thing tomorrow morning" he muttered watching his son.
Nate sighed out and nodded
"Okay" he whispered already knowing why his father was asking him to go.
It wasn't the usual business he dealt with, this was one of shady things his father did.
"But how do I know who I'm meeting"? He whispers and his father just grunts
"He'll know you, just get there on time, if you screw this up, I don't have to tell you what will happen to you" he warned and Nate just nodded.
He doesn't wanna be a part of it, but he couldn't oppose or say no.
There'd be consequences and he hates those consequences.
"Good" he murmured before getting up, just then there is a knock on the door before it opens up and his secretary walks in, she smiles at his father the moment she gets close to him.
"Mr Miller" she mutters and he barely even acknowledges her as his eyes raked through her body lustfully
"Here are the minutes to the meeting" she whispers dropping them on his desk before standing straight and walking out of his office.
His father still has his gaze on her backside, licking his lips.
He looks back at his son
"How long is it gonna take you to finally fuck her" he grunts out
"She's my employee dad, I don't think it's ethical" he muttered looking away fr his father, he just scoffs
"You've always been a soft coward, if you're too much of a pussy to give her what she wants, I'll show her how a man should treat a woman" he spits before walking out of the office, slamming the door.
Nate just lets out a deep breath before slumping on his chair and rubbing his temple, tonight was gonna be a long one