"Oooooh ahhh ohhh oooooh" Tracey was singing terribly in the microphone.

It was karaoke night at the bar, and it just so happened that Tracey was getting border line drunk.

And she was making a fool of herself. It was really weird to see my secretary acting like this let a lone Tracey acting like this.

However, I was just too lazy, and in tuned within my thoughts to even care.

I took a sip of my drink, and then sat it back on the table. I heard a giggle right beside me.

Natalia was smiling at Tracey's horrible attempt to sing. While she was laughing a piece of hair fell from her ear onto her face.

Her milky brown eyes sparkled with happiness, she was so beautiful. There wasn’t a doubt that came to my mind when it came to her and beauty.

I wasn't lying when I said that men are in awe of her. A few times when me and Natalia were together. Men would always stare at her.

Of course, I will give them dirty looks before they even came and try to speak to her.

After she was sobering up from laughing she looked my way. Her mouth dropped into a frown and then she rolled her eyes.

She actually has been doing that a lot tonight. I don't blame her though. I snapped at her in the car.

I was just mad with my parents, and other things were running through my mind.

And I just took it out on her. And it didn't feel right. I could be rude and not have a care in the world for anyone.

But with Natalia it was different. I was beginning to feel something for her. Which led me to the actions of kissing her on the cheek.

That will never happen again. It can't happen again. I'm not the relationship type of guy.

The last one I was in was hell, and that turned me off from taking anything seriously. And besides Natalia will be out of my house in a few months and everything will be back too normal.

I won't feel anything or do anything. It's not like I'm in love with her. It's just a phase, not even a phase.

It's just.... something.

With a few scattered claps around the audience. Tracey came off the stage with Jason trying to hold her up straight, and stop her from falling.

She came straight up to Natalia touching her hair and face.

"Oh, your soooooo beautif-ful Natalia!!" She slurred her words.

"Thank you, Tracey." Natalia said stiffing a giggle.

"You know ever guy would die to have you." Asher, Jason, Ray everyone I tell you, everyone!" She said sticking her hands up in the air in such a dramatic way. Natalia looked down laughing nervously.

"Huh Jason? You'll pick her over me any day." Tracey was pouting her lip, looking a little upset.

"Come on Tracey it's time to go." Jason said pushing her towards the door out the bar.

Natalia and I both stood up knowing it was time to go. We walked and got in my car silently.

I was looking straight ahead driving. But It was so quiet that I took a quick peek at Natalia.

She was looking at the sky breathing in the air. She looked like she was deep in thought. I wonder what was in that pretty head- I mean head of hers.

I turned back around quickly so we wouldn't get in a car accident. We finally arrived at the hotel.

Natalia got out quickly and walked ahead of me. We went in the elevator towards our floor.

Before she stepped out I was going to speak up. But the doors opened, and Jason was in front of us shaking his head.

"Man, that girl is a hand full. It took me an hour just to get her into bed." Jason said disapprovingly.

"Well better you then me." Natalia spoke up to him smiling.

He laughed at the comment, but narrowed his eyes at her in a teasing way.

My blood boiled at this interaction. She shouldn't be smiling or laughing at him or anyone of the sort.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. Jason looked up at me, while Natalia gave me a death glare.

"Well, I'm very tired Goodnight Jason." Natalia said, but she was still looking at me though.

"Goodnight?" Jason asked confused not knowing if she was talking to him or not because she was still sending me a death glare.

She finally rolled her eyes, and went inside her bedroom. I watched the door for a minute but then turned back to Jason.

"Man, what did you do?" Jason asked me.

I didn't answer, I just went into my bedroom shutting the door.

************************************

"Man, that burn." Tracey said smacking her lips.

"Oh, please don't get drunk again. You were a mess and sloppy last night." Jason pleaded across from her.

She widened her eyes in shock, and then it turned to anger.

"Excuse me, who do you think you’re talking too?" Tracey said rolling her head and bucking her eyes.

"Obviously, you. You're the only one taking a shot right now." He said in a duh tone.

She jumped over the table grabbing his ears pinching them. He groaned in pain trying to pry her hands off.

"Guys, stop before you kill each other, and how old are we again?" Natalia broke up the fight by getting Tracey's hands off his ears.

Natalia shook her head and laughed a little. We were at a dining/club place. There was music, drinks, food and people.

I didn't want to go at all. But after Jason convinced me, I decided to go. I also didn’t have that much work to do.

It's not like I had anything to do anyway. I thought my company branch was really behind.

But seeing it run, and holding a few meetings my branch was far ahead then I expected. So there really wasn't much to do.

"I have to use the restroom excuse me". Natalia spoke up.

She scooted her way through Tracey exiting the booth. She looked good tonight.

She was wearing a pink jacket, white shoes, and blue jeans.

Her hair was also down in loose waves.

I was staring at her leave but then I noticed Jason and Tracey leave somewhere together.

Speaking of them they were acting weird on this trip. I got to ask Jason about it later.

I was looking around when I felt a presence. I looked up and saw Natalia sitting across from me.

I decided to make conversation with her. We've been both ignoring each other for a couple days now, and quite honestly, I missed talking to her.

"Hey" I spoke up

She looked up at me but turned her head looking around again.

"Natalia."

"Natalia" I said more firmly.

"Natalia!" I said raising my voice again. At this point she looked annoyed.

"NATALIA!!" I yelled.

"WHAT!" She snapped at me finally.

"I don't like being ignored." I said.

"And I don't like being talked to any kind of way." She said rolling her eyes while getting up.

I grabbed her hand and turned her around so she was facing me. I looked her in eyes, and man was she mad.

I took a deep breath, and said the words I haven't said in a long time.

"I'm sorry."

Her eyes became shocked and her face softened at my words.

"Please just stay, and sit down." I asked politely.

She snatched her hand from my arm, but sat down anyway.

It was silent for a while, until she spoke up.

"You know sorry doesn't cut it."

"Well, that's the best that I can do." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"You know I really don't get you Asher. One day you’re nice to me, and then another you act like I'm a piece of dirt. I thought we were making progress. I thought you at least changed. I thought that we were-" She cut her sentence in the middle catching herself.

"You thought we were what?" I asked challenging.

She cleared her throat but spoke up.

"I thought we were getting along."

I stared at her blankly not saying anything.

"You have to know Asher that I will not tolerate and disrespect from you or no one. I don't deserve that. Even if you think I do-"

"I don't" I interrupted her.

"Then why do you do it?" She asked curious.

"Like I said I'm sorry Natalia. I just say and do things that I don’t mean, and seeing my parents put me in such a bad mood, that I took it out on you.

"Why did they put you in such a bad mood?" She asked me.

"Nothing, important" I said trying to change the subject quickly.

" Well, I'm sorry whatever it is" Natalia spoke up but sighing after.

"I wish I had parents to argue with again." She said speaking up.

I looked at her confused.

"What happened to your parents?"

"They died in a car crash."

"Oh." I said not knowing what to say.

"Yeah" she said nodding her head.

"Who raised you then?" I asked.

"My grandmother" she said quietly.

“She did a good job."

” Yeah?"

"You carry yourself well Natalia, all the way from you being a mother to your job, and even your living situation."

She smiled at the words that were flowing out of my mouth, she looked up at me while biting her lip.

"Oh, aren't you the charmer. Very nice one at that. Actually, you said sorry tonight and gave me a compliment. I was-"

"And here you go again-"

"Ruining it." She said finishing my sentence.

She gave me a teasing smile. I took a sip of my drink giving her a smirk back.

"Do you always use your charm with the ladies?" She asked curiously.

"How else will I get them?"

"Well you got Stacey, and that's a real gem. Got yourself a good relationship right their buddy.” She said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

She had a hint of jealously in her voice but I ignored it. I didn't want to mess up the conversation.

"She's hot." I said shrugging my shoulders.

She smacked her lips and squinted her eyes at me mumbling the word 'typical'

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What do look for in a man?" I could say I was just asking a random question but I was really curious.

"Anything?" She asked

"Anything." I repeated to her sipping my drink.

She ran her hands through her hair and then touched the beer that was in her hand. She was looking down at the table thinking of answer, she was still biting her lip as well.

I realized she did that a lot especially when she was in deep thought.

After a while she finally looked up and spoke.

"Safety. I look for one thing in a guy and that is safety. Safety for myself and Miya." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"That's it?"

"Yup." She said.

"Usually most girls would have a long list of what they are looking for you know?" I said taking a swig of my drink again.

"Well I'm not most girls." She said looking at my lips.

I looked at her in the eyes, "No you're not at all."

"Your strictly one of a kind Natalia." I stood up and kissed her on her forehead letting my lips linger there for a second.

I walked off leaving her in her thoughts. I walked up to the bar asking for another drink.

I admit it, that I had something towards Natalia.

‘That I couldn't shake, and I don’t want to shake. She said all she wanted was safety.

With her or not. I was going to be that one thing that she was looking for.

Her