ina had helped her grandmother out of the hospital. She was now resting at home with the nurse taking care of her. Nina was thankful that Tristan kept his promise of having her Grandmother get excellent round-the-clock care.

After last night, Nina hadn't really talked to Tristan. After he had told her they were only employer and employee, it caused a pain in her chest. She didn't understand why that pain was there and why she had become so upset.

Whenever they talked, it was only basic one-word answers and sentences.

Nina knocked on Tristan's door to tell him they didn't need to get married. She would find someone else to fulfill her Grandmother's dream before she passed away.

Nadia was taking a nap because she had a cold and had been vomiting at school. Tristan decided to work from home so that way he could check in on Nadia even though Nina was there.

Silence was on the other end of the door after the first knock. Nina sighed and knocked on the door again, making sure that her presence was known.

The door finally opened and Nina's stomach did a backflip motion at the sight of Tristan. He was wearing blue jeans and a white button-down dress shirt. The top three buttons were undone exposing his hardened chest. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled all the way up towards his elbows, showing off his muscled forearms.

"Are you busy?" she asked.

"I'm always busy," he said. He walked away from the door back over to his desk.

Nina shut the door and followed him.

"Have a seat," he said, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed.

"I'm fine standing."

Nina hated how her heart rate always picked up its pace whenever she was near him.

"What do you want, Nina?"

You. All of you.

Nina cleared her throat. "You don't have to marry me. I can find someone else."

Tristan's eyebrows knitted together.

"I made a promise to marry you. I'll keep my promise."

Nina scoffed. "You would be the last person I want to marry. I can find someone else."

Tristan stared at her deeply. She noticed the ticking of his right jaw as he continued to stare at her. He leaned away from the desk and stalk towards her.

Tristan was so close she could feel his body heat radiate off of him. He smelled of soap and the citrus cologne that made her want to bury her head in the crook of his neck to savor his manly scent.

He gently lifted her chin. Nina wanted to back away but it was like her feet were encased in cement. The more she tried to move, she became stuck.

"You're mad at me," he said, more of a statement than a question.

Nina glanced away. "I would have to care about you to be mad at anything you do."

A flash of hurt was seen in his eyes before they hardened. He stepped back so that he was leaning against the desk again.

Nina wanted to be closer to him so she found herself inching towards him.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Are you?" he asked, staring down at her.

"I'm angry at what you said."

"I say a lot of things."

Nina let out a puff of air.

"You said I was only your employee," she said, looking down at his chest.

Only the sound of the TV was heard in the background.

"That is what you are. We should keep it that way."

The pain in Nina's chest was back.

Nina stumbled back.

"Right. You're right," she said, nibbling at her bottom lip.

Enough was enough. Nina was falling down the rabbit hole of feelings that Tristan didn't have for her. He was right. She needed to focus on her job and taking care of her Grandmother.

Nina couldn't help but wonder if he actually felt anything for her. She needed to hear it from him so that she could really focus on her other priorities.

"So, you don't like me?" she asked, above a whisper.

There was a long pause.

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Because I...I like you more than just an employer."

Tristan turned away and went to sit down in his chair behind the desk. He continued to stare down at the desk.

"This was a bad idea," he said, shaking his head.

Nina frowned at him. "What was?"

"Hiring you."

"What are you saying?" Nina asked, her voice trembling.

Tristan now had his face buried in his hands. Nina rushed over to him to make sure he was okay. She placed her hand on his shoulder and she felt him instantly relax.

"Don't you understand, Nina? I'm no good for you."

"Don't say that. You've done so much for me. If anything I don't deserve you," she said, rubbing circles on his back.

He sighed and glanced her way.

"I can't be with you, Nina. Sorry."

Nina looked away. "Okay."

Nina moved away from him, trying her best to hold back her tears. Nina closed his door and ran towards her room.

Nina got under the covers of her bed and let the tears fall. She felt dumb for even thing that he cared for her the same way she did for him.

He told her as plain as day that he didn't want to be with her. As much as it hurt she had to respect his decision. She couldn't up and quit because she needed the money to help take care of her and her grandmother.

Nina would have to bury her feelings for him and continue to be his employer and that's it. Why did she have to end up liking him? Things would be so much easier if she didn't find him handsome or nice or hardworking and so damn caring.

Nina sighed and hit her pillow. She had to take her frustrations out on something.

Nina curled up under the covers even more contemplating how she was going to continue to pretend that she was okay whenever he was around.

***

Hey,guys. What do you think of their conversation? Let me know what you think in the comment section below. If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to comment, vote, and share :).