CHAPTER 7
The following morning Sydney overslept; however, having found Nigel actually lying next to her, she didn't leap out of bed like she normally would; she just led there staring at his handsome face. However, remembering her promise that she'd let him initiate anything sexual, she resisted the strong urge to wake him. Of course, she eventually came to her senses and having given Nigel one last look, rushed off to the bathroom; trying to be as quiet as possible.
Once she'd showered, she crept back to the bedroom, quickly put on some sexy black underwear and sat down to do her makeup.
"Morning beautiful" Nigel said, as he yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey sleepy head….I'm sorry if I woke you….I'm kind of late….just need to throw on some clothes and grab a quick coffee" she said, giving him a sad look.
"I wish you didn't have to work today Syd" Nigel said, putting on his saddest expression and cocking his head to one side "I'll miss you."
"Likewise" she said, as she pulled on her smart black trousers and buttoned up her blouse "it's a beautiful day though Nige….so at least the drive to work will be pleasant."
"I suppose so….oh that blouse looks lovely on you Syd….didn't you buy that from Harrods?" Nigel asked, recalling when he took her to his and Preston's favourite store.
"Yeah….I got this and a pale blue one…oh yes….then you bought a shirt in the same shade of blue and Preston insisted you get a new tie to go with it…gosh he's so particular.…but you looked gorgeous!" she said, suddenly looking at her watch "darn….let me get some coffee…won't be a minute."
Having returned to the bedroom a couple of minutes later, she handed Nigel some coffee and kissed him rather gently "just help yourself to anything you want ….remember….this is your home too…bye Sweetie."
Nigel felt rather strange being all alone; as he couldn't even remember the last time he'd been totally by himself. However, realising then that he'd have plenty of time to organise things, just the way he liked them; he began to unpack his cases.
The first things he unpacked were the rest of his suits, which he hung next to the suit he'd intended to wear the previous night. He felt quite excited seeing them hung next to Sydney's stunning evening dresses, most of which he'd not seen her wear; although he certainly hoped he would one day! Of course, he knew she generally hated formal clothes but, obviously, she had no choice but to wear them on occasions.
However, as he began taking out his smart jackets, trousers and shirts from his cases, it suddenly occurred to him that he'd got very little in the way of casual clothes; although he still had some at his old apartment. Naturally, while he was at home, Preston wanted him to dress like a gentleman, which meant most of the clothes he had now were by top designers; which made him look rather stylish.
Thinking about whether or not to just grab a cab and go to his apartment, he absent-mindedly picked up a shirt that Preston had bought him, which filled his heart with joy. Having only briefly spoken to his brother, the previous night, it had really hit home just how much Preston had done for him. He knew there was nothing he could ever do to repay him for that but, of course, he also knew Preston didn't want him to. The fact was, the only thing that either of them wanted from each other, was love and because Sydney had tricked them into going to Brazil, they now had it!
Smiling to himself he tried to think when he'd actually been this happy before, but he couldn't. Of course, several nice memories came into his head, but there was nothing that compared to how he felt right now! Not only did he have the love of his brother, but Sydney, the most amazing woman in the world, loved him too! He immediately wanted to call her to tell her how happy she'd made him, but he stopped himself, believing she'd think he was being silly!
Right at that moment the telephone rang, causing him to jump a little, as the house had been so quiet "hel….hello" he said, rather shyly.
"Hey Sweetie, are you OK?" Sydney asked, noticing he sounded nervous.
"Oh Syd! Yes I'm fine….I…I was um….just thinking about you."
"Ditto!" she said "I was just wondering if you'd like to come and see me at lunch time….you could use the side entrance to get in if you're worried about bumping into too many people….and you can eat in my office….Karen could join us too if you like."
Nigel thought about it for a couple of seconds and then, as reality struck, a few things occurred to him "Um...c…can we leave it for a couple of days Syd….you know….until I'm a bit more settled?….Although um….I'd um….like to meet Karen….and perhaps Dean Bernson as um…soon as possible….so would you mind asking them over for dinner tonight? I just want to break the ice with them be….before I face everyone else at Trinity."
"Sweetie that's a good idea….if you're sure you're up to it….as you say….it'll get two of the most awkward initial meetings out of the way then."
"Yes it will….I…I'm particularly nervous about how those two will react to me if….if they've read the newspapers since the…um….trial …hopefully…this way we can say things privately….rather than in front of half the college."
"OK Sweetie…but don't you worry, no matter what….there's no way I'd allow you to be exposed to so many people at once….look I'll speak to the Dean in a minute and let you what he says…but Karen's here right now….let me just check with her…..Karen are you free for dinner with me and Nigel tonight? You said something about a date earlier….is that tonight?"
"Oh…no...th….that's tomorrow" Karen lied, her eyes lighting up at the thought of seeing Nigel again "I can come…no problem."
"She's free Sweetie….oh….by the way….do you need anything like toothpaste…shampoo….stuff like that? I can pick it up on the way home if you do" Sydney said, thinking how amazing it was that Nigel was finding ways to take care of his problems.
"Well um, I think I have everything like that…but um….I was considering going to my old apartment to get some clothes" Nigel said, hoping she didn't mind as he'd got a lot of things in the wardrobe already.
"Oh Nige….please don't go there on your own….I'll take you tomorrow night…then you can pack everything into my car….oh yes….by the way….did I tell you the college paid your rent while you've been away?" Sydney asked, trying to recall if she had.
"Yes you did….that's actually one of the reasons I want to see the Dean" Nigel said, realising now that although he'd sometimes worried that his ongoing psychological problems might give then cause to fire him, he was, in fact, very well respected at work and they genuinely didn't want to lose him!
"Trinity are good to their employees….well most of the time" Sydney said, smiling into the phone "Dean Barker was a bit niggled that I wanted to leave early yesterday to meet you!...Of course, he soon came around when I explained that you needed to see a friendly face at the airport….well you did….didn't you?"
"Yes….of course I did….I haven't travelled alone for a long time" Nigel replied "I was so happy to see you there Syd, they've no idea how much that meant to me…but I'm sorry Dean Barker was cross with you!"
"Don't you worry about that…oh…sorry Sweetie I have to go now" Sydney said, wishing, as she put down the phone, that she could go home to be with him!
That evening, having called Nigel earlier to tell him the Dean was free; Sydney managed to get home slightly earlier than normal. Naturally, the minute Nigel heard her car he rushed outside to meet her "God Syd… I missed you so much" he said, pulling her into his arms.
"Ditto Sweetie…oh you look so smart!" she said, noticing he was wearing a beautiful suit and tie "this is for you Nige."
"What's this" he asked, taking hold of a large white envelope which he eyed suspiciously.
"Oh probably just your rent bill" she said, walking through the front door and straight into the kitchen.
Nigel opened it as he walked back inside and to his utter astonishment he found it was a card signed by just about everyone at Trinity! 'Welcome Home Nigel' it said on the front, which totally brought a lump to his throat.
"Oh…oh Syd" he said, staring at the card.
She popped her head around the kitchen door "they all missed you Nige; not as much as I did….but yeah….they missed you!"
Nigel smiled "I'll be able to thank them personally in a day or two….um…thanks for bringing it home for me."
"Hey handsome; you're welcome….so are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me with dinner?" Sydney asked, looking at Nigel's happy face.
"Oh actually, there's um….not much to do…..I've already prepared the chicken and vegetables….it's all in the refrigerator" he replied, standing the card on the table "you just go and pamper yourself; I'll put the meat in the oven."
"Wow, thanks Nige…that's fantastic!" Sydney said, as she happily undid a few buttons on her blouse and headed for the bedroom.
About an hour and a half later there was a loud knock at the door and as Sydney was on the phone, Nigel opened it "hey Nigel, welcome back….my goodness….you look great! I thought you'd look really frail" Dean Bernson said, as he shook Nigel's hand "oh….I was early….so I picked up Karen on the way here."
"Hi Nigel!" Karen said, as she stepped forward and threw her arms around him.
"K…Karen….it's so…so good to see you" Nigel said, as he looked over Karen's shoulder at the Dean, who seemed surprised by Karen's enthusiastic hug. After a few seconds though, Karen let go and pretended not to notice Nigel was blushing.
"Nigel…son….before we go any further….I…I just have to get something off my chest" the Dean said, looking rather embarrassed.
"Um…OK Sir" Nigel replied wondering what on earth he was going to say!
"Look….Nigel….I'm totally horrified by what I've read recently in the papers about you….I knew you'd suffered son….but…but I genuinely didn't realise how much until this last month or so when….when that filthy brute was put on trial!…I'm truly sorry….I….I should have listened more carefully when Sydney was explaining about how traumatised you were...and well….why she wanted to stay with you….had I realised she wasn't exaggerating….I…I'd have cut her more slack…..although….um…in my defence…I was desperately short staffed at those times and….and….I'm not sure if you know….but it was Dean Barker who insisted that Sydney leave you on Malta…not me….I was totally against it by then!"
Nigel stood there for a second, looking quite surprised, as it was obvious, right then, that the Dean was feeling genuinely guilty "Um…I suppose it was a difficult thing to um….understand when you didn't witness what happened in Rio….or um….physically see how I was affected by it…but…but I'm getting better now.…I'm less freaked out by crowds…well as long as I don't feel um….trapped and….and It's a lot easier for me to speak to strangers and interact with my friends now…so don't um….let it worry you anymore….lots of people found it hard to understand how I was feeling….it wasn't just you Sir" Nigel said, hoping the Dean would now relax and enjoy the evening.
Just at that moment Sydney rushed into the hall wearing one of the figure- hugging dresses Nigel had seen in the wardrobe earlier. His heart almost skipped a beat as he gazed at her beautiful body.
"Hi guys…sorry to keep you waiting….why don't you all go through to the living room" she said, waving her arm to show them the way, yet not letting on that she'd overheard what the three of them had said "we can relax for a while before dinner….Nigel had everything prepared before I came home….he's even set the table…and wait till you see how beautiful it looks!"
"Wow Nigel….how domesticated are you!" Karen said, giving him a pretty smile as they wandered into the living room.
"Oh…it's nothing really; it's just that well…..at home my brother, Preston, likes the table properly laid if we have guests….our um parents used to insist on it….I…I just thought it might be nice to do it here" Nigel said, as he waited for the ladies to sit down before he did.
"Is that why you're dressed so beautifully….because Preston still dresses for dinner?" Karen asked, thinking how sexy he looked.
"Um...yes….I suppose so….but um….I haven't got my casual clothes from my old apartment yet…so I've no choice but to wear this kind of thing really" Nigel said, feeling a little awkward.
"Actually Nigel….when you first applied to be Sydney's TA, I realised then that you came from….shall we say…..a rather well off family" the Dean said, looking into the air like he was trying to think of a way to put it "but I'm sorry to say that because of that I actually thought you'd be another spoilt brat, like Claudia!"
Nigel looked a little shocked, but continued to listen to the Dean.
"Of course, that didn't stop me realising too what a great asset you'd be to the college….with your amazing language skills…and, of course, your phenomenal knowledge of ancient history I just had to employ you….but well….now, of course, I realise you're not just a brilliant scholar….you're a totally delightful young man.…and you should be very proud of yourself."
Nigel smiled "Oh…um….thank you Sir….you're um….right about my family…we are qu….quite wealthy….actually that's why I was um…able to go to Oxford University when I was only 15….although if it hadn't been for Preston being so strict, I probably wouldn't have studied so hard….or done so well….my guardians at the University were strict as well….and…a….a bit overprotective" Nigel said, suddenly looking deep in thought.
"Fifteen! Oh my goodness….so that's how you managed to get so many Degrees before you stated at Trinity…I see now" the Dean said, trying to imagine Nigel as a student, although it wasn't that difficult as he still looked so young.
"Well yes…..but…but if I didn't study hard…or if I attempted to slack off….I...I'd soon get punished…I definitely wasn't spoilt" Nigel said, suddenly feeling the need to make that clear.
"No son….I know you weren't….I don't think that now at all….but well….having read what happened to you as a child….I think that's possibly why your guardians….and probably your brother too, were so.…as you put it….overprotective….I think that's also why you're a little shy and became so...shall we say…adventurous, once you arrived in America!" the Dean said, believing Nigel must have had a difficult time being so restricted as a teenager.
"You're um right about that Sir...Preston explained it all to me recently….and…and now I appreciate and understand his motives for the way he raised me….but when I applied for a job at Trinity…I didn't….you see I'd blocked out the worst of what happened to me when I was a little boy….so I thought he'd just been mean…..so um…when I first met Sydney I just wanted to…you know….rebel against how I was brought up!" Nigel said, giving Sydney an embarrassed look, even though, of course, she knew all about that "I'd led such a secluded life at Oxford….so I'd never met anyone like Sydney….and I um….knew Preston would totally disapprove of her...so….well…feeling as I did….I just had to give relic hunting a go...even though I was petrified!"
"Ah yes….I see" the Dean said, looking quite intrigued "actually I remember trying to find you a typical American roommate to share your apartment with you, when you first arrived here….because despite the fact you were helping Sydney find relics all around the world….it was so obvious you weren't exactly…streetwise….I was actually quite surprised when you told me you'd prefer to live alone….most young people not only can't afford to do that….but they prefer having friends around to give them moral support" the Dean said, thinking what a brave young man Nigel had turned out to be.
"I guess I just wanted to show everyone, particularly Preston at that time, that I was an adult...and I could look after myself.….Oh um, that reminds me Sir, thanks for taking care of the rent on my apartment for me; I'll make sure you get reimbursed when I sort out my finances at the bank."
"Oh you take your time son; no rush for that….you just get yourself completely well and then we can talk about it" the Dean said, realising Nigel would have no problem with that.
"Thank you Sir… that's kind of you" Nigel said, as he smiled at the Dean.
However, unbeknown to Nigel, and everyone else, Dean Bernson was actually wondering if Nigel really wanted to return to Trinity; especially as he was so wealthy and seemed to be influenced a lot by his brother, who the Dean believed still probably disapproved of Nigel being there! Of course, he realised too that he'd been wrong about the young man before; so he certainly hoped he was this time too.
After a few more minutes Sydney excused herself to check on dinner and the Dean went to the bathroom. This, of course, gave Karen the perfect opportunity, in a roundabout way, to find out if Nigel still found her attractive!
"So Nigel…how're things going between you and Syd?...The papers made such a big deal of your romance" Karen said, giggling a little, as she loved to embarrass him "I'm joking Nigel….I know your just good friends….even if Syd is calling you Sweetie these days….she knows you need someone younger and more…well…down to earth…..besides….if things had actually changed….she'd have told me."
Nigel felt rather uncomfortable by Karen's comments and immediately remembered then that, not long ago, Karen had said that she believed a romantic relationship between him and Sydney was doomed!
"Oh um you…you're wrong Karen….we…we are romantically involved….we have been for a while now…but um….neither of us really wants to discuss it with anyone else….I'm…sorry" he said, noticing the pretty blond looked surprised and upset.
"Oh….so you're not just convalescing here…you're actually living together as…as a couple?" she said, hoping that, in fact, she'd misunderstood what he said.
"Um….well….both really…but as I said…we don't want to discuss it" Nigel said, hugging a cushion tightly and counting his blessings that this conversation didn't take place at work!
Just at that moment Sydney popped her head around the door "dinners ready you two" she said, noticing Nigel immediately jump up and rush towards her with a slightly flushed and embarrassed expression on his face.
Once they were in the dining room Sydney stood at the head of the table next to the Dean "doesn't it look beautiful? Nigel's so amazing….he's gonna make someone a wonderful husband!" she said, giggling a little and indicating with a wave that everyone should sit down.
Nigel blushed again and gave Sydney a heart-warming smile, while Karen simply sat there, secretly feeling jealous. Of course, now as Karen looked around she realised that Sydney was openly fitting in with Nigel's lifestyle, rather than the other way around, which was something she thought she'd never see!
"As they sat around the table making small talk, Sydney noticed that Karen was no longer being her bubbly self and that she'd given her and Nigel one or two rather unhappy, glances. Of course, she realised then that either Nigel had told her they were in love, or she'd guessed. Naturally though, because she knew how Karen felt about them as a couple, she had no intention of explaining why she'd not been more upfront and open about their relationship; she simply believed that Karen was just going to have to come to terms with it….or be forever unhappy.
Once they'd finished dessert and had some coffee, the Dean noticed how late it was getting and decided he'd better go home. Karen was beginning to look a little tired too, although that was probably because she'd had too much wine!
"Let me help you with your jacket Karen" Nigel said, placing it loosely over her shoulders, which was how she'd arrived.
"Thanks….see you soon Nigel" she said, kissing him gently on the cheek "I….I hope everything works out for you two….I'm….ah….actually thinking of moving on with my life too….the um science department need a new PA….and they've said the job's mine if I want it."
"Karen! I thought you were going to turn it down and stay with me!" Sydney said, ignoring the fact that she'd directed her comments to Nigel.
"Well I guess everything changes at some point Sydney….I think I should probably try something new….Professor Chang's going to be so happy when I tell him I'm joining his team….I'll get the opportunity to travel to Japan with him" Karen said, shrugging her shoulders and looking to see if her bosses were actually upset "you'll find a new PA….I'm sure."
"Well….O..K….but we'll talk tomorrow….I won't try to stop you if that's what you really what to do, Karen…..but I'll give you an excellent reference if you've genuinely thought it through….alright?" Sydney said, suddenly realising she would actually be quite hard to replace!
"Thanks I…I'd appreciate that…so will I get a reference from you too Nigel?" Karen asked, just for effect.
"Of course you will….but you probably won't need it if the job's already yours" Nigel said, opening the door and pulling Sydney close to him "see you soon Karen…night Sir."
Having closed the door behind them Sydney turned to look at Nigel "Sweetie you did brilliantly! I know that was just two people but you handled it amazingly well…I kind of think the Dean was a bit insensitive though…you know…talking about what he'd read in the papers and his opinions about you when you first arrived at Trinity…oh and Karen…well…you know she's always had the hots for you!" Sydney said, noticing Nigel blush.
"The Dean was a bit direct…but he meant well I suppose….at least the ice is broken though before I actually start working again….and…well….as for….um….Karen….she's never going to be the right girl for me Syd…no matter what…but you certainly are!" he said, giving her a huge smile.
Realising he'd gotten through the evening without getting too upset, or running away, Nigel felt relieved and happy. He just knew that everything was going to be alright and that returning to Trinity was going to be a good experience; especially as, having read that lovely card, he knew how much they'd missed him.
Smiling at Sydney he suddenly felt deeply happy and began kissing her quite passionately. He knew what she wanted, and he wanted it too, but he also knew he had to be careful. However, within ten minutes he realised it was now or never and started to lead her to the bedroom!
"Are you sure Sweetie…really sure" Sydney asked, stoking the hair off his face and looking into his eyes.
"Yes Syd…I…I'm sure" he said, pulling her gently towards the bed
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