Working Girls

Chapter Fourteen

A quiet beeping alarm suddenly went off and Ella let out a whine before she blindly reached out a hand to hit the snooze button. Today was her late appointment day. She didn't have to open up the shop until ten. She heard a deep chuckle from what she thought was her pillow and that's when she remembered. She slowly opened her eyes and blushed when she realized she was snuggled against Nate's chest. And not only was she snuggled against Nate's chest but she also wasn't clothed. At all.

She looked up to see Nate smiling warmly at her.

"Good morning," He said as he leaned down and kissed her lips softly.

"Good morning," Ella said in a sleepy voice as they pulled apart. "What time is it?"

"Six A.M."

Ella groaned. "Why?"

Nate laughed and held her tighter against him. "Because that's what happens after sunrise, Ella. Time passes and the morning comes."

She grinned and laughed softly. "Was that your alarm, smarty pants?"

"My cell phone," Nate told her. "I'm surprised you heard it. It's in my pants pocket." Nate smirked and kissed her forehead. "Underneath the bed."

Ella giggled and blushed again. "So, do you have to be somewhere?"

He nodded. "Unfortunately, I have to be in the studio later this morning. Which also means I need to go home and change."

Ella whined and tightened her arms around him. "Do you have to?"

"If I show up to work in my clothes from yesterday I will never hear the end of it, Ells," Nate told her. "So, yes, unfortunately I have to."

Ella whined again as Nate untangled himself from her and got out of bed. "Well now I'm cold."

Nate smirked at her and winked as he picked up his boxers and put them back on. "Then put on some clothes. That might warm you up."

She glared playfully at him. "You think you're so smart, don't you?"

"Three points shy of a genius. Thank you very much," Nate said with a chuckle as he searched for his pants under the bed.

Ella wrapped her bed sheet around her and stood up. She found his pants under the foot of the bed and tossed them to him with a smirk. "A genius who can't find his pants even when they're in plain sight."

"You don't have to get up just because I'm up," Nate told her as he finished putting on his pants. "When's your first appointment?"

"Eleven," Ella told him. "I always open the shop by at least 10 though."

"So," Nate said as he faced her and pulled her to him. "You have nearly four hours to get some more sleep." He wrapped his arms around her and then placed a quick gentle kiss on her neck. He winked at her before he continued. "After last night, I think you might need it."

Ella blushed and chuckled. "Thank you for the concern, Maestro. But I'll be fine. It's hard for me to go back to sleep once I'm actually up."

Nate quirked a brow at her and nodded. "That's something I'll have to remember for future reference then."

Ella smiled brightly. "Future reference. I like the sound of that."

"Me too," Nate said with a nod and a contented sigh as he leaned his forehead against hers. Nate almost leaned in to kiss her but Ella put a hand on his chest to stop him.

"If I don't go change now you probably won't make it home in time to get ready for work," Ella told him with a grin.

"What? The sheet dress doesn't work for you?" Nate asked with a smirk. "I like it. And I'm sure if your friend E designed something similar women everywhere would snatch them up."

Ella gulped and nearly panicked at the mention of E, but quickly relaxed when she realized Nate had no idea that she was actually E. She smiled at him and shook her head. "As comfy as this sheet is, I don't think I should go out in public in it. I'd rather just save this particular trend for you if you don't mind."

"I'm perfectly okay with that," Nate said with a smile.

She kissed him quickly before she turned and opened her closet. He watched her as she searched for an outfit that appealed to her. She turned to face him with two options. One dress in each hand. "Which one do you like?"

Nate scooped his t-shirt up off of the ground and quickly put it on before he turned to look at the two dresses. He smiled at her in amusement before he spoke. "I, um, I'm not sure I'm the right person to help you with this decision."

She smiled warmly at him. "I'm not asking which one is more fashionable, Nate. I'm asking which one you like more than the other. I'm certain you can handle that."

He stared between the two dresses in confusion for a moment before he gave her another pleading look. "I, um, I don't know."

"Okay," Ella said with a laugh. "Let me phrase it this way. Which one would you rather see me in?"

That definitely made it easier. He grinned and motioned to the red floral dress. The neck scooped a little lower and compared to the cotton candy blue of the other dress red just seemed…sexier. "The red one."

Ella smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

He finished getting dressed and made some coffee while Ella changed. And when he exited the kitchen he found her pulling her hair into a pony tail and slipping on her red pumps. He gulped and looked her up and down. He was right. The red dress was sexier.

She noticed him staring and smirked as she twirled in front of him. "What do you think?"

"I think I should go now before anything else happens," Nate said honestly. "You're going to wear that to work?"

Ella chuckled. "Sure. It's not inappropriate or anything, is it?"

"No, but…"

"But what?" Ella asked as she took several steps closer.

"But make sure to let all the guys who ask you out down easy. Okay? Because I'm positive you'll get a lot of offers in that dress. You, um, might want to think about wearing a sweater," Nate said as he cleared his throat.

Ella chuckled. "Do you know how many straight guys I encounter in one day at work, Nate? Maybe two at best. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"But what if I did have something to worry about…" Nate asked. "Would I have to?"

Ella smiled warmly at him. "No. Not at all. And what about me? If they were, say, another girl you were working with would I have to worry?"

Nate wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. "Definitely not."

"No?" Ella asked. "So what does that mean then? Are we…not seeing other people?"

"Do you want to see other people?" Nate asked worriedly.

"No!" Ella said quickly before she blushed and gulped. "I mean…no."

Nate laughed and nodded. "Good, I don't either."

"Then that would mean that we're…" Ella's sentence trailed off as she thought of a word to complete it.

"Exclusive, is the word you're looking for, I believe," Nate said with a smirk.

"Yes!" Ella said with a nod. "Are we?"

Nate smiled and dipped his head toward hers. "Definitely."

Ella beamed at him as he closed the distance between them and covered her lips with his. Her hands went to either side of his face as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly and slowly. They continued to kiss as her hands slid from his face into his curls. She wrapped her fingers around a few of them and Nate couldn't help but growl softly into her mouth and deepen the kiss. He backed her toward the nearest wall and pressed her against it. His hands gravitated toward the buttons on the front of her dress and slowly began to undo them one by one. She responded by removing her hands from his hair and curiously letting them wander over his abdomen as she slowly untucked his button up shirt.

She instinctively cooperated as Nate pushed the top of the dress down. She quickly slipped her arms out of the dress and then unbuttoned his shirt. Nate slipped it off and threw it aside and Ella's hands immediately grasped the bottom hem of his t-shirt and yanked it upward. Nate chuckled at her as it caught on his chin and they were forced to pull apart to get it the rest of the way off. He immediately returned to kissing her and this time his kisses turned intrusive and aggressive. His hands flattened against her back and his fingers absently caressed the small of her back and Ella's breathing quickened as they traced a light trail up her back and finally landed on her bra clasp. She'd pulled back from Nate's kisses very slightly and let out a loud moan.

"Oh, God," Ella said with a gulp. "I thought you had to go home and change?"

"I think I'm allowed to be late just this once," Nate said in a hungry tone as he pressed his lips against her ear. "Don't you?"

She laughed when his lips suddenly assaulted her neck and nodded. "Yes. Oh God, yes."

She felt his fingers squeeze the clasp and then felt the release of the elastic before she sighed contentedly and pulled his face back to hers. This was the most fun she'd had in a very long time.

It was nearly eight in the morning by the time Nate was finally able to pull himself away from Ella and walk out the door. She walked down the stairs with him and pulled him to her for one last lingering kiss before they both headed their separate ways. Nate headed to his car so he could go home and get ready and Ella made her way down the street to Connie's Café for a quick breakfast. She turned and she reached the door and watched Nate pull away with a large dreamy smile. Her phone beeped as she turned and opened the door and she eagerly checked it.

"Don't make plans with anyone else for dinner. I'm picking you up at seven."

Ella blushed and smiled brightly as she responded.

"I'll be ready and waiting, Maestro."

She sighed happily and loudly as she pushed open the door to the Café and Connie spotted her with a grin.

"Why, Ella, I think you're glowing," Connie said with a smirk.

Ella blushed even more and nodded. "I think I just might be."

"So, what can I get you?" Connie asked.

"Um, the breakfast sampler if you don't mind," Ella said as she pulled her wallet out of her purse. "I'm starving."

"Yeah, I bet so," a voice said from the corner of the café. "If that was indeed Nate I just saw leaving. You probably worked up a pretty big appetite."

Ella slowly turned and nearly died of embarrassment when she spotted Caitlyn but she was determined that no one and nothing was going to harsh her afterglow. Last night and this morning had been far too perfect for that to happen. "Good morning, Caitlyn," Ella said brightly. "How are you this beautiful morning?"

Caitlyn quirked a brow at her and chuckled. "Clearly not as good as you. You're practically radioactive at the moment."

Ella cleared her throat and tried desperately not to smile, but she just couldn't resist. "I know. Isn't it wonderful?"

Connie grinned at the both of them. "Well, since you're both here you might as well eat together. Your food will be out in just a moment."

"Oh, no," Ella said quickly. "That's okay—"

"Yeah, Mrs. Torres, it's fine. Really—"

"No," Connie said sternly. "Ella, sit. You two need to talk. You should be friends – and don't argue with me. I'm always right."

And with that Connie pointed to the empty chair at Caitlyn's table and then turned and left.

"If I don't sit there she won't feed me," Ella told Caitlyn apologetically.

"Or me," Caitlyn agreed before she motioned to the chair. "Please, join me for breakfast. So that Connie will actually let me eat it."

Ella sat down and hung her purse on the back of her chair. Ella took in Caitlyn's skinny jeans, graphic t-shirt, blazer, and converses and realized for the first time just how different they were. "So, um, what are you up to today?"

"Day off," Caitlyn told her. "I've got to go shopping."

Ella smiled brightly. "I love shopping."

Caitlyn chuckled and spoke up sarcastically. "I never would have guessed."

"What are you going shopping for?" Ella asked.

"A bathing suit," Caitlyn mumbled. "I hate shopping for bathing suits."

Caitlyn's phone vibrated against the table and her eyes widened when she read the message that she'd received.

"Hey, Caity, I was thinking I'd cash in on the bet tonight. Are you in?"

"And apparently I have to find one in the next several hours," Caitlyn said with a pathetic groan. "That's not enough time to be as picky as I am about my swimsuits. This is impossible."

Ella's eyes twinkled and she grinned. "Nothing is impossible. I think I have an idea. Why don't you come with me to the shop after we finish breakfast?"

Her brow furrowed. "Why? You don't sell swimwear."

"No, but I do have my connections. I can have one stop shopping delivered to you, Caitlyn, my dear," Ella said with a smile. "Let me guess, this has something to do with Jason?"

"This is me we're talking about," Caitlyn said with a sigh as she typed out a response to Jason's text. "It's always about Jason."

"I'm in. What time?"

Jason grinned brightly and sent back a message about what time he would pick her up. He was probably far too excited about a potential evening with his friend Caitlyn. He was currently waiting outside Brown's office for some sort of mystery meeting. It was Caitlyn's day off and he was definitely feeling the absence of her presence and that's why he felt like he needed to see her tonight. He missed her.

Brown's office door opened and his uncle motioned him inside. "Come on in, Jason. I want your opinion on something."

Jason nodded and followed his uncle inside. His brow furrowed when he saw Axel sitting in front of Brown's desk. Brown closed the door behind them and motioned for Jason to take the other chair.

"What's going on?" Jason asked warily.

Brown chuckled. "Relax, Jason. Nothing tragic. We just want to know what you think about something."

"What's he doing here?" Jason asked as he eyed Axel.

"He just told me he was very impressed with the job Caitlyn did on Luke Williams' latest track," Brown said with a smirk. Jason's loyalty to him over Axel would always feel good.

Jason beamed at them both. "Yeah? Really?"

"It's a very innovative sound, and I think she's made a mediocre song single-worthy," Axel said honestly. "I was hoping Brown would let me hire her full time."

Jason blinked at him. "What?" He was trying to steal Caitlyn from them.

"I want to see what else she can do," Axel said. "I've come to ask if Brown will let me have her."

"Ask?" Jason said. "Since when do you ask?"

"Since its Caitlyn," Axel told him. "I've worked with her enough to know that she's fiercely loyal. She won't work for me unless she knows she has Brown's blessing."

Jason gave his uncle a frantic look. "You're not going to give it, are you?"

"That's what I want your opinion on. You know Caitlyn the best," Brown said with a warm smile. "What would she want?"

"I think she'd rather produce for your artists, Uncle Brown," Jason said honestly. "She likes working for you."

Brown nodded. "That's what I wanted to know." He turned and smiled victoriously at Axel. "While I appreciate your attempt to be polite, Axel, I'm going to have to say no. You do not have my blessing to hire or make an offer to Caitlyn."

Axel glared at Brown and huffed. "Fine, have it your way. But you're going to waste that girl's talent."

And with that Axel stormed out of Brown's office and left Jason and Brown to roll their eyes and grin in amusement.

"Well, that was oddly satisfying," Brown said with a smirk.

"Can I go now?" Jason asked.

"Actually, I'd like to talk about Caitlyn a little bit more," Brown said honestly. "What do you think I should do?"

"Well, last time we talked about it she didn't seem so sure she was enjoying it," Jason told him. "So maybe you could let her try it for a while? That way she can see how she feels about it."

Brown nodded and smiled. "Yes, I like that. A probationary period. Thank you, Jason."

"Do you, um, do you mind if I tell her?" Jason asked with a grin. "I'm seeing her tonight and I'd really like to give her the good news."

Brown smiled fondly at his nephew and nodded. "I think that would be alright, mate. She probably should hear it from you."

"Thanks, Uncle Brown!" Jason said brightly. "Who are you going to have her produce for first?"

Brown glanced down at his desk calendar and glared thoughtfully. "Well, it looks like Lola Scott has a few tracks that need to be recorded and I think Caitlyn would be a good fit for her."

"You've probably just made Caitlyn's lifetime, you know," Jason said as he pulled out his phone and texted Caitlyn again. After this he just knew tonight was going to be amazing.

"So, I've got some pretty big news to share with you tonight. You're probably going to love me and Brown forever after I tell you."

Caitlyn's brow furrowed as she stared at the text. "What the hell does that mean? I'm not good with surprises, Jason. You know this."

"Surprises?" Ella asked brightly. "I love surprises."

Caitlyn grinned at her. "Of course you do. You realize that we're almost complete opposites, right?"

"Yes, that's one of the first things I realized about the two of us," Ella said with a smile as she took the final bite of her pancakes. "But that could be a good thing, I guess."

"How so?" Caitlyn asked.

"Well, my mother would have said something about how we could help each other grow as people or something," Ella said with a fond smile. "She was always throwing out bits of wisdom like that."

Caitlyn nodded and picked up a slice of bacon. "She sounds very smart. I was lucky my mother had the time to tell me what the hell was going on with me when I started my period. Granted she had to do so via postcard but at least she found the time."

"Sounds like my dad," Ella said with an understanding sigh.

"My dad was totally there for me," Caitlyn said with a soft smile. "I'm a daddy's girl all the way."

"Must be nice," Ella said with a sad smile.

"It is," Caitlyn told her. "But I bet being close to your mother is nice too."

"It…was," Ella said as she took a sip of her tea. "She's, um, no longer with us."

Caitlyn's eyes widened and she winced. "Oh! I—I'm sorry. I should have caught on to the past tense earlier. I…I didn't mean to be insensitive."

But that seemed to always be the case when it came to friendships with girls, Caitlyn thought. She was lucky that Dana was so understanding or else she wouldn't have any female friends.

"It's okay, really," Ella assured her. "It was a while ago. I didn't take that as insensitive. I promise."

"So," Caitlyn said as she cleared her throat. "Your family is—"

"Pretty much non-existent," Ella said plainly. "But I'm used to it. You don't need to feel bad for me."

"I don't feel bad for you," Caitlyn said honestly. "I…am a little sad, though. I can't imagine not having any family to spend time with or visit."

Ella bit her bottom lip and shrugged. "I've spent the holidays the last few years with Connie and Mitchie. They're pretty close to family to me now."

"Yeah, but you've got to miss it," Caitlyn said with a furrowed brow. "Right?"

Ella nodded. "Of course I do. But I know it's not gone forever. Eventually I'll have a family of my own and that warm familiar feeling will be back."

"But how do you know that?" Caitlyn asked.

Ella smiled softly. "I don't know really. I just…have faith."

"That's easier said than done," Caitlyn said with a sigh as she sipped her coffee.

"You just need someone to have faith in, Caitlyn. Once you find that you'll be all set," Ella said with a kind smile.

"Who do you have faith in?" Caitlyn asked curiously.

"My mother," Ella admitted. "Her life wasn't perfect but she still made a family for herself. She had love and success in her own way. If it worked out for her then it can work out for me."

Caitlyn bit her bottom lip thoughtfully. "I'm not sure I understand."

Ella shrugged and offered Caitlyn her grits. "You will. Eventually."

Caitlyn took the small bowl from her and piled butter in it. "I wish I could be as sure as you seem to be."

Ella gathered her plates on her tray and then smiled encouragingly at her new friend. "Maybe that's why you have me."

"Why's that?" Caitlyn asked as she finished off her grits.

"So I can be sure enough for the both of us," Ella said with a wink. She left Caitlyn at the table and ordered another hot tea from Connie.

That was an interesting idea. Maybe being friends with someone so different would be good for her. Ella was the optimist to Caitlyn's pessimist. She thought life had a plan and that everyone had a destiny while Caitlyn thought life was something you worked at and stressed over. She decided she was going to give Ella a real chance to be her friend. If Ella could get over the way they met then Caitlyn was willing to bet she was worth friendship.

"So," Ella said as she came back to the table. "Are you ready to shop Ella style?"

"What does that mean?" Caitlyn asked fearfully.

"That means the stores bring the merchandise to you," Ella said with a smirk. "You'll see what I mean. I'm gonna go make some phone calls but meet me in front of the shop when you're done, okay?"

Caitlyn nodded. "Okay." She paused as Ella started to walk away and then spoke up as the door opened. "Hey, Ella?"

"Yeah?" Ella asked with a smile.

"Thanks," Caitlyn told her. "I mean it. Thank you for everything."

Ella smiled softly and nodded. "Any friend of Nate's is a friend of mine. It's my pleasure."