I looked around but I could see no one. Then came a loud yell and I threw my vase in that direction with force and precision. There was no way I would miss and I didn't! Once more, I heard a loud yell but a more pained one followed by, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! Adrian, Owww!!"

I shut my eyes and sighed.

Vanessa, again!

I flipped on the switch and she was there, behind the kitchen island on which was some lavishly laid food covered with saran wrap. Did she bring that? Oh dear God!

I walked up to Vanessa who was rubbing her shoulder which was apparently hit by my vase. She looked up at me and furiously said, "You know what you should get me for Christmas? A BLOODY SHIELD! Because if this is how being around you is going to be like, I don't think that I will survive to see my promotion."

"Not my fault! You were the one who tried to jump scare me.", I argued.

"And not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine this response."

"True! It was a little over the top but..."

"A little? Seriously? And I was feeling bad that you got kicked out of your house. I even brought you your favourite food."

I looked at the food and then back at her, " Is that from Le Bernardin ?"

"Yes! Your favourite restaurant, according to Charlotte. I thought it would cheer you up.", she narrowed her eyes and frowned with her hand still clutching onto her shoulder.

"Thank you.", I frowned at her sudden kindness as she rolled her eyes and picked up the vase. She turned it around and weighed it in her hand said, "Had I not ducked on time, I might have died."

"Oh please! I...", I chuckled, finding humour in her over exaggeration but then stopped when she shot me a death glare.

"Just eat already.", she said as she slid me a plate. I pulled up two chairs and sat on one. Seeing the other chair, she said, "Oh! I am leaving."

"So, you just drove all this way to deliver food?"

"Umm...I don't eat sea food.", she fiddled uncomfortably with her hair.

"Is that the only reason why you don't want to stay?"

Her eyes widened in shock when she realised how transparent her thoughts were. She was obviously uneasy staying alone with me under the same roof, this late. I had a reputation afterall.

"Don't answer that. It is alright.", I stated.

She shook her head and saying, "Never mind!", sat down beside me. She turned towards me and as cheerfully as ever, asked, "So? What's up?"

"Don't you know?", I said, raising an eyebrow.

"I do. Charlotte told me everything. And I am so sorry."

"Sorry? For what? I have my own house...houses actually. And except for dad, my family doesn't have a problem with my...ummm...girlfriends. So, I am damn sure that I don't need your pity.", I clarified, absolutely disgusted by the sympathetic look in her eyes. Or was it apologetic?

She opened her mouth to say something but then held back and just nodded, her eyes fixed on the granite slab.

"What?", I asked, more softly this time.

"Nothing. Just...ummm....how are you finding the food?"

"It is good.", I said, eating a prawn off my fork.

"Hmm.", she nodded and then sat uncharecteristically quiet till I finished my dinner. Was I too harsh? Should I say something? Should I say sorry? No, I was too stubborn to ever directly do that.

I picked up my now empty plate and dumped it in the sink, on the other side of the kitchen island and then looked at hers, still untouched. "You are not going to eat?", I asked.

"Told you, never been a fan of sea food.", Vanessa replied, pushing away her plate and still not looking up from the slab.

"How about dessert?"

"I didn't bring it."

"Did I ever tell you, I could cook?", I asked, knowing that this would definitely peak her interest.

She looked up and deadpanned, "You can? Well, congratulations. You turned out to be less of a sexist pig than I thought you would be.".

Wow!

"Fine. I shouldn't have been so rude. Okay! Is that what you wanted to hear?", I finally lost patience.

"Almost...umm...but anyways, I didn't say sorry because I was pitying you. I said it to apologize."

I frowned in confusion and she continued, "Remember, I told you that just because your dad asks you to leave, you should not actually do that or something like that?"

I nodded my head, remembering that conversation when she had come to my office. It was the first time that I had shared my problem with anyone other than Bryan.

"Yeah, so I am sorry for that.", she said, pouting. I could tell by looking at her that something was wrong so I asked,"But that isn't what is bothering you, is it?"

"How did you...", she widened her eyes but I interrupted her, saying, "I am observant."

She sighed, "Fine.", and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she continued, " Three years ago, my dad asked me to get out and I left, not just his house but also New York. I went to London and later I regretted my decision. I wondered what if I hadn't left, would things be different? And that is why I suggested you to stay. But it didn't work out either. And that is why I wanted to say sorry. "

I sat on the chair next to her and told her, "Hey! You don't need to apologise for that. You just gave a suggestion and I took it. There is always a fifty percent chance that the given suggestion may not work out. You learnt that in biz school, didn't you?"

She nodded and I asked her, "Why did you get kicked out?"

"That is a way too long and depressing story. A story for some other time perhaps. But wow! What has gotten into you? You are behaving awfully nice to me. I think I should bring you food more often."

I smiled,"Now, dessert?"

"Let me see what does your freezer have.", she said and walked over to it, scavenging for some food. She picked up a brick of Vanilla ice cream which was all that was there and then placed it in front of me.

"Seriously, how do you own Lamborghinis but not food?"

"I fired my maid."

"That explains a lot.", she rolled her eyes and then opened the cabinets to look for something more.

"Your efforts are futile. We can go buy something?", I suggested.

"Now? Oh no! Charlotte made me try on some thirty dresses for the bussiness meet. And I picked up my Audi from my under-renovation house which stinks so badly of paint that I could die, so I am too tired for any kind of shopping."

"Ok then, what do you want to eat?"

"How about this ice cream and...ummm...please tell me you have a wine cellar.", she looked at me hopefully.

"Follow me.", I said and she clasped her hands, pretending to thank god dramatically.

We went down to the the cellar and she picked out a bottle of red wine and with that, the ice cream brick, two spoons and wine glasses we settled down in front of my TV to watch a movie on Netflix.

It was snowing heavily outside but my central heater didn't let us feel it. Surprisingly, a banter didn't ensue as we began to choose a movie and she let me pick whatever I wanted.

After two movies and two bottles of wine, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, the buzz was too strong. I felt a sudden weight shift beside me. I looked sideways to partially face Vanessa who was soundly sleeping on my shoulder.

I switched off the television with the remote and slowly cupped her face, my fingers supporting the back of her head and laid her down on the sofa. I covered her with a blanket and placed a cushion under her head.

Then, I sat next to her at the edge of the sofa just observing the features of her face. If she woke up right now, she would surely call me a creep but I was too drunk to get a hold on myself.

It always surprised me how every time I looked at her, she just seemed to be more beautiful than the last time irrespective of whether she was in an elegant dress custom designed by Charlotte or in her hideous Mickey Mouse pyjamas.

She looked so calm and quiet, even almost innocent and stress-free, not worried about Nate or her dad, the company or anything less.

I can't even believe a few days ago we were fighting like cats and dogs, well we still are but we have certainly come a long way from there. She has grown on me considerably and faster than anyone else ever has except maybe Bryan. We became best friends the first day we had met in middle school.

I still can't understand what name to give to this relationship. Sometimes we are friends, sometimes we are more than that and sometimes we are just strangers to each other.