Chapter 13- Invitation to the dinner party

      Katrina saw him bend his head to kiss her. At first she was too surprised to do anything. His lips was almost on hers when she regained her senses. She pushed him away.

 Eric didn't know when he drew Katrina back. Their faces almost met, she was looking pretty and her lips were too tempting. Without thinking, he bent his head to kiss her and wasn't expecting the push.

Okayy, first time a woman was rejecting his kiss!

He got pissed and threw his hair back in anger, holding his forehead to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't know what I was doing, if not I wouldn't have tried to kiss someone like you. You're clearly not my type " He said angrily.

"Huh? " Katrina asked. She was surprised by his outburst.

"I think you over stepped boundaries. You're coming close to me. From now on, I'm going back to the way things were before. You will talk to me formally from now on and a new rule is added." Eric added.

"A new rule? " Katrina repeated.

"Yes, you won't talk to me unless it's very important. Also, avoid coming here when I'm around. " Eric instructed.

"Okay Sir " Katrina replied bluntly.

"Good" Eric said and walked away.

  Katrina was still very much surprised at his outburst.

Wow, what was that??

Why the outburst??

She wasn't expecting him to react that way. She almost had him, should she have just kissed him??

Katrina was glad she didn't alllow him kiss her. But then the sudden realization came to her that they can't be close anymore.

She kept on wondering how things changed quickly. They were laughing and playing just now and then this??

She sighed, and walked back to her room. Sitting on her bed, she brought out her phone and dialed Laura's number. She really needs to talk to her. Laura answered the call.

"Hello girl" Laura said at the other end.

" Hi darling."Katrina replied.

" How are you?" Laura asked.

" I'm fine and you?"

" I'm fine too. You've forgotten about your bestie."Laura teased.

" I can never forget you. I'm sorry for not calling all these while."Katrina apologized.

" It's fine, I'm also guilty, I didn't call too. It's just that I have been so busy lately doing per time jobs and all. Your sister is always asking about you, she wants to know where you are right now, why you haven't called. She's on my neck, she believes I know where you are. What should I do??" Laura asked. Katrina sensed a tone of frustration in her voice.

" Don't tell her please, she's going to ruin everything. I don't want to call her because I don't want to lie to her, just ignore her."Katrina pleaded.

"Okay. So how's it going??.. Have you gotten him now?" Laura asked.

" Well, about that... He tried to kiss me not quite long."

"Really, what did you do?.. Did you allow him kiss you?" Laura asked almost screaming.

"No I didn't, I pushed him. He got angry. This past weeks, we were close but after I pushed him today, he said he wants us to go back to being just Employer and employee, he asked me not to talk to him unless it's very important."Katrina said.

" Wow, what are you going to do now??.. You should have kissed him, is just a kiss right?" 

" No, he loves having things his own way. I won't let him kiss me just like that. I have my own plans. I'm going to get him, don't worry." Katrina said with a determined voice.

" Okay if you say so, I trust you." Laura said laughing.

They kept on talking about other things. Katrina heard someone say something at the other end, then Laura told her she would call back and disconnected the call.

  Sighing, Katrina laid back on her bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking of her sister. She didn't know when she slept off.

She woke up in time to prepare dinner. After she was through, she served Eric his meal and ate hers in the kitchen. Eric didn't ask her to eat with him. He was still mad at her. Katrina washed the dishes, then went up to take her bathe. After that, she retired to bed.

***

The following week was hell for Katrina. Eric literally ignored her and then he bosses her around at any little chance he gets.

Katrina started avoiding him too. She made sure to stay up in her room after serving him breakfast and wait till he's gone before coming down to do her other chores.

  Eric sat on his chair at the office thinking about Katrina. He missed her so much but he couldn't bring himself to go back on his words.

He missed seeing her smile or laugh. These days, he gets easily irritated at the slightest thing. His workers were starting to avoid him and he hated the way Katrina was affecting me!

His phone rang and he picked it up to check the caller. It was his mom.

"Hello mom " he said.

"My darling. How are you? " she asked.

"Fine mom. You?? "

"I'm fine too. How's Katrina? " she asked.

"She's fine" he replied.

"Son, remember that my friend that travelled to England?? " His mom asked.

"Yes, I remember. Is something wrong?? " He asked back nonchalantly.

"She's back. She's having a dinner party in one of our event halls. She wants you to be there, she wants to see you. You know I've been bragging about you to her. I think she wants to see you so she can match you up with her daughter "his mom said.

"Well, I don't want to go" Eric replied. He hated this match making stuff.

"Come on baby. I want you to be there. I want her to see my baby boy. You're my pride you know?.. I'm also going to be there " she replied in a very sweet tone. 

"Mom" Eric whined.

"Please baby, do it for momma " she pleaded.

"Okay mom" he replied. He couldn't turn her door. Not with that sweet tone of hers.

"Thank you darling. Another thing, I want you to come with Katrina. That way my friend won't be able to match you up with her daughter" his mom added.

"Why Katrina??.. I can come with someone else " Eric said.

"I miss her already. I want to have a talk with her" she replied.

"Mom, you can always come over to my house you know? " He blurted out.

"I know but Katrina needs to go out, let her meet new friends and have fun. She's always at home cleaning and cooking " His mom suggested.

"Argghhh... You really know how to make me do your biddings. Fine, she's coming with me" he replied.

"Oh my, thanks darling. I love you " she said happily.

"I love you too mom. When is the party? " Eric asked.

"On Saturday evening. It's starting by 7pm. " she replied.

"Oh, today is a Thursday. I think I'm less busy on Saturday, I would definitely come. "He promised.

"Alright baby. I'm hanging up now, take care of yourself " she said.

"You too mom. Bye" Eric replied.

"Bye darling " she said and ended the call.

 Eric kept thinking of how he was going to tell Katrina about the dinner party. He's going to tell her tonight.

-----

  He had just finished eating and Katrina was about to pack the plates when he stopped her.

"Katrina " he called.

"Sir " she replied.

"You're coming with me to a dinner party on Saturday evening " He said.

"Huh?? Why me?? " Katrina asked.

"Yeah, I asked the same question too.. Why you??.. I don't want to be seen in public with someone like you, but what can I do.. My mom requested it" Eric replied harshly.

She should be thankful he asked her to come, yet she was asking why her?? Many girls would have wanted this opportunity.

"You don't need to be harsh" Katrina said.

"You won't teach me how to behave, you hear? " Eric replied, eyeing her up and down.

"Okay sir, but I also don't want to go with you " Katrina replied bluntly.

"You have no choice. You must honor my mom's invitation. She's been kind to you, you don't want to be an ingrate, do you?? "Eric asked bitterly.

Katrina stared at him with anger in her eyes.

"Okay fine, I will go with you but I'm going because of your mom. If you don't mind Sir, I have other things to do " she said and walked away angrily.

  Eric stared at her as she walked away.