Chapter 4 Impressed By Keith?

Keith and Elizabeth went to their respective homes to shower, brush their teeth, change their clothes, and get breakfast. Saturday they worked late again. Elizabeth nodded off, Keith started to drift off to sleep too but stopped himself from falling asleep, stood up and, he saw Elizabeth asleep. He walked over to her and shook her awake and said “Hey we cannot sleep her again.”

Elizabeth groggily got up and said “Yea you’re right. I will get us coffee.”

“Yea let’s just go back to my place.” said Keith.

Elizabeth was shocked and could only say “Um.”

Keith interrupted her “Not for anything like that. We just need to sleep, I mean actually sleep. We need to wake up in a place that has a shower, and then be able to get back to work as quickly as possible.” said Keith.

“I don’t have clothes at your place though.” stated Elizabeth, attempting to derail Keith’s idea of them both going back to his place, in the nicest ways he could.

“You don’t need new clothes for working strategy but, if you want we can swing by your place first and pick up clothes then go to my place. Maybe we can get some dinner too.” Keith suggested to her.

Unable to come up any other excuse not to go there other than she did not want to as she did not trust him, more importantly she did not trust herself to go to his place where they would be alone. So she said “OK, if we can pick up clothes for me first then there is no reason not to.”

“Great, what I wanted to hear.” Keith said sarcastically.

Elizabeth ignored his sarcasm and said “OK we should probably just go then.”

Elizabeth gathered up all her stuff and all the stuff they needed to work their case. They got outside the law firm and Elizabeth was about to hail a cab when Keith guided her toward his car. He opened the door for Elizabeth and she got in the back seat. She thought that it was weird that Keith was putting her in the back seat until he got in beside her. She was confused so she looked in front of her and saw that he had a driver. “Oh wow” she exclaimed in surprise.

“Yea” Keith said smugly and smiling happy to know that he was impressing Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled back and they stayed there staring at each other even after their smiles had diminished. Elizabeth started to feel weird about their intimate stare so she looked away.

Keith grabbed her hand, and she looked up at him again, and he said “Thank you for helping me with this, I would never have been ready without you.”

“Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that I am capable of doing this.” she responded.

“You're welcome, I like seeing you happy. It’s only been four days now but still.” Keith smiled at her.

“Thank you.” She took her hand back “But things have not changed at all.”

“I know, I can wait until they do.” responded Keith.

“They might not ever change, I don’t know what my future holds, but I could very easily end up marrying Paul.” Elizabeth boldly stated.

Keith said boldly and smugly back “Things will change.” Then he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “See you didn’t recoil in disgust or fear.”

Elizabeth giggled obligingly. They got to her place, she went up to her apartment so quickly, and she had not even realized that Keith was following her. Not until she got to the door and she felt him behind her.

She looked back and said “Oh you did not have to come up with me, I am just going to grab some clothes and go right back down.”

“I know I just wanted to see where you live and what it looks like.” answered Keith.

“OK.” Elizabeth said unsteadily.

Elizabeth turned around and opened her door then let Keith in “Welcome to casa de Elizabeth, I know it’s tiny but I don’t need anything big it’s just me so.” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders

“Convenient compact size, just like you.” Keith said flirtatiously.

Elizabeth could not help it, and she smiled shyly.

“Ok will feel free to take a look around I am going to get my clothes and whatever else I’ll need.” uttered Elizabeth.

Elizabeth went to her room; she heard that Keith had started to go through all of her stuff. Elizabeth was surprised that he was so comfortable going through her stuff. She ignored it and got her clothes then went to the bathroom to get her toiletries. Keith saw her go in and he went in after her. Keith positioned himself so that Elizabeth was trapped in front of him. He took advantage of the small size of the bathroom She finished getting her stuff and tried to get around him to get out, they ended up tangled together in front of the door and Keith whispered to her “I’m beginning to think a tiny place is good”

“It is intimate” Elizabeth noticed aloud.

Keith thinking he was finally making a little more headway said in his low husky voice “Yea it is.”

“Not necessarily a good thing for a woman with a boyfriend.” Elizabeth retorted.

Keith was shaking his head no as he stated “Not my problem.”

“But it is mine.” Returned Elizabeth.

Elizabeth quickly found her way past Keith and out of the bathroom. She put as much distance between herself and Keith as she possibly could. She walked to the front door to leave. Keith followed behind her smirking with amusement at Elizabeth’s discomfort. He could tell she was starting to have feelings for him, now she just had to realize them.

They picked up a pizza then went back to Keith’s place. They got pizza, and ate it. Elizabeth slept in his guest room which was much grander than Elizabeth’s whole apartment.

They spent Sunday working. Keith was more than prepared but he allowed Elizabeth to believe that they had a lot to do so that she would stay there with him. They worked the whole day through; fortunately Elizabeth brought clothes for court so she was able to spend the night in the guestroom again Sunday night. Keith was secretly ecstatic that Elizabeth had brought clothes for Monday because it meant that she had planned to stay there at his place for a couple of nights.

Monday came and they went to courthouse for the trial they had just spent the entire weekend preparing for. Elizabeth was only there to lend a helping hand to Keith. Elizabeth watched Keith in admiration all day; he was so impressive she could see why he was one of the top lawyers. By the end the defence had decided to not even try to go against Keith in a trial, instead they settled.

Elizabeth was intrigued by Keith’s skills in the courtroom and was in complete admiration at how well he did. Keith was satisfied that he won the case, however he was upset he no longer have an excuse to be alone with Elizabeth. They signed all the documents and went back to the work.

Back at the office, Keith went back to his office and Elizabeth went back to her desk. The trial was thrilling and she was happy to have gotten some real experience, but now that it was over she did not know what to do. So she just sat there at her desk pretending she was working. Keith came out of his office and called Grace over.

He looked at Elizabeth and saw that she was not actually doing anything, so he asked her “What are you doing?”

Elizabeth tried to think of a lie to tell him but failed instead she accidentally told the truth she said “I am... doing... the thing... nothing. I was trying to lie to you it didn’t work sorry.” she told him.

“Good I’m glad you can’t lie to Me.” replied Keith.

“Oh yea I guess it is good. For you, maybe not for me. I’m sorry I know I have a lot to do I am just having a hard time getting started. I guess I just don’t know where to start.” asserted Elizabeth.

” Well why don’t you start with packing your things to move them to your office.” chorused Keith.

“What I get an office?” inquired Elizabeth in disbelief.

“Yea of course you’re a lawyer now, not an assistant. Lawyers get offices” declared Keith. Elizabeth jumped up with excitement and glee then hugged him to thank him, he hugged her back, holding her tightly. As he was holding her he closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. Just then Paul came into the office and walked toward Elizabeth after he had asked Grace where to find her. When he saw Elizabeth and Keith hugging he stopped dead in his tracks. Keith had heard the footsteps getting closer to him and Elizabeth, he persistently held onto Elizabeth as he glanced up. He saw a man walking toward them. Keith felt like he looked familiar to him, It took a second before it clicked he was Elizabeth’s boyfriend. He recognized him from the background check he made Grace do for him.

Keith could tell by the look on Paul’s face that he was jealous of them hugging so he smirked wickedly at him to really rub it in. Paul taken aback by this just stared at him. Elizabeth pulled back from the hug, she hadn’t noticed Paul yet.

She told Keith “Thank you so much, oh my God I am so excited! I am going to move my stuff over now.”

“You're welcome” To cement the jealousy in Paul he leaned down and kissed her, it was just a peck on the lips but it did exactly what Keith wanted it to. Keith felt like he could almost see the fumes coming out of Paul’s ears and it made him very happy. In all the excitement Elizabeth did not even care that Keith had kissed her. Elizabeth screeched and hugged Keith again which further infuriated Paul. Finally Paul interjected pretending to clear his throat to break up there all too familiar moment. Elizabeth turned around, and was surprised to see him.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth asked.

“Lately it’s starting to feel like the only way I can see you is if I come here. And I was hoping to take you out for dinner” explained Paul.

“Oh I would love to, but I am getting moving to my new office, cause I get a new office.” Elizabeth replied with glee.

“I know I heard, but you still need to eat, I would like to take you out and spend a little time with you.” He looked at Keith and Elizabeth took notice as he continued “Alone” he then reached for Elizabeth’s hand, and pulled Elizabeth closer to him and away from Keith.

Elizabeth looked back at Keith who was now standing behind her. Keith was feeling smug at how jealous he was making Paul, Elizabeth could tell. It made her suddenly feel awkward to have these two men in the same room.

To avoid that awkwardness Elizabeth very nonchalantly introduced them “Paul this is my boss Keith. Keith this is Paul, my boyfriend.”

They both said nothing and reluctantly nodded at each other in response to Elizabeth introducing them. Elizabeth just stood there unsure of what to do after their distant exchange.

Keith then broke the silence when he walked back to her and put his hand on her back and leaned in closely to her and said “Why don’t you go to dinner the office will be here when you come back.”

He was not really telling Elizabeth to go out to dinner with Paul; he was showing Paul how comfortable Elizabeth was with his touch. The fact that she did not back up and allowed him to hold her drove his point home. He looked at Paul to see his reaction, and saw that Paul was pissed, which made Keith feel very content.

“Ok yea. Thank you.” Elizabeth answered Keith staying close. She was a little disappointed. She wanted to go out with Paul but, she was more excited to move into her new office. She felt like it made her a lawyer officially.

Keith went back into his office, as he did so heard Paul asked Elizabeth angrily “What the hell was that?” Keith could not help but to beam. He was going to tear them apart no matter what he had to do make it so.

Elizabeth was surprised by Paul’s anger. She looked around and saw co-workers staring at them and she felt embarrassed.

So she said in a hushed tone to Paul “Let’s leave here before we start fighting please, I have to work with these people.”

“Fine.” Paul turned and stormed toward the elevator, Elizabeth followed him.

In the elevator he was angrily staring at her she was starting to feel very uncomfortable. They got off at the lobby and silently went straight to Paul’s car.

In the car Paul started up asking again “What the hell? Are you sleeping with your boss? You’ve known him for five days”

Elizabeth shocked and snapped “No, I am not sleeping with my boss”

“Really cause it seems like there is something going on there” stated Paul.

“Oh my God.” Elizabeth said annoyed.” There is nothing going on with me and my boss. What is wrong with you?”

“Really cause it seemed like he was trying to send a very clear and direct message to me that he was into you and you were into him. You cannot honestly say that he is not into you” exclaimed Paul. Elizabeth looked away knowing that she could not. Paul knew it but his heart sank when it was confirmed

“It doesn’t mean that I am going to do anything with him.” Elizabeth said to try and smooth things over.

“Seriously cause looking at the guy I would screw him.” Paul admitted angrily.

“Well then I hope you two are never alone.” Elizabeth joked. She grabbed his hand and told him “You have nothing to worry about; I do not want to be with him I want to be with you.”

Paul was not reassured by this, but he decided to let it go otherwise he would just be letting Keith get in his head, and causing problems between him and Elizabeth. He smiled at her joke then squeezed her hand back and gave her a reassuring smile.

He asked “Where do you want to go for dinner?”

Elizabeth relieved that Paul was dropping the topic of Keith, responded “Wherever you want.” As of late Elizabeth had, had some very strong physical attractions to Keith that she was finding difficult to fight. She felt like her reassurances to Paul were not honest and she did not like that. So she decided to take any and all feelings she had for Keith and push them down. Elizabeth and Paul went out for dinner, and then they went out dancing.