The Princess???

Are we friends, Are we more, Are we collegues

The next morning she woke up to a note on her bedside table that read for her know that after breakfast he will take her to her apartment to get dressed then head to the office. She got up and got dressed in her clothes and headed back the way she came last night. She found Jarrod sitting at the table drinking coffee with bacon, eggs, french toast, muffins, pancakes, fruit, yogurt, two parfaits, Milk, Orange Juice, coffee and Tea.

"Morning, Do you eat like this every morning" She asked.

"No. I didn't know what you would want for breakfast so I had the kitchen cook a little of everything." He said sheepishly

"Wow, Thanks. I will eat a little of everything. I usually have juice and cereal or a muffin. I usually eat light." Katrinah said.

'Ohh sorry. I didn't know. Don't over eat or anything. Do you want to pick up something for lunch or go out. If you are undecided, then give me a call and let me know what you want to do and lunch is on me today. " Jarrod said.

"I will let you know." They ate in companionable silence with her thinking and him reading the paper.

"Is it ok if i get closer to Marylyn? I don't mind if you say no, but I don't want to step on any feet?" She asked.

"Of course it's fine. Marylyn is grown, she makes her own choices. Why would you ask me? It's rare that she tries to connect with someone, so I hope you genuinely like her and is not using her for anything." Jarrod said.

"I'm asking because usually every time I try to make friends someone comes in and take that person from me by accusing me of wanting something from them." Katrinah said shyly, not looking at him.

"Why would anyone do that? that is crazy. Everyone needs friends. I'm sorry that you have been like that. I promise you that no one will come between you and Marylyn. If it's ok, can I be your friend?" He asked.

"I guess you can. I just don't want anyone accusing me of trying to get ahead in the company. I want to stopped getting kicked in life and actually just cruise through." Katrinah said forlornly.

Something about the way she said that and this conversation made him think that there was more to her and he needed to know. According to his dad, she could be his wife. He wasn't sure how but right now the only thing he wanted to was to make her happy and forget all of her sadness. He watched her get up to get ready to go. They left hes house, stopping by her apartment to do what she needed to do. He was not crazy about where she lived and thought that maybe he should have her move closer to him, so he was sure that she was safe. He tuned in to the app to see if she was safe and where she was. He watched as she applied a little makeup. He watched the kitchen, front door and windows while she changed. His watching was interrupted by a call from office security. '

"Mr. Wheeler, I just want you to know that there is someone here to see Ms. Morgan, seem like a detective. What should I do, as she is not here yet?" Mike, the head of security said.

"Tell them, she is not in yet and can meet her at 1230. When they come back send them to my office."Jarrod said.

"Yes Sir." He hung up

Jarrod checked back at her apartment and saw her coming out.

"Someone came by the office looking for you, do you know who that is?" Jarrod asked Katrinah as she got in the car.

"No, I don't." She replied with nerves starting to appear

"It's ok. I have them coming back at 1230 and coming to my office so if you would come to my office about 1215 so we can see together what is going on." Jarrod said.

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble."Katrinah said, looking down.

"Look at me. You are not trouble. You deserve to be happy just like everyone else. It's my responsibility now to make sure that you are. I take my job of protecting you very serious. I need you to understand you are important to me. I want the best for you and I'm going to make sure you have it ok?" He said passionately to her, making her look at him for sincerity.

"I trust you. I will come to your office for lunch." Katrinah said.

They arrived at the office dropping her at the entrance and he going to park and come in. 

Marylyn came straight to Katrinah office to get the scoop on her and Jarrod. She noticed that Katrinah was just getting in also. Katrinah turned around just as Marylyn crossed over the threshold to her office. 

"Good Morning Marylyn, how are you today?" Katrinah asked smiling at her.

"So, did you all get everything squared away last night?" Marylyn asked.

"Yes, we did. My life should be back in order now. There is so much I want to tell you but some things have to wait, but everything else I'm ready to spill. So how about dinner tonight?" Katrinah said.

"Yes, we can do dinner. I'm dying to know what is going on with you. I have decided to make you my friend. Why haven't you made any here?" Marylyn asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't think many people like me and I'm not really prone to putting myself out there due to my history. I just want to live a simple life. So far it has been a tough road so far." Katrinah said.

"OK. What time are you getting off?" Marylyn asked.

"I'm leaving probably 5 or 6. I have a team meeting this afternoon. I have to get ready for them. What about you?" Katrinah asked.

"I'm leaving on time. 5 pm. Jarrod has been on my case for a while about finding a social life and not all about work. So I'm starting, and it starts with having dinner with my first friend, you tonight and I can't wait. I will see you later, give me a call when you are leaving so that I can be ready for us." Marylyn said.

"Ok. I'll see you later." Katrinah said.

Marylyn headed straight to Jarrods.

"Jarrod. Jack is up to something. I was just in Katrinah's office chatting with her and Jack kept walking by like he wanted to say something, but he didn't want to say anything in front of anyone. Look like he's trying to bully her. If you and her are going to have something you need to keep an eye on Jack." Marylyn said walking in to Jarrod office.

"step over here" Jarrod said to Marylyn.

When she stepped around his desk and looked at the monitor that he was pointing at then she looked at Katrinah's office and looked like her apartment. 

"What's this?" Marylyn asked.

"I'm looking out for her. I know Jack is targeting her for something. That is why she has been with me. I'm protecting her as best I can." Jarrod said seeming out of place for him.

"Good. I will watch her too. I'm don't like what i see so I'm going to keep my eyes on her. When she's not with you, I will be with her. Jack looked too suspect. I think you should move her." Marylyn said.

"NO I'm not moving her because I don't want him to know we are on to him until I know exactly what he is up to. I'm not moving her until I'm sure. Right now I have eyes everywhere on her. I have her apartment and office full of cameras and I can see any angle at anytime. Whatever you feel you need to do for her you have my blessing and if it cost let me know I will pay for it or reimburse you." He said.

"Ok. Got it. I'll keep you updated on what is going on on the floor. " Marylyn said leaving, noticing that he was just starring at her.

Katrinah jumped up and ran to the elevator. She looked down at her watch, she is going to be late. She stepped off the elevator looking at his secretary.

"Am I too late?" Katrinah asked Marla, Jarrod's secretary.

"No, the others have not arrived yet. Go on in." Marla said.

She knocked on the door and heard "Come in" from the other side.

She walked in and he was sitting there starring at his computer. He looked up at her and asked her to sit at the conference table. She went to the conference table to wait. 

A few minutes later a guy  walked in with a notebook tucked under his arm. He looked up and saw her and paused. Jarrod stood up. 

"Hey, Mark right?"Jarrod asked. 

"Yes, Mr. Wheeler. I'm here to ask some questions about Mrs. Katrinah Morgan. " Mark asked.

"And why are you so curious about my girlfriend?" Jarrod asked.

"Well I'm doing a report on her and I need some information on her. Well I want to know some personal things about her. My client think that she is his long lost sister and I just want to verify some information to make sure that she is not his sister." Mark said.

"Who is this person? Why should I trust you? How do I know you are not from my competitor and you are trying to steal away a great manager." Jarrod said defensively.

"Can I ask you some questions? Can you men join me at the table." Both men whipped their head in her direction when she spoke.

Both men moved to the table with her, waiting for her to sit before seating themselves. 

"First who sent you to find out about me?" Katrinah asked

"I shouldn't but since I have you here I am going to be honest. There is a King looking for you. He thinks you are his sister that was kidn*pped when you were a infant. If you tell me about your parents we can cross you off the list and go to the next person." Mark said.

"Well I don't have any family. " Katrinah answered. 

"Do you have any birthmarks?" Mark said.

"I have one on my chest that is oddly shaped." Katrinah answered.

Mark pulled a sheet of paper out of his briefcase and laid it on the table. "Does it look a little like this?" He said sliding the paper over to her.

"As a matter of fact it does." Katrinah said.

"You could be their long lost princess. I just need to verify so I can cross you off the list. They have been looking for her for 21 years. Now that the king has stepped down and his son has taken over, he has widened the search to the world. So far you are ticking all the boxes to say that you are her." Mark said

"What is to happen if she is her?" Jarrod said.

"The King would love for her to come back home and meet the family and join in the family business of running a country." Mark said.

"What if I get there and they don't recognize me? What if they reject me?" Katrinah asked.

"We would be positive before we took you there. Do you have reason to believe that they are your family." Mark asked.

"There is no record of me anywhere, no parents information, no birth information. So anyone is my guess." Katrinah said.

Just at that moment the pieces fell together of why she wasn't staying late and he couldn't have dinner after they ran into his mom.

"What do I need to do?? Katrinah said.

"I will set up a video conference with you and the king and he and you will verify yourself and he will take it from there. Is that something you would be interested in doing?" Mark asked Katrinah.

Jarrod felt so helpless listening to her basically agree to leave him. Why did it feel so personal. Like she was choosing to leave him. 

"You can set up the video conference and let me know when, where, how and why and I will be there. IF you gentlemen will excuse me. I have a meeting with a coworker in a few minutes. Jarrod, whatever you think is best, I will go with. So make the best decision for me." She said facing Jarrod at the end relaying her trust to him as she left his office.

The day flew by and it was 6:30 when Marylyn called Katrinah to see where she was.

"Hey girlie. Have you left work? Are you going home to change? Or can we just meet somewhere to eat? I have to admit that I am hungry." Marylyn said when Katrinah picked up.

"I"m so sorry Marylyn. I'm still at the office. I am shutting down right now. Where do you want to eat? I will meet you there. Just where? Text me the deets and I will be there shortly." She grabbed her bag and put it in the sensitive information. Zipping it up, picking up  her purse, double checking her computer is off, turning out the light and heading out of the office. 

The girls sat in Maria's Cantina with their drinks,munching on chips and salsa, drinking their  margaritas waiting on their dinner.

"So tell me Katrinah, what is going on with you and Jarrod?" Marylyn asked.

"Nothing, something, I don't know. I think I may feel something but I don't think he do. So he is my boss and I'm just an employee. No big deal."

"What if he do like you, then what? Would you go out with him? If he asked you for a date would you go?" Marylyn rapid fired at her.

"I'm not sure. I don't think he will. I've never been on a date and I'm not sure I want to start now. I think I will wait a little while for that." She said shly as their food arrived.

"Katrinah, I really need a friend that is a girl. To talk stuff with. I mean right now Jarrod, Keith, Mark and Andy are my friends. None are girls. I need someone to shop with, talk make up, boys and dates. Can you just be my friend please? PLEASE." Marylyn asked.

"Yes I will be your friend. I can use one too." Katrinah said

"Some things are going bad and I need someone who can understand my emotions, and help me through." Marylyn said just as the food arrived. 

They discussed a myriad of topics over dinner and returned to Marylyn's house, had a glass of wine, they both only had one margarita and followed it with water. This would be their second drink. They were really going to talk. Katrinah decided she would let Marylyn in and share her life with her. So they talked until the early morning and fell asleep next to each other.