Post by teri on Sept 4, 2008 14:13:18 GMT -5
Apolo walked into the hotel and went to the front desk to ask for Katrina’s room. They pointed him toward the lobby and said Katrina was waiting for him there. Turning to the side he spotted her sitting down flipping through her notebook.
Apolo caught his breath. Katrina looked beautiful in all browns and golds. It set off her honey colored skin and dark hair. She looked up and her golden brown eyes found him. Apolo moved forward and Katrina hurried to get up and meet him part way.
“Katrina, I didn’t keep you waiting long, did I?” Apolo asked.
“No, no. I was early and thought I would just go over my notes before we met,” Katrina reassured him.
“Good, how about we get going. The restaurant isn’t far.” Apolo took Katrina’s hand and threaded it through his arm as he led her out towards his car.
They made small talk about how the day had gone on the way to the restaurant. Once they were seated, Katrina took a look around her. The restaurant was lovely. It had a very French casual feel to it with flowers and candles everywhere.
“Apolo, this place is beautiful,” Katrina said a little surprised at his choice.
“First time I was here I remember thinking that you would love this place,” Apolo said with a bit of a blush.
Katrina was touched that he had picked someplace she would like. Once they had placed their orders and Apolo picked out a wine for them, Katrina felt it was time to start asking Apolo about his plans and ideas.
“Apolo, I know you’ve explained what you ultimately want to do after Vancouver but how do you see us helping you to reach those goals. I assume you had some ideas and I’d like to hear them before I share with you what I have outlined.” Katrina was in full business mode again.
Apolo sighed. “Well a lot of my ideas involve using the notoriety I’ve gained over the years to get contracts signed with some major sponsors. I’d like to have the sponsors get behind the sport and sponsor more races and maybe develop teams among young skaters to encourage participation and keep short track moving forward.”
“I know I have changed my mind several times about what I wanted to do after I hung up my skates. I know I’ve made some mistakes along the way but I feel everything has been a growing process. I truly know where my heart lies now and am ready to pursue it.”
Apolo saw the slight frown on Katrina’s face and decided to keep pushing forward.
“I’ve found the spotlight is fun but not where I want to spend all my time. I’ve really come to love coaching. I still want to participate in the charities I’ve been supporting. Ultimately, I’d love to go to another Olympics as a coach for the U.S. short track team,” Apolo said hopefully.
“I’d like to use the spotlight to help with these goals. I just don’t want pursing fame to be the way I live my life. Does that make sense to you?” Apolo asked reaching across the table to take Katrina’s hand
Katrina was quiet for a moment and didn’t answer immediately. Finally she took a sip of wine, cleared her throat and looked straight into Apolo’s eyes. “Apolo, I am really happy for you if this is truly what you want to do. It sounds wonderful but I just want to be sure that this is what will make you happy. You know if we scale the opportunities out there to fit this plan we will be passing up other very exciting events. I want you to really think about this and make sure this is what you want before we get started. Sometimes once you say no to something you won’t get the opportunity again,” Katrina said seriously.
Apolo’s eyes flared with some heat. Katrina was still acting like he didn’t know what he wanted and would change his mind tomorrow. He also wasn’t prepared to think that their chance to be together was gone as she seemed to be hinting.
“Listen Katrina,” Apolo said with some heat. “I’m not 19 anymore, I’m 27. I’ve had enough experiences and given this enough thought to know what I want and where I want to go with my life. I’d like to get there with you but if you’re not sure about this maybe it isn’t a good idea for us to be working together.”
There you go, Apolo thought. Maybe that would shock her into seeing him as he was now and not in the past.
Katrina was shocked by his intensity and how well he seemed to have thought this through. Maybe I am letting the past interfere with the way I am seeing this, Katrina thought.
“Apolo, I’m sorry if you feel I’m not being supportive. I just want to make sure we start this off the right way. I think your plans sound amazing. Let’s see if we can go over the lists of potential sponsors and events I think will help you and then we can get things moving,” Katrina said with more warmth in her voice.
Apolo relaxed and the two of them started working while they worked their way through an excellent meal.
Once Katrina put away her notebook and they were having coffee Apolo decided it was time to talk about their relationship. Apolo leaned towards Katrina and gave her one of his very sexy smiles. “Katrina I’m so glad we are spending time together again. I’ve missed you.”
Apolo could see her tense a bit. “Katrina I know I hurt you but I didn’t mean to. We both know we still have feelings for each other. Please just give me a chance to spend some time with you and let’s see we can work things out,” Apolo said solemnly.
Katrina felt tears pricking at the back of her eyes. When she finally spoke her voice quivered, “Apolo, you’re my client. I am not mixing business and pleasure again. It didn’t work before and I don’t know why it would now.”
She saw the sadness and disappointment in Apolo’s eyes. God, were they going to keep hurting each other forever, Katrina thought. Her heart actually hurt. After a couple of breaths she pushed back the tears and the pain.
“Okay Apolo, lets agree to spend time together but let’s take it slow. Old friends for a start and we’ll see,” Katrina said hesitantly with a small smile.
When they arrived back at Katrina’s hotel Apolo walked her to her room. “Katrina, I’m glad we worked some things out tonight. How about you bring your running things and we can go jogging together tomorrow morning,” Apolo suggested.
“Good idea. I can use the exercise after that dinner,” Katrina laughed. Then she grew serious, “Thank you for taking me out tonight. I loved the restaurant. I’ve missed you,” she admitted.
Apolo reached for Katrina and pulled her into a hug. He felt her tense at first and then relax against him. It felt so right having her again in his arms. He lifted his one hand and ran his fingers through her hair as he whispered into her ear, “I’ve missed you more than you know. Good night Katrina.”
Apolo caught his breath. Katrina looked beautiful in all browns and golds. It set off her honey colored skin and dark hair. She looked up and her golden brown eyes found him. Apolo moved forward and Katrina hurried to get up and meet him part way.
“Katrina, I didn’t keep you waiting long, did I?” Apolo asked.
“No, no. I was early and thought I would just go over my notes before we met,” Katrina reassured him.
“Good, how about we get going. The restaurant isn’t far.” Apolo took Katrina’s hand and threaded it through his arm as he led her out towards his car.
They made small talk about how the day had gone on the way to the restaurant. Once they were seated, Katrina took a look around her. The restaurant was lovely. It had a very French casual feel to it with flowers and candles everywhere.
“Apolo, this place is beautiful,” Katrina said a little surprised at his choice.
“First time I was here I remember thinking that you would love this place,” Apolo said with a bit of a blush.
Katrina was touched that he had picked someplace she would like. Once they had placed their orders and Apolo picked out a wine for them, Katrina felt it was time to start asking Apolo about his plans and ideas.
“Apolo, I know you’ve explained what you ultimately want to do after Vancouver but how do you see us helping you to reach those goals. I assume you had some ideas and I’d like to hear them before I share with you what I have outlined.” Katrina was in full business mode again.
Apolo sighed. “Well a lot of my ideas involve using the notoriety I’ve gained over the years to get contracts signed with some major sponsors. I’d like to have the sponsors get behind the sport and sponsor more races and maybe develop teams among young skaters to encourage participation and keep short track moving forward.”
“I know I have changed my mind several times about what I wanted to do after I hung up my skates. I know I’ve made some mistakes along the way but I feel everything has been a growing process. I truly know where my heart lies now and am ready to pursue it.”
Apolo saw the slight frown on Katrina’s face and decided to keep pushing forward.
“I’ve found the spotlight is fun but not where I want to spend all my time. I’ve really come to love coaching. I still want to participate in the charities I’ve been supporting. Ultimately, I’d love to go to another Olympics as a coach for the U.S. short track team,” Apolo said hopefully.
“I’d like to use the spotlight to help with these goals. I just don’t want pursing fame to be the way I live my life. Does that make sense to you?” Apolo asked reaching across the table to take Katrina’s hand
Katrina was quiet for a moment and didn’t answer immediately. Finally she took a sip of wine, cleared her throat and looked straight into Apolo’s eyes. “Apolo, I am really happy for you if this is truly what you want to do. It sounds wonderful but I just want to be sure that this is what will make you happy. You know if we scale the opportunities out there to fit this plan we will be passing up other very exciting events. I want you to really think about this and make sure this is what you want before we get started. Sometimes once you say no to something you won’t get the opportunity again,” Katrina said seriously.
Apolo’s eyes flared with some heat. Katrina was still acting like he didn’t know what he wanted and would change his mind tomorrow. He also wasn’t prepared to think that their chance to be together was gone as she seemed to be hinting.
“Listen Katrina,” Apolo said with some heat. “I’m not 19 anymore, I’m 27. I’ve had enough experiences and given this enough thought to know what I want and where I want to go with my life. I’d like to get there with you but if you’re not sure about this maybe it isn’t a good idea for us to be working together.”
There you go, Apolo thought. Maybe that would shock her into seeing him as he was now and not in the past.
Katrina was shocked by his intensity and how well he seemed to have thought this through. Maybe I am letting the past interfere with the way I am seeing this, Katrina thought.
“Apolo, I’m sorry if you feel I’m not being supportive. I just want to make sure we start this off the right way. I think your plans sound amazing. Let’s see if we can go over the lists of potential sponsors and events I think will help you and then we can get things moving,” Katrina said with more warmth in her voice.
Apolo relaxed and the two of them started working while they worked their way through an excellent meal.
Once Katrina put away her notebook and they were having coffee Apolo decided it was time to talk about their relationship. Apolo leaned towards Katrina and gave her one of his very sexy smiles. “Katrina I’m so glad we are spending time together again. I’ve missed you.”
Apolo could see her tense a bit. “Katrina I know I hurt you but I didn’t mean to. We both know we still have feelings for each other. Please just give me a chance to spend some time with you and let’s see we can work things out,” Apolo said solemnly.
Katrina felt tears pricking at the back of her eyes. When she finally spoke her voice quivered, “Apolo, you’re my client. I am not mixing business and pleasure again. It didn’t work before and I don’t know why it would now.”
She saw the sadness and disappointment in Apolo’s eyes. God, were they going to keep hurting each other forever, Katrina thought. Her heart actually hurt. After a couple of breaths she pushed back the tears and the pain.
“Okay Apolo, lets agree to spend time together but let’s take it slow. Old friends for a start and we’ll see,” Katrina said hesitantly with a small smile.
When they arrived back at Katrina’s hotel Apolo walked her to her room. “Katrina, I’m glad we worked some things out tonight. How about you bring your running things and we can go jogging together tomorrow morning,” Apolo suggested.
“Good idea. I can use the exercise after that dinner,” Katrina laughed. Then she grew serious, “Thank you for taking me out tonight. I loved the restaurant. I’ve missed you,” she admitted.
Apolo reached for Katrina and pulled her into a hug. He felt her tense at first and then relax against him. It felt so right having her again in his arms. He lifted his one hand and ran his fingers through her hair as he whispered into her ear, “I’ve missed you more than you know. Good night Katrina.”
