“Not really,” was my admonishment, even as I swiveled the laptop around. “I’m just staying here until we fly off to our next location.”
“But still,” she gushed. “You’re staying with the boss himself? Why didn’t they put you up at a hotel or something? It can’t be that expensive.”
I bit my lip because the reason I’ve been staying at Stone’s pad is obvious. We’ve been having a good time together, on and off the plane. We talk, we dine, we tease, and most of all, we fall asleep together after the most amazing sessions of intimacy. My thighs tensed just thinking back to the sensations, and my pussy tingled a bit. It was amazing hands down. But before I could get a word out, Evelyn was back at it.
“Show me the living room,” she commanded. “I want to see what else there is.”
Sighing, I got up.
“Okay, okay, wait just a sec,” I said, slowly walking to the airy space. “Okay here we go,” I said. “Sorry it’s a little messy,” was my giggle. “The maid hasn’t come yet, so you’re looking at yesterday’s Chinese dinner.”
It was true. There were half-eaten containers still on the glass table, with paper boxes of broccoli beef and General Tso’s chicken. Plus, Stone had done a little work before eating, so some of his things were scattered about, including some work folders, a couple papers, and some gadgets.
“Sorry,” I apologized again, pushing the leftovers out of the way. Oh shoot, did I just get tangy sauce on some of Stone’s stuff? Quickly, I picked up the iPad, trying to wipe off some of the brown goop. Oh shoot, it was just getting worse, and the sauce smeared wetly on the screen.
But Evelyn was her usual queenly self.
“Don’t worry about stuff like that,” she said airily, her finger tapping away. “You have help now, and Chinese food can’t kill the latest gadgets. They make these things indestructible,” she said authoritatively. “I swear I’ve flushed my iPhone down the toilet twice by accident and it’s still okay. So just put down the napkin and relax.”
I sighed because my buddy was probably right. I was just making stuff worse by trying to clean up. And who knew? Maybe Stone wanted all his stuff in a particular order, and I was just making a bigger mess. So with a laugh, I stopped, but then my head cocked to one side.
“Evelyn, are you taking screenshots again?” was my curious voice. “Why are you doing that?”
Her blonde head nodded, the girl a little distracted even as her finger tapped away.
“Because your place is so nice,” she burbled. “The interior decor is amazing and I love that eighteen foot ceiling. I’m going to show my boyfriend so that he has an idea of what top-of-the-line means.”
Okay, that made sense. Stone’s place was like a palace, including the giant crystal chandelier and the artwork on the walls. But still, Evelyn’s finger was going so fast it was practically a blur. She was getting screenshots of everything, including the mess on the table, which was embarrassing.
“Stop,” I said, holding my hands up. “At least let me clean up first.”
But Evelyn was relentless.
“No, it’s fine,” she said soothingly, finger still tapping away. “A little mess is totally okay. I just want to give my boyfriend an idea of what’s possible. Now Morgan, can you move a little to the left? You’re in the screen right now, and I can’t get that Rothko. That is a Rothko right?”
Obligingly, I stepped to the side to reveal a magnificent blue painting dotted with red. Of course, you could also see Stone’s laptop on the table beneath it, gleaming and sleek. Why wasn’t it on sleep mode? Well, maybe the machine did calculations even when its owner wasn’t home. Or maybe Stone was able to use it remotely, plugging in from a far away site. I had no idea.
“I think it is a Rothko,” was my slow confirmation. “Don’t mind the mess below, it’s nothing.”
“Oooh!” squealed Evelyn, clapping her hands. “I knew it! Yeah, I want Nick to start a fine art collection too, and this is going to make him so jealous,” she rushed. “Oh wow,” the blonde burbled, eyes bulging a little as she took in my surroundings. “You’re soooo lucky!”
I had to agree because for the past week, we’ve been grounded in Chicago, and Stone and I have gotten to know each other when he’s not working. The dinners are amazing, and our time together is out of this world. I couldn’t ask for more, floating in a dreamlike state of happiness mixed with ecstasy. Speaking of which, suddenly the elevator dinged.
“Evelyn, I have to go,” were my rushed words, self-consciously pushing brown curls from my face. “We’ve been talking forever and I lost track of time.”
My buddy let out a tinkling laugh.
“No worries,” she burbled. “But you have to show me the rest of the apartment later,” her voice sang, even as I pulled the laptop cover closed, cutting off contact. “You promised!”
But it was too late because Stone was already in the apartment, his expression quizzical.
“Who was that?” came his low drawl. “A friend?”
I nodded, cheeks flaming. The sight of the billionaire always makes me tingle in a good way, and now was no exception. He was so gorgeous with that dark hair, his blue eyes and muscular, athletic build. Plus, I’d forgotten how high-end buildings work. Because Mr. Evans has a full-floor apartment, the elevator opens right into our foyer because there’s no one else on the floor.
Oh wow. I used the words our foyer, like I belonged here. But I’ve been so comfortable and happy that the thought slipped unnoticed from my mind.
“Hi,” was my welcoming smile. “It’s just my friend Evelyn from back home. I was showing her this place.”
Those dark blue eyes gleamed.
“And?” he growled. “How’d she like it?”
“Well, you know we’re from a not-so-nice corner of Queens,” was my answering laugh. “So she loved it. This is way more fancy than any place we’ve ever seen, and when she saw the gold in your countertop, she wanted me to melt it down to make jewelry,” I added drolly.
Stone threw his head back and laughed.
“Are you serious?” was his disbelieving guffaw. “Sweetheart, how are you going to tote that marble slab out?”
“I know,” was my answering giggle. “But it’s just Evelyn, and she’s crazy.”
Stone shook his head, amusement dancing on his face.
“Not to mention a little materialistic,” he said wryly.
I made a face at him.
“She is,” I acknowledged, “But Evelyn’s been my friend for so long, and it doesn’t bother me. Plus, it’s funny, in a way. She dates old rich dudes in the hope that one of them is going to die and leave her a fortune. Can you believe it?”
Stone’s brows swooped down.
“Oh, I believe it,” he said wryly. “Trust me, older men with younger women is common in NYC. Even here in Chicago, you see that May December dynamic all the time.”
I laughed lightly again.
“Well in this case, I don’t think it’s May December. It’s more like January December because Evelyn’s my age. We’re both eighteen. And guess how old her current guy is?”
“How old?” grunted Stone distractedly, loosening his tie while hanging up his coat. Even though there was nothing special about what he was doing, the actions warmed me to the bone because they were homey and normal. I felt like we were an old married couple hanging out together, teasing and making conversation after a long day.
“He’s old,” I said as a hint. “Her boyfriend’s really, really old. Imagine Methuselah.”
“Oh?” he asked, only semi-paying attention, wandering over to the kitchen now. “How old?”
I took a deep breath, following him into the space.
“Seventy,” I said with finality. “There’s got to be a fifty year age gap between Evelyn and her latest boyfriend. I met him once and this guy looks like he’s someone’s grandpa. White hair, about this tall,” I said holding my hand up. “With tufts of gray hair sprouting from his nose and ears.” What h
ad been that guy’s name again? I couldn’t remember, although his image was clear in my mind, small and wizened.
It all seemed so long ago, even though it’d only been a couple weeks. I still remembered that night with Evelyn at the Firehouse, and meeting her new man. I’d felt so out of place among the dancing bodies and flashing lights, not to mention the deafening music.
But now, with Stone it was different. I felt at home, safe and warm, with the future to look forwards to. True, I wasn’t exactly working, seeing that we hadn’t been on the plane in a week. But I was happy here, ensconced in luxury, and I forward to the billionaire’s return every day when things would heat up within nanoseconds.
How quickly things change, the voice in my mind wondered. Before, you were a poverty-stricken girl with a disabled mom, ready to collapse under the weight of her medical bills. And now look at you!
That was true. Sandra has been on her own the last couple weeks, taking the bus by herself to her medical appointments. But she hadn’t wanted me to come home.
“Go!” my mom wheezed, her expression encouraging on the laptop screen. “Go and enjoy your new job,” she urged. “You’re lucky to have it.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can Mom,” was my soft promise. “You okay in New York? Is Mrs. Langley helping?”
“She is, she is,” assured my mom. “Rita Langley can be nosy but she’s a good cook and she’s been bringing me food every day. And with your new salary, honey, we can afford to pay her for her services. So go,” she urged again. “Enjoy yourself and live a little.”
With that, I smiled gratefully. Sandra had no idea exactly what I was doing with Stone Evans. My mom figured I was a standard issue flight attendant with an apron and jaunty cap. She had no idea that I hadn’t worn the apron for ages. Instead, I was serving Mr. Evans nude, if that’s what he wanted. The memory of our last encounter made me smile, and with a naughty look, I turned to my man.
“Hungry?” was my purr as he opened the refrigerator door, staring at the contents. With a laugh, the big man shut it.
“Always,” he proclaimed, pulling me close for a kiss. “I’m always hungry for you, sweet thing. But right now, my stomach needs some sustenance.”
Luxuriating in his embrace, I tipped my chin towards the dark man. It felt so good in his arms, warm and safe, that massive bulk protecting me from any threats.
“What about the meal the chef prepared yesterday?” I murmured, nuzzling his lips with my own. “That steak was amazing, and the potatoes were so creamy and buttery. There’s still some left I think, in the back of the fridge.”
Stone claimed my lips, seizing them in a thrilling kiss. Oh god, this man is my everything, and every cell in my being came alive at his touch. But he broke the contact abruptly to look for food.
“It was good,” he acknowledged, “but I don’t feel like leftovers. Come on, let’s go out,” he commanded, grabbing my hips and swiveling them towards the door. “I’ll treat you to some fancy Japanese.”
My soul thrilled. I’ve never had Japanese food except for some takeout sushi from the local bodega, and I doubt that counts as real Japanese. Not when you’re eating imitation shrimp and mayonnaise on your sushi. It doesn’t sound right.
As a result, my heart beat fast. Going out on the town with the billionaire? To see and be seen? It sounded amazing after a week together in the apartment. Of course, I wasn’t complaining, but still, it was a nice change.
“Oh sure,” I giggled. “Just give me five. Wait, but ….” My voice trailed off.
“Hmm?” Mr. Evans growled, already thinking of the meal ahead. “What is it, sweetheart?”
My face flushed then.
“Well, the thing is,” my low murmur came, “Is the place you have in mind really fancy?” came my slow words. “Because I might not have the right clothes.”
Slowly, the billionaire turned to look at me, fixing me with that blue gaze. Hot embarrassment tinted my cheeks, and my curves quivered. Oh god, oh god. He was used to supermodels who had designer wardrobes, and not someone who got around in jeans and t-shirts most times. In fact, right now I just had one skirt in my luggage, in addition to my flight attendant uniforms. There was nothing appropriate for an upscale eatery.
“You don’t have any clothes?” he growled, confusion in those blue eyes. “What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath.
“I didn’t pack right,” was my hurried excuse. “I just have some casual outfits in addition to my uniforms. We haven’t gone out, so it never came up,” was my lame excuse.
But somehow, Stone could tell that I wasn’t speaking the truth. The alpha cocked his head at me, just waiting. Oh god, this man knew me so well already and heat bloomed in my cheeks.
“Okay, so that’s not exactly true,” I began slowly.
He nodded silently, and the truth came out then.
“I don’t have any nice clothes,” was my embarrassed admission. “Not anything that would be suitable for what you’re thinking of. I can’t afford it because they’re out of my budget,” were my quiet words. “Before this job, shopping at the local discount stores was our MO. That, or thrift shops, and I don’t mean hip and trendy thrift shops with fringed leather jackets and high-end designer ware. I was buying used goods that no one else wanted.”
By now, my voice had died almost into silence because the admission was humiliating. How different this must be from what Stone was used to. The women he usually dated probably had mink coats and floor-length evening gowns that cost four figures. By contrast, I just had my threadbare things, well-worn and shabby.
But I wasn’t going to hide anymore. I wasn’t going to pretend to be someone I wasn’t because it was sliding down a slippery slope of more and more lies until you drowned. As a result, I took a deep breath, looking the billionaire in the eye.
“I’m sorry,” came my voice, more confident this time. “I’m from humble beginnings and going to eat fancy food at a fancy restaurant? Well, I haven’t had the opportunity but I’d love to sometime. Just not tonight,” was my apology, only a slight quaver tinging my words. “I’m sorry.”
But the billionaire wasn’t angry. In fact, his reaction took me surprise. Those big fingers took hold of my chin, forcing me to look into the deep blue of his gaze.
“Sweetheart, don’t worry about it,” he said mildly. “I come from nothing, so I get it. It took decades of climbing the ladder to arrive at the top,” he said, gesturing to our lavish surroundings. “And who says we can’t have Japanese? We’ll order in from Ito Kana, it’s no big deal. Hand me my phone,” he commanded.
With trembling hands, I did as he asked, passing him the small gadget. And as the billionaire ordered, my heart flipped over, doing somersaults before melting into a puddle. Because Stone could have been disgusted. He could have been horrified that I wasn’t a Barbie doll with all the right clothes, prepared for any type of social outing.
Instead, the billionaire knew and understood. And he wasn’t turned off. If anything, the man was only more determined to show me the world, and to introduce me to luxuries I’d never experienced.
I can say without a doubt that if I’d been falling in love with Stone Evans before, then it happened fully then. I appreciated this man. I adored him, and his generous ways. How he didn’t look down on me although he had every right, given the emptiness of my bank account and the fact that I was sorely lacking in experience.
But these things didn’t matter to him. Stone is a real human being with solid values, and money or the lack of made no difference. The fact that he was my superior at work made no difference either. Because as people, we were a match, and the alpha male knew his woman when he saw her.
Hanging up, the big man turned only to see me gazing at him, my heart in my eyes.
“What is it?” he growled. “What’s got you in tears, honey?”
I flew into his arms, burying my face in his shoulder.
“Thank you,” was my murmur, wetness seeping in
to his shirt. “For everything.”
The billionaire pressed a kiss to my forehead, holding me tight.
“It’s nothing sweetheart. Like I said, I worked my way up from the bottom. It wasn’t easy, and I certainly don’t look down on anyone struggling as she finds her path in the world.”
I inhaled deeply, our breaths mingling as we stood locked in one another’s arms in the gigantic kitchen.
“I guess I just didn’t expect you to understand,” came my small voice. “You’re Stone Evans, billionaire CEO of a huge empire. I didn’t expect you to empathize with where I was coming from, or the hurdles in my path especially when they’re as lame as not having the right clothes.”
The handsome man threw his head back and chuckled then, revealing even white teeth.
“No, I get it sweetheart. Clothes are important, and that’s why I always have mine tailored,” he said with a gleam. “We’ll get you the best of the best too, sweetheart. There’s a lot of ladies couture to be had.”
I gasped, eyes wide. Was he serious? But Stone nodded again, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“Nothing’s too good for my baby,” he growled, voice sincere. “Come on sweetheart, let’s go to the living room to wait before the food comes. Or do you want to keep standing here?”
My cheeks flared as the billionaire led me out, taking a seat on the low divan next to one another. Suddenly, I jumped up.
“Oh wait, let me clear some of this off,” were my hasty words, reaching for the old Chinese food. “Ick, look how goopy this brown sauce is,” was my comment, peering into one of the slightly drooping boxes.
Stone made himself at home, lounging on the sofa as I cleaned up. And it felt right, to be honest, to have the man of the house relaxing as I bustled about, straightening up.
“You want this here? Or here?” I asked, holding a sheaf of papers in my hand. He looked at the pile and let out a gusty sigh.
“Fuck, more shit on that China deal,” he said sourly. “Put it with that stuff,” he said, gesturing to another stack of papers on the sideboard. “It’s not important.”
Falling For My Enemy Page 11
