by Kat T. Masen
I take a deep breath, admiring its beauty. It has period features, detailed in stone and surrounded by a peaceful-looking garden. The lawns are manicured to perfection, the flowers blossoming, and trees are planted to provide a bit of privacy.
It looks like a picture out of a fairy tale book, housing a damsel in distress waiting for her prince to save her.
I take a selfie, something I rarely do, and post it on Instagram along with the caption I read in a magazine. ‘Any home can be a castle when the King and Queen are in love.’
How perfect would it be if Noah were here? France will always own a piece of me, but without the man I love, the magic disappears. The pang hits me again, but this time it lingers for much longer.
By Monday morning, my outlook has turned bleak. We officially hit the four-week mark of being apart, and without any significant holidays plus both our workloads being busy, there isn’t even a chance for a quick getaway.
I sit at my desk, typing an email when there’s a knock on my door—Lex poking his head in. With an incredulous stare, my mouth falls open, surprised to see him.
“Lex? I had no idea you were coming.” He steps inside, taking a seat in the chair in front of me. “Charlie didn’t mention anything of the sort.”
“I’m here for business.”
“Sure, I can clear my schedule?”
“Please.”
I look up at him, noting his serious expression. Picking up the phone, I call Emile and ask her to clear my schedule for the rest of the day.
“Is everything okay?” she whispers before continuing, “Lex est un homme magnifique.”
I chuckle softly. “Off-limits, Emile.”
Placing the receiver down, Lex tilts his head to the side with curiosity.
“A certain assistant of mine thinks you’re beautiful,” I tease with a small laugh escaping. “Where’s Charlie to set her straight when you need her?”
Lex purses his lips, hiding his smile. “I’m here because I want to make you a job offer.”
“I have a job,” I remind him. “You know, holding down the fort in Europe. Bringing the money in.”
“Let me rephrase that question… I have a proposition for you.” He clears his throat, forcing me to take him seriously. “As you know, I’ve been wanting to expand into the hospitality industry and have my eye on acquiring some hotel chains. Now, granted, I’m looking at places we can completely overhaul and modernize with what the travel industry desperately craves.”
“It makes sense. Tourism is a sure money-maker if done right.”
“I want you to manage it from the ground up.”
“The project?”
“No, the business. You’ll be the President of the DeLuxe Group. We’ll begin with acquiring their portfolio of hotels. Invest in the ones we see potential in, sell off the small chains of no interest or growth.”
“That’s a change… and a challenge.”
I think about Noah and all the changes in my life. I’m just not sure if I want to invest my time in a new position. It’s almost like starting over again.
“Since when have you ever backed down from a challenge?”
“I believe you’ve never allowed me permission to,” I tell him with a knowing smile. “So, what’s your timeline, and where do you need me?”
“I’d like handover handled here. Javier has proven himself, and if you are to say yes, I’ll be speaking with him next. As for where…. the main headquarters are Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles?”
Lex waits for a response, raising his brow. “Is moving to LA a problem for you?”
“No… but…” I trail off. “You know then.”
“Look, Kate. This idea didn’t happen overnight. It’s been two years in the making, and only a few months ago, our lawyers gave me the green light. My reason for pushing it aside is because I never had anyone worthy to run it. You know you’re one of the only people I trust. You’ve been there with me throughout it all, and did a certain union push me to make the final decision, yes?”
“But what if I say no?”
“Then you’d be giving up on what you and Noah have. Trust me, I’ve done it, and it’s a mistake which you’ll have to live with forever. So, are you ready to call Javier in?”
Lex never takes no for an answer, and I’ve never let him down. The thought of moving back to the States comes with mixed trepidation. I need time to think about this.
“Can I have time to think about it?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow evening, so until midday,” he informs me, standing up to leave the room. “You’re born for this role. And you’ll be working with an amazing team. I envision global domination. We’ll start with the States, but our future will be Europe and Asia.”
Lex exits my office, leaving me with a heavy weight on my shoulders.
That night, I lay in bed, unable to shut down. My mind has become a circus of cluttered thoughts, all of which lead to Noah. If I move to LA, would I live with Noah or keep our lives separate? If we do live together, does that make me a stepmother? What role will I play in his kids’ lives?
And most importantly—how will I find the time to juggle what seems like a demanding job and a boyfriend too. Noah isn’t exactly swimming in time, constantly trying to balance his life. If I’m with him full-time, will he have time for me, or will we fall apart from the pressure?
My thoughts become too much, and several times I want to reach out and call him to talk it through but decide against it. He’s more than my best friend now—I can’t unload on him like I would’ve before.
Eventually, I fall asleep to be awoken hours later by the morning sunrise. Once again, I avoid yoga because coffee seems more important. At the café beside my building, I order my coffee to notice a couple beside me. They are practically making out, smiling as they can’t keep their hands off each other. The man turns to look at me, a polite smile in which I offer one in return. When he shifts his attention back onto his significant other, he cups her chin as Noah has done so many times to mine, and murmurs, “J’aime qui je suis quand je suis avec toi.”
Standing beside them, it all becomes clear. As the man tells the women in French, ‘I love who I am when I’m with you,’ my memories of Noah saying the same thing to me cements my decision.
I race back home, dialing his number, praying he hasn’t gone to bed yet.
“Hey, you.”
Noah clears this throat. “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” My head can’t even compute the time zone difference right now.
“I can’t sleep,” he simply says.
“I’m sorry… it’s just that… I want to discuss something important.”
“Go ahead.”
I take a deep breath. It’s now or never. “Lex offered me a position in LA. I’d be President of DeLuxe Group, and it’s going to be a challenge, but—”
“Wait, you’re moving to LA?”
“I’m thinking about it…”
“You’re thinking about it? What’s there to think about?”
“I just didn’t want to push you. You have so much going on, and do you really want me knocking on your door every five minutes?”
“How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not pushing me. And for the record, you think you can come live in LA and us not live together?”
“Noah… I…”
“I want to wake up every morning with you beside me. I want to go to bed every night and make fucking love to you.”
“I’ll have no time for yoga.”
“That’s okay. I heard if you sit on top reverse cowgirl, it’s kind of the same thing.”
Shaking my head, laughter escapes me. “Did Eric tell you that?”
“Sadly, yes.”
“Noah, are you sure? How about Jessa and Nash? What’ll Morgan say?”
There are so many questions, questions that need answering.
“I’ll take care of Morgan. You shou
ldn’t be concerned about her. Jessa will love to have you around. Nash doesn’t even know where his nose is yet. Just say yes, Kate, say you’ll come. Please.”
“Yes… Noah. Yes.” I grin hopelessly.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”
“Hmm…” I start removing my tank top, moving toward the shower. “I think I can make you happier.”
I can hear the smirk smothering his face even though we can’t see each other. “I bet you can. Shall I switch us to video call?”
“You know me too well, Mr. Mason.”
KATE
It’s full steam ahead with my transition to LA.
Lex wants me full-time in the States within eight weeks. Easier said than done—I need to haul some serious ass.
Javier is taking over my role in Paris, and unfortunately for him, he has been paired with a much older personal assistant. I know he’d have gladly worked with Emile, given his interest in her during several corporate functions, but I wasn’t going to let her go. I offered her a role as my assistant in LA, which she is ecstatic about. All she needs to do is say goodbye to her French boyfriend, Louis, and pack her bags to join me.
With so many things happening at one time, the days become a constant blur. Emile is tasked with packing up my apartment, along with organizing my belongings to be shipped to the States. It turns out I’ve accumulated more clothes and accessories than I thought, which prompts a significant wardrobe cull.
It’s meeting after meeting until Lex calls and wants me to fly over for a quick introduction with the new team. It’s supposed to be for only three days, and despite my heavy workload here, I only agree so I can see Noah. It’s been six weeks of built-up sexual frustration, which video calls simply can’t satisfy.
As I land in LAX, previously my most hated airport in the world, I welcome its chaos with open arms. Everything feels exactly the same as last time, yet completely different.
Setting foot on American soil means I’m this much closer to touching Noah.
It’s early morning, and I’m not due in the office until lunchtime. I choose to hire a car this time due to the jam-packed schedule I have planned for the next three days, some of which involve off-site meetings.
Knowing that Noah is busy with work, which he doesn’t argue the fact, I drive over to Charlie’s place since she’s working from home today. I desperately need a shower to wash off the plane smell and look presentable when meeting everyone at the new office.
“You’re here!” Charlie runs outside with Addison following her. “Soon, I won’t have to greet you with such enthusiasm.”
We hug each other tightly before Addison demands my attention. Of all the three girls, she’s the only one who looks like Charlie only because of the color of her mousy brown hair. They all possess Lex’s green eyes, which Charlie often jokes about him definitely being their father. The joke, while humorous, never sits well with Lex.
I head straight for the shower, scrubbing away the awful travel smell, and then change into my ivory silk blouse and black pencil skirt. Beneath the skirt, I wear my garters and pantyhose, coupled with my Christian Louboutins. I plan to change into a different outfit for my date with Noah tonight—some restaurant in Malibu which will hopefully end with some much-needed sex.
It’s been that long, and there’s only so much a woman do to help herself.
Before heading to the office, I want to make one pit stop. It has weighed heavily on my mind since our altercation at Amelia’s party, and I know that I’m hugely to blame for what happened. Admitting my mistakes isn’t my greatest strength, yet losing a close friend is not something I want to happen either.
My knuckles tap on the door. Minutes later, Eric opens it, dressed in a sharp gray suit.
“Oh.” He eyes me dubiously before glancing aside. “It’s you.”
“Can I come in, please?”
With his mouth set in a hard line and arms crossed, he motions for me to follow him inside. Eric’s condo is modern with gorgeous views of the Hollywood Hills. He lives here with Tristan, who has become this mega movie star. Who would have figured? The two of them an unlikely couple, yet they never can stay apart.
“I brought this for you.” I hand him a white box with a red bow, gesturing for him to take it.
Using his perfectly manicured fingers, Eric opens the box and sifts through the tissue paper to pull out a mustard paisley cravat from a French boutique. The three elements he despises—the color mustard, paisley print, and, of course, the ever-so-controversial cravat.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry. For lying to you.”
“By giving me a cravat?”
I nod, smiling, knowing how much he hates them. “If I’m honest, I was ashamed. I knew from the beginning it was wrong, but I let myself believe that I was a big girl, and I could handle it.”
Eric releases a breath, staring at the box before raising his eyes to meet mine with a hopeless gaze. “Come here, give me a hug.”
In Eric’s embrace, the world feels right again. I’ve called him a drama queen, a pain in the ass, but the truth is, my life isn’t complete without him in it.
“I’m sorry, too, for flat out calling you a whore. It just caught me by surprise. I seriously thought it was a joke when he told me.”
“I wish it was.”
“You got to him, you know,” Eric confesses, keeping his voice low. “My whole life, we’ve barely spoken two words. It’s like I was never good enough to be his little brother. But now it’s all changed. It feels like we’re family.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, then pressing my lips together thoughtfully. “But it was never going to work out between us. Two different people and two different lives.”
“I know,” he admits, running his hand against the fabric of the cravat. “And look, he’ll move on. But he did… oh sorry… he does, love you.”
Dominic has no idea what love means. But who am I to care anymore? It’s a moot point, and my life is now with a man who loves me unconditionally. Dominic will move on, just like we all do when the stars don’t align.
“I have ten minutes to catch up before meeting Lex at the office. Tell me, what’s new with you?”
“Tristan and I took up hiking. Do you know how many hot French hikers we run into at the trail? I’m just waiting for an orgy to break out in the wilderness. You’ve got to teach me how to speak French.”
“Well, if it’s going to happen, then fingers crossed it’s to you. You can call the video Bareback Mountain.”
Eric snorts, followed by a ripple of laughter as I break out as well, unable to control myself until I fall into a coughing fit.
As we both try to calm down, Eric removes the cravat from the box entirely. “Let’s say, for the sake of argument, I wore this one day. On a scale of one to ten, how many honey daddies would I score?”
I shake my head with a wide grin. Some things never change. “Ten. They’d be throwing themselves at you.”
We speak a little bit more before I check the time and have to leave. I promise to catch up once I’m back permanently. In an odd expression, Eric looks rather pleased with himself, chewing his bottom lip with a knowing smirk. To add to that, his lingering silence also raises concern, but I’ve no choice but to ignore him for now.
Leaving his building, I welcome the short drive to the office to prepare myself for a very tiring few days.
***
Lex walks me through the building, introducing me to a few key people I’ll be working with. I’ve forgotten how strong the American accent is, having been away for a while. According to many, I still have my British accent, though my linguistic efforts have been directed to learning French.
The building is rather large and modern, fifteen floors to be exact, in which we occupy all of them. It’s located on Wilshire Boulevard in the heart of Beverly Hills, with Rodeo Drive just a few blocks away.
I’ve gone over the briefs, familiarized myself with our chain of hotels, and rise to the cha
llenge Lex set, but nevertheless, the man will continue to push me because that’s what he does best.
“Many of these hotels are outdated, the turnover is returning guests, but we’re not capturing the new generation—the influencers with their self-made money to spend. We’re talking complete overhaul, Lex, money spent on improving structures, expanding buildings, offering state-of-the-art amenities. Global campaigning is costly. This isn’t an easy sell unless we’ve got the product to back it up.”
“I agree, which is why I was able to secure the DeLuxe Group for a low amount. The board was tired, and they’re ready to move on. And they don’t have the funds to invest. I know we can bring this to where it needs to be, and I’ve given you the strongest team.”
The board room opens with a man and a woman walking in. The man will be easily in his early thirties, and the lady, more mature at possibly fifty-odd.
“Rebecca is head of Finance, and Austin is our Chief of Information Technology.”
I shake both of their hands, welcoming the two of them before asking them to take a seat. Another five people walk in, all of who are different heads of departments. Further to that, three of our shareholders also join us. We shake hands and exchange names. Luckily for me, I have a great memory when it comes to names.
Lex bows his head before Eric walks into the room. I shift my gaze to Lex, waiting for him to say something. “Eric Kennedy, Public Relations Manager.”
Eric extends his hand with a professional smile. “Lovely to meet you, Miss Hamilton.”
“Public relations?”
“Yes, Eric has been working on some side projects with me for quite some time, much to my wife’s displeasure.”
I keep my laugh at bay. Who would’ve thought Eric has something to do with public relations? Though, on further thought, he’s born to do this role. I’m just surprised Lex hired him, having never alluded to this and given Charlie has mentioned that he is the glue that holds her business together on more than one occasion.
