Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  “You too,” she answered politely. “Have a good time this weekend. If you’ll excuse me, I have a closet to clean out.” She rose to her feet and I wrapped her in a hug.

  “Thanks for taking care of that for me,” I whispered in her ear.

  “It’s really my pleasure. You’ll have plenty of space for your new stuff when you get home.”

  “Have a good weekend, Piper,” Drake called to her as she walked towards my bedroom. She waved over her shoulder and he lifted my overnight bag off the couch.

  “Are you ready?” he asked with a smile.

  “As ready as I can be, having no idea where we’re going.” I smiled back.

  “Don’t worry. The suspense will be over soon enough,” he assured me. “This is a charming building,” he said as we descended the staircase.

  “Thanks,” I blushed, very aware that my entire apartment would fit into the living room of Drake’s penthouse. “Old buildings have their share of quirks, but Piper and I are comfortable here.”

  We stepped out into the crisp spring night and I spotted Drake’s limo at the curb. He opened the back door and gestured for me to slide in first.

  “So no hints at all where we’re off to?” I asked, buckling my seat belt.

  “Our first destination is JFK,” he told me. “I’ll tell you more once we’re on the jet.”

  Oh my God, we’re taking his private jet. I’ve never flown first class and now I’m going to be on one of the most expensive aircrafts made. I can’t believe this is suddenly my life.

  “Are you okay, Chelsea? You seem quiet.”

  “I’m fine,” I assured him, settling into his arms. “I’m still a little dumbstruck, I guess. Three weeks ago, we didn’t know each other. Now, you’re whisking me off to parts unknown on your private plane. It’s still kind of hard to believe this isn’t a fairytale.”

  “Maybe it is,” he suggested with a grin. “A real life fairytale. I have every intention of treating you like a princess.”

  “So that makes you my prince charming?” I teased.

  Drake laughed. “I guess it does.”

  I kissed him hard on the mouth, lay against his chest, and watched the Jersey skyline disappear. “Have you settled everything in Hong Kong?” I asked as the limo crossed the Hudson River.

  “Yes. Oliver actually proved quite helpful in settling everything. Your brother is a genius when it comes to international building regulations. We’re supposed to break ground in June. Maybe you could take some time off and fly over with me for the ceremony.”

  I smiled, happiness spreading through my cells. “I could probably make that happen.”

  Drake spent the rest of the ride describing the high end condos he was building in Honk Kong. The building would have a state of the art spa on the ground floor, with unlimited services provided to residents for a standard monthly rate. The design was completely green and sustainable, and Drake’s name was already being mentioned for the Ernest Goodwin Award for eco-design.

  “I can’t wait to see it,” I said as the limo pulled into the airport. We bypassed the terminal traffic and moved towards the private hangars.

  “We’ll go over again once construction is wrapped up. If you fall in love with one of the units, we’ll keep it.”

  “It’s as simple as that?” I asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

  “It’s as simple as that,” he repeated with a nod. The limo slowed to a stop and a member of the ground crew opened the door.

  “The jet’s fueled and ready, just as you requested, Mr. Waters. The pilots are in the cockpit and the wait staff is on board.”

  “Thank you, Trip. I can handle our luggage,” Drake added, slinging our overnight bags over one shoulder.

  “Have a safe flight,” Trip offered with a nod.

  Drake offered me his arm and we climbed the portable jet stairs. My mouth fell open as we stepped through the open plane door. The cabin looked like the living room of a high end apartment. Modern grey leather furniture was bolted to the floor and gorgeous white carpet ran the length of the jet. Black lacquer tables added to the modern style and a large flat screened television was mounted to the wall.

  “This is beautiful,” I gasped as we made our way to the couch.

  “I was worried you wouldn’t like it,” he laughed. “If you want, we can redecorate and make it look like a Victorian parlor. We could even have a piano installed and hire someone to play for us while we’re in the air.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s perfect the way it is,” I said with a grin. “Are you going to tell me where it’s taking us?”

  “Good evening, Mr. Waters, Ms. Tyler,” a brunette stewardess greeted us as she stepped out of the galley.

  “Good evening, Marsha,” Drake replied.

  “I’ve just spoken with the captain and we’ve been cleared for takeoff. Dinner will be served as soon as we’re in the air and the bed has been made up downstairs. We’re scheduled to land in Paris at ten a.m., local time.”

  “Thank you,” Drake said, smiling at me.

  “We’re going to Paris?” I stared at him, needing to make sure I heard him right. He nodded and I asked again. “We’re really going to Paris?” My smile was so broad, my eyes were squinted.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he grinned.

  “But how?” I gasped. “I don’t have my passport!” I was suddenly filled with panic.

  “Calm down, babe,” he soothed me. “Your passport is in your bag. I called Piper and she slipped it in there when you weren’t looking.”

  He’s thought of everything.

  I wrapped an arm around his neck and stared into his eyes. “We’re really going to Paris?” I asked for a third time, a hit of awe in my voice. I’d always wanted to see the City of Love and I could think of no better tour guide than Drake.

  “We’re really going to Paris,” he assured me with a smile.

  ***

  Seven hours later, at eleven a.m. Paris time, Drake and I stepped out of another limo into the heart of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré fashion district. I was overwhelmed by the brick streets, stone buildings, and sophisticated people surrounding us. I was thankful Piper had convinced me to spring for the vintage Diane Furstenberg wrap dress that made me feel comfortable among the crowd.

  “I don’t even know where to start,” I confessed as I gazed at the designer storefronts.

  “I do. Our first stop is Versace.” He took my arm and led me down the sidewalk. “We have fitting appointments in ten minutes. Francois, one of the designers, custom makes my suits for me. I thought we’d have him do your new work wardrobe. He can ship it over with my stuff once it’s finished.”

  “And that’s just our first stop?”

  Drake nodded. “From there, we can go wherever you like. Yves St Laurent is down the block, so is Hermes and Colette. There are also some cosmetic stores and a shop two streets over where you can get custom blended perfume. Whatever you want today, Chelsea, it’s yours.”

  “You’re being so generous, Drake. I don’t really feel right about spending your money,” I confessed. I loved that he wanted to spoil me, but part of me felt like a hypocrite for letting him. I’d always been so judgmental towards women who relied on men to pay their way through life.

  I’m not the same as them. I’m perfectly capable of providing for myself. It’s not like I’m letting him pay my rent or buy me a car. It’s just some clothes, maybe some perfume.

  He stopped walking and turned me toward him, placing his hands on each side of my face. “Look at me. Don’t worry for a second about my money,” he insisted, his beautiful eyes so earnest I felt emotion clog my throat. “I honest to God have more than I could spend in four lifetimes. What I haven’t had until now, is someone worth spending it on.”

  I swallowed. I swallowed the fear. The concern. The worry.

  When I nodded, he smiled and pulled me the rest of the way to Versace. He held open the glass door and we stepped into the showroom. I’d nev
er seen such gorgeous clothes and I immediately noticed that none of it was tagged.

  I guess if the price matters, you have no business being here in the first place.

  Drake and I spent the next hour browsing through Francois’s sketches and getting measured for our clothes. Charlotte, the designer’s assistant, spent twenty minutes holding different colored fabric swatches to my face to determine which would look best on me. Francois pronounced me the perfect muse and promised to have our new wardrobes ready within the month. Charlotte presented me with a selection of off the rack items to wear until then.

  “I feel like I just lived through Pretty Woman,” I confessed as Drake and I returned to the street.

  “Except the whole hooker part, I hope,” he added with a smile.

  “Yeah, except for that part,” I agreed.

  “So, where to next?” Drake asked, taking my hand.

  I hesitated for a moment, eyeing a black dress in a window across the street. “I need something for the banquet this week…”

  “And for the Founders Gala, and for the inevitable business events I’ll be dragging you to,” Drake added.

  “But I’m also hungry,” I confessed.

  “Say no more. There’s a fantastic café around the corner.” We walked down the side walk, arm in arm, and I took in the sites. The city’s beauty far surpassed anything I’d seen in pictures and I never wanted to leave.

  “I wish we could stay more than a weekend,” I said as we turned the corner.

  “Well, maybe one day we will. My family owns an apartment in the arts’ district. I think one of my aunts is there now, but if I give a little notice I’m sure we could have it for a month or two.”

  “A month or two?” I asked, my eyes wide. “I couldn’t take that long of a vacation.”

  Drake led me through a short wrought iron fence that separated the café’s outdoor dining from the sidewalk. “If we’re together, there’s really no reason for you to work,” he told me as he pulled out my chair. I sat, offended by his words.

  “Drake, I wouldn’t be comfortable if I wasn’t working,” I replied, my voice firm. “Buying me clothes and paying for dinner is one thing. But I’m not the kind of woman who’s comfortable with a man paying her bills. I have to have a job.”

  “I didn’t mean to offend you, Chelsea.”

  A black haired waiter approached the table and greeted us in French. Drake replied, the foreign language rolling off his tongue. The waiter nodded and walked back inside the café.

  “I ordered us each coffee and pastry,” Drake explained. “And as I was saying, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. The truth is that I’ve never had to think about money. I forget that other people have very strong opinions on the subject. I wasn’t implying that you needed taken care of. I was merely suggesting that we could have more fun if you weren’t tied down to your office. You could go back to school, we could explore the world. It was just something to think about, that’s all.”

  I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I could never accept it,” I insisted.

  Drake shrugged. “It’s completely up to you, Chelsea.”

  I looked at his beautiful face and leaned forward, placing my hand on his. “It’s too soon for us to even be talking about the future. Technically, this is only our second date,” I reminded him with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

  Drake reached across the table and took my hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed me gently. “We may have only met a few weeks ago, but I’m already looking forward to the rest of our lives.”

  ***

  At midnight, Drake and I finally returned to Charles de Gaulle Airport. The ground crew loaded a trunk full of shopping bags while we climbed back on board the jet.

  “Good evening,” Marsha greeted us with a smile. “I trust you enjoyed your time in the city?”

  “It was beautiful,” I gushed. “I wish we could stay longer.”

  She nodded and turned to Drake. “Can I get you anything while we’re waiting for clearance from the tower?”

  “No thank you, Marsha. We’ve stuffed ourselves in the cafés all day. I think we’re just going to go downstairs and sleep until we land in New York,” he explained.

  “Of course, Mr. Waters.”

  Marsha stepped into the cockpit while I followed Drake to the back of the jet. He pulled open the wide trapdoor and we descended the staircase to the lower sleeping level. The room was small but comfortable, with small portholes that allowed us to see the sky.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted,” Drake said, pulling off his shoes. He stripped down to his silk boxers and crawled between the sheets. I moved to the foot of the bed and stood before him with a coy smile on my face.

  “Before you nod off, I have a confession,” I began.

  Drake raised an eyebrow and returned my grin. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  “I spent more money today than you realized,” I told him as I unwrapped the belt of my wrap dress. “I wanted to show you how much I appreciate the way you’ve spoiled me today.”

  The dress fell open, revealing the peach silk lingerie I’d found in a small boudoir shop. The translucent fabric clung to my curves, barely covering the crotchless panties beneath.

  Drake pushed himself up in the bed and parted the sheets, nodding for me to slip in beside him. “You look stunning, Chelsea. I hope there’s more where this came from,” he added, stroking the soft fabric. He brushed the silk against my body and my hair stood on end, as if electrified. I reached between his legs and found him stiff and ready.

  Drake lifted his hips off of the bed and slipped out of his boxers. He tossed them to the floor before lying on his side and pulling me into his arms. We kissed lightly, our lips barely touching, as the jet began to move.

  “I have an idea,” I told him, sitting up. Drake moved with me as I fell back to the mattress, this time with my head near the footboard. I wanted Drake inside me as the jet climbed to the heavens, and he caught on to my plan without explanation. He left my side just long enough to fetch a condom and roll it down his eager shaft. He returned to the bed and I pulled him down on top of me.

  Our lips met as the jet slowed to a stop again. I knew we’d reached the runway and were waiting for final clearance. Drake held me close and we kissed softly, our bodies pressed together. We moved in unison, our bodies seamlessly joining as the jet lurched forward again. As we bumped down the runway, Drake’s cock touched places inside me I’d never known existed.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped as the force of the jet pushed him deeper inside me.

  The front of the jet lifted off the ground and Drake wrapped his arms around me, holding our bodies together. I moved my hips in circles, grinding into him as I planted my palms on the footboard to hold myself steady.

  “Jesus, Chelsea,” Drake moaned. “I didn’t know I could get so deep.” His hips moved in instinctive, rapid thrusts as we climbed into the sky. Essentially, we were hanging upside down, and all of my senses were distorted. Drake wove his fingers through my hair and gave it a quick tug just as his teeth clamped down on my earlobe. The mixture of pleasure and pain was overwhelming. I bucked wildly against him and reached ecstasy just as the plane righted itself. Drake let out an animalistic grunt and with one hard push, he exploded within me. He immediately collapsed on the bed, gasping for breath.

  “That… was… amazing.”

  “Yes, it was,” I agreed, reaching for the bedside mini-fridge. I grabbed a cold bottle of water and took a long sip before passing it to Drake. He finished it in two long gulps and wiped his mouth with a sigh.

  “So,” he said, pulling me back into his arms. He fingered my silk negligee. Is “ there more where this came from?”

  I smiled and nuzzled into his neck. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  CHAPTER 7

  e

  “Chelsea, I just can’t get over that dress.” Stacey beamed. “I can’t believe you got to go o
n a Paris shopping spree. Maybe you could get Drake to give Ollie some pointers. Our anniversary is coming up and I’d love to take a vacation before the baby comes. We haven’t gone anywhere since our honeymoon.”

  “I’ll put in a good word for you,” I told her with a smile. I stared at myself in the mirror as she moved around my head, ironing my hair into sleek waves. Piper sat on the edge of the tub, painting her toenails with her hair in curlers. The intern’s farewell banquet was later that evening and we were all getting ready at Stacey and Oliver’s Manhattan townhouse. As platinum members of the historical society, she and Oliver had tickets to all of the events.

  “What time are the guys picking us up?” Piper asked nervously. After a bit of prodding, she’d agreed to let Stacey set her up with Oliver’s friend, Martin.

  “Drake promised to wrap up the conference call with Hong Kong by six,” I told her. “He and Oliver are going to pick Martin up when they leave the office. They should be here by seven at the latest.”

  “You have nothing to be nervous about, Piper,” Stacey assured her. “Martin is a great guy. He’s very laid back and easy to talk to.”

  “And you love the ocean,” I reminded her. “Martin has a fleet of fishing boats. If you two hit it off, you’ll be able to spend all of your days off on the water.”

  “Let’s get the first date over with before we start planning the rest of my life,” Piper laughed. She screwed the lid back onto her nail polish and unraveled the curlers from her hair. Her blonde locks fell in tendrils around her head and she reached for a package of bobby pins.

  “Let me,” Stacey insisted, taking the pins from her hand. “I’m great with hair.”

  “You really are,” I agreed, studying my perfectly tamed waves. I stood and let Piper have the vanity stool while I brushed on my makeup.

  “Are you excited about tonight, Chelsea?” Piper asked. The fact that my promotion would be recognized at the banquet had become the worst kept secret in the office.

  “I’m flattered,” I replied slowly. “But I feel a little guilty… I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be at the society,” I confessed.