We arrived to the hospital, and I was immediately given a room and put on monitors. Liam was freaking out seeing me in pain, but he managed not to faint. My contractions came on hard, and I was already seven inches dilated. It was happening quickly.
Two hours later, Stella Nicole Weston was born. She weighed seven pounds, three ounces and was a beautiful twenty-one inches long. She was perfect. I didn’t know that type of love could ever existed until I had my baby girl.
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“Alright, sweetie, this way to the movie.” I grabbed Stella’s hand and led her into the theatre as she jumped excitedly all the way to our seats.
She laughed and bounced around whole movie. It was the most adorable thing ever. The simple joy in her eyes was the best part of being a mom. I hoped that one day Drake could be a part of our family. It would be wonderful for Stella to have a father figure permanently in her life and for her to see what true love looks like. My parents were always kissing and holding hands growing up. They were my inspiration when I agreed to marry Liam. I knew if they could marry their high school sweethearts and have it last, then I could too. Unfortunately, that all changed when Stella was two months old.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Liam and I argued a lot after Stella was born. The lack of sleep and constant worrying about money had us irritable toward each other. I would do those two months over in a heartbeat if I could.
We tried to adjust to being first time parents. However, we were very young and naïve first time parents. We struggled to pay our rent and buying formula on top of that made for a stressful situation. One night Liam decided he needed a night out with his friends. Since it had been two months since Stella was born, I agreed that he needed some time away. Wish I had time away.
It was after midnight, and I was getting worried. Liam normally called and checked in with me to make sure Stella and I were doing all right. When he worked, he kept in touch during all his breaks. I started to feel like something was wrong, but I brushed it off as Liam just needing a boys night out.
I fell asleep and around three in the morning, my doorbell rang. Ugh, go figure he forgot his keys. Stumbling to the door, I opened it, “forgot your keys?” It wasn’t Liam. It was two police officers and as soon as they saw me, they both lowered their heads.
“Miss Woods?” one of the officers asked me.
“Yes?” My stomach was in knots. I felt like throwing up.
“Does Liam Weston reside here, ma’am?”
“Yes he does. Is he in some kind of trouble, officer?” I asked hesitantly.
“I’m sorry to inform you, Miss Woods, but Liam was in a bad head on collision tonight. He was pronounced dead on the scene.” The officer’s face went pale. I just stood there. Stunned. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. “Ma’am? Are you alright?”
“He’s dead?” I whispered.
“Yes, Miss Woods. He suffered head trauma and was not responsive when the first responders arrived. We are so sorry for your loss.”
We are so sorry for your loss rattled in my mind for the next six months. It still didn’t feel real. Even his funeral didn’t feel real. I was numb.
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Stella and I grabbed dessert on the way home from the movie theatre and flagged a cab back home. She had a blast, and it gave me such joy to see her happy. I tucked her in for the night and called Drake to say goodnight.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hey baby. Wanted to call and say goodnight.”
“I miss you. Wish I could see you right now,” he confessed.
“I miss you too. What would you do with me if you had me right now?” I teased hoping he’d find my sex voice appealing.
“Ohhh… I would be doing very naughty things to you right now. I would start with kissing your neck and caressing your breasts. Then I would make my way down your long torso kissing every part of you.” Drake was teasing and arousing me over the phone. This is hot.
“Stop it… you’re getting me wet,” I blushed.
“Good… that’s my plan,” he chuckled.
“If you can’t deliver the goods, don’t wrap the package!” I scowled playfully.
“Oh, I plan to deliver baby.”
“Drake…” I pleaded. I was curious as to what he had in mind.
“First, take off your pants and crawl into bed. Then I want you to take off your shirt. Get nice and comfortable baby,” he demanded seductively.
I did as he told me and got down to my bra and undies. I crawled under the sheets wishing Drake were here with me. “Okay baby, I’m in bed.”
“Perfect. Now close your eyes and envision me kissing you. Kissing you down your neck, down to your collarbone, and down your breasts.” My nipples got hard immediately. I was so aroused by hearing his voice telling me what to do. Damn, this is fucking hot.
“Now I want you to slowly place one hand over your panties.” It was as if he were lying there right with me. I was soaking in his voice, doing exactly as he told me. Fuck. This was hot. More. I need more.
“I need you Drake,” I moaned. I wanted him bad.
“I’m here baby. Now slowly put your hand under your panties and envision I’m there with you right now.” I moaned into the phone. I ached for him and craved more.
“More baby, I need more,” I begged.
“Keep going,” he pursued.
“Ahhhh…. Drake…”
“Come on baby,” he demanded. “Let go for me,” he urged.
“Draaaaaaaaaaake!” Oh, god that was amazing.
“Holy… shit,” was all I could breathe out.
“That’s my girl.” I could tell he was smiling.
“Now it’s my turn baby. Listen closely…” I smiled and told him exactly what I wanted him to do to himself imagining me being there with him.
The next morning was a classroom day so per my usual schedule, I got Stella up and ready for school. We took the elevator down and walked to the mailboxes. Junk, junk, bills, bills… oh wait, what is this? It was a sealed envelope with Miss Woods written on it. I shoved everything else in my bag and ripped open the envelope.
One Million Dollars or the pictures get released. Will contact in 48 hours for pick up details. No cops or they get released immediately.
My mouth dropped open as I seen pictures of Drake and I in the Riverside intern kitchen where we had made love on the counter one day after class. There were about seven different shots of him taking me, kissing me, and teasing me with a red silicone brush. Holy fucking shit.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Stella glanced up at me and noticed a tear in the corner of my ear.
“Nothing baby. Let’s go,” I lied.
How the hell did this happen? Were there security cameras in there? Surely, Drake would’ve said something had there been. What was I going to do? Obviously, I didn’t have that kind of money. I was going to have to tell Drake and get him involved.
“Drake?” I mumbled.
“Molly? What’s wrong?” He could hear the desperation in my voice.
“We need to talk. I just received something in my mail.” I held back sobs. This would be devastating if it went public. Drake was a well-respected businessman and owner and needed to keep his reputation clean to keep profits high. His family would shame him and be humiliated. I would be kicked out of the program, and my chances for graduating or finding a job would be slim.
“I’ll be in my office in thirty minutes. Meet me there.” I grabbed a coffee after walking Stella to the bus stop and flagged a cab to see him
“Miss Woods, Mr. Stagliano is expecting you. You may go right in,” his receptionist motioned me to walk right there. I could feel the sweat coming from my forehead. I was so nervous and scared. Would he be mad? Would he blame me?
“Molly, what’s wrong?” Drake panicked. He stood up from his desk as soon as I opened the door. He raced to my side and took both of my hands in his. I could see the worry on his face.
“We�
��re being blackmailed.” My face went pale. I grabbed the envelope from my bag and handed it to him. He took it from my shaky hand and walked back to his desk. I followed him and sat down.
“Fuck. It has to be someone in security. But who?” he pondered aloud.
“What are we going to do?’ I asked worried.
“I don’t want you worrying about a thing, Molly. I will take care of this. Go to class and have a great day baby,” Drake persisted kissing me on the forehead. I was relieved he wasn’t upset with me, but I was worried about what he was going to do about this.
I could barely pay attention in class. I couldn’t keep focused and was called on twice. I glanced up completely oblivious to what the question was. I dug my head in my hands ready to burst into tears at any moment. The instructor could see I was having a bad day, and left me alone after the second time I flaked on answering his questions.
“Molly, can I see you after class please?” I glanced up to see he was looking directly at me. I nodded at him and dug myself deeper into the chair. Ugh, this is embarrassing.
I collected my things after we were dismissed and met with the instructor. He asked me if everything was all right, and I nonchalantly just explained I was enduring some personal issues and that I would be more focused tomorrow. I apologized for my lack of participating in class and he let me leave once he was satisfied with my response.
I rushed home after class hoping to feel better once I saw Stella. She was sitting at the table eating. “Stella baby, what are you eating?” Interesting choice of snacks as always.
“Pickles and yogurt.”
“You are my strange little girl,” I chuckled and pecked her on the cheek.
I decided I needed to call Drake and see if he found any information out. “Hey baby, how was class?” he asked answering on the first ring.
“Not good. I was too distracted. Please tell me you found some information out?” I said worried.
“I told you not to worry. I’m taking care of it.”
“I know. I can’t help but worry.” I frowned. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Can you come over tonight? I’d like to show you something.”
“Sure. I can come after Stella goes to bed. Michael will be home by nine.”
“Sounds good baby. See you then.” We hung up and spent the rest of the evening with Stella. We colored, made pizza, and made a fort in her bed. She made it easy to forget all my worries.
I arrived to Drake’s around nine-thirty. I wasn’t sure what he had in store for us that evening, but I wanted to let my worries behind and just enjoy spending time with him. I trusted him, and if he said he’d take care of it, I wanted to believe him.
His doorman ushered me in and to the elevator up to the Penthouse. I walked in, and Drake was nowhere to be seen. I walked through the foyer and into the kitchen where I saw rose petals laid perfectly on the floor. They followed through the dining room and up the staircase. I followed, curious as to what this man had in store for me. I smiled as I walked up the stairs wondering where Drake was. At the top of the staircase, the rose petals lead me to a door I haven’t been through before. Cautiously, I opened it and walked in.
Inside, I saw the photos of Drake and I that were taken in the kitchen. They are blown up and mounted on canvases. They are tastefully seductive and appropriate for our eyes only. I smiled as my memory of that day flashes through my mind. Rose petals are covering the cherry wood floor, and there’s light classical music playing in the background. There’s a pure white studio day sofa in the middle of the room, covered with red rose petals and red pillows. The room is set up for a night of complete romance.
“You like?” Drake’s voice appeared behind me. I turned around and there he was. He had on a red tie and nothing else. Damn, that’s a sexy tie.
“I absolutely love!” I gushed eyeing him up and down. I love the photos and him standing there in just a tie. Damn.
I noticed a clear plastic box with the red silicone brush placed inside. I chuckled as I remembered his teasing me with it.
“Nice display,” I said brushing my fingertips alone the bristles.
He walked towards me keeping his eyes glued to mine. He took my head in his hands and leaned down for a kiss. He deepened the kiss tilting my head back to give him more assess. I rub my hands along his torso, feeling his rock hard muscles.
Our lips separated as he leaned his forehead on mine. “It’s been two weeks since we first made love. It’s been the best couple of weeks of my life, Molly. I think about you all day and when we aren’t together. I want you in my life, and want you to only be mine.” He paused letting it sink in.
“I am only yours.” I smiled. “I don’t want anyone else,” I confessed.
“Good, because you are all I want. I want you. All of you. I want to know Stella better, I want to know you better, and I want to be apart of your lives; if you’ll let me.” He looked deep into my eyes confessing his love for me. It was the first time someone had spilled it all out for me like that. No games. No worries. Just him and me.
CHAPTER NINE
Drake explained to me that he got our pictures blown up because although they were being used as blackmail, he was not ashamed of them. He enjoyed our times together, and the first time we made love in the kitchen was one of his favorites. I had to agree with him; it definitely was erotic and mind-blowing. Every time with Drake is mind-blowing…
That evening was not about sex; rather it was about getting to know each other. We knew each other greatly on a sexual level, but still had a lot to know about each other personally.
“So where did you grow up?” Drake said biting into a chocolate dipped strawberry. He had then sitting on a crystal platter next to two glasses of champagne.
“I grew up in a small town called Burlington, Iowa. My parents split when I was fourteen, just before I met Liam. He really helped me cope with their separation. We got pregnant at eighteen, and he proposed shortly after. We never set a date. Mainly, because we didn’t have a lot of money and my parents weren’t supportive of the idea. Then when Stella was two months old, he was killed in a car accident. After that, I was determined to get out of Iowa, go to culinary school, and run a restaurant some day.” I took a sip of champagne giving myself a chance to breathe. I had just spilled personal information that I haven’t discussed in many years. I trusted Drake, but I didn’t want him to view me any differently. I had a boring childhood until I met Liam. He made me feel alive again, and when he died, it was like I had died with him. Meeting Drake was making me feel alive again, and I didn’t want to lose it this time.
“Are you close with your parents?” he asked, keeping the conversation going.
“We talk every week, so I guess we are close. They Skype with Stella and send her gifts. I haven’t been home in two years though and they can’t afford to visit. They weren’t there for me when Liam died. I think they tried their best, but they really didn’t know how to let me grieve. Stella was my main priority and becoming a single mom at eighteen was time consuming.” I took a bite from Drake’s strawberry he held up for me. “What about you? What are your dark secrets?” I teased.
“I grew up here in Chicago. My Great-Grandfather started the Riverside Hotel when he was only thirty years old. He was exceptionally smart in finances and made the business a huge success. He opened the restaurant twenty years later and worked until he was seventy. My dad started working for him at sixteen and has been ever since. I started when I was twenty-one after I graduated college and have been doing it ever since.” He drank the rest of his champagne. He obviously was successful and extremely proud of his accomplishments. It was adorable watching him talk about his business. And sexy.
“So… what exactly do you do?” I smiled. Besides being obviously charming…
“I do everything!” he teased. “I do most of the finances. That’s what I have my degree in, but I also do a lot for the restaurant in finding new menu options, structuring the internshi
ps, hiring/firing, finding new ways to make more money and various other things,” he grinned. He definitely had many responsibilities, which was somewhat intimidating. But oh so intoxicating.
“So have you ever thought about the whole marriage and baby thing?” I said playfully wondering how he’d take it.
“Actually, I do hope to get married and have children some day. But… so far, that hasn’t been in my cards. Most women want the publicity to advance their own careers or to only be involved sexually.” I could see his genuine eyes as he spoke about his future. It was heartwarming and reassuring.
I stood there staring at a beautiful man that I could potentially settle down with. It was surreal. He was surreal. I had let a man into my life in such a short amount of time, and I didn’t want anything, or anyone getting in the way of that.
“So I need to know,” Drake started. “How is it that a young, beautiful woman like yourself has stayed single for four years?”
“I wasn’t ready to date, I guess. I mean, guys tried, and they wanted to, but I always found a reason to let them down,” I answered honestly thinking back to all the times I rejected a man for no good reason.
“So why are you here with me now?” he asked smiling as he had been wanting to know.
“I guess you’re the exception.” I smiled back at him knowing he would like hearing that. “And let’s be honest, you didn’t really give me much choice,” I teased, knowing damn well he’s pursued me harder than any other man ever has.
“You know you wanted me. I just had to convince you I was good enough for you.” He leaned in for a kiss, but I pushed his face away just before he reached my lips.
“Okay… enough chit chat. Sit,” I demanded as I nodded to the white day sofa. He looked at me with a curious look and obliged.
I took the scarf off that I was wearing and blindfolded him. He chuckled and asked what I was doing. “Just do what I say,” I bantered back. I tied it around his eyes and made sure he couldn’t see. I smiled as I could only imagine the things going on in his mind at that moment. Fuck he’s so damn sexy. I can’t believe I’m here with this man.
Kitchen Affairs: A Riverside Novel (The Riverside Trilogy) Page 7
