by Kara Chase
Most of the board members sitting by Edwin’s side have a bored expression on their faces. I can tell that they’d rather be anywhere else than sitting here. Edwin probably dragged them all here just so he could crush us with a majority vote.
Still, as I tell them that I have some evidence to influence the voting, I notice that most of them perk up. Everyone loves some drama.
“What are you talkin’ about, Viv?” Lucien asks me, but I just keep staring right at Edwin.
Let that motherfucker know his reign is about to come to an end.
“Just watch,” I whisper at Lucien, and then I place my hands on top of the table, ready to address the board. “We’re gathered here today to debate the situation taking place at The Trident penthouse, aren’t we? Thing is, there are two penthouses at The Trident.”
“So what?” Edwin asks me, almost spitting out the words. I don’t think he still has any idea about what I’m going to say.
If I were him, I’d be scared shitless. Because I’m about to lay down the law.
“Yes, Ms. Sweet. It’s common knowledge that Trident has two penthouses. Not just one. Where are you getting with this?” A member of the board asks me, a woman in her sixties, glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.
“And I believe it’s also common knowledge that Mr. Snodgrass here owns the other penthouse, isn’t that right?” I continue, staring down each and every one of the board members.
Some nod lazily, while others actually seem surprised by what I just said. Even better.
“What most of you probably don’t know is that Mr. Snodgrass tried to offer me money to get Lucien to give up his claim on the apartment. He wanted me to sell the penthouse to him. Nothing wrong with that, some of you might be thinking. No laws against wanting a specific apartment, are there? Thing is, I really never could understand Mr. Snodgrass’s interest on it. I never figured out why he wanted to have that penthouse. Until today, that is.”
The moment the words leave my lips, I notice Edwin sitting straight on his chair. He does it so fast you’d think someone has just tasered him. His lips are now an anxious thin line, and I can see beads of sweat slowly taking over his greasy forehead.
“See, after carefully looking at all the records and plans for The Trident, I figured out that the two penthouses on the top floor have massive voting power. So massive that, when put together, they can overrule whatever the Condo Board determines.”
“What does that matter? These people know me,” Edwin says, cutting me short while he waves at the people sitting at his table. “Even if what you’re saying was true, the Board knows I’d always look after their interests!”
“Oh, really?” By now, I can’t stop a massive grin from taking over my face: Edwin Snodgrass is about to be owned. “Then would you please be so kind as to explain to the board why you’ve entered preliminary conversations with a major hotel franchise?”
I swear to God, if his jaw went any lower, he might end up breaking the table. By now, everyone in the room is staring at Edwin. Still, I press on. “It seems to me that you were planning to sell the whole condo and evict all the residents in the process.”
“That’s, that’s...lies! Falsehoods!” He stammers, looking around the room as if expecting someone to come to the rescue.
Except, of course, no one comes. No miracle is going to save his ass today. “You can’t prove it, and you know it!”
“Really? Is that how you want this to play out?” I ask him, one eyebrow cocked. Sighing, I reach for my folder and open it up, carefully removing a sheet of paper from inside it.
“This right here,” I continue, raising the piece of paper and showing it to everyone in charge of the hearing, “is a transcript of the last meeting Mr. Snodgrass held with some Russian investors. In here, he details how he plans to acquire the second penthouse and then put in motion a plan to sell the whole of The Trident to the investors. Of course, by doing that Mr. Snodgrass would be attributed a quite large stake of the new Trident hotel.”
“Is that true, Edwin?” The lady from before asks, turning around on her chair to face the prick. Her cheeks are red and, judging by the deep lines around her lips, I can tell she’s more than ready to stand up and kick Edwin’s ass.
Slowly, a murmur takes over the whole board, everyone asking Edwin the same question over and over again—is it true?
“How the fuck did you pull that off?” Lucien asks me, leaning back on his chair and looking at me as if only now he remembered I’m the meanest lawyer in town.
“Don’t tell me you forgot who I am,” I simply offer, smiling at him.
“So, it’s true. You’re as kickass as everyone says.”
“I thought you knew that by now.”
“Let’s just say you surprise me every day,” he laughs, slowly going up to his feet and siding with me.
Now, with both of us standing up and facing the board, we just take in the whole commotion.
Every board member is working his own line of questioning on Edwin, who just remains there as still as a statue. His eyes are glazed, and his jaw hangs open in disbelief; he’s covered in sweat, and looks like he’s about to have a stroke.
“Motion to impeach!” One of the board members, I can’t see who, suddenly exclaims. In just a few seconds, everyone seems to be repeating those three words. As they all agree on it, soon enough all hands in the room are raised.
“Mr. Snodgrass,” the elderly woman from before states, standing up and staring Edwin down. “It’s with great pleasure I remove you from your office. Effective immediately, you are no longer President of the Condominium Board, and all powers and privileges that came with the position are no longer applicable to you.”
With his hands shaking, Edwin slowly gets up from his seat and ambles out of the room. He doesn't say a word, nor does he look anyone in the eye.
“You shouldn’t have messed with us, bitch,” I whisper as he walks by Lucien and I.
Slowly, he raises his eyes to meet mine, and I swear he’s about to cry. SomehowSomehow, he controls himself and keeps heading out. He drags his feet, just like a man on death’s row, and disappears out of view.
“Mr. Parker, Ms. Sweet…” the woman, now apparently the temporary representative of the board, looks toward us. “We deeply regret this situation, and the board would like to extend an apology to you. More than that, we’re thankful that you shed light on Mr. Snodgrass’s dealings. I know your situation is somewhat irregular, but I think the whole board agrees. We don’t have to meddle in your affairs, and it’s best you handle it privately.”
One after another, every member of the board nods their assent.
Smiling—victory always makes me smile—I turn to Lucien and say.
“So, only one thing left to solve, who gets the apartment?”
As I look into his eyes, as I take in his smile...I can’t help but relive everything that happened these past few weeks. I can’t help but realize that my heart beats slightly faster every single day because of the man in front of me. I can’t help but realize that I...love him.
And so, the answer is evident. “I’m ready to give up the apartment, Lucien.”
I expected him to protest.
I expected him to pump his fist up in the air and celebrate.
What I didn’t expect was for him to lean in and whisper into my ear.
“I have a better idea.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lucien
“What are you talking about?”
Her voice quivers, her eyes widen, and her lips are slightly pursed. She wasn’t expecting for me to react like this. Hell, if you asked me yesterday, nor would I.
But I’ve given a lot of thought to what I’m about to do, believe or not. It might not seem like it, but I actually think about shit. Especially when it involves Vivian.
I take a deep breath and ready myself for it. I’m about to do the most important thing I’ve done in my entire life. I’ve made billions of dollars in bu
siness, created a legacy that’ll last for hundreds of years. But nothing compares to this.
Nothing.
Smiling, I look into her eyes and tuck a stray lock of her hair over her ear. I lean in slowly and brush my lips against her. I feel the taste of strawberry, sweet as she always is, and my heart beats faster.
Here we go.
“I love you, Vivian,” I tell her, Fuck, does it feel good to finally say it out loud. “I fucking love you more than anything in my life. I don’t know what you did to me and, truth be told, I couldn’t care less. All I know is that these past few weeks have made me aware of one thing: I can’t picture life without you by my side. I know it has all been as crazy as shit between the two of us...but I love the crazy you bring into my life.”
Without looking away from her, I reach into the pocket of my jacket. Carefully, I brush my thumb over the velvet box inside it. Taking a deep breath, I go down on one knee in front of her.
Yeah, I’m about to fucking do this.
Lucien Parker is about to fucking propose to a woman he loves. How’s that for something different?
“Vivian Sweet,” I start, softly grabbing her hand while I take the box out of my pocket.
As she sees it, she gasps and covers her mouth with one hand. I can almost see the temperature in the room rising. I know everyone in here is looking at us, wondering what the fuck is going on, but I couldn’t give two shits about it. This is my moment—no, fuck that, this is our moment.
“I’m the kind of guy that does things without thinking. I move in boldly, decide, and then correct the course. I’m brash, arrogant, and a pain in the ass. That being said, I’m in love with you. I might not know much, but if there’s one thing I know...is that you are the woman of my life. The one I want to spend my life with. The one I want to grow old with.”
I let my words sink in for a brief moment. Then I pop the box open, allowing the lights in the room to reflect off the fucking massive diamond ring. Yeah, might be a bit too much.
But what the hell, this is a big fucking moment. I had to go big. Even if big meant spending hundreds of thousands on a fucking diamond ring.
“We don’t have to fight over the apartment. We don’t have to give up on it. We should just share it...as we should share our lives together. Will you marry me?”
For half a heartbeat, I almost think she’s going to say no. And let me be honest with you, that was probably the most terrifying moment of my entire fucking life. Forget about losing my billions, or having my dick fall off—to have the woman of my dreams slip away would completely fucking crush me.
I’ve never been one to get anxious about shit. But right now, staring into her eyes as I wait for her reply...fuck, I’m a nervous wreck.
“Yes!” she cries.
I just feel the best smile ever dawn on my lips. I remove the ring from inside the box and slip it on her finger. The moment I do it, it suddenly becomes all too real.
Vivian and I are going to become one.
I can’t exactly explain it, but it feels as if everything that has happened these past few weeks has been leading to this. I don’t believe in destiny, but some things really seem as if they’re meant to be.
“I love you, Lucien. I love you so much,” she continues as I go up to my feet, and then she just throws both her arms over my shoulders and pulls me into her.
Next thing I know, my lips are crushed against hers, her body pressed against mine. My hands are on her hips, keeping her in place, and our lips are locked together like the two remaining pieces from a puzzle.
I only notice it after a while, but when I break from our kiss everyone in the room is clapping. The men are whistling, and the woman are all teary-eyed. Samantha, the old lady facing off against Edwin, even has a lone tear rolling down her cheek.
Yeah, look, I never thought I’d be the protagonist in a happy ending like this. But you know what?
It feels damn good to star in one opposite Vivian.
I just want to keep on doing it for the rest of my life.
I just want it to last forever.
“Anyone against us sharing the apartment like this?” I can’t help myself from asking. With one arm draped over Vivian’s shoulders, I turn around to face the board, the cockiest smile ever on my face.
“I don’t think so, Mr. Parker,” Samantha says, wiping her tear away as she smiles at us. “In fact, I think we’ll all be very pleased to have the two of you as our neighbors.”
“It goes both ways,” Vivian replies, and then she turns to me and places both her hands on my chest, running her fingers down my tie as she bites her bottom lip. “I’m thinking we need to celebrate this engagement.”
“What do you have in mind?”
A smirk grows on my face as I look her in the eyes.
“You know exactly what I have in mind.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Vivian
Fairy tales aren’t supposed to be true.
They’re only supposed to help you sleep at night, to ease the pain of daily life. How many of us, when we were just kids, read those picture books about princesses and their charming princes, just to be disappointed later on in life? I know I was one of those girls.
But now, with Lucien by my side…
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m a convert. I now believe fairy tales are true. If you don’t lose hope, if you keep believing...they can happen.
“What are you thinking?” Lucien asks as we step inside the elevator. He presses the button that’ll take us to the top floor, and the moment the doors close I’m on him.
“I’m thinking of you and everything we’re going to do once we get home,” I whisper, running my tongue between my lips as I look into his eyes.
“Why wait?” He grins at me and next thing I know he has me pressed against the closed door of the elevator, his hand sliding up my leg and under the hemline of my dress.
He only stops when his fingers touch the fabric of my already drenched thong, and then he flattens his whole hand over my aching pussy.
“Agreed,” I pant. “We’ve waited long enough. I almost wanted you to have me right then and there in the hearing.”
“Maybe I should’ve done that,” he growls, flicking the wet fabric of my thong to the side and caressing my wet folds with his index finger.
I gasp as I feel his soft touch, and my eyes roll as he turns his hand around and lays his thumb over my clit. Electricity crackles under my skin, and I feel my blood boil.
As he slides his finger inside my pussy, curling it upward like a hook and driving straight to my g-spot, my brain starts heating up. I thrust with my hips, pressing my pussy against his hand, and I take my hand straight to his crotch.
Pleased to feel him hard and ready, I start stroking him over his pants. My chest tightens up as I realize that soon enough I’m going to have him inside my pussy, inside my mouth…
“I love how wet you are,” he whispers into my ear as he slides his finger in and out of me, still working on my clit at the same time. “Maybe I should have a taste…”
“Then why don’t you?”
Without even bothering to reply, he goes down on one knee in front of me and hikes my dress up to my waist. In a fluid motion, he slides his finger out of my pussy and replaces it with his tongue, carefully licking my inner lips before using it to gently press down on my clit.
As he works on my clit with his lips and tongue, I run my hands through his hair, my back arched, and my head thrown back. My eyes are closed, and soft little moans tumble out from between my lips each time Lucien jabs at me with his perfect tongue. He’s more skilled with his tongue than most men are with their cocks.
“Oh god,” I moan as pleasure runs wild inside me, each flick of his tongue unleashes flames of ecstasy up my spine.
Raising one leg, I place it over his shoulder and allow him to devour him wildly. I sway my hips, rubbing my pussy against his mouth as if I were in a trance, and I start to moan loud
er and louder.
“Fuck, you taste amazing, Viv,” he tells me as he comes up for air, but then he’s on me again. It doesn’t take long for me to have to grit my teeth, an intense orgasm spreading its wings inside me.
“Fuck!” I groan, throwing my head back so hastily that I bang it against the elevator doors. Exactly at the same time as I come, the elevator dings, and the doors slide open.
“This was just the appetizer,” Lucien tells me as he pushes my thong down my legs.
Placing them inside his pocket, he then goes up to his feet and kisses me, the taste of my own pussy hitting me hard.
“Then I can’t wait for the main course.”
Running my fingers over his tie, I then grab it and pull Lucien, making him walk after me as I make my way to our apartment door. Standing to my side, he grabs his own keys and we step inside.
The moment I place one foot inside the apartment, Lucien attacks me like a wild animal pouncing on its prey. He doesn’t even bother with getting me undressed—at least not in the traditional sense.
Instead, he just tears the dress off my body. Maybe I should be pissed at him for ruining one of my favorite dresses. But no...I just get even wetter.
As he takes my bra off, I feel my nipples harden so much that it almost hurts.
“You’re fucking perfect, did you know?” he says, a cocky grin on his lips.
“And I fuck perfectly too,” I grin back at him, my hands now on his belt. I unbuckle it, and then I get to work on his shirt, my fingers hurriedly popping button after button. When I finally push the shirt down his arms, he’s already kicking his shoes off and stepping out from his pants and boxer briefs.
As his cock springs free, anticipation makes my heart tighten up. I need that hard cock, and I need it right now.
“Fuck me, Lucien,” I whisper, one finger trailing down his chest until I’m stopping by his large cock. “Fuck me hard,” I continue, flicking my wrist and stroking him softly, getting him ready for what I really want him to do.
