by Eydie Maggio
He was breathing hard, nearly out of breath, “God dammit, girl! The things you do to me.”
Elise was balled up in his lap with her head tucked into the curve of his neck where she was placing small kisses along his jawline. Her arms were wrapped around Trey’s chest, keeping him close to her. She was breathing hard, as well. He heard the smile in her voice as she whispered, “Promise you’ll do that to me again.”
Trey smiled and kissed Elise’s forehead, “Anything you want, any way you want it. Promise!”
~
Elise and Trey had just finished dinner and retired to one of the living rooms where Trey was watching the financial report on the news. Elise’s heard her BlackBerry buzz so she went over to the table where it was charging to pick it up. It was an email from her attorneys regarding the paperwork that Elise would be signing on Friday. They sent her the finalized contract, but they were sharing an addendum to the contract where she would be receiving a 4 million dollar spiff due to her first quarter sales going through the roof. They would be handing that check over to her on Friday.
“What’s up, Elise?” Trey must have read the look on her face.
“It’s about the papers on Friday. It looks like I’m getting a bonus check at the signing due to first quarter sales.”
“That’s great news.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Elise shrugged her shoulders. Reality started to sink in that her company was no longer hers anymore.
“Why the sad face?”
“Ok, I should be so grateful for all of this financial stability and success, and don’t get me wrong, I am. The fact is I have been working since I was fourteen years old. I don’t know how to not work. You know what I mean?”
“Yes. I completely understand.” Trey stood up and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Believe it or not, I was having this same conversation with my dad not too long ago. He’s been in politics for a long time, so the thought of retirement after this next term ends is a scary one for him, too.”
“Well your dad is on a whole other stratosphere from me. I mean, where do you go after being President of the United States?”
“He’s just a normal guy, Elise. I had to talk it through with him just like I am doing with you now. He’s going to focus his time on his children and grandchildren. He is planning on taking some form of a goodwill ambassador role to support all of his successors. He will get to do the things that he actually wants to do. And I think you will find yourself following that same philosophy, too.”
“I guess. I just felt that my work defined who I was, and if that’s not there, then who am I?”
“You’re a wonderful daughter, cherished girlfriend,” Elise smiled up at Trey as he kissed her temple, “a true friend, a savvy business woman, a genius in the kitchen,” Trey lean down and put his mouth near her ear, “and in the bedroom.”
“Trey!” A huge smile manifested on her face as she poked Trey on his side.
“To steal your line, I only speak the truth!” Trey ran his hands down the length of Elise’s arms. “But in all seriousness, think of all the things that you wanted to do in the future when you had more time, money, support, etc.? Name one.”
“Ok, so I always knew that one day I would be married and have children.” Elise swallowed hard once the words left her mouth. Men just don’t react well when a woman brings up either of those topics, much less both, in the same sentence.
“Ok, so now you have the time and financial stability to do both of those things. What else?”
He took that surprisingly well. “I want to fulfill Martie’s bucket list. Sad thing is, I have no clue what’s on it.”
“Well, you have time for those discussions now. Once Martie finishes one bucket list, she can make another. You have the time and money to do that now. What else?”
“I don’t know, maybe some charity work.”
“Ok, with who? What cause?”
“Something with education or maybe at risk youth.”
“I actually made a contribution this week to a school district where the teachers were paying for normal classroom needs out of their own pocket. Can you imagine having to buy updated reading materials for your class when that should be a staple provided by the state?”
“Do they still need more money? Or maybe time?” Elise liked the idea of helping the teachers or students. Her education is what got her so far, and if she could pay it forward, everyone wins.
“I’ll get the contact information. I had to ask Sophia to put up the money since it may look like I was trying to buy votes if it actually came from me. It all has to look ethical since my bank accounts can come under scrutiny.”
“You should have asked me.”
“I thought about it, but it was the morning of the television interview. I didn’t know exactly where I stood with you after I fucked up.”
“Do you know where you stand with me now?” Elise loved him so much and she didn’t want any lines blurred.
Trey cupped her face in his hands, “Yes. I think I do.”
“I love you, Trey. Being here over the past two days has felt so right. I want to be in your life, and I want you to be in mine.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I.”
“Let me show you something.” Trey took Elise’s hand as he guided her back into his office. He opened his briefcase that was on the desk and pulled out a key ring that had a couple different sets of keys on it. Trey placed the key ring in Elise’s hand. “These are all of my keys to everything in my world.”
Elise looked down at the key ring and saw two keys that looked like car keys, and there were five other keys that Trey would have to explain. “So what are all these for?”
Trey lifted each key one by one, “This one is for my office in D.C. This one is for my office in New York. This one is for the main entrance to this house. This one is for the side entrance to this office. And this one is for the carriage house across the way.” Trey pointed out the window to the building that was on the far side of the driveway against the tree line. “I actually wanted to show you the carriage house and to get your thoughts on something.”
Elise was a little puzzled, “Ok.”
Trey led Elise out of the side entrance to his office across the long parking area to the two story carriage house that had its own two car garage. When they got to the entrance, Trey unlocked the door and let Elise walk in. It was a beautifully designed space that consisted of a spacious living room, kitchen, and bedroom on the first floor. There was an elevator that took them up to the second floor where there was another sitting room and two more bedrooms.
“The previous owners had adult children that went to college so they built this for them as a way for them to have some freedom away from their parents without the expense of renting.”
“It’s an amazing space. The natural light coming through is beautiful.”
“Well, what I was thinking was maybe one day in the future when you are ready, you could move in with me, and this space could be for Martie.”
Elise whipped her head around and looked up at Trey. The look on his face was so tender that tears immediately stung Elise’s eyes. She was choked up when she tried to speak. Trey grabbed a tissue from the sitting room and brought it over to her. “Martie?” That was the only word she could muster.
Trey nodded his beautiful head causing Elise to break down into a full on bawl. Who was this perfect, wonderful man? What did Elise do to deserve someone like this?
“I know how important a relationship with a parent is, and I would never want to have her any farther than arms reach from you. I don’t want to rush you Elise, but I would be lying if I told you that I haven’t thought about a future with you. And in that future, Martie is there, too.”
Elise buried her face in Trey’s chest hugging him to her, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just think about it.” Trey held Eli
se for a long while until her emotions were more in control.
Elise finally lifted her head from Trey’s chest. “So what are the other two keys for?”
Trey smiled down at her and lifted the two car keys, “My Mercedes and my vintage Jag.”
Elise wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. “What kind of Jag?”
“1956 Jaguar XKSS,” Trey had a look of pride on his face. “Just like Steve McQueen’s.”
Who knew Trey was a fan of the King of Cool? “Can I see it?”
“Yeah, follow me!” Trey was nearly sprinting across the asphalt heading towards the three car garage that was attached to the main house. When the garage doors opened, a silver CLS550 Mercedes was parked on the far left hand side. It was the same on that she saw parked outside of the house two days ago not realizing that it was Trey’s car. The far right hand bay had this beautiful emerald green convertible roadster. The steering column was on the right hand side and it had black leather interior.
“She’s beautiful.” Elise walked over to take a closer examination of the interior of the car. “Does she go fast?”
This was obviously Trey’s baby. “Yes, very. Wanna take a ride?”
Elise was giddy with excitement, “Hell yes!”
Trey laugh echoed in the garage. “Hop in.”
Chapter 26
Elise was laying on Trey’s chest when she heard her BlackBerry ringing on the nightstand. She looked at the clock which ready 5:45 am. She pressed the ignore button on the phone without even looking at the caller id and laid her head back down on Trey’s chest. Her phone immediately began ringing again. She picked it up and actually looked at the home screen. It was Jeremy calling, which was odd.
Elise answered the phone sleepily, “Before 6 am, really?”
“Ashley’s water broke. She and Caleb are heading to Mount Sinai Medical Center as we speak.”
Elise sat up, “Holy shit! She’s a week early!”
“I know. So exciting! We are going to be Aunts!” Elise couldn’t help but laugh.
She jumped out of bed and started running around Trey’s master bedroom causing him to wake up in a panic. “Elise, what’s wrong?”
She smiled as she covered her cell phone and whispered to Trey, “Ashley’s water broke. She’s having her baby.” Trey’s eyes widened with excitement as a small sexy grin curled his lips.
Jeremy snapped Elise out of her Trey trance, “Do you want me to call Martie? Are you bringing her with you?”
“Yes, and if I want to live, yes!” Martie was the mother hen to all of Elise’s friends. Ashley’s baby would be like a grandchild to her. The relationship that her mom had with both Jeremy and Ashley was so special, and Elise love her mom so much for it.
“Ok. So are you driving or flying?”
“I think it’s just best if I drive. By the time I book a flight and get to the airport, I could be half way to New York by then. Tell Martie I am heading straight there now.”
“Ok, doll. See you soon.”
Elise threw her phone on the bed and started stripping out of her nighty. She grabbed a white tank top and pair of jeans out of her overnight bag and threw them on quickly.
“Do you want me to cancel my meetings today so I can go with you?” Trey’s question caught her off guard.
“God, Trey…no…you don’t have to do that.” Elise was shaking her head. She was so touched. “I’m sure she will be in labor for a while before the baby even comes. Plus, I had to be in New York tomorrow for the meeting with the attorneys so I’ll probably spend the night there.”
“I’m going with you to your meeting tomorrow. I already cleared my schedule for that.”
“I saw that on your calendar in your office. You are just … wonderful” Elise ran over to the bed and crawled onto Trey’s lap. “So, how about you just meet me in New York after all your meetings are done today? If you fly over, let me know and I’ll pick you up at LaGuardia. How’s that sound?” Elise ran her hands through his tousled hair.
“That sounds like a plan! Ronald will be with me so don’t worry about having to pick me up. You just go spend time with your family and tell Ashley congratulations for me.”
Elise pressed a hard kiss onto Trey’s mouth, “I love you, and I’ll see you tonight.” Elise hugged Trey tightly one last time before she hopped off the bed and slid into her gold Tori Burch flip flops and brown cashmere cardigan. She grabbed her purse and phone before she headed down the stairs and out of the door.
~
Elise and Martie arrived at Mount Sinai around roughly 10:30 am. Jeremy kept them posted on Ashley’s status throughout the trip. Her contractions were very far apart, and she was still only one centimeter dilated when Jeremy called a half an hour ago.
Elise and Martie had linked arms as they were walking swiftly to the entrance of the hospital. There was a ton of press and paparazzi outside the main entrance due to some pop star having her first baby there. She heard one of the photographers shout her name which alerted the rest of them to turn their camera’s in her direction. The group rushed towards her and Martie taking still shots and video as she tried to make her way to the door of the hospital
“Elise, what are you doing here? Is Trey ok?”
The group was continuing to close in on them which caused Martie’s grip to tighten around Elise’s arm. She just wanted to get her mother into the hospital and get away from the cameras.
“Please back up. Trey’s fine. My friend is having a baby, and we need to get into the entrance.” Elise pleaded with them to just let her by.
“Martie, what do you think of Trey?”
Elise was getting pissed now since the herd was now in front of her purposefully blocking her way into the hospital.
Elise whispered, “Momma, you don’t have to answer them.”
“I just want to get inside, Elise.” Martie’s voice sounded nervous which escalated Elise’s anger.
“Back up, now! I need to get my mother inside!” Elise shouted at the group, but they just kept surrounding them. That’s when it happened. Elise didn’t see it coming but suddenly one of the cameramen got too close as someone in the back of the pack pushed him into her. The zoom lens of his camera struck Elise very hard on her forehead near her hairline. When Elise brought her hand up to her head, she felt warm liquid. When she looked down at her hand, it was covered in blood.
That’s when security from Mount Sinai stepped in and pulled Elise and her mother into the hospital entrance and forcefully removed some of the cameramen from their property. Elise heard the cameras snapping get louder the second she was struck, and they continued to snap pictures as the security guards led them into the hospital. None of those jerks put the camera down to help her because they didn’t want to miss the shot.
Once they were safely inside, the security guard asked for the receptionist to get a nurse to see about Elise. She was ushered into a triage suite where the nurse applied gauze to her cut and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. Her forehead was pounding, and she felt the area swelling up from the cut. When Elise looked up at her mother, she was pale and tears were streaming down her face.
“Momma, I’m ok. I promise.” Her words of reassurance didn’t change her mother’s face at all.
“Elise, is that what your life is going to be like?” Martie’s statement resonated to Elise’s core. Is that what it’s like to be with a Watts? Is this something that she will just have to deal with? Can she deal with it?
“Trey and I have been in Virginia all week and nothing like that has happened. It probably wouldn’t have happened under normal circumstances, but since that pop princess is here having her baby, the vultures were out in masses.”
“Promise me you will get some security when you come here in the future, Elise. Please promise me.” Martie’s request sent chills down Elise’s spine. Her mother was in fear that she would be hurt.
“If it comes to that, I’ll get security, Momma. Please don’t worry.”
&nbs
p; Martie wiped her swollen eyes with a tissue. “Too late.”
~
Trey and Paul were in the middle of an interview with a local news reporter when Maggie knocked on his door then let herself in.
Trey looked over at Maggie whose face was pale. “Mr. Watts, I am so sorry to interrupt, but I need you to see something.”
“Ok.” Trey nodded his head and gestured to the reporter. “Pardon me.”
Maggie would never have interrupted him if it wasn’t important, so Trey knew something was up. He walked out of his office into the reception area where Maggie sat. He saw the national news on the television, and Elise’s name immediately caught his eye.
“Mr. Watts, it looks like Elise and her mother were trying to get into a hospital in New York when they were attacked by the paparazzi.” Maggie pointed to the television screen where a video clip was being played on the news channel. It was Elise and Martie struggling to get through a crowd of cameramen. Then suddenly Trey saw Elise’s head whip back and blood started running down her forehead. His heart dropped into his stomach.
“Get Elise on the phone.” Trey’s hands began shaking as he paced back and forth in front of Maggie’s desk.
“Sir, I’ve tried. I don’t know if the hospital has equipment that disables cell phones, but her phone is going straight to voicemail. I tried calling the hospital to see if she was admitted, but they won’t give me any information.”
