Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  “No, she still has a pretty big pile. I’m going to keep your dad company for a while,” he explained as I tried to pull him back through the doorway. He pulled two cigars from his jacket pocket. “I haven’t given him his gift yet, and this seems like the perfect time.”

  “I didn’t know you smoked,” I said, turning up my nose. It was one thing to enjoy the smell of the smoke. It was quite another to kiss someone that tasted like an ash tray.

  “You’d be surprised how many builds I’ve negotiated in cigar rooms. I promise I’ll brush, floss, and rinse when we get back to the room.”

  “Okay,” I relented. Drake bent down for a kiss and then walked across the deck to join my father.

  “Chelsea, shut the door. You’re letting in hot air,” Mom called from across the room.

  I obeyed, praying that Drake would feel better after his talk with Dad than I did.

  ***

  “It’s not like your parents forbade you to see Drake,” Piper pointed out between bites of a turkey sandwich.

  We’d been working almost nonstop since we’d returned from Florida, pausing only to share meals in my office. We were two weeks away from the gala and we still had a mountain of preparation to do. It didn’t help that I kept getting lost in thought and let small details slip through the cracks. As much as I’d tried to fight it, my father’s words had planted a seed of doubt in my heart. Was Drake really the man I’d fallen in love with? Or had my first impression of him been right all along?

  “It’s like you told Drake, they’ll come around eventually,” Piper continued.

  “My dad’s an excellent judge of character,” I sighed. “I thought he’d see that Drake was a good person right away. The fact that he still has his doubts…”

  “I think it was obvious that I wasn’t Drake’s biggest fan,” Piper interrupted. “But I’ve seen you two together a lot more than your parents have. And I’ve watched you change since you met him. For what it’s worth, I think he’s genuinely a good person.”

  “It’s worth more than you know,” I told her with a smile. I took a large bite of my chicken salad just as my phone started ringing. I looked down at the screen and saw Drake’s face smiling back at me.

  “Hey, baby. What’s going on?” I asked with a smile. Drake and I hadn’t seen each other all week, but it was finally Friday: date night.

  “There’s been a change of plans,” he groaned. “My parents flew in from Greece this morning. They saw our picture online and they insisted on meeting the woman I care about enough to acknowledge in public. Those were their exact words.”

  “We have to do it tonight?” I asked. My heart sank and my palms began to sweat. I wasn’t prepared to meet Drake’s parents after the disappointment of introducing him to mine.

  “Your mother is a formidable force, Chelsea. But she has nothing on mine. If we don’t meet them, she’ll just go to the penthouse and wait for us to show up. I’m sorry, I wish I’d had more time to prepare you for this. But it’s best that we just get it over with.”

  “Prepare me?” I asked, my voice rising with panic. “What do I need to know?”

  Is there some sort of billionaire etiquette I don’t know about?

  “I’m sorry, baby. I’ve got to get into a meeting. We’ll go over everything in the car. I’ll pick you up at your place at six-fifteen.”

  He hung up before I could remind him that I didn’t get off work until five-thirty. With the forty-five minute commute, I’d be lucky to beat Drake to my apartment.

  “What’s going on?” Piper asked as I tossed my phone to my desk.

  “Drake’s parents are in town and they’re insisting that we meet them for dinner,” I groaned.

  “That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” she replied, her voice full of exaggerated optimism. “I’m sure the Waters are kind, polite people. They raised Drake, after all. And he’s a good guy.”

  “My parents are kind, polite people. But they still make their opinions known. What if they hate me? Drake said he wished he’d had time to prepare me for meeting them. What if I do or say something that accidentally offends them? And to top it off, Drake said he was picking me up at six-fifteen. I’ll barely have time to get home, much less change.”

  “Take a deep breath, Chelsea,” Piper insisted calmly. “We’ve stayed late all week. Pete will understand if we leave an hour or two early. We’ll go home and I’ll help you get ready. By the time Drake picks you up, you’ll look beautiful and you’ll have had a chance to calm down.”

  I wanted to share Piper’s optimism, but I couldn’t.

  CHAPTER 4

  e

  “Baby, you look amazing in that dress,” Drake said as he guided me into his limo. I’d chosen a modest black shift for the occasion.

  “Thank you,” I replied as I slid across the leather bench seat. I fiddled anxiously with my bracelet as the car pulled away from the curb. “So how exactly were you planning on prepping me for this?”

  Drake took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Try to relax, Chelsea. I’m sorry I was so dramatic over the phone. My parents, especially my mother, can be… difficult. They’d have divorced decades ago if they weren’t so damn convinced it would tarnish the family name. They openly despise each other. They keep up a good front among their society friends, but I doubt they’ll show you that courtesy.”

  “And your mother’s worse because…?” I prompted.

  “Mom assumes any woman who dates me is only interested in my money. Probably because that was her main motivation when she married my dad. Don’t be surprised if she’s a bit critical. Just know that neither of their opinions means anything to me. Let whatever she says go in one ear and out the other.”

  I gave Drake’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know things with your family were so complicated. My parents and I don’t always see eye to eye, but I can’t imagine not being close to them.”

  Drake shrugged. “For a long time, I thought that’s what normal families were like. My grandparents and I are close. They’ve been in Dublin for the last few months, of I’d already have introduced you to them.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them,” I said as Drake’s phone chimed.

  “I’m sorry, I have to take this. Hello?”

  While Drake discussed a built in art instillation with his Hong Kong partners, I stared out the window and took a few deep, calming breaths.

  He turned that damn thing off when we were with my parents. I hope he does the same with his. Surely he wouldn’t leave me alone at the table with them to talk about wall sculptures.

  I was hoping for more insight into Drake’s parents before we reached the restaurant, but he didn’t end the call until Vince slowed to a stop in front of the Central Park Boathouse.

  I’m glad I didn’t dress casual.

  “Just take a deep breath, baby,” Drake whispered. He planted a soft kiss behind my ear as a valet opened the car door. “Remember, in one ear and out the other.”

  I took Drake’s hand and he led me into the elegant New York landmark. The maitre d greeted us with a nod and escorted us to the outside patio, where Drake’s parents were already waiting. They stood as we approached them and greeted their son with air kisses.

  “Mother, Father, this is Chelsea Tyler. Chelsea, my parents, Richard and Rebecca.”

  If I’d spotted Drake and his father together on the street, I’d never have guessed that they were related. Mr. Waters was short and portly, with a bulbous nose and a comb over inspired by Donald Trump. His flushed face and bloodshot eyes made me wonder if he was an alcoholic.

  Rebecca Waters was the obvious source of Drake’s good looks. She was tall and slender, with sandy blonde hair and an elegant, angular face. Her face was near paralyzed with Botox, but the wrinkles on her hands betrayed her age.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” I told them, hoping they’d take the anxiety in my voice as a sign of respect.

  “It’s nice to meet you too, dear,”
Richard replied. Rebecca looked me up and down and turned up her nose. I’d obviously failed her inspection.

  “Charmed,” she offered in a nasally voice. “Please, sit down and tell us about yourself, Chelsea.”

  Rebecca gestured to the table and we all took our seats. A waiter appeared to take our drink orders, so I had a few moments to gather my thoughts. When the waiter disappeared, I gave the Waters a quick overview of my family, my job, and how Drake and I met. I chose my words carefully, hoping that if I sounded intelligent Rebecca wouldn’t accuse me of being a gold digger. It didn’t work.

  “Tell me,” she purred as I took a sip of water. “What kind of money do you make, working at a nonprofit?”

  “Mom,” Drake broke in, his tone laden with warning.

  “Calm down, son,” Rebecca continued unfazed. “Forgive me, Chelsea, but that’s such a lovely dress you’re wearing. I can’t help but wonder how you afforded it.”

  I sat up straight in my seat. “Drake bought me this, as a gift. But I pay my own bills, Mrs. Waters. And I don’t plan on staying at the society forever. I intend to go to graduate school to become…”

  “Forgive my wife, Chelsea,” Richard broke in. “She can be a real bitch sometimes… most of the time.” He chuckled and tossed back the rest of his scotch on the rocks. Rebecca took no notice of him.

  “Graduate school, huh? And you make enough at the nonprofit to pay for that?” she challenged me.

  “Mother, that’s enough,” Drake growled. I put a calming hand on his forearm and stared back at Rebecca.

  “With all due respect, Mrs. Waters, my finances are none of your business.”

  “I like this one.” Richard beamed at me with amusement as the waiter returned with our drinks. I took a sip of my gin and tonic while Drake held his Jack and Coke with a death grip.

  “Your finances are absolutely my business,” she snarled. “I love my son. If you’re just using him to better your own position, I have a right to know about it.”

  Drake abruptly pushed his chair away from the table and rose to his feet. “That’s enough,” he repeated, reaching for my hand. I breathed a sigh of relief as I took it and joined him.

  “Don’t pretend that you’re doing this out of love for me, Mother. You just can’t bear the thought of parting with one dime of your precious money. I love Chelsea and I won’t have you speaking to her like this, in front of me or otherwise.”

  Rebecca scoffed while Richard stared up at us in amusement.

  “Drake, you and I both know that women like this come and go. You have to keep the family’s best interest in mind,” she chided.

  “You’re right, Mother. I should always do what’s best for the family.” Drake turned to me and dropped to one knee. “Chelsea Tyler, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. My family would be lucky to count such a kind, insightful, intelligent person as a member. I know this is fast. But you know that you’ve had my heart since the moment we met at that beachside crab shack. I knew then that I wanted to spend my life with you. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

  Panic, confusion, and absolute joy coursed through my body as I listened to his words. The proposal blindsided me, but when the initial, split second shock wore off, I knew my answer. I stared down at Drake and everyone around us disappeared.

  “Yes,” I exclaimed. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

  Drake rose to his feet and lifted me in his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him fiercely on the lips as happy tears rolled down my face.

  “Of for the love of God,” Rebecca hissed, interrupting my blissful oblivion. “Do you have to put on such a show? You’re wearing a dress, for Christ’s sake.”

  Drake sat me on the ground and turned to the rest of the diners. “This intelligent, beautiful creature has just agreed to be my wife,” he announced. The patio erupted in cheers and Richard raised his empty glass. Rebecca frowned at us and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Mother, Father, I’m so happy you could be here for such an important moment in my life,” Drake said, his tone laden with sarcasm. “But if you’ll excuse us, my fiancé and I have some celebrating to do.”

  ***

  Drake and I left the boathouse in a haze of adrenaline and elation. A handsome cab was parked halfway down the drive and Drake pulled me toward it.

  “What about the limo?” I giggled as we floated down the sidewalk.

  “I thought we’d be here a lot longer, so I sent Vince home. We’re just a few blocks from the penthouse. But this is much more romantic. Are you free?” he asked the driver as we approached the carriage.

  The slender grey haired man lifted his hat and nodded. “Yes, sir. Where can I take you?”

  “Once around the park and then Lennox Hill,” Drake replied, helping me into the cab. He followed behind me and we curled up together on the padded bench seat. With a click of the driver’s tongue, the grey horse set off down the drive. The further we got from Drake’s parents, the more anxious I became about Drake’s impromptu proposal. I shifted on the seat and Drake felt the tension in my body.

  “Chelsea, what’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes full of kind concern.

  “Nothing… it’s just… did we just get engaged to spite your parents? I mean, was that what spurred your proposal? If so, I completely understand. I know that…”

  Drake interrupted by pressing his lips to mine. He cradled the back of my head, kissing me with abandon. I sank into his touch, forgetting my doubts. Too soon, he pulled away.

  “I understand why you’d think that. I meant everything I said at the boathouse, Chelsea. If you only said yes because you were caught up in the moment, then I completely understand. But if you’re doubting my sincerity, maybe this will make you feel better.”

  He pulled a square velvet box from his jacket pocket and placed it in my lap. My heart raced as I fingered the soft material.

  “Open it,” he pressed.

  I lifted the lid and stared down at the most beautiful, unique ring I’d ever seen. The band was rose gold, with a large, round diamond mounted in the middle. Rose gold petals inlaid with more diamonds sprouted from the center stone.

  “I know this isn’t a typical engagement ring, but you’re not a typical woman,” Drake said, removing the ring from its cradle. “I thought of you the moment I saw it. And when I learned its history, I knew it was the ring I’d propose to you with.” He took my left hand and slid the ring onto my finger.

  “Its history?” I asked, admiring my new jewelry.

  “This is one of the pieces George Lewes gave to Mary Ann Evans,” he explained with a twinkle in his eye.

  I was dumbfounded. Mary Ann Evans, better known as George Elliot, was on the short list of my favorite women in history. The fact that Drake had tracked down a piece of her jewelry was a reminder of how overwhelmingly wealthy he was.

  “Are you seriously telling me that the same ring that’s on my finger was on George Elliot’s when she was writing Middlemarch?” I gasped.

  “I knew you’d love it.” Drake beamed with satisfaction.

  “Where did you find it? Shouldn’t it be in a museum or something? I can’t wear it every day, Drake. It’s too valuable,” I insisted.

  “I found it in a private collection in Florence,” he told me. “And it doesn’t belong in a museum, it belongs on your finger. If you’d like something a little less flashy for every day wear, we can go to Tiffany’s first thing in the morning.”

  I stared down at the piece of history on my hand. “That won’t be necessary,” I replied with a grin.

  “So, it’s settled?” Drake asked as the carriage circled back around the lake. “We’re really getting married?”

  “We’re really getting married.” I kissed him again and then curled up in his arms. A realization hit me somewhere between the Delacorte Clock and Drake’s building. I leaned back and looked up into his clear, turquoise eyes.

  “You were planning to pro
pose tonight before your mother said a word, weren’t you? That’s why the ring was in your pocket.”

  Drake shook his head. “I’ve carried it since the day I bought it and I’ve been fighting the urge to propose ever since. When my mom made that comment about the good of the family, I took it as a sign. I’m so proud of the way you stood up to her, Chels. Not many people have the balls to do that.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” I asked with a hint of anxiety in my voice. I didn’t want to hurt Drake’s feelings, but something had been nagging at me since the boathouse.

  “You can ask me anything.”

  “Please know that I mean no offense. But how did you end up so… normal?”

  He laughed so loud I was afraid he’d startle the horse. “I hardly think I’m normal,” he replied, his tone rich with humor.

  “You know what I mean,” I grinned and gave his ribs a gentle nudge with my elbow.

  He smiled back at me and pulled me close again. “I know what you mean. With the parents I have, I should be pretty fucked up in the head. Lucky for me, I always had my grandparents as an escape from them. And remember, I spent most of my childhood in boarding schools.”

  “For the record, no child of ours will be going to a boarding school. I hope that’s not a problem.”

  “No problem at all,” Drake replied, his smile widening. He dropped his mouth to my ear and continued in a whisper. “I love that you’re talking about our children. It’s incredibly hot.”

  “Oh yeah?” I asked, sliding my hand to the bulge in his lap.

  Drake took in a sharp, deep breath and squirmed beneath me. He covered my hand with his and held it still.

  “We’re almost home,” he whispered, a devilish smile dancing across his face. “And as soon as I get you in that elevator, I’m going to show you just how happy you’ve made me tonight.” He kissed me lightly on the neck and shivers of anticipation radiated from between my legs.

  “I’ll be sure to return the favor,” I said with a grin. The carriage slowed to a stop and Drake paid the driver before helping me down to the sidewalk. We walked arm in arm through the lobby, greeting Donald, the doorman on duty, with polite nods and smiles. My pulse quickened with each step we took towards the elevator. The moment the doors shut us inside, Drake pushed me against the wall and dove face first into my breasts. The modest cut of my dress made it impossible for him to reach his target.