“Sometimes I feel like I should give him a gift card for an escort service to keep him out of the house,” she says.
We both laugh at this.
If he does cheat on her, Tinsley doesn't seem to give a shit.
Good.
Let him cheat.
She will leave faster that way.
“How about that random Italian place we went to before? In the village. You know the one,” Tinsley asks.
“That sounds pleasant. The one with the live music on Tuesdays?” I recall the place.
“I'll meet you there at six,” Tinsley confirms.
Evan and Victoire decide to join us for dinner.
Victoire is always all business, and the only thing she wants to discuss is the programs she's come up with to improve our outreach.
I watch as Evan drapes an arm around her chair and gives me a look.
“Well, there are a few ideas,” Victoire says.
She sounds like she has glasses on when she doesn't.
She can be prim.
Wildly different from when I met her, in Miami.
“There's a donation to the New York Public Library,” she suggests.
“That's impersonal,” Tinsley offers.
“I agree with Tinsley,” I nod.
“Too impersonal. We need something to get investors involved,” Victoire agrees instantly.
“Make a show of it,” she continues.
Victoire nods as though she almost read my mind.
“Is there a close personal cause perhaps? Something that appeals to you?” Vic asks.
Tinsley nudges me, and I turn to her.
“This could be your chance to reach out to Ava, indirectly,” Tinsley smiles at me.
“I like that idea at least,” Evan finally pipes up.
Evan can be full of good ideas when he puts his mind to it.
Of course, he can, he's my son.
“You know, she always wanted to go to become a nurse, but it was out of the question without the money to do it,” Evan offers.
“A scholarship program perhaps?” Victoire nods.
She doesn't even look at Evan, her gaze directed at me.
“That sounds better,” I nod.
“The NLS Financials Underprivileged Students Scholarship Fund,” Victoire announces as she makes notes on her phone.
“Don't base it on grades though. We should base this on the determination,” Evan says to me.
“That's true enough. I could've gone to Cambridge, but I wasn't interested at the time,” I add.
“Really?” Victoire stares at me.
“I was too invested in my search for Ava at the time,” I recall.
“Or maybe everything with Elizabeth was simply too complicated,” I wonder.
My parents were angry with me because to them it was a sin that I opted to forgo an opportunity they provided.
College that is.
It was one of the sources of our many fights.
“Base it on what then?” Victoire asks.
“Talk to Ava,” I tell her.
“Ava would know best what we should base this one. Involve her,” I add.
Victoire presses her lips together for a moment, and I wonder if she disagrees.
But she doesn't have the gut to disagree with me.
“I'll make an appointment with her this week and nail down specifics. We'll go with October 14th for the Gala, and of course, invitations will have to go out soon. I'll speak with my man at the newspaper about an article-”
“Victoire,” I cut her off.
“What?” she looks up from her phone.
“Relax. Let's have dinner for once,” I tell her calmly.
She can overwhelm people easily.
“Okay,” Vic nods.
Then I watch everyone sit awkwardly as she falls into silence.
“Evan, tell your dad about the idea you had,” she prompts him.
“An idea?” I look at Evan, suddenly interested.
“Alexander Technical Institute is going public,” he explains.
Then he glares at Victoire.
“I wasn't going to say anything until I had this nailed down for sure, but they may want us for the initial public offering. I've been in talks with them,” Evan’s voice is casual.
This is anything but casual. It’s a big deal.
ATI recently got a military contract worth billions.
“Really?” I'm suddenly curious as to how Evan managed this.
“I ran into Leigha Bergmann last week, their CEO? You remember her,” Evan explains.
“You slept with her I assume?” I guess.
“Yeah,” Evan nods quickly.
I assume there’s more to that story, but I don’t press it.
“I asked her to recommend NLS Financials, to their board, as a favor, and she did,” Evan shrugs as though this is no big deal.
“And?” I demand.
“Well we’re pretty much in,” Evan announces.
“We had dinner to discuss it, and then she ran it by the board. It was pretty simple. Leigha trusts me, and the company. I think we have a meeting planned for next week. Vic, do you remember?” Evan asks Vic.
Victoire looks as though she's about to explode on him.
Evan sighs.
“Oh, I forgot to mention the part where Vic was with me. She was the one who suggested I ask in the first place,” he snorts.
Victoire shakes her head.
“I just encouraged you, Evan. God. It's like you have little faith in yourself,” she huffs.
“Are you always this bitchy?” Evan asks.
“Oh god,” I whisper to Tinsley under my breath.
“Excuse us,” Victoire smiles curtly.
Then she pulls Evan away from the table by the collar of his shirt and out of the restaurant.
“Is it just me? Or can I hear them screaming?” Tinsley asks.
I listen for a moment.
“I don't think it’s just you,” I reply with a smile.
“I'm sorry this turned into work mostly. Evan was eager to take Victoire out and wanted to make a double date out of this but, Victoire is all business,” I try to explain.
Tinsley smiles.
“It's alright,” her voice is curt.
I can see it in her eyes.
This is not alright.
26
Tinsley
September 20, 2017
Noah calls the next day, and I seriously debate letting it go to voicemail.
But Noah wins out, and I answer anyway.
“Hello, Noah,” I say.
“Tinsley, I am sorry about last night,” the first words I hear from Noah are all I want to hear.
“I didn’t know that Victoire and Evan were going to turn the whole dinner into a disaster,” he admits.
“Well, I admit I assumed that was going to happen,” my voice is flat.
“Let me make it up to you, please,” Noah insists.
“Noah you don’t have to,” I start.
“No,” he is firm.
“Meet me on the roof of the NLS building at one. I assume you don’t have plans?” Noah asks.
“I do, but I’ll clear it for you anyway,” I laugh.
Whatever I was going to do today fades into the back of my mind.
I don’t care if I’m missed here, I don’t want to be in New York.
I want to be anywhere Noah is.
When I find myself on the roof of the NLS building, Noah has a hand outstretched towards me.
I run for him and wrap my arms around him.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
“You’ll see,” Noah says with a cocky smirk.
“I imagine I’m going to hate every second of this,” I tease him as we get into the helicopter.
“You’ll hate every second, and beg me to take you home,” Noah’s response is cheeky.
I love flying with Noah.
Not that I’ve been in a helicopter with him latel
y, but I trust him.
It takes no time at all to get the private airport we are, apparently flying out of.
“Where are we going?” I ask again.
“I’ve got no bags with me, or anything really,” I laugh.
“Surprise,” Noah says with a twinkle in his eye.
Noah directs what luggage he’s brought onto the plane and has a word with the captain as I take my seat in his private aircraft.
It’s as luxurious as anything, with a dining table, a couch with a TV that appears out of nowhere.
There’s even a bed in the back, I’ve been there.
With Noah of course!
I think to myself that this is as private as it gets.
One can easily roam about the cabin and forget they’re even on a plane!
When Noah does something, it does it well; from the polished wood to the elegant beige leather, the NLS Gulfstream G650 is nothing but style.
The real him, however?
That is that man I know, and he doesn’t need to impress me; he needs to be himself.
Noah is completely at ease when he joins me at the dining room table.
I run my fingers along the surface of the polished wood.
“Three days, of interrupted bliss, I will give you that as your hint,” he tells me.
“You’re going to miss work?” I ask out of shock.
“For you, of course. Evan can handle it for a few days. At least I think so,” Noah laughs, a worried expression crosses his face for a split second.
“He’s more than capable,” I comfort him.
The captain announces we are clear for takeoff and Noah and I move to strap ourselves in for take-off.
It’s smooth and swift, and before long the seatbelt sign is switched off.
“You’re seriously not going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask him.
“No,” Noah says.
“A hint?” I beg.
“When did you say your next appointment was? For the baby?” Noah changes the subject.
“November first, where we should be able to find out the sex of the baby, but I want it to be a surprise, I think,” I tell him.
“I quite like that, am I out on a limb when I assume you want our child to be a girl?” He teases.
“No, I want a boy, just like his father, a beautiful mixture of the two of us,” I tell him.
I can picture him with my brown hair, and Noah’s intense blue eyes.
They’re a beautiful light shade, with flecks of grey around the iris, and they are always the first thing I notice about him.
Noah takes a deep, relaxed breath.
“I still can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” he admits.
“Well, I am, and the baby is yours, get used to it,” I tease.
“You’re going to be a daddy,” I add for good measure.
“I’ve always wanted to be the father of your child,” Noah says slowly.
“I admit, I’ve always kind of hoping I’d get you pregnant somewhere along the line, whether it be by accident or on purpose,” he continues.
I let every single word seep into me slowly.
He always wanted to be the father of my children.
We’ve always been there for each other, and we always will be.
“Noah,” I say his name slowly in a low tone.
Noah moves around the table and pulls me up from my seat to set me down on the table before he kisses me deeply.
It is a thorough, heartfelt kiss that makes me felt against him, wrap my legs around his waist.
“Noah,” I say in a sultry voice as I toy with his tie.
“Here?” He asks.
Then he raises an eyebrow at me.
It’s but a second before I pull his pants down and he’s got my skirt up around my waist.
I bend over the table, with my legs chained together at the knee by my thong as Noah’s deliciously large cock sinks into me, and my pussy lips suction around his cock.
“God that feels amazing,” I moan.
“Does it?” His gruff voice is in my ear.
Noah slowly, torturously drags the whole length of his shaft out, almost to the tip before he plunges that glorious cock back inside me.
I have to brace myself against the table and bite my lip.
“Do you like that?” with his rough voice in my ear, I get wetter and wetter.
“Don’t stop!” I beg.
“Don’t?” he teases me.
Noah pulls his shaft all the way out of me, and turn around, a pout on my lips.
“Noah!” I whine.
“Please!” I beg him.
“I want to hear you say it,” he growls, his intense eyes on mine.
“I said please!” I protest.
“Say it,” he demands powerfully.
“Fuck me!” I demand back.
He pushes me down against the table, and once again his cock slams into me, my legs shake from the pleasure that spirals through my body.
Noah’s cock rocks my entire body with every thrust as I scream in pleasure; his name mixed with moans and gasps, and all sorts of noises I’ve never made before.
Then, when I think it can’t get any better, Noah pushes me off the precipice of pleasure and the orgasm that rolls through my body is intense it’s almost blinding.
I forget where I am as I breathe heavily.
“Ready for more?” he whispers, as he leans over to kiss my neck.
“More,” I say, unable to demand anything from him.
I feel his fingers embed deep inside my soaked slit before he begins to toy with my brown eye.
“Oh,” I let out a gasp, and involuntarily arch my body against him.
Noah’s fingers toy with my ass until I need his cock again.
“Fuck my ass, please,” I beg, my voice heavy with desire.
I’m in absolute ecstasy as I feel the girth of him, slick with my cum, slide slowly into my ass.
He’s gentle at first, as I adjust to him.
Then he lets himself go, and I hold onto the table crying in pleasure for him not to stop.
Noah reams my ass with his cock, pumping into me harder and harder.
I find my footing and push back against him.
Nothing fills the cabin but the sound of our intense fuck session until Noah roars, and his hot load shoots deep inside my asshole.
The feeling of his cum inside my ass tips me far over the edge, and my orgasm joins his as I scream his name.
When Noah finally pulls out of my ass, I am exhausted but satisfied.
“You know, you look good like that,” he smirks.
I’m still bent over the table, with my panties around my ankles, only now I’m dripping with his cum.
“Then take a picture,” I tease before I pull my panties up and straighten myself out.
“I wish I had,” he winks at me and smacks my ass one last time.
Noah’s gorgeous home on Lake Tahoe is his surprise, as I step out of the limo.
I didn’t even know that he owned a place out here.
He detests the West coast.
It’s an elegantly large, brick home with a stately front door made of rich cherry wood.
Wood accents around the home make it clear that this home is meant to be for vacationing in winter and summer, along with the grand fireplaces in almost every room.
The entire estate sits right on a cliff overlooking the lake.
“How did I not know you had this place?” I turn to Noah.
“I just bought it, for both of us,” he explains.
“You bought it for both of us?” I gasp.
“It was supposed to be your wedding present,” Noah smiles.
“Oh,” I respond.
I can’t stop my face from betraying how sad that makes me.
“Don’t do that, because you’ve given me, the best present I could ever ask for,” Noah says slowly, his hands on my tiny little bump.
“I wanted to give you something in retu
rn, somewhere we could get away from everything, make them leave us alone,” he adds.
We kiss without a care in the world. No one is around to see us, or even talk to us.
Once we come up for air, we both turn our phones off.
The home is room after room of gorgeous furniture, stately fireplaces, and large beautifully carved wood windows that show impressive views of the lake.
The second floor is partially open to below, with polished wood railings, and a pool table. The house goes on and on forever, a perfect mixture of tranquility and Noah’s preference for modernism.
“I don’t believe that I’ve ever relaxed before, what do we do now?” Noah asks.
“I’ll cook dinner-” I say, but stop short of the kitchen when I see the oven is already on.
“Have you been cooking?” I ask and raise an eyebrow at him.
“I may have set that up, there’s food in the pantry and fridge as well, there’s still plenty for you to cook,” he teases.
“I hope there are artichokes at least,” I tell him.
I go through every cupboard until I find them: jarred artichoke hearts.
“I have to say, that’s’ the strangest pregnancy craving I’ve ever seen,” Noah tells me.
I pop open the lid to one of the small jars and grab a fork.
“Isn’t? There’s nothing else, just artichokes,” I tell him.
“How about spinach, artichoke, feta lasagna?” Noah asks with a smirk.
Noah takes the lasagna out of the oven, and we let it cool before we both take large slices and eat outside on the terrace.
Every bite is incredible, and he even remembered to have it made meatless because chicken and beef haven’t been going down well lately.
After dinner, we move into the living room in front of the fire, which Noah lights.
“I admit I could stay here forever,” I tell Noah.
“Me too,” he moves my legs onto his lap and begins massaging my feet.
“That feels good,” I moan.
I sink all the way into the plush cushions of the couch as Noah’s hands work their magic on my feet.
“Why do you wear heels again?” He asks.
“Because, if my feet swell I won’t be able to wear them, I have to wear them while I can,” I sigh.
“They’re just shoes,” Noah says.
“They are not just shoes; do you have any idea how much those Louboutins are worth? A lot,” I tell him in response.
Denial_A Stone Billionaire Series Novel Page 13