“Seth, can you give us a moment, please? I need to speak with my wife privately.” Once Seth stepped outside the office, Vince continued, “Jennifer, do you remember the first time you invited me out to your house in Southampton?”
She nodded in reply. “Yes, of course.”
Vince continued, “That weekend, you showed me a vacant store on Main Street that you thought would be perfect for a yarn shop, but when we worked the numbers you felt you couldn’t afford it. Well, I decided to buy it.”
Jen’s eyes grew wide. “You bought it?”
“Yes. Originally, my plan was to lease you the store for a dollar a year, but after what I did to you on Tuesday, after all the pain I caused you, I wanted to make it up to you in a meaningful way, so I’m giving you the building on Main Street as your wedding gift.”
The shock Jen felt registered on her face. “I’m speechless, Vince. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you will accept my apology for forcing myself on you. When I saw the bruises on your arms last night, I was sick over what I did to you, Jennifer.” He pushed a sheet of paper in front of her. “Here is the deed. I’ve signed it, and Seth notarized it. It’s yours.”
Jen’s hand shook as she read the deed to the Main Street property she had coveted for so long. Looking up, she noted Vince’s contrite demeanor. “I forgive you,” she said, simply, as she saw the visible relief on Vince’s face. Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor diamonds when he cheated on her, she thought. Vince Moscolo gives me real estate when he hurts me.
After Vince gave Jen the deed, she excused herself and went back into the master suite, where she placed it in her safe. She re-assessed her outfit and makeup and, satisfied, wandered into the kitchen to check on the brunch preparations.
“Good morning, Mrs. Moscolo,” Mary said, greeting her with a smile, causing Jen to momentarily stop in her tracks.
“Good morning, Mary.” That’s the first time anyone has called me Mrs. Moscolo. It sounds so foreign, so strange to me, but I guess I have to get used to it. Jen quickly re-focused and smiled at her housekeeper, and answered her questions about the timing of the brunch service. “Let’s go with the passed hors d’oeuvres in the living room until almost everyone has arrived, and then we’ll show the guests into the dining room.”
Grace, Peter, Gina and Pete arrived, and within a few minutes the living room began to fill up with friends and family. Jen scanned the room, and noticed that Drew had arrived and was chatting with Catherine and Luke. She walked over to them, and hugged each of her friends tightly.
As she hugged Drew, she was acutely aware of Vince watching her from across the room, and quickly released him. Jen looked around and asked Drew, “Where’s Collette?”
“She should be here any minute,” he replied, looking at his watch. “We’re flying out pretty early tomorrow morning, and she wanted to do a little bit of shopping before leaving New York.” Just as he finished his sentence, Collette walked through the door, carrying shopping bags from Saks in each hand.
Jen welcomed Collette with a kiss on the cheek. “Drew mentioned that you were going shopping. Looks like it was a successful trip.”
Collette smiled, “Yes, it was. I was able to pick up some things for myself, and some Christmas gifts for family and friends. I spent a fortune! I’m glad that they were able to ship most everything back to California for me.”
Jen raised an eyebrow, wondering where Collette had gotten the money to spend on a lavish shopping spree at Saks. Drew said that her gift basket business did “okay” but he never gave me the impression she was raking in the big bucks, she thought. How much money could there possibly be in the gift basket business?
Jen watched as Collette made her way through the room to speak with Vince. At least they’re cordial towards each other, she thought, recalling the heated conversation she had witnessed between Vince and Collette the night of Catherine and Luke’s wedding. Jen had put that scene out of her mind, but now seeing them huddled together in a corner of the living room brought that memory back to the forefront. I wonder what they are talking about, she thought.
While Vince was distracted by Collette, Jen took the opportunity to speak privately to Drew. “I read your note,” she said, simply. “I don’t know what to say.”
Drew tried to control the expression on his face, but was unable to hide his surprise and dismay. “I told you not to read it.”
“I know, but I had to. How could I not?”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest, defensively, and asked, “If you had read it in time, would it have changed anything?”
Jen had expected he would ask that question, and had rehearsed her response, but it didn’t prepare her for having to actually voice her answer. She searched for a way to explain her feelings without hurting him, but couldn’t find the words and, ultimately, she simply shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said, before excusing herself to check on the caterers in the kitchen.
Over the next few hours, Drew avoided Jen, looking away whenever their eyes met. When it was time to leave, he tried to say a quick goodbye, but was stopped by Vince.
“Drew, I hear you have an early flight tomorrow morning out of JFK. Jennifer and I are headed there too, and we can pick you up and go together, if you’d like to share a ride.” Good thing I was able to get Al to change our flight plan from Teterboro to JFK, he thought. I want to keep reminding Drew that Jennifer is mine now.
“Thanks, Vince, but we don’t want to impose on you,” Drew replied. “I’m not sure when your flight is, but I wouldn’t want to either hold you up, or cause you to have to leave too early.”
“Nonsense,” Vince replied, “it’s our pleasure.” Vince placed an arm around Jen’s waist, and pulled her close, before continuing, “Besides, we’re taking my jet, so our flight leaves whenever we’re ready to go. We’ll drop you off at your terminal, and then head over to general aviation and get on our plane.”
Drew’s face became hot with embarrassment. He’s a billionaire, so of course it doesn’t matter what time he leaves, because he has his own plane, he thought, bitterly. Even if Jen still loved me, I could never compete with Vince and his wealth. “Thanks, but we can just get a cab,” Drew said, as he again tried to decline the offer of the ride.
“It’s no trouble. Really, I insist. Besides, I’m sure Jennifer would love to have the chance to spend some more time with you,” Vince said, as he turned to kiss his wife on the cheek.
Bile rose in Drew’s throat as he watched Vince kiss Jennifer. I think I’m going to be sick. Swallowing hard, he relented. “Thank you, Vince. It’s really generous of you. See you tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.,” he said, as he got into the elevator with Collette.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Once all the guests left the apartment, Jen disappeared into the master suite, where she began packing for their honeymoon. I wish I knew where we were going, she thought. It would make packing so much easier. She folded some simple sundresses into her suitcase, along with shorts, tank tops, yoga pants, underwear, bathing suits and cover ups. She added a couple of pairs of sandals, two pairs of flip flops, her running shoes, a baseball cap and a foldable, wide-brimmed beach hat. Finally, she opened her lingerie drawer, and selected some pieces that she had been given at her bridal shower and had saved for the honeymoon.
As she zipped her suitcase closed, Vince strolled into their bedroom. She looked up and smiled at him. “I’m all packed and ready to go.”
“Good. We have to leave here tomorrow morning by 7:45, at the absolute latest, in order to get to the St. Regis by 8:00.”
Jen nodded her head. “It was really nice of you to offer to take Drew and Collette to the airport. It will save them quite a bit of money.”
“I’m happy to do it, Jennifer. Drew is your friend, and I’m glad that you’ll be able to spend a little extra time with him before he returns home t
o San Francisco.” And it will give me another opportunity to remind him that you are now my wife, and mine, forever, Vince mused. “Did I hear correctly that he and Collette are planning on moving in together?”
“Yes,” Jen said, almost a little too enthusiastically. “That’s what Collette told me.”
“I’m happy for them. They seem to make a nice couple.”
Jen wanted to ask Vince what he and Collette had been talking about when she saw them deep in conversation earlier during the brunch, but thought better of it. Instead, she simply agreed, “I’m happy for them, too.” Jen yawned, and stretched her arms. “I know it’s early, but I’m wiped out. I think I’m going to lie down for a while.”
“Would you like some company?”
“Sure, of course,” Jen said, afraid to express to her husband that she would have preferred some time to be alone with her thoughts.
Vince watched as Jennifer disappeared inside her dressing room. When she returned, she was wearing a simple white satin and lace chemise. I’ll never get tired of looking at her, he thought, as his pulse quickened. And now she is mine, forever. He disappeared into his dressing room, and returned a few minutes later in an Egyptian cotton robe that Jen had brought back for him the last time she traveled overseas for work. Before joining Jen in bed, he removed his robe, revealing his naked body underneath.
They snuggled together for a while, re-hashing the events of their wedding weekend, before Vince’s eyes took on that familiar dark look, signaling to Jen that the time for talking had ended.
“Jennifer,” Vince said, as he brushed her hair away from her face. “My Jennifer. My beautiful wife.” He shifted his body on top of hers, so that she could feel him, hard and hot, and ready to take her.
Jen drew a sharp intake of breath, as she felt his lips travel from her neck down towards her breasts, his tongue and teeth devouring every inch of her, all the way down her body to the sweet, tender spot of her womanhood.
He took his time with her, teasing her with his mouth, bringing her to the brink and then retreating, time and again, until he heard her beg him to let her finish. Unable to deny her, Vince brought Jen to her climax, before entering her and allowing himself his release.
Once she was sure Vince had fallen asleep, Jen quietly crept out of bed, wrapped Vince’s robe around her, and curled up on the chaise by the window. The sun had set, and it was dark outside, but the lights were on in the bedroom. She retrieved a set of knitting needles and some white cotton yarn from the basket of knitting supplies she kept next to the chaise, and began to cast on a simple project that she could take with her on the flight. After completing a couple of rows, she put the needles down and looked out at Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art across the street.
Jen let her mind wander to thoughts of Drew, trying to imagine him standing on the museum steps the previous morning, waiting to see if she would show up, and her heart broke. I was standing at the living room window, drinking coffee and looking at the museum yesterday morning at the time he would have been standing there, she thought, with a catch in her throat. In a way, maybe it is better that I didn’t see his note until it was too late. What if I’d chosen him, and he pushed me away again?
Looking over at her sleeping husband, Jen thought, Vince is possessive, and jealous, and even a little scary sometimes, but deep down I know he loves me. He has loved me and taken care of me, and he deserves a wife who will do the same for him.
In that moment of clarity, Jen resolved to put Drew out of her mind once and for all. Whatever existed between us is gone, forever. She opened the drawer of the small side table, pulled out the rosary beads she kept there, and began praying for strength to help her be the best wife she possibly could be for Vince.
The next morning, Drew and Collette joined Jen and Vince in the back of Vince’s limousine. Despite the bright sunshine, the temperature was a bone-chilling 20 degrees, and Jen said, “I’ll bet you’re looking forward to getting back to California.”
Collette nodded her head. “New York is exciting, but when it comes to the weather, California has New York beat, hands down.” When Drew didn’t reply, Collette prompted him, “Don’t you think so, honey?”
Drew agreed that the weather was better in California. “But there is no city in the world like New York,” he added, wistfully, looking out the window as they travelled down the FDR Drive.
“So, you never told us where you’re going on your honeymoon,” Collette said, trying to change the subject. “Hopefully someplace warm?”
God, she’s awfully chatty this morning, Jen thought. “That’s about all I know, that it’s someplace warm. Vince won’t tell me where we’re going—it’s a mystery.”
Vince looked up from the screen of his cell phone, and replied, “It’s definitely someplace warm, and very private.”
“Aww, come on Vince, can’t you tell us where you’re taking Jen,” Collette asked, brightly. “We won’t tell, will we Drew?”
“Of course not,” Drew answered. “But I’m sure they want their privacy, Collette.”
“Our privacy is very important to us,” Vince added, as he reached next to him to squeeze Jen’s hand.
Jen squeezed her husband’s hand in response. “How is your father feeling, Drew?”
“He’s doing much better, thanks. He’s returned to work full time, so I’m finally able to look for work in television. I have an interview this week for an on-air sports reporting job at a local station. It’s just a weekend slot, but it could be a great first step towards getting a gig with one of the 24-hour sports networks.”
“Wow! That’s really exciting,” Jen replied. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!”
“Which of the sports networks are you interested in working for?” Vince peered over his reading glasses with a laser-like focus at Drew. “Aren’t all of them based on the east coast?”
“Yes, they are. ESPN is in Connecticut, and the new Sports News Network is based here in New York. I’d be really happy to work for either of them.”
“Wouldn’t that mean you would have to re-locate?” As Vince asked the question, he shifted his eyes towards Collette, thinking, don’t I pay you to keep him on the west coast and happy, and away from Jennifer?
“Sure,” Drew answered, oblivious to the staring match going on between Vince and Collette. “But that’s a long-term goal. For the near future, I’m just hoping to get hired somewhere in the Bay area, so I can get some more on-air experience.”
Vince exhaled, and was able to relax somewhat with Drew’s answer. If that is Drew’s long term goal, then my short term goal is to get Jennifer pregnant as soon as possible. She won’t leave me if she is pregnant with my child.
Jen climbed the stairs to Vince’s private jet, and shrugged off her coat before settling into one of the plush leather seats.
After Vince finished speaking with the crew, he sat down next to her in the passenger compartment. “We’re all set, and we’ll be taking off in just a few minutes,” he said as he snapped open a copy of the Wall Street Journal.
Jen knew better than to disturb Vince when he was reading, and instead dug her current knitting project out of her tote bag.
After take-off, Vince seemed to relax. He put down the newspaper, and turned to admire his young wife. I love watching you knit, he thought, as he watched her fingers adeptly wrap the white cotton yarn around the needles. After a few moments, he asked, “What are you making?”
“Oh, just a little bikini,” she replied with smile.
“It’s a very little bikini,” Vince said, “I’m getting turned on just looking at you knitting it.”
Jen looked down at Vince’s lap, and noticed just how aroused he was getting. “I’m glad you like it. That’s the point, after all.”
“I hope you finish it soon, because I want to see you in it this week.” And I want to take it
off of you this week, too, he thought.
“This is a very quick project. I should be finished knitting it before we land, I think. How long is the flight?”
“About three, three and a half hours. Then we’ll transfer to a helicopter for the last part of the trip.”
Snuggling up to Vince, Jen asked, “Can you tell me now where we’re going?”
Vince chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Jen’s shoulders. “I told you, someplace warm, and very private.”
“But where, Vince? I’m dying of curiosity,” Jen purred, as she began to nibble on his earlobe.
Vince took a deep breath, and said, “Okay, but first let me explain why I’ve kept our plans under wraps.” He adjusted himself so that he could face Jen, and continued, “I wanted the first part of our honeymoon to be a special experience, a time to explore a new place for the first time together. Only, once I started planning our trip, I realized that would be a bit of a challenge, because we’ve both traveled so extensively. So, I did some research, and with a little help from a friend, I came up with the perfect combination of a place neither of us had ever been, and the ultimate in privacy.”
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