First Love (Soulmates #4)

by Hazel Kelly

  “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re referring to.”

  “Well you can’t take her anywhere,” she said. “She’s probably never had an etiquette class in her life.”

  “So what?”

  “So she’d stick out like a sore thumb no matter where you invited her.”

  “I’m pretty sure I could tell her which fork to use and how to hold the stem of her glass if that’s what it would take for you to accept her.”

  “It’s not that simple, Adam, and you know it. It all comes down to breeding, and it wouldn’t be fair to her to put her in those situations which you can’t avoid. She wouldn’t be comfortable.”

  “If I never go to a stuffy party again it will be too soon. Everyone’s always so worried about putting a foot or the corner of their napkin wrong, they’re not even fun.”

  “Even so,” she said, lifting her saucer into her lap and gripping the thin handle of her teacup. “She’d run you into the ground.”

  “What?”

  “She’d go crazy as soon as she had access to your money. I guarantee it.”

  I scoffed. “You’re wrong. Only women that don’t appreciate hard work are capable of that. And that’s not Jolie. She has simple tastes and enjoys the little things. She doesn’t even care about my money.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “I do.”

  She tutted. “I blame myself for making you so naïve about women. They’re wiley, Adam. Especially the ones that have had to be to survive.”

  I was ready to pull my hair out. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

  “Because your happiness with this girl can only be fleeting, and it’s your long term happiness that concerns me.”

  “In that case, I’d like you to leave.”

  She stared across the table. “Excuse me?”

  “If you can’t treat me and the woman I love with respect, I don’t want you here. There are enough obstacles to making it work without you buzzing negativity in my ear and making her feel like she’s not good enough.”

  “Now you’re being hasty.”

  “There are two flights this afternoon, both of which have first class seats available.”

  “Stop, Adam. I get it.”

  I tilted an ear towards her.

  “I can see that you’re serious about this girl and that you won’t be persuaded.”

  “Go on.”

  “And I understand that Victoria wasn’t wild enough to hold your interest.”

  I groaned. “I swear to god if you even say her name again-”

  “Forgive me.” She laid her hands in her lap. “The last thing I want is for you to feel like I don’t support you or like I wish you anything but happiness and love.”

  I clenched my jaw.

  “I want to make amends.”

  I took a deep breath.

  “If you’ll allow it, I’d like to have Jolie up to my room for tea this afternoon.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her.

  “So I can get to know her better, just the two of us,” she said, her voice as warm as her expression. “The least I can do is give her a chance.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course,” she said. “I know when I’ve been beaten. And if she’s as dear to you as you say, then it’s only right that I give her the apology she deserves before I head back to New York.”

  “That would mean a lot to me, Mom,” I said, feeling like I’d finally gotten through. “And I’m sure it would mean a lot to her, too.”

  She smiled and cocked her head. “Then it would be my pleasure.”

  Chapter 33: Jolie

  According to the booking system, the only Victoria staying with us had checked out that morning. Meanwhile, Mrs. Annette Darling had ordered room service for two.

  To say I desperately wanted to know what was going on was an understatement, but I wasn’t about to ask. What would I even say?

  All the questions that sprang to mind were too pathetically sad.

  Did last night mean nothing to you? Why did you lie to me? Why are you even here? Just to destroy my life?

  Each one made me sound more and more like I was starring in my own pathetic Lifetime movie- and not one of the happy ones that makes you feel so good you don’t even care how badly acted it is.

  On the contrary, my life right now was one of those sad ones that makes you wish you weren’t even a woman because of how doomed you are to feel everything so deeply until the day death puts you out of your misery.

  Ugh.

  Perhaps I shouldn’t drink coffee when I’m depressed. After all, it wasn’t actually making me feel better. All it did was make the depressing thoughts spin through my mind faster.

  My only saving grace was that I knew Adam was going to be in meetings in the south wing all morning so at least he wouldn’t see me looking such a mess.

  “Hey,” Gia said, walking up to the desk in her work clothes with her hair in an updo.

  I glanced at the clock. “You’re getting faster,” I said, referring to a conversation we’d had a week prior about how the point of water aerobics wasn’t to make her super late for reception duty.

  “I’m trying,” she said, walking around the counter. “Feeling any better than you were earlier?”

  “You know that saying, if you don’t have anything nice to say-”

  “Got it.”

  “Actually,” I said, raising a finger. “That’s not entirely true.”

  “Oh?” She opened her purse and rummaged through it.

  “The alleged fiancée checked out this morning.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Already?”

  I nodded.

  She pulled her lipstick out and lifted her eyes. “That’s weird.”

  “I know.”

  “Any idea what happened?” she asked before painting her lips a deep red.

  “No, but I’m relieved to have one less person to be embarrassed around.”

  She nodded as she reached for the ringing phone. “Good morning, this is Gia. How can I help you?”

  I drummed my nails on the marble desk.

  Her eyes flashed at me. “Who should I say is calling?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I watched a kid slathered in half absorbed sunscreen follow his mom outside.

  Gia lowered the phone and covered it with her palm. “It’s Mrs. Darling.”

  “What does she want?”

  “To talk to you.”

  I tried to swallow, but my mouth had gone dry.

  She held out the phone.

  “Jolie speaking.”

  “Hello, Jolie. This is Adam’s mother.”

  I wondered if she was calling with her white gloves on. “What can I do for you?”

  “I was wondering if you might join me in my room for a cup of tea?”

  My lips fell apart.

  “I realize you’re working, but I won’t take much of your time.”

  I glanced at the clock. “When did you-?”

  “The sooner the better,” she said. “Please bring a pot of black, cream if you take it.”

  I stared at the phone. “She hung up.”

  “What did she say?”

  “She wants me to join her for a cup of tea.”

  Gia shook her head. “Rich people are so weird.”

  “I don’t think I want to go.”

  “You have to,” she said. “It’s your boss’s mom.”

  “Yeah, but-”

  “Just focus on that and put everything else out of your mind,” she said. “And if you’re not back in twenty minutes, I’ll call with some sort of catering emergency or something.”

  I blinked at her.

  “Go.” She shooed me away with her hand.

  “Okay,” I said, smoothing my hair back. “Jeez.”

  It took me a few minutes to get the tray of tea ready, but I was knocking on her door before ten minutes had passed.

  “Jolie, hello,” she said, opening the door and
extending her hand towards the coffee table.

  I forced a smile and set the tray down, doing my best not to invade her privacy by letting my eyes wander around the room

  She closed the door. “Please have a seat.”

  I did as I was told and watched her move towards the seat across from me. She seemed slower this morning, and while her face was still eerily devoid of wrinkles, her skin wasn’t a healthy color.

  When she perched at the edge of her chair, I noticed that the nightstand across the room was covered with nearly a dozen pill bottles.

  “So,” she said, nodding at the tea between us.

  “Oh, sorry.” I leaned forward and filled both our cups.

  “I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you to come.”

  “Is it that obvious?” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

  Her mouth twitched, but she didn’t smile. “Firstly, I wanted to apologize.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “I realize the way I spoke to you last night when you were off the clock was inappropriate.”

  “That’s alright,” I said. “You were just eager to get settled in your room after a long day of traveling. I completely understand.”

  “I also apologize for introducing Victoria as Adam’s fiancée.”

  I raised my cup to my lips.

  “Apparently I was mistaken.”

  The hot tea singed my taste buds.

  “Turns out he doesn’t love her.”

  I singed them again.

  “It was wishful thinking on my part,” she said. “It has always been a dream of mine that he would settle down with a woman who was of a similar pedigree. You know, someone from a family with money so his assets would be secure. Someone well-traveled. And educated, obviously.”

  “I see.”

  “Victoria has two master’s degrees,” she continued. “And her family have been dear friends of ours for many years.”

  I nodded and put my cup down on the saucer.

  “Anyway, it seems my dream for him has become sort of a dying wish,” she said, her eyes glassy. “Only God knows if he’ll find someone worthy of him before I pass.”

  “Pardon me, Mrs. Darling, but I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.”

  “Oh right,” she said, her eyes clearing as she fixed them on me. “My point is, I misspoke. He doesn’t love her.”

  “I see, well-”

  “But he doesn’t love you either.”

  I turned an ear towards her. “What?”

  “It breaks my heart to tell you that, but from one woman to another, I can’t let you be blindsided.”

  I furrowed my brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “He’s just having fun with you, Jolie. It’s not serious. It never can be.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek.

  “When he confided in me that you merely made for a convenient distraction down here, it angered me that he wasn’t showing you more respect.”

  I shook my head.

  “I tried to tell him that it was unfair to lead you on, unfair to let you imagine what your life might be like with him long term,” she said. “But he insisted you were lucky that he showed you any attention at all considering the type of men you usually go out with.”

  I clenched my jaw.

  “He’s always been terribly arrogant that way,” she said, laying a hand on her chest. “And I blame myself. I really do. It’s not right for him to manipulate you when you’re so vulnerable.”

  I opened my mouth.

  “He would be mortified if he knew I were telling you this, of course,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s never approved of me butting into his affairs, but I had to warn you.”

  My chest tightened.

  She cocked her head. “He’s planning on stringing you along until the very end, and I could tell by the way he said it that he’s not taking your feelings into account at all.”

  “Right.”

  “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” she said, laying her hands on her thin thighs. “But I don’t have much time left on this planet, and I’ve got to make every play for Heaven that I can.”

  “I understand,” I said, standing up.

  Then I made an excuse to leave and braced myself against the wall in the hallway, wishing I’d had the guts to ask her for some sedatives on my way out.

  Chapter 34: Adam

  “Can I grab you for a second?” I asked, laying my fingers on the edge of the front desk.

  Gia blanked me like she’d never seen me before in her life, and Jolie didn’t lift her eyes from the computer.

  “Jolie.”

  She looked at me.

  “Did you hear me?” I asked.

  “Sorry,” she said, her hands poised over the keyboard. “What can I do for you?”

  “I want to show you the renovated suite,” I said. “Carrie’s put all the finishing touches on it, and I need your go ahead before she can roll out the rest.”

  “I’d be happy to make some time to look at it,” she said. “When did you want-”

  “Now,” I said. “I want you to come look at it now.”

  Jolie looked at Gia, who nodded once without looking at me again.

  No matter how slow I walked, I couldn’t get Jolie to stay beside me as we headed down the hall to the elevators.

  “I trust your mother had a pleasant stay?” she asked as I pushed the elevator call button.

  “My mom rarely has a pleasant anything these days, but I believe she did.”

  “Good.”

  “I understand she had a chance to apologize to you?” I clasped my hands in front of me. “About the whole misunderstanding with Victoria?”

  “She did.”

  The elevator dinged, and I held the door open for her.

  She stepped inside.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked, stepping up to her after the doors closed.

  “Everything’s fine,” she said, seeming distracted. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

  “I’m not sure how that’s even possible,” I said. “I can’t think about anything besides the other night.”

  She stepped around me, and walked out the open doors onto the executive floor. “So will you be moving into the suite?” she asked. “Should I have someone collect your things?”

  “No,” I said, pulling my keycard from my pocket as we walked down the hall. “I can move myself. I don’t have much.”

  Something was wrong. My mind knew it, but my body was too fixated on getting her alone again, on smelling her, tasting her, having her touch my-

  “Wow,” she said, her eyes popping open as she stepped into the newly renovated suite.

  I closed the door behind her and watched her move to the middle of the room.

  “This is incredible,” she said, sliding open the door to the redecorated balcony.

  “I think we can charge at least double for this room now.”

  “I’ll say,” she said, her eyes sweeping across the patio furniture and then straight out to the beach. “It’s so private up here.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  She walked around me and went back into the room, bringing a breeze with her that shifted the sheer curtains hanging on each corner of the new four poster bed.

  I stuck a hand in my pocket. “By the time we’re finished, I want all the rooms to feel this luxurious.”

  “It was hard to imagine this when all I saw were tiny swatches of fabrics and paints, but this is really beautiful.” She ran her hand along the bedspread before lifting her eyes towards the polished seashells on the bedside tables.

  “I’m so glad you like it,” I said, sliding my hands around her waist.

  She froze in my arms.

  “There’s only one problem,” I said, dragging my day old stubble up her neck before kissing her earlobe.

  “What’s that?” she asked, lowering her voice.

  “The place needs to be christened,” I said, sliding the z
ipper on her skirt down.

  “Adam.”

  “Shhhh.” I pushed her skirt to the floor and squeezed the plump cheek of her ass. “Wanting you is all I can think about,” I said, pressing my hard on against her. “Don’t deny me the pleasure of making you come again.”

  She turned her face towards me.

  “I needed to have you yesterday, and it was like the whole world was conspiring against me.” I slid a hand between her cheeks and pressed my fingertips against her slit.

  “It’s office hours,” she said. “This isn’t right.”

  “It’s the only thing that’s right.” I pulled her thong down and found her heat again.

  She arched her ass towards me.

  “Take your shirt off,” I growled in her ear.

  I watched over her shoulder as she unfastened each button, allowing the shape of her breasts to become visible.

  By the time she pulled her shirt off over her head, my mouth was watering.

  I undid her white lace bra with one hand and reached around to grope her perfect tits until she grew wet enough for me to slip my fingers inside her.

  “Adam,” she moaned.

  The sound of my name on her lips made me drive into her deeper. “God you’re so wet for me,” I said, my hunger for her increasing as her pussy clenched around my thick fingers.

  I needed to be inside her, needed to make her mine all over again. I undid my pants and pushed them down as best I could with one hand.

  Her breath hitched in her throat as I pulled my fingers from her and wiped her sweet nectar on my cock, staring at her ass as I stroked myself.

  She was about to turn around when I grabbed her hips and squared up to her. “Bend over,” I said, guiding myself to her dripping slit.

  She leaned a bit, but when I plunged inside her, she fell forward and gripped the white comforter.

  I rocked my hips against her, a feeling of insatiable lust overwhelming me as her pussy choked my throbbing cock. When her knuckles turned white, I slowed down.

  “Oh god,” she moaned. “That feels too good.”