She didn’t want his money, but she couldn’t bring herself to cash the check. It reminded her of their week together. She almost thought that she was starting to develop feelings for him. It wasn’t love, but it was definitely more than just the raw, unadulterated lust that they’d both felt at first sight.
“Are you almost ready?” Kelsey asked, slinging a bag over her shoulder.
It turned out that they both had summer jobs in New York. Kelsey was going to work in the main offices of her father’s corporation, Davenport Enterprises, and it turned out that KLS Global was only a few blocks away. They would have separate apartments though because KLS Global required all of their interns, paid or not, to stay in a designated apartment building, while Kelsey owned her own apartment in Manhattan.
“I’m ready.” She said, closing her suitcase and dragging it across the floor.
If Kelsey hadn’t insisted, Brianna would have happily taken an economy seat on a commercial flight to New York. But since Kelsey was going too, Lucian insisted that they take the company’s private jet, along with Kelsey’s best friend, Amira who was shooting daggers at her the whole limo ride to the airport.
Lucian was there to see them off, and when he tried to speak to her, she walked right past him and took a seat on the plane. She intended to just sleep the whole flight, but as the plane took off, she found her hands shaking. She missed Jon. She’d tried to call him several times since her sort of break up with Lucian. He was always busy or never answered, so she just gave up on him. Her next option was alcohol. So when it was offered, she took it.
New York was supposed to be a magical place, but she couldn’t see it. Her heart was just in the gray zone and she didn’t understand why. It’s not like she and Lucian were dating. They were just fucking. It was never supposed to be serious. He was just supposed to be a means to an end. She needed money for school and for bills. He needed her to be with him. She did. She earned her money.
She really earned her money.
That check was going to be deposited into her account by the end of the week. She’d made up her mind as she approached the apartment building that was listed in her official acceptance letter. It was absolutely breathtaking. Almost like the building that Lucian stayed in back in Denver. She shook her head, determined not to let thoughts of Lucian pollute her mind.
“My name is Brianna Michaels. I’m supposed to be in apartment three thousand three.” She told the doorman.
He grinned and tipped his hat to her. “Of course, Ms. Michaels. Your key is with the Superintendent in apartment two ten. My name is Davis, if you need anything. And good luck with the new job.”
“Thank you, Davis.” She smiled and headed inside.
After retrieving her key from the super, she headed up to the thirtieth floor. Her apartment was amazing. It was tastefully simple. A large brown sectional sofa dominated the living room. The kitchen was elegant with stainless steel appliances, including a double oven, and huge island in the center of the kitchen. She rushed to the back of the apartment and saw the office first, and two bedrooms with nicely made king sized beds.
The door opened and a pretty redheaded young woman walked in. She wore the same expression of awe that Brianna wore when she first saw the apartment. Brianna rushed forward, eager to meet her roommate.
“Eleanor?” she asked.
“Brianna?” her roommate had an accent. She was definitely a Texan.
“Hi, I’m so excited to finally meet you. I was kind of nervous about this moment for the last three weeks.” She admitted.
“Me too. I even set up a backup plan. I was looking at apartments to rent close by.” Eleanor said. She pursed her lips. If she was looking at apartments, that meant she had Manhattan money, so that already put her on another level. Probably the same level as Kelsey.
“Well, I’m nice. I promise.” She said, laughing off the sudden jolt of insecurity she was feeling.
“I’ve already met some of the neighbors. All boringly dull except for Kevin two doors down. Gay, but so fucking sexy.” Eleanor headed to the kitchen and Brianna followed. The mini beverage fridge beside the island was fully stocked and she hadn’t noticed until Eleanor pulled out two bottles of wine and held them up for her to choose one.
She pointed to the one on the left and sat in a barstool at the island while Eleanor searched for an opener. She pulled two wine glasses down from where they were hanging decoratively above the island, and slid them over to Eleanor to fill. When she handed her one of the glasses, she closed her eyes at how rich the wine tasted on her tongue.
“Most of the people in the summer program are snobs. High bred, ivy league, dinner club….” Eleanor gulped her wine and poured another one. “Wait. What school do you go to?”
“University of Colorado. I had to turn down Harvard because I couldn’t afford the tuition, even with the scholarship they offered.” She felt like shit admitting that, but she could work at three strip clubs and still not make enough for Harvard.
“You’re not missing anything, honey.” Eleanor scoffed. “I go to Harvard, but if my stepfather wasn’t paying, I wouldn’t be able to go either. My mom married up. Way up.”
“Sounds like you don’t like your stepdad much.” She said.
“The man is a disgusting old perv. I hate him.” Eleanor admitted.
They were silent for a few minutes, uncomfortably sipping their wine and listening to the grandfather clock in the living room tick by the minutes. After about three minutes, Brianna couldn’t take it anymore.
“So, I heard there’s a couple of cool clubs around here.” She said.
Eleanor’s eyes lit up. “This weekend, we’re so going clubbing, but if you feel like getting out tonight, the stiffs mentioned a bar down the street that everyone’s gathering at tonight.”
“Cool. Let me take a quick shower and I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.” She said.
“I’ll go ask Kevin if he wants to join us. I mean, it’s always good to have a man round out your group for protection.” Eleanor said as she headed for the door.
As soon as she was gone, Brianna headed for the bedroom she’d chosen. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and rummaged through her bag for a charger. While her phone was charging, she took a quick shower and did her best to maintain her now unruly curls. When she stepped into her bedroom, her phone chimed, letting her know that she had a new text message.
I’m sorry. I miss you. Good luck in NY. Maybe I’ll see you there and we can have dinner and talk?
“Motherfucker!” she screamed.
She wanted to throw her phone across the room, but instead she shut it off and tucked it into her wristlet. All she wanted to do tonight was have some fun and forget about Lucian. Thank God she wasn’t pregnant. That would have been a real disaster. It felt so wrong buying that test and sitting in the doctor’s office alone to double check her results. It was a false positive. The blood test came back negative and though she was a little sad, it was all for the best.
“What’s wrong?” Eleanor frowned.
“Nothing.” She lied. She eyed her roommate in her tight jeans and low cut sweater. “Let me change. I think I’m overdressed.”
“Hell yeah. Show them what you’re working with, girl. Those dull bitches are going to fucking hate us.” Eleanor grinned.
Rushing to her suitcase, Brianna pulled out her favorite denim mini skirt and paired it with a pink lace halter top that brought out the green in her eyes. She paired it with cute pink sandals and let her hair down. When she walked into the living room, Eleanor was standing by the door talking to a tall, handsome, blond man. He looked like he walked straight off the cover of GQ magazine.
“Wow, she’s hotter than you said, Ellie.” He said, eyeing Brianna and making her blush. When she got to the door, he took her hands in his and swept kisses across her knuckles. “Good evening, beautiful. I’m Kevin Ford, and I’ll be your escort tonight.”
Ah, the gay one. She couldn’t help the gigg
le that escaped her. He was a total flirt, and he seemed like he would be just the kind of friend she needed right now. Eleanor too. She actually had hope for the future. New temporary job, new friends, and hopefully after graduation, she’d be able to return to New York and start a new life. All she needed to do was carve out time to see Jon and she was all set.
She didn’t need Lucian.
Sixteen
Lucian sat staring at the report on his desk. He knew that he shouldn’t have done it, but in the name of protecting his baby sister, he violated her privacy by asking the maid, Rosemarie, to keep him updated only on things that seemed uncommon for both Kelsey and Brianna. Two things came up. A series of phone calls for Brianna on the landline from a blocked number, and a positive pregnancy test in her trashcan a few weeks ago.
She’d avoided him like the plague. Even when he’d purposely went to the airport to see them both off, she didn’t say a word to him. He searched her face, her body for signs that she was carrying his child, but he didn’t notice anything. Her belly wasn’t rounded, her face didn’t fill out. There was nothing. Then again, from what he’d read, it would take about sixteen weeks to see a difference. He couldn’t help but to wonder if she’d invite him in for this. If he even wanted to be there.
He couldn’t deny that he had feelings for Brianna. The moment she walked out of his life, it seemed like nothing else in the world mattered. He didn’t think that he’d fallen in love with her after a week, but maybe he did. He’d been pissed off with the world since she’d left him without a word, and when he found out about her pregnancy, he damn near cried. Happiness, he wasn’t sure, but it was pretty fucking emotional.
And Samantha. Sam cursed him out for three days straight before he couldn’t take it anymore and tried to break up with her. But Sam being Sam, she fell to her knees and after five minutes of begging him to stay with her, his cock ended up down her throat and all was forgiven. At least on her end. He was starting to see that he couldn’t forgive her for making Brianna disappear.
His relationship with Samantha started off purely as business. Her father was a prominent investor in several companies that he had his eye on. Being with her made him practically family, and after six months, he was invited into Frank’s business circle. After a year, he was in on all of his dealings. And now, there was a big merger happening and he wanted in on it. Leaving Samantha now would be a bad business move. Not that he didn’t love her. She was probably the only woman besides Kelsey and his mother that he’d truly loved. Samantha was beautiful and brilliant. She was the head surgeon at Mercy Children’s Hospital, and she was the type of woman that he always saw himself married to with three children.
“Sweetheart, daddy asked if we were still coming over for dinner tomorrow night.” Samantha asked, breaking him out of his mental rantings.
He was in no mood to hear Sam and her mother go over wedding details when there wasn’t even a ring on her finger yet. Then they’d start in on baby names. He was pretty sure their nonexistent children were already on the waiting list for Denver’s most elite private preschool.
At least that was one good thing. His child with Brianna would have everything. He wondered if it was a boy or girl. He’d love a son to be his heir and keep up the family’s line. But he’d also love a daughter to spoil. And Brianna seemed like she would be a wonderful mother. A little rough around the edges, but things like that mostly iron out with motherhood.
“Lucian!” Samantha was snapping her fingers in his face.
“What?” he snapped.
She looked taken aback for a moment before understanding crossed her features and she slid into his lap. “Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice going up two notches in an attempt to seem sweet.
“Nothing.” He lied. When she just frowned at him, he sighed. “I’m actually thinking about going to see Kelsey in New York.”
“I’d love to take a trip to New York!” she squealed. “There’s a few places I need to go anyway. That’s a wonderful idea.”
He didn’t want to argue with her, so he didn’t. “Dinner with your dad. What time?” he asked instead.
“Eight. I’ll meet you there. I have a late surgery scheduled in the evening.” She said.
It was just as well. He needed to move on from his Brianna fantasy and the only way to do that was through the truth. He loved Samantha first. He was planning to marry her. He would find a way to see Brianna alone in New York and then shop for an engagement ring. He’d tell Samantha about his unborn child and beg her forgiveness while presenting her with a diamond big enough to rival the one Kobe Bryant gave Vanessa when he made his mistake.
Yep. That was it. Decision made. He was moving on and getting married.
Seventeen
Brianna awakened naked and dazed. Bright light was shining directly into her face, nearly blinding her as she attempted multiple times to open her eyes. When she was finally fully awake, she shuddered thinking about why she was in a room that didn’t look familiar.
She had wine, then a few mixed drinks, then more beers than she could count. She remembered playing pool with Eleanor and Kevin. Frowning, she pushed past the nausea to another memory involving the hottest man she’d seen in months. He reminded her of Lucian with his dark hair and sapphire blue eyes, but he was more of a sexy bad boy than a corporate badass.
He was winning against everyone, but seemed to be surrounded by a particular circle. She broke through that circle and challenged him to a game of pool. They made a cash bet and she lost. They made another cash bet, and she lost again. She challenged him a third time and he insisted that he couldn’t take any more of her money. It was the alcohol that was talking, but she remembered leaning in so that only he could hear what she was proposing as their next bet…. Oral sex.
She couldn’t remember who’d won, but obviously with her waking up naked in a strange place, the guy had accepted the bet and she really wanted to feel regret. Only, she didn’t. That guy was delicious, and she needed the distraction. And the release.
“Morning, sexy.” The guy stood in the doorway, looking sexy as hell as he tied his red tie.
“Why are you in a tie?” she murmured, covering her face with a pillow.
“Because it’s six thirty in the morning and I have to get to work soon.” He said.
Almost immediately, she regret how fast she sat up in bed. A string of curses fell from her lips as she rolled out of bed and stared at him. She needed to get to work as well. There was no way in hell that she was going to be late for her first day. Even though it was an internship, it was a paid internship, which in her eyes meant that it was a job. A job with potential to earn her a permanent spot after graduation.
“I need to get back to my place!” she squealed as she searched around for her clothes.
“We’re already here.” He said.
She turned around and frowned at him. “What?”
“Your roommate, Eleanor, directed my driver here when I was dropping her off before we headed back to my place, as you insisted. Turns out. My place is five floors above yours.” He shook out his suit jacket and slid it on.
“Great. I’m going home. I need to get to work too. It’s my first day.” She said, picking up her skirt and halter. She looked everywhere for her panties, and when she couldn’t find them, she decided to just leave them behind. Something told her that his maid was used to disposing of women’s underwear.
“You should totally go to work naked.” He said, staring at her as she slid her skirt over her hips.
“What, you didn’t get enough last night?” she asked, assuming that they’d ended up having sex. She so wanted to regret it, but she really didn’t. She was just upset that she couldn’t remember it. He seemed like he’d be a beast in the sack.
“I didn’t get any last night.” He said, shocking her.
“So, I was naked for no reason?” she frowned.
“We started, and you passed out. I’d never take advantage of a woman li
ke that.” He shrugged.
“If you say so.” She couldn’t help but smirk at the fact that he wouldn’t take care of an unconscious woman, but he was ready to do so with an extremely drunk one.
“Look, you don’t know how much fucking willpower it took for me to cover you up and just let you sleep. A beautiful woman in a man’s bed is a hard temptation. But I did it, and you’re untouched.” He said. Then he gave her a lustful look that made her blush, “But a bet is a bet, and now we know how to find each other.”
“Maybe.” She slipped past him and headed for the front door. She wanted to take in the posh design of his apartment, but didn’t have the time. “What’s your name?” she asked, pausing at the door.
“Ah,” he grinned. “If you can figure it out, I’ll take you to dinner on top of the bet.”
She couldn’t help her smile. He was playing games with her. Well, she was good at games. “Deal.” She agreed and walked away.
After rushing through a shower, nearly burning her neck with a flat iron, and nearly breaking a heel on her stiletto, Brianna met up with Kevin and Eleanor just as the elevator arrived. They were both staring at her and she was kind of irritated by the attention.
“What?” she demanded, happy that they were at least alone in the elevator.
“How was your night?” Eleanor grinned.
“I wish I were in your shoes last night.” Kevin added.
She rolled her eyes. “My night was uneventful.” She told them.
Their faces fell as they both reached in for a group hug.
“It’s always sad when a man that sexy has performance issues. He just screams S.E.X. and yet, you weren’t getting any.” Kevin sighed.
“It wasn’t performance issues.” She said. “I passed out.”
They were quiet for a moment before they both started laughing.
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