by Lynn, Sandi
While I was cooking dinner, Stella was practicing the piano. I tried to hire her a teacher, but she told me no and that she was okay learning by herself. She played incredibly well for someone who had never had a lesson. Listening to her play reminded me of Caden, and every time I thought about him, the knots in my belly tightened. After Stella and I ate dinner, she took a bath and I put her to bed. As I was lying in bed reading a book, my phone dinged with a text message from Caden.
“I’m leaving for a business trip on Thursday to Chicago and I need you to go with me. We’ll be back on Saturday. Have your driver drop you off at my penthouse at nine a.m. sharp.”
“That’s in two days.”
“And? I’m giving you notice like you asked. I’ll see you then.”
My belly twisted as I typed my next message.
“You don’t want to see me tomorrow?”
“No. I’ll see you on Thursday.”
I didn’t know if I should have responded to that or not. So I just left it. I dialed my mom.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Mom. Caden just texted me and said he needs me to go to Chicago with him on Thursday and we’ll be back Saturday.”
“That’s fine, but there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll come by tomorrow morning around seven a.m. That’ll give us enough time to talk before Stella wakes up.”
“Yeah. Okay, Mom. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I ended the call and set my phone down on the nightstand. Her tone sounded off and now I was worried.
I got up early enough to get dressed and make some coffee before my mom came over. I had some leftover chocolate chips muffins from yesterday that I’d made, so I put them on a plate and set them in the center of the table.
“Good morning,” my mom quietly spoke as she walked through the door.
“Hey, Mom. Good morning.”
I poured her a cup of coffee and set it on the table.
“So what’s going on?” I asked as I sat down.
“I met someone.” She smiled.
“What? When?”
“Last week. I didn’t want to say anything until I got to know him a little better.”
I cocked my head at her in shock.
“Who is this guy and where did you meet him?”
“His name is Steven. He’s fifty years old, and we met in the meat section at the grocery store.”
I arched my brow as I took a sip of my coffee.
“I hope he’s not married.”
“His wife passed away a few years ago. We’ve been talking every day and met for coffee yesterday.”
“Oh my God! You couldn’t tell me this?”
“Like I said, I wanted to get to know him a little better first. You know my history with men. Anyway, I really like him.”
“And what does this Steven do for work?”
“He’s retired.”
“At the age of fifty?” My brow raised.
“He used to work on Wall Street, made very smart investments, and now he doesn’t need to work anymore.”
“So what does he do with his time?”
“He golfs, travels, and is heavily involved in charity work.”
“Does he have any children?” I asked.
“No. He and his wife could never have any. The reason I’m telling you this now is because he wants to spend more time with me, and with your schedule, it’s hard because you never know when Caden is going to call you.”
“He gives me notice, Mom. You know that.”
“Not enough notice as far as I’m concerned.”
“So what you’re saying is you don’t want to be responsible for Stella as much anymore?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I just think you need to have a backup because I have a life too.”
Wow. I can’t believe she just said that.
“I know you have a life, Mom, but you agreed to help me with Stella.”
“And I have been for the past six years. I’m always there the second you need me. Now I want to live a life for me too.”
“Okay. I’ll see if Sasha can be available more.”
“What about Ben? You know Stella loves him and he loves Stella. He isn’t driving for you as much anymore, so maybe watching her could make up for it.”
“And what do I do when I need him to drive me somewhere?”
“You’re a smart girl, Brielle. You’ll figure it out. You always have. I’m sorry, baby, but I really like him. Maybe when your six months is up, you should consider retiring. You’ve saved quite a little nest egg already, and with the money you’re getting from Caden, you’ll have more than enough to live on, plus you can use it to go back to school.”
“I’m happy you have my life figured out for me, Mom,” I snapped as I grabbed my coffee cup and got up from my seat.
“Don’t you dare take that attitude with me, young lady. I have been here for you since you had that child. Did you think I was going to do this forever? Maybe you should look into hiring a nanny for Stella. It’s not like you can’t afford it.”
“Mommy, Grandma, what’s going on?” Stella said as she walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.
“Hey, good morning, sunshine.” I smiled as I walked over to her. “Nothing is going on. Grandma came over for some coffee and we’re just talking. I’m sorry if we woke you.”
“It sounded like you were using your outdoor voices.”
“Come here, baby,” my mother spoke as she held her arm out to her. “Give Grandma a hug. I have to go. Think about what I said, Brielle.”
I rolled my eyes as she walked out the door. Maybe she was right. Maybe I should hire a nanny for Stella. If I did, then that meant my mom wouldn’t be watching her anymore and she wouldn’t be getting paid.
I spent the day with Stella and explained to her that I had to go to Chicago for work for three days. She wasn’t happy about that, which made me even more upset than I already was. The older she got, the more difficult it was for her not to have me here. I only wished I could tell her that everything I was doing was for her.
“Mommy, don’t be sad,” she spoke as she placed her hand on my cheek.
“I’m not sad, sunshine.”
“Yes you are. I can tell. You know what we do when one of us is sad.” She smiled.
“Not right now, baby. I don’t really feel like it.”
“It doesn’t matter if you feel like it. It’s something that has to be done.”
She picked up the music remote on the table, pressed a button, and “Hakuna Matata” began to play. Stella grabbed my hand and started singing. A smile crossed my lips as I got up and we sang and danced our troubles away.
19
Brielle
“Be good for Grandma.” I smiled as I kissed and hugged Stella goodbye.
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” she pouted.
“You know Mommy has to work. I’m doing this for us, baby.”
“Maybe you can find a different job. One where you don’t have to leave so much.”
My heart broke into pieces as I stared into her eyes.
“One day I will. I promise.”
I grabbed my suitcase, said goodbye to my mom, and climbed into the car where Ben was waiting for me.
“It’s getting harder on her,” I spoke.
“She’s getting older and she’s more aware. She’ll be fine. You’re not the only working mother in the world. Plus, you’re a single parent and you’re doing a damn good job. Don’t forget that.”
I sighed as I stared out the window. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this trip. Caden and I had barely spoken since that night. Ben pulled up to the hangar and my belly twisted in a knot when I saw Caden standing by his car. He walked over, opened the door, and held out his hand to me.
“Good morning,” he spoke.
“Good morning.” I placed my hand in his and climbed out of the car. My skin trembled, not only at his to
uch, but just by looking at him. It felt like it had been forever since I’d seen him.
He let go of my hand and I wished he wouldn’t have. I followed him to the plane, and once we stepped inside, I took my seat while he went and spoke to the captain.
“We’ll be taking off in a few minutes,” he spoke as he sat in the seat across that faced mine.
“Okay.” I looked out the window. With much hesitation and just a need for an answer, I asked, “So, how have you been?”
“Busy. Very busy,” he replied as he pulled his laptop from his bag and opened it.
I expected him to ask me in return, but he didn’t. His focus was whatever he was doing on his laptop. I turned my head and stared out the window as the plane headed down the runway. I thought about my mom and the conversation we’d had yesterday. She was right. She needed to live her own life. A life that didn’t revolve around me or Stella. She deserved to be happy and to live the rest of her life with someone. She’d never trusted men, and the attempted relationships over the years that she found herself in never worked out because of her insecurities. I could relate. Once you were betrayed by a man, it was hard to ever trust again.
“You look like you’re in deep thought. Is everything okay?” Caden asked.
“Yeah. Things are fine.”
“Do you not want to be here?”
“Of course I do. It’s just an issue I’m having with my mother.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Not really.” I lightly smiled.
His eyes diverted back to his computer, so I pulled out my book and began reading. When the plane landed, we climbed into the back of a limo that took us to the Waldorf Astoria.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Chamberlain. Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Edward.” He smiled.
“Ma’am.” Edward tipped his hat to me.
“Hello.” My lips smiled.
He opened the door for us, and we walked into the grand lobby and over to the front desk.
“Ah, it’s nice to see you again, Mr. Chamberlain.” A bright-eyed blonde-haired woman smiled.
“Hello, Peyton. It’s good to be back.” He gave her a wink.
As she typed away at her computer, she kept glancing up at me. I immediately hooked my arm around Caden’s and gave her a smile. He looked over at me in confusion.
“The key to the Presidential Suite,” she spoke as she handed it to him.
I watched as she made sure her fingers lightly brushed up against his.
“Thank you, Peyton.”
“If you need anything at all, give me a call,” she seductively spoke.
I knew her type. She worked in this fancy hotel to try and sink her claws into the wealthy men that entered through the doors.
“If he needs anything, I will be taking care of him.” I smirked as we walked away and headed to the elevator.
“What the hell was all that about?” he asked.
“Oh please. She was totally flirting with you.”
“She always does when I come here. It doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“You don’t find her attractive?” I asked as we stepped into the elevator.
“Of course I do. I think she’s a very beautiful woman and I get the feeling she’d be exceptional in bed. By the way, do you do threesomes?” The corners of his mouth slyly curved upwards.
“I do. For an extra hundred grand.” I raised my brow.
“I was kidding, Brielle,” he spoke in a serious tone.
As soon as the doors opened, I gave him a smile as I stepped out.
“Seriously, I was joking. I know almost every man’s dream is to have two or more women in bed with him, but it’s not one of mine. I like to focus on one woman at a time.”
“Good to know, Mr. Chamberlain.”
“Come on. Tell me the truth,” he said as he opened the door to the penthouse suite. “Have you ever done a threesome?”
“Why do you care?” I asked as I looked around the thirty-six-hundred-square-foot space. “But, if you want the truth, no, I never have. I’ve had men offer and I’ve turned them down, losing many clients because of it. It’s not my thing either.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into him, smashing his lips against mine, forcing them to part so his tongue could slip in between and greet mine. His hands roamed up and down my body and I could already tell he was sexually starved.
My fingers unbuttoned his shirt as he slipped his between the straps of my sundress and slid them off my shoulders. I gasped as his tongue slid across my neck and his hands groped my breasts.
“I’ve missed your body,” he whispered in my ear.
I gulped as the palm of his hand pressed against my belly and slipped down the front of my panties. His fingers circled around me until one of them found its way inside.
“You’re already soaked, and I need to taste your sweetness.”
He got down on his knees, took down my panties, and began lightly stroking me with his tongue. My hands tangled through his hair as he pleasured me in the way I’d become addicted to. When I wasn’t with him, I craved him. A craving so strong, I had to take care of myself while I thought about him. I’d never felt like that with a man before and it proved even more that when it came to him, my emotions ran way too deep. My body tightened as did my fingers in his hair as an orgasm rushed through me.
“Beautiful,” he spoke as he stood up and placed my hand on the bulge that was hiding behind his pants.
“Here or in the bedroom?” I asked.
“Over here, on the couch,” he replied as he took hold of my hand and led me there.
Before taking a seat, he took down his pants and then sat down, spreading his legs so I could kneel in between them. Taking his hard cock, I gave it a couple tugs before slipping it into my mouth. The moans that escaped him turned me on even more. With all the other men, I had to take my mind somewhere else, but with him, I wanted to be fully present and satisfy him in the best way possible.
“That’s it. Oh God,” he moaned. “Fuck, Brielle.” He stopped me and brought me on top of him.
I slowly slid down his cock as I stared into his eyes, inch by inch until he was buried deep inside me. His fingers dug into the flesh of my ass while he took my nipples between his teeth. I moved back and forth and up and down, stroking his cock with the heat that resided inside me. Our moans became one as ecstasy filled our souls. Another orgasm overtook me as he let out a howl and exploded inside me.
20
Caden
I removed my hands from her hips and wrapped my arms around her back as she collapsed into me. Our breathing was ragged, and I could feel the pounding of her heart against my chest. She did most of the work and exceled in every way like she always did.
“When is your meeting?” she asked me.
“Tomorrow morning. I thought we could do some shopping today.”
“Sounds good.” She smiled.
I stared into her eyes and brought my hand up to her cheek. Flashbacks of that night filled my mind and startled me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. We should get dressed if we’re going out.”
She climbed off me and I got up from the couch and headed into the bathroom. When I came out, she was already dressed and sitting out on the terrace of our room.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she spoke.
“Wait until you see it at night. Are you ready?”
We went down to the lobby and climbed into the limo that was waiting for us and had the driver drop us off a Bloomingdale’s first.
“Are you shopping for anything in particular?” Brielle asked.
“Some new ties.”
“And you can’t buy new ties in New York, why?” She smirked.
“Because we’re here in Chicago right now and we’re shopping.”
“If you say so. This one is nice. So is this one and this one.”
“Not my style.”
“I know. That’s
why I picked them. I think they would look great on you. Maybe it’s time you step outside the box and wear something a little different.”
“Excuse me? There is nothing wrong with the ties I wear.”
“No. There’s not. Not if you like boring. I’ll be in the women’s department.” She walked away.
“I’ll have you know my ties are not boring!”
I picked up the ties she showed me and took them up to the register. I’d show her. After I made my purchase, I headed to the women’s department, where I found her trying on straw hats.
“Well?” She turned around. “What do you think?”
As much I wanted to tell her I didn’t like it, I couldn’t. The truth was she looked sexy as hell wearing it.
“It looks great on you.” I smiled.
“Thanks.” She grinned.
I had the driver drop us off at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steak. When we walked inside, people filled the space, waiting for their table.
“Welcome to Eddie V’s. Can I help you?” A perky redhead smiled at me.
“How long is the wait for two?” I asked.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No.”
“The wait is a little over two and a half hours.”
I reached into my pocket, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and discreetly placed it in her hand.
“I’m sorry, how long did you say the wait was?” I winked at her.
“Let me check again.” She flirtatiously smiled. “A table for two just opened up. Follow me.”
“Impressive.” Brielle smiled as we took our seats.
“Everyone has a price,” I spoke with an arch in my brow.
“I suppose so.” She picked up her glass of water.
Our waiter took our drink order while we glanced over the menu.
“Tell me more about your childhood,” I said to her. “You’re a very smart woman and I get the impression you were an exceptional student. I’m sure you never thought as a child that you’d become an escort for a living.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. My mom was a single parent who worked two, sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. We lived in a shoebox with one bedroom. I never had much growing up, but I made do with what my mom could provide.”