AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jase arrived home just after six. I poured him a scotch and handed it to him when he reappeared from his bedroom, where he’d gone to change. We always made a point of getting out of our business attire as soon as we got home. Our penthouse was our sacred space, where we could relax and be ourselves with no barriers or fronts.
I joined him on the sofa, where he’d collapsed. “How did the inspection go?”
His face was grim as he sipped the liquor. “You’re not going to like what I’m about to say.”
I stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
He drained his glass before answering. “The contractors started demolishing some of the framing so they could start the renovations and they found termites.”
My mouth fell open. “Termites? Are you fucking kidding me? We had the place inspected thoroughly before we bought it! How did the inspector not find out there were termites?”
“I don’t know. They were burrowed deep in the framework. Could be he didn’t see them and didn’t strip back far enough to notice.”
I took a few deep, calming breaths. “So what does this mean?”
“Renovations will have to be delayed while they work this out. Probably have to gut the place entirely and start over.”
Shit. The framework of the property had been solid, which is why we’d bought it. We hadn’t wanted to start from scratch.
I pouted some more, which made Jase laugh. He stroked my cheek with the backs of his fingers affectionately. “I’m starving. What’s for dinner?”
“How about roast pork, baked vegetables, and applesauce?”
His stomach growled in response. “You’d better not be teasing me, woman.”
“Who, me?” I gave him a toothy grin and glanced at my watch. “It’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”
“Awesome.”
We talked some more about the new place until our dinner arrived, and then we devoured it. Once a delicious dessert of apple pie had been polished off, we made ourselves comfortable on the floor of our living room and started going through the pile of folders I’d brought home with me.
As night fell, the view of New York City outside our floor-to-ceiling windows was breathtaking. The different colored lights dazzled, and every now and then I’d glance at the view and smile.
Despite our wealth and the privileged life we led now, we’d never forgotten how it used to be. How we’d worked three, four, sometimes five jobs between us while we studied and just tried to survive. How we’d had nothing but each other.
It was why our charitable foundation was so important to us. The foster children it helped would never have to live through what we did. It granted scholarships to universities, where they could further their education and chase the job of their dreams. They also got a stipend to help with expenses.
The harder we worked, the more children we could help. That was the motivation to keep growing our income every year.
We went through every application together, discussing the suitability of each potential employee. I’d purposely left Brodie Pierce’s file until last and handed it over to Jase without comment.
He flipped it open and stilled. “Is this a joke?”
My eyes twinkled. “Nope. He’s determined to get an audition with us, it seems.”
Jase scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I suppose we’d better give him one or he’ll never stop.”
“It’ll be amusing, if nothing else.”
He tossed the file onto the others we’d agreed to have audition for us. “Fine. Then we can decline to hire him and never have to deal with him again.”
After narrowing the pile down to fifteen possible candidates, we sat on the sofa together, watching the television. More precisely, he watched it while I read a book.
It was late by the time we decided to call it a night. Jase wrapped me in his arms in a warm hug and I clung tightly to him, my arms around his waist and my head on his shoulder. He smelled good, the faint scent of his aftershave lingering.
I love the way he hugged me. He never held back, embracing me tightly. I always felt safe in his arms.
Loved.
