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“Beautiful,” he whispered. I turned to look at him and he smiled down at me. “Isn’t it?”
“It is,” I agreed.
“I designed it,” he said, his eyes shining with pride.
“Oh!” I replied.
“It’s a masterpiece, Bear,” Mom said. “You should be so proud.”
“I am, thank you, Matilda,” he said, bending his head. “Let’s go in!”
“Mr. Dalton, good evening,” the doorman said. He was dressed in a double-breasted suit with braided gold trim and tassels hanging from the shoulders, his hands covered in white gloves.
“Jimmy, thank you,” Bear said.
“This is Matilda McDonnell, my new CFO, and her daughter, Chloe. They’ll be in the penthouse.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jimmy said, nodding and smiling. “Please let me know if there’s anything you need.”
“Thank you, Jimmy,” Bear said, shaking his hand. When he pulled away, Jimmy discretely shoved the hundred dollar bill in his pocket that Bear had slipped him and opened the heavy glass doors for us.
The lobby was incredibly posh, with shining white marble as far as the eye could see. Low slung white leather couches and gleaming glass and chrome tables filled the space, a huge abstract painting hanging over a roaring stone fireplace.
Bear led us to the elevator, waving at the man behind the security desk along the way. Once the elevator doors closed behind us, he pushed the penthouse button on the panel.
“Hope you don’t mind being on the top floor,” he said to Mom.
“Of course not,” she said.
“You have good taste, Matilda. I can tell you’re going to fit in the city just fine!”
Mom laughed and took a deep breath.
“I can’t believe we’re finally here!” she said. “I’ll find us an apartment as soon as possible, Bear. Thank you for letting us use the corporate apartment until then.”
“Don’t be absurd. You can use it as long as you like. You might find you want something a little farther out of the city after a while, but until then, consider it part of your salary, Matilda.”
“You’ve been so generous,” she replied.
“Well, I plan on getting my money’s worth out of you, don’t worry,” he teased.
“I’m worth every penny. You know that,” she replied.
I stood in the back, watching them through a maze of mirrors created by the four mirrored walls that lined the elevator walls. I could see Bear from every angle, all at once. It was like the thoughts in my head had somehow exploded into the atmosphere. I’d been swimming in thoughts of him for days now, and it was all too much.
I exhaled in relief when the doors opened.
“And here we go! Ladies first,” Bear said, holding the elevator as we walked out into the most beautiful apartment I’d ever seen. I glanced over at Mom and she looked downright blissful. My eyes swept over the place and I realized just how perfect it was for her.
It was modern and swanky, in a minimalistic kind of way. The furnishings were a mirror of the ones in the lobby, all white leather and gleaming glass. The view from the private terrace was incredible and sweeping, making the city below seem almost far away.
It took us five minutes to walk through the five bedrooms and six bathrooms, the office, the kitchen and the den, with fireplaces in every room except the bathrooms. I couldn’t help but smile at Mom’s reaction. Whatever happened, whether I stayed or not, I was glad I was here to see this. She’d worked so hard after Dad left and she rarely stopped. I was happy she had a such a wonderful place that she loved to come home to.
“So, what do you think?” Bear asked. He seemed pleased with himself.
“Did you design the rooms, too?” I asked.
“Partially. I used an interior designer for the details,” he said.
“It’s perfect, Bear. I can’t thank you enough,” Mom said.
“No more thanks needed,” he said.
“So, Chloe, which room do you want?” Mom asked.
“I was thinking —,” I began.
“— Oh, no, Chloe will be staying at a different apartment,” Bear interrupted.
Mom and I both looked at him in shock.
“What?” I blurted.
“Well, you’re an adult, Chloe, I didn’t think you’d want to live with your Mother. I arranged for separate accommodations.”
“Oh,” I replied, speechless. “But there’s so much room here.”
“Yes,” Mom said. “There’s no need for the expense of an entirely separate place.”
“Nonsense,” Bear replied. “Money is no object. I own so much real estate in this city, I couldn’t fill it all if I tried. I’m sure Chloe would like her privacy.”
“But —,” I protested.
“—But nothing. It’s already done,” Bear insisted.
“Okay,” I replied. “Thank you.”
“You’ll be a few blocks away. The building is a little less modern, but I think it’ll suit your needs and give you a true taste of the city.”
“That’s so nice of you, Bear,” Mom said.
“Y-yes, it is,” I replied. My stomach was in knots.
Bear continued, “I’d like to take you there now. Do you mind if I show Chloe around the neighborhood?”
“I don’t mind,” Mom replied, shooting a worried glance at me. “If it’s okay with Chloe?”
“Yes, of course,” I replied, anticipation ripping through my veins. I’d finally be alone with Bear and I could hardly breathe just thinking about it.
“Excellent!” Bear replied. “Take your time to settle in Matilda. If there’s anything you need, I’ve instructed the front desk to take care of you. I’ve also taken the liberty of booking you a hot stone massage. I find it to be a fantastic way of relieving stress, and I know the effect flying has on you.”
“Thank you, Bear,” she replied, still sounding a bit anxious.
“Shall we?”
“S-Sure,” I stuttered, anxiety washing over me. I was so frustrated with myself. I wanted to appear the sophisticated young woman, ready to face New York and Bear w
ith all the self-assurance that I was sure he expected. Instead, my hands were shaking and my palms were sweaty… and I was sure he could see my hard nipples beneath my clothes.
When his hand touched the small of my back again to lead me to the door, I froze. I took a deep breath and said goodbye to Mom, promising I would call her later, and then there we were, all alone in the elevator.
His hand remained on my back the entire ride down but he didn’t say a word to me. We stood staring straight ahead into the mirror, the two of us side by side, the heat of his fingers searing into my skin as I struggled to breathe.
The image engraved itself into my memory. Me, trying to look professional with my tight pencil skirt hugging my hips. And Bear, to my right, towering over me, his expression relaxed and serious, his handsome face almost too much to bear. I wanted to turn to him, ask him a million questions, kiss him, touch him, beg him to slide his cock into me again.
“You didn’t have to get me my own apartment,” I finally said, my voice finally calm and soft, a stark contrast to everything screaming inside of me.
“Yes, I did,” he said, his voice just as calm and cool as mine. The elevator slowly came to a stop, the doors opening smoothly as he leaned his head down and brought his lips right next to my ear. He dropped his voice to a low, grumbling whisper. “We’re going to need our privacy.”
My lips parted and a tiny sigh escaped my mouth as his hand pressed me forward out of the elevator, through the lobby and back into the waiting limo. This time, Bear sat next to me, his muscular thigh pressed against mine. He leaned forward, pressing a button that lowered the glass between us and the driver.
“262 Central Park West,” Bear said. The driver nodded and the tinted glass rolled back up, leaving us alone.
“I think you’ll enjoy living on the other side of the park, Chloe. Everything you’ll need is within walking distance.” His voice was low and velvety and I stared into his dark eyes.
“What about you?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow and a slow smile spread across his face.
“I live nearby, and my office is five blocks away. I’m keeping you close.”
