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I enter the office, and focus on the Richard de Kooning painting that cost a fortune, hanging on the wall behind my desk. The splashes of reds, blues, and yellows cost more than Clementine will be paid. I pull out my cell and instead of making sure Ronin paid Blackstone—which should be my first priority—I make a call for custom made frames to add some new artwork upstairs from a very young artist.
Chapter 15
Clementine
I’ve never been so excited to take a bath in all my life. I could swim in this thing. Tiny flames from the lavender scented votives arranged around the tub reflect on the whirling water.
I can’t believe I’m actually in this place. It’s like a fairy tale wrapped in a nightmare and tied with a surreal reality. After dinner—without Gabriel— I read Tennyson a story before bed and then sat in the rocking chair in his room for a little while to be sure he was completely out. He handled this transition like a pro. Me not so much.
I remove my clothing, and my eyes drift closed as soon as I sink into the hot, bubbling water. The muscles in my neck relax, and I weave my fingers through the bubbles, letting the music playing softly throughout the bathroom reenergize me.
The pressure of the jets work out the knots in my muscles like a masseuse. This is something I could get used to.
“Clementine,” Gabriel says as he enters my en-suite, “I wanted to…”
“Get out of here,” I squeal, sitting up and rearranging the bubbles just enough to cover the important areas of my naked body.
“I just wanted to say...” He stops mid-sentence, his eyes roaming over my body under the soapy water.
“Get out,” I reiterate. “Tell me over a text.”
“I’m sorry.” He turns around so he’s no longer facing me. “I just came to tell you I had some clothes picked out for you. All of the new clothes are hanging in your closet.” He sounds almost pleased with himself.
“New clothes?”
“Nothing too crazy, just a few new items to play the part,” he says, still turned away from me.
“Oh, thanks.” I scoop more bubbles toward me, letting my eyes roam over his broad shoulders and down his back. “Do you ever get tired of wearing a suit?” I’m hoping he says yes, because it’s troubling how hot he looks in one.
He turns around, his large hand roaming over his double-breasted jacket. “Sometimes.” His eyes linger, watching me as the bubbles dissolve into the water around me.
“Goodnight,” I say, once I realize he doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.
He chuckles a bit. “Sleep tight.” And with those words he leaves.
I sink lower, letting the water rush over my head. The room is silent, the water blocking out the music playing in the bathroom, but my thoughts are way too loud.
When I re-emerge, I try not to think about the way Gabriel looks in his suit. Or what’s beneath the shirt and tie. His hair was a little mussed, like he’d been running his fingers through it. It makes me wonder if he’s stressed about this wedding, or if by the end of any normal day his hair looks like that.
Guess I’ll find out.
Guess I’ll find a lot of things out.
One thing I’d like to figure out is why his grandfather chose me. It’s not like I knew the man like Savannah did as his nurse. She used to come here every afternoon and take care of him. I would tell her time and time again not to become friends with the devil, but it’s like she took my advice and did the opposite. She’d spend most of her time here at the Prince estate, waiting on Joseph Prince each day.
Savannah was my best friend. There wasn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for her.
We were only a few years apart, and she often times hung around the more popular crowd in school as I hung back, keeping to myself. I’ve always felt that way. Like I’m on the outside looking in. I don’t try to isolate myself away from people, but it’s just something that happens. When I’m with a crowd of people, I find myself remaining quiet, watching, listening, learning from other people. It isn’t a mental decision to try to stand on the outside, it’s just something that happens.
I think that’s why I like decorating cakes. It’s quiet when I focus on my designs and try to make it all come together. There’s no one else in the kitchen when I bake, and create. It’s soothing.
Like this tub. I let the water turn almost cold before I finally step out.
A silk robe hangs on the bathroom door, and I slip it on after drying off.
Savannah fills my mind as I climb in bed. I cry myself to sleep, letting the memories bleed out through my tears on the pillow.
“Tell me everything Gabriel related,”Erin says, as I look over the orders for the day.
