Chapter Fourteen
Julia called in her resignation the next day and no one seemed surprised. She’d done it during the day because she couldn’t face Tom and Paul. She wasn’t ready to answer the questions they’d ask.
Gio sent a driver over midmorning to pick her up and bring her to his apartment. It felt unreal handing his driver luggage as if she were going on a vacation. She couldn’t meet the driver’s eyes. Does he know? Does he care? Has he done this a hundred times before?
He grunted when he picked up her second case—the one that was full of her samples, her tools, and all of her magazines. Hey, hey. Be careful with that. That’s only my life in there.
The drive to Gio’s building uptown gave Julia far too much time to think. Through the car window, she studied the blur of pedestrians on the sidewalks and wondered what had brought each of them to New York.
How many of them reached their dreams? How many found themselves lost on tangents that distracted them long enough that their dreams slipped away?
The bellman met Julia at the curb and took her luggage with a smile. He led her to the elevator and rode with her, silently, to the top. The entire experience was surreal. An older man in a suit opened the door to Gio’s apartment and introduced himself as Miles, the butler.
He brought Julia’s luggage to Gio’s bedroom and asked if she would like him to unpack for her. The question surprised Julia. He was about her father’s age, and the idea of him unpacking her things made her uncomfortable.
“You do that?”
“Of course, Miss Bennett.”
“But then you’d see all of my . . . stuff,” she said and blushed.
A small smile stretched the man’s lips. Blandly, he said, “Whatever you prefer. I don’t mind.”
“Because you’re used to it?” She couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Are you used to it? Does Mr. Andrade have many women stay here?”
“I really can’t say,” he said and took a step to leave. “If there is nothing you need I’ll leave you to unpack.”
Julia nodded in understanding. “You can’t tell me because of some butler-boss confidentially agreement? Gotcha.” She put one of her bags on the bed. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable with the question. I mean, does it matter anyway what the answer would have been? If you said that he’d had a hundred women live here already, what would I do—run? I know this isn’t permanent. It’s not even a good idea, really. It’s just that he asked me when I was . . . when we were . . . I couldn’t think. I should have stalled—given myself time to think this through. Because here I am now . . . wondering if I made the right choice.”
Miles stopped at the door and turned back to look at her. “Miss Bennett?”
Julia raised a hand to stop him. “You don’t have to say it. I shouldn’t have asked. Don’t risk losing your job by telling me anything.”
“I was wondering if you were hungry.”
Julia covered her eyes with one hand and wished she could disappear. “Oh. Yes. Food. No. I mean, no. I’m not hungry. Thank you.” Stop talking. Why did I think I could do this?
Instead of immediately leaving, Miles cleared his throat and said, “I have worked for Mr. Andrade since his mid-twenties. You are the first woman who has ever brought luggage.”
Julia lowered her hand. She didn’t want to read too much into that information. “Really?”
With a slight incline of his head, Miles said, “I have also never made breakfast for anyone except Mr. Andrade.”
Although there was nothing in Mile’s expression to hint how he felt one way or another about her staying there, she was touched by what he’d revealed to her. “Thank you, Miles.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Bennett. Mr. Andrade had me clear out the other bedroom for you to use as a studio. Please tell me if you need any help setting it up.”
He closed the door behind him, and Julia sat on the edge of the bed she knew she’d share with Gio that night. A studio? For me?
I don’t need that unless I’m staying for a while.
Like, moving in.
Holy shit.
Did I just move in with Gio?
* * *
Gio came home to Julia that night, and every night for the next week. Beyond the lovemaking, he enjoyed having her in his apartment. They fell into a comfortable pattern over the next week. They made love each night, woke early, and often made love again.
The more time he spent with her, the more he enjoyed the simple pleasures. Watching her wake in the morning. Wondering what she would say today that would make his unflappable butler turn away to hide a smile. Coming home and having someone to talk over his day with.
For the first time in his life, Gio found himself sharing stories about the project he was working on. He found Julia’s ideas refreshing and often thought provoking. Although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, she was the reason he turned down the Atwater deal. There were other projects he could work on, ones that were less controversial, one he could be proud to discuss.
Her opinion mattered to him in a way that no one’s had before. It both scared and inspired him. Just as she did.
Julia had meant what she’d said. She didn’t want money from him. She didn’t want gifts from him. Although she didn’t immediately apply for another job, she used her time during the day to add to her jewelry line. Each night when he came home she had a new piece to show him, and a new story on how she had reached out to another jewelry store.
It would’ve only taken one call from him for her to make the sale. But she had made him promise not to make that call. She wanted to do this on her own. And for reasons he couldn’t explain to himself, he wanted her to have that. He wanted her to know that she had done it on her own. The more they spoke, the more he understood the sale of the jewelry was as much about the journey as it was the money.
Gio didn’t ask himself what the future held for them. He had her in his life, in his bed, and for now, that was enough.