Chapter 11
Nick’s home was actually a Penthouse in the heart of the city where most of the upper crust lived. It wreaked of money with stunning city views and far more space than a family needed, much less a single person. That was saying a lot, in New York, where most families crammed into apartments the size of a coat closet.
Eve was there when they arrived, overseeing the meal being prepared by the caterer Nick hired to cook for them. The overwhelming aroma teased something yeasty and Italian, oddly, like really good pizza. With a quick nod to Nick and Cori, Eve excused herself, along with the cook, leaving them to their meal which was set up on the dining table that sat at the large floor to ceiling window, overlooking the city.
“Is that really…pizza?” she asked.
“Yes. You said you loved pizza, so I thought it was a safe choice,” he smiled.
“You know we could have grabbed one anywhere. You didn’t have to hire a fancy…chef.” Cori was starting to see that although Nick seemed like a down to earth, regular guy, unfazed by money…he did have a few spoiled tendencies.
“Of course, we could have, but Gianni does it all from scratch. He also hand tosses the dough and makes a mean antipasto salad with breadsticks.” Nick waggled his eyebrows and rubbed his hands together; the only thing missing from his excitement over their meal was drool.
“Okay. If you say so,” she laughed, taking a seat and really seeing the meal for the first time. She took her first bite, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. “Oh, my. I think I get it. Oh, my God, this is amazing.”
They ate over light conversation, enjoying their meal. It was easy between the two of them, like there was a long history between them, even though there wasn’t.
He was impressed by how real she was and that she didn’t want a single thing out of him but his company. When he did pull out all the stops, she wasn’t impressed and was even a bit uncomfortable.
He impressed her for similar reasons. Though he had more money than God and could afford to do and be anything he wanted, he was still a pretty grounded guy. Where Phillip lived off the pomp and circumstance, Nick could do without and preferred quite the opposite. He was eating pizza. Cori couldn’t remember a time when Phillip had ever had a slice of pizza.
Quick to clean up and store the food in the containers Gianni left behind, they moved on to why Nick really brought her to his home and why they needed privacy to discuss it. He wasn’t sure how she would react.
They moved to the living room, a glass of wine in hand each, when Nick cut to the chase, “I want you to move in with me.”
Choking on her last sip of wine, Cori couldn’t believe what she had heard. Nick quickly placed her glass on the coffee table in front of them and began to pat her back. “Are you okay? Shit! I didn’t mean to choke you!”
“Come again?” She asked, voice cracking. “I might have heard you wrong.”
He sat back, his ankle tossed over the opposite one, and watched her expression, “I think you heard me right, given the reaction. I asked you to move in with me.”
When she started to stand and look around for her purse, he held her hands in his and guided her back to the couch. “Hear me out. Just give me that, okay…hear what I have to say.”
“You have like five minutes, Blackthorne.” Arms crossed, she backed into the corner of the couch and listened to what he had to say.
“We’ve been trying to get to know each other, right?”
“I think we’re doing a pretty good job at that, yes.”
He nodded then added, “But we don’t know enough. Dates a few nights a week, its…nice. But we aren’t really getting to know each other’s habits. Know what I mean?”
“Sort of…carry on.”
Thrilled he had her attention, he did as she asked. “If we live together, strictly plutonic, it would give us more down time together. We wouldn’t be cramming in lunch meetings to get our stories straight; it would seem more…organic, real, natural.”
“You’re really good at this. Like really good at this,” she teased, feeling a little better about his proposal. Though a bit unconventional, he was on to something.
“The headlines today made me think of it. The world now knows, so how do we react?”
“By moving in together – validates the rumors, and we look legitimate. Plus, we get more time together, are seen more together. Hate to say it, but it’s a good plan, Blackthorne.”
She looked around his Penthouse apartment, taking in all of the lovely things, views, and space. It was hard to picture herself living there; it just wasn’t her or anything she thought she would ever have to call home, even if for just a little while. She started something big and let it get out of control, and this is where it left her.
She had so much on the line. It wasn’t just about saving face with Winnie and Phillip, but also her reputation in the business community. She was becoming a total fraud, and that could destroy her career before it even started. It didn’t matter that Nick knew her, the real her, because there were board members and clients to think of, too.
“Can I think about it?” she asked.
“Of course. I assumed you would want to anyway. It would only be until the Hamptons. Whatever happens after that…happens.”
“Question. Why…are you doing this for me?” she asked.
With a shrug he replied, “Why not? You’re not like other women, Cori. You don’t care about my money or what’s in it for you like other women are. You’re just…you, and you don’t try to impress me. You aren’t afraid to tell me what you really think, you’re honest, and expensive things don’t impress you. Plus, I enjoy your company. You’re fun.”
“I don’t impress you?” she asked quietly.
“Quite the opposite,” he said, moving closer to her. “I find you intriguing, genuine, and the only woman in this town who didn’t want my diamonds and connections. It’s refreshing. I can be…me when I’m with you.”
“Wow. Okay, I…”
He went on to interrupt her, “And you’re beautiful. Stunningly so. And kind. Even when you don’t have to be.”
“But, if I accept your offer, doesn’t that make me like other women?”
“You could never be…”
Locked in each other’s stare, words escaped them both. Nick finally broke the silence between them. “There is a Gala next week, hosted by Tate and Cane. I would love for you to join me.”
“As your colleague…or guest?” she asked, putting him on the spot. She sensed a change in their relationship, but she couldn’t tell what it meant or who was responsible. Were they just more comfortable with each other, or were they crossing the line from partners in crime to something more.
“Can it be as both?” he asked sincerely.
Pleased with his answer, she rewarded him with a smile. There was part of that change. Her attendance wasn’t just about the company. Why that pleased her was ominous to her, but she didn’t need to reconcile that at the moment.
“Will Wind Bag and Pencil…you know…be there?” she teased, referring to Winnie and Phillip, using his less than flattering pet names for them.
“Of course,” he smiled. “It’s the primary reason I considered attending. T&C wants to collaborate on new contracts. You should hear what they are offering.”
Still facing each other, hand in hand, she questioned his intentions more. “Isn’t that an Executive role – perhaps that of the Vice President of Marketing?”
That was the role she was applying for, and to invite her to act in such capacity spoke volumes. “It is, but I am responsible for that area until the position is filled, and I would love your insight until then.”
His faith in her was bigger than she realized. “I suppose I can be available that evening.”
“You should go change,” he said in a low sultry tone just before he laid a kiss on her forehead. It was sweet and endearing, without crossing any lines. Chivalrous and gentlemanly as he promised.
Halfway across the space, on her way to the bedroom where her dress was hanging and waiting, she stopped and turned to ask, “If I agree to move in – can we get a few…pillows. Maybe a throw blanket and some…flowers or something? Maybe something, I don’t know…pink. It needs to look like a woman lives here.”
It wasn’t a yes but it wasn’t a no, and it meant she was seriously considering his offer. Nothing could have pleased him more. With a smile a mile wide, he nodded. “You can have anything you want.”