****
When we arrived at Michael’s building, a man waited for us in the lobby. He looked as if he were in his late forties, a hair taller than Michael yet they looked to be in the same physical shape.
“Rainey, this is Sam,” Michael said.
I shook Sam’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” I looked to Michael to explain who Sam was.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he said. “I’m head of Mr. Carrington’s security and house staff. So if you ever need something, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Michael and Sam exchanged a brief look and I wondered what they were silently communicating with each other.
Sam led the way and I followed as they conversed together.
Minus Michael’s hair that barely touched his shoulders, looking at Sam and Michael from behind I could have sworn they were twins. As head of Michael’s security, I wondered if that was part of the job description. It was hard to remember that Michael was a billionaire sometimes. Sure he led a lavish lifestyle but he didn’t seem like the type of person I always imagined billionaires to be.
The elevator was large enough to fit a dozen people comfortably. Inside, Sam shoved a special key into a slot located below the other buttons. The doors closed and we ascended to Michael’s apartment.
I had no idea what to expect. I’d never seen a billionaire’s apartment. And while my mind went wild with possibilities, none of them compared to what I saw when the elevator doors opened.
We stepped into an entryway. The floor was the most beautiful pristine hardwood I’d ever seen. The walls were a bright white which contrasted with the numerous paintings adorning them. Past the entryway was a massive living space. The furniture was simple and elegant, something out of a showroom but also looked very comfortable. The most impressive part was the floor to ceiling windows making up one wall. I walked over to get a bird’s eye view of the city I loved.
Michael came up next to me.
“Michael,” I breathed. “This place is amazing.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Thank you. I’ve put in a lot of hard-work to get it.”
No matter how hard I worked for my entire life, I’d never have a place like this. That wouldn’t stop me from enjoying the view for a little while.
“Let me take you on the grand tour,” he said, taking my hand. Our fingers weaved together and that same thrill that had accompanied me on our little vacation came back in full force.
So far, the kitchen had been my favorite room. The set up was the same simple elegance that the living room and dining room encompassed. Michael’s wife had a tasteful eye to design a place so comfortable and stylish.
“Let’s go upstairs next,” he said.
“You have a second floor?”
He pointed to the staircase in front of us. “Those stairs would look pretty funny if they didn’t lead anywhere.”
I lightly punched him in the arm. “Ha, ha.”
He laughed and ushered me up the stairs to explore the rest of this dream home. I found myself in disbelief as we walked down the long hallway at the top of the stairs. I didn’t think apartments had multiple floors. I supposed if you were a billionaire, these simple ideas didn’t apply.
An older woman came out of one of the rooms, humming to herself.
“Milly!” Michael said, calling for the woman.
Milly had to be in her sixties, but she was sprightly as she bounced over to us. “Michael, who did you bring home today? I didn’t even get a chance to freshen up!” She made a show of fluffing her short brown hair. Strands of gray weaved their way through which gave her a more motherly-vibe.
“I’m Rainey,” I said. “Michael’s new assistant.” I opened my hand to shake hers but she pulled me against her in a tight embrace.
“It’s so nice to meet you! Michael has told us all about you.” She winked and then waggled her fingers at us. “I must be getting back to work but I’ll be sure to see you soon.”
She walked past us and down the stairs.
“Sorry about that,” Michael said.
“She’s sweet. I like her.” I wondered what Michael had told his staff about me. I hoped it was similar to the conversations I had with Tessa about him. “How many people work here?”
“Sam lives here with me. Milly is my housekeeper and Fiona is my personal chef.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “What were you expecting?”
“For a place like this? I don’t know a butler for each room or a team of maids with little frilly outfits and dusters.”
He laughed. “Sadly, no. I like to keep a smaller staff. They’re more like family to me. Milly is my surrogate mother while Sam is an overbearing fatherly type.”
“What about Fiona?”
He sighed. “She’s more like an older sister to me. We have our moments.”
“That’s really nice.” And I had another reason to like him more. He was incredibly down to earth, which was something I admired. Maybe that’s why we got along so well—most of the time. “Listen, Michael, I want to talk to you about earlier.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, leaning down to give me a peck on the mouth. He lingered there and my legs turned to jelly.
I broke the kiss and smiled up at him. “If you keep distracting me I won’t be able to talk to you.”
“Talking is overrated,” he said, leaning down for another kiss.
Our lips brushed at the same time someone cleared their throat. I jumped back and saw Sam a few feet away. I hadn’t even heard him come down the hallway.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment at our display. Michael didn’t seem at all bothered.
“Excuse me, Rainey,” Sam said and approached Michael. He whispered something in Michael’s ear.
Michael’s jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. He let out a quick rush of air through his nose. “I’ll be right back.”
“Rainey, if you will follow me,” Sam said and started down the hallway towards the stairs.
Michael opened one of the doors on the way and the second he got inside, someone rushed at him. A loud, high-pitched squeal came from the person. Michael wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. The assailant faced me and I did a double take. The black-haired woman that had stared at me from the mantel in Colorado was the one tangled in Michael’s arms. She pressed her bright red lips against his cheek, leaving a mouth-shaped imprint on his skin.
The door closed and I stood in the hallway, stunned.
My body went completely numb but my brain was racing.
The two of them seemed very close. Had Michael taken me to his lover’s house in Colorado? If Michael wasn’t serious about her would he let her practically attack and kiss him in front of me?
I couldn’t believe I’d been such a fool. My hands started to shake and I was thrown back in time to when I caught Killian cheating on me. Michael and I weren’t married or even officially dating but the betrayal was real and it ripped through my heart like a knife. I couldn’t do this. Not again.
His charm and good looks had masked the real person that he was. I had been correct about him being a liar. And to top it off he was with another woman.
Tears blurred my vision as I raced down the stairs and sprinted for the elevator. I pushed the elevator button and hoped I wouldn’t need a special key to get down. When the doors open I flung myself inside and pressed the button for the lobby. My breathing was labored and I found it hard to take a full breath. My chest and throat tightened. I fell back against the railing of the elevator as the doors closed, sealing me off from Michael completely.
I was done with Michael Carrington.