April was perhaps one of the most beautiful times of year in New York. Spring had come, flowers were blooming, and trees were bearing new leaves. Kate wandered through the streets of Manhattan. The sights and sounds of the city continued to provide a calming effect and a smile formed across her face.
The transition to Soho was probably one of the best things she ever did. She escaped the mundane life she’d known before. She met new friends and now even had a best friend. They spent hours shopping at sample sales, tasting wine, and she came to almost every one of Kate’s food tastings. How had she missed life before? It seemed as though the lights had turned on and she could see around her.
There was still no word from Tony. Not a day went by that she didn’t think about him. It had been almost a year since she last saw him and escaped the house in Italy. She still had no idea what his fate was. Often times, she sat on her balcony and wondered if he made it out alive. If he had, wouldn’t he have come for her? Wouldn’t he have contacted her to let her know he was safe? Maybe guilt plagued him. Perhaps Kate was never more than a pawn in his game. She would probably never know the answer. While the pain of not knowing what happened or where Tony was at was still there, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had once been. It just proved that time could heal all wounds.
She turned onto 5th Avenue. People bustled—everyone going in and out of stores and scrambling to get to their next destination. At any one time, she could count twenty taxis lined on the road pushing and honking their way through the maze of cars. This was life. This was what was so thrilling about living in New York City.
Not unlike many other days, Kate found herself standing at 350 5th Avenue. She stared up at the enormous structure known as the Empire State Building. The structure was considered a pillar of the city; it could be seen from just about anywhere. What was it about this building that made Tony want to visit it so much? Why not the Freedom Tower or the Statue of Liberty? Most days, she continued walking but today was different. It was Tony’s birthday and something was pulling her to enter the building; it was like a force she wasn’t going to resist. She looked down at the heart-shaped ring on her finger and rotated it back and forth with her thumb. She hadn’t taken it off since the green-eyed monster last took it from her. Kate was relieved when she found it on her finger. She wasn’t sure when he slipped it back on. She must’ve been unconscious.
Kate went inside and walked through the marble entryway that led to the gold replica image of the building on the wall. It certainly was a beautiful tribute to an amazing architectural feat. She’d seen pictures of men standing on top of the structure constructing it. The job seemed dangerous, and they had no safety harnesses on. In today’s day and age, the unions would have a field day with that.
Kate continued walking until she found the short line that was waiting for the elevators. This was great; there would be virtually no wait to get up. April was typically a slower month for tourists, and she was there a little early for the people who flocked up to the top at sunset.
Within a few minutes, she was riding the elevator to the top. When Kate exited the rickety metal enclosure, she was stunned by the panoramic view. It didn’t matter how many times she’d been on the top of the Empire State building, the view was always as magnificent and breathtaking as the first time.
She walked to the edge of the building and peered through the fence that stood protecting the people from falling or jumping off the side of the building. She located several well-known spots throughout the city; Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and the Statue of Liberty, which was known for welcoming immigrants to the States. Lady Liberty stood proudly, weathering the test of time and continuing to welcome people from all over the world. Tony would’ve enjoyed this.
The breeze kicked in sending a chill through the air. Winter hadn’t completely left and it continued to provide a cold bite in the afternoons. Her overcoat couldn’t compete with the breeze that decided to linger. Goosebumps covered her flesh and a chill raced down her spine.
She pulled her coat closed and took one last look at the city before heading back down the elevator. As she turned, she bumped into a dark-haired gentleman. He was tall with a beard.
“Excuse me. I’m so sorry.” Kate smiled politely as she looked up at the man. Her breath caught inside her chest. Had it not been for the glowing emeralds staring back at her, she may not have recognized him. A surge of emotions flooded through her: anger, happiness, surprise, and excitement. She couldn’t tell which was strongest.
“Oh my God. Tony! What are you doing here? Where have you been? What happened to you?”
He covered her lips with a finger as he pulled her close. The emeralds pierced her eyes and mesmerized her into a silent trance. That man could have anything he wanted from her at that very moment. As he leaned in and placed his mouth on hers, she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth and softness of his lips and the smell of his skin. His facial hair brushed against her skin, tickling it. She forgot how his kisses could make her knees weak and her body swoon.
He moved his arms down her sides and behind her back. She melted into his embrace as he deepened the kiss. Tony parted her mouth with his tongue, diving softly inside and dancing with hers. They were in unison…harmonious, as if they had been doing this every day for their entire lives.
Kate pulled him in deeper. Her desire to take hold of him and never let go controlled every part of her body. She let him go once; she wasn’t about to let him leave again. She wanted to devour him and bathe in his touch. Time stood still; there was no one else in the world except the two of them in this very moment.
Tony took a handful of her hair and gently pulled it, causing her to moan in his mouth. She pulled him tighter and scraped her nails along his back trying to claw her way into him. The heat from his body warmed her heart and soul. She no longer needed to run from the breeze that chilled her to the core only moments before. She was now possessed by an inferno of heat, and her desire for Tony outweighed any fear of getting burned.
He pulled back slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. The connection never severed. “God, you’re beautiful.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Mi amore…Don’t you remember? This was our destiny. The Empire State Building on April sixteenth at four-sixteen in the afternoon. This is our time.”
Thoughts from the basement flashed through her mind. He mentioned four sixteen several times, but she never gave a moment's thought about it. Yes, it was his birthday and his parents’ anniversary, but never in a million years did she think he would be here waiting. Now, all the pieces were coming together. He knew he was going to get out and she would be here waiting.
“How? How did you know?”
Tony kissed the tip of her nose before lighting her up with his eyes. “I didn’t know. I hoped. I hoped you would figure out the clues I was providing. I hoped that I would make it out of there alive. Most of all, I knew the connection between us was so strong. Nothing could keep me away from you. Nothing. I would’ve moved heaven and earth to get to you.” He brushed his lips against her.
“How did you get out?”
He put his finger to her lips. “Shhh. My beautiful Kate. We have all the time in the world to talk about the past. Right now, I want to get you some place private and make up for lost time.” Tony rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek before pressing his lips softly to hers.
She succumbed to the passion in his words, the heat from his body, and the electricity of his touch. Her body turned into Jello-O as her knees grew weak, threatening to give out. Without hesitation, she surrendered herself to him.
Tony pulled his lips from her, releasing the emotional vise grip he had on her. “Shall we go?” He extended a hand.
Kate grasped his hand without hesitation. “Where are we going?”
“Have you forgotten everything so quickly?” He chuckled. “The Waldorf, of course.” He led her to the elevators. Kate took a deep breath and prepared for the ride as the doors closed behind them.
The End