Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Anna
“Franco.” I placed my hand on his shoulder.
“I know. You’re leaving. I saw the two of you arguing. Go talk it out.” He kissed my cheek.
“Are you mad?”
“Not at all, darling.” He smiled. “I won’t wait up for you.”
“Thanks. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
As soon as I walked out of the store, Wes was waiting at the curb with the car door open. I climbed into the back seat, and he slid in next to me. I was nervous because I was about to tell him things I had never discussed. He reached over, lightly grabbed my hand, and interlaced our fingers. I glanced up at him as a small smile graced his lips.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” he said. “How about I place an order for some food and have it delivered?”
“I’d like that. What did you have in mind?”
“Anything you want.”
“There’s a McDonalds right up there. We could order from the app and run in and get it.”
“McDonalds?” A look of confusion swept over him.
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I could really go for a Big Mac, fries, and a chocolate shake.”
“McDonalds it is.” He sighed.
When we pulled up to his Park Avenue building, he handed me the McDonald's bag and asked me to carry it along with my shake. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you embarrassed to be seen walking in with McDonalds?” I asked.
“Something like that.” He smirked.
As soon as we stepped into the building, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Miss Young?” Sebastian, the doorman, smiled.
“Sebastian? Oh my god. What are you doing here?”
I handed Wes the bag and my shake and gave him a hug.
“You two know each other?” Wes asked.
“We sure do. Sebastian was the doorman at my company. I had no idea you moved to New York,” I spoke.
“I moved here shortly after I left. You knew I was originally from here.”
“I know. It’s so good to see you.” I smiled.
“Still eating McDonalds, I see.” He winked. “Are you here on business?”
“Umm. No. Actually, my father fired me, and I moved here. I’m staying with Franco until I find a place.
“He fired you?”
“Yeah. Long story.” I waved my hand.
“You know how I always felt about your father. I’m sorry he did that to you. You don’t deserve it.”
“Thank you, Sebastian. Now that I know you’re in New York let’s catch up over lunch sometime.”
“I’d like that, Miss Young. Enjoy your evening.”
We stepped into the elevator, and Wes inserted his key to the top floor.
“You better be nice to Sebastian,” I said as I opened the bag and took out a fry. “My father never was.”
“I like Sebastian. I’ve never once been rude to him.”
“Good. Because if I find out otherwise, you’re going to have to deal with me.”
He let out a chuckle.
When the door opened, an elegant, marbled foyer greeted us, leading to an incredible spacious dining and living area decorated in muted grays and white. I followed him to the kitchen, which housed hand-painted cabinets in white, black Italian marble countertops, top-of-the-line appliances, and an Italian marbled island that sat in the middle.
“Would you like to eat at the table or the island?” he asked.
“The island is fine.”
I took a seat on one of the stools, and Wes sat down next to me. Reaching into the bag, he pulled out my Big Mac and handed it to me along with my large fries. Taking the lid off my shake, I picked up a fry and dipped it in.
“That is disgusting,” he spoke.
“Have you ever tried it?” I narrowed my eye at him.
“No, and I don’t ever want to.”
I popped it in my mouth with a smile, picked up another fry, dipped it, and held it up in front of him.
“You’re making assumptions again, Mr. Carter. You can’t do that until you know for a fact that you don’t like it.”
He sat there with a smirk across his lips as he took the fry from me and placed it in his mouth.
“Okay. I’ll admit that it was pretty damn good.”
I picked up my shake and placed it between us.
“Dip all you want.” I grinned.
“Listen, Anna. I’m sorry for everything you overheard. I was just talking out of a place of confusion.”
“Why? Because you like me but are afraid to admit it?”
“Something like that. I’ve told you before that I don’t trust women, and this is the reason why. With my status and wealth, a lot of women are just interested in my money and what kind of lifestyle I can provide for them. It’s happened numerous times over the years, and about three years ago, I met a woman named Alexa. We dated for a while, and I liked her. I wouldn’t say I loved her, but there was an attraction there. We had gotten into an argument one night, and I told her that it wasn’t working out and I didn’t want to see her anymore. Just as I was about to walk out the door, she told me she was pregnant. To make a long story short, I did the right thing and married her, and she was never pregnant. She faked the whole thing. We got divorced, and she got a huge settlement that set her up for life. It was a bad time in my life, and I don’t like to talk about it.”
“That’s awful. I’m sorry, Wes.” I placed my hand on his arm.
“Ever since her, I’ve been extremely cautious with whom I’ve dated. Nothing ever seemed to work out, and I haven’t found anyone worth trying for.”
“Do you still talk to her?”
“No. She moved to Seattle and started a new life with my money, which I was grateful for. Because, honestly, I never want to see her again.”
“You feel the way Matthew feels about me.”
“Why did you do it, Anna? Why did you just leave him standing at that altar? I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”