Triplet Babies for the Billionaire (Happy Ever Alpha Daddies)

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Noah

I finish up the last of my emails, checking over a few reports and confirming tomorrow's meetings. The office is quiet, the city sounds faint in the background. I sigh as I hit send on the last one, mentally shutting down for the day.

I leave my office and head for the elevator, pressing the button, my mind spinning. That damn kiss. That damn night. I can’t get it out of my head. Every time I think about it, a new wave of tension washes over me.

I know she knows.

I know I’m her boss now, and it’s not supposed to be this way.

What if she says something?

What if she’s angry?

What if she tries to make something out of it? It’s so easy to imagine her walking into HR, talking about how she slept with me, and the scandal that would follow. It could destroy everything: my reputation, the hotel, the company’s image.

But then, I stop myself.

Blossom’s not like that.

She wasn’t looking for a job here when we were together.

We slept together before she ever worked at the hotel.

I take a deep breath as the elevator doors slide open, the familiar hum of the ride making me feel even more trapped in my thoughts. I try to push it all out of my mind, but I can’t help it.

All I can think about is her: her smile, her laugh, her eyes.

The way her soft pussy felt against my hard cock.

She’s getting under my skin, and I’m not sure how to stop it.

I step off the elevator into the quiet of my penthouse, the door closing softly behind me. My place is exactly how I like it: spacious, modern, full of sleek lines and clean surfaces.

But tonight, it feels empty.

The floor-to-ceiling windows provide an unmatched view of Manhattan’s skyline, towering buildings, glowing lights, everything sparkling in the distance.

I stand there for a while, just staring, trying to clear my mind. But all I can see is Blossom.

It’s been days since we worked together, but I haven’t stopped thinking about her. I’ve kept my distance, kept things professional, but it’s harder than I expected.

She’s not like the other women I’ve been with for a single night since Whittney’s death.

There’s something different about her.

Something...real.

Something that pulls at me in a way I can’t explain.

I’ve spent so long keeping people at arm’s length, keeping my emotions locked down, but with her...it’s like I’ve forgotten how to do that.

Every time I see her, hear her laugh, catch a glimpse of that warm smile, I feel like something inside me cracks open just a little more.

I shake my head, trying to focus, but the weight of my thoughts makes it impossible.

The apartment feels quieter than ever without her here.

Goldie trots over to me, tail wagging, breaking the silence.

I smile, bending down to pet her. "Hey, girl," I say, my voice soft. She nuzzles into my hand, and I stand, walking over to the kitchen to feed her. She’s the hotel’s mascot, and frankly, she’s the only company I’ve really enjoyed since... since Whittney.

It's a blessing that the entire staff loves Goldie and helps take care of her, she has no shortage of walks and attention. And Goldie returns the love ten fold to all of us.

But there’s something about Blossom that feels different.

I sit down on the couch, flipping on the TV to try and distract myself. I watch a few minutes of a football game, but it’s pointless. I can’t concentrate on anything. My mind keeps circling back to her, to us , that kiss, the explosive sex, the way she made me feel.

But then, my thoughts wander, unbidden, to Whittney.

It’s been years, but the pain is still there, like an old scar that never really heals. Whittney was everything I could have asked for: kind, compassionate, fiercely loving. She was the one who held me together when I wanted to fall apart. And then, she was gone.

Cancer took her from me, slowly. It’s a loss I’ll never get over. And yet, here I am, thinking about a woman I shouldn’t be thinking about. A woman who makes me feel things I’m not ready to feel again.

I pull the black worry stone from my pocket, rubbing it between my fingers like I always do when the memories come rushing back. It helps me focus. It keeps me grounded.

But tonight, it doesn’t seem to do the trick.

The ache in my chest is still there.

I close my eyes, letting the silence of the apartment wrap around me. I need to let go of this. But I don’t know how.

Just as I take a deep breath to clear my head, there’s a knock at the door.

I stand up, a little surprised.

No one ever visits unannounced. I walk to the door and open it, finding my sister, Nicole, sitting in her wheelchair, waiting outside.

She looks up at me with a smile. "Hey, big brother," she says, her voice light, teasing.

I can’t help but smile back. “Hey, Nic. How’s it going?”

Nicole has multiple sclerosis, and on good days, she likes to visit me here: check in, make sure I’m doing okay. I know she’s been worried about me ever since Whittney passed, but I try not to let it show.

“Same old, same old. How about you?” she asks as I open the door wide enough for her to roll inside.

I sigh, stepping aside to let her in. "Busy, as always," I say, but my mind drifts back to Blossom, and I can feel that familiar tension rising again.

Nicole looks at me, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind. You okay?"

I force a smile, trying to cover up the chaos swirling inside. "Yeah, just work. You know how it is."

Nicole eyes me closely, but she doesn't push. Instead, she gives me a wink and wheels herself into the living room.

Goldie jumps up beside her, wagging her tail, and Nicole reaches down to pet her. “Well, whatever it is, you’ve got to figure it out. Don’t let it eat you alive.”

I nod, but inside, I know I’m already too far gone. There’s something about Blossom I can’t shake.

Something I’m not ready to face yet.

We chat about the game for a bit, the sounds of the commentators filling the space between us. Nicole teases me about how I always back the underdog, while I counter by calling her a fair-weather fan. It’s typical for us, these easy, light conversations.

But as the minutes tick by, I feel a gnawing discomfort in my chest, something I can’t shake.

It’s been a long day, and my mind keeps drifting back to work, and to Blossom.

Nicole doesn’t miss a beat. She studies me for a moment, setting down her drink and tilting her head. “Okay, spill. You’ve been acting weird all night.”

I look at her, trying to keep my face neutral. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re distracted, Noah,” she says, her voice soft but pointed. “You’re not the type to let a game get to you. So...what’s on your mind? Found a special girl?”

The question hits me like a punch to the gut, but I force myself to smile. “No,” I say quickly, maybe too quickly. “There’s nothing. It’s nothing to worry about.”

But Nicole’s not fooled. She leans in a little, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Come on. You’re not that good at hiding things. What’s really going on?”

I hesitate. “I don’t know. But I don’t want to talk about it.”

She raises an eyebrow, sensing something deeper, but she lets it go. For now.

Nicole’s gaze softens, and she sighs as she takes a sip of her drink. “You know, Whittney was one of the most incredible women I’ve ever known. She was kind, smart, so alive . And she made you better just by being in your life.”

I swallow hard. Here it comes, the one thing she always seems to circle back to.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “She was.”

I feel my chest tighten as the memory of Whittney flashes before me: her smile, the way she always knew just what to say when things got tough. She was amazing.

But Nicole’s words have a different undertone. “I think...I think you’re still holding on to her,” she says softly. “You’ve been stuck for years, Noah. You’re not really moving on. I can see it. I’m worried you’re holding onto a ghost.”

I don’t respond right away. I can’t. I want to deny it, to tell her she’s wrong, but it’s too complicated, and I’m not ready to deal with it.

Nicole’s voice softens again, and she leans forward, her eyes full of concern. “I’m just worried about you, Noah. I love you, but I need you to start living again.”

I meet her gaze, but my thoughts are far away. Nicole’s right. But I’m not ready to hear it. “I’m fine,” I finally say, though I know she doesn’t believe me. Heck, I don’t know if I believe me.

She sighs, but then shifts the conversation. “Anyway, enough of me playing therapist. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

I nod, still a little distracted, though her sudden change in tone catches my attention. “What’s up?”

Nicole doesn’t waste any time. “It’s about the hotel. I want to improve the accessibility here. It’s not great right now, and I think we can do a lot better.”

I sit up straighter. “We don’t need another set of hands on that. Our contractor is going to handle it.”

Nicole looks at me like I’ve just said something outrageous. “Noah, I’m not talking about just any contractor. I’ve already found someone who specializes in accessibility. This is important.”

I rub my hand over my face, exasperated. “We’ve been over this. I’m not bringing in someone else. We’ve got a team, we don’t need a third-party expert.”

She crosses her arms, looking at me like I’m the one being unreasonable. “Your team is great, but they don’t have the expertise to handle the level of accessibility we need. We’re talking about improving the experience for all of our guests, not just ticking off boxes.”

I shift uncomfortably, but my mind keeps drifting back to the game. "I get it, but I still think we’re fine. We don’t need another expert. We can handle it ourselves.”

Nicole’s topaz eyes narrow, a playful challenge behind them. “Well, that’s convenient , Noah. You know, it’s not like disabled people like to do things, right?”

I wince at her sarcasm, but I also feel a little guilty. “I never said that,” I reply quickly, my voice defensive. “You know you have my full permission to do anything you think will make the guests happy. You don’t have to argue with me.”

Nicole raises an eyebrow. “That’s more like it.”

She pushes rolls back away from the table, grinning. “Good. I’ll be bringing someone in this week, then. They’ll go over the site with me and see where we can improve.”

I nod absently, still watching the game. “Fine, just...do whatever you think is best.”

Nicole gives me one last look. “I’m serious, Noah. Don’t shut everyone out. If you keep pushing people away, eventually no one’s going to knock on your door anymore.”

I glance at her, but she’s already rolling her wheelchair toward the door. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, though my words feel hollow.

She pauses just before she leaves. “Take care of yourself. I love you.”

I nod again, but the words don’t feel right. “Love you, too.”

And just like that, she’s gone.

But her words linger like a weight on my chest.