Chapter 18
Miles
I stepped into the foyer of the penthouse, set my briefcase down, and poured myself a bourbon. Looking around, I didn’t see Stella, so I went to her room and lightly knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be sleeping. It’s late,” I said, walking in and sitting on the edge of her bed.
“I’m almost done with this paper. How was your dinner meeting?”
“It was good. My uncle shot down a deal that I made today. He didn’t feel like it was good.”
“And you disagree?” she asked.
“One hundred percent. I need to take over that company before he runs it into the ground.”
“There’s nothing you can do right now, Miles.”
“I know.” I brought my hand up and softly stroked her cheek.
“Come to my room when you’re finished with your paper.”
“I’m really tired tonight.”
“I didn’t say we had to have sex. Maybe I just want some company tonight.”
“You never want me to stay in your bed. What’s going on?” she cocked her head.
“Nothing is going on. Tonight, I want you there. Is that so much to ask?”
“No. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she said.
“Thank you.” I stood up from the bed, headed to my room, changed into pajama bottoms, and climbed into bed.
It wasn’t that I never wanted her to stay. I did. But I had my reasons for why I always asked her to leave after sex. Tonight was different. After the shit day I had, I didn’t want to be alone, and somehow, I knew that having her in my bed all night would help ease the pain and stress I felt.
A few moments later, the door opened, and Stella walked in. She looked exhausted but still as beautiful as always. She climbed in next to me as I held out my arm. Her body snuggled against mine, and I held her tight while her head rested on my chest.
“Goodnight, Stella.”
“Goodnight, Miles,” she softly whispered.
* * *
Stella
I woke up and looked at the clock. It was five-thirty a.m. His alarm would go off in half an hour, and I needed to make my escape as I felt the vomit rise in my throat. Carefully climbing out of bed, I quietly left his bedroom and ran to my bathroom, locking the door and turning on the shower so he didn’t hear me vomiting. I didn’t know when or how I would tell him about the baby.
After turning off the shower, I heard a knock at the door. Shit.
“Hold on.” I quickly took off my sleep shirt and wrapped a large towel around me. Opening the door, I smiled. “Good morning.”
“Morning. I woke up, and you were gone. Why was the door locked?”
“Habit, I guess. I woke up early and couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to wake you, so I thought I’d take a quick shower and get ready for class.”
“I see. I’m going to take a shower and get ready for work. How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I lied.
“Good. I’ll see you at breakfast.” He walked away.
I placed my hand on my belly. There was a tender side to him last night—a part of him I knew existed, but he rarely showed. The scars of his past held him prisoner, and I needed to find the key and set him free.
After getting dressed, I went to the kitchen. Miles glanced up at me from his phone as he sat at the table.
“Morning, Stella. Tea?” Dora asked.
“Morning, Dora. Thank you.”
“What is with you and tea lately?” Miles asked as I sat down across from him.
“I like tea. I go through a tea phase every once in a while.” I smiled, staring at him, remembering how his strong arms held me all night.
He stood up from his chair. “I have to get to the office.” He walked over and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll see you later.”
“Have a good day,” I said.
“You too. Have fun in school.” He winked with a smile.
My second class ended early. When Sean picked me up, I had him take me to Starbucks. Even though I was tired as hell, I craved an iced coffee.
“You can go,” I said to him as he opened the car door for me. “I’m going to walk around and do a little shopping.”
“Call me when you’re ready to be picked up.” He smiled.
“I can take a cab home.”
“I don’t think Miles would like that, Stella.”
“Miles doesn’t have to know, does he?” A smirk crossed my lips as I patted his chest.
I walked down the street, sipping my decaf iced coffee, when I ran into Uncle Ben.
“Ben,” I said.
“Stella, what a nice surprise.” He smiled. “How’s married life?”
“It’s amazing,” I lied.
He glanced at his watch. “I have some time before I have to get to a meeting around the corner. Let’s sit and talk for a bit.”
“Sure,” I spoke nervously.
We crossed the street and took a seat on a bench.
“You’re a smart girl, Stella. For goodness sake, you’re a psychologist. You have to see the issues with Miles.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ben.”
“You do know what I’m talking about. Your marriage to my nephew is fake. I’m not stupid. He married you to gain control of Bradshaw Capital. How does he treat you?”
“He treats me good.”
“It”s Impossible. Miles doesn’t know how to be in a relationship. The man has a heart of stone, and you’re going to get hurt. The only life he knows how to live is the business life. That’s his life—it always has been—and you won’t change that. I saw the way you looked at him at dinner that night. You’re in love with him.”
“Of course I am. If I weren’t, I never would have married him.” I sipped my coffee.
“Don’t bullshit me, Stella. You’re a nice girl, and Miles will hurt you. You don’t deserve that. Think about what you’re doing. You would be smart to get out of this marriage now and save yourself the heartache and pain that will come.”
“You want me to end my marriage so Miles can’t gain control of his company. You don’t care about me or my feelings, Ben.”
He stood up and stared at me. “I do care, Stella. You’re a pawn in his game. A game that will ultimately destroy you. You may walk away a rich woman, but your heart and self-worth will suffer. I have to get to my meeting.” He walked away.
I sighed, bringing the cup to my lips.
I had an Uber pick me up and take me to Bradshaw Capital. I’d never been there and wanted to see where Miles worked. Would he be pissed that I just showed up? Yeah, probably, but I didn’t care.
I took the elevator up to the forty-second floor. When I stepped out, I asked the gentleman sitting behind the large cherry desk where Miles’ office was. When I reached his office, a woman with short dark hair greeted me.
“How can I help you?”
“Is Miles in there?” I pointed to his office.
“And you are?” Her brows furrowed.
“His wife, Stella.”
“Oh my gosh.” She grinned, stood up, and hugged me. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’m Isla, his secretary, assistant, and slave.” She laughed.
“It’s nice to meet you, Isla.”
She walked over to his door and slowly opened it.
“Miles, someone is here to see you,” she said.
“Who?” I heard him ask.
“Me.” I stepped inside his office.
“Stella, what are you doing here?” His brows furrowed.
Isla shut the door behind me.
“I was in the area and wanted to see where you spend your days and late nights.”
“Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“Classes are over. This is nice.” I looked around his oversized office.
“Thank you.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting in the conference room in five minutes. I wish you had called first.”
“No big deal. I just wanted to see where you worked. Like I said, I was in the area.”
“Did Sean drive you here?”
“No. I took an Uber. I had Sean take me to Starbucks after class and then told him he could leave. I wanted to do some shopping, but I ended up sitting in a park for a while.”
“Why?” His brows furrowed.
“I guess to relax and enjoy my iced coffee.”
A small smile framed his lips as he walked over and kissed my forehead.
“I have to get to my meeting. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay.” We walked out of his office together.
“Isla, I’ll be in conference room two,” he told her.
“It was nice to meet you, Isla.” I smiled.
“You too, Stella. We should do lunch sometime.”
“I’d like that.”