Chapter 85 Derrick
DERRICK
Waking up in Zermatt feels like waking up inside a luxury snow globe … except my head is pounding like someone’s playing drums inside my skull.
“Are you alive?” Charlie murmurs beside me, voice rough, warm, way too sexy for morning.
“No,” I croak into my pillow.
He snorts. “You had, what? Three drinks?”
“Three drinks, a couple of shots, and line dancing,” I correct. “Which should be illegal at this altitude.”
He laughs, kisses my shoulder, and rolls out of bed. “The train leaves soon, babe. We need to pack.”
I groan dramatically but force myself up.
The moment I open the curtains, I forget my hangover completely.
A sunrise is spilling across the snowy valley, golden light catching the peaks.
The Matterhorn is ever-present, looming over the village.
Breathtaking. I press my forehead to the cold glass and whisper, “Holy shit.”
Charlie comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Not a bad view for the morning after.”
“It feels fake. Like an AI background.”
He grins. “Come on. Shower. We can’t miss the Glacier Express.”
“Right,” I say, dragging myself toward the bathroom. “Eight hours on a scenic train designed for rich people who like cheese. It’s like this trip was made for me.” Charlie chuckles, slaps my ass, and tells me to get ready. He’s so bossy. I like it.
By the time we drag our suitcases downstairs, Callum is at the dining table looking like a raccoon who spent the night in a nightclub dumpster.
“Morning,” Callum croaks.
“You look like death,” I inform him cheerfully.
“You look smug,” he retorts. “Which is rude, especially as I got up especially to say goodbye.”
Aw bless him. “Thank you for letting us crash,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome anytime. We come every year.”
“Not sure if I could handle a whole week with you after last night.” I chuckle.
“That was tame.” He groans before getting up and giving me a hug. “We need to catch up again soon.”
“Definitely,” I tell him.
“Safe travels, guys, it’s been a blast. I’m back off to bed before these fuckers arrive. Don’t forget pictures in the group chat,” he reminds me as he stumbles back to his room.
“I’m going to miss him,” I tell Charlie as we step outside.
“I know. Didn’t think I could find someone to match your energy, but we did,” Charlie teases as we walk down the stairs, trying not to slip on the ice.
The electric taxi whisks us down to the station, where people in matching ski outfits bustle everywhere.
The Glacier Express sits on the track like some shiny red beast with panoramic windows stretching almost to the roof.
We climb aboard to discover plush seats, massive windows, mood lighting, and a tiny snowflake-embossed menu with the words ‘Excellence Class Menu’ printed on it.
“Charlie, did you upgrade us?” I gasp.
“I may have.”
“This is too much.” I gasp at him.
“You think the champagne and five-course menu is too much?” He grins.
“When you put it like that.” I smirk.
“Look, it’s your first time here, and I wanted to make it special for you, for us,” he tells me, guiding us to our seats.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy it, babe, it’s going to be spectacular.”
I’m so excited.
The train pulls out of Zermatt, gliding smoothly as the village slips away behind us. Snowy forests rush past. Icicles dangle from cliffs. The valleys open wide and dramatic.
Charlie leans back in his seat. “Worth the early morning?”
“Absolutely yes,” I whisper, forehead pressed to the window.
A waiter appears with white tablecloths, which he places on our pull-out tables.
“Lunch service will begin shortly,” he says in a thick Swiss German accent.
I look at Charlie. “We’re being tablecloth-ed. On a train.”
He smirks. “Don’t cry.”
But I might.
Hours pass in a golden haze of valleys, snowy rooftops, frozen waterfalls, and slow bends that make the whole landscape look like a postcard being gently turned.
Charlie has his arm around me. My head rests on his shoulder. The waiter brings chocolate. Then hot tea. Then more chocolate. I don’t say no to any of it.
At one point, we go over a bridge so high I nearly scream.
“Oh my god.” I gasp, gripping Charlie’s thigh.
“Baby, we’re fine.” He laughs.
“We’re in the sky. This is a sky bridge.”
“It’s a normal bridge.”
“For giants maybe!”
We both dissolve into laughter.
A couple across the aisle looks at us like we’re unhinged.
As the sun dips behind the mountains, the train finally begins its descent toward St. Moritz. The snow glows pink and gold, the lakes frozen like mirrors.
“Holy hell,” I whisper. “This is insane.”
Charlie smiles softly. “Welcome to the luxury side of Switzerland.”
“I feel like I’m about to meet the royal family.”
“You basically are,” he teases. “My mom is intense on vacation.”
“Really?”
“She already planned ski outfits for us.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Is this a mum thing to do, coordinating outfits for your kids?”
“I think so.”
“We’re so doing this with our kids,” I tell him.
“For sure. Matching all the way.” Charlie grins.
When the train glides into the station, everything looks absurdly perfect. Like they sweep the snow every five minutes to arrange it aesthetically.
Charlie squeezes my hand. “Ready?”
“Hell yeah.”
He laces our fingers together and pulls me gently toward the platform.
We step off the train … and there they are. His mum. His dad. His sister Faith. And Everly, waving both arms like she’s trying to flag down a helicopter.
“Charlie! Derrick!” Everly screams as she rushes up to us like it’s been years since she’s last seen us. It’s been a week. She throws herself at Charlie.
“My boys are here,” Charlie’s mum calls out as she grabs my face and kisses my cheeks. His dad shakes my hand with enough enthusiasm to break bones.
“It’s so good to see you again, Derrick,” Faith says, showing the most restraint as she gives me a small hug. “Welcome to the family chaos.” She smirks.
“I just left my own, so I’m prepped,” I say.
“How was the train? Isn’t it amazing?” Charlie’s mum gasps.
“It felt like a dream. Everything is so insanely beautiful.”
“Wait until you see where we are staying, it’s going to blow your mind.” Everly grins.
“Mom’s bougie, she needs all her things,” Faith adds.
“Hey, not only me, your father likes nice things too.”
“I’m getting old, I need comfort,” Charlie’s father grumbles, but you can see the smile hidden underneath. “Come on, let’s go settle these guys in, and then we can get ready for dinner.”
A driver loads our bags into a glossy black SUV while soft snow falls around us. St. Moritz glows ahead of us like a luxury fairytale, golden lights, frozen lakes, designer shops, and mountains surrounding it. And with Charlie’s hand in mine, everything feels right.
We pull up to a luxury hotel that is absolutely not a chalet like I thought we were staying in.
“We have the penthouse,” Everly tells us.
As we step out of the car, the staff are there ready for us, and we waltz through the lobby which looks like Hemingway himself would be propped up at the bar.
It has a very old-worldly vibe about it.
Women are dressed in furs and heels as they walk through the foyer to the bar, diamonds glittering around their necks.
We step into our private elevator and head up to the penthouse.
I knew Charlie’s family was rich, his home in Montana is insane, and his dad does stuff in tech up in the Bay Area, but this is kind of mind-blowing.
But as Charlie likes to remind me, his parents are rich, he is not, still, these are pretty nice perks.
I need to up my styling game to keep him in the lifestyle he has become accustomed to.
We step into the penthouse, and it’s like walking straight into a movie where royalty vacations.
The entire front wall is glass, floor to ceiling, and beyond it the Alps explode in white peaks.
The frozen lake glows beneath us like someone poured diamonds over the ice.
St. Moritz twinkles around the shoreline, and snow is falling in slow, perfect flakes.
The living room is massive and elegant. White marble floors reflect the firelight from a long, modern fireplace.
A sweeping staircase curves up to a mezzanine level, and above it hangs a chandelier that looks like falling icicles, shards of crystal catching the light in a way that makes the whole place glitter.
There’s a dining table big enough to host the UN, a private bar stocked in the corner, and a grand piano. An actual grand piano.
“Wow, Mom, you have out-done yourself this time.” Charlie laughs.
“I wanted to make Derrick’s first time here special,” she explains.
This is for me. I don’t want to know how much all of this costs.
“Don’t use Derrick as an excuse, you’ve been wanting to stay in this room for years,” Faith says.
“It is always sold out, so when it was available, I had to book it,” she explains.
“Well, thank you so much, Caroline, because this is extraordinary,” I compliment her.
“See, Derrick, I knew you would appreciate the aesthetics.”
“Looks like Derrick is the new favorite child,” Faith teases.
“You know I have no favorites. I love you all equally.”
The kids all burst out laughing.
“Sweetheart, sounds like they don’t believe you,” Charlie’s dad teases.
“Well, now Derrick is my favorite, he wouldn’t tease me like that.” She pouts.
“I would never,” I add, joining in on the joke as my eyes continue to take in my surroundings. There’s a terrace that wraps around the penthouse, and a hot tub on the terrace that looks straight out over the frozen lake.
“Charlie, your room is at the far end. Why don’t the two of you wash up? We have dinner in a couple of hours. Dress up,” Caroline tells him.
“Dress up?” he asks.
“Yes, we are eating at the Michelin restaurant downstairs,” Robert, Charlie’s father explains.
“Didn’t bring my tux,” Charlie tells him.
“You don’t need that, but you do need a suit or at least a dinner jacket,” he states.
“Um …” Charlie says. I look at him in a panic. We didn’t bring anything like that. Fucking, Charlie, he told me it was a casual trip.
“Shopping trip. We still have plenty of time before we need to head to our reservation,” Caroline says excitedly.
“Guess we’re going shopping.” Charlie looks at me guiltily.
“I’m always up for shopping.” I smile at him. “Not sure if I can afford these shops, though,” I whisper to him.
“I’m sure there are some non-designer places.” Charlie grimaces.
“You two don’t worry about a thing, it’s my treat,” Caroline cuts in, obviously hearing our whispers. “If my boys need suits, my boys will have suits.”
Boys. Plural. She means me, too.
“I want a new outfit too.” Everly pouts.
“Of course you do,” Faith grumbles.
“Not my fault I have style and you don’t,” she bites back.
“I don’t need designer dresses for the farm.”
Everly pokes her tongue out at Faith, who rolls her eyes.
“I would love to see you in a beautiful dress, though, sweetheart. There are a lot of handsome men walking around the resort,” Caroline tells her daughter.
“Are you trying to sell me off to one of your billionaire friends?” Faith gasps.
“No. That’s not what I was saying,” Caroline says, flustered.
“Faith does need to get laid, it’s been a while.”
“Jesus, Everly, a father doesn’t need to hear that.” Robert curses.
“That’s because I’m busy running a fricken farm, plus men suck,” Faith argues.
“All men or just one cowboy in particular?” Everly pushes.
“Screw you.” Faith points at her.
“The one who’s bull keeps getting into your yard.”
“Stop,” Faith warns her sister.
“Are you talking about Jesse?” Caroline asks.
“No,” Faith answers.
“Yes,” Everly states.
“Jesse is rather handsome, and you two used to be best friends before …” She lets the rest of the sentence hang in the air.
Before what? I look at Charlie, and he shakes his head as if to tell me not to ask about that.
“Enough chit-chat, let’s find everyone something to wear,” Robert says as he starts shrugging his arms into his coat, before he helps Caroline with hers. Everly and Faith glare at each other as they grab their coats off the hooks.
Caroline claps her hands. “Come on! Via Serlas awaits!”
I look at Charlie, confused. “It’s the main street,” he explains. Right.
The moment we step onto Via Serlas, St. Moritz’s main luxury shopping street, I stop dead.
It’s obscene.
All the big designer brands are all on one snowy alpine street.
Caroline inhales deeply. “God, I love this place.” I know how she feels, this is fucking heaven.
We follow her into the first shop, and the staff almost fall over backward to help us. Caroline tells them what we need, and we tell them our sizes, and the next thing I know, we are whisked off to the private room where all our options are laid out before us.
“Did you know Derrick is a famous stylist from LA?” Caroline tells one of the staff, who stills for a moment.
“Derrick Jones?” he questions.
“Um, yes. That’s me.” I’m surprised that they have heard of me all the way over here.
The gentleman explains that he worked in the Paris store and comes here for the winter season, that he has seen me at fashion week, but has never met me personally.
Aw. I feel like a celebrity. He then comes back and explains that management has said that the suit is complimentary.
Now I really feel like a celebrity. Best day ever.
I never use my connections in the fashion world to get anything free, but I sure as hell appreciate the five thousand dollar suit they just comped me.
I’m easy when it comes to shopping, I know what I like and what I don’t, so I take a seat and watch my man twirl around for me in suits while trying not to get a stiffy in front of everyone because he is so fucking hot.
“I will divert all decisions to Derrick,” Charlie says, giving me a smile.
“I like the first one,” I tell him.
“Okay. We will take the first one,” Charlie says.
“Just like that? You don’t want to try on anything else?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No. It’s a suit. You liked it, and now I’m done.” He leans over and places a kiss on my lips.
“Next stop, the girls.” Caroline smiles. The shop is packing up our purchases and organizing them to be sent to the hotel. I love this service so much. We spend the next hour shopping until it’s time to head back. I do not want to know how much was spent this afternoon, but everyone is happy.