Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Ever since Landry said he was going to open my eyes to the world, I’ve had the song “A Whole New World” from Aladdin stuck in my head.
I barely slept that night, visions of his face kept popping into my mind.
There was something about Landry Astor I couldn’t put my finger on.
While I was certainly lusty over the man, another part of me wanted to run far and fast from him.
It was as if my instincts and libido were having a fight over him.
I got through the rest of my day easily enough. Amber only asked if I was okay about five times and I didn’t have the guts to tell her I was meeting Landry after work at the risk of getting a lecture about him.
We hadn’t had any more issues with people lurking or trying to break in and I hoped it was because of the new back lights that were put in. We got lucky that we were able to get same day installation done yesterday. That was now one less worry to have.
“Closing time,” Amber singsonged as she grabbed her coat and keys.
“Let me walk you out.” I put the suit jacket I was working on back on the hanger and grabbed my own belongings.
“Any cool plans tonight?” Amber asked as I locked the door and started walking her to the car.
“Nope, you?”
She shrugged. “It’s Friday, I was asked out on a date by Teddy from the bakery and finally said yes.”
My eyes widened. He’d been trying to get Amber to go out with him for six months and she always said no.
“What made you have a change of heart?”
“I’m not getting any younger, Jay. And he’s really nice and he’s good looking…I’m curious what he sees in me honestly, so I figured I’d give it a chance. I’m meeting him at Talon’s Steakhouse at eight.”
“I like Teddy, he’s good people and you’ll have fun, I’m sure.”
“Mmhmm…and what about you? When are you gonna date?”
I never had time and while I very much wanted a boyfriend maybe even a husband someday, it felt like so much work. Landry popped into my head again and I sighed.
“I have a date tonight but, Amber…” I held up my hand when she went to speak. “I’m telling you no more than that. If there’s more to tell you’ll be the first I’ll spill the tea to.”
That seemed to appease her. “Fair enough. Good luck tonight.” She opened her car door.
“You too.”
Once she drove off I made my way to my own car. I hoped tonight wasn’t a mistake. Landry was persistent, deliciously handsome, and certainly not at all harmless. I wasn’t going to know if running is the right call unless I give him a chance.
I started my car and made my way to Prescott Tower, praying the whole way that this wasn’t a colossal mistake…and humming “A Whole New World.” Uhg, fuck my life.
I regretted not going home and changing but I didn’t smell, I was in a gorgeous suit I’d made personally for myself, and Landry did say to come right over after I closed. I was in the mentality that I wouldn’t let it get sexual because I hadn’t freshened up. Yeah…go me.
The doorman came over and opened my door. “Good evening, sir.”
“Uh, yes, good evening. I’m here to see Mr. Astor, he’s expecting me.”
He nodded and I stepped out. “Very good. You must be Mr. McPherson.” He waved over another man. “Your keys, sir?”
“Right.” I handed them over and he in turn gave them to the other guy. “Follow me.”
I did just that as my car was whisked away. The doorman walked me to the bank of elevators, slipped a black keycard in and pressed the button.
“Mr. Astor is in the penthouse.”
Of course he was. “Thank you.”
Once the doors closed I released a breath. This felt like a mistake—a big one.
The doors slid open and I took a tentative step out. There was a hallway decorated with crystal chandeliers, flower displays, and a burgundy carpet leading to a black door with what appeared to be a platinum ornate door knocker. Why does he need a doorknocker?
Once I was there, I lifted my hand to use it but the door swung open and a beaming Landry was there. He was in dark dress pants and a crisp white button-down, nothing else. No socks or shoes, no tie…totally casual.
“You came.”
“I said I would. I’m not one to lie.”
He chuckled and stepped aside. “Please, come in.”
Just stepping into Landry’s penthouse made me feel inadequate. It was insane…yes, that’s the word. We were at least a thousand feet from the lobby, maybe more, and I had no idea how many square feet the apartment was but I was sure it was a lot.
The floor-to-ceiling windows featured sprawling views of the city, parks, and lakes surrounding the area. There wasn’t a direction I turned in the apartment that wasn’t giving me a phenomenal view.
“Would you like a drink?” Landry shook me out of my gawking.
“Sure, whatever you’re having is fine.”
“Make yourself at home.” He walked off and I could see him move to a bar that would rival a high-end restaurant.
“This place is…I can’t ever imagine living in a place like this.”
Landry smiled as he handed me a tumbler of amber liquid and a sniff told me it was bourbon.
“It’s impressive, I won’t deny it and play it off as if it isn’t. It’s the epitome of luxury. And you could spend hours discovering all it has to offer.”
I sipped the bourbon; not much of a burn to it and that was all I needed to know about how expensive it was.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t hurting for cash, I made an outstanding living. My home was paid for, I never had to juggle bills, but where I was doing good, Landry was doing great.
“Is this what you meant when you said you wanted to open up my world?”
He shook his head. “Not in the slightest. Why don’t you follow me.” He swallowed the rest of his drink and placed the tumbler on a nearby table, so I did the same.
I followed him up an extravagant spiral staircase to the second floor. We passed a media room and what I assumed was a sitting room and maybe a bedroom. He stopped right in front of a set of doors.
“Behind these doors is my favorite room, and it’s also behind these doors I will share with you a secret I’ve never dared tell another living soul.”
“And you’re going to tell me, a person who is not really your biggest fan, this deep dark secret?”
The side of his mouth curled. “I’ll explain afterward why it had to be you I shared it with, come on.”
The doors slid open and it was truly like stepping into a whole new world.