Chapter 15
Addison
The art gallery is mostly empty on a Thursday afternoon.
Liam suggested we go here after I mentioned wanting to see the new contemporary exhibit.
Now we move through rooms of abstract paintings and sculptures. Nolan positions himself beside me in front of a massive canvas covered in blues and grays, our shoulders almost touching.
“What do you see?” he asks.
I take a second to respond. “A very expensive mess.”
“Art critic now?”
I shrug and smile. “I’m versatile.”
His hand settles at my lower back, hidden from view by the angle of the wall. “Most people try to be polite in art galleries.”
“Most people are too scared to share their true opinions.”
His thumb traces small circles through my blouse. “You really don’t like this painting.”
“I didn’t say that. I said it’s a mess. An expensive, beautiful mess. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Absolutely. I like the painting. But the artist created an intentional mess.”
He chuckles. “You’re ridiculous.”
“That’s why you like me.”
Heat spreads from where he’s touching me. I step forward, breaking contact before anyone notices us together.
We move to the next room, and I separate from the guys when I notice a painting that catches my eye.
I stop in front of a smaller piece. A woman rendered in bold strokes of crimson and gold, her face tilted toward light that seems to pour from the canvas itself. Something about it makes my skin pebble with goosebumps.
Liam appears beside me.
“This one,” I murmur.
“You like it?”
“I love it.” The admission slips out. “She looks free. Like she’s finally choosing herself instead of what everyone expects.”
Liam and I study the painting for a long moment, while Nolan and Axel are admiring something else.
“It’s stunning,” he finally says.
When I finally turn away, we continue walking, and Liam stops in front of a sculpture—twisted metal that somehow looks graceful.
“This one’s interesting,” I tell him.
“You like it?”
“It’s wound tight.”
His eyes darken. “Is it?”
“Very. Must be exhausting, holding all that tension.”
“For the sculpture?”
“For anyone who lives like that.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Point taken.”
He reaches up like he’s pointing at a detail on the sculpture, but his fingers brush my wrist. The touch is brief. He meets my gaze, and I know the touch is a promise of what will come later.
Liam ushers me to keep going, while he goes to talk to his brothers.
I move to the photography section, and Axel stops beside me in front of a black-and-white image of a woman laughing.
“I don’t see you like this often,” he says.
“Like what?”
“So relaxed.”
“I want to feel like that,” I admit.
“Challenge accepted.” His hand slides into mine, fingers threading through mine briefly before releasing. “Come on.”
He leads me around a corner where the space narrows into a small alcove. Nobody else is here.
The moment we’re out of sight, he pins me against the wall.
His mouth finds mine. Hard. Demanding.
I kiss him back, fingers curling into his shirt. When he pulls away, we’re both breathing hard.
“More relaxed?” he asks.
“Definitely.”
He grins and steps back. Straightens his shirt. “I want to take this further. To fuck you right here. But I promised you that our private lives will remain private.”
And as much as I want him to go back on his promise, he’s right. We walk back into the main gallery as if nothing happened.
Liam and Nolan are waiting near the exit.
“Ready?” Liam asks.
I nod.
As we leave, I glance back at the painting one more time. The woman in crimson and gold, choosing herself.
Something to aspire to.
We walk three blocks to a coffee shop with outdoor seating. The weather is perfect—warm sun, slight breeze. We take a table in the corner where the noise from the street provides cover.
I order an iced coffee. The brothers order espresso.
“We need to talk about your role at Palmer Capital,” Liam says.
A million thoughts race through my mind. “Are you firing me?”
“No.” Nolan sets down his cup. “The opposite.”
“We’re giving you a team,” Axel adds. “Three analysts, a junior public relations associate, and an administrative coordinator.”
I blink. “Why?”
“Because you’ve done what we hired you to do.
” Liam pulls up something on his phone and slides it across the table.
“Our investor confidence and profits are up. We’ve had six major clients reach out in the last few weeks asking to partner with us.
The media coverage has been overwhelmingly positive. ”
I scan the data. He’s right. The numbers are better than I expected.
“You pulled us out of a crisis,” Nolan says. “And you’re doing much more than just crisis management. It’s not fair to you.”
I give Liam his phone back. “So, what are you saying?”
This time, Nolan slides his phone over to me, so I can look at the document he pulled up.
“Archer Media is yours again,” Nolan says. “Paperwork’s done.”
I stare at the screen. The contract termination is right there. My company. Mine.
“You’re giving it back? Now?”
“We hired you to fix a crisis,” Liam explains. “You fixed it. The rest was just leverage we don’t need anymore.”
“And because you’ve spent your whole life proving you’re worth keeping,” Nolan adds. “You shouldn’t have to do that with us.”
I pick up my coffee. Set it down without drinking. My hands are shaking.
“So that’s it? I’m done?”
“If you want to be,” Liam says. “You can walk away clean. Or—”
“Or you can stay on as a consultant,” Axel finishes. “Review major announcements. Handle crisis situations if they come up. But on your terms. Your schedule. While you run Archer Media.”
“So, I have to stay on with Palmer Capital to get my company back?”
“No,” Nolan clarifies. “We are giving you the choice to keep working for us. You will get a raise, of course. A big raise. But everything is your choice.”
I look between them. I’m getting my company back. I have the freedom to walk away completely. I also have the freedom to stay on my own terms.
“I want to stay,” I say. “Consult when you need me. But Archer Media is my priority.”
“So, yes?” Liam asks.
“Yes.” The word comes out stronger than I expected. “Yes, I want to stay with Palmer Capital on my own terms.”
Relief crosses all three of their faces.
Axel glances at his watch and swears. “I have a meeting in twenty minutes.”
He stands, then pauses. His hand cups my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. “You’re gonna do incredible things now.”
His voice is quieter than usual. Genuine.
“You’re leaving right after you gave me such an amazing gift?”
“Terrible timing. I know.” He grins. “But I’ll make it up to you later.”
He kisses my forehead, then he’s gone.
Which means it’s just me, Liam, and Nolan.
“I need to stop by my place,” Liam says. “I have to pick up a contract that needs to be notarized before we head back to the office.”
“We can drop Addison at her apartment first,” Nolan offers.
“I don’t mind going with you.” I don’t want to go home right now, not when I’m the happiest I’ve been in a very long time.
Liam’s gaze holds mine. “Alright.”
We walk to where Liam parked. The drive to his penthouse takes fifteen minutes, and we all go inside.
Inside, Liam disappears into his office.
“Want something to drink?” Nolan asks.
I nod, and we move to the kitchen. It’s all marble and stainless steel, but somehow still feels warm.
Nolan opens the fridge and pulls out two bottles of water, and hands me one.
Liam appears in the kitchen doorway with a folder and an envelope. He sets the folder on the kitchen counter but keeps the envelope.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“For you.” He hands it to me.
I open it. Inside is a delivery confirmation from the gallery. I read the description of what is being delivered, and it’s the painting I loved.
“You bought it.”
“We bought it,” Nolan corrects. “All three of us.”
“We noticed your office is still empty,” Liam adds. “No art. No personal touches. Figured you should have at least one thing you actually want to look at every day.”
“You’re having it delivered to my office?”
“Unless you want it somewhere else,” Nolan says. “It’s yours. Your apartment. Archer Media. Wherever you want it.”
“When did you do this?” I ask.
Nolan smiles. “We asked Axel to distract you.”
I smile. That kiss was a great distraction.
“Thank you.”
Nobody’s ever done something like this for me before. Just because I wanted it.
The three of us stand there. Not touching. The envelope still in my hands.
“So,” Nolan says carefully. “Are we going to talk about this?”
“About the painting?” I ask.
“About this.” He gestures between the three of us.
“Oh. You mean the fact that I’m dating triplets?”
“Dating?” Liam raises an eyebrow.
“Boyfriends? Is that the word we’re using?” I look between them. “What do you prefer? Situationship? Complicated?”
Nolan answers with a smirk. “Boyfriends works.”
“Boyfriends. That’s plural,” Liam points out with a smirk.
I turn to look at him. “You told me I didn’t have to choose. Remember that conversation?”
Liam nods. “I remember.”
“So, what’s changed?”
“Nothing,” he says. “Just clarifying terms.”
“The terms are: I’m not choosing between the three of you,” I clarify. “You’re not going to make me choose, right?”
“No,” Nolan says.
“Good. Because eventually I might panic about this and spiral into existential dread about what I’m doing with my life. But I’d really like to not do that today.”
Nolan laughs. “Then don’t. Today’s not that day.”
“So we’re just... doing this? No discussions, no defining things, just seeing what happens?”
“For now,” Liam says.
I look between them. “And neither of you have a problem with that?”
“Not yet,” Nolan says.
I snort. “Reassuring.”
“I just think it’s important that we are always open about what we’re feeling and what we want,” Nolan responds.
I set the envelope on the entry table. “Here’s what I want. Both of you. Right now. Together.”
Liam’s eyes darken. “Both of us?”
“Yes.”
“At the same time?” There is heat in Nolan’s voice now.
“Is there a problem with that?”
Liam moves first and wraps his arms around me. “No problem.”
Then he kisses me.