Chapter 21
Twenty-One
LULU
“Did you save this one for last on purpose?” I ask as I step into the den wearing a black dress I’m officially obsessed with.
“Maybe,” Shelly says with a pleased nod. “He was right.”
“Who?” I frown at her in the mirror.
“Mr. Alexander picked that one out for you. And he was right because it hugs you in all the right places.”
I turn to the side and check out my ass. “I’m not even wearing shapewear under this.”
“You don’t need it,” Sheila points out.
“But also, I’m not wearing a bra,” I add, biting my lip. The dress is hooked together in the front with silver safety pins down to just above my navel, so I can’t wear a bra because it would show. “I’m too big-chested to let the girls go free.”
“Says who?” Shelly demands. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“No,” I admit.
“As long as it feels good,” Sheila says, “you’re good to go. Honestly, Lulu, you look amazing. I’d kill to wear something like that, but you have the perfect body for it. We also got you these super cute wedge heels that are so comfortable.”
They are really adorable, and when I slip them on, I immediately know that they won’t kill my feet.
“Sold.” I smile at the two women who have been so nice to me. “I just have to brush my hair and put on some mascara.”
Sheila scowls. “Please let me do your makeup.”
I blink at her. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“I honestly want to. With that dress, you need something more dramatic than mascara. Don’t worry, I won’t go overboard.”
“I honestly don’t have much makeup to work with,” I admit. “I only have the basics.”
I always dressed down before, so I didn’t draw any attention. But I admit, I kind of like having my makeup done and looking nice. Especially since I don’t have to worry about my father’s men eyeing me as I walk through my own house.
Not that it ever really felt like my house.
“Let me help. I have a kit with me,” Sheila says with a smile. “Just have a seat right here. It won’t take long.”
I don’t argue, and less than thirty minutes later, I stand in front of the mirror and grin. She was right. The makeup elevated the whole outfit.
“I need to invest in some nice makeup and have you give me pointers.”
“I’m always down for that,” Sheila says with a wink.
I hear the front door open, so I walk out of the den. When Rome glances up at me, he does a double take and stops in his tracks.
Yep, the dress works.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
I laugh and cross to him. “Thanks. Done with work so soon?”
“No, but I’m escorting you to the lounge. I have to show you some things, and I wanted a few minutes with you before I have to share you with everyone else.”
I slip my hand into his and enjoy the way his palm feels against mine.
“I guess I’m ready. I won’t have to store my purse or anything in a locker if I’m coming back here in the morning.”
Suddenly, Shelly and Sheila come out of the den, pulling mostly empty racks behind them.
“We’re done here, Mr. Alexander,” Shelly says. “You’ll be refunded for the things that didn’t work.”
“Thanks for your help,” he says.
“I had fun,” I tell them both. “Thank you so much.”
“It was our pleasure,” Sheila says with a wink. “Hit me up when you want that makeup lesson.”
I smile at her, and once they’re gone, Rome turns to me and brushes his finger along my jawbone.
“Did you really enjoy your time with them?”
“Actually, yes. They’re nice girls.”
He leans in and presses his lips next to my ear. “I can’t wait to get you out of this stunning fucking dress in the morning.”
I swallow hard and brace myself with my hands on his sides. “They said you picked it out. Does getting me out of it mean you don’t like it?”
Rome ghosts his lips over the shell of my ear. “Not at all. It’s fucking perfect. And it’s going to look even better on the floor of my bedroom.”
I swallow thickly and then chuckle when he presses his lips to my forehead.
“I have to go to work,” I remind him.
“I’m aware. Before we go, I want to lay some ground rules.”
Here we go. I should have known. I’m not under my father’s control anymore, but I’m under Rome’s roof now, and there are always fucking rules.
“Okay.”
“Number one, you’ll keep this on you.”
He passes me a cell phone, and I frown up at him.
“It has my number in it, along with Luke, my second-in-command, and the men who will accompany you if you leave the building. That’s rule number two. No leaving without my men to keep you safe.”
I blink up at him. “Let’s go back to rule number one. You got me a phone?”
“Yes. I need to be able to reach you and vice versa. It’s yours.”
I sigh. “You’ve already done so much. I don’t need a phone. I don’t have anyone to call.”
“You have me,” he says, hooking his finger under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “And I want to be able to call you. Especially if something comes up and I have to leave unexpectedly.”
I lick my lips and slip the phone into my pocket.
This amazing dress has pockets.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “What else?”
“I want you to make a grocery list at some point so we have all of your favorites here.”
“No, you don’t.” I shake my head and start to laugh.
“I’m missing something.”
“Rome, I went to culinary school. If you set me loose on your kitchen, which is so freaking beautiful I might want to marry it, I’ll never come out of it. I’ll be cooking enough for twenty people every day. It’s my favorite hobby.”
His smile is beautiful. “The kitchen is yours, Eloise. Make your lists or take your detail and go to the grocery store whenever you want.”
“Holy shit,” I whisper. These rules are nothing like the ones at my father’s house.
“What other talents do you have?”
“I got a certificate in massage. Oh, and I took classes on goldsmithing.”
He blinks at me. “Goldsmithing.”
“Yes. You know, jewelry. Setting stones and designing things. It’s really interesting, actually.”
He smirks, and then he laughs. “Julian is going to love that. Anything else I should be aware of?”
“When I’m nervous or scared, I clean. Oh, when I’m mad, I also rage clean. Basically, I hope you have a mop.”
“I don’t want you cleaning this penthouse.”
“I plug in a spicy audiobook and clean. It’s not a big deal, Rome.”
He looks uncomfortable. “You don’t work here.”
I let out a laugh. “Actually, I do. And I think I’m going to be late.”
“Luckily, sassy woman, I’m the boss, so it doesn’t matter. Okay, we can figure out the rest later.”
“Those are the only rules?”
“The only ones off the top of my head. Not fucking other men is a given, but if you need me to lay it out for you, that’s fine. Let’s move it up to rule number one.”
I shake my head as I walk with him to the door.
“I don’t think I planned to do that.” I glance up at him. “Does that mean that you won’t—”
I clear my throat, and he corners me against the still-closed door. “No, firefly. The only woman I’m even remotely interested in is you. The rule applies to both of us.”
I lick my lips. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He kisses my forehead, and then we’re in the hall, where two men are standing.
“This is Luke, my second. You probably don’t remember him from earlier.”
I shake my head and don’t reach out to shake hands.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Luke says with a wink.
Rome turns to the other man. “And this is Sebastian. He’s one of our men, and you’ll see him from time to time. Tonight, his duty is outside of our door.”
“Do you always have someone guarding the door?” I ask as he leads me to the elevator.
“Yes. When I’m in residence, there are two guards outside. There are also always men outside the elevators on each floor. You’ll eventually learn their names.”
I frown up at him as we walk into the elevator, and he presses a button, making it stay where it is.
“This is a palm print. You’ll need to use it to get to this floor. Go ahead and lay your hand on the glass.”
I do as I’m told, and a few seconds later, a green light blips.
“Now you have access to the penthouse. If you want to come up here on your break or for any reason, you have full access. Always. This is your home, Eloise. Understand?”
I nod, feeling overwhelmed. Jesus, he wasn’t lying earlier.
Rome is an important man.
He truly wants me to stay here. I have no idea how long that will last, but if I can save money, I’ll be ready for when he doesn’t want me here anymore.
I’m anything if not savvy. Sophisticated security and two men at the elevators when he’s in residence also scream that Rome wasn’t lying about being an important man.
It’s daunting.
Exciting.
But can he really keep me safe from my father?
“The lounge is on the second floor, as you know,” he says, pushing the correct button. “As are several of the offices, like for Loveland, Rita, and Luke.”
Luke’s in the elevator with us, not saying a word.
I glance back at him.
“My office is one floor above, on the third floor. You now have access to that as well.”
“You’re just allowing me to waltz all over your property?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t trust you, firefly?”
“Of course not, I guess I’m just not used to … it doesn’t matter. I won’t snoop around or anything.”
He smirks, and the doors open to the second level. I step out, but Rome doesn’t release my hand. He doesn’t leave the elevator, so I turn back and raise an eyebrow.
“Have a good night, Eloise.” He kisses the back of my hand.
“You too, Rome.”
He releases me then, and the doors close on him. I walk over to the bar area where Rita and Max are already working.
The lounge seems to fill up quickly early at night, as people come in to socialize before moving on to other areas.
And when I check the time, I see I’m five minutes late.
“Sorry, Rita,” I say with a wince. “It won’t happen again.”
“All good, Lulu. Rome mentioned you might be late.” She shrugs. “No big deal.”
I don’t have time to talk to her, to ask questions, or tell her I’m living with him now. Which is still crazy to me.
I’m living with the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my life.
How did that happen?