Chapter 58
Chandler
I could hardly keep up with Gabriella as she waddled to the elevator and hit the button for the parking garage.
The excited look on her face had me wanting to ask so many questions, but I also didn’t want to spoil her fun.
Whatever she was up to was big. I could tell by the way her hazel eyes danced to some unheard beat, wild and free.
“You have your car keys, right?” she asked.
I patted my pants pocket and heard the familiar jingle.
“Good.” She nodded as the elevator descended several stories, the red numbers ticking by quickly on the screen overhead.
When we stepped out into the parking garage, the valet attendant took off running to retrieve my car, as he always did.
I appreciated his efforts, but it made me laugh, like there was some sort of fire he was on his way to put out.
I assumed my callousness and coldness in the past had earned me the reputation of being feared.
While I once loved that intimidation factor, I was regretting my previous behavior now.
Gabriella showed me that I didn’t need to be feared to be respected.
She had shown me a lot of things. I reached for her hand now, giving it a grateful squeeze for helping me see the kind of man I want to be.
It felt like I had gone through multiple transformations in the past several months, learning to be a better son, brother, boss, lover.
It was funny how one person could make you want to be better.
My red sports car turned the corner and came to a stop at the curb. I stepped down, opening the passenger door for Gabriella as the attendant hopped out of the car. She shook her head, her brown hair swaying with the movement.
“I’m driving,” she said firmly.
I jerked my head back in surprise. She had never driven my car, and I had never let anyone drive it outside of this parking garage.
“What? Don’t pull that whole ‘women can’t drive’ thing,” she said, putting her hands on her hips.
She looked so cute with her round belly and furrowed eyebrows.
I knew there was no arguing. I put my hands up in surrender and climbed into the passenger seat for the first time ever.
Gabriella smiled in victory and rounded the car where the driver door was being held open by the attendant.
She thanked him and slid inside, her bump skimming the steering wheel.
Once she adjusted the seat and mirrors, she gripped the steering wheel with her manicured hands and looked at me with a coy smile.
“You ready?”
“I think so.” I gripped the handle above my window dramatically and held the seat tightly with my other hand as if bracing myself.
“Oh, stop!” Gabriella swatted me playfully.
I laughed out loud and settled comfortably in the passenger seat.
She put the car in drive and eased it away from the curb, winding it through the parking garage and up two levels to the late afternoon sunlight.
She looked both ways before pulling into the empty space of traffic.
I watched her expertly weave between cabs and pedestrians, not because I was nervous, but because she seemed so comfortable.
“Not gonna lie, you look good behind the wheel,” I said, raising an impressed brow.
“Thank you.” She smiled as she checked the rearview mirror before changing lanes.
“Are you going to tell me where we are going now?”
“You’ll see.”
I chuckled and shook my head, the crisp, fall breeze blowing my hair through the window.
I breathed it in, watching the orange and red hues of the trees whiz past among the tall giants of glass and concrete.
I loved this city, and seeing it like this with the woman I loved next to me looking sexy as hell driving my car, made this one of my favorite moments that would become a memory I held onto for years.
Eventually, Gabriella pulled the car down a quieter street in Tribeca.
The street was lined with large, brick homes with arched windows, all lined up in a row like candles glowing on a cake, their warm lights beginning to twinkle on.
I looked over at Gabriella curiously, wondering what we were doing here, but she just smiled confidently before slowing the car.
She pulled up to the curb in front of a two-story brownstone.
She shut off the car and turned to me, taking a deep breath, before opening the driver door and climbing out. I clambered out after her and joined her on the sidewalk where she stood, staring up at the large brownstone before us.
“I’ve been driving by this place for months,” she said dreamily, her eyes running up the warm brick of the building.
“You have?”
“Mhmm.” She turned toward me. “I want to raise a family here…”
“It’s beautiful, Gabriella, but is it even for sale?” I asked, looking up at the place.
“It just so happens that it is for sale. And I just so happen to have an extra key from the realtor.” She held up a keyring with a single silver key hanging.
I sucked in a breath. She really had thought about this. I felt a little flood of excitement.
“Let’s go then!” I said, taking her by the hand and leading her up the steps to the forest green door. She giggled as she followed behind me. Her hand shook slightly as she slid the key in the lock and turned it. She twisted the handle and pushed the door open, gesturing for me to step inside.
I took a step onto the warm hardwood floor and entered into a large entryway that was well lit by the several black paned, arched windows that loomed overhead a tall staircase leading up to the second floor.
The walls were brick, giving the room a warm and homey feelings, much different than the white concrete of my penthouse.
Gabriella gave me a nudge and I continued to walk through the expansive home.
There was a large powder room to the right, complete with white quartz countertops and an ornate mirror hanging above.
Mid-century modern light fixtures hung overhead, casting a golden glow against the cream and black geometric wallpaper.
Further on was a large living room with more large, arched windows giving the perfect view of the sunset beginning to paint colors in the sky.
Though it was slightly smaller than our current living room, it was spacious and inviting all at once.
“Kitchen’s this way,” said Gabriella, nodding for me to follow her.
She led me inside the impressive kitchen with its white marbled countertops and dark chocolate cabinetry, with a gigantic double-door fridge to match, giving the space a seamless look.
Two large arched windows looked out on a small garden space, just above the rectangular deep-set sink.
Overhead were domed pendant lights above the island.
“This place is incredible,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Wait until you see the upstairs,” said Gabriella with a grin.
She eagerly took my hand and led me up the staircase to the second floor where there were five large rooms. An expansive master bedroom with a fireplace and two large wood-paneled closets.
Just to the right was a large master bathroom with marbled walls, a modern rectangular tub, and glass-paned shower.
Down the hall were four other rooms, two perfect for guestrooms and another with built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that was ideal for an office.
As we reached the end room, Gabriella looked up at me.
“I thought this would be perfect for a nursery…” She stepped inside the room that was flooded with sunlight from the circular window. The room was smaller than the others, quaint and cozy with a small closet and a connecting bathroom.
“Wow,” I whispered, immediately envisioning it as a baby’s room. It really was perfect.
Gabriella reached for my other hand and pulled me down to the floor where she settled into a seated, crossed-leg position. I sat across from her, looking around the room.
“Well, what do you think?” she asked, looking at me with nervous expectation.
“This place is amazing. How did you find it?” I said.
“Well, like I said, I’ve been driving down this street for months.
I don’t know how I found it, but something pulled me here.
I always had the cab drivers swing by and drive me through.
I finally decided to inquire about this place just a few days ago, and found out it was just about to go on the market next week.
I convinced the realtor to let me show it to you before it was listed. ”
“A place like this would be swooped up like that,” I said, snapping my fingers.
“Exactly.”
She sat quietly for a moment before speaking again, her voice soft and her hazel eyes pleading.
“I want to buy this place, Chandler. I want to raise our daughter here.”
“I love it. I really do, Gabriella.”
And I did. It was the perfect home with plenty of space, yet it had a cozy feeling that just felt right for a family. I didn’t envision us living up in our tower of a penthouse forever. I just hadn’t thought about moving yet, but with the baby weeks away, it made sense.
“You haven’t even seen the rooftop terrace…” said Gabriella in her best saleswoman voice.
I chuckled. “I don’t need to. It’s perfect.”
She smiled at me excitedly.
“I’ll have to look at our financials, of course. A place like this must cost a pretty penny…”
I knew we could afford it easily. I just wanted to be responsible, especially with our daughter on the way.
Gabriella laughed softly and shook her head, and I wondered if I missed some sort of joke.
“We can afford it, Chandler.” Her eyes twinkled.
I cocked my head slightly. We had never really talked about finances yet. I figured it would be a conversation we would have later down the road, but the way she was looking at me made me wonder if there was more to the conversation I wasn’t expecting.
“I’ve kind of been keeping something from you. From everyone, really…”
She took a deep breath.
“It’s hard to know who to trust when you come from a family like mine. I’m sure you can relate. You don’t know who wants to know you for the right reasons.”
I nodded in understanding.
“But I know you. You are successful all on your own. I admire that so much about you, and it makes me know I can trust you…”
“Of course, you can. But what are you talking about?”
“I’m the CEO of Harold Enterprises,” she said.
“Co-CEO,” I playfully reminded her.
She laughed and swatted my knee. “But I’ve also been working there for over a decade, with early access to my trust fund…”
My eyes widened. “So, you’re…” I started.
“Rich.” She smiled mischievously. “Very rich.”
“So, this place…”
“Is ours tonight if you want it.”
I looked at her in shock and then around the room that I envisioned more and more as our daughter’s nursery the longer we sat in the center of it.
“I do. I want it. I want our life to be here.”
She squealed and launched herself at me, tackling me to the ground and smothering me with kisses.
“Be careful with our baby!” I laughed out loud, trying to catch my breath.
We lay there for a while, soaking in the moment in what would soon be our new house. It was so surreal. I knew how much this meant to Gabriella, and how important it was for her to make this purchase. She deserved this moment. She earned it. She was amazing.
“So, you’re the breadwinner now…” I said with a smirk.
“Seems that way.” She winked at me before I pulled her in for a kiss.