Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ALORA
Pulling on the black silk dressing gown that I found hanging in the bathroom, I head off in search of him. I peer around the bedroom door, wait…what’s the day etiquette around here?
Are people just like walking around or….
Maybe I should get dressed first. I walk to the top of the stairs and duck down to see if I can see anybody on the floor below.
Edward did say just be normal…. Okay, so here goes. I drag my fingers through my hair to find knots the size of a bird’s nest. Mental note, oil and carnal activities with my head being rammed into a bed doesn’t do well for the blowout. Maybe I should wear a swimming cap next time?
Walking down the stairs, I see Edward sitting at a table out on the deck in the sun. He’s sipping a cup of coffee and I make my way out to him. “Hello.”
“Good morning.” He smiles darkly into his coffee cup and I smirk at his naughty look.
Deviant.
He taps his lap and I walk around and sit on him; his big arms slide around me. “Hmm.” He nuzzles my face. “How did you sleep?”
“Well, considering I was fucked into unconsciousness, I don’t remember.”
He chuckles and kisses my lips. “Just the way I like it. Coffee?”
“Yes please.” I get up and take a seat opposite him, my eyes go out to the water that surrounds us. “Where are we?” I ask.
“Barbados?”
“What?” I stammer. “I have to work today.”
“Relax.” He throws me a sexy wink. “That’s Monte Carlo just over there.”
“Oh.” I smile, feeling stupid, and pick up a morning paper, wait a minute…. How does a newspaper get here, is there like a water postman delivery driver or…. I open the paper as Edward fills my coffee cup.
“Are we going back in soon? Because I have to work today.”
“Yes, have some breakfast first and we’ll head in.” He sips his coffee. “I’ve been giving your situation some thought.”
“My situation?”
“Yes. I think it’s time you put a manager into your store.”
“Huh?” I frown. “Why would I do that?”
“So that you can—”
“Be at your beck and call?” I cut him off.
He smiles at my comeback. “Travel with me when needed.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t be mistaken, being at my beck and call is high on your to-do list.” His eyes dance with mischief.
“Edward.” I sigh, unimpressed.
“I’m just saying…you want to launch more into the decorating space and working with interior decorators but you are tied down so hard to that store that you can’t even take a day off.”
“I like working.” I sip my coffee.
“I know that, and you can every day if you wish, but wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to share the load with you and cover if we need to go away?”
“I’ll think about it, but no rush. We aren’t going away anywhere soon.”
“Yes we are.”
“Like where?”
“I have to be in Vegas soon and I want to take you home and meet your father while we’re in the States.”
“You do?” I smile.
He picks up his phone and calls someone. “Hello, we are ready for breakfast. Two egg-white omelets, fresh fruit, and a side of pancakes with bacon. And an almond croissant for Alora. Thank you.” He hangs up without saying goodbye.
So bossy….
“We have a full weekend of social engagements, so I’ve organized for my personal shopper to call on you.”
“What?” I snap, annoyed.
He looks up over his paper. “Tone.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Why would you think I would want a shopper?”
“Well, we have a ball on Friday night. I’m playing polo on Saturday, which you will be coming to with drinks after, and then we have a private party at Theodore’s house on Saturday night.”
Oh, hell no….
“Four things in the one weekend?” I slump into the chair, “That’s a bit of overkill, isn’t it?”
“No.” He keeps reading.
“Well, they say that being out too much and being too available isn’t a good look.”
“Who says that?”
“You know, the styling shows.”
“What styling shows?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Life of the rich and famous and stuff.”
His eyes rise above the paper as amusement flashes across his face.
“That sounded ridiculous, even to me.” I smile, embarrassed.
He raises an eyebrow in agreement.
“You know what I mean.”
“No. I don’t.”
“Do I have to come?”
“Yes.” He goes back to reading. “Don’t even start that shit.”
“Polo…you’re such a blue blood snob.”
He sips his coffee. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Why do you think I need a shopper? Don’t you like the way I dress?”
“I do, I just thought…. She’s a stylist, she’s very good.”
“Has she styled any of your ex-girlfriends?”
“No. Why would you even ask that?”
“Well, I don’t want anyone young and hot and in love with you.” I imagine them all fawning over him and my blood boils. “I don’t want anyone who even knows you, actually? And I’m only interested in vintage fashion.”
His eyes flick up to me. “Would you prefer a male stylist?”
“Do you have one?”
“No, but Theo’s stylist, Laurent, is apparently very good.”
“Can I have him?”
“I suppose so.” He keeps reading his paper and turns the page. “If he looks at you the wrong way I will end his life, but hey, that’s on you.”
“Your breakfast, sir,” the server says, he has a man behind him and they are both carrying huge trays; they carefully place it all down in front of us.
“Thanks.” I smile, embarrassed, did they just hear what we were talking about?
“You’re welcome.” They disappear.
“Jeez,” I whisper as I look over the table. “There’s enough food for ten people here?”
“Yeah, well, I worked up the appetite of ten men last night.” His eyes meet mine and we smirk at each other, the air crackles between us.
“More like fifteen.”
“Eat your food.” He smiles as he unwraps the napkin.
I begin to cut my toast. “Can we stay at my place tonight? I need to get some more things and I want to water my plants.”
“I guess.” He exhales. “But I want you to move in with me full-time.”
My eyes rise to meet his. “You do?”
“Yes, our principal residence will be here. Bring all of your clothes.”
I roll my eyes, unimpressed that he just assumes we can live here.
“What?” he asks.
“Why can’t we live together at my house?”
“Because it won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because we need more room and your house isn’t suitable for my men. I need a gym and to be close to work in case of an emergency.”
“Ugh.”
“What?” He snaps.
“Are we really going to live on the boat?” I mutter dryly.
“Yacht,” he corrects me. “And a four-hundred-million-euro yacht isn’t good enough for you?” He bites his food off his fork as if annoyed.
“There’s just….” I shrug.
“There’s just what?”
“There’s no dirt here, Edward. How can I have a vegetable garden if there’s no dirt? You know gardening is my first love.”
“I thought I was your first love,” he mutters dryly.
“Yes, but you know what I mean?”
“Hmm.” He keeps chewing with an eye roll.
“What does hmm mean?” I snap, annoyed.
“Alora.” He exhales. “You’re killing me.”
“What, I’m just being honest. This yacht is nice and all, but as a forever home I’m not so sure. I want a kitchen I can cook for us in and I want a garden I can garden in. I want to touch the earth with bare feet whenever I feel like it.”
“Fine.” He bites the food off his fork as if annoyed. “I’ll buy us a new fucking house in Monaco.”
“Good. You do that.” I bite my food off my fork too as I fake annoyance as well. “Make sure it has good soil.”
The car door opens and Philippe smiles down at me. “Good night, Miss Sorenson.”
“Thank you, Philippe.” I climb out of the car.
“Good night.” Edward gets out the other side, it’s just after 9 p.m. Edward picked me up from work and then we went and had dinner and are just arriving back to my place.
Edward takes my hand in his and we walk up my driveway and I unlock the front door.
Edward turns and waves the boys off and they leave us for the night.
I flick the lights on and throw my keys down. “You want a cup of tea, babe?” I ask.
“No. I’m dead tired, I’m going to have a shower.” He kisses me before disappearing up the stairs and I turn the kettle on and flick the television on and notice that a book has fallen out of my bookshelves.
Weird…. How did that fall down?
I pick it up and slide it back into its place, make my tea and flop onto the couch to watch the late news. Ugh…. I’m tired.
EDWARD
Alora climbs into bed and I go to the window and look out over the street below. Shrouded in darkness, silent and calm.
There’s an uneasiness surrounding me.
I can’t put my finger on it but something feels off here in her place tonight, there’s a different energy to how it normally feels. I check the windows are locked and close the heavy drapes, then do the same in every room.
I’ll just recheck downstairs to put my mind at ease. I check the second-level windows and pull the drapes and then walk to the ground floor and flick the lights on.
A book is on the floor in front of the bookcase, Alora must have got a book out and knocked it loose. I pick it up and place it back in the shelving and walk around and tighten all the locks and close the drapes.
My eyes roam over the place as I walk around, why do I feel so off….
I’m being paranoid.
I dim the lights, make my way back upstairs and slide into bed, I pull Alora close and wrap my arms around her. “Good night, my darling,” I whisper.
She doesn’t answer, she’s already asleep.
ALORA
“I’m off, Doe.” Edward leans down and kisses me softly. The bedroom is semi-dark, only early, it’s not fully light. “See you tonight.”
“Okay,” I whisper sleepily. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Have a good day.” Another kiss and I hear him walk down the stairs and then the front door open and close, moments later the car drives up the street and around the corner.
I snuggle back into bed, close my eyes and doze for what feels like a long time.
Creak….
I frown with my eyes closed, what was that?
Creak….
There it is again; I drag my eyes open and look up to the ceiling as I listen.
Hmm, great, just what I need. A damn mouse in the roof.