Chapter 50 Reed #2
Now, granted, I’ve never bought a single piece of jewelry for any woman, other than my mother.
Who, by the way, never wears the thing I bought her.
But Georgina doesn’t know that. Indeed, as far as she knows, I’m the kind of rich dude who sees a sparkly ruby necklace in a window at Tiffany’s and buys it for his flavor of the month on the spot, just because he can.
Georgina has no idea I’d never actually do that.
Although, come to think of it, maybe I would do that.
Because, hell, I did. Today. Yes, my ultimate plan was to give Georgina a gift she could sell off, a gift that would yield the perfect payday for her and her father, without Georgina suspecting my endgame.
But if paying off the mortgage had truly been my only motivation, then why did I buy this particular necklace—a piece of jewelry with almost triple the price tag of Georgina’s father’s debt?
Why ask the saleswoman to see whatever pieces they had in the range of eighty grand, but then immediately ignore all the pieces she’d laid out for me the instant I happened to notice this particular ruby necklace, worth over two hundred grand, sitting in a display case on the opposite side of the store?
Obviously, when I bought the necklace, instead of one of the options in the range of eighty grand, I wasn’t thinking about the loan any longer.
I wasn’t thinking about my brilliant plan.
All that mattered to me in that delirious, impulsive moment was seeing Georgina open the box that held that particular necklace.
All that mattered to me was seeing that particular necklace on Georgie’s slender neck, if only for one night, and having the pleasure of fucking her in my bed while she wore it.
I knew Georgie wouldn’t keep the ruby necklace for long, exactly according to plan.
But, in that moment, I knew seeing Georgina wearing the perfect necklace in my bed was worth far more to me than my two hundred twenty grand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I feel terrible admitting I’d sell it. Please forgive me.”
I’m quiet for a long moment. Partly, because I’m pretending to process Georgina’s “shocking” confession.
But also because I’m genuinely shocked. Not by the content of Georgina’s confession, but by the fact that she’s making it to me at all.
Yes, I knew she’d sell the necklace. That was the point of me giving it to her in the first place.
But I thought Georgina would take the necklace from me and then sell it behind my back.
I clear my throat. “I didn’t realize things were so dire for your father.”
Her shoulders droop. “He just got a third notice from the bank. I don’t know what that means, exactly. But I know it can’t be good.”
“How much does your father owe, if you don’t mind me asking? Because, whether you like it or not, this necklace is yours, to do with as you please, even if that means you’re going to return it to the store for cash.”
“Oh, gosh, no, Reed. I couldn’t possibly—”
“Yes, you could. Unfortunately, the necklace probably won’t cover your dad’s full debt. It only cost me eighty grand. But it might help.”
She’s flabbergasted. “Reed. Oh my God! You’re not going to believe this, but... my father owes exactly eighty grand!”
I palm my forehead. “No.”
“Yes!”
“Holy shit.” I shake my head in disbelief. “Well, that settles it, then. You have to return it and use it to pay off the mortgage. Now, I really won’t take no for an answer. Me seeing this necklace in the window was fate!”
She chokes back a sob, and then another, but then loses her battle. She bursts into big, soggy, beautiful tears and throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, thank you,” she murmurs into my shoulder, her body wracking as she weeps.
“You’re welcome.” I pull back from our embrace, apparently struck by an idea.
“Actually, you know what? I should return it for you. I have another meeting in Beverly Hills tomorrow. I’ll return it and immediately wire the money straight to his bank.
The loan will get paid off more quickly this way.
And it sounds like time might be of the essence here. ”
It’s a pack of lies, of course. I don’t have a meeting in Beverly Hills tomorrow, any more than I had one there today.
My meeting today was actually in Century City, and I left midway through to head to Tiffany’s in Beverly Hills, the minute I got my brilliant idea.
But I can’t let Georgie walk into that store with a ruby necklace worth over two hundred grand, when she thinks it’s only worth eighty, and find out the truth.
Georgina pulls back from me, her face contorted with anxiety.
“I just realized my dad is going to ask me how the heck I got eighty grand. And what will I say? ‘Oh, um, the CEO of River Records gave it to me as a gift, Dad!’” She scoffs.
“He’ll immediately know I’m sleeping with you, Reed.
And that’s not something I’m eager for him to know.
I wouldn’t want him to think, even for a second, that you’ve somehow taken advantage of his precious little girl.
No offense, but you’re not only rich and powerful.
You’re also, you know...” She grimaces. “Thirty-four.”
“What happened to ‘Age is just a number’?”
She pulls an adorable face. “Yeah, well, that may be my philosophy, but my father doesn’t share it.
At least, not when it comes to his baby girl.
He thinks I’m far more na?ve and inexperienced than I am.
If he found out we’re sleeping together, he’d think you’ve been taking advantage of me somehow. ”
“And he’d be right.”
She smiles, assuming I’m joking. But, unfortunately, I’m not.
How could I not be taking advantage of this na?ve, sweet, inexperienced twenty-one-year-old?
I know Georgina thinks she’s seen it all, but she’s wrong about that.
Adorably, amusingly wrong. I keep telling myself the end justifies the means.
I tell myself I’ve helped her and her father immeasurably.
That my intentions, in the beginning, weren’t solely lascivious—I also had other, parallel intentions, that were altruistic and good.
All of which means I’m helping her, not taking advantage of her, even if I’ve also reaped some benefits along the way.
It’s what I tell myself. But with each passing day, as Georgina’s hazel eyes increasingly fill with trust and affection toward me.
.. I’m beginning to worry I might be barreling toward a catastrophe here. One I won’t be able to fix.
“I wouldn’t blame your father for thinking I’m too old for you,” I admit. “To be honest, I’m thinking the same thing. I’m deeply conflicted about how young you are, Georgina. A month ago, I never would have believed I’d be dating a twenty-one-year-old. And yet, here I am.”
Her face lights up. “You’re dating me, Mr. Rivers?”
Shit. What did I just commit to? And how can I get myself uncommitted, if needed, without ruining this good thing?
“I thought you said you’re merely ‘seducing me,’” she sings out happily, and the look of unadulterated joy on her face instantly shoos away my threatening anxiety, the way a shaken broom shoos away a stray cat.
“Yes, I said that,” I say. “But, at this point, I think we can both agree: seduction complete.”
She straddles me on the couch and throws her arms around my neck.
“I’m glad you’re dating me.” She bats her eyelashes.
“Even if it’s got to be a secret for a little while.
” She gasps. “Oh! I just got a great idea! I could tell my father the money to pay off his mortgage came from that same cancer charity that paid for his medication!”
My heart stops. Shit. Fuck. No. Shit. This is it.
Holding my breath, I scrutinize Georgina’s face for any sign she’s figured me out.
Is this a test? Is she daring me to confess sins she already knows I committed?
Is this the same as when she asked me about a sexual harassment lawsuit I’d settled, when she’d already had Stephanie’s complaint sitting in a box in her room?
But, no. I don’t see anything on Georgina’s lovely face except beautiful, blissful ignorance.
“That’s a great idea,” I say, regarding Georgina’s idea to credit the cancer charity. “Do you have your father’s account information, so I can wire the funds to the bank tomorrow?”
“I do.”
“Great. The loan will be totally paid off by close of business tomorrow.”
She can’t contain her effusive joy. She hugs me and kisses every inch of my face, making me hard as a rock.
I put my palms on Georgina’s cheeks. “But before I return that necklace tomorrow, you’re going to take off those clothes and slip on that ruby necklace.
We’re going to dine in the formal dining room.
And then I’m going to take you upstairs and give you a night you’ll never forget. ”