Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
I hit send on my email confirming The Horizon Cliffs Estate in Rancho Palos Verdes. The event was for the Cha family, a wealthy Korean family who made billions from their revolutionary anti-aging skincare line.
They wanted a private oceanfront estate for an intimate gala, and after I’d mentioned I was struggling to find the perfect venue, Titus offered up one of his properties.
The estate was practically designed for clients like this—ultra-wealthy families who valued exclusivity, privacy, and a setting impressive enough to match the occasion.
That was one of the perks of Titus and I being lovers rather than enemies. I had a man who not only worshipped my body in the bedroom but also offered access to some incredible places to work because his profession revolved around dreaming up and building these places that cater to these elites.
After he sent over multiple images and his private link to access the photos online, I was more than excited to plan the event. Mr. Cha had approved floating lanterns and a live orchestra, and he had opened the event to investors from Seoul and a select group of luxury fashion and tech executives.
Given the private helipad and access to Titus’s fleet of private choppers, they would be bringing all their guests in by helicopter, and I truly think that was the selling point for Mr. Cha.
The event was scheduled for the last weekend of August. I wished it could’ve been sooner, but that’s just how work was going these days since I’d decided not to work abroad this season.
Everything was booking up for the end of summer, when the wealthy returned, which was great, but for now…
let’s just say I was grateful Titus planned to host several events aboard his yacht.
“So, next weekend, Mr. Hawk confirmed the Hawk Crown Investor Gala on Eterna,” Dani said.
I glanced up at her. “So, he’s decided against the Aurelia Collection Acquisition gala?”
She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. He emailed it to me to confirm.” She gave me a sly smile. “But I’m sure his girlfriend would—”
“No,” I interrupted. “We’re not doing that.”
“Not doing what? All of us love that this man is head over heels for you.”
“That’s wonderful, and I love it too,” I smiled, shouldering my briefcase and purse. “However, we have to keep business separate.”
“Oh, come on, Cat,” Dani rolled her eyes. “You need to relax a little.”
“She’s not lying,” Aria said. “Enjoy it. I would.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve been in the same room with that man,” I said, “and I know how I enjoy it.”
“I bet you do, even though you never share the details,” Aria said, standing next to Dani, most likely enjoying this moment of giving me shit.
I leaned back against the edge of my desk. “When I’m with him, I act like a foolish schoolgirl. Then, once I’m out of his presence, I pull myself together and can’t believe I acted so…” I paused to search for words.
“Sexy and desirable,” Dani chuckled.
“More like out of line.”
“Out of line?” Aria said, looking at me like I was ridiculous. “That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I pushed off the desk. “Trust me, if you saw me with him, you wouldn’t recognize me. When I’m in the office talking about him, I have to keep my mind on business. The second I start thinking about him outside of work, I can kiss my productivity goodbye.”
“Something tells me you’re in love,” Dani smirked.
“Love?” I laughed. “You girls need to get your heads out of the romance books. You don’t fall in love with a man after a weekend on his luxury yacht, even if—well, you know…” I stopped. “I’m not having this conversation. Okay, so the Acquisition Gala next weekend aboard Eterna.”
“Investor Gala,” Dani corrected.
I smiled at her. “See? Already fucking up events because we started talking about man-crushes.”
“Girl, please,” Aria said as I walked past them, leaving my office. “What you have with Titus Hawk is not a crush.”
“Good night, ladies,” I said, waving over my shoulder as I walked toward the lobby.
I’d been dealing with this daily since everyone seemed to find out about Titus and me. If it wasn’t my sister asking questions, it was the ladies. My family and co-workers knowing about us was one thing, but the unwanted outside attention was another.
I was still trying to figure out who leaked the information, but apparently, once Titus started making headlines with social media influencers and celebrity gossip accounts, I somehow ended up dragged into that world as his girlfriend.
From what Amelia told me, a lot of what was being said about me online was pretty awful, but I shrugged it off. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the opinions of strangers on performative gossip sites.
It had all just become background noise for me until, of course, everyone I knew found out we were a couple, which brought me to tonight.
All of us ladies were planning to meet at Lido Bottle Works, where we would typically enjoy drinks by the water as the sun set.
However, I had a strong feeling—since I hadn’t seen anyone much since Titus and I spent two nights on his yacht a few weeks ago—that this evening would turn into an interrogation.
And I couldn’t use focusing on work, as I’d just done, to get off the subject.
My phone vibrated just as I reached my car. I couldn’t help but smile like the silly, love-struck woman I’d become whenever this man called or texted me while he was overseas.
“Most normal people would be sound asleep where you’re at,” I said, answering his call and grinning like a teenager as I started my car.
“I’m not like most normal people, preciosa,” he said. “I’ve missed you.”
“You’ve been gone for four days,” I said after the car’s intercom took over the call.
“Four hours, and I’m a desperate fool, Catalina,” he chuckled.
God, I loved the way he said my name.
“How did the investors’ summit go today?”
“We’re just getting back to the resort,” he answered. “We met with multiple architects, and thank God that Bree and Alex Grayson were there, because I was sure to throw someone off a granite rock on one of the islands we toured.”
“That bad?” I cringed, pulling out into traffic.
“Always,” he answered. “As I said, I’ve missed you, and my tolerance for stupidity did not accompany me on this trip.”
I never imagined this man feeling this way about any woman, much less me, but I also knew that new relationships with big-talking men usually went this way.
It’s why I had to be careful.
“Well, you’d better pull your shit together because I’m looking forward to planning that event once you’re ready for Crown Reserve’s grand opening.”
“I’d prefer someone else to run that event so you can be on my arm all evening.”
I smiled, hit the blinker, and changed lanes. “We’ll see about that, Mister,” I answered. “If we’re still going strong in a couple of years, I’ll gladly be on your arm.”
“We will be, preciosa,” he said. “I’ll make you that promise right now.”
“Easy,” I said, feeling my body reacting to the man.
Jesus. This was my own damn fault, and I knew it. This is exactly what I got for waiting five years to even be open to trusting a man in my life again, and for very firmly believing that man would never be Titus.
“What are you doing right now?” he asked, his voice in that deep tone he used just before we couldn’t resist each other anymore.
“I already told you, we’re not having phone sex,” I warned him with humor in my voice.
“I don’t understand how this is an obstacle for you.”
“I don’t know if obstacle is the right word. I just truly cannot put a camera on me and get myself off like that. It could never happen.”
“Even while you’re watching me, mi amor?” he said with humor, yet the man was very fucking serious about it.
“That, I could do,” I said. “Jesus, don’t get these thoughts in my head.”
“Do you want me, preciosa?” he taunted.
“Yup,” I said, trying to push thoughts and ideas away.
“We’re going to do this, I promise you.”
“Are you about to go to bed?”
“Yes, but I was hoping you’d help me fall asleep easily. It’s not easy to sleep anymore without you in my arms.”
“Damn,” I said, pulling into the garage and parking the car.
“Did you just get home?” he asked.
“How do you know?”
“I heard the phone click off the car phone,” he said.
I could hear the smile in his voice before I was alerted to his FaceTime request.
I instantly answered, seeing Titus’s face and wishing so badly I was curled into his strong chest. His hair was wet, most likely from just getting out of the shower, his shirt off, and he lay reclined against an ornate headboard and pillows.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he breathed. “I would give anything to kiss your lips. I’ve been thinking about them all day.”
“I have missed you,” I said sincerely, staring into the phone with nothing but longing.
“You can have me, preciosa,” he arched an eyebrow at me. “Right now.”
“I’m not doing this in the car,” I laughed, completely terrified at the idea of this man wanting this.
“You don’t have to do anything,” he said. “I want you to watch me want and need you.”
That was the exact moment Amelia appeared at my car door, startling me so badly that I nearly launched myself into the passenger seat as if I’d just been caught doing something illegal.
Titus’s laughter drifted through the phone at my reaction.
“Have a wonderful evening,” he said. “I’ll be holding you in my dreams as I do every night that you’re not in my arms.”
“Good night, Titus,” I answered before opening the door.
“Good night, preciosa,” he said, then ended the call.
“That man has got to be one of the most gorgeous men alive, sis,” Amelia said after catching a glimpse of Titus before he hung up. “You are very lucky, and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, but we all need to settle down about the man,” I said.
“Oh, please,” she answered. “You need to uncork your ass and enjoy every feeling and sensation you’re finally experiencing again.” She looped her arm through mine.