Whispered Sins (Baby Confessions #1)

Chapter 1

Addison

I smoothed my blouse with my hands as I studied myself in the mirror.

I let out a sigh as I took in my reflection, critiquing with a harsh eye.

The gray tweed skirt I found on sale last week dug into my stomach, even after I tried doing squats and various exercises to get it to give a little.

I must have looked ridiculous huffing and puffing on my bed, trying to squeeze the dang thing on.

Thankfully, I lived alone and no one was there to bear witness.

I gave myself one more glance in the mirror and shrugged.

I guessed I just had to suck it in and smile through the pain of a size eight.

It was a wishful thinking purchase, and one that I needed to make for this afternoon’s meeting.

I had to look the part of a professional businesswoman, even though I was really more of a sweatpants kind of girl who worked for a nonprofit.

It wasn’t the most glamorous job, but it was a passion.

An underpaid one at that. Hence my tiny Brooklyn loft that could pass as a closet.

It was cramped, but it was cozy. I didn’t need much.

Anyway, I didn’t take this job for the money.

I took it to help those in need, and I remind myself of that as I grab my purse from the kitchen counter and look back at the brick-walled box I lived in.

Locking the door behind me, I startled at something brushing against my legs.

I jumped back and looked down, expecting to see a rat, but it was just my landlord’s cat, Beatrice.

I let out a little sigh of relief and bent down to run my hand across her smooth coat.

She purred with pleasure and closed her eyes.

“Beatrice!” I heard echoing up the stairwell.

“She’s here,” I called back.

My landlord emerged at the top of the stairs, catching her breath and clutching her heart as if she had just run up ten flights of stairs, when it really was only two. She had a flair for the dramatic.

“There you are,” she said, rushing toward her cat that was in no distress at all. In fact, she may as well have been asleep.

“Hey Elma,” I said, standing up as she scooped up her precious feline.

“Addison.” She nodded, looking me over. “You look…nice.”

I caught a note of surprise in her voice.

“Thanks,” I replied, smoothing my skirt once more, even though nothing was going to smooth out the rolls I’ve taken on from one too many orders at Ling’s Dynasty on the corner.

“Where are you off to?” she asked.

“I have a meeting with a potential donor.”

“Anyone I would know?” Elma asked, raising a curious brow.

She did love to be in everyone’s business.

She was a fifty-year-old woman who lived alone with her cat.

I didn’t mind entertaining her, though. I figured it was the least I could do for not raising rent on my loft, like the other surrounding buildings.

“Daniel Jacobs?” I asked with a shrug, even though I knew the reaction that would elicit.

At the name, Elma nearly drops Beatrice, who wakes up with a start, her paws jutting into the air like she’d been electrocuted. Another one with a flair for the dramatic. The two were made for each other.

“ The Daniel Jacobs?” she asked.

“Yeah. I guess. The big wig on Fifth Avenue.”

“Do you even know what you’re walking into?” she asked with a narrow voice.

I thought I did. My boss had provided me a lengthy portfolio to study Daniel Jacobs.

The Daniel Jacobs, as Elma put it. He was the typical New York wealthy businessman, like I had dealt with before.

But this guy was in a different league. He was the wealthiest businessman on the East Coast, running a tech company with his brother.

I tried to pass the meeting off to someone else, but my boss was adamant that I take it.

I didn’t know why. It wasn’t like I had outstanding people skills.

They were mediocre at best. Whatever the reason, I spent the last month preparing for this meeting, so I wasn’t going to let Elma get my nerves in a tizzy.

They were already doing a fantastic job of that themselves.

“Nothing I can’t handle, I’m sure,” I said, feigning a confidence I hoped convinced her.

“Oh, honey…” she started, shaking her head.

“What?” I asked, trying to hide my exasperation, but also letting my curiosity get the best of me.

“He was New York’s most eligible bachelor. And he knows it. He was like the Leonardo DiCaprio of the tech world.”

“I’m not going on a date with him, Elma.” I laughed.

“Obviously. He only dates supermodels.”

Ouch.

“I hear he took three women out in one night,” she continued. “Or was it four?”

She furrowed her brow as if trying to remember what she read in some gossip magazine.

“I really should be going, Elma.”

I politely squeezed past her and made my way to the stairwell.

“Good luck,” she called after me.

As I walked down the stairs, I could have sworn I heard her say something under her breath. Something like, “He is going to eat you alive.”

Outside, the bright afternoon sun beat down on me as I stepped the sidewalk toward the subway. Elma’s words were repeating in my ears like whispering echoes pounding at the outer parts of my brain.

He is going to eat you alive.

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Elma.

I checked the time on my phone and realized I was cutting it close for the next train into the city.

I started my descent down the stairs to the subway, taking the stairs two at a time.

It was a wonder this skirt let me do it.

On the platform, I saw my train already filling up and pushed my way through the doors just as they closed behind me.

I breathed a sigh of relief and found a place to stand in the crowd. The last thing I needed was to be late.

Twenty minutes later, I reached my stop and stepped out onto the platform where I felt like I could breathe again outside of the crammed car.

I made my way to the stairs and began my ascent to the city awaiting above, the sounds of taxis and live music drifting down the stairwell.

Up in the sunshine once more, I checked my phone.

I’d be early, but that was better than late.

As I strolled down the sidewalk, a large glass building came into view.

It was the largest one on the block, and was most likely the one I’d be entering in just a few moments.

Reaching into my purse, I checked the address I had scribbled on a piece of paper this morning and confirmed it.

Then I took a deep breath as I walked up to the large glass doors.

I went to push one, but the doors automatically slid open, causing me to stumble slightly into the vast lobby.

The security guard gave me an amused nod as I walked past him toward the front desk.

“How can I help you?” asked the blonde in the crisp white suit that only she could pull off.

“I have a meeting with Mr. Jacobs at four. I’m a little early.”

She checked her computer and nodded. “He is in a meeting at the moment, but I will let him know you’re here. If you like, I can have someone escort you up where you can wait.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

She waved over the security guard who watched me stumble in here, and he led me to an elevator.

We rode in silence to the 90 th floor. I could feel my stomach rise to my throat as the numbers kept ticking by and we still hadn’t reached our destination.

Finally, I let out a slow breath as the elevator doors opened to another lobby.

I thanked the security guard and stepped onto solid ground, the doors closing behind me.

I approached another desk and a woman impeccably dressed in a black suit to match her raven hair. This place really did a number on my confidence.

“Hello, Ms. Heartly. Mr. Jacobs will be with you shortly. In the meantime, you can help yourself to coffee and pastries. Or you can explore the rooftop garden while you wait.” She waved at a buffet table full of croissants and Danishes that she probably didn’t eat herself, and then to two large doors that opened onto a large terrace.

“Thank you,” I said, opting for the garden.

I doubted this skirt would give any more for a cheese Danish, even though they looked mouth wateringly good.

I stepped onto the terrace and was immediately hit with the lush smells of roses and jasmine.

I breathed in deeply and took in my surroundings.

It was breathtaking. I didn’t realize anything so beautiful and so alive could be this high up from the concrete jungle below.

I strolled down one of the pathways, gently running my fingertips over the flowers.

If anything was going to calm my nerves, it was this.

I found a bench in the shape of a butterfly and sat down.

I closed my eyes and began going over the script I had been memorizing for the past week.

I didn’t like bringing notes to these things.

It felt like I was unprepared, and I wanted to look like I knew what I was doing, especially with these big wigs.

I heard someone clear their throat and snapped my eyes open to see a man standing on the other side of the bench.

I squinted and tried to allow them to adjust to the stranger before me, the sun beaming behind him.

He looked slightly older than me, wearing a pair of gray slacks and a white button-down.

His eyes were a piercing blue. A violent contrast against his tan skin and dark hair.

He was honestly breathtaking, which was why I hadn’t found my voice yet.

“Hello,” he said, smiling down at me curiously.

That smile. If I couldn’t speak before, there was a slim chance I could now.

“Uh…” I stammered, pushing myself to stand.

He studied me with an amused expression as I finally got an actual word out.

“I’m Addison. I have a meeting with your boss,” I said. Judging from his more casual attire, I just assumed he was Daniel’s assistant.

He raised an eyebrow momentarily before it settled back into place on his perfect face.

“Oh?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m early. I’m a little nervous, actually.” The words came out like I’d had three glasses of wine at the bar with my best friend. Literal word vomit. The nerves were getting to me. I wasn’t sure if they were because of my meeting or this stranger who just turned up.

“Why is that?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“I’ve been researching him for the past month. I know just about everything there is to know businesswise, but then my landlord sprang some gossip on me before I left for this meeting. She told me he was some playboy who’s seen with a different woman every night. Hell, multiple at that.”

This was really not anything I should be discussing with his assistant, but it was too late. The words had already toppled out of me.

I noticed the amused smile on his face waver momentarily, but then he let out a laugh that rang in my ears like a favorite song I could play over and over.

“Is that so?” he asked.

“It must be. I mean, just judging by the women who work here. He probably sleeps with them, too.”

He studied me for a moment before looking out toward the city, but it was really not the city he was looking at.

It was just sky because this was one of its tallest buildings.

I had a moment to study his profile, which was ridiculously chiseled.

I wondered what he was thinking about, and worried I might not even have a meeting anymore. Why did I have to open my dumb mouth?