Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Charlie
My butler had sent clothes to my office, and I changed at my desk then spent the day following Kir around.
He was so serious. I wasn’t sure what I would do.
Because he was the spitting image of our father, I hated disappointing him.
But Hope was right—I needed to ensure I went to work as much as possible.
Part of proving myself capable meant showing I was a good son and not entirely the useless one always chasing my passing fancy.
Near five o’clock, I went to my desk to turn everything off when Kir, who was six months my senior but so serious that we never ran in the same circles until now, came in.
“Maman called today to get information out of me. She is convinced you have some sort of steady girlfriend and that I should be more like you.”
Hope was everything I ever wanted wrapped up in the perfect woman. She was easily sexy but also a kindred spirit who wasn’t sure who she was. And unlike me, Kir was the perfect son. In time, he would find Mrs. Perfect, and he would never have to lie to anyone, anytime, ever. I felt it in my soul.
For now, I smiled. “I’m popping the question.”
His brown eyes widened. “When did you start getting serious?”
Time to sell Hope as the one and only. I lean on the top of my desk. “I met her in Paris.”
He snapped his fingers. “Ahh, so it’s not serious.”
My stomach tightened. I hated being judged as the worst one in the family. I tensed then stood. “It is. She lives here in New York, and we’ve been serious since I met her. Wish me luck.”
“For a girl you met last week…”
“Why don’t you think I’m responsible enough to know when I know?”
“I’m not judging.”
“You are. Look, I’ll show you that I’m responsible, or I’ll quit.”
“You need to prove to yourself you’re a free thinker and won’t get tied down to mundane.”
“So it’s a bet?”
“Sure.” I headed to the door as the market bell closed.
Kir called out, “Bring her home to meet the rest of us.”
I waved at my brother. “I’ll invite you to the engagement party, if all goes well.”
As I stepped outside, a limo was ready to take me back to the West Side. I jumped in and remembered how Hope had been so nervous when we took off. On the trip to Paris, I’d watched her from the cockpit as she clutched the arm rests. I’d wanted to go out there and comfort her.
Once we were in the sky, I spoke to the stewardess and had her escorted via the arm marshal into the locked cockpit, but she’d lasted many ten minutes then bolted. I’d hoped if I showed her that she was perfectly safe with me at the helm, but that plan backfired.
I had no idea how anyone was scared of heights in a city that was built as high as buildings went, but I’d spent the next day talking her into forgiving me.
After being dropped off, I headed into my building, and the security guard nodded. Everything was normal until I walked into my condo and heard women squealing.
I took off my shoes and saw a collection of high heels. Michael came to see me, carrying a serving tray of appetizers. I waved to the floor and asked him, “Who’s here?”
He nodded and directed me to the grand room. “Ms. Hope Williams and her guests, sir.”
Women were laughing. Michael's icy-blue stare told me without a word he wanted to disappear entirely.
I popped my head in, and in the center of the room was Hope, wearing jeans and a shirt that went off one of her shoulders.
She stood with five other women around her as they toasted her and laughed.
I asked, “Hope?”
She jumped up and grabbed my hand. Adrenaline rushed through me as she directed me into the middle of the room. “Charlie! You met Britney, but Avril, Kelly, Isabel, and Miley all wanted to meet you too.”
Hope had talked about her friends in the past and how she considered them her family. Avril was a thin blonde who seemed quiet, Kelly had a kind face and empathetic eyes, Isabel seemed standoffish, and Miley’s gaze was clearly analytical. Hope was the prettiest of them all by far.
Britney, the brash but kind one, said, “We’d like to take you out for drinks, Charlie.”
Despite how she accused me of being a playboy, the truth was that around women I pretended to be someone charming, but I understood I’d be unforgettable.
In my heart, I knew I was full of complete crap.
Before Hope, I didn't care what people thought.
So I called out, “Fuller, get us a table at Ardesia down the street.”
“Yes, sir,” he said and disappeared.
Isabel pouted. “So what are your intentions with Hope?”
I would need to convince her friends like she would convince my family. I smiled, though Miley's piercing gaze reminded me of my brother Jeff, who was the hardest to ever fool. “I fell in love with Hope when we met at the airport on our way to Paris.”
Avril placed her hand on her heart and swayed. “Aww, this sounds like a fairy tale.”
Britney was shuffling us out, but I stopped. “Maybe you can help Hope pick out a diamond right now?”
Miley said nothing. I wasn’t sure I’d won her belief at all.
She tilted her head. “I thought we were going to go shopping later.”
“I had the shopping set up in the dining room," Michael said.
I met his gaze. He was actually more like my long-term guest who was hiding from his life by staying in New York. His pretense of being a butler was interesting. If I were him, I would have gone home to his family’s castle, but that wasn’t my concern.
The six women all went first, but Miley’s lips widened. “Hope, this is all gorgeous.”
Unlike my brother, perhaps Miley was buyable for tolerating me.
The group of them milled around, picking up rings.
I stood back and watched Hope, the only one who mattered, as Michael waited at the door, glaring at Britney.
It was strange, truthfully. Her friends all showed her various one, but a few minutes later, Hope held one up and seemed to like it.
I walked over to her, and she showed it to me. “It is, but this one is nice.”
I nodded then showed the ring to my butler. “Michael, please inform the jeweler and have it set in a size eight.”
The women all filed out, and I handed the ring over as Isabel asked Hope, “You’re an eight, Hope? Your hands are so long…”
“Doesn’t matter. Hands are hands.” She curled her fingers at her sides. “Ring sizes don’t mean anything. Anyhow, let’s get those drinks.”
I walked next to her. “You’re perfect as you are.”
She beamed at me and relaxed. “Thanks. Isabel believes women are judged on everything, and she spends too much time worrying what others think of her. She’s a little too perfect sometimes.”
My limo met us and dropped us off a few blocks down at the cocktail bar. We headed out, and as her friends joined us, I refused to touch her—that was part of her new rules—but I walked closer. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
The rest of her friends passed us, and she asked, “What’s going on, Charlie?”
At work today, she’d been on my mind, and I hadn’t asked her permission, but I needed to tell her what I’d done. I wanted her to be happy no matter what. I tensed. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, my friends aren’t the ones we need to worry about.” She smiled then asked, “Why?”
Her eyes were enchanting. Student loans and debts could wait. I would figure out a way to earn her kiss. I wanted more than just mind-blowing sex. “I just thought I should tell you I intend to kiss you again.”
“You promised!” Her face went white.
I refused to even blink. “I’ll keep my word. I’ll wait for you to kiss me, and you will.”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t understand.”
Now I needed to be fair. Her friends were staring at us from the doorway, so I said, “I just thought I should tell you I intend to get you to kiss me.”
She didn’t move as she curled her hands together. “Why?”
I stood near her, smelling her floral perfume. “Because you’re the most interesting woman I’ve ever met.”
Britney called out from the door, “Okay, lovebirds, get in here.”
We walked inside, and Hope took my arm. As we headed to the table, Britney said, “Now let’s find out if you’re good enough for our Hope and if you have any single rich trillionaire brothers or friends for the rest of us.”
I sat next to Hope. “Your friends are funny.”
She smiled at me and opened her menu. “I’m glad you think so. They are, in truth, all I have.”
I looked around. If winning Hope’s heart meant being on these women’s good sides, then I had my mission for the night.