39. Addie
Chapter thirty-nine
Addie
Part of my mind is still reeling from everything that happened a few days ago with Hayden and the tree house. And since its erection, I’m feeling even better about my decision to stay in L.A. Luna is also happy as a clam, but my bestie, Sam, is not.
However, I promised her I’d take her to Outside Lands—a hip music, art, and food festival in Long Beach to see one of her favorite bands, The 1975, to make up for it.
“Fine,” she said after I proposed those terms in exchange for her forgiveness. “But I want to be drunk off my ass with the classiest red wine the whole time.”
I just smiled on the other end of the line and agreed.
So, it looks like we’re staying. But I still need to get my mother off my case. And if that means she gets to run Flores Holdings and get a small chunk of my abuelo’s fortune, then so be it.
“Good morning,” Steven greets me in the subsidiary office early that morning.
“Good morning,” I respond curtly. It’s nothing against him, I just always get nervous whenever I have to be around you know who. “Is she here?”
“She is. She’s sitting in the conference room.”
I usually love it in this office, as it reminds me everywhere I look of my grandfather. That’s why I’m so happy I get to keep it just the way it is. But with Mother Dearest’s impending presence in my brain, everything I see is tainted in darkness.
Can’t wait for that to be over once and for all.
Before going in, I pour myself a cup of coffee in the break room.
“Do you need one?” I offer to Steven after peeking my head in and intentionally not extending the same to my mother.
“No, I’m fine. Thanks.”
After that, I sit down across the table from both of them. As usual, she’s wearing a ridiculous outfit that I’m sure cost an arm and a leg.
“You just need to sign right here, Addie,” Steven says before sliding a piece of paper over to me.
“I’m so happy you finally saw the right path,” my mother comments under her breath.
“Uh-huh.” I scratch my signature on the appropriate line and pretend she doesn’t exist.
“Have you decided which charity you want to go with?” Steven asks after collecting all the paperwork.
“I have.” I sit back and cross my arms. “It’s called Shoulder to Shoulder. They help children throughout Honduras who are living in poverty receive proper nutrition, healthcare, schooling, you name it.”
I can practically see my mother rolling her eyes. She’s never been one for helping others, and I’m sure she’d rather see that money padding her own savings account. But too damn bad. It’s my money to do with what I’d like. And I think Abuelo would be happy with my choice—especially since one of the cities the organization services is his hometown.
“Are you sure about all of that?” she asks, eyeing me up and down. “You could always use the cash to update your wardrobe, Adriana.”
Oh, Mother. She has no idea how much easier she’s making my already painless decision to write her out of mine and Luna’s lives forever.
With an arched eyebrow, I say, “I never want to see you again, Rosalinda.”
She gasps, her mouth open wide. “I beg your pardon—”
“You heard me.” I stand up before she has the chance to. “Now, get the fuck out.” I hope the words sting as much as they did coming out of Hayden’s mouth when he kicked me out of his place.
“I don’t believe this.”
“Believe it. Now, out! And don’t think about ever coming over to our place either.”
Then, she starts the fake waterworks. “You’d really deny me access to my grandchild?”
Oh, please. She’s never paid Luna any mind.
“I think it’s best for us to conclude this,” Steven insists.
“I’ve never been so insulted in my entire life,” I can hear my mother yelling as she’s being escorted out.
“Well, that was certainly eventful,” Steven says, wiping his hands together after coming back in.
“Yeah, I’m so sorry you had to witness that.”
He chuckles. “No, it’s fine. Can I be frank about something?”
“Sure.” I don’t see why not.
“I can’t stand that woman.”
Now I laugh. “I guess that makes two of us.”
***
Later on in the day, we drive together to Randall’s office. It’s finally time for us to sign the paperwork that will put the property we’ve fought so hard for in our names.
Once we get inside, Hayden is already there, looking as dapper as ever in a dark gray suit.
“Addie,” he says with a charming grin.
“Hello, Hayden.” Ever since the other night, our relationship has kind of been up in the air, but at least we’re cordial with each other. That’s a huge improvement from the hatred I felt for him not so long ago.
“Please sit,” Randall suggests.
Ever the gentlemen, Steven takes out my chair and scoots it back in with me. Then, he sits down right next to me.
In the room are also other suited men that I don’t recognize. But I assume they are other lawyers.
“So, we’ve gone over this thing frontwards and backwards,” Steven comments after picking the papers up.
“Indeed,” one of the unknown men responds.
“But just for thoroughness’s sake, I want to outline the key terms for you one more time. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” It takes a few moments, but eventually it’s just the three of us—Steven, Hayden, and me—in the room.
“So, as we’ve discussed, we did have to increase our bid,” our lawyer explains.
“That’s fine,” Hayden comments, draping his right ankle over his left knee.
“Right.” From there, he goes over some more specifics, but after we assure him that we’re comfortable with everything. Then he gets up and calls everyone else back into the room.
“We’re good?” Randall asks.
“We are,” I respond after sharing a glance with Hayden.
“Wonderful.”
After that, we all take turns signing our names, and before I know it, the deal is done.
“Congratulations,” Steven comments. “Ivory Shores is one more step closer to becoming a reality!”
Hayden and I are both smiling like goons. It’s heartwarming to know that, at least in part, are reactions stemming from the same happiness over making my abuelo’s dream come true.
“Except there is one more thing,” Randall says.
Oh, shit. Here I thought I’d truly “wowed” him at our family’s little chapel.
“I want to invest in your resort.”
My jaw drops. “You—you do?” I wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“I sure do, and Claire is in full agreement. We think that a partnership with you two will open many, many doors for us all over the country.”
Wow. From slut-shaming to this? We’ve really come full circle in our relationship.
As I’m not really on the business side of things, I leave to let him and Hayden work out the “investment” side.
“It’s done,” he announces with his arms outstretched a few minutes later.
I told him I’d wait for him just outside the door, and I kept my word.
“Really? That was fast.”
Hayden cocks his head to the side. “Yeah, well, Randall really wanted to get in on the action of Ivory Shores.”
“I guess so.”
He comes closer and grazes his fingers through his perfectly kept hair. “Do you want to know how much he agreed to pay?”
Talking money always makes me uncomfortable, so I cross my arms and back away a bit. “No, that isn’t necessary. Whatever the two of you worked out, I’m sure it’s a good deal.” I have to trust Hayden on that part.
His light eyes widen. “Oh, it’s more than good. It’s great. He tripled what I initially thought he was going to offer.”
“Wow!” Again, I don’t really know what that means, but it sure sounds good. “That’s great, Hayden.”
He smiles, looks out into the distance, and rubs his hands together. “Yes. Yes, it is.”
Then, we just stand there for a bit before I think to look down at my watch.
“Oh, shoot. I’ve got to go pick up Luna. But we can meet at the lot after to celebrate, yeah?”
I assumed he was just going to agree, so I turned away and started walking without another word. But then, I feel his firm grasp on my elbow.
“Wha—”
Before I can get anything else out, he swings me around to face him. Next, his soft lips are crashing down on mine. At first, I relish in the feeling—I’ve missed it dearly—but as soon as his hands start drifting towards my ass, I remember where we are.
“Hayden Cohen!” I pull away and smack his shoulder.
“What?” He smirks before grabbing me again and continuing his attack on my mouth.
“We’re in public,” I mumble against him.
“So?”
“So? It’s broad daylight, and people are watching us.” I have one eye open, and I can see the spectators staring.
“Let them watch.” He doesn’t slow down, and he even starts rubbing his hips against my stomach—a move that makes me feel all tingly inside.
“Hayden . . .” I try to stop him one more time before finally just surrendering. I let go of the rock I was leaning on, and I tangle my fingers in his hair.
“Can you tell how you make me feel?” he whispers in my ear after leaving a trail of kisses down my neck.
If you’re referring to your rock-hard member against my leg, then yes. Yes, I can. I love that I have that effect on him.
“Now,” he says into my hair, “don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy that you let me touch you and kiss you, but I want more. I need more.”
“What do you mean?” I ask breathlessly. If I give him any more at this rate, we’ll be hearing sirens approaching soon.
“Go out with me tonight,” he mutters, holding his face a few inches away from mine. “Please, I’ve been dying to go out on a date with you.”
I squirm away from him then and hold my finger in his face. “Remember what you promised me?”
He rolls his eyes and lets out an exaggerated groan.
“Hey! You promised that we could take this slow.”
“Well, yeah. Slow. Not at a snail’s pace.”
“Hayden,” I scold.
“Fine. But any slower, and I think I might die.”
“Oh.” I pout in mockery of him. “Poor baby.”
“Seriously, Adds. My hand is getting really tired of satisfying me after all the dirty, nasty thoughts I have about you.”
I’m not sure why, but that turns me on beyond belief. Well, not the jacking off part, per se—but the part where he works himself up so much thinking about me that he has to find a release to get it out of his body before he goes crazy. Secretly, I can absolutely relate. One of my main fantasies lately has to do with his naked body, a bear skin rug, a roaring fire, and me at an easel with a paintbrush in my hand.
Oh, to capture that Adonis-like body on a canvas. The very thought makes me bite my lip.
“What was that?” When I come back to my senses, he’s staring directly at my mouth.
“Nothing,” I lie, pushing hair behind my ear.
“It sure didn’t look like nothing.”
Busted. “Fine. Let’s just say that I have some daydreams of my own.”
He doubles over and conceals his hands over his private parts. “You’re kidding me, Addie! What am I supposed to do with that information now?”
I shrug coyly. “Whatever you’d like, I suppose.”
He growls before taking me in his arms again. “I swear to God, you’re going to be the death of me, woman!”
“But what a way to go, right?” I joke.