Chapter 28 #3
“Don’t get mad.” He takes me in his arms. “But Mason’s was never your home. This was.”
“You moved my stuff here?”
His eyes are on me, unsure what to say. “I hired someone to do it, and Addie supervised. You still need to go back for the rest.”
“I’m not mad.”
I could be, easily, but I’m sick of the back and forth and only want to move forward from now on.
Moving into a home that was always meant to be mine seems like the first step.
“You’re not?” He pulls me close and kisses my lips. “You can be, then we can have make-up sex.”
“I’m too tired to be mad and too tired for sex.” I peck his lips and step out of his hold.
He raises his eyebrows and waggles them. “I need to shower. You sure you don’t want to join?”
“Positive.”
“Fine. Follow me quickly then, I didn’t give you the whole tour last time.”
“Yeah, I mean, apparently I live here now, I should probably get to know the lay of the land.”
He links our fingers and walks me through the penthouse, starting at the front door. “You’re so funny.” He points down the hall to the right, “This hall takes you to Leo’s apartment.”
From afar, I see the door open, but can’t see into his place.
“Did he convert his into two floors, too?”
Nate scoffs, “Of course he did. Couldn’t let me have anything nicer than him.”
“Aw, poor baby.”
He squeezes my hand, then walks me through the downstairs area.
The living room, kitchen, and dining room all look familiar, except for the way he has decorated the place.
It’s different from his moody bedroom.
It’s done neutral enough that it changes with time, still with plenty of character—beautiful marble throughout the kitchen, and pops of color from accent chairs and rugs. It’s a mix of modern and masculine industrial decor and design, similar to his office at M-Squared.
The floor-to-ceiling arched windows will always be my favorite part, though.
“Since the primary bedroom is upstairs now, I’ve converted the downstairs one into a gym.
” He opens a frosted glass door to one of the most aesthetically pleasing workout spaces I’ve ever seen.
It’s serene and bright; the perfect motivator.
He points to the corner, “There’s a sauna and ice plunge.
I know you like to run, but let me know if there's any equipment you need in here that I don’t have. ”
Next door to the gym is a guest bedroom, and next to that is Claud’s room.
“Did she help decorate? This is very Claudina coded.” I walk around the all pink room, decorated in only ballet decor.
There’s a large photo of Juliette from when she danced professionally, and next to it one of Claud that matches. Across the other wall is a ballet bar and a large mirror for her to practice.
“Of course she did. I had very strict rules I had to follow, especially on the color palette, but especially the ceiling.”
I look up, then place my hand over my heart, rubbing it lightly. “This is beautiful.”
It’s a collage of gorgeous watercolor-painted butterflies throughout the entire space.
“Juliette had it done at their house, as a surprise for her birthday. She then, of course, asked the rest of the brothers, mom, and dad to have it done in her other rooms. She wanted to see Camila before bed every night.”
“She’s the sweetest girl.”
“The best.” He murmurs, then we walk through the rest of the place.
His office is filled with top-of-the-line drafting tables and equipment, endless books, and tons of pictures of Claudina, the family, and me.
He points to the corner, “I’m not sure why you had so many self-help and meditation books, but they were moved to that shelf.”
“They ground me.” I laugh when he gives me a look. “You know I still get anxiety in new places with people I’m unfamiliar with. Those books have helped a lot.”
“If you say so.”
He points to the other side of the room, and my jaw hits the floor.
“Nathaniel,” I murmur, stunned.
How did I miss this when I walked in?
I’m staring at a six-foot glass case displaying my midnight blue, celestial ball gown from the gala. There’s a light shining, creating a perfect halo around the dress.
It looks like something out of a museum.
“Why?” I whisper, walking up to the display to take in my one-of-a-kind dress.
“Because that night, when you walked in, I had never seen you look as beautiful as you did then. You looked like the true goddess you are. And I knew then, when you glanced across the dance floor, making eye contact with me, that everything was going to turn out how it should be.”
“You’re a beautiful man, Nate. ” I kiss his cheek, and we admire the dress for a moment, then I take his hand as we walk toward the door. “How many square feet is the penthouse now?” My head is on a swivel, taking in every immaculate high-end detail.
“Ten thousand.”
I choke on my salvia, “Excuse me?”
He shrugs, then slaps my behind before escorting me to the bedroom, where, of course, he entices me with a bath in the deep modern tub that I can’t say no to.
“Why are you back downstairs?” Nate asks, following me out of the kitchen.
I plop myself onto the couch. “I need to call Addie and answer a few work emails before I pass back out.”
“Fine,” he pouts, and the second he turns away, I call her.
Not about the penthouse, but about my crazy job offer.
I’ve been trying to get a moment alone all weekend, but with the whole family there, it was impossible.
We’re deep in conversation, talking about the new project and how I want to surprise Nate with a glass sculpture of Endless Summer for his office, when Skye’s deep barks have me shooting upright into a seated position.
My heart races more from shock, while I rub down her back to soothe her. “What’s wrong, Skye?”
She doesn’t bark often, but when she does, it’s scary as hell and gives meaning to her protective German Shepherd self.
She jumps off the couch and begins barking again at the front door. This time, it’s not a warning; it’s aggressive, and she’s on high alert.
Then I hear what she does: the door handle to the penthouse jiggles like someone’s trying to get in.
Oh my god.
I run around in a circle, panicking.
What do I do?
When I hear the door again, I snap out of it and run down the hall straight into Nate’s bare chest.
“What’s going on? I heard Skye barking.”
“Someone’s trying to break into the apartment,” I cry, barely getting it out, my voice shaky, when Nate sprints to the door, grabbing a knife on his way.
Leo runs out of his adjoining door in a panic. “What’s all the commotion?”
“Someone was jiggling the front door handle,” I whisper, and stand behind Leo for protection.
He reaches around on instinct, holding me to his back as we creep down the hall to see what’s happening.
My heart is beating wildly against my chest, nervous about what’s going to happen.
“Who’s there?” Nate’s shouts, his tone lethal.
The door handle jiggles again. What the hell is going on?
“Leo,” I whisper. “I’m scared.”
“Is this where the party’s at?” a man’s slurred voice asks.
Leo’s body instantly deflates. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he mumbles as Nate cracks the door, holding back a still-barking Skye.
“Wrong floor. This is 10A, you’re looking for 8A,” Nate tells the guy in a clipped voice, then slams the door in his face. “For fuck’s sake.”
“What the heck was that all about?” I ask, still gripping Leo tightly.
“I’m calling Owen tomorrow. Now that Maddie’s here, this can’t fucking happen again. Who the hell knows what dirtbags he has going to his parties?”
“No. I’ll talk to him. His family is still a big client, and you’ll fuck things up.”
“Hello,” I snapped, annoyed. I hate it when they have private conversations when I’m standing right here.
“Sorry.” Nate walks over and takes me into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. A little freaked out is all. What’s going on? Who’s Owen?”
“The guy who lives two floors down throws ragers every weekend. Once in a blue moon, some cocksucker who is either too drunk or high rides the elevator up to the top and thinks my place is his.”
I smirk. “Probably wishing you had your own elevator right about now, don’t you?”
He shakes his head, rolling his eyes, knowing I’m just kidding.
“Come here, my sweet angel baby. Good girl.” Skye runs over, tail wagging, ready for a treat. “You were protecting Mommy, weren’t you?”
“She hates that baby voice, you know,” Leo says in passing.
“I’ve tried to tell her.”
“I’m her mom, I know what she likes.”
Nate lifts me from the ground. “Bedtime.”
I kiss Leo’s cheek good night, then stop at the top steps to look back at the front door.
“I’m going to put the alarm on now, don’t worry.”
“I’m not.” But it’s a lie.
Between the feeling I had a couple of days ago and now this, I’m feeling freaked out.