Chapter 19
Liam
Sharon Meadows waits in the lobby.
She specializes in luxury properties for clients who value discretion. My brothers and I have all relied on her to help us with previous real estate purchases and investments.
“Mr. Palmer.” Handshakes all around. Her gaze shifts to Addison. “And you must be Ms. Archer.”
“Just Addison.”
Sharon smiles. “The penthouse is ready. Shall we?”
The private elevator opens directly to the thirty-second floor.
Addison’s entire posture changes when the doors part. She walks straight to the windows. Two walls of nothing but glass and sky. The buildings below look small from here.
“Nine bedrooms,” Sharon says. “Twelve bathrooms. The previous tenant was an investment banker who relocated to London. You could move in as soon as you close on it.”
Addison steps into the main living area, her heels clicking against polished stone.
The kitchen opens to the living room. Custom cabinets, professional-grade appliances, and island seating for six. This is a space where cooking for four wouldn’t feel cramped.
Sunday mornings already form in my mind. Coffee brewing while I make breakfast. Addison at the island with a book. Axel stumbling in half-awake. Nolan reading the paper.
Normal.
“The kitchen is stunning.” Addison trails her fingers along the marble countertop.
I move beside her. “We’ll have a chef for most meals. Someone who can handle the schedule.”
“Makes sense.”
“But Sundays are mine.” My palm finds her lower back. Sharon’s examining the windows across the room. “I want to cook for you. For us.”
Her expression softens. “You want Sunday dinners.”
“I want family dinners.” The admission comes easier than expected. “Something normal. Something that’s ours.”
Axel appears on Addison’s other side. “Liam’s claiming Sundays. Very domestic.”
“Is that a problem?” I ask.
“Nah.” He grins. “I’m into it.”
“Family dinners sound nice,” Nolan says from the kitchen, while he is opening cabinets, testing drawers.
Sharon gestures down the hall. “The master suite is this way.”
We follow her past a formal dining room, a library with built-in shelves, and a room that could be remodeled to be a home gym.
The master bedroom takes up the southeast corner. Windows on two walls. Walk-in closet. Bathroom with a soaking tub, and a separate shower that could fit all four of us.
“This is the largest bedroom,” Sharon explains. “The other eight are slightly smaller but similarly appointed.”
Addison crosses to the windows. The view stretches for miles.
“What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful.” She turns. “But nine bedrooms. That’s excessive.”
“Four bedrooms for us,” Nolan counts on his fingers. “We will remodel the other four for offices. And there’s one left for a guest room.”
Sharon clears her throat. “I’ll give you a few minutes to discuss. The library is at the end of the hall if you’d like to see it.”
She disappears.
The moment she’s gone, Axel pulls Addison against him. “This space is huge. It’s your bedroom, of course, but the bed goes here. We can have one made that’s big enough for all four of us.” His hand slides to her hip. “No more rotating. Just us. Every night.”
“Axel,” she gasps.
“What? You saying you haven’t thought about it?” He lowers his voice. “Waking up with all three of us. Going to sleep together.”
Color floods her cheeks.
Nolan moves to the window. “The light in here is incredible. We could hang art on this wall. Something large. I’d love to help you pick something out.”
“You’re already decorating?” Addison asks.
“Someone has to.” He turns. “Otherwise, Liam will make everything beige and efficient.”
“Neutral tones are timeless,” I quip.
“See?” Nolan gestures at me. “Beige.”
Addison laughs. The sound fills the room.
This. This is what I crave. Not the rotating schedule where she bounces between apartments. Not the stolen hours between meetings.
All four of us. Under one roof. Building something real.
“We need to talk about the communications plan when we go public with our relationship.”
Addison’s mood shifts. “Now?”
“We don’t have to solidify and plan,” I say. “But we need to start brainstorming.”
Axel leaves Addison’s side to check out the view by the window. “Liam is right.”
Nolan moves from the window. “What are our options?”
“There are no options.” Addison’s voice is decisive. “We keep this quiet until we move in, to give me some time. But then I write the story, and publish it from Archer Media. Before any speculation starts.”
“What will you say?” Nolan asks.
“It will be a first-person account.” She’s speaking fast, formulating the full plan as she goes. “I explain the relationship on my terms. In my words. Before anyone else gets the chance.”
“You want to publish before there’s even a story?” Axel raises an eyebrow.
“I refuse to defend myself.” Her tone sharpens.
“Defense means you’re already losing. I publish the truth first. That I’m in a relationship with three men who respect me, support my work, and treat me as an equal partner.
I explain that this arrangement works for us.
That it’s built on honesty and consent and mutual care. ”
“And if people react badly?” I press.
“Some will.” And there is no regret in her tone. “But my credibility isn’t built on being palatable to everyone. It’s built on telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. This is my truth. I won’t apologize for it.”
Pride surges through my chest.
“When would you publish?” Nolan asks.
“Soon. Before anyone has a chance to make this story something it’s not.
” But she doesn’t stop there. “And we have to think about Palmer Capital, too. Your investors care about ethics and returns. They’ve been watching how you handle oversight and accountability.
A consensual relationship between adults isn’t an ethics violation.
It’s personal. And as long as you’re delivering results, they won’t care who you’re sleeping with. ”
“Some will,” Nolan says.
“Then they weren’t the right investors anyway,” I add, and Addison smiles at me.
Then Addison looks between the three of us.
“You hired me to rebuild your reputation after Harrison Luxe. I did. Your investor confidence is higher than it’s been in years.
Clients are requesting partnerships. Media coverage is positive.
The relationship didn’t compromise my work.
If anything, it made me more invested in your success.
I stand behind everything I’ve worked on with your company. ”
Fierce. Brilliant. Completely certain.
“So, we do this.” Nolan takes her hand.
“We do this,” she confirms.
Axel straightens. “I’m in.”
“Me, too.” I walk over to Addison and pick her up, swinging her around.
I kiss her. Slow. Thorough.
When I pull away, Nolan and Axel watch with identical expressions.
“Sharon’s probably wondering if we’re still interested in the apartment,” Nolan says.
“Let’s go find her.” I take Addison’s hand. “And tell her we are ready to buy.”