Chapter 34
THE AGENT
CHLOE
Iwas convinced that the “finding a needle in a haystack” adage needed to be changed to “finding property without Dante Hudson’s fingerprints on it.”
Stat.
Over the past few weeks, I’d searched every corner of this city for a place that he didn’t personally finance, rent, or redesign, and it was useless.
He really does own everything…
Even worse, I’d struggled to get through a single night without envisioning his arms wrapped around me or his lips taming mine.
Every shower felt like it was missing his kisses under the streams, and the hotel bed felt cold without being pressed against his chest.
Marie and I were sharing a suite at the Hampton Inn in Times Square while we searched for a place to launch our new lives (and joint real estate agency), and I was starting to feel terrible for insisting that she abandon Hudson International with me.
“Miss Sterling?” Alyssa Rain, my realtor, snapped her fingers. “Are you here on earth with me?”
“Yes.” I looked over at the exposed brick wall and the windows. “I really like this place the best.”
“Well, good, but you’re not beating the allegations any time soon.” She smiled. “Real estate agents are the worst clients.”
“I’m sorry, I know.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to handle the rest of the showings yourself?” she asked. “I feel like you don’t really need me at all.”
“I don’t want to use my company’s access codes for anything.”
“But you work for Hudson International.” She uttered the name like it was a dream. “I would kill to work there…Did you ever meet Dante Hudson?”
“No.” I held back a sigh. “He’s way too busy to meet any of the thousands of agents who work under his banner.”
“I bet, but if you ever had the chance—” She was still in La-La-Land. “Do you think he’d be as sexy as he is on the magazine covers?”
Sexier…
“I want to put in an offer on this condo.” I needed to stay away from that subject. “It’s perfect for me and my friend to rent for at least two years.”
“Oh, wow. Perfect!” She pointed to the windows. “I’m sure this view of Central Park will inspire you every morning. This place almost looks like a luxury Hudson International place, huh?”
I didn’t answer that.
“I’m ready to sign off on the application,” I said. “Unless you want me to look at another unit.”
“This is your life—not mine, Miss Sterling.” She beamed. “I’ll email you everything tonight, and then I’ll call you as soon as I hear back from the listing company.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want me to give you a ride back to your hotel?”
“No, it’s only a couple blocks,” I said, not wanting to risk her uttering Dante’s name. “I’ll happily walk.”
Two days later, I pulled out the Chanel dress I’d worn to the gala and sighed.
As I ran my hands over the fabric, I couldn’t help but remember Dante fucking me inside the dome, but my heart ached at the realization that it would never happen again.
That all he’d been to me was wasted time…
I crumpled it into a garment bag and stuffed it at the bottom of my suitcase.
I recounted my boxes and decided that I needed to order ten more.
As I was sending a request to the front desk, a knock sounded at my door.
“One second, please!” I called out. “I’m almost done!”
The knock sounded again, and I sighed.
I walked over to the door, ready to beg the manager for a late checkout, but it wasn’t her.
Dante…
Looking slightly disheveled, the dark gray hoodie and jeans he was wearing made him look like a normal human instead of a perfectly coiffed billionaire.
I stared at him, feeling a mix of anger and pain assault my chest all at once.
“Hello, Chloe,” he said.
I didn’t respond.
“You gave up an endless reservation at The Four Seasons to stay here?”
“I didn’t want to risk you showing up to see…”
“Well, you obviously failed at that.” He let out a breath. “I’ve been looking for you, and there’s a lot I need to say, so you should invite me inside.”
“I’ll pass.” I shook my head. “Save whatever it is, and leave me alone.”
“I only need ten minutes of your time.”
“You’ve already wasted enough.” I scoffed. “We don’t owe each other anything, remember?”
“I’ll settle for just two minutes.” His voice was soft. “Please.”
“No.” I held firm. “But, since you were so ‘generous’ on the day we first met, I’ll repay that favor. You have thirty seconds before I call security.”
“I’m not joking with you, Chloe.”
“You must be.” I narrowed my eyes. “Tick tock…”
“I’ve been doing some thinking.” His eyes locked on mine. “I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep since you left me.”
“Since you pushed me away.” I corrected him.
“Yes, since then…I also feel like I was a bit harsh.”
A bit?
“I was also thinking that if you let me explain things, I could—”
I slammed the door in his face.
His thirty seconds were up.
I rushed back over to my suitcase and sat on it. I zipped it tight and tossed all my toiletries into a duffel bag.
Making sure I had my laptop charger, I checked all the drawers and cubbies one last time.
Twenty minutes later, when I reopened the door, Dante was long gone.