Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Bella
We stepped off the elevator, and I glanced at my watch.
“Devon will be here in fifteen minutes,” I told Simon.
“Who the hell is Devon?” I followed him into the kitchen. He set the pumpkins on the island, and immediately, Raine jumped up to investigate.
“Daisy’s guy.”
“The hair and makeup guy?” he asked.
“Yes. He’s doing my hair and makeup for tonight.”
“Oh, I like that guy.” He grinned.
“You do?”
“Yeah. He once told me that my suits make me look emotionally unavailable.”
“Ugh. Anyway, just a heads up. He’ll be bringing a lot of stuff with him.”
“How much stuff?” His eye narrowed.
“Everything he needs to do my hair and makeup.” I smiled. “I’m just warning you because you have all those rules about people touching things, moving things, and breathing incorrectly inside your penthouse.”
“I don’t recall making a rule about breathing,” he said.
“You will eventually.” I rolled my eyes.
“I hope you don’t plan on using the primary bathroom,” he said.
“Oh, I do. And you can get ready in one of the other bathrooms here. I need good lighting.”
“And our bathroom is the only bathroom in this house that has good lighting?”
I froze when he said the word ‘our,’ and so did he.
“Did I just say ‘our’ bathroom?”
“You sure did.” I smiled. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He frowned.
“Just checking.” I reached up and kissed his cheek.
The intercom dinged, alerting me that Devon had arrived. I walked over to the elevator and sent it down. A few moments later, the doors opened, and Devon stepped into the foyer.
“Darling, you must be Bella.” He hugged me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Devon.”
“Daisy told me you were a beauty, but, oh lord, you’re stunning.”
“Stop.” I laughed.
“Devon.” Simon nodded, walking into the foyer with his hand tucked into his pants pocket.
“Well, look at you.” He eyed him up and down. “Now you don’t look so emotionally unavailable.”
“We’ll be in the bathroom if you need us.” I patted Simon’s chest.
Three hours later, my makeup and hair were done. The only reason it took so long was that we talked a lot and Devon kept stopping.
“Devon, can you come out here for a moment?” I heard Simon shout.
He walked out of the bathroom, and I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t wait to get into my dress. Devon walked back in and started packing his things.
“What did Simon want you for?” I asked.
“He paid me.”
“What?” I exclaimed.
“And he gave me a generous tip. He’s a keeper, doll.” He grinned.
After he left, I slipped into my dress. Simon walked into the bedroom after showering in the other bathroom. He stood in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“My God. You look—stunning.”
“Thank you.” I smiled. “But I have a bone to pick with you.”
“About?” He walked into the bathroom.
“Why did you pay Devon?”
“Why not?”
“Because I was going to pay him.”
“It was three hundred dollars, Bella. What’s the big deal? I have more money than you.”
“Oh, my God.” My eyes widened. “You cannot say things like that.”
“Why? It’s the truth.”
“That’s not the point, Simon.”
“Then explain to me what the point is, Bella.” He squirted some shaving cream into his hand and lathered it on his face.
“I don’t want to become one of those women.”
“What women?” He glanced at me through the mirror.
“The women who expect some rich man to pay for everything.”
He picked up his razor. “Do you seriously think that’s how I see you?”
“No, but—”
“There is no but, Bella. You didn’t ask me to buy your dress, did you?”
“No.”
“You fought me about the fucking credit card.”
“I still think it’s ridiculous that you made me take it.”
“You didn’t ask me to pay Devon, did you?”
“No.”
“You have never asked me to buy you anything. You don’t expect anything from me. So don’t turn something I wanted to do into something that isn’t. I invited you tonight.”
“I know.” I softly smiled.
“This is my event. You’re going because of me. I wanted you to have whatever you needed to enjoy getting ready for it without worrying about what it cost.”
“But I wasn’t worried, Simon.”
“I know you weren’t. But sometimes I just want to do something for you.”
His statement shut me up quickly.
“You make it really hard to argue with you when you say things like that,” I said.
“I know,” he smirked.
“There you are. That’s more like you and your arrogant shit.”
He chuckled. “Anyway, every cent I spent on you was well worth it. Now, get out of here so I can finish shaving.”
We arrived at the Waldorf and stepped into the grand ballroom. It was beautiful and unlike anything I’d ever seen. It still felt like a dream, and I was afraid I would wake up in my bed in Massachusetts.
“I’ll go get us some drinks,” Simon said. “I’ll be right back.”
I stood there, waiting for Simon to return, when William walked over.
“Look at you. You are gorgeous.” He hugged me.
“Thank you, William. Where’s Mary?”
“She had to make a stop in the bathroom.”
“I’m glad we’re alone. I want to thank you for the position at MDG. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
“You’re welcome, darling. Now, Simon won’t be kicking you out come October 31st.”
“Is that the only reason you did it?” I furrowed my brows.
“Absolutely not. You’ve more than proven your talents to me. Our company needs some fresh new blood. Your ideas are great, and you’re one hell of a talented woman.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”
“Besides, even if we didn’t create a new division and offer you the job, Simon still wouldn’t have kicked you out.”
“I don’t know about that.” I laughed.
“Listen, Bella. Simon had it hard growing up. Things in our household weren’t exactly good.”
“I know. He told me a bit about his mother.”
“Be patient with him. Even when he says something stupid. Sometimes, my son speaks out of fear. But he’s a good man with a heart of gold if he lets himself.”
“I know.” I smiled.
“And what are you two talking about?” Simon handed me a glass of wine.
“Now that’s none of your business, son.” He patted Simon’s shoulder and walked away.
“He wasn’t bothering you, was he?” Simon asked.
“No.” I laughed. “Your father is a great man. He could never bother me.”
“What universe are you living in?” His brows furrowed.
“Stop it.” I playfully slapped his chest.
Once the charity event ended, we went home and spent the next hour having amazing, mind-bending sex.
He was asleep beside me, one arm wrapped around my waist, as I was snuggled against him, my head resting on his chest. I should have been asleep.
It was after two a.m. We’d spent hours at the charity event, and my feet still hurt from the heels I’d insisted were worth every penny.
My mind wouldn’t shut off. I kept replaying the night in my head.
The ballroom, champagne, and the endless introductions to people I’d probably never see again.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how his hand stayed on the small of my back as we made our way across the ballroom, like it was a permanent fixture.
I slowly lifted my head, looked at him, and smiled.
His hair was a mess from my fingers, and even though he’d just shaved hours ago, there was a faint shadow starting to form along his jaw.
My Simon. The thought made my chest squeeze.
But I didn’t know what he was. That was the part I kept trying not to think about.
We slept and woke up together. We argued over stupid things.
He paid for things I didn’t ask him to, and then acted like I was insane for arguing about it.
We’d gone to the fall festival with his father and Mary like a normal couple.
And now, I’d be staying in New York permanently and working for him.
I was frightened because we hadn’t reached the point of what any of it meant. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to ask because asking meant I might get an answer I didn’t want, and I’d be left heartbroken.
Simon had been very clear from the beginning.
He didn’t do relationships. He liked his life uncomplicated.
Shit, he’d written ten rules just so I could live in his penthouse for a month.
Everything about our situation had an expiration date.
Hattie was coming back to Ever & Oak. I was supposed to move out, and my temporary life in New York was supposed to end.
But then everything changed, and suddenly, I was staying.
I was in love with Simon Montclair on a level I never knew was possible.
I loved the arrogant, controlling, impossible man who thought money solved everything.
I loved the way he pretended not to care about things he clearly cared about.
But loving him didn’t mean he loved me. That was the terrifying part.
I knew Simon wanted me. There was no question about that.
I knew he cared about me, and I wasn’t stupid enough to pretend he didn’t.
But love? A relationship? A future? Those were entirely different things.
And Simon had spent most of his adult life making sure none of those things got anywhere near him.
I closed my eyes to try and put it out of my head. I needed to be careful and take things one day at a time. I wanted to tell him how deeply in love with him I was, but I knew my life could change in the blink of an eye if I did.