I’d never done it before, but that didn’t stop me. I stripped off my pajamas and selfied myself naked in the mirror for my man. It was a side shot, but I was naked, and Caleb would know it once he saw it. I held my breath and pressed Send.
B: Here you go, but only one is showing. My first sext ever! And you are the lucky recipient! I have to go to sleep now but I will dream of you. Miss you tons. xoxo –Brooke <3
I tried to imagine him looking at the picture I’d just sent him, and even though we were separated by thousands of miles, I could feel him close to me in that moment. I waited for his response before I put my phone away.
It came instantly and made my heart flutter inside my chest.
C: You are fucking beautiful and I miss you much more now . . . thank you for the picture. I will be right there in your dreams, Brooke . . . and I’m never leaving. You’re stuck with me now, baby. –C xx
I am sure I fell asleep smiling, replaying his words over and over again in my head.
CALEB’S personal assistant was nothing like I’d imagined her to be. She was young and beautiful, with long dark hair and blue eyes, but with the no-nonsense personality of someone much older than what could only be early twenties. Kind of like my nan, if I had to put a person to it. She wasn’t rude or obnoxious, but she was all business when she dropped off the keys and alarm codes to the penthouse at Harris & Goode on Monday. I didn’t miss the diamond engagement ring she was wearing on her left hand, either. I couldn’t help that part, I suppose, when meeting my boyfriend’s beautiful personal assistant for the first time. Knowing she was engaged to someone else did not hurt. She also gave me her personal cell number, insisting I call if I needed anything at all. Victoria told me she shared the twelfth floor with her brother, James, in the same building as Caleb’s penthouse, so she was close if I ever needed her.
So weird—the PA thing—having someone to do the tasks that ninety-nine percent of the population did for themselves. Like pick up dry cleaning, drop off keys, and order flowers for the girl who trashed her boss’s suit with shrimp cocktail. I thanked Victoria for her choice of the red peonies and showed her how well they were thriving in my office.
That earned me a smile and a sincere, “You’re very welcome.”
ON Wednesday, Eduardo and I worked at the penthouse, measuring everything and finishing up the initial programming. Before starting any project there needed to be an inventory of the existing furniture, and some analysis to identify the positive attributes of the space, as well as any potential problems. I could hardly concentrate on the job, though.
Because Caleb was coming back tonight, and I’d see him again in just a few hours.
“That’s the last of the measurements for this room. I’m thinking we’ll start in here before moving on to the kitchen,” I said as Eduardo packed up the equipment. “It’s really a huge job, and since he’s given me absolutely no solid plans for what he wants, I’m flying a little blind here.”
Eduardo looked up from his phone and smirked. “Because he’s much more interested in giving you his solid cock until you go a little blind, condesa. Just warm up the color palette and buy some pieces that are fuck friendly and he will be very happy, trust me.” He nodded enthusiastically.
“My God, Eduardo.” I scowled at him, and even though I’d never admit to it, he was probably right.
“I can design this shit in my sleep, I tell you. All a man thinks about when it comes to designs and décor is if it can be used for sex. Make sure there are many places for him to play pound the punani with you in here and he will love it. As I said before, fuck friendly should be your theme for the whole—”
“Hello?” a feminine voice sounded behind me, and I cringed at what she might have just overheard.
I whipped around with a smile plastered to my face and met the voice. I was sure whoever it was had just gotten an earful. “Brooke Casterley, from Harris & Goode Designs for Mr. Black-s-stone,” I stammered, “and this is my assistant, Eduardo Ramos.”