The apartment they rented for me is immaculate. In the middle of town—close to restaurants and stores—and furnished to perfection. I prefer simplicity to extravagance, and I would’ve never asked for something like this, but if they’re paying, I might as well enjoy the luxury while I have it.
As soon as the cab dropped me off and I walked into my new home, I kicked off my shoes and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. Now as I step into the kitchen, I open the refrigerator and find it fully stocked. A buzzing sound distracts me from the amount of food I have and I turn to find a small white intercom on the wall near the entrance to the kitchen. Everything is open plan, but there’s a counter that serves to cut off the living room from the rest of the area.
Pushing the white button, I lean in. “Hello?”
“Ms. Carmel, welcome to the building. I’m the security and doorman. If you need anything, just call me on the intercom. I’ll be heading upstairs shortly to check in, but I wanted to let you know if you have any problems, let me know.”
“Thank you and what do I call you?”
A deep chuckle crackles through the box on the wall. “My name is Alastair, but you can call me Al.”
Biting my lip to keep from giggling at the reminder of a song, I nod.
“Okay, Al. Thank you.” Hanging up, I turn to face the kitchen again and open the fridge. Grabbing a container of yogurt, I open the drawers, looking for cutlery. Once I’ve found a spoon, I make my way through to the living room.
The whole place is furnished in silver and steel and the sofa is plush black suede. There’s a large fireplace on one wall with a flat screen above it. The rest of the walls are filled with bookshelves that have the classics, including one of my favorites. Jane Austen.
There’s a small terrace off the living room, and as soon as I slide the door open the noise of the city assaults me, which I prefer because the silence sends fear rushing through me.
I take in the building design. It’s shaped in a U with a park and swimming pool in the center. I remember seeing a sign for a gym and from my seventh-floor apartment I can see it down below. I love the architecture of the city. The historic buildings with the face brick or white washed walls intrigue me.
Tomorrow is my first day at work and I’m looking forward to it. Since I was a child I loved exploring homes and buildings with my father, who was an architect. I used to tag along with him to work and it’s those times I remember with a smile and the ache in my chest doesn’t hurt as much.
I was twelve when he died and my mother remarried the monster who haunts me to this day. Shaking my head of the thought, I watch the kids playing in the swimming pool below.
The sun is low in the sky and the jet lag hits me with full force. I yawn as sleepiness overtakes me. Since I stepped off the plane exhaustion has held me hostage. Thoughts of the airport assault me, as if I were being hunted by the predator. His blue eyes and sinful lips fill my mind, and I can’t help clenching my thighs remembering the hunger they held.
Images of his perfectly tousled hair has my fingers itching to touch it. Desire heats my blood.
The feeling is foreign to me—to want a man. To crave his touch or kiss.
But with my hunter, I do. Even though I know I should erase him from my mind, the tug deep inside ignites the fire, warming me from the inside out. It seeps through my veins, making it feel as if my body is alight.
He would be the death of me. Luckily, I’ll never see him again. The city is too big for a coincidence like that.
Spooning the last bit of fruity yogurt into my mouth, I lick my lips, but it’s not the taste of the fruity flavor I’m relishing, it’s the taste of his full lips I’m imagining.
Back in the kitchen, I dump the container and make my way into the bedroom. It’s opulent and far too big for me. Pretty much the size of my old New York apartment.
The king-sized bed has midnight blue silk sheets and the carpet is an ash gray. A walk-in closet greets me on the right of the entrance, complete with four shoe racks, which I’m not sure how I’m going to fill since I don’t own much.
Perhaps I can finally settle here, put down roots and have a normal life. The thought makes me laugh because I know I can never have that.
There’s an en-suite bathroom, which has a shower big enough for two, or three, and a Jacuzzi bathtub that has some wicked thoughts running rampant through my mind. I picture my hunter undressing, dropping that immaculate white dress shirt on the tiles of my bathroom floor. His perfect muscles tense and tighten. I’m sure his shoulders are cut in the way women love.
A man like that is built for sin, sensual and erotic in every sense of the words.
I unzip my suitcase and pull out my clothes, dumping everything on the plush carpet. Piles and piles of material greet me. I should hang everything in the closet and tidy up, but there’s nobody here to tell me what to do. Over the years, I’ve become accustomed to living alone. I love my independence and the freedom, even though at times I wonder what it would be like to come home to someone.
To have them wrap their arms around me and hold me tight. But then ugly images filter through the good ones and I remember why I’m alone.
It’s no longer a choice, but a necessity.
With one more glance at the clothes on the floor I decide tomorrow is another day.
A wave of tiredness washes over me and I flop onto the bed. I need to get some sleep or I’ll be useless tomorrow. Dreams of deep-blue eyes dance behind my eyelids, teasing and taunting.
Carter
The afternoon passed by too quickly with the lunch being as frustrating as I knew it would be. How the fu*k does my father expect me to be in three places at the same time? Yes, we’re expanding and I’m proud of that, but he needs to realize I’m one person and I can only do so much. The pressure is on and I hope to fu*k Bennett can make sure I get the properties I want.
“Mr. Hamilton, your meeting with Ainsworth International has been moved to Friday,” Brianna informs me as I stalk into the office.
Glancing at my assistant in frustration, I nod and respond, trying to keep calm. “Thank you, what time?”
“It’s at midday, sir. Then you’ve got the property visit after with the agent. That is if you’d still like to do that? Since Friday afternoons are normally quiet I don’t think you’ll be needed in the office.”
“That’s fine, block it out on my calendar. I’m possibly going to see Katherine after, so you may as well finish up at four on Friday.”
She nods with a smile and continues typing on her computer. Heading into my office, I take a deep breath. Friday is D day. I hope I can convince my father I can do this and he can trust me with the future of Hamilton Enterprises.
Sliding into my overpriced office chair, I pull out my phone and scroll down to my best friend’s number. Hitting call, I lift the phone to my ear.
He answers immediately. “Cart.”
He’s the only one who calls me that. Since I was a child everyone’s always called me Carter.
“Bennett, what are you doing Friday night?”