Nicole put a hand on his leg and felt him instantly relax. “I think it’s wonderful that you’ve been able to build a home that is exactly what you want. Sorry if I poked fun.”
“I know it’s a bit much,” he said. It was the first time she’d ever seen him embarrassed of his wealth and opulence.
“I think it’s amazing.”
“Wait until you get inside,” he said.
But even before they got inside the house, there was a fork in the road, and Red turned right, taking them past an incredible Olympic sized pool, the blue waters lit from lights beneath the surface. As Nicole craned her head to look at the crystal clear water, imagining herself taking a dip on a warm summer day, Red parked the car next to the house and turned to her. “Last stop, my beautiful bride-to-be.”
“This is like some kind of fairy tale.”
“Come on, Princess Masters, your castle awaits.”
Out of the car, she took a deep breath of fresh air and smiled. She could walk for hours and hours out there, over the bridge of the beautiful pond. She imagined herself stopping and watching the wind ripple across the surface of the water.
Everything here is partly mine, now, she told herself. It still didn’t feel real to her.
Red took her by the hand and pulled her toward one of the entrances. He flipped open a little box and punched a very long sequence of numbers into a keypad. There was a series of little beeps and then a clicking sound. “Come on inside,” he said, opening the door and letting them into the foyer.
It was too big and grand for words, she thought. No description would do it justice, and nobody she knew would believe her if she told them.
There were light marble floors as far as the eye could see, and a grand staircase that stretched above their heads. The foyer was so open that you could actually see across into the other rooms that continued on and on, like reflecting mirrors.
“Is that an elevator?” she asked, pointing to the right, where a large cylindrical tube with darkly tinted windows ran from floor to ceiling.
“We can’t be expected to take the stairs,” Red joked. “That would be criminal. You want to get in and see the second floor?”
“I’d like to stay on this floor and see some of the other rooms first,” she told him.
“Absolutely. Right this way, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
He showed her the dining room, with the enormous candelabra hanging over the giant, ornate dining table. And then onto the living room, which somehow felt presidential to Nicole, with its immaculate white walls, blue furniture and gold curtains. There was a beautiful fireplace and hearth, above which a very expensive looking plasma TV screen had been mounted.
“I think you’ll enjoy this kitchen,” Red told her, as they made their way into the wide-open space with rich hardwood floors, beautiful granite countertops, two giant islands and breakfast nook. There were double stainless steal ranges, built for professional cooking and entertaining large groups. The refrigerator was big enough to fit a couple of full-sized cows if they’d wanted to do so.
“I’m speechless,” Nicole said, gawking.
“It beats the little kitchenettes in Manhattan and Brooklyn by a country mile, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. It sure does.”
He turned and pulled her to him, staring into her eyes. “And it’s all yours now,” he said. “I want you to feel at home here, because it’s your home.”
“I might need some time to get used to the idea.”
He kissed her then, in the middle of that spectacular kitchen, and she kissed him back with everything in her. “Come on,” he said, smiling devilishly, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her as he started to run.
“Where are we going?” she cried, giggling.
“The master bedroom!” he shouted, tugging her. She could barely keep up with him. They ran to the foyer and took the stairs all the way up.
The master bedroom was itself as big as most luxury apartments, Nicole thought. Decorated tastefully in whites and browns (white carpet and walls, brown dressers, curtains and trim), it was actually split into two levels. “You realize your bedroom has a staircase?” she asked him.
“Where else would we put the hot tub but the second level?” he replied. When she gave him a look of astonishment, he laughed. “What can I say? I like the modern touch.”
Aside from just the sheer size of it, the bedroom also had a desk, a couch, coffee table, chairs, a beautifully large bed, and windows overlooking the entire property.
“Hold on, let me light the fireplace,” he said, moving gracefully to the hearth—she hadn’t even seen it at first—and picking up a remote control. A moment later, a bright flame kindled and he set it to the perfect level.
He turned to look at her. “You’re freaking out,” he said, more a statement of fact than question.
“Just a little.” She walked to the bed and sat on it. It gave way beneath her, soft and luxurious.