Lucas also
needed an office so we agreed to look at options
and identify whether any changes would need to be made before we
moved in. He also raised the point that converting his old
apartment into offices would be another project for me. I asked him
about his gym. He shrugged and said he might leave it. If he wanted
to use it, he could make it accessible for himself only. I asked
how it would work having offices up there when the public elevator
didn’t reach that floor. He said that’s what he paid people to
do—to find solutions to his problems.
It really was different wandering around
the apartment now that I knew it was going to be my home.
Before we’d crossed the
threshold, Lucas insisted upon picking me up and carrying me
inside. He ran, with me in his arms, into the master bedroom and
then demanded to know where the bed was. I laughed at his silliness
until he threatened to slam me against the wall and fuck me there
and then. There were contractors everywhere in the building. No way
was I going to do that. I stopped laughing. Fast.
We managed to find simple solutions to our
home office needs and also mentally placed the furniture that Lucas
owned. The second bedroom was definitely going to be the playroom.
I mentally placed the brass-framed bed in the room but my mind got
carried away and I soon pictured myself naked, cuffed to the frame
with Lucas between my legs. I suddenly felt all hot and flustered,
then blushed when Lucas asked me what the matter was. He laughed
when I told him and he pulled me into his arms, telling me how
happy we were going to be there.
W
e walked back to my apartment to collect more of my things.
Lucas said I should just move into his apartment but I couldn’t see
the point in moving my things twice. I said I’d wait until we could
move into mini-Dakota. I shook my head when he looked crestfallen
and reassured him that I’d stay over with him most nights. James
greeted us warmly as he opened the door for us. In the elevator, I
asked Lucas whether mini-Dakota should have a doorman. There were
few apartments but they were to be the height of luxury. Lucas said
it would be a good idea and that he’d consider the option fully. I
suggested that James would be ideal and Lucas wholeheartedly
agreed.
We entered my apartment to find Angel and
Chad attempting to cook. I’m not sure what it was meant to be but
it didn’t look or smell good. I whispered in Lucas’ ear, suggesting
that we invite them out to dinner so I could give Angel our news.
He nodded enthusiastically. They were delighted to be invited. I’m
not sure it was our company that pleased them or the fact that they
didn’t have to eat their culinary disaster. I collected my things
and Lucas arranged to pick them up in a couple of hours.
Walking hand in hand back to the Orion
Building, Daniel’s words about Lucas rambling on about revenge came
back to me. I decided to ask him.
“
Lucas, have you heard from Joel since last
Friday?”
His face clouded over immediately. “No. I
don’t expect to either.”
I could understand that.
“Have you done anything to
exact revenge? Or are you planning to?”
He stopped walking and turned to face
me.
“God knows I want
to. I want to make him pay for everything that he’s ever done to me
and now, to you. But if I hadn’t got involved with trying to exact
revenge, he would probably never have found out my identity and
started to cause trouble with us or my business.”
“
Your business? What has he done to your
business?”
“
Do you remember how the image of you and
Chad was sent to every email address in the company?
Well that was a massive
security breach. The hacker didn’t just acquire email addresses and
access to our server. They also downloaded confidential information
about the company, from data about developments to information on
proposed deals. I’ve already lost out on two deals because somebody
gave out priority information, illegally I might add, to other
developers. There is other information that they took that could
potentially get me into a lot of trouble but I’m not sure it’s been
recognized for what it is.”
That got my interest. “What information?
What kind of trouble?”
He put his hands on my shoulders and
studied my face. “It’s better if you don’t know, Issy. It’s
something that most developers do but we shouldn’t. Reciprocal
arrangements that benefit both sides.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Bribes? Insider
information? Is that what you mean?”
He shook his head a little as he laughed.
“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. You’re far too
astute,
missy. But I
only do it because all the other major do it too and I’d lose out
heavily if I didn’t play the game.”
I raised my eyebrows to show that I wasn’t
impressed. Then a thought occurred to me. “No way should
mini-Dakota have gotten the green light as fast as it did. You did
something to get that through quickly, didn’t you?”
He studied my face for a moment.
“Yes, I did. My impatience got
the better of me. I wanted you near me and I knew that you loved
the building so I pushed it through stupidly quickly. I took a big
risk but thankfully people know I have a lot of fingers in a lot of
pies and regularly have lots of applications so nobody investigated
how quickly it was passed.”
I stared at him, open-mouthed. “You took a
stupid risk just so that I could work with you? Lucas it’s bad
enough that you are engaging in those practices for any reason but
to flagrantly flout the rules to be close to a woman? Can’t you see
how mental that is?”
“
I’m used to getting my own way. But now
you’ve refocused me, Issy. I won’t do it anymore. I only started
doing it because I was building up my empire as quickly and
comprehensively as I could so that Joel couldn’t come along and
tear it down.” He looked genuinely contrite and I almost
weakened.
“
But you were also building up your empire
so that it was big enough and strong enough to be able to take his
down, weren’t you?”
He nodded. Guilt was written all over his
face. “But no more. I’m not going to antagonize him any further
and, if it makes you happy, I’ll never flout the rules again. It’ll
mean that I’m two steps behind the competition, because they’ll be
doing it, but I won’t. You have my word.”
“
Glad to hear it.
But if Joel realizes what that information is, you
could be facing a prison term. Do you realize that? He’ll be able
to hand over all the evidence needed to put you behind bars. It was
stupid to do it. And stupid to keep evidence.”
“
I know and any evidence that I had has
been wiped now.
I
thought that my security systems were impenetrable. There’s nothing
I can do now but wait and hope.”
I managed to calm down by the time
we
’d reached the Orion
Building. Lucas nodded to Clark and I wished him good evening as we
crossed the lobby to Lucas’ elevator.
I went straight into the shower and washed
myself quickly.
I wished
that Lucas hadn’t said anything about his server getting hacked and
what was taken. I knew it would play on my mind. I couldn’t believe
that such an intelligent, seemingly honest man would be so
irresponsible. I wrapped towels around my body and my hair and
headed back into the bedroom.
As I dried my hair, Lucas showered. He
obviously knew me well enough already to know that giving me some
space was the best thing to do. I hoped that going out for dinner
with Angel and Chad would be a good distraction and that there
wouldn’t be an awkward atmosphere.
I appl
ied my makeup as Lucas performed his miracle hair-styling
trick, leaving his hair perfect in just a few minutes’ effortless
blasting with the hairdryer. I’d stood to get dressed in a simple
red dress that I’d brought with me when Lucas called me into his
dressing room. There amongst his clothes was the beautiful gown
that he’d surprised me with recently.. There amongst his clothes
was the beautiful gown that he’d surprised me with recently. But
there were also several other dresses. Lucas took down two. A black
silk sheath dress and a scarlet maxi dress that was cut on the bias
and flowed beautifully.
I
stood just gazing at the beautiful dresses and he smiled.
“I bought them for you last week as a surprise but by the time they
were delivered . . . um . . . They have matching shoes
too—look.”
I did look.
A pair of patent black Louboutin heels and a pair
of red sparkly Gucci heels were on the floor. I shook my head.
“Lucas, this is too much!”
“
Nonsense,” he said. “It gives me pleasure
to find things that, with you wearing them, will defy even the
designer’s biggest hopes.”
I excitedly chose the black dress with the
Louboutins. I knew that either outfit would look fabulous with my
red-streaked black hair. But they were Louboutins with six-inch
killer heels and shiny red soles! I felt like a million dollars as
I accompanied Lucas down to his car. It was difficult to stay mad
with him after such a generous gesture so I resolved to drop it
during dinner and continue my outward disapproval the following
morning.
We picked up Angel and Chad and drove out
to a restaurant that I
’d
not been to before but that Lucas said he’d been to for business
lunches. It was very grand. The valet opened my door for me and I
heard Angel say, “Oh my God, Issy—what are you wearing?” as I got
out.
I grinned
and pirouetted. “Surprise gifts from
Lucas.”
She spotted my shoes and squealed,
“Loubies too!
Oh my!
Chad, didn’t get me any gifts to mark our reconciliation.” She
scowled at him in mock annoyance.
Lucas came around the car and stood next
to me, placing his hand on my lower back. “Actually, I bought those
last week, Angel. And several others that the designers would kill
to see Issy model so beautifully because no supermodel could do
them justice as she does.” He leaned down and kissed my
cheek.
Angel’s mouth just gaped as she absorbed
his words and, as we walked into the restaurant, I could hear her
hissing comments to Chad asking why he didn’t say beautiful things
like that to her. I heard Lucas chuckle softly and knew that he’d
caught it too. I wondered whether he’d said it on purpose to wind
her up. He’d already said as much to me so it wasn’t for my
benefit. I smirked at his mischievousness.
Dinner was a delight.
The food was exceptional, the service
beyond compare, and the conversation relaxed and free flowing—as
was the wine. As we chilled after desert, I could see Lucas looking
at me expectantly. I knew he was waiting for me to make our
announcement but I didn’t know how Angel would take it. We’d been
best friends, closer than many sisters, for years. We’d shared
rooms, apartments, highs, lows, secrets and fears. It seemed quite
a daunting task to tell her that I was moving out. In the end,
Lucas gave me no option but to tell her.
“
I’d like to propose a toast,” he said,
after the waiter had refilled our glasses. “To the first occupants
of mini-Dakota. May they be very happy there for many years to
come.”
“
Oooh,” said Angel. “You’ve sold an
apartment already. Issy has raved about them, especially the
largest one. Please can I come and have a look around before they
move in?”
Lucas smirked and raised an eyebrow at me
in silent challenge. I took the bait, not wanting to risk him being
the one to tell her. “You can come and look around before they move
in. But you’re also more than welcome to visit them any
time.”
If my cryptic clue hadn’t given it away,
Lucas’ massive grin as he held his glass up to conclude his toast
did. Angel’s face was a picture when she gasped as my meaning
became clear. We clinked glasses and drank to Lucas’ toast. His arm
slipped around my shoulder as I checked with Angel that she was
okay with me moving out.
“
Okay?
I’m stunned. Chad and I have talked about moving in
together lately and we both assumed that you’d be our long-term
lodger,” she said.
Chad nodded.
“I’d kind of accepted that you two were a
two-for-one deal. It wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest.
But I’m glad that you’re happy. That’s what matters.”
Angel nodded wildly, clearly beginning so
suffer the effects of her alcohol consumption. “And you are, Issy.
Look at you—you radiate happiness.”
I smiled at her fondly before she gestured
at Lucas, sloshing wine on to the table as she did so.
“You are responsible for that,
Lucas Hunter. I knew there was something special about you two as
soon as I saw you together. But you’d better look after her. Hurt
her and I’ll kick your ass. Got it?”
Whether it was her words or the utterly
serious expression on her face, I couldn
’t say but Chad and I both tried to hide our
laughter behind our hands. Lucas, to his credit, kept a straight
face and replied, just as solemnly, “I give you my word, Angel,
that I will do my utmost to care for, love and protect her and make
sure that she wakes up smiling every single day. If you ever have
the slightest concern for Issy’s happiness, I give you my word that
I will immediately rectify the situation. You will never need to
kick my ass. I make this solemn promise to you now,
Angel.”