Arrival at Empire Heights Penthouse
1229 Words
Xavier grinned. “Yep.”
A uniformed security officer waved them forward as a metal gate slid aside. Beyond the gate, a short tunnel led into an underground garage that looked more like a luxury car showroom.
Joshua counted at least a dozen cars parked under soft white lights, Ferraris, Bentleys, even a rare Koenigsegg gleaming in blood-red paint.
Xavier rolled past them and pulled into a reserved space marked GREGORY FAMILY.
Joshua stared out his window. “Jesus. I feel like I’m about to be auctioned off to a Saudi prince.”
Xavier threw his head back laughing. “Relax. Nobody’s selling you.”
Joshua muttered, “That’s exactly what someone trying to sell me would say.”
Xavier popped his door open. “Come on. Time to meet the parents.”
Joshua hesitated, gripping his bag. “I… I don’t know if I can do this.”
Xavier ducked his head back in the car. “Josh. They’re not going to judge you. They’ve been waiting to meet you for eighteen years. You could show up in a potato sack and Mom would cry and tell you you’re perfect.”
Joshua grimaced. “I’m not really a crying-in-public kind of guy.”
Xavier snorted. “Neither is Dad. You’ll get along great.”
Joshua finally swung the door open and stepped out. The underground garage smelled faintly of car wax and cool concrete. His sneakers squeaked on the glossy floor.
Xavier led him toward a pair of glass doors framed by polished steel. Two security guards in black suits nodded sharply as they passed.
Joshua dropped his voice. “So… how paranoid are you people?”
Xavier shrugged. “On a scale of one to ten? About a fifteen.”
“Comforting.”
Beyond the glass doors, a private elevator awaited. Xavier tapped a keycard to the reader, and the doors slid open silently.
Inside, the walls were paneled in pale wood, backlit by soft white lights. The floor was cream-colored marble with an inlaid silver crest: a stylized letter G surrounded by a ring of stars.
Joshua stared down at it. “So subtle.”
Xavier chuckled. “Hey, Kenny designed it. He gets touchy if we leave it out.”
Joshua rolled his eyes. “Of course he did.”
Xavier pressed a button labeled PH.
The elevator began to rise, so smoothly Joshua barely felt it moving.
A soft chime sounded as they passed the 50th floor, then the 60th.
Joshua shifted from foot to foot, heart hammering.
Xavier nudged his arm lightly. “Breathe, man. You look like you’re headed for execution.”
Joshua scowled. “Feels like it.”
“You’ll be fine. Just… maybe don’t punch Dad.”
Joshua barked a laugh. “No promises.”
Xavier grinned. “Atta boy.”
Another chime, and the elevator slowed. The display above the doors flashed PH.
The doors opened onto an entryway that looked more like the lobby of a five-star hotel. White marble floors. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of Manhattan’s skyline. Two towering crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting fractal rainbows on every polished surface.
Joshua gaped. “Holy… Are you sure we’re not in a hotel?”
Xavier leaned closer, stage-whispering, “Technically, the building’s zoned as a cultural museum for tax reasons.”
Joshua glared at him. “Shut up.”
Xavier burst out laughing. “Swear to God.”
Footsteps approached, a row of people in matching black suits and earpieces. The staff moved in seamless formation, stopping ten feet from Joshua and Xavier.
A tall woman with sleek black hair stepped forward. “Mr. Xavier. Welcome home. Mrs. Gregory and Mr. Gregory are waiting in the main hall.”
Xavier nodded. “Thanks, Marie.”
Marie turned her gaze on Joshua. “Welcome, Mr. Joshua.”
Joshua stiffened. “Uh. Hi.”
Marie gave a small bow. “We’re honored to have you home.”
Joshua rubbed his temples. “Everyone’s gotta stop saying ‘home’ like it means something.”
Marie said gently, “Understood, sir.”
Xavier grinned. “Come on, Josh.”
They crossed the foyer, moving deeper into the penthouse. Each step revealed new layers of luxury: walls lined with priceless paintings, sculptures perched on marble pedestals, and enormous floor-to-ceiling glass windows revealing Central Park far below.
Joshua stared at a sculpture of twisted metal and glass. “Is that… art?”
Xavier nodded. “Sold at auction last year for seven million.”
Joshua choked. “It looks like a pretzel.”
Xavier snickered. “Don’t let the artist hear you. He’s a family friend.”
Joshua muttered, “Seriously? You people need hobbies.”
Xavier grinned. “Oh, we’ve got plenty. Like building Batmobiles.”
Joshua rolled his eyes but felt a reluctant smile tug at his lips.
They reached a pair of towering double doors. Xavier paused, resting his hand on the handle.
“You ready?”
Joshua stared at the doors as if they might explode. “Nope.”
Xavier leaned in. “Too bad.”
He pushed the doors open.
Joshua stepped into a vast, sunken living room bathed in soft golden light. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the far side of the room, offering a glittering panorama of Manhattan.
At the center of it all stood a woman in an elegant teal silk dress. Her hair fell in soft dark waves. Her eyes, Joshua’s eyes locked onto him the second he crossed the threshold.
Next to her stood a man with salt-and-pepper hair and the casual authority of someone used to commanding entire boardrooms. His jaw was strong, his expression guarded but his eyes shone the second they landed on Joshua.
Xavier cleared his throat. “Mom. Dad. Meet your son.”
Joshua stood frozen as Harrison and Olivia Gregory stepped forward.
Joshua couldn’t move.
He felt nailed to the marble floor as Harrison and Olivia Gregory approached, their eyes locked on him like he was the most fragile and dangerous thing in the room.
Harrison reached him first. Tall, broad-shouldered, he looked like the kind of man who didn’t flinch at nine-figure deals or hostile boardrooms. But right now, the hard lines in his face seemed cracked, his voice husky as he said:
“Joshua.”
Joshua stared. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Olivia stepped closer, almost trembling. She lifted one hand as if to touch his cheek, then hesitated, fingers hovering inches from his face.
“Josh…” she whispered. “I’ve dreamed of this moment every day for eighteen years.”
Joshua blinked.
“…Don’t call me Josh.”
Olivia froze, her breath catching. A flicker of pain crossed her features.
Xavier shot a quick glare at Joshua, but Joshua just swallowed and stared at the floor.
“I’m sorry,” Olivia said quickly. “Joshua.”
He nodded stiffly.
Harrison cleared his throat. “We don’t expect anything from you. Not tonight. Not ever. Except… that you let us finally know you.”
Joshua’s voice was rough. “I don’t even know who I am.”
Olivia’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “You’re our son. That’s all you need to know for tonight.”
Joshua shook his head. “No, it’s not. I’ve been Joshua Rowland my whole life. And suddenly I’m… what? Joshua Gregory? Just like that?”
- Writer
