Lost in You (#Book 2)

Chapter 20

I’ve never seen such a luxurious lobby. The light of the chandeliers is reflected on the marble floor. It’s grandiose: like a palace… Except the lobby is empty! And the silence impressive. Only the valet, the care taker and the elevator, all three dressed in the same clothes, are keeping us company.

On my prince’s arm, I feel like I’m in a fairy tale. But I do wonder what we’re doing here. Everything is so beautiful, everything seems so fragile. It feels like a mere word could break the silence, as well as the large mirrors on the walls. I can’t help confiding to Austin how I feel. Bu I prefer to whisper. “It’s awesome.”

We stand in front of the elevator, next to the operator who presses the button to open the doors. Austin’s not moving. Head high, chin proud. What’s going on? Why bring me here? “Top floor, please.”

“Very well, Mr. William.” The elevator operator leans forward to press the button, before returning to statue mode in front of the elevator. Finally, he invites us to enter it, alone… Austin lets me go in first. The doors have barely closed when I feel his hands taking hold of my hips then landing on my stomach.

He's behind me and sinking his nose into my neck. I enjoy this embrace, his kisses, his growing desire. "I'd like to make love to you in every elevator on this planet." His voice is a little husky, his breath warm. He knows very well that I can't resist him when he whispers in my ears.

"First tell me what we're doing here... Then I'll be all yours." I turn around to see his reaction. He has a cheeky smile, and his eyes are laughing.

"You really think you're in a strong position?" Whatever I think, with Austin, it only matters what I'm experiencing. I don't have time to answer, his lips are already on mine.

He puts all his weight into this kiss, so much so that I retreat to the back of the elevator under his onslaught… Trapped against the wall of the elevator, I'm imprisoned by my charming kidnapper. I can't escape his kisses, his velvet tongue, his hands that run all over me.

I think back to our first kiss. Elevators bring us luck. If l'd known where this mysterious and delicious interlude would lead us.. I would never have imagined this of him! How could I have known that my boss messes around in freight elevators?

A jolt ends our delicious exchange. We have arrived. "We're here. Close your eyes…"

"And why is that, Mr. William?" (The last time he asked me that, apart from during the skydiving we were in Paris, and he was proposing to me again. in my dreams!)

"Trust me, you won't regret it." What? Another satin ribbon for naughty games? I do so without asking for further explanation. I'm too excited to think straight.

He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes me forward. Our footsteps are echoing way too much. The sounds coming to me give me the impression that Austin and I are walking in an empty space.

"There, you're in position. You can open your eyes." 

The room I'm standing in is huge and offers a stunning view of the city and the bay! No furniture, no decoration, nothing. Just bay windows that pull me like magnets. 

I'm blown away, once again! The city lights, all these buildings standing proud. Upper Bay in the distance: the view is sensational. "On the other side of the building, the bay windows overlook Central Park."

Looking at it closely, despite the darkness, the room is also fantastic. It's astounding, despite the emptiness. Lights on, it must be incredible! In a corner, I see a small pedestal table covered with a damask tablecloth, and champagne bucket filled with a bottle and two flutes.

"Do you like it?"

"It's gorgeous, I'm lost for words!"

Austin takes his time, he manages his effect. His blue eyes are lit up with a flame I’d never seen before. He fills the flutes with Dom Perignon champagne and hands me one of them. After making a toast, I swallow a fresh sip of bubbles.

One thing is sure, we’re alone here, and that’s exactly what I wanted. “Well?”

“Well, I give you carte blanche to decorate, arrange and furnish the whole apartment according to your wishes.” Huh? What does that mean? I must look astonished because Austin comes closer to me and clarifies, “This is a better pace for a branch director, don’t you think?”

Completely taken aback! The shock! I’m not thrilled at all anymore! So that’s what it was?! He still doesn’t understand! He still needs to control what I do, and even, now, where I live. He knows that I love my mini cocoon, that I have my habits there. I’d be lost entirely in a space way too big for me!

Why does he have to tie everything to money? Why doesn’t he understand that I don’t need all this luxury to be happy? “I don’t really get the idea here. We have a great day, you make me melt in the elevator and then bam, you imprison me.”

Austin comes up to me, seemingly panicked be my reaction. “Calm down, you’ve misunderstood!” For the first time, I push him away. I need some air! I didn’t ask for anything! I wanted to spend a quiet weekend at home resting. In one sentence he’s ruined the beneficial impact of the day.

I rest my flute curtly on the pedestal table and walk along the bay windows at a brisk pace. I’m overwhelmed, tired, disappointed. From the corner of my eye, I can still admire this magnificent view but, it’s definite, I can’t accept this gift!

I pace around in the vast dark room. It may be gigantic, but I can’t breathe. Austin watches me as I get angry, arms crossed. Stoic. “Come over here.” No! I can stay where I want! I’m sick of love’s roller coaster now. “Come on, don’t be stubborn.”

Stubborn?! I can sense that in five minutes it’s all going to be my fault… “Come into my arms, let’s not ruin such a beautiful day on a misunderstanding…” Great! I’m ruining the day now! What’s the point of talking anyway? He obviously doesn’t understand me.

I stand in front of the central bay window and tap the floor with my foot. I feel nervous and more than upset. Austin’s apparent calm irritates me. Now he even has a mischievous grin on his face… Anymore and I’d think he was taunting me!

“Well, since you don’t want to come to me, I’m going to make the first move… As usual.” What? I turn around and look at him, speechless. Austin’s amusedly playing around, and comes closer. “I’m joking. Are you going to sulk for long?”

“Until I don’t get a clear explanation, yes.”

Austin heads towards the switch and turns the lights on. He uses the dimmer to choose a smoothing light and comes back towards me. He still has that little flame in his eyes. “Is this clear enough?”

Very funny. Austin takes a small white paper from his pocket and unfolds it in front of me. His eyes planted in mine, he lifts his arms and waves the paper in front of me. “Here are your explanations.”

I must have lost two-thirds of my neurons when I jumped from the plane because I don’t understand a thing. “It’s a lease…” he turns the paper over and shows it to me. “Here…”

Seeing the astonishment on my face, Austin runs a hand through his hair, straightens up and clears his throat. “Since you don’t seem to understand, I’m going to say it out loud, Rachel, do you want to move in here… with me?”

“S-Say again?”

“Do you want to live with me?”

I’m impossible to even finish a sentence! It feels like my blood leaves my body in just a few seconds. My heart stops. My brain is on pause. I’m here… but I’m not here! I stay speechless for a second. There’s too much information in my head. My body is waiting for instructions from my brain. But it’s a complete black-out up there!

“Everything okay?” I must be staring at him with big scary eyes because for a second, I can see the face on his face. Scream, run, cry, smile? Every muscle in my face and body, are waiting for the central unit known as my brain, to come back to life.

But Austin’s words spin around in my head and take up the whole place. His “Do you want to move in with me?” plays on a loop. I’ve lost track of time. I snap slowly out of it when Austin scratches the back of his head and sighs.

Shoot! Wake up you i***t, he’s going to change his mind! I try to get a grip as Austin, is eyes glued to the floor, mumbles. “It’s probably too soon but…” He doesn’t have time to finish his sentence because I throw myself in his arms. “Does that mean yes?” he asks.

“Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”

My body and my brain are reconnected, and now I can’t control my reactions. I’m so happy! Like a little girl! Austin hugs me, laughing, and sighs heavily. “For a second there, I thought you were going to say no.”

The fact that Austin thinks I could say no is absurd. I kiss him, holding him tight. I look him deep in the eyes. So that’s what the flames in his eyes, was earlier. He knew where he was heading. We’re on the same wavelength, but Austin is always one step ahead.

I really wanted us to talk about our relationship, but Austin already had a thing about us living together in mind! I feel very ashamed to have misinterpreted his gesture. I’m so tense, I really need to learn how to put things into perspective.