Champagne Showers (6 page)
The doors open up to a raw but breathtaking space. The windows are the same as in the lobby, floor to ceiling with no visible seams. The floors are raw gray cement, the ceiling is still open and although the walls and doors are in, the rest of the space needs to be finished from what I can see.
I follow Harrison to the main living space that has the same floor to ceiling windows as the lobby that boast sweeping panoramic views of the city on one side and a complete wall of windows that overlook the river on the other.
In the wall of windows facing the river are pairs of doors that lead to a magnificent outdoor space. I hesitate to call it a deck, because it’s much more than that. A spacious terrace appears to be floating in the clouds.
I turn back to see his gaze travel back up to my eyes, was he looking me up and down? I blush another ten shades of red. I hear a faint ding followed by the sound of someone’s feet shuffling on the cement. As I look toward the elevators, I see the strange little dark-haired man walking in our direction with two steaming demitasse cups of espresso on a bamboo tray. He sets the tray down on the floating cement fireplace hearth. He hands Harrison and then me a cup and saucer. “Mademoiselle, would you care for milk or sugar?” he says in a heavy French accent as he picks up the bamboo tray.
“Thank you.” I say as I drop a couple cubes into my cup along with a stream of milk.
Harrison has already downed his coffee and placed the cup and saucer back on the tray.
I look around and wonder what he has in mind for this space. Is it going to be a model home or does he have it slated for something or someone else?
“What do you think?” he says nonchalantly.
I shrug my shoulders and reply, “What can I say? It’s breathtaking, well minus the unfinished floors and zero furnishings. It has so much potential though.”
“I think so too. I am so taken with the view and the overall feeling of this space that I decided I would take this unit as my own Pied-à-terre.” Then he flashes me that mega white smile while his eyes turn dark blue and smolder. Wow, I wonder what that look is about. I feel my temperature rising and my mouth going dry. He walks by me and brushes his hand against the silk of my arm. I swear every hair on my body stands at attention, as if I have just been struck by lightning. He looks at me out of the corner of his eye and gives me that knowing smirk again.
Holy shit this man is turning me on just by the looks he gives me alone. I could just throw down with him right here on this cold dusty cement floor. Slow down Dani, slow down. It must be my celibacy catching up with me. Since swearing off men, I haven’t been with anyone aside from that horrible night of ex-sex with Bradley. After that debacle, being left to my own devices has been more than sufficient. Until now, that is.
Mr. Harrison Towers is hot and tantalizing and I’m now regretting having sworn off men. This man could definitely change my mind.
While I continue to relish in my dirty thoughts, I hear, “Danielle?”
Oh shit, here I go again; he must think I’m a real ditz. I recover myself quickly.
“Yes, um, well, I think you should carry the water wall idea up here too, like right over there where the elevator is. Then, so the views remain unobstructed, you can have mechanized window coverings. They retreat into the ceiling so you don’t even see them when open. I envision a monochromatic color scheme in here of white with touches of ice blue and silver. The floors should be something like travertine and how about a kitchen with floating upper cabinets and clouded glass doors and poured concrete counters.”
He smiles. “Come; let me show you the rest of the space.”
In all he has 3600 square feet of space to design and decorate. It has four bedrooms, a den, media room, and a huge master bedroom with its own balcony, two walk in closets and a sunken Greek bathtub that still needs tile. All of the rooms have some kind of unobstructed view of either the river, city skyline or the foothills. It’s simply amazing.
As we finish our tour of the penthouse, we end up back at the elevator.
He glances at his watch then looks down at me. “Danielle, I have another meeting to get to.” With that, the elevator door opens as if on cue. We then descend back to the lobby.
Once we are back in the lobby heading toward the doors, the little dark-haired man, Philippe, helps me on with my short trench coat.
I turn to Harrison and see that he is watching me with that smirk on his face. “I’d like to get your ideas by Tuesday of next week. I can meet you at your office. What time works for you?”
I pull out my phone to pretend that I have to consult my calendar. I swipe unlock and see that that Simone has sent me ten text messages and my mom has sent me two. Geeze people!
I look at my empty calendar and look back up at him to see a bemused smile on his face and his piercing blue eyes gazing down at me. Not now, I think as I can feel my face turns its usual crimson.
“How would 10:00 AM again work for you?’
“Perfect.”
I reach into the outside pocket of my briefcase and fish out a business card. I reach out to hand him the card, “Oh that’s okay, I already have your number and I know where your office is located. Thank you again for meeting me today. Until Tuesday.” He grabs my hand, gives it a firm shake, and then drops it and turns to walk out the side door of the lobby.
I stand there with my hand still outstretched, my mouth agape, and my heart pounding quickly.
I head out to my car with my heart still racing and my palms growing sweaty. Since when do my palms sweat?
Once I’m seated in my car, I pull out my phone. I open it up to look at the text messages. Oh geeze, now there are twelve from Simone and three from my mom and one from my dad. Seriously, they all need to get a life!
Simone Clarke and I have been lifelong friends. I don’t have any memories from my childhood that don’t include her. I never had any siblings so she filled that void for me. About the time I got married to Bradley, her career began to take off as an on-set stylist for movies and TV shows. I hardly get to see her much as she is always traveling. I miss that petite fiery redhead but at the same time, I am so proud of her and the life she has made for herself.
9:19 AM
Simone’s Cell
Hey girlie, what did you decide to wear after all that?
Simone’s Cell
9:21 AM
BTW, that hot guy I met on set last wk, he just txt me to go concert on the waterfront. Yay!
9:23 AM
Simone’s Cell
I said yes
9:28 AM
Simone’s Cell
Um, are you going to msg me bk? What are you wearing?
9:29 AM
Mom’s Cell
Good luck honey, knock them dead!
9:32 AM
Simone’s Cell
He’s the one who is the screenwriter guy on set
9:36 AM
Simone’s Cell
OK…are you ignoring me?
9:42 AM
Simone’s Cell
Ok guess you are heading to appt. Call me the min you are done.
I scroll down some more
.
9:48 AM
Simone’s Cell
Good Luck!!
9:49 AM
Simone’s Cell
Don’t forget to breathe
9:50 AM
Simone’s Cell
Seriously
9:51 AM
Simone’s Cell
Xoxo
9:59 AM
Simone’s Cell
I know you are going in to meet him now… sending you good mojo!
10:01 AM
Mom’s Cell
Forgot to tell you Aunt Grace is visiting next week.
10:48 AM
Simone’s Cell
Are you done? Did you forget me?
10:49 AM
Mom’s Cell
Actually, she is not coming until the first week of September.
10:50 AM
Dad’s Cell
Hi punkin. Did you hear about Aunt Grace coming? I feel a migraine coming on!
10:51 AM
Simone’s Cell
Hello???!!!
I hit call on my phone.
“HELLO!”
“Geeze, why are you yelling?”
“YOU’VE IGNORED ME ALL MORNING, I’M MAD!”
“Whoa, chill out! First, I had to get ready and then drive to the Towers. My purse spilled and I had a near collision with a 2-speed bicyclist. I didn’t exactly have time to sit on my phone and text you. Good going on landing a date with Mr. Words, though! And, I chose the black slacks and cream blouse just like you told me too.”
Sluuurp
“Sorry, Henry just licked the phone,” Simone says.
“Eww, I can’t believe what you let that dog get away with.”
“Anyway, how did it go?” she asks.
“It went great! I have to work all weekend though. He wants me to have my storyboards ready to pitch by Tuesday at 10:00 AM,” I answer.
Simone squeaks, “Wow, he moves quickly!”
“Yeah and get this, the penthouse is going to be his personal city home.”
“Oh really,” she purrs, “So did you go into the master bedroom? What’s it like?”
“Well, right now it’s rather raw.”
“Oooh, do tell,” she purrs again.
“It’s raw because it’s unfinished, mind out of gutter please and stay focused. This is the job that’s going to set my career.”
“I don’t know, Harrison Towers is a catch, I think I would be more focused on that.”
“Clarke, you know how important this is to me and Bradley just ruined it for me. I’m so not into men right now. I don’t think I can ever trust another man with my heart.”
“Dan, who said anything about a heart? A man that looks like that can just have my body!”
Chuckling, I sigh, “You’re hopeless! I need to get to work if I’m going to be on top of my game for Mister International Mogul by Tuesday.”
“Okay, well wish me luck tomorrow, this date should be interesting!”
“Good luck, and hey, do yourself a favor and make him at least take you on a second date and buy you flowers before you put out!”
“Dan, you are such a prude! Kisses!”
“Bye, horn dog!”
I hang up, shaking my head. What gets into that woman? I’m not interested in Harrison Towers for anything other than business. I know he’s hot and I seem to have moments of utter lunacy around him, but that can certainly be attributed to my eagerness to get his business. Besides, he hasn’t made one comment or gesture that would indicate he’s even remotely interested in me.
I text my parents back that I will attempt to come down while Aunt Grace visits and change my clothes before setting to work.
It’s late afternoon when I get a buzz at the intercom, though I’m not expecting anyone.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Miss Austen, it’s Frank at the concierge desk, I have a delivery for you. I just wanted to make sure you were there before I head up.”
“Oh yes, that’s great, thanks Frank, I’ll be here.”
“Fine, I’ll be right up.”