The Pathway To Us
THE PATHWAY TO US
By
Elle Vassar
The Pathway To Us © 2016 Elle Vassar
All Rights Reserved
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
*EXPLICIT ADULT CONTENT*
WARNING
This novel is considered romantic fiction with erotic elements or erotica. This is for mature audiences only. This book contains adult profane language, mild violence, and strong sexual content.
There are so many individuals who have helped me along the way, and I would like to thank you for the support you’ve shown. Thanks to my family for allowing me to follow my dreams. And, finally, YOU the readers. Your support makes all the late nights worth every second!
Being back in the States was still taking some getting used to. It was cold, but warmer than it normally was this late in the season. The snow had stopped earlier in the morning however gusts of wind continued to swirl around giving the appearance that crystal-like flakes were still falling. The sight was beautiful from the inside, but walking around outside in the weather was a miserable experience. It had been a mistake not to accept the car that was offered to bring her downtown.
Despite the weather, Lily Huntington wouldn’t let anything keep her from this meeting. Wind and snow stung her exposed skin and made it almost impossible to see, but she braved through it. Battling those forces, while trudging down the city’s sidewalks that hadn’t yet been cleared was a workout.
After weeks of waiting, Logan Tremont had finally asked to meet. Though her nose and face were numb, inside she was anything but. Lily was alive with nervous energy. She was both hopeful and doubtful at the same time. If she were truly honest, the trepidation in her body started the moment Logan asked to get together at his office instead of . . .
No
. Lily wouldn’t allow her mind to wander into a negative place. She was going to remain positive even if it killed her. Thank God she could use her love of baking as a distraction. If nothing else, it certainly helped to ease her mind, at least for a little while last night. Considering Lily had promised to make him a batch of peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies – it was a win-win. He would get to try her cookies and she could expend some nervous energy. By the time she’d finished baking, there were so many of them Lily could absolutely open her own business and call it Lily’s Sweet Treats.
One icy hand was buried deep inside her pocket, while the other was wrapped tightly around the tin of cookies as she kept walking through the snow.
The address should be coming up soon
.
Her breath, visible in the cold, went up like smoke as she exhaled. It had been weeks since she’d last seen Logan at the press conference. That was a crazy day. Lily didn’t think the madness of the media would ever calm down. In some ways, it still hadn’t, not if her life was any indication. It hadn’t returned to normal and probably never would. At least today she would get some answers, and there would be less uncertainty about everything. Lily would finally know what to do with her the rest of life. She shivered but not from the cold. Logan’s decision would affect everything.
After taking the subway, riding a bus, and walking several city blocks Lily had arrived. She stood gazing in a state of semi-shock. Lily had never been to this place and until recently had no reason to. She pushed back her hood, and with one finger slid her glasses back up on her nose so she could get a better look. There weren’t too many people walking around, the few that were probably suspected Lily was a tourist given the way she stood staring, with her mouth open. Shielding her eyes, she cupped her hands over them keeping the snow and the glare of the sun away. Her glasses started to fog up, yet Lily continued to crane her neck in an attempt to see all the way to the top of the high rise. It was impossible.
She whispered, “This can’t be the place.” Lowering her gaze and reaching into her back pocket to get Logan’s business card so she could double check the address. Lily compared the numbers on the building to the card, and it was the same. There had to be some mistake. Briefly, she closed her eyes hoping when she opened them that she would be standing in front of a place that was much less intimidating. Unfortunately, when she opened them, Lily still stood facing the same structure. There was a name on the building. The snow and wind forced her to squint in order to read it—The Tremont. His name was on the building. There was no doubt about it, she was at the right place.
The moment of truth had arrived, and there was no point in freaking out about it now. Lily gripped the cookie tin a little tighter then squared her shoulders. Willing herself to have courage, she spoke mumbled. “Nothing to do but put one foot in front of the other Lilliana.”
Lily put one foot in front of the other and walked to the revolving doors. She pushed, and it went around. Once inside, her rubber boots squeaked as she strode across the marble floor to the reception desk. A young woman with professionally styled, bone-straight blonde hair, parted perfectly down the middle, looked up. Her bewitchingly brown eyes sparkled at Lily when she smiled warmly and spoke. “Hello. Welcome to the Tremont Building. May I help you?” It was impossible to miss the designer black blazer with a matching knee length pencil skirt that hugged her petite five foot two-inch frame. Even the receptionist looked as if she were a well-paid executive. Her nameplate said Patricia Kinu.
Lily cleared her throat. “Hello. I’m Lilliana Huntington, and I’m here to see Mr. Logan Tremont.” The uncertainty in her voice was unmistakable.
Almost imperceptivity, the receptionist tilted her head slightly to the side, as she blinked a couple of times before responding. “Do you have an appointment?”
Lily sat her container on the desk as she took off her gloves. “Y-yes I do. I have a one o’clock meeting.”
Patricia’s smile faded as she raised a perfectly arched brow. Her disapproval was evident as she stared coolly at the tin Lily had placed on her desk. Feeling she’d been quietly scolded, Lily quickly removed it. Once she had, the receptionist’s smile returned. “Great, I’ll ring his administrative assistant to see if he is available.”
Lily swallowed. “Thank you.” She continued to look around the impressive, richly decorated office building. From the marble floors to the sleek furniture, it screamed money. She was out of place and stood out like a sore thumb in her rubber boots and discount store coat.
For the most part, Patricia had been friendly, but in one unguarded moment she gave Lily a quick once over. The look on her face showed that she hadn’t recognized her. It also said that she didn’t believe for one minute that Lily had an appointment with Logan. If Lily could guess her thoughts, as far as Patricia was concerned, he probably would never entertain someone like Lily, and under normal circumstances she would more than likely be right.
Lily didn’t fit in with her current surroundings; she wasn’t wearing designer anything unlike the receptionist who probably spent a fortune on her hair and clothes. Lily was practical, and her clothing reflected it. She guessed, based on the building and Patricia, practical people didn’t take meetings with powerful men like Logan.
After speaking with someone on the other end of the phone, the receptionist’s eyes darted up into Lily’s in both recognition and surprise. “Yes. I’ll send her right on up.”
She disconnected the call. “Mr. Tremont asked that you go up to his office and wait for him. He’s finishing up a meeting but will be with you shortly.” Patricia’s entire demeanor changed as she stood. “I’ll walk you over to the executive elevator.”
Lily nodded. “Thank you.”
Feeling even more insecure as she followed the young woman, Lily glanced down and compared their clothes. She sighed. Her shapeless black wool-coat would never render any man to their knees. It wasn’t flattering and her fitted knit black sweater and charcoal gray dress slacks underneath wasn’t either. But it wasn’t like Lily wanted to render men to their knees, well not just
any man
. Still, she didn’t want to look frumpy either. This meeting was too important, and she desperately wanted to put her best foot forward. She genuinely tried to look her best, but that would always be no better than average. It was just a fact. Unlike at the press conference, this time, there was no glam squad. Grimacing, she touched her damp hair. It was now a hot mess from the melted snow, and confident her face had red splotches all over it from being out in the cold, Lily could only hope she didn’t look like a clown.
Her nerves were starting to get the better of her as she chewed her bottom lip. Trying to remind herself that there was no point in worrying about things that she couldn’t control wasn’t working. Lily stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. With each passing floor, her heart began to beat a little faster. This was it. The moment she’d both dreamed about and dreaded.
It seemed to take no time at all to get to the one hundred and twentieth floor. The doors opened, and another beautiful young woman with crystal blue eyes stood outside apparently waiting for her. She extended her hand and smiled. “Hi, I’m Melody James, Mr. Tremont’s Administrative Assistant.”
Lily shook her hand. “Hi. I’m Lilliana Huntington.”
Melody nodded. “Yes. I recognized you. Mr. Tremont requested that I take you to his office where you can wait for him. He asked that I apologize for his being late.” As they walked down another long marble-floored hallway, the trail of melted snow and the squeaking of her tan rubber boots had become even more embarrassing. Once they arrived at his office, Melody opened the door to allow Lily to walk inside.
“Please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like anything? Coffee or water?”
Lily clasped her shaky hands together to keep them from trembling before responding. “No, thank you.”
“Well, if you need anything don’t hesitate to let me know.” Melody stepped out of the office and closed the door.
Lily took in her surroundings. Logan’s office was the complete opposite of how she’d come to know him. It screamed wealth. She was beginning to think that who she thought he was and who he actually was were two different people. She would like to think that especially if things didn’t go her way but the truth of it was Logan had proven himself to be exactly who he was.
The doubt she’d held at bay started to creep into her bones. She tried to tamp it down because more than anything she needed this to work out. Lately, disappointment in her life was all too familiar. Maybe,
hopefully
, this time things were going to be different. They had to be. The stakes had never been higher. Her entire future depended upon it.
Lily sat down, but the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t let her sit still. She stood and paced in front of her chair holding the tin can in a ridiculous death grip. Then she heard it—his voice. Her body froze. He sounded strong, confident, and intense.