Whatever He Wants (19 page)

 
     
“I can come and go as I please.”

 
     
“So there’s no reason why you can’t hang
out tonight.”

 
     
“Other than the fact I
don’t
fucking feel like it. Now would you please get off my back about it?”

 
     
Silence greeted Noelle’s outburst and
instantly she regretted it.  Simone didn’t deserve that tongue lashing.
This situation was really starting to get to Noelle but she had no right to
take it out on her cousin. “I’m sorry. That was totally uncalled for. I know
you mean well but I don’t think I’ll be the good company tonight.”

 
     
The uncomfortable silence continued.

 
     
“Simone, are you still there?”

 
     
“Yes,” her cousin finally answered.

 
     
“I’m really sorry, Simone. Please don’t be
angry with me. I don’t think I could bear that on top of everything else.”

 
     
“I’m more concerned than I am angry. I’ve
bit my tongue for the most part but I have to say my peace and I promise, after
this I’ll try my best to not bring it up again. You’re so much better than the
situation you’re in now. I don’t understand what you see in this guy.”

 
     
“Well, he’s good- looking and I’m sure
many would find a billion reasons why he’s such a great catch,” Noelle laughed
trying to inject humor into this situation, though failing miserably.

 
     
“Hon, do you hear yourself talking?
A billion reasons?
Seriously?
You
sound like a gold-digger with no self-respect. That’s not you. And when I say
you’re better than this I mean you deserve someone who will put you on a
pedestal, and not be ashamed to be seen with you in public. You’ve completely
changed for him and I think you were just fine before you met him. And if he
can’t see that it’s his loss.”

 
     
On an intellectual level Noelle understood
what Simone was saying but she didn’t want to hear it. To accept her cousin’s
words would only reinforce what she was beginning to realize for herself: James
didn’t and would never love her. Most times she wondered why he’d chosen her in
the first place. Had she been fooling herself all this time that he actually
had a softer side to him? Noelle shook those painful thoughts away, not wanting
to be pulled further into the abyss of depression.

 
     
“Are you still there,
cuz
?”
Simone prompted.

 
     
“Yes,” she whispered softly.

 
     
“Look, I’ll tell you what. I’ll call the
girls and cancel our plans for tonight. I’ll come over and we can pop popcorn
and watch bad black exploitation movies. I can bring over my
Dolomite
collection.”

 
     
“No. Don’t cancel your plans on my
account. You work hard so you deserve to have some fun.”

 
     
“You need to get out as well. I can’t have
fun knowing you’re cooped up inside that penthouse feeling down on yourself.
Besides, there will be plenty more opportunities for me and the girls to get
together.”

 
     
Against her better judgment, Noelle caved.
She wouldn’t be responsible for ruining her cousin’s plans because she knew
Simone would be over like she said she would. “You don’t have to come over.
I’ll meet you. Just tell me where.”

 
     
“Really?
You
won’t regret it. We’ll have a blast. We’re going to have drinks at that really
snooty restaurant Isabella’s and then we’re going clubbing to get our grooves
on.”

 
     
“Don’t you need reservations for
Isabella’s?”

 
     
“Only for the dinner
section.
They have a lounge with a bar in it. It’s become quite a
popular hangout. We’re planning to meet up around eight-thirty so you may want
to eat before we hang out.”

 
     
After confirming the logistics Noelle hung
up with resignation. That nagging sensation in the back of her mind refused to
go away. She had a feeling this would be a long night.

 
     
James glanced at his watch for the third
time within the last ten minutes. While he found his dinner companion charming,
beautiful, accomplished, and everything he looked for in a potential wife, he
simply didn’t want to be there. All he could think about was how he’d parted
with Noelle earlier in the day. What should have been a relaxing afternoon of
fucking turned into a test of his patience. He couldn’t figure out for the life
of him why he hadn’t contacted Paul to arrange for her departure, as he’d done
with his former mistresses who he’d grown tired of or who forgot their place.
But he didn’t. He’d almost made that call but something held him back. He
couldn’t stop thinking about her.

 
     
 
“James, did you hear what I just said?”
Eleanor interrupted his thoughts bringing him back to the present.

 
     
"My apologies, I was thinking about a
business call I have in the morning. What were you saying?”

 
     
Eleanor raised an auburn brow. “Ah, those
Saturday business calls are the worst aren’t they? No rest for the weary I
suppose.”

 
     
“So they say.”

 
     
“Anyway, I was mentioning how I was in
need of an escort to my mother’s charity event. I’d love if you could take me.”

 
     
“When is it?”

 
     
“Three weeks from next Friday. Knowing how
busy you are I’m putting my request in early. My mother was just named
committee chair so I’m obligated to attend even though you know these little
events can be a bit dull.”

 
     
“I don’t see why I can’t but I’ll check
with my secretary to make sure I have no schedule conflicts.”

 
     
She flashed him a bright smile in
response. “Daddy will be pleased. He really likes you, James.”

 
     
James, who had been in the middle of
sipping his wine, nearly choked on it. The cynic in him was well aware George
Harrington was more interested in the capital he could bring to Harrington’s
ailing company, regardless of James’s humble beginnings. A man like Harrington
usually didn’t acknowledge anyone in a social setting whose blood wasn’t as
blue as his or had the right social connections. But times were different from
when Harrington had come up with the likes of the Rockefellers and
Mellons
. Most of the old-money families were either up to
their ears in debt while still clinging to the names that had at one time got
them admitted anywhere, while others were savvy enough to align themselves with
the
nouveau riche
to keep the
champagne flowing freely. Harrington was a man who obviously saw his only
chance at salvaging his lifestyle was by marrying his daughter off to a man of
James’s financial situation.

 
     
James realized he was being used but what
they didn’t know was he was using them as well. They were his means to an end,
and Eleanor was his ticket to a world where no one would ever look down their
nose at him again. Along with the money and power he’d acquired, he’d have the
name and connections that went along with it. His children would attend the
finest schools, and they would not bear the stigma of illegitimacy or poverty.

 
     
That he wasn’t in love with Eleanor was of
no consequence. He held no illusions she was in love with him either. Both of
them knew the roles they were cast to play. This charade of a courtship would
end in a proposal which she’d accept. There’d be several pictures of them as an
engaged couple as they went about town together, which would finally culminate
into a huge society wedding, which he’d probably end up shelling out a couple
of millions for. They would have two children and possibly even enjoy the sex
required to obtain that “heir” and the spare. And then he’d politely look the
other way if she took a lover, and he’d keep a mistress on the side through the
duration of the marriage. She’d be the perfect hostess and be a credit to his
name. That’s how it worked in the circles he’d worked hard to belong to.

 
     
“You two should get together for golf at
the club,” she continued.

 
     
James titled his lips into a smirk. Not
very long ago, her father barely acknowledged his existence.
Pompous
ass.
“I’ll have my secretary contact his and we’ll set something up.”

 
     
“You have to go easy on Daddy, though, he
hates losing.”

 
     
“I’m sure,” he murmured and took a
measured sip of from his wine glass.

 
     
“I’m losing your attention again, James.
Maybe we should call it a night, since you can’t seem to keep your mind off
business.” There was no petulance in her tone from what he could discern but
she couldn’t be pleased that his thoughts kept wondering off.

 
     
James paused to give her a suitable reply
without causing offence but Eleanor spoke before he had the opportunity.

 
     
“James, may I be frank with you?”

 
     
 
He
inclined his head forward in reply.
“By all means.”

 
     
“I’m well aware of the type of man my
father is. Not too long ago he would have made a stink if someone with your
background even stepped foot in his club outside of a service capacity. He
basically disowned my sister Christina because she married someone whose
background he considered questionable. Steven is a good guy and makes a decent
living, but it’s not good enough for Daddy. He can be an insufferable snob at
times, but he was just raised in a different era.”

 
     
“I’m not trying to make excuses for him
but that’s the way he is. I don’t need to tell you Harrington’s is in trouble.
The stock has plummeted and investors are getting antsy. The company is on the
verge of ruin unless it gets a very generous investor.
Someone
like you.
  James, you can correct me anytime if I’m wrong but I
think you’re only with me to be connected to the Harrington name. Am I far off
base?” She asked with raised brow.

 
     
Eleanor’s bluntness caught him off guard.
“You already seem to have the answers. You tell me.”

 
     
Her scarlet painted lips curled to a half
smile. “People talk, James. Though it’s distasteful to speak of money in our
circles, word gets around. Anyone who reads the financial news or follows the
stock market knows the shape my father’s company is in. And those people know
he’s looking to marry me off to someone who would be beneficial to
Harrington’s. So why would someone in your position be willing to infuse a huge
chuck of money into an ailing company all for my hand in marriage. It isn’t
because you’re madly in love with me. You’ve barely paid attention to a word
I’ve said all night. So I can only conclude you want the family connection. As
archaic as that sounds, it’s still done in our world.”

 
     
She’d hit the nail on the head. It should
have made him uncomfortable how direct she was about the situation, but women
like Eleanor were taught from birth how to be the perfect society wife. It was
none of her business why he so badly wanted to be connected with an old-money
family and he had no plans to share why, but he did owe her some type of
explanation. “I suppose I should return your honesty with a bit of my own. No,
I’m not madly in love with you and I don’t think you love me either. But I
believe we’d do quite nicely together. You’d compliment me perfectly with your
beauty, education, poise and grace. I can’t promise you a grand romance, but I
will honor and respect you. You’ll never want for anything.”

 
     
She smiled. “That’s good to hear. Just so
you know, James, I’m usually not this forward, but if you could imagine some of
the men my parents have been pushing my way lately you’d feel sorry for me.
You’re the first one I actually like. I don’t love you but like you said, I
think we’ll rub quite nicely together. So we’re really doing this?”

 
     
James didn’t need her to elaborate to know
what she was talking about. “When should we announce our engagement?”