Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
26
TAYLA
The attractive female associate who couldn’t keep her eyes off Shawn cleared her throat when she entered. We pulled apart, and the woman held out a red shopping bag. I got a peek of a white package with a red ribbon and a red waxed seal inside.
“Thank you,” Shawn said to the associate.
She smiled at him like he hung the moon. He was handsome and had spent nearly three hundred grand on a broach that was about three inches long. So I got it, though I was still in sticker shock. Shawn, however, was completely clueless about her attraction to him, which kept my jealousy at bay.
“I can give you guys a tour,” the associate offered.
Shawn looked at me, so I answered. “I think we’re good.”
He added, “Do you think you can arrange a car to drive us to—” he rattled off an address.
“Sure thing. Give me a minute.”
“We will wander a bit and meet you downstairs,” he said.
She nodded. With his hand in mine, we exited the private room and meandered through the store. On the way, he pointed out a portrait of Mae Caldwell Manwaring Plant, the wife of Morton F. Plant, who had originally owned one of the two houses that made up this building.
“Can you believe the Cartier family bought the property for one hundred dollars and a string of pearls?” Shawn asked.
“That’s a bargain.” A mansion being sold over a hundred years ago for that was crazy.
“Of course, the pearls were said to be valued at a million dollars.”
“That makes more sense.”
The associate came and walked us out of the building to an awaiting black SUV. The driver stood in a black suit and opened the door for us. I guessed that was the treatment you got when you spent the kind of money Shawn had in a matter of minutes.
I kept my gaze out the window as we drove, taking in the sights of New York. But also, I hid my nervousness. I didn’t want a repeat of yesterday with his father questioning my worth when it came to his son. Even though Shawn had given him shit about it, today, more than ever, I felt our differences. He’d grown up living on Park Avenue, which was night and day from where I grew up in Chicago Ridge.
The most expensive gift I’d gotten for my mother was around three hundred dollars, and I’d been so excited to see her unwrap it. He’d just spent a thousand times that for the same reason.
The car stopped, and his parents’ doorman came to open the door for us. I hated that I now felt uncomfortable. Maybe because we’d gone through the garage last night, I hadn’t really had a clear picture of the wealth I was walking into.
Shawn handed out cash to the driver and the doorman like candy. I didn’t see the amount, but I would guess it was enough, as both men seemed pleased with the tip.
Once we were in the elevator going up, Shawn said, “Is everything okay?”
For once, we weren’t touching. He watched me from across the elevator. I forced a smile I didn’t feel on my face. “It’s fine.”
“If my father is an ass, we don’t have to stay,” he said, his gaze heavy on mine as if waiting for a reaction.
“I’m sure it will be fine.” As much as I wanted honesty in a relationship, I didn’t want to bring up my misgivings before he saw his mother on her birthday. I could make it through one night. We could talk later if things went badly.
The elevator dinged, and he took the two steps to me. With his hand on my back, we walked the familiar steps to the end of the hallway.
His former nanny and current housekeeper to his parents opened the door. Shawn gave her a tight hug as if she were family. I was sure he thought of her that way.
We were brought into an opulent formal dining room. The table was set with Waterford crystal, Wedgewood fine bone china plates, and actual sterling silverware with cloth napkins. An extravagant vintage chandelier hung above it all. It all looked too pretty to actually use.
Lizzy stood and came over, giving me a hug with the same affection that Shawn had given his former nanny. Today, Lizzy looked like the rich girl she was. Her hair was pulled back. She wore a button-down shirt and pants that likely cost more than I would ever consider spending on clothes. Connor stood, and he looked the same and greeted me with a quick hug. Like Lizzy, he wore pants and not jeans. Though the outfit I wore was expensive by my standards, I felt as though I was dressed in Walmart clothes compared to them.
I was grateful Shawn wore jeans so I didn’t feel completely out of place. We were just about to sit when the matriarch walked in with her husband by her side. She moved really slowly, and I almost jumped over to help, but Shawn was there. I loved how he loved his mother. Between father and son, they got her seated at the head of the table. Connor and Lizzy were on one side, and Shawn and I were on the other. Shawn sat nearest his mother, which left me closer to his father.