His relief is palpable. “Finally—you two were going to turn me gray before I was ready for it. Your job is safe as long as you want it. I can find you something else somewhere else, maybe not as well paying but close enough if you want that too. If you need anything, an ear, help, an out, I’m here.”
“Thank you for the offer. I’ll remember it.”
“Good. See you tomorrow.”
When I shut down my computer for the day, Hannah gives me a hug. “Thank goodness you two finally figured it out. I’ll be praying for the both of you.”
“Thanks, I’ll need it.”
At home I pack all my clothes except the old ones. They don’t fit in the two suitcases I have. I have to use a small trunk I kept filled with quilts at the foot of my bed. I’m not sure how much time I’ll get to work on my quilts but pack up the two I have due within the next month. From the bedside table I make sure to put my birth control in my purse. Seeing the vibrators, I consider bringing them just to see what Cesare does, but chicken out.
It’s a little embarrassing when two large men show up and I don’t have much for them to move. As I lock my front door, for some reason I get the eerie feeling despite the twenty-five days Cesare says it will be, it will be a long time before I’ll be back.
When I get to Cesare’s building, I’m barely through the doors before I’m met by an effusively polite Asian man who introduces himself as John. He hands me a plastic card then guides me into one of the six elevators. He shows me how to scan the card—it turns the buttons on so I can select Cesare’s floor. I’m told the floor only holds Cesare’s and Dante’s condos and because only specifically programmed cards will allow his floor to be selected, Cesare usually leaves his home unlocked. But as the elevators open, he smiles as lets me know Claudine is home waiting for me.
I’ve never met Claudine, but she sounded ruthlessly efficient the few times I’ve spoken to her. When I open the door to Cesare’s condo I’m in awe at the place. It’s massive, and hollow. All the walls are a stark white, and there isn’t a single piece of art on the walls. I’m still taking it all in when I hear a woman giving instructions, then the two men are nodding as they walk past me to leave. That was fast.
A tiny, smiling Asian woman whom I think is Korean throws her arms around me. I don’t hesitate to return her hug. “I’m so happy this day has finally come. I’ve been praying for Cesare for years. Thank goodness you are here. Come see your room. He was concerned about whether you would be comfortable here.” She looks down at the carrier. “You have a dog. How sweet.”
My heart sinks. I’ll have my own room? I wouldn’t be sleeping with him. Then I follow her into the room. There isn’t a bed in the room. While the floors are dark, wide wood, a huge fluffy white rug is on the floor. A long chaise lounge in pink velvet sits along one side of the room. It goes with the pale lavender upholstered comfy chair I like so much I can’t resist sitting in to find it’s also a rocking chair. How cozy. I swoon a little at the massive craft desk I would have loved to be able to afford for quilting. It comes with baskets in the style of a f
iling desk under it. And there is a massive flat-screen television on one wall.
“Do you like it? Yesterday this room was a bedroom. He went on a shopping spree last night. I put it together the best way it seemed to fit. If you want to change anything, say the word.”
I’m not surprised Cesare had so little doubt I would turn him down he spent the day and what looks like a few grand to change this room for me. I wonder what he would have done with this room if I did say no?
There’s an attached bathroom. I thought it was the closet. It’s huge, my bathroom would fit in here three times. The shower is long with a bench and a row of body shower heads and a rainfall shower head above. I’m in love with the tub, it’s jetted and could fit four people. “It’s great. I love it.” I set down Grover’s carrier then undo the catch. He comes out of the carrier warily. A few sniffs around the perimeter of the carpet and he runs to his dog bed under the desk.
“What a cute puppy. There are several dog walkers in the building I can contact for him.”
I shake my head. “Grover doesn’t like walks. He prefers a patch of Astroturf on the balcony.” The tour doesn’t take long. My new walk-in closet is the same size as my old bedroom. My clothes barely make a dent in the space. I’m impressed by the kitchen and pantry. Right next to my room along the hall is another former bedroom converted into a home gym to rival actual gyms. There is a treadmill, a rowing machine, a stationary bike, a heavy weight bag, a row of free weights, two different weight machines and a weird cage thing that is holding a bar with weights on it. The only thing that isn’t in it is an elliptical, which is pretty much the only thing I’ve ever used. This room also has an attached bath that’s only slightly less impressive than the one in my room.
Across the hall is an office Claudine looks pained to allow me inside. How funny, it’s the exact same as his office at work. The same desk, the same chair, there are even chairs in front of his desk that match the ones at work. Everything is the same down to the accessories on his desk and where they are. I’m not a hundred percent sure I know what it means, but it means something.
I follow Claudine to the balcony to put out a patch of Astroturf for Grover. The balcony is massive, almost half the size of the condo inside. I’m also relieved there is a perimeter wall that is chest high. Potted trees are arranged every five feet to give it some green, and at the far end I see a raised box. “What’s that?”
“A beehive. Cesare had them put up on all the properties they manage when he read about it being a way to help conservation efforts. Dante has one on his balcony as well. The beekeepers come by twice a month to collect honey and it’s donated to the local food pantries.”
Is it weird this side of Cesare turns me on as much as when his eyes strip me naked? I knew the company does a huge amount of philanthropy, donations to local schools for everything from food to equipment for students and teachers. I have seen the huge amount of money that goes out for monthly contributions to everything from the local no-kill animal shelter to food banks, to a battered woman’s shelter, to a large group in the city that helps the homeless.
Dante had mentioned they were going to set up a devoted foundation a few years ago, only Cesare hadn’t found anyone he liked enough to run it. For now they handle requests as they come through and set up monthly contributions as they see fit. The thing is, it’s easy to write a check; this is having someone come into his home. Like when Lydia told me about Cesare handling a shopping trip of a group of young women, I’m wondering if I’ll ever know everything there is to know about Cesare Sabatini. I’m interested in trying.
I put Grover’s patch of Astroturf right by the door. He’s trailed along with us on the tour. While he comes out on the balcony he makes it five steps before he runs back inside.
As Claudine leaves she’s grinning ear to ear. “Cesare was so excited about you coming. I’m glad you like the place—he was really concerned about how comfortable you’ll be here. If he had time he would have the entire placed redecorated to look less like a mausoleum, his word but I agree with him. Then again I think it’s not the things inside that make something a home, but the people.”
I find myself drawn back to my room. He had set this up in a single night for me. Is it supposed to be a prison while I think about what I’ve done? As my feet sink into the fluffy white carpet, it doesn’t feel like it. I have twenty-five days to make the most of our time together. Except I’ve never done anything like this before. Cesare assured me all he wanted was my willingness to please, and I’m more than willing.
Then I remember the kind, sweet older woman, Gertrude from the lingerie store that Lydia sent me to the day I went to her for a dress that would tell Cesare I wanted him. The woman had the silk stockings and garter belt along with a black bra and panty set waiting for me because of my limited time. She had assured me that Cesare would need no words from me—once he saw me in the set, all of his dreams would be answered. The only problem is aside from what I bought that day everything else I have is cotton granny panties. I think a little more help from Gertrude is in order.
14
Cesare
I’m surprised at the simple okay from Dante when I email him I’m leaving for the day at five. I’ve never left this early to go home in...hell, I think ever. Only I’m too keyed up to be worth anything. All I can think of is that Alicia is at home, waiting for me, and she isn’t going anywhere.
The drive home is torture. I’m in contact with the doormen of my building. I’m assured Alicia was shown up to my condo, shown how to use the elevator, and John personally put the phone number for the front desk into her cell phone. Once I’m in the building I don’t stop to talk, as need is driving me to get closer to Alicia.