Page 36 of Enthrall Shadows
I stepped back and then elegantly strode for the door, bursting out of the suite in a show of self-respect and pride.
The door slammed behind me.
The atmosphere felt different, the air breathable.
I’d gone from breaking up on entry in his hot stratosphere to descending into zero degree chilliness.
The adrenaline was wearing off.
I needed to put some precious space between myself and the man with all the power—the kind that could hurt me without him even knowing.
Halfway down the hall, I turned to glance back at Room 407.
I’d dominated presidents, had other men of influence on their knees—spanked kings, for God’s sake.
Henry Cole shouldn’t faze me.
Calling the elevator to the fourth floor, I mused over the contradiction of being enthralled by Henry and at the same time sensing I’d never be good enough for a man like him.
I’d never felt that way before.
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside.
Hanging my head, I remembered that Henry had come back a war hero. He’d been to hell and back and deserved some slack. What he’d just gone through was stark evidence of how much pain he still carried. My frustration with him returned to respect.
I’d enjoyed tonight, never expecting to be magnetically drawn to him and then feeling as though I’d burned up on entry.
The elevator landed on the ground floor with a small jolt.
The doors slid open and I hurried out, making my way back to the ballroom.
I paused when I saw our table was swarming with guests who wanted to see actress Andrea Buckingham. The Hollywood starlet had arrived. She sat beside Richard, who held her hand as they greeted her admirers.
Suddenly, I felt very ordinary.
Without being noticed, I slipped out into the foyer and left Shutters on the Beach as quickly as possible.
Ineeded fresher air—not this recycled chilled oxygen from my chauffeur driven town car.
The traffic was moving painfully slow, even for a Monday morning, the cars bumper to bumper.
The towering architectural designs of the financial district reminded me a little of the city I’d left behind. With Cole Tea moving its head office here, I’d had no choice but to relocate. Luckily, many of our staff had transferred to the West Coast along with us.
I had loved New York—its vibrancy, its people, and its architecture. I’d called it home. But my life was still being lived on someone else’s terms.
“Unlock the door,” I said.
“Sir.” Griffin, my young driver, held my gaze in the rearview. “The last time I let you walk you gave money to a homeless guy. You can’t do that here.”
Did he just refuse to let me out?
I could fire him. That option was still available.
Cole Tower rose in my sights, the dramatic sleek architecture ruling over the other skyscrapers.
Not going anywhere made me antsy. It threw me back into thoughts of the past—never a good thing.
Besides, seeing someone go hungry pained me. Privilege carried a burden. No amount of charity could solve the worlds’ problems. Still, if we all did something it would make a difference.
