Page 92 of Purchase Power
Chapter 27
Lucy had picked up the terrible habit of keeping the news on at all hours of the day. Whether it was on their TV, streaming live from the local affiliate, or news articles she scrolled through, Lucy lived in a constant state of harrowing news and a sinking feeling in her stomach.
She didn’t know what else to do. When she wasn’t rereadingJane Eyrefor the millionth time, she was tracking the spread of the virus and constantly calling her mom to make sure she stayed home. Lacey was completely over it, which she announced when she went into her room. Their stock of toilet paper was nearly wiped out, but they had boxes of tissues they had managed to score on Amazon before everything went to hell. Food? More pasta. More instant mashed potatoes.
It was a weird way to live, especially when compared to life in Gabriel Manor, but Lucy was already acclimated. Work kept her busy when the news didn’t. Her mind sank down her throat and dragged her heart into her stomach every time she had a single thought. She didn’t know what depressed her more: what happened with Noah, or what was happening now.
What else was she supposed to do, though? Not much else appealed to her. She couldn’t go out and mingle with the city. She couldn’t find a new crew of friends to amuse her. She couldn’t find a date, even a hookup if that’s how she wanted to punish herself. And Lucy did. She punished herself every night as she thought about all the maddening ways Noah had fucked her.
She stewed in her arousal, refusing to touch herself. She could think about the pleasure, but she couldn’t indulge. She didn’t deserve it.
All of those memories were tainted, anyway. Knowing who Noah might really be and what he did with his own sister was enough to make Lucy roll over and stuff her pillow on top of her head.
She had finished her late lunch of bagel and cream cheese when her phone rang on her desk. Ironically, Lucy had been figuring out her finances and bemoaning how little she could actually access right now, when she recognized the number showing up on her homescreen.
At least, she recognized the area code.
“Don’t hang up.” That’s what Noah said first, not that Lucy gave him much time to speak before she threw her phone across the room. “Please. We need to have a brief chat. Then, if you want, I’ll never bother you again.”
Lucy wasn’t sure how much she believed that. Much like she didn’t trust her own gut instincts now that she heard Noah’s voice on the other end of the line.I have prepared for him to call me. Either to ask me to have him again, or to threaten me over the article I wrote.Which would it be? He didn’t sound angry. Did that mean he was about to beg her back into his life?
Lucy wished. She would love to hang up on him over that.
“Are you and your sister all right in New York?”
Out of everything she rehearsed in her mind, Lucy had not been prepared to answer that. “I… we’re all right. We’re in quarantine now.” She furrowed her brows. “Why do you care?”
“So you two haven’t been sick yet?”
“Dunno. Isn’t that the whole point of going into quarantine?” Lucy scoffed. “What do you want? You can’t be calling because you care about howhealthyI am.”
“That’s exactly why I’m calling.” There Noah went with his usual no-nonsense tone. Lucy should have found it reassuring. Instead, she wanted to chuck her phone across the room with a huff.He can’t even show a shred of emotion right now. Go figure.Lucy had been in love with this man? Who was she kidding? She was better off falling in love with a piece of unbuttered toast. “Most of my staff has been sent home for quarantine. We have… extra room in the house. If you and your sister are willing to sit in the guest suite for at least a week under additional quarantine, you’re welcome to come back here and ride this whole thing out.”
“What?” No, really.What?Lucy couldn’t have heard him correctly. Noah wanted not only her, but hersisterto come to Gabriel Manor? “Are you kidding? That doesn’t make any sense. Our contract is over, Noah. We don’t have anything to do with each other any longer.”
“I know that. I’m asking you as a friend if you want any assistance.”
She tried to speak. Truly. She tried. Yet Lucy discovered that her voice was gone. Shock, was it? Or was it anger? Finally, when she could speak again, she said, “You’re from another planet. You know that? You must not have read that art…”
“I read it. We can discuss the fallacies later. I’m not calling to correct you about the many mistakes you’ve made. I’m offering you my help. Because I care about you.”
Lucy’s mind was torn in different directions. Should she be salty? Sour? Sarcastic?
Appreciative?
“You’ve lost your damn mind,” she snapped. “Why would I come stay with you after what happened?”
He was silent for a moment. Eventually, he said the one thing with the power to catch Lucy off guard. “Because you love me.”
“You…” She could hardly contain the twisting of her face and the tears of disbelief behind her eyes. “You bastard. Are you trying to fuck with my head as punishment for…”
“Because I love you, too. Now, are you going to accept my invitation alongside my stipulations? Please understand, Candace has asthma and my sister has her own reasons for needing protection. We will make sure your quarantine is as comfortable as possible. At least here you can get some sun and fresh air.”
“What makes you think I want to leave New York? My whole life is here.” Even as she said that, she doubted her own veracity.My life is there…It had been for two weeks. So much had changed in that short amount of time. Returning to Gabriel Manor would both be a relief and a new source of stress in her already crazy life. “I just got a new job.”
“Congrats. I’m assuming you’re working remotely? Trust me. My internet is faster, more secure, and more reliable than whatever you have there. I haven’t had a single problem with any of my video meetings.”
“Are you seriously trying to sell this to me?”
