Page 1 of Broken Headboards
Chapter One
Taylor
“The next timewe go to dinner, I think you should let me pick the restaurant,” Ashley says to me. “I definitely think I’ll pick better than what you picked today.”
I roll my eyes as we get out of the limo. See, it wasn’t a bad date, per se. We went to an Italian place in the East Village that was supposed to be all the rage in New York City. At least that’s what I was told.
“How was I supposed to know that it was a front for the mob?” I ask Ashley as the doorman holds open the door to Clarendon Tower. “Everything I heard about it was good. Good food. Good wine. Great atmosphere.”
“The cops came in half way through and arrested the owner,” Ashley responds back, not letting me off the hook. “Maybe next time don’t take dining advice from your ex-Mafia enforcer bodyguard.”
She’s got a point. Marco, my bodyguard had recommended the place to me when I asked him where I could possibly take Ashley on our date.
“But then again, Marco recommended the ice cream place on 87thStreet,” I remind her. Ashley smiles. She remembers the day I popped into her law offices and told her to take a walk down Second Avenue with me. When she asked me why, I told her it was to go get ice cream.
If you’re brand new to the Nights In New York series, then allow me a second to introduce myself.
My name is Taylor John. I am the CEO of the largest investment bank in the world, Draper Pierce. I have 200,000 financial professionals who report to me. Brokers. Investment bankers. Private equity bankers. Human Resources “professionals”. Executive Assistants. Retail bankers. Security guards. Cafeteria employees. Hookers. You name it.
Draper Pierce operates in over 52 different countries and posts revenue in excess of $5.2 billion dollars each year. Our profit margin stands close to $2 billion dollars. We’re respected and feared on Wall Street and there I am—at the helm of the ship, leading the charge.
Of course I got the lifestyle to match. Hell, baby, I’m a billionaire. I live a lavish lifestyle filled with fancy toys, fast cars, and beautiful women.
But more and more lately, there have been fewer beautiful women because only one has occupied my thoughts.
Ashley Carlson.
I first met Ashley through my friends Daphne and Dominic. That wasn’t long ago when my friend Malcolm was being accused of stealing a priceless painting. See it was a big thing that—
You know what? I’m not going to give spoilers about Malcolm or Sonia and her “sticky fingers”.
Besides, this book isn’t even about me. I mean the only reason I’m here talking to you is because Ashley and I got back from a real date. Usually we just get ice cream or a drink or we’re doing something with other people and we haven’t really ever gotten a chance to hang out and get to know each other.
Because I swear, this girl might have girlfriend potential. Of course, we’re still dating casually. Ashley is a high-powered attorney with her own practice and I’m a globetrotting CEO of the largest investment bank in the world. We may be wealthy with money, but we’re poor with time. And so getting the chance to be together is priceless.
So yeah, no way is this book about me. In fact, I have no idea who this book is about. But if I had to take a guess, it would be someone who lives in Clarendon Tower because I mean come on, that’s the name of the series, you know?
“Taylor,” Ashley says quietly as we walk into the lobby. I look at her. She’s wearing a shimmering silver wraparound dress and I have my hand around her waist. She’s slender and fragile when standing next to my 6-foot 2-inch Greek God body. I’m going to pull her closer and kiss her. And then she’s going to nuzzle me and I’m going to grab her ass and bite her ear.
This date isn’t over till I fuck the living daylights out of her.
“Taylor,” Ashley says again and I can see in her twinkling eyes that she knows I’ve been daydreaming about what she looks like naked. Well, no fucking surprise there. We’ve been dancing around the fires of attraction for too long.
“Yeah, baby?” I ask her but she’s silent. All she does is point straight ahead.
The labyrinthine lobby is empty right now. The doorman is outside. And all the residents are either all out or have gone home for the night. Even the bar on the far right corner of the lobby is empty. Some of the lights are turned low.
“Look,” she whispers to me and I squint my eyes to see what’s she’s looking for.
We get a little closer and then I see it.
Is that?
Holy fucking shit.
Behind some faux-Greek pillars I see the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in Clarendon Tower (and I’ve seen a lot of shit, let me tell you).
It’s Jeremiah Hoody. Our Condo Board President.
