Forbidden Love

16

Barrett

Walking into the completed townhouse after the tour, I was impressed. Wow. Olivia and Lourde had pulled a rabbit out of a hat and not only completed the townhomes in time for the new owners tonight, but they blew it out of the park. They even made the award-winning design at 21 Park look modest in comparison.

“I rarely get surprised, but this is something else,” I said, admiring the display on top of the featured round table.

“Oh, thank fuck,” Olivia said, relieved. “That was all your girl there,” she said, pointing to the console.

I laughed. “I wasn’t that much of a ball breaker, was I? Actually, don't answer that. Did you do this?” I asked Lourde.

She nodded. “Do you think the new owners will like it?” Oblivious to her own skill and natural abilities to style a room, she stood there waiting for an answer.

“Absolutely,” Olivia and I both said in unison.

She bounced up on her toes and smiled. “I’m so glad you think so.”

I smiled back at her. From an heiress without a voice to a woman with drive, an irrefutable talent. My heart constricted in my chest just seeing her claim her true potential, and it was all her doing.

“Yeah, okay, so I’m going to go now before I die of exhaustion.”

Lourde laughed.

“Girl, I don’t know how you’re still standing, but thank you from the bottom of my heart. You did good,” Olivia said, pulling her in for a hug.

Why hadn’t I seen it before? They were alike in so many ways. Of course, they’d strike up a friendship.

“I have so much to learn. Thanks for showing me the ropes, Olivia.”

She let go of Lourde and turned toward me. “She’s sure as fuck got my vote to stay on. Jessica who?”

I let out a laugh as she referred to the absence of her second-in-charge, who was still missing.

“Noted, but that’s up to Lourde, not me,” I said.

“Thank you. I’m humbled,” Lourde said.

She stopped short of committing to a job, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

Olivia threw me a curly eyebrow then turned back to Lourde. “Well, if I don’t see you next week, I need your help picking me something to wear for the ball and not something that costs ten-K. We aren’t all born as Diamonds!”

“Of course!” Lourde said, splitting into laughter.

“You’re coming to the Diamond Charity Ball?” I asked.

“Yes, your lover invited me.” I threw her glare.“Lourde invited me, Barrett. Relax.”

“I think Olivia would love Pepper and Grace, don’t you?”

I shook my head. “How do I know?”

They both laughed.

“Well, I’m done. Going to pass out now,” Olivia said.

“Well, great job as always, Olivia, and Lourde, I’m seriously impressed. And here you thought you lacked the skills.”

“You did?” Olivia turned to her.

Lourde shrugged.

“Crazy girl,” Olivia said, grabbing her briefcase.

“Right, let’s go. The new owners will be here any minute, and I don't want to get stuck talking to them.”

“You know, for someone so successful, Barrett, you are so private,” Olivia said.

“That’s the way I like it.”

I put my hand into Lourdes, so proud of my girl. Squeezing her close, she cautiously glanced up at me, and I gave her a reassuring smile. I didn’t care that Olivia saw us together. I was fucking beaming.

* * *

Lourde washed up after cooking us both a delicious dinner. It was completely unnecessary since I had a housekeeper, but she shooed me away to my den to tend to some urgent emails that just came through.

An hour later, I went looking for her but couldn’t find her.

After checking the kitchen and living room, I rounded the corner and opened the door to my bedroom. There, she lay in bed, still clothed from the day. I walked over to where she lay, eyes closed, her chestnut hair splayed across the pillow, her alabaster skin showing a faint blush on the tops of her cheeks.

“Hey, I must have nodded off,” she said, leaning up and propping herself up on her elbows.

“You’ve been working too hard.”

She shook her head. “Did you get your work done?”