Page 45 of Consumed By You

We step into the elevator alone. “Where’s Dimitri?” I ask.

“He goes up the service elevator. I like my privacy. I have other security details as well, you’ll meet them. Dimitri’s my favorite so I tend to take him everywhere with me.”

“Why do you need security?”

He puts in a code for the Penthouse.I should have known.

“Because there are people who don’t like me very much.”

“Why?”

“You’ll learn more about them as my assistant. I dismantle companies just as much as I create them. Their companies are going down the drain and that’s where I come in. They don’t like me but they need me. I’ve made many enemies in this business.”

I had no idea. I study him, absorbing this. Is he trying to warn me?

“Has anyone ever tried to hurt you?” I squeeze his hand, unable to bear the thought of it.

“Yes.”

“How?When?”

He presses his lips to mine. “I’ll tell you later.”

The elevator doors open and I gasp…actuallygasp,and step into the most beautiful apartment I’ve ever seen. The dark marbled foyer is completely surrounded by large windows, replacing the need for walls. I step off the elevator, and let Benjamin lead me in. The places where there are walls are filled with expensive paintings, just like the ones in his office, although these seem to be from the Impressionist movement. Although I know next to nothing about art, I can spot a Monet from a mile away. There’s a standalone table in the middle of the spacious entrance with a large plant perched atop it. His apartment is undeniably modern. He sets my luggage beside the table and guides me further into the apartment.

I’m not surprised to find that his living room is even more beautiful than the entrance. The New York skyline is bright and menacingly impressive outside the windows, just like his office. It’s like the whole city is on display. I realize just how high up we are and gulp.Yikes.

Backing up, I take in the rest of the beautiful apartment, marveling at the fact that he comes home to this every night.

“Would you like a drink, Darcy?”

“Love one.” He disappears into the kitchen. My fingers drift across his cut-edge dining table, my mind spinning in circles. I can’t help but be intimidated by his home, all too aware he’s seen my own one-room sanctuary. No wonder he called it shitty. “This place looks like it’s straight out of a magazine.”

He comes back in with a bottle of chilled wine and two glasses. “I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

“Tell me.”

“Itisfrom a magazine. I hate decorating. I let someone else do that.” He pours our drinks, handing one over to me.

“Figures. You’re such a guy.”

“Come on. Let me show you the rest of the place.” I set down my drink on the table next to his, warming when he entwines his fingers with mine, enjoying his enthusiasm.

He leads me to a hallway and there are four doors. He points to one. “Bathroom.”

He opens the one on the right. I peer in. “You play the piano?”

A sleek black piano is set in the middle of the room. It’s literally the only thing in the dark space, which makes it look dramatic and hauntingly beautiful with all of New York behind it.

“A bit.” He smiles, and it dawns on me that this is the most I’ve seen him smile since I met him. I like it…a lot.

“This is a guest room.” He leads me from the room to another. “My room.”

He opens the door. He sleeps here every night.

“It’s beautiful.” The room is completely designed with contrasts of black and indigo. There is a flat-screen television on the wall, larger than any other TV I’ve seen. Two entire sides of the room are glass windows. There are no curtains, but then again, we are high in the sky. No one can see anything up here. There’s a large black desk against the wall, his Mac on top of it. There isn’t a thing out of place.

“Do you like it?”