The car rolled to a stop outside the building I had left just yesterday morning. It felt like a week—or perhaps even a month with how my life had changed—had passed since then. It had been dark when we got here on Friday, and I’d been too sexed-up to notice the place Saturday morning. Looking at it now, I took it in more. It was a massive building with multiple floors, very modern and upscale. Though in this area, that wasn’t uncommon. They were only about a fifteen-minute drive from us, and Nicco’s comment about family being in the area surfaced, making sense.
A door opened the second we came to a complete stop, and I jumped back a little in surprise. I turned to Jude, my eyebrows raised. The exclusivity of the situation made me wide-eyed. He chuckled at me, nudging me to exit. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, I waited for him before following the burly men inside.
They were quiet but respectful as they escorted us across a threshold that beeped, and I eyed the lobby with a new interest. A few people were dressed similarly in the foyer, but they all looked to be guards, no other guests mingling about, and I became even more curious as to who they were to have this type of operation. I had to assume it was all owned by them.
Just who were they? Oil Tycoons? A hidden Prince? The secret love child of a Russian mob boss?
The facts were staring me in the face, but I ignored them, my ignorance providing me with comfort for the time being. It might be naive, but I wanted to live in my bubble of ignorance until the moment I could no longer. My plate was full, and I was only beginning to manage it.
“Whoa, this is intense,” Jude mumbled. The man leading us smirked at him before holding the elevator open for us to enter and then keying a floor for us.
“Yeah, it kind of gives a whole new meaning to them not being able to contact us,” I grudgingly admitted.
Wells had surprisingly texted me this morning, stating he would like to start training today. I was even more surprised when he told me it was Atticus’ place. I hadn’t known they knew each other, much less that he was his new employer. Though, the most shocking thing had been when he mentioned bringing Jude along so he could hang out with Imogen while we worked out.
Jude had been over the moon with the news and hadn’t let me make any excuse to decline. Not that I would have, but it was cute he was so eager for the opportunity. I think we were both feeling the anxiety of them leaving again, and in his attempt to thwart it, he wanted to spend as much time as possible, soaking it in like a sponge so he had enough to last.
It was a positive thing for his life, and I couldn’t deny I hoped to see Sax and possibly Nicco too while we were here. Getting a more in-depth look into Atticus’ world wouldn’t be a bad thing either. My brain hadn’t let me process the information Sax had told me in the sensation room yet, either. I think if I did, I would become even more of a slobbering mess in front of him. I didn’t know what it was about Atticus that made me so tongue-tied or weak at the knees in his presence.
Especially when I wanted to hate him for keeping the people I cared about away from me. Yet, his domineering and commanding presence in the kitchen had me weak at the knees, and I’d been sitting in Sax’s lap at the time. Looking down at the workout clothes I wore, I suddenly felt underdressed with all the opulence surrounding us. When the elevator dinged, announcing our arrival, we both stepped forward and were greeted by a butler as we exited.
“Welcome, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Franklin.” The older man bowed his head at us, and unsure of the protocol, I found myself wanting to curtsy, but I reigned it in, pulling forth all the years of being a Hanover.
“Thank you.” Okay, so maybe that was just common courtesy, but the confidence on how to engage in these situations was there. I nodded, awaiting his instruction as I held my hands clasped in front of me.
“Mr… Atticus would like to speak with you, Mrs. Carter, before your session. Mr. Franklin, I will show you to Miss Imogen on the way.”
“Oh, thank you. You can, um, just call me Jude.”
“Of course, Jude.”
The man bowed, turning and walking down a long hallway. I grabbed Jude’s arm as we followed, taking in the place with each step. It was elegantly decorated in dark colors and had a modern look about the place. I hadn’t been on this floor last time, and I found it to be homey despite the dangerous, dark vibe about it. It suited Atticus with his designer Armani suits and blacked-out SUVs.
Before we made it past two doors, we were stopped by a grinning bearded man.
“Spitfire, can’t get enough of me, huh?”
My face flamed at his comment, and I shuffled uneasily on my feet. The movement drew Sax’s attention to Jude, who I hadn’t been able to bring myself to glance at. For the first time ever, I saw the giant’s face flame a little at being caught out by the teen. His embarrassment helped to cool mine.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” he mumbled.
“Mr. Wessex,” the butler interjected, “I was showing our guests to Miss Imogen and Master Atticus.”
“Thank you, Bernard. I can show them the rest of the way.”
“Very well.”
The older man turned, the tailcoats—I’d just now noticed—fanned out behind him as he went. Sax motioned for us to continue, joining me at my side. His body bumped into mine with each step, his tell-tale smirk giving him away. It seemed that once Sax had allowed himself to open up and touch me, he couldn’t stop doing it.
His hands always found a way to me, and I found myself wanting them. I had never been a physical touch person before. Mostly because touches were sparse growing up and only used for punishment or out of obligation. I could see now how much physical intimacy had lacked in my marriage, especially in the small touches.
Maybe my experience was normal, and Sax and the others were the exception, but that didn’t seem right either. Especially after meeting the girls. Cami was the touchiest person I’d ever met. While I could almost justify it with how flirty she was, Nat and Stacy still displayed more than anyone in my life prior. It led me to believe it wasn’t them, but me, who was the outlier. I didn’t know what to believe.
Before we came to a room, the sounds of a piano could be heard. Sax stopped, causing us to halt with him, and I watched him for a brief moment. The sound was beautiful, the playing brilliant, and I wondered who it was. He closed his eyes, almost like it both pained and excited him to hear the music. After a deep breath, he opened them again, and this time he grabbed my hand and pulled us along. I looked to Jude, who only shrugged as well, not understanding the reaction to the music.
“Who is that? It’s amazing.”
“It’s uh, Immy. She hasn’t played very much in the past year. It’s just nice to hear again.”