Whatever He Wants (13 page)

 
     
He remained silent long enough to make her
squirm. At first Noelle didn’t think he would answer. “You still have a lot to
learn but you have a lot of potential.”

 
     
“Oh.” It wasn’t the answer she’d expected.

 
     
He walked over to the bed, bent over and
caught her chin between his fingers. James brushed his lips against hers. “You
were fine, Noelle. I’ll be in touch okay?”

 
     
She nodded feeling only slightly
mollified.

 
     
As he headed for the door a second time,
James paused. “Those store accounts you have access to—use them.” And then he
left.

 
     
In the blink of an eye he’d transformed
from an attentive, passionate lover to a cold stranger. Noelle couldn’t wrap
her mind around the switch. She wished her body didn’t still crave his. But
most of all she wished she had the strength to walk away before she was in too
deep. Unfortunately, Noelle didn’t feel as if she could get any deeper.

 
     
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Simone greeted.
Noelle stood up to give her cousin a hug. “I was meeting with investors for my
boutique.”

 
     
“No problem. I’m just glad you could make
it. I’ve only been here for a little while anyway. I went ahead and ordered you
lemonade if that’s okay.”

 
     
“That’s fine. But why would you think I
wouldn’t come? I was glad to hear from you.”

 
     
Noelle had wanted to call Simone every day
since she’d moved into James’ penthouse but didn’t have the nerve. She was
still uneasy about the way things had been left between them but Simone was
family and they’d always been close.  Remembering this, she finally broke
down and called to invite her to lunch. “We haven’t spoken in weeks. I told you
I’d give you my number when I was settled in and I didn’t.”

 
     
Simone took a sip of her drink before
responding. “I figured you were busy but I was wondering when I’d hear from
you. I would have called you myself if I had your number. And since you’re the
last person on Earth to not own a cell phone I had to wait.”

 
     
Noelle pulled her cell phone out of her
purse and placed it on the table. “I have one now.” James insisted she have one
if he needed to get in contact with her at a moment’s notice but she wouldn’t
tell Simone that for fear of being lectured.

 
     
“I’m impressed. My little
cuz
has stepped into the twenty-first century. Did my eyes
deceive me or did I see you rocking Kate Spade’s latest handbag.”

 
     
“The sales lady said these were very
popular.”

 
     
“I got to admit, you look like a million
bucks. Your hair looks nice.”

 
     
Noelle touched her hair self-consciously.
She’d never worn a weave in her life and was still adjusting to having foreign
hair. James seemed to like it though he never came right out and said it. She
could just tell by the way he liked to pull her long tresses during sex. 
Noelle had been uneasy about spending his money so freely but once she realized
it was what he expected of her, she’d gotten a makeover from head to toe,
including a brand new wardrobe full of labels she’d never heard of but cost
more than anything she’d ever owned in her life.

 
     
“Thanks. I only wish I had your fashion
sense. Speaking of which, how did your meeting with the investors go?”

 
     
Simone’s grin widened. “That’s why I’m
late actually. They seemed really impressed with the location I’ve chosen and
my business proposal. They said they’d get back to me by middle of next week
but I believe my boutique will be a go.”

 
     
“That’s amazing, Simone. If anyone
deserves to have her dreams come true it’s you.”

 
     
Simone reached across the table and gave
Noelle’s hand a squeeze.
“
Aww
,
thank you girl.
When I decided to take on this endeavor, I didn’t think
the ball would get rolling so quickly. You’re the one who encouraged me to go
for it and now it’s actually happening. I know they say seventy percent of
businesses fail in the first year but I realized if I don’t take this
opportunity now, I’ll wonder ‘what if’ for the rest of my life.”

 
     
“You won’t fail. Anything you set your
mind to you end up accomplishing.”

 
     
Their conversation was halted when the
waiter returned to the table to take their order. Once he was gone, they
resumed dancing around the subject that had caused their rift.

 
     
Finally, unable to take the underlying
tension between the two of them, Noelle broke down. “Look Simone, I’m really
sorry for the way things were left between us when I moved out. You’ve done so
much for me I could never repay you for. I love you and I don’t want us to be
mad at each other. That’s why I haven’t called you. It was because I’m ashamed
of how I acted. I know you meant well when you told me what you thought.”

 
     
Simone shook her head. “No. I’m the one
who should apologize. I was way out of line. You’re an adult and free to do
what you like. Even if I don’t always agree with the decisions you make I’ll
always be here for you, hon.
All
I’m concerned about
is whether you’re happy. Are you?”

 
     
Noelle nibbled her bottom lip. She wasn’t
sure how to answer that. She was happy when James took her until she was
breathless. Her pussy got wet whenever she thought about their sexual
escapades. But afterwards he’d pull away and become distant. There were moments
when he’d share a little about himself but those occasions were rare. It was
those times that kept her anchored to him, what made her yearn to be closer to
James in not just the physical sense.

 
     
It frightened her but Noelle fell for him
a little bit more each time they were together. However, deep down Noelle knew
James would be finished with her if she admitted it.

 
     
She pasted a smile on her face. “Yes, I’m
happy.”

 
     
Simone didn’t hide her emotions well
either, and by the expression on her face, Noelle could tell her cousin still
had reservations. “Well, that’s all that matters.”

 
     
Once that awkwardness was out of the way,
the conversation flowed. It was nice having her cousin to talk to. She didn’t
have many friends beyond a few acquaintances at art school because she always
felt self-conscious and insecure. Simone was one of the few people who put her
at ease.

 
     
“So how have you been keeping yourself
busy?” Simone casually asked over their shared dessert of a pear tart.

 
     
Noelle swallowed the piece of tart in
mouth.  “I watch a lot of movies and I shop. Nothing too productive, I’m
afraid. ”

 
     
“Well you look like a million bucks. 
That outfit looks great on you.”

 
     
Noelle snorted. “I wish I could take
credit but all those highfalutin stores I have accounts with all have personal
shoppers. They pick out outfits, I wear them.”

 
     
“You wear them well, though. It’s funny
because you never liked going shopping with me.”

 
     
Noelle still wasn’t a huge fan of shopping
but it embarrassed her to admit she only shopped because James expected her to
uphold a certain image. Noelle realized her cousin wasn’t fond of Noelle’s
situation; she didn’t want to give Simone another reason. “Something to fill
the time I guess.” She quickly redirected the topic. “I’ve been baking a lot
lately. I found my mom’s old recipe books and I’ve been trying them out. She
wanted to own a bakery one day.”

 
     
“You mentioned that about Aunt Dot.”

 
     
Noelle shrugged. “The subject never came
up. She used to be something else in the kitchen. I don’t think I’ve been able
to replicate Mom’s baked goods but I’m getting pretty darn close.”

 
     
“I’d love to try your baked goods
sometime.”

 
     
“I have a fridge full of chocolate
cupcakes if you’d like to come back to the penthouse with me. We can walk from
here. It’s a nice day.”

 
     
“You had me at chocolate cupcakes.”

 
     
They chatted and giggled the entire walk
to the penthouse. It felt like they were teenagers again.

 
     
“Oh, my God!
Girl, are you serious?” Simone exclaimed when she stepped inside the penthouse.
“This place is unbelievable!”

 
     
Noelle laughed uneasily. “Yeah, it’s a bit
overwhelming isn’t it?”

 
     
“I wouldn’t say that but it looks like
you’ve moved on up like the
Jeffersons
.”

 
     
Noelle giggled. “You’re so silly.”

 
     
Noelle gave Simone the full tour of the
penthouse and then the two women browsed through the extensive
blu-ray
collection in the entertainment console finally
settling on an old movie they both enjoyed watching. Noelle popped some
popcorn. It was like old times. The movie was only half way over when Noelle
felt another presence in the room. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
It was unnerving how easily she could sense James without having to lay eyes on
him.

 
     
He’d never told her she couldn’t have
visitors but she felt guilty nonetheless. She slowly turned to see him enter
the room. His jacket was slung casually over his shoulder.

 
     
Noelle stood up to greet him.
“Hi, James.
You remember my cousin, Simone, don’t you?”

 
     
Simone, who had been engrossed in the
movie, noticed James for the first time and stood as well. “Hi.” The greeting
lacked the warmth it had from their first meeting at the gym.

 
     
James, seeming unaffected, smiled at
Simone, going into full charmer mode. “Nice to see you again, Simone. Noelle
mentioned you were going into business for yourself?”

 
     
Noelle was surprised he’d remembered.

 
     
Regardless of how her cousin felt about
James, he found her Achilles’ heel. She beamed with pride. “I am. It’s still in
the beginning stages but thus far it’s been an exciting process.”

 
     
“It certainly can be. I remember when my
first hotel opened. I wish you luck in your endeavor. Simone, would you please
excuse us?”

 
     
“Uh, sure.”

 
     
“Noelle, a word please?”
James turned on his heel not bothering to wait for a response.

 
     
Noelle shot Simone an apologetic look
before she followed James to the kitchen. James leaned against the island, his
arms crossed over his broad chest.

 
     
“Is everything okay?” she asked nervously.

 
     
“I believe I made my conditions clear in
the beginning. I want you available to me at all times, not entertaining guests
at random.”

 
     
 
“Simone is not a random guest, she’s my
cousin. If you had a problem with me having company you should have made it
clearer. I’m alone in this penthouse ninety percent of the time so I thought—”

 
     
“You’re not here to think. You’re here to
do as I say. Get rid of her.”

 
     
“But I haven’t seen her since I moved
here. And I...” The stony expression on his face shut her down.

 
     
“Then by all means, when she leaves you
can go with her and the two of you can spend as much time together as you
need.”