Page 99 of The Passion

A strong, confident, and extremely clever businesswoman, which we already knew. Even though she was standing behind her father this whole time, the moment she stepped out from behind him and faced him, it was like everything about her just strengthened. She became a force all on her own.

But the real growth in her has been behind closed doors where she finally feels she can take off that armor she has been wearing for most of her life. She doesn’t need to be Lady Felisha Kentwall for every moment of the day. The moment she stepsover the threshold into the apartment, she is just Felisha, the woman she chooses to be without any judgment or rules placed on her.

We spent the weekend bringing clothes and some of her personal belongings that she wanted over to my place, and I made room in my closet for our clothes to be hanging side by side. I never thought I would see the day I would be living with a woman, even though deep down I have been longing for it for a long time, I just never realized it.

Everyone came here yesterday for lunch and an afternoon of just talking. The first hour was about what had happened on Friday night, until Felisha stood from the couch she was sitting on with Harper and Cherie and declared that there was to be no more discussion on the topic.

It’s like she has found her own girl posse now with Harper, Cherie, Tori, and Elouise. I heard them talking about how when this was all over, they would take off to her villa in France and spend a girls’ weekend without any testosterone. I can’t say I’m happy about it, but I would never say that. I know Rem will have security traveling with them, and with that many of them, every restaurant or bar they visit will certainly know they are there, with the amount of loud talking and laughing that will be coming from them all. God help St. Tropez, I say, when the crazy British women arrive. But as long as Felisha and the rest of the girls are happy and safe, then that’s all we care about.

Waking this morning for the first day of the work week felt so right with her snuggled into my side and groaning just the same as I did when the alarm went off. We had a few too many wines with our friends, followed by another night of hot and heavy sex. Which was awesome at the time, but now on limited sleep, we are both walking naked into the shower, trying to shake the mix of hangover and sleep deprivation.

“If this is what it’s like turning forty, I’m not sure I’m happy about it,” Felisha mumbles as she steps under her side of the shower.

“You haven’t made it there yet, but let me assure you, forty bites like a bitch.”

Pushing my head back into the hot spray of water coming from my side of the shower, I groan at the tense muscles in my shoulders. Whoever invented double showers is a genius. Being able to stand and watch her naked and wet every morning is going to be the best start to every day.

“I thought I was fit, but you have made muscles I never knew I had ache from every position you have put me in.” Felisha raises her hands above her head and scrubs the shampoo into her hair, and she looks like a beautiful goddess doing it.

They say the simple things in life are often the best, and she is proving it right now.

Cooking her a quick omelet and coffee to go, we both head down to the car, because the more time she spends with me, the more she is starting to enjoy a morning coffee to get that caffeine boost we both need. As we pull up to the front of her building and the valet opens the door for her, I pull her into a tight embrace.

“I don’t want to kiss that lipstick off your face, but I still need your lips on mine.” I kiss her softly, trying to tell her all the things I need her to know. That I love her, I’ve got her back, and I believe in her.

“Go get ‘em, tiger, and remember, you hold the power here.” Taking her face in my hands and kissing her on the forehead, she sucks in a deep breath, holding it and then slowly letting it go.

“Thank you. And if you hear an explosion of noise during the day, it will just be my father entering the office. All hot air and fire but absolutely no substance.” Trying to laugh it off, she turns, sliding out of the car and straightening herself up.Shoulders back and standing tall, she starts walking toward the door like the distinguished CEO she is about to become.

Pulling out into traffic, I leave my heart back in that building. I feel like shit because I can’t stay to protect her.

My phone starts ringing, and the day begins. I have a job to do, and with everything that has been taking all my attention, I need to now push it aside and concentrate on what I’m getting paid to do, and that’s work for Darby Hotels and look after Nic.

“Hey, boss man, I’m ten minutes out from the office, if you need me to hold your hand while trying to use the coffee machine in your office that I bought for you. I know it’s complicated for you Australians to work out.” As much as this week isn’t going to be fun, one of the things I’m good at is trying to bring the humor to life, and pissing Nic and the boys off is my number one favorite thing to do.

“I hated you this early in the mornings before Felisha, but I’m starting to think she is going to make my life worse, not better. You getting constant sex is only going to make you more hyped up and happy in the mornings, and that’s just going to be a punishment for the rest of us, isn’t it. A happy Flynn is going to be an annoying-as-fuck Flynn.” And that is why he is my best friend. He knows me and puts up with me anyway.

“All jokes aside, though, as soon as you get into the office, we need to talk. Broderick has some information on the other shareholders that you need to hear. I’ll have your coffee waiting. See you shortly.” He hangs up before I can reply, and my head is already racing.

“For fuck’s sake, what now!” I yell to no one in the car, just letting out frustration.

Just one normal day would have been nice.

But who am I kidding, that isn’t going to happen until we take out the trash.

My foot gets a little heavy on the accelerator as I head toward the office to find out what the next hurdle is and hope like hell it’s not a big one.

Chapter Twenty-Two

FELISHA

Walking through the office this morning, I feel different.

Apprehensive but still at a level I can handle.

But the overall happiness that has consumed me the last few days actually has me smiling and not wearing the bitch-with-balls scowl that everyone used to talk about behind my back. I’m sure that will return, but for this morning, I’m not that woman.

There are not too many staff in the office yet because like a normal day, I’m here just after seven am. I find it peaceful to get a handle on the day before the constant interruptions from calls and people walking into my office.

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