The Billionaire's Secretary (Billionaire's Series Book 1) (14 page)

Adrian picked her up off her feet and carried her to a garden bench. He put her down on it and sat beside her.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No, it’s not bad tonight. Winter’s coming, but it’s surely not in much of a hurry this year.”

Adrian laughed at her comment.

“Do you remember the way we used to wait for the first snow every year when we were kids?”

“Yeah, I don’t remember a winter when it didn’t snow. There are holidays now when snow that sticks to the ground is a rarity in these parts rather than a guarantee.”

“Global warming,” Adrian quipped.

Aurora laughed and put her head on his shoulder and tried her best to clear her mind. They didn’t even hear when the sirens made their way up the driveway to take Aaron away.

***

In the warmth of the living room in Guyton Cottage, Aurora and Adrian sat down to watch the evening news. As soon as it started, the anchor announced that they had breaking news in the Hong Kong espionage case and that they would be going live to the Alpharetta Police Department for the press conference.

“As a result of weeks of reconnaissance and fact checking, we have reason to believe that Cheryl Smith, an executive assistant at Guyton Investments, is a viable suspect in the blackmailing of several key executives at the firm, and that these illegal activities are what indeed led to the previous implication of Alan Guyton in the Hong Kong corporate espionage scandal. At present, we have Miss Smith in custody and the interrogation process has only just begun. But we are confident that we will be getting a break in the case very soon, which will lead us to the spy and ultimately, justice for those directly impacted as well as the people of Alpharetta and Hong Kong. Updates will be furnished as the case progresses, but due to the sensitivity of the investigation, I will not be answering any questions from members of the press tonight. Thank you.”

Adrian switched off the television and turned to Aurora on the couch. He took both her hands in his and sighed.

“I have to say, I’m starting to feel relieved that I won’t have people looking at me like the rich boy who sent his brothers to jail.”

“Yeah, I’m glad they agreed to keep Aaron’s name out of it, if only for his own safety. We’re almost at the end of it, Adrian. Soon all this will be over and life can go back to normal.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, kissing the top of her head and then resting his cheek there.

“My life will never be the same again, but I certainly won’t be regretting that.”

“What do you mean?”

“If all this had never happened, there’s a big possibility that I would never have met you in the flesh, Aurora. I wouldn’t have you here like this and, even though it hasn’t been like this for a long time, I still can’t imagine having it any other way.”

Aurora looked up at him with an expression of complete devotion as he bowed his head and touched his lips to hers. They kissed passionately for a long time, holding each other as if there was a possibility either one of them could fade into thin air at any moment.

“I couldn’t either, Adrian. You completely blindsided me with this whole relationship, but I just couldn’t say no to you. It just feels so natural to me.”

“We do have a lot of drama to build on. That makes it easy,” he said, smiling playfully. “Hey, I have something cool to show you. Wanna see?”

Aurora gave him a skeptical look, then cocked her head to the side.

“You know what? I do wanna see.”

In the loft Adrian pulled Aurora down gently into the bed with him and he kissed her and touched her all over her body, restraining from going any further. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, having confirmed to themselves that what they shared was far more than the physical. It was a connection of their hearts and their souls more so than their bodies and that the sheer ecstasy of being in each other’s company was more than enough to sustain their love.

***

“It’s quite important that the menu is light but robust,” Andrew insisted, as Aurora and the caterer decided what food they would serve at the party. “It’s not dinner, but it should still be sturdy.”

“What my boss is saying is that it should be able to stand up to the morose amounts of alcohol his colleagues are used to consuming.”

Aurora continued talking with the caterer while Andrew got up to watch Adrian make martinis at the bar. He placed four glasses on the countertop and watched him pour.

“I know all about you and how you feel about her and about us; Aurora told me everything.”

“I knew she would, Adrian. You two have a special bond. It’s not dissimilar to what your mother and I had. Aurora knew who I was before I knew myself and even now, she still knows me better than anyone. I’ll never give her friendship up, Son; you and your brothers can have anything that I can give that could possibly make you happy, but I’ll never allow anyone to let Aurora down again.”

“I understand Dad; believe me, I do.”

***

A few weeks later, Guyton Estate was a hive of activity as party planners and suppliers came and went through the ancient wrought iron gates, delivering floral arrangements, tableware, stemware, flatware and exquisite linen. A sparkling white marquee tent was erected on the green manicured front lawn and people were setting up tables and chairs while others draped the roof and sides of the tent in luxurious chiffon in all shades and tones of white and silver. A giant crystal chandelier was poised to be raised to the highest point under the marquee.

More than enough assistants buzzed around, placing things and making fine adjustments while their bosses shouted at delivery people who were forming a constant stream into the tent. Adrian watched patiently from the terrace, trying to make out the form of Aurora among the hustle and bustle. As soon as he saw her, he started to descend the steps toward the lawn. He placed both hands on her waist and held her rooted to the spot while he placed tender kisses on her shoulder. She jumped with surprise, but melted under his touch.

“Calm down, darling. Take deep breaths.”

“Oh, hush up, Adrian. I’m beginning to think this whole thing won’t be coming together before dark, much less before the guests start arriving.”

“Look at it, Aurora; they’re almost done. All I can see that needs doing is to lay out the food and bring in the ice sculptures, and that can’t be done as yet anyway. Go inside and start getting ready. Rebecca and I will take care of everything else.”

He took the clipboard from her hand and shoved her in the direction of the house. With a beckon from his hand, Liz approached to lead Aurora inside. When she was out of sight, he turned with a serious look on his face to Rebecca.

“Now, don’t be alarmed, just tell me; is everything running according to schedule?”

“Yes, Mr. Guyton,” she replied confidently.

“I like a sure response. There is absolutely nothing that can be allowed to go wrong tonight. So if you need more people, bring them in, but get it all done perfectly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Adrian left her there on the lawn barking orders at some workmen and went inside to get dressed for the party. As he walked up the marble staircase of Guyton’s main house, he wondered to himself what his father and Alan were doing at that moment. Were they feeling as blessed as he was now to be looking forward to such a perfect night of good food, friends and family that lay before them? He knew Aaron would be thinking of different things this Christmas; hard and difficult things, unless he decided to come clean about what had happened. They would let him out on house arrest if he agreed to testify against the real criminals. He knew Aaron would do the right thing soon enough.

Adrian smiled and shook his head. He knew that of all the things the Guytons were or could be from time to time, one thing they weren’t was ungrateful.

***

As the clock struck eight, people started arriving at the estate and handing over their Buicks, BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes to the well-dressed valets that stood in a perfect line in the main entrance portico. The night was clear with not a wisp of a cloud in the sky and the winter stars shone brightly. Adrian stood on the terrace, watching the guests arrive and waiting for his brother to pull up. When he saw the car, he went down to the garden.

Quickly, he went around to the passenger side and opened the door for his brother’s lovely new fiancée. He had been more than a little curious about what she would wear since Rayna was well known for her fashion forwardness as an Atlanta heiress.

“Wow!” was all Adrian could say when he saw the oxblood red satin gown she wore. It was sleek and smooth and hugged her every curve before falling into a sexy flare.

“Thank you, Adrian. I keep telling your brother that winter is either for daring colors or white, and for the life of me, I can’t pull off a white dress against my pale skin.”

Alan took his fiancée’s hand and led her toward the tent with Adrian following behind. He took a glass of burgundy from a waiter walking past him and settled in at a table set for two to watch the door until Aurora came through it. The band tuned up and started the first song of the evening, which was
Winter Wonderland
, as she had insisted. Andrew took Rebecca’s hand and led her out onto the dance floor where they danced gracefully as some of the guests joined them on the dance floor. When the song came to a close, Andrew Guyton took the microphone and addressed his guests.

“Friends, colleagues and family: it is with the warmest wishes of the season that we invite you into our home to celebrate with us the joy of the holidays and the turn of another year along with all the hopefulness that it will bring with it. We ask that you eat, drink and be merry with us for as long a time as we may have in each other’s company. Welcome!”

Applause went up throughout the party and the band struck up a jazzy rendition of
Let It Snow
, calling many guests back to the dance floor. Adrian smiled as he saw his father dip Rebecca very dramatically and wondered when he had last seen Andrew Guyton dance like that. Just then, he caught sight of her silky skin as she paused at the doorway, searching the room for him. He couldn’t move at the sight of her, but stood still until their eyes finally met. Only then could his feet leave the ground and it was as being pulled in by a magnet how he gravitated toward her.

Aurora was upset that she was late. She always prided herself in being on time, but as she had been stepping out onto the portico, she had caught her heel and broken it. Luckily an impulse shoe buy on a planning trip into Atlanta the day before had been her savior since its silver tone was the only thing she had with her to match her dress. But she had finally made it and she had found Adrian as well. When he took her in his arms, she held her breath. His chest felt so good against her, she had known this feeling for so many years and yet every time it felt as if she were coming home again. Adrian kissed the cool bare skin at her shoulders and held his lips there as if he meant to spark a fire in her.

“Good evening, Mr. Guyton,” she whispered seductively in his ear.

She felt the shiver run down his spine as he raised his head to respond to her greeting.

“Good evening, Miss Aldridge.”

He swept her onto the dance floor and they danced closely and slowly for quite a few songs before taking their seats at the little secluded table that Adrian had chosen earlier.

“What are my parents doing here?”

“They’re invited to all Andrew’s big parties. Didn’t you know that?”

“As a matter of fact I didn’t,” she replied as she accepted a glass of red wine from a waiter. Adrian took another glass as well of the warming burgundy. “I’m never usually in attendance; always in the background planning and executing.”

They engaged in more of the easy conversation that Aurora had come to adore until Rebecca approached the table and pulled over a chair.

“Hi, Adrian,” she said as she sat down.

“Hi Rebecca. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I sure am. Everything is just fantastic. Now if someone could just point me in the direction of the eligible bachelors, I would be satisfied.”

Adrian laughed and then said, “Do you smoke?”

“I quit a few years ago. Why?”

“Well, the bachelors... the good ones at least... all smoke and they will be out behind the tent, chatting it up by now.”

“Oh, thanks Adrian. You guys excuse me, let me just go check that out.”

“Take a scotch and soda with you so you have something to offer the one you pick out when you bum his cigarette,” Adrian said, winking at her.

Rebecca winked back and walked over to the bar.

“Thanks for that,” Aurora said, taking his hand over the table.

“It’s nothing, darling.”

Just then the dance floor came to a standstill as the band introduced a singer and everyone applauded. She walked up to the microphone and spoke.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We are the Alpharetta Jazz Orchestra and we would like to play our next song for you as it has been requested by Mr. Adrian Guyton.”