Chapter 49
Three hours after I’d sent my first text to Brooke, I put the final bolt in place and climbed down from the short A-frame ladder. I drew down the cloth covering and looked around at the roof, feeling pride fill me as I saw the transformation that had taken place.
Gone were the piles of debris and refuse that had filled the corners, and the tar paper and bird shit that had been stuck to nearly every surface. There was now a beautiful sealed deck with a covering and awning to keep the sun and prying eyes out. I’d built a few planter boxes along the walls, and along with Milly and Elizabeth’s help over the past week, they were now bursting with life, brightly colored flowers, and green vines that hung over the side of the building.
Gia was heating the coals in the large grill we’d set up in the red brick BBQ pit, and Elizabeth was laying towels out on the cushioned deck chairs. Monique was setting up a wireless speaker and hooking up her laptop to play some music, while Clara pulled beers out of cases and dropped them in the ice bucket. I caught Milly’s eye as she slipped out of the stairwell, clutching a beach towel close. She flashed me a nervous smile and then joined, pulling out the vegetables and meat she’d brought.
I got a text message, and after reading it, I went over to the edge of the building and glanced down. There was the town car sitting out front, and Brooke, Ava, and Julia stood outside the door. The women all looked phenomenal and were drawing stares from all around.
All three were wearing big, wide-brimmed floppy hats and loose flowing robes that covered their bathing suits. They carried bags of alcohol and snacks and chatted with one another excitedly.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to the women on the rooftop, “Save me a chair.”
“Oh, we’ll save you a spot,” said Monique winking at me with her long lashes, “right in the middle, big boy.”
“Ha!” Barked Elizabeth, then she grew red in embarrassment when the other women turned in surprise at her loud laugh.
The others were laughing when I threw open the door and ran downstairs. I pulled open the front door and felt my heart and other organs swell at the beautiful sight. They all looked so relaxed I hardly recognized them, not to mention the change in clothing from their usual business attire.
“Welcome!” I said, holding the door as they all came in.
Brooke pulled off her sunglasses and took in the foyer, looking impressed. Then she spotted the antique brass mailbox on the back wall, and her grin grew wider still.
“I wondered if you would ever discover what was behind that wall,” she nodded, “I’m impressed, Connor.”
“How did you know about it?” I asked.
“Don’t forget I have the building plans,” the executive said, winking at me.
“So, where is your place?” Ava asked eagerly, “I’ve wanted to see the closet you’ve been forced to live in. How awful has it been?”
“Honestly,” I said, stepping over to unlock my door, “It hasn’t been that bad at all. At first, I thought it was the privacy, and having my own space that was so great, but I finally figured out what I love about this place so much.”
“What’s that?” Ava asked, stepping into my small room and looking around. Julia followed her, poking her head in the bathroom while Brooke stayed outside, browsing her phone.
“It’s the community aspect and knowing my neighbors care about me and that I care about them,” I shook my head, “It sounds trite, but honestly that makes this place feel like a home. I’m going to be sad when the year is up, and I have to move out.”
“This place isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was,” Ava said, twitching back the drapes and taking in the view, “Hell, it’s bigger than my place in Brooklyn. Nine times the price, though.”
“Let’s head up. Gia has the grill fired up,” I said, “and there are beers already on ice.”
I led the way upstairs, taking them two at a time on some floors in my eagerness to show them all that I’d done on the roof. At one point, I overheard a snippet of conversation between the women as they climbed slower behind me.
“You need to expedite the terms,” Julia said, “The young master has far paced where we thought he would be at this point.”
“I agree, Brooke,” Ava said, “and that little room isn’t going to cut the… training sessions we had planned. And you promised me I could be part of those!”
“Hush the both of you,” Brooke said, her tone firm, “I’ve already made arrangements.”
I wanted to ask what arrangements she’d made, but I didn’t want to stand at the top of the stairs and look like I was eavesdropping. Plus, I figured I would find out soon enough once I managed to corner Brooke.
I wish I could say I was completely confident and comfortable when all of the women met for the first time, but in truth, I had a few seconds of awkwardness. Although this wasn’t entirely my fault.
Meat grilled on the fire, and calm ambient music played in the background by the time we got to the roof. Gia and the other women had also removed shirts and shorts, all five of them in small bikinis. Not to be outdone, Brooke, Julia, and Ava took off their robes when they stepped into the sun, seemingly casual, but I knew different.
They were like two packs of cats meeting for the first time, there were a few seconds of sizing one another up as they stepped up, shaking hands. I stayed back, finding my beer from earlier and watching to see how they sorted themselves out, more curious than nervous.
“Can I get anyone a beer?” Gia asked.
“I would love one,” Brooke said, walking with her over to the ice bucket, “This is a wonderful space Connor made up here. I bet it raises the value of the building as well.”
“I’m sure it does,” Gia said, popping the top off two cold bottles and handing one to Brooke, “I’ve seen rooftop gardens written into brochures as selling points. I don’t know of another for three blocks in any direction, we’re so lucky to have it here.”
“We’re all lucky,” Brooke said with a smile as she tapped beers with Gia.
The two brunettes eyed one another with interest, sipping their cold beverages. As they continued to chat, they found that they had much in common, and though separated by a good ten years, they were kindred spirits.
Julia, Monique, and Clara were standing around the ice bucket, chatting about the show the night before and their plans for the coming weeks. Julia was telling them about the article that had come out and the idea I was putting in place. I could see the girls getting excited by the prospect of studio time on Monday morning and a trip to Korea in their near future.
Milly, Elizabeth, and Ava were the most interesting group, though, and I wandered over to the lounge chairs and listened in. The smaller blonde was talking animatedly about the company and her duties for Brooke and myself, while Elizabeth and Milly listened in. Between the older lawyer and the shy accountant, their questions were smart and probing and, in minutes, had broken down much of the business.
Food was served, and we ate burgers and hot dogs, relaxing and chatting in the warm sunlight. I’d never been to a BBQ before or a picnic, and this felt like the closest thing. I was surprised at how good it felt to be hanging out with people who loved and cared about me and who I respected and loved as well.
To my surprise, there were no jealousies or rivalries that formed or at least none that I saw. In fact, I saw many fast friendships form, and as the afternoon wore on and the drinks continued to flow, even a few flirtations and lusty glances were thrown around. Things were starting to get a little sloppy by the time Elizabeth and Monique had trapped me near the doorway, exchanging teasing comments as their arms slipped around one another’s waist. They knew what they were doing to me, especially when Monique reached up and pinched one of Elizabeth’s massive nipples and winked at me slyly. I was about to pounce on the two of them, changing this from a BBQ to an orgy, when Brooke saved me from myself and tapped a bottle with a fork, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I just wanted to say thank you all for such a lovely afternoon,” the dark-haired beauty said, her poise and command of the moment absolute, “The food, the company, the surroundings, everything is perfect. But most of all, I wanted to give my appreciation to the man who has brought us all here.”
She held up her beer towards me, and I felt my face grow hot as the rest of the women did the same, their eyes all alighting on me. Some with fondness and others with lust and desire, as their eyes traveled the length of me.
“Since the first few months when I came to work for his father, I’ve known Connor as a remarkable young man, and I believed then that he would make a good steward of his father's legacy. But what I didn’t know then, what I couldn’t know, is that when given a chance to shine, Connor would prove himself to be a truly singular individual. I don’t believe I’m being hyperbolic when I say he has it within him to be the greatest leader in the world. If he continues to grow, as he has over the past few months, then you’ll all see how right I am soon enough.
“Since I believe this so strongly, I want you all to know that Connor has been signed off on the test set forth by his father. The lawyers are reviewing everything now, but there shouldn’t be an issue.”
I could hardly believe what she said, and I felt my heart hammering in my chest as the words sank home. I looked around and saw a half-circle of grinning happy faces shining back at me. My smile faltered when I realized what this meant.
“But that means I have to move,” I said, and was comforted to see frowns on all the women who lived here, “and what about school?”
“You’ll have to quit after the semester,” Brooke said, walking over to her purse and pulling out a small envelope, “But that’s only a few weeks from now. As for your living arrangements, as of this morning, when I signed the documents, you’re free to make that decision for yourself. However,” she opened the envelope and pulled out a large golden key, “I took the liberty of having the lease transferred into your name, in case you wanted the place.”
“What lease?” I asked, trying hard to mask the crushing sense of disappointment I felt about moving away from Gia, Monique, and the rest. The thought of leaving school hurt too, but I was more interested in running the company than class, although learning had become fun again.
“The 5th-floor apartment in this building is empty and has been for some time,” she said, and I saw a twinkle in her eyes that told me all of this had been planned, maybe from the beginning, “With your driver and assistant living on the first floor, it seems to me like the ideal location for a young CEO. A couple minute drive to, oof!”
The woman grunted as I grabbed her up, laughing and squeezing her tight, dancing around on the roof in joy. The others were just as excited and couldn’t wait to help me fill the place with furniture and household goods. Gia wanted to go down right away and see the space, and the rest agreed.
The empty apartment was massive by city standards and basically a blank canvas, asking to be remodeled. I knew I would be busy running a major company, but my mind still began to plan out projects I could tackle on weekends and evenings.
After sun and drink stole the women’s energy, they trickled out, finding their own beds and homes. As the sun sank below the skyline, I found myself left alone with Brooke and Ava. The gorgeous brunette and I had been speaking about plans for the business for hours, but we trailed off as we heard music playing from the bedroom.
Getting up, we wandered back, and I felt Brooke’s small warm hand slip into mine, our fingers lacing together. We found the tiny little blonde dancing in the empty room, her svelte body drawing our eyes along her slender curves as she gyrated to the beat.
Turning, Ava caught us watching her and grinned mischievously. Reaching out her hand, she crooked her finger, calling us over to her. Sharing a grin, Brooke and I let our clothing fall to the wooden floors and joined the little blonde in christening my new home.
The End, For Now…