Nolan was already waiting by the car when I got out. The offices along the hall were locked, only a few remained open with tired, drowsy workers inside. The private park was flooded with light and since Nolan stood directly under one of them his face was partially shadowed. His green eyes watched me as I walked quickly toward him. He moved to the passenger side and held the door open for me. I averted my gaze as I slid into the seat. How ironic, he used to be the one averting his gaze, years ago, at the slightest attempt of a conversation yet here I am looking away and him staring intently at me. He closed my door and came to the driver’s side of the car. The car smelled like him, male and expensive. There was a faint musty smell too. He just settled down when he turned sharply to the right and peered into a shadowed corner of the park. I followed his gaze and noticed the dark figure standing against the wall at the other end. As Nolan backed out of the lot the figure moved into the
Nolan was quiet on the ride back to the office where I left my car but there was a charge in the air. Something electric sizzling between us. When he took his eyes off the road to glance at me I didn’t look away. How could I? He was such a mystery that I was having a hard time understanding and dinner tonight added to that mystery. If Sophia Wolffe is so sure that Nolan didn’t hire me just to keep his enemy close as he claimed then why? The question gnawed at me as I returned his stare. He looked away for the briefest moment to focus on the road but he glanced my way again and this time the heat in his eyes was smoldering. Some minutes later we pulled into the private parking lot but neither one of us opened the door to get down. We both sat in our seats waiting for the inevitable. I tried to tell myself that I was still in the process of making up my mind but my mind was already made up, I knew what I wanted, I knew what I wanted to do. “You should go home,” Nolan said softly. Both
When I was finally able to open my eyes Nolan was leaning over me watching me with gentle, soft eyes. He looked at me like I was a precious possession, a fragile crystal to be handled with care. It brought tears to my eyes. I am not fragile neither am I precious, I’m just a girl doing the very thing that was done to her years, justifying her actions by making herself believe she deserves this, this moment, this man. Nolan’s gentle fingers touched my face. “Hey,” he said quietly. “You are thinking too much.” How can he see parts of me I try so very hard to keep under wraps? Even Sophie with all her perception of me still has trouble seeing through me to my thoughts. “What changed you, Coco?” he asked softly. My pussy was still clinching deliciously from the waves of orgasm but the soft look in his eyes when he looked at me was pooling moisture between my legs again. He looked down and then raised hungry eyes to my face. “It’s only a matter of time,” he whispered. Leaning down he c
“Wow,” was the first thing Sophie said as soon as I walked through the door. “When you said you were going to be late I didn’t think you meant 2 o’clock – late. What kept you so long?”She rose from the couch and followed me into the kitchen where I went to get a cold glass of water because I am going to need that or something stronger to handle her reaction to the news I have for her. She let me down the water in peace but once I dropped the glass she wanted an explanation.“So?”“Where is Nolen?” I asked as a diversion, stalling for time so I could put my thoughts together. Even with the half-hour drive from the office I still couldn’t figure out a way to compose my thoughts. Nolan had offered to drive me home and send my car home for me but I refused his offer, not because I didn’t want it but I knew he would want to come in for a while for more lovemaking – not that I didn’t want that too, but I figured I had to prepare my best friend and my son first before letting him into our l
I checked my watch for what seemed like the 10th time since I arrived home, my home not the one I shared with Lurane. I got a stucco/ remodeled farmhouse on the West End as soon as I got into my inheritance. It was the first thing I got for myself before making my claim as the son of Simone Pierce. But after the contract, Douglas had gotten a house for Lurane and me under her name. The address I gave Chantelle was for this apartment. My heartbeat quickened at the thought of her.Last night was incredible, I never wanted it to end. It took all my willpower not to convince her to stay the night. I had suggested it but in her own words “I have something you need to know.”What could it be?The minibar in the living area was well stocked. My housekeeper, a middle-aged highly efficient woman called Betty who worked for both me and mom had cleaned the place and restocked the house with both food and wine. With any luck, I can convince Chantelle to stay the night and nights after this.The s
The room was dim but bright enough that the light fell on Chantelle’s face.And the boy beside her…with his body tucked protectively against hers.She looked up when I burst in, her eyes wide with fear. But that fear dissolved to relief when she saw it was me but that relief soon gave way to something else…guilt.Any doubt I had about the boy evaporated. He can’t be…my son?She looked away pulling the boy closer. Lurane’s goon was right behind me and at Lurane’s command, he went forward to untie Chantelle and the boy. He straightened and turned to Lurane with a frown.“But ma’am…”“Don’t ask stupid questions, Martin. You can leave now. Your job is finished here. You can tell me others I’ll send your money tomorrow.”Martin shrugged and left the room. A moment later his receding footsteps echoed on the cracking concrete ground.Paul raised a brow at Lurane. “You are very optimistic. Are you sure you will be free this time tomorrow?”Lurane glared at him, her lips curling in a sneer. “G
I woke up the next morning to the sound of an anime theme echoing loudly from downstairs. For a second I thought I was back home with Sophie singing along with the TV while either cooking breakfast for Nolen or chowing down a huge bowl of cereal until I felt the unfamiliar sheets of the bed and noticed the unfamiliar curtains, walls and artwork hanging on it.Then last night came to me. The abduction…Nolan…Lurane…the truth…the resolution. Nolan still wanted me after everything that happened – and he wants his son too. It was enough to send my heart fluttering wildly in my chest and warmth diffusing through my veins. My wrists still burned with slight throbbing pain from the ropes that had been used to restrain me digging into my flesh although the headache from yesterday was gone. I only hope Nolen doesn’t bruise on his wrists and ankles. The need to see him made me rise.Pushing the extremely soft blanket aside I set my feet on the cold floor, slid them into equally soft bedroom slip
What did I expect?I expected Douglas to rise in rage, I expected him to overturn his office in anger. I expected him to demand that I pour my blood out as a sacrifice for him. I expected anything but the wide-toothed smile he offered when he rose to his feet and held his hands out. He wasn’t holding them out to hug me mind you, he just held them out. “Nolan, what took you so long?”I squared my shoulders and walked in. Bob was watching, Lurane was still seething. Hearing her father speak in such a friendly tone to me she rose from her lounge on the chaise to glare at him. Douglas’s office was set up like that of a 16th-century lord. There was antique furniture, the rugs were antique, and the priceless ceramics which should be in a museum now stood on stands, they were probably hundreds of years old, how he acquired them I will never know. Even the chaise on which Lurane lounged had a large handmade embroidery of a garden scene on it. Still glaring at her father she swung her heeled f
Epilogue.“3…2…1!”The rope was cut and the doors of Cocoland were thrown open. Cheers erupted from the guests gathered in front of the building.Sophie, Penny, Paul, Fiona and everyone else who was a friend was clapped and cheered. Nolen was running wildly between everyone’s legs and was the first to enter the building.Yolanda clapped and hugged me cheering.“We did it!” She shrieked and kissed my cheek.Mom was next. She nearly lifted me off the floor as she hugged me close to her enormous breasts. “I am so proud of you, baby!” She searched for Yolanda and hugged her close too. “And you too. Look at you. My girls have wrong into women,” she cried. “I am so proud of you. I know your dad is too.”I felt Yolanda’s eyes on me and I realized she was watching to see if I would break down again but I didn’t. Instead, I responded to Mom’s comment with a smile.“Yes, he is.”We made our way into the building and I almost swooned. I still can’t believe that this – this belongs to me.Cocolan
Coco’s POVBy the time we got to Nolan’s house Paul and Penny were throwing a little celebration for Nolen’s homecoming. I met Penny at the door and she was all smiles and tears when she hugged me.“Oh my God, Coco, I was so distraught to hear about what happened. I’m so glad you got your son back.”I basked in her hug but not for too long. Enough with my self-pity, time for a new change and I gladly accepted that change by detaching myself from Penny with a smile. Sophie was right behind me and as soon as I stepped back from Penny, Sophie invited herself in, doing anything to avoid the dragon lady.“Thank you.”She understood my haste and pointed toward the kitchen where Paul was coming out with a bottle of wine to share with her.He lit up when he saw me and hugged me briefly. “Nolan is in the kitchen. He hasn’t let Nolen out of his sight since.”I sure as well won’t be letting my son out of my sight ever again, either. My heart was racing in my chest as I left Paul and went into th
Coco’s POVSophie and I were barreling through the streets in her car heading toward Nolen’s school. We had taken 2 wrong exits twice in our haste but eventually, we found our way.Sophie was driving and she looked over at me to make sure I was alright. I smiled at her to assure her that I had my emotions under control. A look in the mirror told me that I may have my emotions under control but my physical appearance was anything but that. I looked like something a mouse dragged out of a hole. How possible is it to lose so much weight in only approximately 48 hours?I had forgotten to eat throughout those hours, only wine and some water from Sophie’s kitchen kept me alive. Sophie had forced a hot dog and a bottle of water into my hands, encouraging me to eat it since, in her own words I ‘won’t want to scare Nolen looking like the grim reaper.’ I was finally able to eat a few bites even though I could barely taste a thing.We were nearly there when my phone began to ring. And when I pul
I was packed just a few blocks down her house and Bob was strapping a button microphone on his shirt.Paul still had that doubtful look on his face and I bet if I wasn’t right there in the car he would have thrown himself at Bob and beaten him within an inch of his life. That’s just the kind of friend he is. My enemies are his and he will always have my back.“Are you sure about this?” He whispered.“I just have to,” I whispered back.Bob cleared his throat from the backseat and I looked up at him through the rearview mirror. He didn’t look too pleased but then again Bob is never pleased. He handed a small device to me and pointed to a button. “Once the red light begins to flash press that button and it will begin to record.” His stare turned direct. “I don’t care whether or not you trust me, Pierce and you know that. But for your sake and that of your son, I hope this plan works.”“I hope so too just…just play your part.”He nodded and with one last look at Paul he opened the door an
Coco’s POVI sat down with Sophie for a long time and honestly, I wanted to remain silent while crying my eyes out and looking very ugly. Sophie, ever supportive, remained by my wait and waited for me to gather myself together.I don’t know how long we stayed the way we were but at some point, my eyes were too dry to cry anymore and I snatched a tissue from the box in front of me and blew my nose. When I snuck a glance up at Sophie her face was drawn with concern.I threw the tissue aside, hugged myself, and moved back so that I was resting my shoulders against the couch.“I should have a master class in foolishness,” I said in a croaked voice.Sophie was brutal with her response. “Self-pity. Is that really your defense against your foolishness?”I looked up at her shocked at the hardness in her voice. She still looked concerned for me but there was a brutal honesty etched in her face, one that I am sure that she has held back from me until this day.“You let this man into your home k
Nolan’s POV. I glared at her with all the hatred I could muster. Behind this angelic face was a monster. “Nolan, come on, we are past this aren’t we?” I glared at her through blurred eyes. “Come on, Nolan,” Lurane said bending one hip so that she could rest one hand on it. “You don’t have to treat me like an enemy. We used to be…” “Whatever we were ended long ago. I want you to leave!” “You look like hell, Nolan,” she said nonchalantly even though I just made it clear that I didn’t want her around me. “You used to look a lot better when you were with me. Don’t you want to go back to the way we were?” I narrowed my eyes at her remaining at the door to block her entry into my house. “Lurane, you claim you have nothing to do with my son yet here you are just a day after, desperately trying to throw yourself at me.” “A woman has got to be resourceful. Life goes on, Nolan, with or without your son.” I fought the urge to reach out and grab her throat and she saw my struggle. She lo
Coco’s POV“What the hell are you doing here?!”Jason held up his hand. “I am not here to fight, Chantelle. Good morning.”“Keep your greeting some place hairy where the sun don't shine!”Jason’s eyes shone with humor. “I don’t know, you might want to take a look.”Groaning, I reached for the door, stepped back, and started to swing it shut when he held it open and held his other hand up. I pushed but he was much stronger and his eyes turned pleading.“Please, l-let me start over. This wasn’t how I wanted this to happen. Look, I know you don’t trust me and you would rather see me in hell –““Good, now fuck off!”“Chantelle!” his voice was forceful, then his voice dropped and he added softly, “You look like hell.”Against my better judgment, my shoulders slumped and my guards dropped as tears pooled in my eyes again. Jason saw this and walked in slowly, his hand reaching out from me. When I shied away from him, his hand dropped to the side and he sighed.“I heard about what happened. I
Nolan’s POVI sat in the bar nursing a glass of scotch, one of several that I had tossed down my throat in the darkness of the private lounge. I had a bottle in front of me and it was almost empty.At this time I was no longer just pleasantly tipsy, I was teetering off the edge of being very drunk to my eyeballs.Being in the private lounge gave me privacy but bits of music and noise seeped in from the main area. At least it was still quiet enough to leave me to my thoughts. And thoughts were back to those of a lanky teenager trying hard to accept that I was no longer a weird kid but the heir to an empire. That was not an easy pill to swallow but I still had to deal with the stigma of being the son of a murderer.But I am more than that and I continued to repeat it to myself. That’s probably why I have too much scotch to bury those memories deep enough so that they will never hunt me again.I know Chantelle is hurt but so am I and it’s unfair to…I struggled to suppress another sob. T
“That doesn’t sound like the Nolan I know, baby. He is a good man and always has been. He loves you…”“But this is going to affect him negatively,” I cried. “His public image is ruined because of me and…”“You don’t Nolan well if you think he cares about that kind of stuff over his family,” Mom argued heatedly and desperately wanted to believe her but right now it felt as though the whole world was crashing on my head and there was nothing I could do about it.Mom didn’t stop there, she continued to defend Nolan’s honor. “Nolen is his child too, remember? We are women and we are emotional and Nolan would be the same too if he were in your shoes, which he is. You have to call him, Coco, this is a hurdle you both need to cross together.”I sniffed. “Okay, mom.”And right as I was about to hang up the doorbell rang and my heart beat sped. I walked quietly to the door and opened it and Nolan immediately swept in and pulled me into a hug.I collapsed in his embrace, clinging tightly to him