Chapter 17
Six months into their New York life, Addie found herself in a world she barely recognized.[]
Gone were the cozy flat–sharing dinners and lazy Sunday mornings. Their new penthouse in Tribeca was sleek, expensive, and somehow always cold despite the designer heating system.[]
Tristan–who now went by his full name, Tristan Kelce, in all professional settings–worked fourteen–hour days and came home speaking a language of mergers, acquisitions, and market dominance that felt foreign to her ears.]
“You should come to the Meridian Group party tomorrow night,” he said one evening, not looking up from his laptop. “It’s important I’m seen with the right people.“]].
“Seen with the right people?” Addie repeated from the kitchen, where she was making dinner for one again. “What am I, an accessory?”
“Don’t be dramatic.” His tone was dismissive in a way that reminded her uncomfortably of someone else. “You know what I mean. These connections matter. This is how business works in America.“[]
She set down her wine glass harder than necessary. “Since when do you care about being ‘seen‘ with anyone? You used to say authenticity mattered more than networking.“]]
Tristan finally looked up, his expression impatient. “Since I realized that idealism doesn’t pay for penthouses, Addie. I’m trying to build something here. For us.“]
“I never asked for a penthouse.“]]
“No, but you didn’t exactly object when I got it, did you?“[]
The accusation stung because it held a grain of truth. She had been seduced by the luxury, by the way people treated them differently when they had money and status.[]
That night, she lay awake listening to Tristan’s even breathing and wondering when exactly her protector had started speaking to her like she was naive.
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy DaisyNovel. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.