Chapter 86 Juice with Gerard
Lana’s POV
Arden and I ended up staying for the entire evening at Cynthia’s apartment until the storm died down a bit and then Arden had to go home to check up on Charl. The power was restored when I went back to my apartment and I got dressed as sleepy as I felt.
I wanted to get out the apartment for a little while and just go for a walk. My car that I left at the airport was brought back to my apartment. I hardly use it though, because now that I'm back in New York, I would pretty much prefer walking.
I was dressed in jeans, a white blouse that was tucked in and a black blazer with black boots because it was still cold. My hair was tied up in a ponytail. I needed to get a dress for the function too and, apparently, Cynthia would attend it too because she works there.
The sky was a bit grey and it was like there was no color around me…well, in my life. I walked on the sidewalk with my bag and then I passed the coffee shop that Arden and I first met. I smiled to myself just thinking about that memory. I should've avoided him from the start but things happen. I took a moment to stand still on the sidewalk as a passersby walked past me. I was contemplating to buy a fruit juice, but in actual fact, I wanted coffee. I snapped out of my thoughts and turned away from the coffee shop but as I started to walk away, I bumped into someone….someone that I didn't want to see again.
Those piercing blue eyes that looked inside of my soul, had me glued to my spot. That magnetism was still very much there, pulling me. “Its lovely seeing you around,” Gerard’s velvety voice said. He stood in front of me with a polystyrene cup in his hand.
“Great seeing you too, Mr Moses,” I replied, because what could I say to that? “I need to go,” I tried to walk past him but instead he stopped me.
“Gerard…My name is Gerard,” he said as I looked into his eyes again.
“Noted,” I replied but I just wanted to get away from this man.
“Arden can be a patient man, but I take what I want,” he said, holding my gaze, my lips parted and my breath hitched. “I go after what I want and that means I will have you.”
I cleared my throat. “That won't happen, I am with Arden. I am not Lucinda, who you can do whatever you please with and mess up a person’s life. I am sure that you will be wasting your own time with me because you will never have me, Gerard,” I said.
He smirked, which was a rare sight to see…well, I'm not around all the time to see his smile or anything and I don't want to be around him. “I know that you are affected by me, I can see it. Your breath hitches and your lips parted. Soon I will have mine on yours. I will take whatever I want and I will have you soon.” he said.
“Like I said, that won't happen. You are messing with the wrong woman and I will not do anything to Arden just for you to have your way. Have you not done enough to your own son? You tried to get rid of Lucinda, but that won't work with me.” I managed to hold my gaze on him with a stern look.
“That will just prove to me what you are made of. You are young and naive. My son doesn't need a young woman. What are you? Nineteen? I would rather taste you than let my son have a young woman.”
“That is all you do. You use women when they throw themselves at you. Your wife left you because of your ways and what you do. Your own kids hate you for what you did to them. You own things that you shouldn't, you should leave married women alone. You shouldn't break the hearts of many. Try to be the man that wants to settle down with the one and focus on one. I'm sure your life is miserable. You forgot that I'm the CEO of Sternpoint. If you want to do business with me, then I will make sure not to do any business with you at all.” I said.
“We will see about that,” his gaze moved to my lips. I shook my head because he didn't seem to be listening to me. He was dressed in a navy blue suit and I guess he was going to work. The back of his hand is now softly caressing my cheek, but I moved away as fast as I could.
I turned around and I hurried to cross the street but jumped back as a car honked its horn, driving past me. My heart was beating so hard in my chest, I heard it in my head. I caught my breath and I felt a hand on my arm. “Are you okay?” I looked into Gerard’s eyes.
“Why do you care?” I shrugged his hand off me.
“Can I at least take you home? It’s the only thing I can do after what just happened,” he said. I looked away from him.
“I can't let Cynthia see that you are there with me,” I said with a sigh.
“Do you know her?” he asked as I looked at him again. His brows were furrowed.
“Yes, she is my friend and she lives across the street. She isn't taking things well because of you and I don't want to be in the crossfire between you two.”
He let out a heavy breath, seeming like he didn't know what to do. “At least let me buy you a coffee. Where were you headed?” he asked. This man won't stop.
“Shopping for your function,” I sighed, “Are you going to leave me alone now?” I asked with irritation.
“Let me buy the dress for you,” he said, holding my gaze again.
“No, I can do that on my own. Perhaps you forget that I'm a Stern and I'm a CEO, I can take care of myself and I don't need to be bought with dresses if that is what you think of me. I am not after your fortunes nor your son’s inheritance…if there even is. Perhaps you put that in your club,” I said with sarcasm.
He was taken aback. “He told you about the club,” he stated with his brows that were furrowed.
“No, Miranda did. Anyway, see you at the function,” I turned back on the sidewalk and I walked towards the fashion boutique which was further down the sidewalk. I could feel his eyes burn into my back, but I just needed to get far away from him. Is this how he does it? To lure women towards him.
I entered the boutique and there were just dresses in each aisle. I looked at each one, touching the fabric of them. “May I help you?” A young woman with short blonde hair asked me with a bright smile.
“I’m looking through the dresses for a function that I will be attending tomorrow evening. I do like this red one.” I said as I took it off the rack, holding it out for her to see it.
“That is a beautiful dress. Whomever looks at you will fall over their feet,” she smiled, eyeing the dress. “Would you like to try it on?” she asked.
“Yes, if you don't mind,” I smiled politely.
“The dressing room is right in the back,” she pointed in the direction of where it is.
“Thank you,” I said before walking away towards it.
Once I was in the dressing room, I got undressed and then I looked at the dress that was hanging against the wall. I need to get some nice underwear with this dress. I took the dress down, and I put it on. I looked into the mirror. The dress has two slits on both sides. It would expose both of my legs and the top part of the dress has thin straps and the cleavage is deep. It shows off my tiny waist. But in actual fact, not that tiny yet. I still have a baby inside of me and I placed my hand on my flat belly. I still can't believe this. I let out a sigh and then I focused my attention on my dress again. This will have to do. I want Arden to make love to me in this dress too. If not tomorrow evening, then when we are ready.
I know that Arden would rather wait to have s^x again than to jump straight into it. He respects me up to this point with my decisions and I might be wrong with the whole s^x thing. I get undressed again and I hung the dress up against the wall on a hanger and put on my clothes. I was getting cold.
Once I was done, I took the dress and I walked out of the dressing room. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw Gerard standing at the front desk counter with the shop assistant. She was smiling at him. I let out a sigh and I took my phone out of my bag.
Me: I will be wearing a red dress for the function.
I sent my text to Arden. My phone chimed immediately.
Arden: Those were my thoughts, so I have a surprise for you to wear with it.
Me: See you tonight.
I placed my phone in my bag again and then Gerard looked at me before he walked out. Was he following me in here? I watched him walk out, but the man had the authority in this walk. I snapped out of my thoughts and I walked over to the front desk counter. I placed the dress on it and I took my purse out of my bag as the shop assistant took my dress.
“Oh, no. You do not need to make any payment for this dress,” she said. My brows furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean that I don't need to make any payment for this?” I asked.
“The man that was just here, Mr Moses, paid for it. He said that you could buy anything that you need that would go with a dress,” she said, as she continued folding up the dress.
“Um…the dress will be all. But I insist that I pay with my own money. I do not need someone else to pay for my dress,” I said as I continued to take my credit card out of my purse.
“Very well,” she said. She placed the dress inside of a bag that looked like a gift bag and then she took my credit card.
I cannot believe that Gerard just tried to buy a dress for me. What are his motives? To show Arden that I'm after money? He won't get anything right with me.
Once I got my card back, I said good bye to the shop assistant and I walked out. The sun was now more visible, making the air warmer. But there Gerard stood against his black car. His feet crossed at the ankles. He was wearing polished leather shoes. His arms were folded over his chest and he looked at me without smiling. You got to be kidding me.
“What is the problem?” I asked as I walked further towards him.
“I was serious about coffee,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I said, if that is what it would take for him to leave me alone.
“I would've put you over my knee and spank the sh^t out of you for rolling your eyes at me,” he said as he walked in step with me.
“That would be inappropriate and it won't happen,” I said, but yet there is something affecting me deep down inside of me.
“I know when the time is right,” he replied.
“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “Good luck with that.” We walked inside of the coffee shop and we sat down at a table next to the window.
“What shall I get for you?” he asked.
“Juice, please,” I replied and he nodded before walking towards the barista. So far, I haven't gotten sick of the smell. But I'm being careful. I wouldn't want Cynthia to find out that Gerard is having coffee with me today when he could've been with her. That is how Cynthia’s mind would work.
After a while, Gerard came back and he placed my juice in front of me and he took a seat across from me. “Thank you,” I said.
“So, how are things going with you?” he asked.
“Great. Shouldn't you be at work?” I asked.
“Yes, but then I bumped into you,” he smirked.
“Aren’t you having coffee?” I asked.
“I already had coffee. Remember when I bumped into you outside, you then went to the fashion boutique and I wanted to get you all to myself and I guess, to have a conversation,” he said.
“It's really a waste of time,” I replied as I took a sip of the juice.
“It's not a waste of my time. I simply just want you and I won't give up,” he said.
“No one can get rid of me that easily. The type of man that you are disgusts me,” I said.
“I know that part of you might be disgusted, but then there is a part of you that deep down….it wants me. You can deny it all you like,” he replied.
“Is that how you got Cynthia to fall for you?” I asked and he let out a little laugh. Am I the only one that brings the expression out of him? An intimidating but yet very attractive man, that in actual fact would make a woman’s panties wet. I press my legs together at that thought. Lana, resist. He is danger, my subconscious says to me.
“Cynthia…she is a fireball. She takes what she wants and I do not like a dominating woman. I steer away from those types of women,” he said.
“Well, she is outgoing and she likes you…a lot. I would suggest that you keep it that way. What I saw with you two when you dropped her at home…when you f^cked your assistant,” he scowled at me, “You wanted to embrace her. Is that what you do with all women?” I asked because I'm curious and I wanted to get to know my baby’s grandfather.
“No, if they find out that I'm f^cking someone else, they know that it's not a serious thing, emotions shouldn't be involved. With Cynthia, I can see emotions and I do in fact care about her, whether you want to believe me or not. I just cannot date a young woman of nineteen years old and I am far older than she is, so to be safe, I am not f^cking her and I know that she is taking it hard. I am f^cking her out of my system and I also plan to shift her to a different department that I wouldn't have her.” his jaw clenched as he looked down at the table.
“Why are you opening up to me about her? Why not deny this?” I asked.
He looked up at me. “You might not be long in my son’s life, so I might as well just have a heart to heart,” he shrugged. "She might even believe you if you try to warn her."
Yet, he thinks that he can get rid of me. But he is wrong.