Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

I cannot believe I landed this client. This place is huge. I've seen big, over-the-top homes. But this one is something else. Mr Lobson bought this place a month ago. He's old money, from what I can tell. I still don't know what he actually does. I just know he's in his mid-fifties, has a kind smile, and a nonexistent budget for me to redesign the interior of his newest property.

Lucy lets out a long whistle. "Man, this place is insane. Must be nice to be a member of the one-percenter club, huh," she says.

I side-eye her. "You should know." I laugh.

Lucy comes from old money, one of Australia's wealthiest families in fact. So does her fiancé, and let's just say those two getting married is going to create the next generation of combined wealth for whatever children they decide to have.

"Yeah, but still… this place is amazing," she says while spinning around in a circle.

We're standing in the foyer. There's one of those twin staircases on each side and black-and-white marble flooring as far as the eye can see. The clicks of our heels echo off the walls. The house is completely empty. It's a bare canvass. A designer's dream.

"Where do we even begin?" I ask Lucy.

"Let's just focus on one room at a time. It's going to be a long day, Zoe. I hope you ate your Wheaties this morning," she replies before taking off down the foyer.

Following after her, I try to absorb everything that is this house. Mentally planning colours and styles with each room we pass. "What do you think Mr Lobson does?" I ask Lucy.

"No idea. I've never heard of the Lobsons," she says.

"Don't you think that's a little strange? Like, you know everyone in this city."

"Maybe he's new to town. What I do know is he's paying us a great deal to have this place ready within the next month."

"Right, let's do this." I smile. I always get excited about jobs, but there's just something thrilling about being able to complete a whole house like this. Starting completely from scratch. "I'm going to take a look upstairs. You okay down here?" I ask Lucy.

"Yep, go for it," she says. She has her phone out and is snapping pictures for reference.

Making my way back through the empty house, I walk up the staircase. As beautiful as this property is, it's a little eery. I'm thankful Lucy is working on this project with me. I don't think I'd want to be in this house alone.

When I reach the top of the stairs, I look left and then right. I've seen the floor plans. I know all the rooms on this level. I decide to head for the first bedroom, which is going to be a guest room, so it should be an easy place to start.

I step inside and open the internal doors to the walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom, where I sit on the floor with my back against the wall. Then I pull out my tablet and start working on design concepts for this space.

Half an hour later, I'm jerked out of my zone by the buzzing of my phone. I dig it out of my bag and see Marcel's name pop up on the screen. I push on the notification to open his messages.

Marcel:

I should have stayed in Melbourne.

Me:

And miss your brother's wedding?

Marcel:

Better than missing you.

Me:

It's a weekend. You'll survive.

Marcel left last night to go to some tropical paradise island. He'll be back on Monday. It's really not that long to be apart.

Marcel:

What are you doing?

I snap a picture of the empty room and send it to him.

Me:

Coming up with design ideas.

Marcel:

What are you doing over the weekend?

Me:

Nothing really. Probably staying in.

Marcel:

I could have the jet come and get you. Bring you here.

Me:

I don't think we're at the meet-the-family stage yet. Besides, I have laundry to do this weekend.

Marcel:

You and I both know you have housekeepers, Zoe.

How the hell does he know that?

Technically, Mikhail and Izzy have housekeepers. I'm living in their house. As much as I tried to tell them I didn't need staff, my adoptive parents insist on making my life as easy and carefree as they can.

Me:

I'm washing my hair.

Marcel:

I could wash it for you. I'd make it… pleasurable.

Damn it. Now I'm thinking about being in a shower with the man. I don't have time to contemplate just how pleasurable Marcel could make things. Not right now anyway. Later tonight, when I'm alone in my bed, that's when I'll revisit the idea.

Me:

I have no doubt. But I'm staying home, and you're enjoying your brother's wedding.

Marcel:

Expect me at your front door Monday night. You'll be my first stop when I land.

Me:

Okay. Have fun.

I throw my phone back into my purse and continue with the list I was putting together before the interruption.

***

My heels land halfway down the foyer as I kick them off my feet. The thud of my bag falling onto the entry table rings out through my ears. I'm exhausted. A good kind of exhausted, but exhausted all the same.

"What did those red bottoms do to you?"

I jump ten feet in the air at the sound of the voice, before a squeal escapes me and I'm running towards its owner at lightning speed. "Izzy, oh my god! What, when? How are you here?" I ask, throwing my arms around her neck.

"Just landed an hour ago," she says.

"Why? I mean, not why? But I didn't know you were coming? Where's Mikhail? The kids?" I look around, waiting for the rest of them to appear.

"Mikhail just took them out for ice cream with my dad." Izzy rolls her eyes. "We have about an hour to ourselves before they're back. Which means you have an hour to tell me all about this Marcel fella."

"Fella?" I lift an eyebrow at her, the smile on my face not wanning. I didn't realise how much I've missed her.

"Yeah, fella . Follow me. I have a bottle of wine open already and I don't want you to leave out any details."

After two glasses of the good stuff, I start to relax, feeling a light buzz. Something that allows me to start to open up more about Marcel—probably more than I should. "I feel like I shouldn't like the way he… the way we, well, have sex," I tell Izzy.

"What do you mean?"

"It's different from how things were with Flynn. Rougher, I guess."

"Rougher? But you like it?"

I nod my head. "There hasn't been anything Marcel has done with me I don't like," I admit.

"Then don't overthink it. If you like it, he likes it, go with it."

"He took me dancing." I smile.

"Dancing?"

"Mhmm. It was weird at first, and then it wasn't. And then I had a flashback and freaked out a little."

"You didn't call me." Izzy's brows draw down, and I realise her confusion.

"I didn't need to," I say. "Marcel… he just kept talking to me. I don't know how or why, but he didn't seem fazed."

"Okay."

"Flynn used to get embarrassed whenever it happened. Especially if someone else saw me."

"Flynn is a pussy-ass motherfucker," Izzy grunts. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Marcel says the same thing."

"I think I might like this Marcel guy," she hums thoughtfully, while raising her glass to her lips.

"I don't." Mikhail's voice booms through the room. He's followed in by Mabilia and Little Neo. Then Big Neo, who's holding baby Lex.

"Mikhail, she's happy. Don't you dare ruin it." Izzy glares at her husband.

"I would never do such a thing," Mikhail says as he leans in to kiss her before pressing his lips to my forehead. "Zoe, it's been way too long."

"I know," I tell him. I'm then bombarded by a frenzy of little hands as Mabilia and Neo jump on me, both squealing out my name.

"Okay, give Zoe some space." Izzy scoops up Neo but leaves Mabilia with me.

I love this little girl. She was just a tiny baby when I first went to live with them, and now she's a mini Izzy, right down to the sass and recklessness. "Zoe, I missed you most," Mabilia says.

"I missed you too, so much. Like a whole lot."

"I know," she replies confidently, and I laugh. I wish I had just a tenth of her confidence.

"So, where is this Marcel?" Mikhail asks.

"He's out of town. His brother's getting married," I say, snuggling into Mabilia and peppering her cheeks with kisses.

"And he didn't take you? Sounds like a neudachnik ," Mikhail grunts.

"A what?"

"A loser," he repeats in English.

"He wanted to take me. I said no," I explain. "Also, he's not a loser." I have this overwhelming need to defend Marcel bubbling in my chest.

"Guess I'll be the judge of that when I meet him." Mikhail shrugs.

"He's good to me. I promise. Please be nice."

"I'm always nice, Zoe."

Izzy snorts from where she's standing beside me. "Yeah, and I'm a saint."

"You've always been a saint in my eyes, bella ," Big Neo says.

"Thanks, Papa." Izzy beams. She's a big-time daddy's girl if I ever saw one.

"I'm going to go put these two little heathens to bed. Don't go anywhere. We're not done with our conversation," Izzy tells me. She then turns to her father. "Papa, help me drag Mabilia away from Zoe."

Mabilia doesn't let go easily. Her little arms hold on me tight. "I'll come and see you before I go to bed," I promise, and only then does she allow herself to be pried away.

I know Izzy left me alone with Mikhail on purpose. He has something to say, which is why I wait for him to talk first. It doesn't take long. "Are you happy, Zoe?"

I consider his question, really think about it, before replying, "I am."

"What about his family?" Mikhail asks. "You wanted to get away from the lifestyle, Zoe. Getting involved with a De Bellis isn't just being involved. It's diving right in. It's not safe, docha ." Mikhail leans forward, his elbows resting on his legs.

"I think that sometimes you don't really get to choose. You know that, Mikhail. I can't help the fact I like him. And maybe the risk of being with him is worth it. I don't know. We're still just getting to know each other."

"I'm going to have a couple of the guys tail you for a bit. I need to know that you're safe, Zoe."

"I don't need people following me. I appreciate it, but it's not necessary. I swear. I'm okay." I know what I say right now doesn't really matter. Mikhail will have his guys watching me anyway. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they always have been.

"Well, it'll give me peace of mind. Come on, I slipped in some of the caramel ice cream you love," he says, while standing from his chair.

At the mention of caramel ice cream, I'm up and out of my seat so fast before following Mikhail through to the kitchen.