Teach Me (18+)

Chapter Nineteen

Eden's Point Of View

The last thing I wanted to hear this morning was my phone going off- and yet it was going off. My eyes opened, taking in the room which was coated in a soft white glow- due to the snow that was falling in front of the large window. I leaned over to get my phone off the charger, which caused Gianna to stir in her sleep.

My eyes closed and a hard sigh left my nose as I read the contact name. Malcom's name flashed over the screen meaning this was about work, which I didn't want to hear about right now.

But still, " Hello?" I said, groaning inwardly as I answered the call.

"Eden, I hate to bother you on this joyous holiday, but we have a problem," Malcolm's voice said on the other end.

I glanced over at Gianna, who snuggled into the warm blankets and fell back asleep beside me. She looked peaceful, her dark hair tangled on the pillow, her lips slightly parted, and her long eyelashes fanned out across her cheeks. She was perfect, and for a moment, I forgot about the call.

"Okay, what's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice down as I slid out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against the sink, looking at my reflection in the mirror. "What's the problem, Malcolm?"

"It's the Hilton project," he said, his voice serious. "Richard's team is threatening to pull out due to some other company. They said they want to meet with them before deciding on E.W Enterprise."

I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. This was not what I wanted to deal with on Christmas morning. Our partnership with Richard Hilton was a huge deal for my company, and I couldn't let it fall apart.

"Okay, let me think for a moment," I said, trying to come up with a solution. I thought about our luxury clubs and the exclusive experiences we offered our members. I thought about the hotel we were trying to create, and the top-of-the-line amenities and services we wanted to provide.

"I'll call Richard and try to smooth things over," I said finally. "Get me a meeting with him and his team as soon as possible."

Hanging up the phone, I couldn't help but think of Gianna, the way she made me forget about work, the way her soft body felt in my hands as I lathered her body in body wash. I wanted to go back to that, to forget about work entirely and spend my time wrapped up with her.

Soon I was grabbing my toothbrush and brushing my teeth. As I brushed my teeth, images from last night flooded my mind, sending a warm spiral through me.

I walked out of the bathroom, my feet padding against the wooden floors as I approached the bed.

Gianna's eyes fluttered open, slowly taking in mine. A sleepy smile grew across her face, "Good morning," she said groggily before stretching.

I smiled back, feeling my heart swell with love for this beautiful woman. "Good morning," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I crawled into the bed beside her which she rolled into my arms.

My arms wrapped around her, pulling her into my embrace. She buried her head in the crook of my neck and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I wish we could stay here forever," she mumbled against my neck.

I rubbed over her back before my hands slipped under her oversized shirt, "I wish we could too baby," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of her gentle hum. I held her close, feeling her warm breath on my skin, her heartbeat syncing with mine.