Read Online The Beautiful People by E. J. Fechenda - Free Book Online Page B

after hours.
    “What
are we doing here?”
    “Do
you know how to ice skate?”
    “Yeah,
but it’s closed.”
    “Wait
a few minutes. You’ll see.”
    Moments later a rusty Buick
Century pulled up and parked next to us. A middle-aged man wearing glasses
stepped out and walked up to Dominic’s window. When he confirmed that it was Dominic
he asked us to follow him. He opened up the rental area and flicked on the
lights. He helped us pick out the right size skates. Once we were set, Dominic
led me out on the ice. It took me a few falls on my ass to get the hang of it.
It had been years since I last ice skated. Pretty soon Dominic and I were skating
around the rink like pros, well, semi-pros. He helped steady me when he felt my
legs get wobbly and never let go of me once. We laughed and goofed off like
teenagers. It felt good to move around after the big dinner. The cold air beat
back the drowsiness brought on by a full stomach.
    The view out on the
riverfront was beautiful too. Philadelphia during the winter months was just
plain ugly. The landscape becomes gray and barren. Litter blows around the
streets like urban tumbleweed and the cold penetrates every corner. Homeless people
sit on steam vents like birds perched in a nest and Broad Street becomes an enormous
wind tunnel that tries to suck your breath away. But down here on the riverfront,
with the Ben Franklin Bridge lit up in the background on one side and the
skyline on the other, Philadelphia was charming.
    We skated for about an
hour then put the skates back and the guy locked up behind us. He had even made
us each a cup of hot chocolate. I thanked him as we walked back to the parked
cars. He nodded and waved before we separated.
    “Dominic,
do you like own the city or something? How did you pull that off?” I asked as
soon as we were in the Mustang.
    “My
dad knows the manager and he owed him a favor.”
    “That
must have been a big favor. What does your dad do?” I realized that I knew more
about his cousins, aunts and uncles than his immediate family.
    “He
owns a construction company and is involved in the real estate investment
business with Uncle Marco.” An image of a dump truck with Grabano and Sons
emblazoned on the sides flashed in my mind.
    “Well,
I’m impressed. You sure know how to plan a date!”
    “It’s
not over yet,” he said with a smile and stretched across the front seat to kiss
me. His lips and tongue tasted of the hot chocolate. I welcomed the yummy
goodness. When we separated I was left wanting more. He caressed my cheek and
then started the car. He pulled out of the lot onto an almost deserted Columbus
Blvd. He only drove a few blocks and then turned right into the Waterfront
Square Condominiums. I stared in awe at the giant towers that loomed into the
night sky. Dominic slowed the Mustang down in front of the lobby and a valet
appeared out of nowhere.
    “Good
evening Mr. Grabano.” the valet greeted Dominic and held the door open for him.
Then he spotted me in the passenger seat. “Oh, I’m sorry Miss,” he said and
hustled around to my side.    
    Dominic walked next to
me with his hand on the small of my back. The doorman opened the main door and
we entered the expansive lobby. It was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping.
Once I had attended a wedding that was held at the Four Seasons and this place made
the Four Seasons lobby seem ghetto. Crossing the marble floors, my heels echoed
up in the high ceilings. Thankfully Dominic was steering me towards the
elevators, because I would have probably stood there in the middle of the lobby,
like an idiot, completely slack-jawed and dumbfounded.
    The elevator shot up to
the twelfth floor in seconds. Dominic reached for my hand and gently pulled me
out into the hallway. Our footsteps were silenced by the plush gray carpet.
    “You
live here?”
    “Yeah.
My dad’s company built this whole complex. They’re investors too.”
    Dominic opened the door
to his condo. Windows