It came out later, that drugs were slipped into my drink. They said I didn’t know what I was doing. That it was possible, I may have thought I was kissing my girlfriend. Kissing Jane, instead of some random bitch I didn’t know. Who the fuck did they think they were kidding?
A survivor?
I was no different than any other cheating asshole. I just had more money to cover it up.
I picked up my razor then put it down again. Jane would like the stubble. I had a feeling so would Charlotte. “You’d like her,” I said staring into the bathroom mirror. “She’s just like you. Tough as nails. I’ll try to survive the night. For both of you.”
Chapter 19
Charlotte
“Wow, look at this place,” I said, gazing at a bazillion clear lights, the five thousand or so people, the Ferris-wheel in the background. “Certainly doesn’t look like a baseball field, does it?”
To my surprise, Chase flew the entire staff of Remington Enterprise to somewhere in Arizona for our annual Christmas party. To be honest, I hadn’t known I was invited. Technically, I didn’t work for Remington’s, although I’d always considered Chase to be my honorary boss. Seems I was not only invited but wanted. I thought I was going to attend simply because I was Zac’s date. Turned out that wasn’t the case at all. Chase personally approached me, told me I must come and that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I was told my room was paid for. So was the flight. Even my wages from the cleaning company were covered with a Christmas bonus as a bonus.
Why was I so important all of a sudden? Was Abby responsible for all this? Didn’t matter. I was going and thrilled to bits to be included. It was going to be a bang up Christmas.
Zac’s dark hair was still wet at the tips, and the stubble on his chin, I found sexy. He squeezed my hand.“Be a shame to take that dress off later. You look gorgeous in it. Like a dream.” Without leaving my gaze, he brought my hand to his mouth and planted a kiss there.
Rumor had it, this would be a night full of surprises and by the looks of it, I agreed. I felt giddy with excitement, woozy with anticipation, but not because of the party. I was here with the man I loved.
Loved. There. I’d thought it to myself now.
We were approached by a waitress holding a tray of drinks. “No, thank you,” Zac said to the brunette wearing a skimpy Santa costume.
“I’ll have one though,” I chirped, taking a flute of white wine off the tray. I turned to Zac. “Don’t tell me. You’re more of a beer guy yourself. Or am I going to lose you to the bar while you down shots with your buddies later?”
He gave me a weak smile. “Nope. I’m all yours tonight.”
“Mmmm. Good.” I sipped what I thought was wine, then realized it was actually champagne. I leaned into the sexiest man in the room, wondering how I’d become so lucky all of a sudden. “Shame to take that tux off you later,” I said, mimicking his earlier compliment about the dress.
Another waiter came by. “Not too dry?” he asked when he saw my pleased expression.
“Nope. It’s lovely.”
“Good. I want you to have a good time tonight. Here... Mr. Remington wants everyone to have a raffle ticket.”
They sure are making a fuss over me. Or is it everyone?
“Thank you.” I slipped both our tickets in my purse, sliding my palm over the sleek soft fur of my stole. I tried to remember the last time I’d owned anything so beautiful. I’d been a tad disappointed when I heard we were traveling to Arizona. I thought it would be too warm to wear fur. To wear anything except a slinky ball gown. Turned out, December was the coolest month of the year. Although not what I would call winter weather, it was brisk enough in the evening to be comfortable wearing the luxurious blue mink.
Zac licked his lips then ran a hand along my bare back. “Where in the world did you find that dress?” he growled.
“Thank you. Abby picked it out. Do you think I look alright? I’m not really a dress-up kind of girl.”
“You look brilliant, Charlotte.” He stepped back, held my arms out, his gaze traveling the length of me.
“I feel brilliant and for once, it’s on the outside. Not on the inside. You clean up pretty nice yourself, Wonder Boy. I love the tux.” I slid my hand over the silky smooth lapel. “Satin?”
“Silk.”
“Of course.” He looked like he was right out of a 1930s movie in a short tux and tails.
After dressing in my hotel room—I’d not recognized myself in the mirror.
I forgot how good it felt to be glamorized.
Abby had been right. This dress was amazing. The entire bodice was covered in iridescent crystals with a cream tulle skirt that flounced to the floor. I felt like Cinderella.
“Shall we go in?” I hooked my arm in his and walked into the room. Wonderland seemed the perfect name to describe what we were seeing.. Tinsel and lights everywhere. And candles. So many candles!
Abby waved us over to her table. “Oh my God, you look awesome, you guys,” she gushed, her cheeks flushed and rosy.
“Isn’t he hot,” I asked, nudging Zac in the side and then sitting as he pulled out my chair.
“Oh yes,” Abby agreed.
“So when are we...?” Zac was promptly shushed by Chase.
“Got it,” Zac said with a stiff lip, then looked at me with raised brows.
“What?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“Can’t tell me what?”
“Just can’t tell you.” His grin was so wide, surely it hurt his face.
“Okay.”
“Boys will be boys,” Abby offered.
I let all the secrecy slide. Sooner or later I would find out like everyone else.
Abby sipped at her champagne flute. “He hasn’t told me either. Chase has kept all the details mum for an entire year! Can you believe it? And I’m his wife!”
Chase reached an arm around his wife’s chair. “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll be very pleasantly surprised. In a small way, the big surprise is for you too.”
“Oh my God, now I have to know.”
“I know... I’ll tell you who the lineup is for entertainment, will that suffice?”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Chase, we always have Kid Rock, ZZ Top, and Jewel.”
“Plus a few others this time.”
“Whatever. Let’s dance.”
As Chase twirled his wife around the dance floor, I turned to Zac. “Did you know he paid my wages to be here? Who does that?”
“Chase Remington does that. He’s a generous guy.”
“He’s a prince.”
“If you say so.”
“Yeah.” I finished my drink, then held my glass up so the waitress could pour.
“May as well leave the bottle,” Zac said. He placed it in the middle of the round sparkly table. Candlelight glistened off my glass.
“I can’t believe he did all this. Just for his employees. I almost wish I did work for the company.”
Zac opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it, saying nothing.
“He’s a pretty great guy,” Zac agreed.
“You know, Abby says you are just like him.”
“Nah,” Zac’s face fell, confusing me, before it lifted into a smile once again.
“We’re nothing alike. Chase is the man!” He raised his glass of ginger ale toward the dance floor.
When he turned back, I asked, “So, who is the real Zachary Taylor? You know we’ve never really talked about our past. I’m...I’m ready to now. If you like.” My tongue was loose inside my gums and suddenly I wanted to know all there was to know about Zachary, the second most popular man at Remington’s, Taylor. I was ready to open up my own past as well. Before Zac could respond however, everyone in the room stood up. All five thousand of us. They hooted and hollered as Jewel came on stage, her long blonde hair floating like a ribbon.
When the shouting silenced, Jewel belted out the most wonderful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner I’d ever heard. I
didn’t know why. I wasn’t born here. Still, it was what that song stood for that brought tears to my eyes. Jewel’s performance was followed by dance music played by three men with long grey beards in Santa hats. When they started with Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, Zac pulled me from my chair onto the dance floor.
Zac was a fabulous dancer and the only time we paused was when someone took the stage to pull raffle tickets. My mouth hit the floor in shock when a man in a red jumpsuit handed out hundreds, then thousands, and then hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of checks to the winners. Chase’s company awarded a million dollars in cash that night. I began to realize what Zac meant when he said Chase was the man. He was right. I didn’t win any money and I was alright with that. I was happy for everyone else. Nothing else in the world mattered but being in Zac’s arms as he twirled me around the dance floor, whispered dirty messages into my ear during the ballads and enveloped my body in tantalizing euphoria. Or was that the champagne?
Zac leaned into me, humming to the music and holding me close. “Charlotte. I’ve been aroused all evening. If I don’t get that dress off you soon, I’m going to...”
I giggled. “You saying, you want to have your way with me, Mr. Taylor,” I teased. “What kind of a girl do you think I am?”
“The sexy kind.” He pinched my backside playfully then drew me closer during a slow waltz.
“I’m game if you are,” I said rubbing myself up against him until I could fully sense his erection. “I can’t wait either. My parts are as wet as that champagne.”
He growled into my ear.
“And there’s nothing between me and this dress.”
“Fuck, you have no panties on tonight. Why didn’t you say so?”
I giggled. “You didn’t ask. By the way, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask. Why haven’t you taken off your suit jacket all night. You have to be roasting in that thing after all the dancing we did.”
The music stopped and he held me at arm’s length a mischievous grin on his adorable face.
“Oh. Ohhhh.”
“Can we sit?”
“Are we leaving?”
“Not yet.” He led me back to our table. Abby was seated on her husband’s lap whispering something in his ear. No doubt, she’d had as much to drink as I had. I had a feeling they’d be going to their room early as well.
Zac finally took off his coat and draped it on the back of the chair. He rolled up his sleeves, showing off something on his arm.
“What’s that?” I fingered the intricately woven braids on his wrist.
“Paracord bracelet.”
Abby looked up. She lifted her husband’s arm for us to see. “Chase has one too.” Abby lifted her husband’s wrist.
“Interesting. I said. A survival tool, right?”
“Not mine,” answered Chase, slurring his words. “I use mine to tie this one up.” He nudged his wife, then licked the side of her face. Abby giggled. Oh these two were beyond inebriated. Hilarious to watch.
“Excuse me,” said Abby beside him. “Who ties who up?”
“Okay, we take turns.”
“Too much information,” I said, laughing.
“Actually,” Zac continued. “This is the most useful thing on the planet.”
“Hold that thought. I need to go to the ladies-room,” I said, starting to rise from my seat. “Oh God, my head is spinning.”
Zac shot to his feet. “Looks like you need someone to lean on. I’ll walk with you.”
“Thanks. You know they tasted so good going down. Like Kool-Aid. I’m a bit dizzy though.” I held onto the table.
Zac held his arm out to me as an elderly gentleman whispered something in Chase’s ear. Chase held up a hand. “Can you two wait a few more minutes? I’m about to give out awards.”
“I...I guess so,” I said, lowering myself back down.
“No,” said Zac still standing. “Screw the awards. If you don’t feel well, you don’t feel well.”
“Darling, can you do it now?” Abby asked, sounding panicked.
Zac’s brows lowered at the secret exchange between Chase and his wife.
“I’m fine, Zac. Really. Besides, I’m going to take a Tylenol for the headache.” I pretended to rustle around in my purse, then glanced toward my friend. I thought I saw Abby mouth something that resembled, he doesn’t know? and then a sudden look of happy and dumb plastered across her face as Zac caught her eye.
“I’m beginning to feel better,” I said brightly. If Zac was going to get a plaque or a gold watch or something, I certainly didn’t want to miss out on that. I could cross my legs as long as I had to.
“Zac, why don’t get me a glass of water? I don’t want to take this with any more alcohol.”
“Alright.”
As Zac strode toward the bar halfway across the room, I leaned across the table and said, “Is he getting an award?” I couldn’t hide the enthusiasm from my voice.
“Oh yeah,” Abby admitted. “A huge one. He saved all kinds of money for the company, you’ve no idea how much.”
All those late nights pouring over ledgers, stock reports, balance sheets, liabilities, gross profits and margin.
I sort of felt like a fraud, although I probably did nothing wrong. Just helped Zac keep his job. “Oh. Well, that’s good, right?”
“Not just good. It’s brilliant,” said Chase. “All this time I thought the fucker was...well, doesn’t matter what I thought, because of him we’ll easily double our revenue this year. Not to mention staying out of bankruptcy.”
“Things were that bad?” I asked.
“Worse.” Chase replied. “Turns out the guy is a freaking genius. I owe him. I owe him big.” He dabbed his mouth with a napkin, then rose from his seat. “Tonight is all about paying back those that got me where I am today.” Abby stretched out her hand and Chase lifted it to his lips.
Abby looked to her husband with adoring eyes. “I’m so proud of you tonight.”
Chase gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Showtime,” he said, then he strode toward the center stage.
Chapter 20
Charlotte
“I think that’s you,” I said, squeezing Zac’s hand when he returned with my water.
“Nah, I’ve only been with the company...”
“Zachary Taylor,” shouted the grey-haired announcer, shielding his eyes while he peered into the crowd. “Can you come up here, please?”
“Zachary? You out there, buddy?” Chase had barely uttered the words when the whole room burst into applause.
Shock and confusion registered on Zac’s face.
“Well, go on up there. Go,” I coaxed.
“There must be some mistake,” he stammered. “I never...I don’t...this is wrong on every conceivable level.” Reluctantly he got to his feet, then looked back at me with the saddest expression I’d ever seen.
“It’s okay,” I mouthed because not one word could be heard out of my mouth over the thundering applause. I took his hand, whispered in his ear, “Go. Explain. Or don’t. I’m okay with it either way, Zac. Really I am.”
We’d worked on so many issues together. So many that the lines blurred as to who thought of what. Sure, there were things I picked up on, problems where a complex math problem I worked out ended up saving the company huge amounts of money, but so what? I wanted to help and I did. I never intended to take credit. That’s not why I did it.
As I sat listening to Chase rattle on about how grateful he was to Zac, how that nobody but he and his wife knew the dire straits Remington Enterprise was in, that the company had nearly been forced to close its doors, that he’d saved thousands of people their jobs, I scanned the room.
Everyone had risen to their feet. A few young men were standing on their chairs and whistled so loudly, it hurt my ears. Suddenly, I realized, this was my reward too. I’d helped save all these people their jobs. Their livelihoods. Their mortgages. Retirements. Children’s educations. A warm feeling flooded my h
eart. It was all the reward I needed.
“Okay, boys and girls,” I said to no one, because once again, not a single word could be heard over all the commotion in the room. “Time to visit the little girls room.” Grabbing my purse, I rose from my chair, lifted one hem of my skirt and made my way through the crowd of closely fit tables and chairs.
The neon restroom signs were in the opposite direction, away from the stage and bright lights. I pinched the bridge of my nose between my eyes, feeling slightly nauseous as I walked. My headache was coming back.
When I reached the restroom, I had to stand in line.
“I know who you are,” said a voice to my right. I turned to find an elegant looking lady with white hair, wearing a floor-length silver gown and six inch heels. If she didn’t have such a scowl on her face, I’d say she was beautiful. Her face was pinched, eyes blazing as she tipped her head. She scanned me up and down. Much as one studies an enormous cockroach it wants to squash.
“Excuse me,” I said, looking straight at her. “You talking to me?”
Her gaze snapped up. “Unfortunately yes,” she said.
I took a step back, feeling threatened.
Her teeth were sharp, with tiny spackles of red lipstick on two bicuspids. “You’re that cleaning lady Zachary’s been shacking up with. He sure has scraped the bottom of the barrel this time.”
“Excuse me,” I said again. Normally, I’m not at a loss for words, especially when being attacked, but my head was pounding, and all I could think of was, I needed to go lie down somewhere. I wasn’t up for a fight. “Listen,” I stammered, “I don’t know who you think I am but...”
When I turned to leave, she repeated, “I know who you are. You stay away from my son.”
Margo!
“You may clean up just as well as anyone else around here, but take it from me, Zachary is only toying with you until he gets bored. And he always gets bored.”
“Are you calling me a...?”
“A whore? Are you? I’m afraid I wouldn’t know anything about that, dear. Although he does like to feed the women he has fun with?”
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