by Lund, S. E.
She shrugged. "What am I going to do? Barricade myself in the apartment and buy a gun? You can't live your life always afraid. It was probably just a rando psycho who pushed me on a whim. He likely didn't target me specifically. He probably just wanted to kill a pretty young woman because he was one of those incels -- involuntary celibates -- who hate all women. That's the most likely case. If we find him, he’ll probably have a manifesto about the radical feminists who are destroying Western Civilization or something."
I couldn't get over how well Candace was taking this.
"You're such a stoic. If it had been me, I'd be a sniveling mess, hiding in my apartment, and I would definitely consider getting a concealed handgun permit, no matter how hard it was to get one."
"Really?" she asked, her expression dismissive. "You'd actually get a gun? Carry one around on you?"
"If I thought there was a strange man following me."
"There's no strange man following me, sweets," Candace said and shrugged. "A psycho pushed me off the platform. That happens every year. I looked up the stats and someone is pushed off the platform by a nutcase almost every single year. I'm lucky to be alive."
"I hope you're right and it wasn't Blaine."
"Blaine wants you, not me."
I nodded. "But you might be a way to get to me. And the police say he hasn't checked in yet with his parole officer about his move. If he doesn't by his deadline, he'll go back to jail."
She raised her hands up in surrender. "There's nothing I can do about it anyway."
"You are so chill," I said with a sigh. "I wish I could be so relaxed about it."
"I have to live my life. What do you want me to do? Hire a bodyguard and never go out again? Even it if was Blaine, that's not the way I want to live my life. As soon as this damn cast is off, I'm going right back to my normal life. In fact, I can't wait to ride the subway again. There's no chance that some rando will try and push me off the platform again, statistically speaking. I'm free." She laughed at that.
She smiled at me and all I could do was shake my head and laugh with her.
"Enough talk about me," she said and seemed to snuggle down into the recliner. "What's happening with you and Mr. Big? Any news on the engagement front?"
I told her about Saturday night and facing the Marshall family.
"So, he's really going to announce the engagement at the function? He's got balls. I'll say that for him."
"Why do you think that?"
"His mother won't be happy, am I right?"
I took a sip of my coffee, thinking the same thing. "I don't think she'll ever accept me as a full-fledged member of the Marshall family clan. She was hoping for a union of two old money families, I guess. But she'll have to just accept it eventually."
"Money," Candace said with a shrug. "The rich really are different, aren't they?"
I pursed my lips, thinking if Luke was different from other men I knew.
"The only difference between Luke and other guys is that he doesn't even think about money, except how he can use it to do what he wants. Other than that, he's the same as other guys. Well," I said and shook my head. "He's much better than other guys I've known. But you know what I mean -- he watches sports and drinks beer and loves sex and likes to joke around with his friends. His bank account is the only difference."
"But that makes all the difference, doesn't it?" Candace asked. "When you don't have to worry about your next paycheck, life is different on a basic level. And if you have enough money to do whatever you want, life is different completely. Luke wants to be a space entrepreneur. He can. He's got the money. He can just go to any of the guys in the space industry and tell them he's got a half-billion dollars to invest and he wants to be involved." She snapped her fingers. "Voila. He's a space entrepreneur. How many of us poor folk can do that?"
I nodded. "You're right. He's lucky. The rich are different in that way. But you know, his parents died when he was a small boy, he's got problems with his adoptive parents, and his sister's husband was cheating on her. Money doesn't fix those problems."
"Yeah, but it makes it easier to bear. You can just plunk down some cash and fly to the Bahamas for a weekend and drown your sorrows in margaritas." She smiled. "You're going to be rich, kiddo. You better enjoy it for the rest of us."
I sighed. She was right. If I married Luke, I would be rich. We'd likely sign a pre-nup agreement that would limit any divorce settlement to protect Luke's inheritances, but while we lived together, I'd never have to worry about money.
"I'll try," I said and squeezed Candace's shoulder. "If you ever need anything, don't ever hesitate to ask me. If I'm going to be rich, I'll do what I can to help others. I did nothing to earn any of Luke's money, so I won't be greedy. One thing I love about Luke is how generous he is with his money. He paid for your mom to come out and stay. He's rich, but he's not greedy about it."
"I know, and you tell him I'll be in his debt forever. I still can't get over how great that was of him. He really is a keeper."
"I know." I smiled at the grin on her face. "Now, if we could only find you one of his rich banker friends, we'd be all set."
"It's my dream, it's my dream. As soon as I get this cast off," she said and patted the cast, "I'm going to goad Luke into matching me with one of his buddies."
I laughed at that and we spent the next hour just talking about everything.
When it was time to leave, I gave her a hug and left the apartment, glad I'd dropped by, promising her that we'd take her out for some food on the weekend.
I made my way down the elevator and out the building, walking the few blocks to the subway so I could go home. I stood on the platform, way back from the edge, and thought about Candace. She was brave and strong, with such a good nature to get over the attack so well. If it had been me, I'd be much more afraid. I thought that having spent months on the ocean sailing in a catamaran, would make me much braver than I had been before. But standing there on the platform, I felt just as vulnerable as I had before I left. I glanced around, wondering if there were any psycho cases on the platform who would randomly push someone onto the tracks, but there wasn't anyone who I thought could fit that description.
I squeezed into the car once people started to board, and stood in the center, holding onto one of the poles. I took in a breath and exhaled. There was no way you could think about safety one hundred per cent of the time. You just had to move on and live your life. I was lucky to be living in Manhattan, with Luke, going to Columbia to do my PhD. If I spent my time worrying about my safety, that amazing life would be wasted.
So, I pushed all thoughts of danger out of my mind and focused on going home to Luke.
Just thinking of him waiting for me in the hotel made me smile, and that was everything to me.
Chapter Eight
Luke
On Saturday, Alexa and I spent the morning in bed, sleeping in, and then rolling around in the sheets, starting the day off right. When we were both satisfied, we had a quick shower together and went down to the restaurant for breakfast.
After the waitress seated us, I reached out across the table and took her hand.
"Today's the day," I said. "Going to break my mother's heart."
"I know," she said and squeezed back. "I feel bad but there's a part of me that wants to laugh in her face. Am I a terrible person?"
"No," I said and took the menu, thinking I'd be pleased as well to see my mother's face when she learned the news. "Or at least, you're no worse than me."
We smiled at each other and ordered our food, then sat back and drank coffee while we waited for our meal to come.
"So, I forgot to tell you that I got a call from Detective Russell, who's in charge of Candace's case. Blaine didn't check in on time, so officially, he's on the lam, so to speak."
I frowned. "That's not good," I said, a sense of doom filling me. "If he's willing to break the terms of his parole, who knows what he might want to do?"
"Push Candac
e off the platform to hurt you?" I offered.
She nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Maybe I should buy a gun."
I shook my head. "I don't want you buying a gun or walking around worrying about being attacked. I'll hire a bodyguard for you when you go out in public. That should be enough until he's in custody."
"Will they put him back in jail?"
I stirred my coffee, remembering my discussion with Russell. "Detective Russell said that for a violent offense, they're more likely to put him back in jail. If I can get you a bodyguard until that happens, you'll be able to relax. We'll hire a limo service to drive you around."
That seemed to upset her. I knew she wasn't yet used to my wealth and the fact that as far as I was concerned, what was mine was hers. For the past eight months, we'd lived simply on The Phoenix, the pomp and ostentatious display of wealth common in my family and their circle was absent. For Alexa, rich meant no worrying about paying bills or buying food. In my world, wealth meant buying a larger yacht or deciding which one hundred and thirty-thousand-dollar car to drive.
"Do you think that's really necessary?"
"I do. I do think it's not only necessary, but long overdue, considering."
"I just feel bad that this has caused so much pain for everyone. My bad relationship didn't just affect me."
"Don't worry. I'll call someone on Monday, and we'll make sure you have a ride to and from Columbia every day. I'll hire a private security company to watch us when we go out."
"How much will that cost?" she asked, frowning.
"A lot," I said but took her hand and squeezed once more. I tried in the past to make her feel more comfortable that I would be spending a lot of money on her. "But to keep you safe, I'd spend a small fortune, Alexa. You're everything to me. I don't want you to even think of the cost, okay?"
She nodded and glanced away, like she felt guilty.
"Don't feel bad," I said and squeezed her hand again. "Would you do it for me if you had the money and worried that someone who had it in for me was wandering around?"
Her eyes widened. "Of course, I would. I just feel guilty. That money is meant for you to invest in the space industry."
"Alexa, what I'll spend on security for you is a tiny bit of interest I'll earn on my principal. You really need to sit down and look at my income statement one of these days. You wouldn't even blink at how much a few weeks of security will cost if you did. I'm serious. Money makes so much money doing nothing but sitting in an investment account that it's almost criminal. I'm glad to put some of that to work to alleviate my concerns about your safety. So, I don't want to hear another word about the cost, okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm serious," I said. "Okay?"
"Okay," she said finally, her voice low.
Our waitress brought our food and I was glad, because it created a reason to change the subject.
"Speaking of things that cost a lot of money but don't really do much of anything to earn it, are you ready for tonight?"
"I'm not looking forward to facing your mother and father..."
"I'll be right there beside you."
"You don't think your mother will invite Felicia’s family and her, do you? Or Jenna's?" Alexa asked.
I shook my head. "I specifically told her not to, so if she does, she's being a first-rate witch."
"Good," Alexa said and exhaled, wiping her brow in exaggerated relief. "I could just see Mrs. Blake marching up to you with Felicia in tow, demanding to know why you were throwing your life away with someone from Oregon." She rolled her eyes dramatically and then grinned.
I laughed at that, glad that Alexa had just the right sense of humor to match mine. We really were a perfect match.
"Mrs. Blake really is a character. She could fill in for Cinderella's wicked stepmother."
"She really could. She's like one of those cartoon characters who can't believe the world doesn't spin according to her needs."
I smiled at Alexa. "Once we're married, if we move away to California or Europe, we won't have to be around those people very often if at all. Frankly, I'll be happy to never see any of them again."
"What about your mother and father?" she asked, her voice soft.
I shrugged. "I could see them once or twice a year, I guess... Dana I'd want to see often, though. She's the only reason I'd ever attend a family function. In fact, that's the only reason why I agreed to go tonight. Dana will be there. She's so busy with the baby and house, I haven't had a chance to see her much since we got back."
"I love Dana," Alexa said with a smile. "She's just the sweetest person."
"See? It won't be so bad," I said and kissed her.
"I guess..."
We got ready for the event, both of us showering and getting dressed together after a quickie that left us both breathless, but it served to lessen both our stress levels.
Besides, I would feel smug attending the event knowing I'd just fucked my beautiful fiancée and there was nothing my mother could do about it. She'd have to accept it eventually, although I knew she would never really feel that Alexa was 'one of us' as she often put it -- the old rich.
I considered myself new rich, as in I'd just made my first billion dollars through the sweat of my own brow, rather than having it given to me the way they all did.
Regardless, my new life was with Alexa and was going to soon be almost completely separate from the Marshalls and their fortune. That would make me very happy. While I appreciated them for taking Dana and me in after our parents were killed in the accident, they made as much money off the deal as we did, since the bulk of my real mother's fortune went to the corporation. As my father's business partner, my adoptive father benefitted from the assets, not Dana and me. I could never understand why my father left so many of the shares in his partner’s hands in case he or my mother both died. It was done for business purposes, and I was sure they never imagined that both would die, leaving us kids orphans, but they did.
Now that I had my own fortune, I could ignore the one I was set to inherit from the Marshalls after they passed.
"Do I pass muster?" I asked Alexa as we went to the door of the hotel room, stopping in front of the mirror to check myself out. I adjusted my bow tie and checked out my hair, which was significantly longer than when I left port eight months earlier.
"You look mahvellous dahling," Alexa said with a fake accent. "Simply mahvellous."
We kissed, both of us grinning like idiots.
"I need a sense of humor to face tonight," I said.
"Just laugh them all off," Alexa replied, brushing hair off my forehead. "We don't need them and their gossip and manipulation. I'm only going to see Dana and to hold your hand."
"Me, too," I said. "Although I will be giving out the awards as the current CEO of the foundation. That has to change. I don't want to be held down by the responsibilities. Maybe Eric can take over. He likes doing things like that."
"Maybe," Alexa said. "Let's go and face the music."
So, we did.
Cipriani's was the same as it had been almost a year earlier when I met Alexa and my life changed course -- for the better. We had one of the smaller rooms reserved, which was currently lit up with candles on the twenty or so round tables all set with flowers and silverware, crystal glasses and name tags of all the attendees. It was impressive, but all I could think of was how my family would respond when I announced Alexa's and my engagement. I knew that the staff and some of my family -- Dana primarily -- would be happy, but my mother and father would probably be upset.
To hell with them. If they couldn't see that Alexa was perfect for me, it was their loss, not mine.
Alexa had a firm grip on my hand as we walked to the head table where my family sat, and I knew she was nervous. I bent down and kissed her, conscious that all eyes would be on me, but I didn't care. In fact, I wanted to rub it in their faces -- all those who didn't accept Alexa. Primarily, my parents and their closest and most prejudiced friends. Once upon a ti
me, each one of the old rich had ancestors who were poor, so their judgement of Alexa was hollow.
I led Alexa to our seats at the head table, stopping to kiss Dana on the cheek.
"Hey, little sister," I said and smiled at Eric. "Eric."
"I'm so glad the two of you are finally here," Dana said, squeezing Alexa's hand after Alexa bent down to kiss her as well. "I'm bored to tears with all the old farts and their money talk."
"Sorry we're late," I said. "We got waylaid because the traffic was terrible."
"Yeah, riiiight," Dana said with a laugh. "Like I believe that's the reason you two lovebirds are late."
Dana winked at me, and I had to laugh. She had a very dirty mind and didn't shy from saying what she thought.
Beside her Eric gave me as fake a smile as anyone ever did.
"Good to see you, brother-in-law," he said, leaning back. "Alexandria."
Beside me, Alexa smiled warmly. "Good to see you, Eric."
We went to say hello to my parents, who were likewise all fake with the smiles. The room was beginning to fill up and so they wanted all the company's staff and their guests see us as one big happy family.
I kissed my mother on the cheek and squeezed her shoulders, and then I shook my father's hand. Alexa said hello and then we took our seats.
I didn’t want to cause any problems at the start of the night, since I knew my announcement later about my engagement to Alexa would be enough to cause my mother's blood pressure to shoot through the roof. I was all about starting the night off right, even if I knew that it wouldn’t end that way.
I glanced out at the room as it started to fill with our employees. My father liked to think that his company was a family affair and that they treated their staff like family, but of course, I knew that was a lie. Or at least, I hoped they didn’t treat the staff the same way they'd treated Dana and me. They watched us like a hawk and tried to police every aspect of our lives to ensure we always lived up to the expectations they set for us. That meant we could never fail at anything or appear with the wrong people or in the wrong place. It was exhausting growing up. My real parents weren’t like that. Although they were aware of wealth and had a different circle of friends from most ordinary wage earners, they weren't snobs in the same way that the Marshalls were.