by Kylie Parker
“I’m sorry.” She spoke in her usual, silvery voice. “I never should have doubted you. I didn’t want to believe it, but then, you sent me that message. ‘We need to talk’ usually only means one thing.”
“Don’t do that again.” He attempted a more commanding tone. “I just didn’t want to bother you at work. You’d ask me how it went, I’d remember the whole thing and just…” He paused,“… snap. I asked you to meet me here, because it’s more romantic, that’s all.”
“It sure is.” Olivia agreed, her voice lowering to a soft, tender whisper, as he turned to face her. Her big, smiling eyes made his heart quiver , as he pulled her closer. James pulled his hand out of her grasp and cupped her face. Running his thumbs across her cheekbones, he gave her a sweet smile, before tilting his head down to meet her lips. Olivia’s kiss comforted him, as she put her arms around him. Caressing her face, he relished every second of this sweet moment, as small raindrops rolled down his forehead and his cheeks. His right hand slid up her face and into her curly hair. Knitting his fingers through it, he felt his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. She laid a soft kiss on his lower lip and gently leaned back.
“I’ve missed your cabin.” She whispered, opening her eyes.
“What’s so special about it?” He responded with a deep rasp in his voice.
“You’re asking the wrong question, Mr. Poet,” Olivia sing songed as a cunning smile spread across her face. “What you should be asking is ‘What’s not special about it’. It’s secluded; romantic, we can play music together, and…”
“Stop.” He interrupted, urgently. “I know what you’re going to say. You’ll…”
“Turn you on?” Olivia finished his sentence. “I want to do that.”
“If you do, we won’t make it to my cabin.” James grinned. “Save it for later. Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “What kind of surprise?”
“Let’s just say it’s going to help you release all that tension.” He winked at her. “No more questions.”
“Are you going to spoil me again, Mr. Poet?” The blissful smile on her face amused him so much that he was about to burst into laughter.
“More than you can imagine, you little devil in disguise.” He continued. “A whole lot more than you can imagine.”
18
“Home at last.” James cheered, switching off the engine of his SUV. “Take my keys and go in. Wait for me in the living room. Don’t turn on the light. You’ll spoil the surprise.”
“Yes, sir,” Olivia smiled playfully. By then, he was overflowing with a sense of relief. They had managed to avoid a painful argument and they were about to spend another wonderful night together. In spite of that, though, he could not forget the stiffness in her voice or that she had almost believed a stranger’s lie.
“I barely know you and I’ve been nothing but good to you so far. Still, you let that bitch’s tweet affect you. Take your own advice, Olivia. But, I can’t blame you. We’ve only been dating a few days.”
The large box in his trunk brought a smile to his face. He picked it up and carefully carried it, until reaching his front door. James stepped inside and pressed the light switch on the wall on the left.
“You can open your eyes now.” He said. Olivia obliged. Surprise spread over her face, as she laid her eyes upon the box. The shape and the large, black letters near the floor left her no doubt. It read:
Taylor – 616CE
She covered her mouth with her hands, shocked to her core. James waited for her to say something, anything, but she would not speak. Silence was so thick that he could cut it with a knife. Olivia blinked back tears, as her hands began to tremble. Her muffled sniffle filled the air. Baffled by her reaction, he breathed in heavy sighs, tapping his index finger against the box.
“It can’t be.” She finally whispered, dropping her arms.
“It is.” He assured her. “I thought you’d – ”
“I can’t accept this.” Olivia sniffled, raising her eyes to his face. “It’s just too much.”
“What?” His voice went up several octaves in surprise.
Olivia ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms. “James!” Her broken voice vibrated through his chest, as tears streamed down her cheeks. “This is a twenty-five-hundred-dollar guitar, for God’s sake!”
“Oh, man…” He whispered, running his hand through her hair. “I’d no idea you had so much pride.”
“I’m sorry.” A heavy sigh left her lips, as she stared up at him. “I can’t believe you. This morning, you went through God knows what and then, you bought me a present?”
“I remembered what you said the night I found you.” James’ voice was thick with emotion. “You know, about Taylor guitars.”
“A pair of shoes would have sufficed.” She teased him, putting her hands on his chest. “It would have been a lot more useful.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He nodded, a faint smile forming on his face.
“The guitar was going to help me release tension?” She raised her eyebrow: “How?”
“No, not really,” James muttered. “I have another surprise for you. This one’s in my bedroom.”
“I’d love it if we went to the pool again.” Olivia spoke in a husky voice.
“We can’t.” He said. “Just count to twenty and come inside.”
“Nice going with that guitar, you idiot: you should have seen it coming. Anyway, I think she’s going to love this. I know I will.”
James lit two candles and placed one on each nightstand. He pressed the “play” button on his stereo, the click-clacking of her heels getting louder by the second. The sensual, keyboard introduction of Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” filled the air, as she walked into his room.
“May I have this dance?” He requested, offering his hand, gazing deep into her eyes. Yet, she did not give him her hand. Nor did she put her own hand on his shoulder. Instead, she wrapped her slender arms around his back and closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest. James bent his head down and buried his face in her hair, taking her in his embrace. With her intoxicating scent filling his nostrils, he lost himself in the moment, savoring the sensation of her warm body in his arms, as the romantic ballad sent chills down his spine…
Watching every motion In my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean Finally lovers know no shame Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn around and say Take my breath away Take my breath away Watching I keep waiting Still anticipating love Never hesitating To become the fated ones Turning and returning To some secret place to find Watching in slow motion As you turn to me and say My love Take my breath away Through the hourglass I saw you In time you slipped away When the mirror crashed I called you And turned to hear you say If only for today I am unafraid Take my breath away Take my breath away Watching every motion In this foolish lover's game Haunted by the notion Somewhere there's a love in flames Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn my way and say Take my breath away Take my breath away
With Berlin’s ballad slowly fading out, Olivia slowly leaned back and opened her eyes. The sweet, loving look in them made his heart leap with joy. Even in the pale candlelight, they were shimmering. She did not need to open her mouth; they were describing her feelings very well. Her tight hold felt like a sweet prison he did not want to escape from.
“I could write ten poems about your eyes.” He said in a voice no more than a delicate whisper: “so true, so penetrating; just beautiful.”
“You don’t have to.” She whispered, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment: “all I need is your smile; your voice; God, that voice…”
James could not resist her anymore. He tilted his head down, his heart pounding in his chest as his lips crushed against hers. Olivia’s passionate kiss swept him off his feet, as she ran her hands up his back. But his girlfriend had done m
uch more than that, in the few days he had known her. She had pulled him away from his reality, showing him everything he had been missing out on for almost a third of his life. Amazingly, Olivia had won his trust and restored his faith in people.
“I’m falling in love again. Nah, who are you kidding, James? You already are in love with her. That’s why you bought her the guitar, that’s why you feel your heart melting, every time she kisses you. Enjoy it. You’ve been waiting for this for too long…”
19
The next morning, James woke Olivia up with a kiss and breakfast in bed. He was so happy that he kept humming the lyrics of the songs they danced to the night before. And, for the first time ever, the drive back to New York City did not feel like an obligation to him. He would go anywhere, as long as he was together with Olivia.
Not even Rick’s phone call was enough to upset him. The company executives had been made aware of his argument with Michelle Adams and had arranged a meeting in their tower in Manhattan. According to them, signing her was a very big deal. James did not bother himself thinking “why”. He had known them for a long time and they hardly ever agreed. Michelle’s case would be no exception.
The sight that greeted him that afternoon, in the conference room, made him want to burst into laughter. Ryan Peterson was in an executive chair, with Michelle sitting on his lap, giggling so loudly that they could be heard from the hallway outside. His CEO’s son still bore the scar of his brutal assault: a massive bruise on his left cheek.
“Bra-vo.” He gave four sarcastic slaps. “You kids are made for each other. Michelle, you owe me an apology.”
“Shit.” Ryan croaked, turning his attention to him. “That’s the guy from the bar!”
“Shut up, you little piece of shit.” James smirked. “You need another beating?”
“You did that?” Michelle pointed at him. A simple nod served as her answer. “Does your boss know about this?”
“Yeah, he does.” Howard Peterson interjected. “Good job.” He patted James on the back: “a little sloppy, but good.”
“Sloppy?” Ryan squinted at him.
“Yeah,” His father said with a nod. “He should have given you a black eye, too. Now, get the hell out of here. And shut the door behind you.”
“Whatever.” Ryan mumbled.
“I need to apologize for my son.” Howard spoke, a hint of sadness in his hoarse voice. “He can be a real pain in the ass.”
“What are we doing here, Mr. Peterson?” James broke his silence. “This girl is a dancer.” He went on, casting a wary glance at Michelle. “She doesn’t have what it takes to be a real singer. And she still hasn’t apologized for spreading false information yesterday.”
“I’m sorry, Jimmy X.” Michelle murmured. “I deleted those tweets this morning. Too bad, though. They generated a lot of hype.”
“Forget your tactics, Ms. Adams.” Howard attempted a stiff tone, as he glared at her. “Platinum Media Records is a serious, prestigious company. If you want to keep being provocative, I suggest you go somewhere else. We don’t sign posers. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.” She said, dropping her eyes from his intense stare.
“I still don’t understand why you’re interested in her.” Frustration was lingering in James’ voice. “You know who she is. What makes you think she’s talented?”
“Never judge a book by its cover, my friend.” All of a sudden, the strictness in Howard’s tone vanished altogether. He even smiled at James. “I was at a friend’s wedding the other day. The party was pretty boring, to say the least. Then, Michelle here played the piano. Believe it or not, her performance of Adele’s ‘Hello’ was breathtaking.”
“I’m not buying it.” James’ opinion did not go down well with her. A huff of indignation escaped her, as she put her head in her hands.
“Just give her a chance.” Howard made his voice sound sweeter. “I’m sure she’ll surprise you.”
“It’s not about me giving her a chance, Mr. Peterson.” James claimed, lowering his tone. “There’re other things, too. First of all, she’s really angry. Her views on men are very, very immature. Second, the tabloids are going to bury her. I can imagine a magazine cover: ‘Twerker turns singer: The joke of the decade.’ People are going to laugh at her. Last, but definitely not least, I’m risking my reputation here.”
“That’s why I want you to train her.” Howard spoke in a calm, steady voice. “I agree with you; the tabloids are going to tear her apart. People are going to think of her as a bad joke, especially if the change is too quick. Michelle, you need to stop making those videos. Keep a low profile, try not to attract publicity. Jimmy, take as much time as you need with her. We’ll only start recording when she’s ready.”
“This could take months.” James stated. “Do you really want to wait that long?”
“Actually, we don’t have a choice.” Howard said. “Her videos have generated quite a buzz. It’s going to take a while for the dust to settle. Spend some time with her, get to know her a little better, hear her sing. If you still think she doesn’t have what it takes, give me a call.”
“Michelle, give us the room, please.” James politely requested, the number of questions growing in his mind. His boss had never asked him to do anything similar for anybody. He waited long enough for her to leave the conference room, before addressing him again.
“Train her?” He pointed at the door. “Really? I don’t recall training anybody in my life. What’s the deal here? Why is she so special? You wanted me to write an entire album for Laurel Thomas in just a few days and you’re giving me months to write hers? Why?”
“I didn’t care so much if Thomas made it as a singer, God rest her soul. I mean, sure, I’d love to have her on board; we’d been fighting with Atlas Records over her for months, but honestly? I didn’t give a rat’s ass if she succeeded or not. But Michelle…” Howard heaved a long, deep sigh, as his eyes filled with sorrow. “Michelle’s a whole different matter. You see, I knew her old man. We served together in the Gulf war. She never met him; Bob died before she was born. He made me promise to look after her.”
“Wait! What did you just say?” James raised his eyebrow. “You’d been fighting over Laurel?”
“Yeah,” Howard affirmed. “That girl was really talented. She chose us over them because of you.”
“Does anyone from Atlas know my real name?” James inquired, his voice picking up some more volume. His question put his boss in an awkward position. Howard looked away from him, as his mouth tightened. “Do they?” James insisted.
“Our database was hacked, about a month ago.” Howard said, returning his gaze to him. “I’m afraid they do.”
“Damn!” James roared in rage, jumping from his seat. He even kicked a smaller chair close to him.
“Rick told me about the fingerprints.” Howard held tight to his temper. “I’m sorry. Those bastards tried to frame you. It gets worse, though. The cops said they couldn’t trace the hackers. They don’t have any evidence against Atlas.”
“It’s got to be them.” James concluded, shaking his head. “They have motive.”
“Son…” He felt a big hand on his left shoulder. “I can only imagine what you’re going through right now, but I need an answer about Michelle.”
“Tell her I’ll do it.” James groaned, looking down at him over his right shoulder. “Schedule a rehearsal. I’ll be seeing you.”
20
Taking advantage of the bright, sunny day, Olivia took Gina out for a cup of coffee. The young brunette was glowing. Her relationship with James had been going very well and she was all smiles, hours after they met at her friend’s house. As a matter of fact, she was so much more cheerful than usual that she teased Gina relentlessly. When they arrived at “Mani’s”, a fancy café in lower Manhattan, she gave her another reason to be mad at her. Olivia merely told her to get a table and wait for her, because she wanted to pay a visit to the massive shopping mall down the street. Gina did
n’t even get the chance to voice her objection; Olivia brushed past her and rushed towards the mall.
More than thirty minutes later, she rejoined her friend in the packed café, with two bags in her hands and a huge smile on her glorious face.
“Wait till you see what I got,” Olivia said, her voice reeking of thick enthusiasm, as she sat across from her friend. “Ooh, they look sexy!”
“Lingerie;” Gina inferred, bringing her red coffee mug to her lips. “Don’t ditch me again.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” Olivia tilted her head. “I just want tonight to be special. I was going to the mall. It was just a matter of ‘when’.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you happier,” Gina remarked, a small smile on her face. “Is he really that good?”
“You need to stop asking the same questions over and over.” A wave of amusement washed over her. “He’s been kind, romantic, generous, amazing in bed…”
“And honest with you, right from the start:” Gina’s statement wiped the smile off Olivia’s face; “Unlike you.”
“Oh, my God…” Olivia whispered, putting her hands to her temples. “I was wondering when you were going to say that.”
“Well, one of us had to.” Gina pointed out. “Look, Liv. We’ve known each other for a long time. You’re the best friend I ever had: a little too wacky sometimes, but otherwise just great. Hiding things from him can only lead to disaster. You don’t want that, do you?”
“Thanks; of course not;” Olivia replied, letting her hands slide down her face. “I’m scared, Gina. I really want to tell him, but I don’t know what that going to do to our relationship.”
“If he’s the man you think he is, he’ll appreciate your honesty.” Gina voiced her opinion. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll buy you something even better this time.”