by Alexa McLean
“I need you to promise me that you’re done with the thrills. That you won’t try to keep laundering money and putting yourself in danger for no good reason. I don’t want a repeat of last night.”
“Neither do I,” I said, my voice low. “I’m ashamed that I got you dragged into that mess. I should have known better but I allowed my own selfish desires get in the way of your safety.” I brushed my thumb against her cheek. “But no more. From this day forward, you’re my number one priority.”
Epilogue: Shelly
TWO YEARS LATER.
“Why do printers always take forever and a day to print,” I grumbled as the hefty machine groaned under the strain of the printing job I had tasked it with. “I mean it’s the twenty-first century. You’d think they would have perfected the art of printing by now.”
“You have a tablet. I don’t even know why you’re printing everything in the first place.” Grayson called from his desk. “The whole point of buying the tablets was to go digital.”
“I’m sorry but I just feel better having the physical copy on hand. It feels more professional, you know.”
“Our luggage is going to weigh a ton if you keep insisting on printing everything.”
“It’s just a few more things.” I insisted. “Besides, if we go over the weight limit, we have more than enough money to pay the fine.”
“That’s not the problem. The problem is that I’ll get stuck carrying through the airport.”
“Oh, quit your complaining.” She waved her hand in dismissal before grabbing the fat stack of papers and putting them into a binder.
“Speaking of the airport, we should probably get going or we are going to miss our plane.”
“I’m not worried. With your driving, I’m sure we’ll get there just fine.”
“You know, there is the possibility that an officer will pull me over one of these days.”
“Sure, but it hasn’t happened yet.” She bent over her desk and clicked ‘print’ on yet another document.
“Sometimes I wonder why I decided to make you my business partner. You’re nothing but a pain in my –”
“Watch it. Say another word and you’ll be in the dog house.” I warned.
He quickly learned to shut his trap.
Once everything was printed, I shoved the binders into my carry-on bag – or, at least, I attempted to. The bag bulged to the breaking point and even after sitting on it, I couldn’t properly fasten the zip. So, I waited until Grayson wasn’t looking and I shoved some of them in his bag as well. “Alright, I think I’m all set.”
“PHEW, THAT WAS ONE hell of a meeting.” I sighed once we were back on the sidewalk. “I thought the British were supposed to be friendly. That was downright brutal. They definitely know how to smooth talk their way through a negotiation, don’t they?”
“You’ll get used to it.” He said with a hand on the small of my back. “Trust me, they used to intimidate –”
“They didn’t intimidate me.” I countered. “I just thought they drove a hard negotiation but I think I managed to hold my own despite the fact.”
“You did,” Grayson said with a smile. “I have to admit that it’s quite sexy seeing you work in the corporate world.”
“I bet you’re glad I’m your partner now, aren’t you?” For some reason, he did not respond and that worried me a bit.
IN FACT, HE WAS RELATIVELY quiet for most of the night.
“Hey, is something wrong?” I finally asked as we strolled through downtown London.
“There’s something I want to ask you.” He paused, hand reaching into his pocket. “But not here.”
“Then where?” I asked.
He pointed at the London Eye. “The last time I checked, you weren’t afraid of heights.”
I furrowed my brows together. He was acting weird – very weird. “You’re up to something and I’m not sure whether I like it or not.”
Grayson took my hand and started to drag me toward the Ferris Wheel. For all his hurry, we still had to wait in line with everyone else. As we did, he held me from behind. Mmm, I loved it when he did that. I leaned against his chest and simmered in his warmth. “So, why can’t you just tell me now? What difference does it make?”
“Oh, it makes all the difference.” We inched forward.
Soon, we found ourselves at the front of the line. “You know, I never dreamed I would be traveling the world with you – least of all on business trips.”
“You don’t regret it, do you?”
“No,” I said with a smile. “Not at all. Owning a company with you is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It’s just so satisfying to see that my hard work actually makes a difference.” I paused and looked into his eyes. “And I suppose it helps to work alongside the love of my life.”
He returned my smile, leaned down, and kissed me. We were still mid-kiss when the ride operator beckoned us forward. Grayson lent me his hand and helped me into my seat. Gently, he pulled the safety bar down into our laps until he heard the telltale click.
We rose a couple of feet off the ground as the next couple stepped forward.
“I bet the view is incredible from the top.”
“The view is already pretty amazing.” He said as he looked right at me. Even after two years of being together, he still had a way of making me blush.
Soon, the London Eye brought us to the very top of the city. I gasped in amazement at all the twinkling lights and the beauty of the Thames shimmering underneath us. I was so caught up in the scenery that I didn’t notice Grayson reaching into his pocket.
“Shelly.” He caught my attention and I looked his way to find him holding a little black box in his hand. I brought my hands to my mouth. Could it be?
He opened it revealing a stunning diamond ring. It sparkled in the moonlight like Grayson had somehow captured a nighttime star and stuffed it into a jewelry box. “Shelly, will you be more than my business partner?” He paused, wetting his lips in a nervous habit. “Will you be my partner for life and marry me?”
I immediately nodded my head as a wave of happiness washed over me. I hugged him so quickly that he nearly dropped my engagement ring.
We both laughed as he slipped it onto my finger and kissed my knuckles. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
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Chapter 1: Tori
IT WAS ANOTHER TYPICAL day at the library. The regulars were tucked away in the corners, noses buried inside their books. I was behind the reception desk organizing some of last night’s returns. I was always fascinated to see what people checked out of the library. I suppose that’s why I became a librarian.
Once everything was sorted, I checked our email system and responded to a few inquiries. One student, in particular, needed help with an essay about the American Civil War. I grinned, cracked my knuckles, and listed a few primary texts that were sure to impress their teacher, that is if they managed to use it correctly.
By noon, I pulled a salad out of my bag and munched through the slightly soggy leaves.
The afternoon rolled by and with nothing else to do, I started reading Searching for Him, a romance novel I had picked up about a week ago. It was a thrilling mystery about a husband who went missing after a tragic sailing accident only to come back ten years to find his wife has moved on and married his brother. I was hooked on every page, devouring every word like a starving woman.
Swoosh!
The large front doors swung back, revealing a disheveled looking young man with a mop of hair on his head. He has his backpack slung over his left shoulder. The right strap was missing altogether.
I offered a smile. “What can I do for you today?”
“I need an encyclopedia on English Queens.” He said as he looked down at his hand.
“Well, you can find encyclopedias on the third floo
r. Would you like me to show you?” I asked, maintaining the friendly smile on my face.
The young man behind the counter nodded with a sly expression on his face. He was a student at the local college. He frequented the library at least once a week, usually on the days when I worked. I had a hunch that he was developing a crush. The thought made me blush with embarrassment. Maybe a few years back, I would have been flattered by such attention but as it stands, he was much too young for someone in her mid-thirties.
“Right this way.” We climb the stairs to the third floor. My long skirt brushes against the carpet. I really needed to find the time to fix the hem but I just didn’t have the energy to fish out the sewing machine from the attic. Plus, the dust always aggravated my allergies and I’d spend the rest of the night sneezing up a storm.
“Um, Miss Prater, is it?” He said, looking at my name badge. Or rather, it seemed like more of an excuse for him to stare at my cleavage. I folded my shawl across my chest to hide my body from his hungry gaze.
“Yes?” I said while standing on a step stool to grab the book he needed. “This here should be a perfect starting point for your term paper. Make sure you make good use of the bibliography at the end of each article. It’ll be a goldmine for potential sources.”
“Thanks.” He grabbed the book and grinned. “So, this new pizza shop just opened up down the street. I was wondering if you wanted to grab a slice or two with me sometime.”
I’ve been dreading this moment. I knew it was coming because every time he tried to leave the library, he lingered like there was something he wanted to say he just couldn’t muster up the courage to do so.
How was I supposed to let him down without hurting him? All I could see was the hopefulness in his eyes as they twinkled in excitement. There was a smile plastered across his face. Obviously, he was very happy with himself for mounting the courage to ask me out.
“I’m sorry but...”
Instantly, that twinkled dulled into a deep and stormy darkness. His shoulders sagged with disappointment as he anticipated my rejection.
“It has nothing to do with you, Matt. It’s just – inappropriate. You’re a student.”
“I’m an adult.” He stated with a defiant tone to his voice.
I nodded. “You are. But I’m a much older adult. Do you really want to date a woman who turns thirty-five next month?”
His lips pressed into a hard line. His eyebrows twitched. Slowly, his eyes swept over my body, soaking in every inch as if to validate what I had just told him.
“You’re thirty-five?”
“Almost.”
His mouth hung agape. Clearly, he was in a state of disbelief. “But... you’re hot...”
I blushed crimson. It was the first time in a long time that someone had called me hot. I didn’t consider myself particularly attractive. I wasn’t ugly by any means but there were plenty of women who had much better looks than I did. “Matt, if you really want to take someone out on a date, why don’t you try Stacy. She’s our new assistant. Studies are your college. Maybe you even share a few classes with her.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Mhm. Do you want me to introduce you?”
Suddenly, his face grew very red. He tugged on the collar of his dress shirt as his forehead prickled with sweat. “I... Maybe some other time.”
“Alright,” I responded with a smile. “Some other time, then.”
Together, we returned to the circular desk where I checked him out. He hurried out of the library and avoided looking over at Stacy who just giggled to herself.
“He’s kind of cute, isn’t he? Too bad he never talks to me... I see him around campus sometimes but I never have the guts to strike a conversation.”
I smiled. “I think you should go for it – that is if you think your heart is telling you to do so.”
She shook her head. “Tori, you’re always saying weird stuff like that. You’re like some old Shakespearean poet who’s cursed to speak in couplets.”
“I’m just trying to give you some sound advice. I know how hard it can be to see the boy of your dreams and just pray he talks to you – that he notices you – that he’ll make the first move so you don’t have to.”
“Ooo, do I sense a story coming on?” Stacy turned in her chair to face me.
“I shouldn’t.”
“Oh, come on, it’s a slow afternoon. No one’s here. Tell me.”
I bit my lower lip, wondering how much I should reveal. After all, I’m a rather private person. I don’t particularly like to open up to people. It does nothing but makes you vulnerable to heartbreak.
“Well, there was this boy. He was my next-door neighbor. The classic bad boy –”
“A bad boy, huh? I never would have guessed.” She leaned forward and rested on her elbows, waiting for more. There was this eager, almost expectant look in her eyes.
Just then, her phone started to ring. She looked at the caller ID and frowned. “I have to take this.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
She excused herself and stepped outside to the designated smoking area. It was the one place where she could get a bit of privacy. I felt sorry for the girl. She was struggling with her mother’s early onset dementia all while holding a job and trying to make her way through college. Most of the time, she looked so exhausted that I feared she would collapse. I tried to talk to her about it but she refused to let me in. I didn’t blame her. Losing a mother at such a critical time in her life must be a difficult thing to cope with.
My mind wandered to my own mother. I had no idea what she was like or if I’d even like her as a person. Both her and my father died when I was very young, leaving me an orphan. Luckily, my foster parents weren’t the worst so I managed to make it out of adolescence more or less okay.
I got up and sorted through some books that needed to re-shelved. I was just about to roll the cart to another part of the library when someone walked through the door. She smiled in my direction, a bundle of books in her arms.
“Rebecca.” I helped her with her load. “These books were returned faster than usual. I hope your boss found them satisfactory.”
“Very.” Her smile deepened. “I think that’s why they came back so fast. He just couldn’t leave them be.”
I scanned the books and handed her a fresh bundle. “I think I’m really starting to understand his taste. Mysteries, mostly, with that Noir vibe to them.”
“You know better than I do. I’m just the messenger.” She handed over her library card.
For the millionth time, I scanned it over, trying to find some sort of clue that would lead me to her boss. “No chance that you’ll tell me who he is?”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” She said dramatically. “The breaking of that oath would surely bring about my death.”
I chuckled. I liked Rebecca. She was one of our regulars. Over the months, we’ve had our fair share of conversations, most of them revolving around our favorite TV show.
“Did you see the newest episode last night?”
“No! Don’t tell me. I recorded it. I’m going to watch it tonight right after my shift. Was it good? Did they find out who the killer was? Wait! Don’t tell me!”
“My lips as sealed.” I pass my fingers along my lips.
“I wanted to watch it last night but I was swamped with work.”
“Such as...?”
She grinned. “I already told you, you won’t get a peep out of me.”
“You can’t blame me for trying. Your mysterious boss is quite intriguing especially with his voracious appetite for books. I’d like to meet him someday.”
“Maybe you will.” She said with a wink.
“Oh, and is he the only one who reads them?”
“The books?” Rebecca asked. “I browse through them sometimes and I think he makes them freely available to his house staff so I assume some of them take him up on the offer.”
“And, is he the one that personally
hands over the books to you?”
“No, his butler does. Puts them in a nice neat pile for me so I can just pick them up and go.”
“I see...” My mind was reeling with possibilities. “Alright.”
“It was a pleasure, Tori. I’ll probably see you next week. Bye!” She started for the door before she stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Why do you ask anyway?”
“No reason,” I answered quickly, averting her eyes. I had yet to tell anyone of the mysterious notes I kept finding in her boss’ books. The logical explanation was that he wrote them himself but I could hardly imagine a CEO penning love poems in his free time. Wouldn’t he have more pressing issues to worry about?
“Oh, and does your boss have a lot of free time on his hands?” I asked.
Rebecca chuckled. “This is really eating you up inside, isn’t it?”
I just smiled a knowing smile. I didn’t want to admit that this mysterious poet often kept me up at night as I imagined what he looked like and what it would feel like to fall into his arms. The tone of his poetry alone was enough to make my heart melt. I wanted to discover who could write such beautiful lines and make my heart thump.
“But, to answer your question, no, he doesn’t have a lot of free time. He usually works himself half to death. He only manages to read on his breaks and most of the time he’s also working on something else. As far as I know, he comes home pretty late and wakes up early.”
“I see... what about the butler?”
“What’s this sudden fascination with the butler?”
Before I could answer her, a group of kids walked in. They were accompanied by a parent who looked rather fatigued. She looked over at me with a hopeful look in my eyes. “The Reading hour is downstairs. They are just about to start.” She sighed in relief, ushered her kids down the stairs, and disappeared.