Honey

by Tammy Lewis

away from us, in the centre of Quinn’s bedroom. Feeling my

  whole body go stiff with fear. Quinn opened up his eyes,

  pulling me into him in one swift motion, while yelling out,

  “what the hell are you doing here? How on earth did you get

  in?”

  Startled, leaning forward, Cynthia collected my clothing up

  off of the floor and charged towards the bedroom door.

  Wrapping a bed sheet around himself, Quinn fled, chasing

  her down. Demanding to know why she had broken into his

  apartment and asking for the clothing, my clothing, that she

  had just stolen. Hearing him re-enter the bedroom, taking me

  into his arms, holding me so close, he suggested, “I think that

  it’s time that we called someone, this is getting out of hand.”

  Quinn called the police, while I called Marcus, with an urgent

  need for some basic necessities. With all that I had right now

  to conceal myself, was Quinn’s bathrobe. Arriving quickly,

  Marcus looked completely unimpressed with the entire

  situation. Questioning Quinn instantly, concerning the

  security of the apartment and the entire building. All while

  the police arrived, who also began an inundation of questions,

  with Quinn and I feeling more like the accused than the

  victims.

  “I don’t think that I locked the door last night,” Quinn gasped, lowering his head, realising that his minor mishap had caused

  the problem.

  With fury in his eyes, raising his eyebrows at Quinn, Marcus

  asked “what do you mean, that you didn’t lock your

  apartment door. Do you not realise that you live in one of the

  most dangerous cities in the entire country. What was more

  important than keeping you both safe here last night? She

  could have been carrying a weapon of some kind.”

  Not wanting to hear another word about what could have, or

  may not have happened. I turned to face Marcus and

  collecting my clothes that he had so kindly brought over. I

  replied on behalf of Quinn, “Marcus, when we got back here

  last night, the last thing on either of our minds was locked

  doors. To tell the truth I am surprised that the front door was

  even closed.”

  Noticing the smirks and grins on both of the officer’s faces,

  sure that they knew exactly what I was getting at, and what

  had gone down here late last night. I made my way into the

  bathroom, with one thing and one thing only on my mind,

  and that was to get ready for work.

  On returning, handing me a statement, one of the officers

  asked, “could you please sign this Miss Stone.”

  Confused I asked, “what am I signing and why?”

  Embracing me, Quinn replied, “it’s a police report, so that

  they can finally go and talk to Cynthia and make her back off.”

  Taking the paper and signing it, feeling furious that she had

  felt the need to take my things, I asked “and what about my

  dress?”

  Looking at both of the officer’s for answers, one of the

  officer’s replied, “if the items that she has taken are worth

  anything, along with the report. We will give you a crime number, so that you can contact your insurance company, to

  make a claim.”

  Widening my eyes in horror, I gasped, “great, a one of a kind,

  specifically made to order, designer dress. She couldn’t steal

  my sweats now, could she? Can’t you just go over there and

  make her give it back?”

  Nodding, the officer replied, “we will go and speak to her,

  discuss the prospect of a restraining order. But in cases like

  this, it’s rare that the stolen items are ever returned.”

  ‘Great,’ I thought, feeling Quinn’s arms surround me once

  more. Noticing Marcus’s glare, Quinn suggested “I’ll take you

  shopping, get you any dress that you’d like to replace the

  stolen one. I am sorry that this happened, it’s all my fault.”

  Hearing Marcus call out “thank goodness, at least someone is

  taking responsibility.”

  Certain that I couldn’t bear to hear another word, my time

  here and this entire situation was more than done. Breaking

  free from Quinn’s hold, marching over in the direction of the

  front door. Marcus called out, “Dom’, where on earth are you

  going now?”

  Turning only to reply, “some of us need to get to work today!”

  Watching Quinn rush towards me, lifting me up off of my

  feet, face to face, he asked “you weren’t leaving without saying

  goodbye, were you?”

  Feeling more sets of eyes on me, than there were people in the

  room. Kissing him goodbye, thankfully he released me from

  his arms and let me go.

  Chapter 23

  Arriving at work, exhausted by all of the recent events, I was

  immediately faced with both Ashlee and Ms Hilary, as soon as

  I vacated the elevator. Wanting to scream and throw myself

  on to the floor, I greeted them both with all the enthusiasm

  that I had left inside and marched straight into my office.

  Hearing them both in close pursuit behind me. Seated down

  at my desk, while Ashlee stood there apprehensively, on a

  knives edge, sure that she was just waiting for her time to

  speak. Wasting no time at all, it was Ms Hilary that spoke

  first.

  Placing her hand on to her hip, lifting her head with an

  extreme abruptness. Pursing her lips together she explained,

  “I have received an anonymous email, suggesting that you are

  running another business, from out of this very office. Making

  a lucrative income, while using the company’s resources. Is

  this true Ms Stone?”

  Staring over at Ashlee, processing my words carefully before

  they had even left my mouth, I replied “no Ms Hilary, I am

  not. Though I can assure you that the person who sent you

  the email in question, is the same person that has a personal

  vendetta against me right now. The lady that sent you that

  email, is the same person that broke into Quinn’s apartment,

  in the early hours of this morning and stole one of my

  designer gowns.”

  Watching Ms Hilary’s eyes widen in horror, I was bewildered

  when she called out, “I knew it. I knew that you were sleeping

  with him.”

  Confused that she had completely overlooked the entire issue,

  ignoring the vendetta with Cynthia, or the alternate business.

  I assured her that the only business that was being conducted from this office, was that of the modelling agencies. With Ms

  Hilary seemingly more concerned with my physical

  relationship with Quinn, she left the room abruptly, calling

  out “the new campaign Ms Stone, I need all of the new images

  by this afternoon. And I want a board meeting, first thing

  Friday morning, this new campaign needs to go live ASAP!”

  Deleting my personal email account from my office computer,

  making sure that I had left no trace of my redundant side line.

  Having all of my personal emails, redirected to my phone, I

  noticed that in amongst all of the junk mail, that I had

  received over the past week or so, there were a few new cases.

&nb
sp; Desperate wives and girlfriends, all waiting for their chance to

  out their nearest and dearest, for the lying, cheating, sleaze

  balls that they were.

  Scrolling through the details of each and every message,

  before replying to decline each and every case. It was then

  that I stumbled on to a plea, from a young woman, a college

  student, in a relationship with an older guy, a college

  professor. Though this one being very different to the others,

  with the professor already being married, it sparked

  something within me. It was then I began investigating, still

  unsure if I wanted to take the case, or any at all.

  Deep in thought and up to my eyeballs in paperwork, a few

  hours later, I heard a gentle knock coming from my office

  door. Noticing Ashlee appear with a huge vase of roses,

  placing them down on to my desk, she gushed, “these just

  arrived for you.”

  Standing to take the note positioned in between the stems, I

  grinned, noticing Ashlee’s excitement. Opening the little

  envelope, to read the card attached, it read: -

  Thank you for an incredible evening. I’m so sorry about this morning, please let me make it up to you. Any time, any place.

  Though I would love to see you at lunch time, at my office. I

  have something that I would like to show you.

  Yours

  Quinn

  Feeling my cheeks burn a little brighter, tossing the card

  down on to my desk, noticing Ashlee’s grin widen. She asked

  “is everything okay boss?”

  Nodding, happily I replied, “oh yes, I think so.”

  Wandering over to Quinn’s office building, making my way up

  to his floor, I was instantly greeted by his secretary. Though

  this encounter was much friendlier than my last visit. With a

  great big welcoming smile, she announced, “Ms Stone, how

  lovely to see you again. Go straight through, Mr Hamilton is

  expecting you.”

  Waltzing into Quinn’s office, barely managing to close the

  door behind me, before he whisked me into his arms. With

  flashbacks of last night playing through my head, he placed

  his lips on mine, showing his want and need for me, right

  here and now, despite where we were. Placing both of my

  hands on to his chest, trying to gain some control, knowing

  fully well that within this office, that we were not concealed,

  away from prying eyes.

  Slowly but surely, I created a little space between us, looking

  up into his eyes, still dancing with delight at our encounter. I

  asked, “you wanted to see me?”

  Releasing me from his tight hold, he took me by the hand and

  led me over to a table at the back of the room. Displaying

  some sort of building prototype, sure that there had to be an

  architectural name for the structure. Unsure of the term, I

  congratulated him on his cool little dolls house. Hearing him chuckle with slight disapproval, feeling his arms surround me

  and tighten once more, he explained “it’s a model of the new

  centre for the kids. I am going to display it to them this

  Saturday, along with a presentation and a demonstration of

  all the new facilities, that this place has to offer. Not only the

  children, but the whole community.”

  Taking both of my hands in his and gazing deep into my eyes,

  Quinn asked “can I count on you to be there, this Saturday?”

  Feeling a whole new sense of pride and admiration for all that

  he had done. I threw my arms around him tightly and replied

  “you bet yah! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  The following day, toying with the idea of whether or not to

  take the honeytrap case, I headed into a conference room and

  contacted Megan. The student that had contacted me,

  concerning her boyfriend, the married college professor.

  Concerned to why she needed my help, I asked her to video

  call me when she was free. Passing on my contact details, I

  was slightly alarmed when my phone began to vibrate in my

  hand, as she contacted me immediately.

  Sitting back, hearing her begin to explain, that she had been

  in a relationship with Oliver, her professor, for the past 8

  months. Though she was becoming alarmed and concerned

  that he may have been intimate with other students on

  campus, using his profession and power to entice young

  females into his bed. Wondering what had sparked the need

  for my services, she explained that he had promised her that

  he would leave his wife for her, for them to be a couple, with

  her soon to be graduating.

  With both contempt and concern, I asked Megan, “I hope that

  you realise, married men use this line all of the time. They

  promise that they will leave their current marriage, in the

  hope of stringing you along. What makes you think that he will leave his wife for you?”

  Looking quite relaxed about the entire situation, seemingly

  mature, beyond her years. Megan replied “he may be telling

  the truth, he may be lying. But I just need to know. If I’ve

  turned his head so easily, will it, or has it already happened

  again. And I hear that you are the best in the business, for

  exposing a rat.”

  Apprehensively I sat there, contemplating my next move,

  while Megan begged and pleaded, “please, I just don’t want to

  throw my entire life away for him, without knowing the

  truth.”

  It was right there and then, at that precise moment in time

  that I knew that I had to take this case. Discussing with

  Megan, Oliver and his whereabouts, we both came to the

  conclusion that tonight would be best. This evening, Oliver

  taught an art class at the local community centre and

  afterwards would join his students for a drink at the local bar,

  only a stone’s throw away from his class. Ending the video call

  with Megan, outlining tonight and the full plan, it was time

  for me to get back to my preparations for this evening.

  Wanting and needing this case to run like clockwork, with the

  last few traps being an absolute disaster.

  Returning to my office to find Quinn seated at my desk, I was

  both alarmed and surprised. Holding out his arms to me, I

  walked over to his side, taking my hand he pulled me towards

  him. Losing my balance, I found myself perched upon his lap.

  Looking at him disapprovingly, I whispered, “if Ms Hilary

  walks in right now, then I am going to get so fired!”

  Feeling him reach into his pocket and pull out my lipstick.

  Handing it to me, I opened it and suggested, “wild rose, Mr

  Hamilton, I honestly didn’t think that it would have been your colour.”

  Reaching up and kissing me hard and strong, he replied, “oh I

  don’t know. I think it kind of suits me, don’t you think.”

  Noticing the transfer of my lip colour, emblazoned across his

  lips. Rubbing my thumb across his lower lip I asked, “you

  came all the way over here, just to return my lipstick?”

  Shaking his head, watching his eyes dance with delight, he

  replied “no, I was going to ask you out to dinner this evening,

  before you left this mor
ning… but you know how this morning

  went… there wasn’t a lot of time for talking,” he gushed.

  Feeling my cheeks redden a little, with the breath-taking

  memories that this morning had created. With Quinn and I

  becoming almost inseparable, since we had taken the plunge

  and decided to take our relationship to the physical level.

  Sure, that the connection that we shared, was greater than I

  had ever anticipated.

  “So, what do you say, tonight, a cosy dinner at my place or out

  to a fancy restaurant?” He asked.

  Unsure how he was going to initially take it, that I was

  returning to my side line. Not wanting to give too much away,

  declining his offer, I replied “I’m so sorry, but I am working

  this evening.”

  Squinting at me, slightly intrigued, he asked “is Domini

  working this evening, or is Honey working this evening?”

  Knowing instantly by his facial expression, that he did not

  approve, I replied, “Quinn please, it’s just business.”

  Noticing that instantly, Quinn’s body language towards me

  changed, rising up to my feet. With my arms folded, raising

  my eyebrows, I asked “is this going to be a problem?”

  Standing, noticing his entire face change, with an unreadable expression. Kissing me goodbye, briskly on to my forehead,

  he made his way over to the doorway. Calling out “I guess that

  I should get back to work. I’ll see you later, Honey.”

  Slouching down into my office chair, sighing heavily, I began

  thinking over this evening. Questioning myself, wondering if I

  had made the wrong decision by taking the case. Deep in a

  trail of thought, hearing a knock at my office door, I called out

  “come in.”

  To see Marcus, appear around the half-opened door, looking

  slightly concerned at my solemn state. Closing the door

  behind him, he made his way over to me, throwing his arms

  around me from behind. Holding his arms tightly across my

  chest, feeling his lips pressed down forcefully on to the top of

  my head. Marcus asked, “is everything okay Dom’? Quinn just

  stormed past my door, are things over, do you want to leave

  early?”

  Sure, that my silence was making Marcus anxious, concerned

  that he was going to overreact just as Quinn had. Closing my

  eyes tightly, waiting for the explosion to occur any second. I

  explained tonight’s case, feeling Marcus stand back, spinning