by Tammy Lewis
expect me to go and babysit him?”
Urging Marcus to go after him, watching him roll his eyes at
me, he stood, strutting towards the doorway, he made it
pretty clear that he disapproved of the whole arrangement.
Wondering if this was the perfect opportunity to clear the air
with Ashlee, now that the boys were gone, I asked “is everything okay Ash?”
Watching her nervousness escalate once more, unable to even
look at me, she took a deep breath and replied “uh… I… you
and Marcus…”
Confused, listening to her stumble with her words, sure that I
knew exactly what was going on. Feeling a wicked grin
consume my face, I asked “Ash, do you have a little crush on
Marcus?”
Watching her instantly spin around to face me, grabbing my
arm, with a look of grave concern, she begged, “please don’t
tell him, I’ll die…”
Giggling to myself, trying my best to hide my amusement, I
whispered, “are you going to ask him out, or do you want me
to ask him for you?”
With her eyes wide opened, Ashlee replied, “no, don’t you
dare. I can’t…”
Scrunching up my entire face in contempt, confused I asked
“why can’t you ask him?”
Watching her try to gather the words before they left her
mouth. When finally, to my relief, she replied “I don’t want to
get in between anything… this morning… your hotel room… I
knew that you guys were close… but.”
Realising quickly that the scene that Ashlee had witnessed
this morning had obviously given her the wrong impression.
Squeezing her lower arm gently, I urged “honey, Marcus and
I, we are just friends.”
Watching her eyes widen once more, she replied “but you
spent the night together last night, I saw him.”
Lowering her voice, she continued “Dom’, he was in his underwear… I just don’t want to get in between anything,
you’re my boss, I don’t want this to be awkward.”
Unsure what more that I could do to try and convince her that
my relationship with Marcus was purely platonic, I tried my
best to persuade her to take a chance and ask him out. All
while promising her that our friendship and working
relationship would in no way be affected, in any way, shape or
form.
Noticing her settle beside me, almost sure that I had
convinced her, resting myself back into the chair, I began to
do exactly what I had been brought here to do. To listen,
while a multitude of speakers, from all corners of the world,
discussed how advertising through each and every social
media platform could be beneficial to our brand. Jotting
down notes and tips, just so that Ms Hilary could see that the
weekend had been spent well, I caught Marcus in the corner
of my eye. Gazing at all of the full seats around us, I began to
wonder, to which seat he was going to return.
Only for him to crouch down in front of me and whisper,
“Dom’, it’s Jarred, I can’t find him. I think he’s gone.”
Feeling the blood drain from my face, grabbing Ashlee’s arm,
immediately we fled. Certain that we were being scowled by a
room full of convention goers, angry that we had interrupted
the entire room, all while making our exit.
Reaching the lobby outside, taking my phone from my purse,
instantly I called Jarred, annoyed I stamped my feet, hearing
the call go straight to his answering machine. Though it was
Marcus’s expression that confused me the most, glaring at me
with confusion, he asked “really Dom’, you kept his number?”
Certain that right now was not the time to be discussing this,
frowning at him, I replied “yes Marcus, I need to know who is
calling my phone, so I can decide whether or not to answer it.”
When suddenly, calling Jarred once more, he answered.
Charging towards the venue’s exit, I yelled down the line
“what’s the name of the club? We are on our way.”
Chapter 28
Arriving at a swanky little club a few blocks away, marching
down to the basement level, annoyed, I bashed my fists on to
the door. When a large man in a black suit opened up and
grunted at me “we are closed!”
Feeling the anger rise from the pit of my stomach, seething, I
demanded “I don’t care that you are closed. I know that one of
our models are here, on these premises and we are not
leaving without him.”
Instantly hearing Jarred push past the doorman, he called out
“these guys are cool, they are with me.”
Following Jarred inside, not able to hide my contempt, I
began a rampage of furious slurs, all aimed at how selfish that
he had been for taking off. When suddenly he turned to face
me and placed his finger to his mouth, he whispered “ssh
Dom’. Be cool, the guys are doing a podcast from here in this
bar. Be quiet or you’ll ruin it.”
Standing back, sure that I didn’t like being spoken to like this,
when to my amazement, Jarred, joining a group of others,
began to engage in some sort of promotional recording.
Taking a seat up at the bar, I heard the host greet Jarred as
one of our companies leading models. All while Jarred spoke
openly, detailing all the opportunities that we had opened up for him, with a heartfelt admiration for our company. It was
then that I realised, right here and now, surrounded by these
inspiring social media moguls. I was going to learn so much
more about the benefits of social media and advertising our
company. Than I was ever going to learn, stuck in some stuffy
conference room.
The following day, arriving back at work, after our
impromptu weekend away. Exiting the elevator, instantly I
was greeted by Ashlee and Ms Hilary. With Ms Hilary looking
overly ecstatic at how productive our weekend away had been.
Following me into my office, Ms Hilary congratulated me.
Outlining the promotional work that we, as a group, under
my instruction had conducted.
“Do you know that our social media following has almost
doubled, all thanks to you, arranging that interview for
Jarred. That podcast has really put us on the map, my phone
has been ringing all morning. I can see a promotion in your
near future Domini, if you keep hitting your targets,” Ms
Hilary gushed.
Curious I asked “Jarred told you about the podcast?”
Nodding, with great enthusiasm, Ms Hilary replied “yes of
course, Jarred filled me in with all of the details. How you
thought that the best way for us to engage and become a
leader through social media, was to use one of our most elite
and sort after faces.”
Closing my eyes, sure that Jarred had only placed all the
blame upon me, to have saved his own skin, not knowing how
Ms Hilary would have taken the news originally. When
suddenly changing the subject and her tune, Ms Hilary asked
“so what happened with Quinn’s charity event on Saturday?
It’s a shame that your work commitment
s clashed.”
Feeling every single word hit a nerve, I replied “I have no idea, I haven’t spoken to him since leaving for Seattle.”
Noticing Ms Hilary’s eyes widen, glaring with a crooked grin,
she asked “oh, trouble in paradise Ms Stone?”
Feeling the want and need to scream at her and throw her out
of my office. Collecting my thoughts and calming myself, I
replied “Quinn and I are just friends. He understood that I
had to work. I’m sure that we’ll catch up at the end of the
week, when things have settled down a little for the both of
us.”
Noticing the confusion take over Ms Hilary’s face when she
stated “well, when you get to speak to him at the end of the
week, you may want to ask him why he didn’t show up to his
event on Saturday.”
Absolutely sure that there had to be some sort of
misunderstanding, confused I asked “huh… I don’t
understand. What do you mean, that Quinn didn’t attend the
charity unveiling?”
Shaking her head, looking just as clueless as both Ashlee and
I put together, lowering her voice, Ms Hilary replied “well, a
huge amount of money was donated. But when Quinn didn’t
show on Saturday, a lot of mouths started talking,
contributors, questioning his honour and integrity with
regards to the charity money.”
Sitting myself down into my office chair, mystified, I began to
wonder. Could he really have defrauded everyone including
the children and made off with a huge sum of money, along
with my own donation?
Over an hour later, left alone with my own thoughts, trying to
consume all of the new information regarding Quinn, along
with what I originally thought that I knew. Hearing a knock at
my office door, without any time to call out, in waltzed Marcus, closing the door behind him, he made his way over to
my chair. Throwing his arms around me, while I sat gazing
into space, he asked “Dom’, are you okay? Ms Hilary sent me
a message, she’s told me all about Quinn.”
Closing my eyes tightly, feeling my emotions fight against me,
I replied “you were right about him Marcus, you knew, yet
again I didn’t listen. And look what has happened. I was
blinded by him.”
Lifting me into his arms, Marcus held me close, cradling me.
Then trying to gain a little distance between us, I pushed his
hands away and asked “please Marcus, don’t, we can’t.”
Standing back, puzzled by the space that I was creating
between us, Marcus asked “Dom’, please, don’t push me
away. I am sorry that I didn’t do more to protect you, I knew
that there was something sketchy about him, but I never
contemplated this.”
Shaking my head, gathering my thoughts, I replied, “no
Marcus it’s not that, It’s Ashlee, what if she walks in and she
sees me in your arms. What will she think?”
Looking even more taken aback and confused Marcus stated
“then she will see us like she has a million times before. Dom’,
tell me the truth, what’s wrong and why won’t you let me
anywhere near you?”
Charging over to the door, placing myself against it, so that no
one could enter. Lowering my head, unsure that I could even
tell him, reluctantly I replied “it’s Ashlee. When she saw you
that morning in Seattle, she thought that we had a little
something going on.”
Charging towards me, Marcus replied “who cares what people
think, we’re close, we’ve always been close.”
Shaking my head, slightly relieved that I hadn’t already given it away, but knew that I had to come clean soon, I whispered
“it’s Ashlee, she has a crush on you.”
Noticing Marcus’s face become puzzled and slightly
unamused, surprising me instantly, he replied “really, Ashlee.
She’s cool and all, but don’t you think it would be weird. She’s
your PA.”
Unsure where exactly he was going with this, I asked “why,
don’t you like her?”
With a look of confusion, brushing his fingers through his
dark hair, he replied “yeah I like her, but not like that, it just
doesn’t seem right.”
Reaching forward and taking me into his arms once more,
Marcus stated “Dom’, I really don’t care what anyone thinks.
And neither should you, whenever you need comforting, I’m
going to be there.”
Squeezing him tightly, knowing that whatever happened, he
always had my back, feeling settled, I whispered into his ear
“thank you, this means more than you’ll ever know.
Hours later, unable to shake the mixed emotions that I had
built up inside; concerning Quinn. Wanting closure for myself
and some answers for the kids, I made my way over to
Quinn’s apartment with Marcus, against all of his wishes and
my better judgement. Feeling as though I had some
responsibility to try and find out what had happened. Not
wanting to turn up unannounced, seated in Marcus’s car
outside Quinn’s apartment building, I called him. When
instantly, as expected, my call went straight through to his
answer machine. Placing my phone into my lap, noticing
Marcus glare over at me, he urged “Dom’, he’s not picking up,
he’s not going to answer. Let’s just go home, or to the bar,
let’s go have a drink and forget about him. How about shooting some pool? Please Dom’.”
Absolutely adamant that I had to see him, I needed answers. I
left the car, making my way up to the front doors, hearing
Marcus follow closely behind, he called out, “okay then
Einstein, how are we going to get in?”
When suddenly a young family making their way through the
front doors, caught up in their children’s playful amusement,
exited, holding the door open for us to enter. Turning to
Marcus to gloat, I replied “just like that.”
Charging towards the lifts and up to Quinn’s floor. Stood, just
feet away from Quinn’s door, I felt Marcus grab my arm,
holding me back he asked “Dom’, are you sure? We have no
idea what we are going to encounter, if he opens that door.”
Taking in his words of wisdom, I nodded and charging
towards the door, I replied “Marcus, I have to.”
Lifting up my closed fist and knocking on the apartment door,
silence fell. Seconds felt like hours, waiting for something, but
nothing, he obviously was gone. Feeling my heart sink, sure
that I could have done something, maybe to have talked to
him and made him see sense, or unveiled all of this to be
some sort of a huge misunderstanding. Noticing my
disheartened stare, pulling me into him, Marcus whispered
“you tried Dom’, there is nothing more you can do.”
When suddenly Quinn’s door opened, revealing to my
amazement, a tall, slim lady, with the most beautiful facial
features that I had ever seen.
Feeling a sense of urgency overcome my whole body, with my
eyes widened, sure that the lady that stood before me, had to
have been my replacement. Catching m
y breath, I whispered,
“I’m so sorry, but I have the wrong door.”
Charging back down the corridor, in the direction of the elevators, all that I knew right now, was that I had to leave, I
couldn’t breathe. When suddenly, to my amazement, I heard
the lady call out “Domini, is that you?”
Stopping at once, feeling my body turn cold, I turned around
and asked her “how do you know my name?”
Watching the lady proceed towards me, holding out her hand,
she replied “I’m Janine, Quinn’s sister. I have been praying all
day that somehow I would run into you.”
Confused by the friendly greeting, yet puzzled by the
distressed tone present in her voice, I asked “why? Why do
you wish to see me? If this is about the argument that I had
with Quinn, I am not apologising for choosing my job over
him, we were not even…”
Interrupting me, Janine held up her hands and said “I am not
here to question you about some silly lovers tiff. I’m here
because the last time that Quinn was seen, was on Friday,
here, in the underground parking lot, arguing with a woman,
that I believe was you.”
Feeling my knees weaken, uncertain what Janine meant
entirely, I asked with slight confusion, “Quinn is missing and
you somehow think that I have something to do with it?”
When suddenly, aiding my defence, Marcus yelled “you’ve got
some damn nerve, coming here, pointing the finger. Everyone
knows that your brother has made off with the charity money,
try the south of France, it’s beautiful this time of year.”
Then taking my hand, pulling me out of my daze, Marcus
urged, “come on Dom’, we are leaving.”
Watching the pain consume Janine’s face, tears appeared in
her eyes, as she begged “please Domini, whatever you’ve been
told, I promise you that it’s not true. You know my brother,
he’d never take anything from those kids. I am not pointing any fingers at anyone, Quinn has never done anything like
this before. I just want your help to find him, our mothers
worried sick, when he didn’t call her this past Sunday, I knew
that something was wrong. Please, I beg you, did he say
anything to you out of the ordinary?”
Trying my best to go over every aspect of our entire argument,
I shook my head and replied “no, he was upset because I had
to work away last weekend. He demanded that I quit my job