by Taras Ford
He released her and they ate together in silence for a moment. Then she summoned the courage to question him about his problems. She listened, asking him to explain some of the laws that he’d broken and what they meant. She chuckled when he told her how Annemarie had handled the agent, and Nolen said that Annemarie was a little barracuda, his secret weapon.
“So these indictments hinge upon the testimony of this Harris man?”
“There’s some messy matters within my company as well. Annemarie won’t let the government near assets, and the ones they can access are squeaky clean. The CEO of Delstar is the only one who can sink my battleship.”
“You think he won’t?”
“He can be convinced otherwise.”
“And if he does, what’s your plan?”
“I don’t want to discuss that.”
“Nolen.”
“Sydney, come on. How much of this can you digest and still love me?” She reached for his now-empty plate. “What you did in the past doesn’t concern me anymore. It’s what you do now that matters, Nolen.”
Nolen watched her clearing the dishes. “So you want me to reform and become some redeemed version of your father?”
Sydney froze. “I’ll admit that I compared you to him, and maybe I shouldn’t have. But there’s nothing wrong with being like my father—on his good days. He’s a flawed man too. Stubborn, and even a bully, like you.”
“I’m not a bully.”
“Do you enjoy all of this danger and corruption around you? What about our babies and their future?”
“So we’re still having babies?”
She laughed. “Still makes you uncomfortable? The thought of children.”
“You’re testing me.”
“Of course. Need to know who and what you are.”
“And what about you. Who is Sydney Allen?”
She turned and leaned against the sink, crossing her ankles. “A dancer. A daughter. A friend to some.
And for you, I’m your woman. Simple as that.”
“I like simple.”
“And I like you without all the drama. You can be great and powerful, Nolen, without being corrupt.
You know that, and I think you want it.”
“It’s business, Sydney.”
“It’s more than that. It’s your father. You’re still thinking somehow he’s out there. Not dead. And you’re doing these things because of him. Looks like I’m not the only one with daddy issues.” Nolen stared at her, not wanting to see it through her eyes. “Sydney.”
“You’re better than this, Nolen, and we can fight dirty to get you out of it, but, someday, your daughter will look at you in the same way that I looked at my father. What do you want her to feel? Ask yourself that.”
“I need to apologize, Sydney, for all of it. It’s on me, not you. Don’t think you have to stay with me out of some sense of obligation.” he said.
She smiled. “I won’t.”
Nolen walked over to her, pressing her into the counter. “Is there anything else I should do since we’re talking?”
“Yes. Open up Xenia’s show. What on earth were you thinking?” She mumbled softly.
He kissed her neck. “Just trying to get your attention, that’s all.” She shook her head and let him hold her from behind. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me. And I’ll love you. That’s all I need.”
“That’s easy to do,” she said, kissing him. “Thanks for letting me come home.” Sydney rode in the limo and stared out of the tinted glass, her mind processed several things at once.
Last night had been tender, special, and long overdue, yet his predicament troubled her, as did Trish’s. Before sleep claimed her, Todd called to give them an update on Trish and ask for Nolen’s help. Afterward, she had lain in his arms, listening to him talk about how he would deal with Marshall Ellison, and it frightened her. She had argued that he shouldn’t get pulled into more drama with the indictment hanging over his head, but he had assured her that he would handle it. How she could help the people she loved from self-destructing kept her tossing all through the night.
The limo pulled up to the apartment building she’d shared with her best friends. She felt completely disconnected from the life that she’d led behind those walls, partly because of her disillusionment with Portia, and partly because of her disappointment in Ricky. Two people that she’d cared for deeply were now complete strangers.
Pushing the intercom button, she spoke softly to the driver. “Charles, wait here. We’ll be heading to Rochester when I return.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sydney stepped out into the morning air and pulled her jacket tightly around her. On the sidewalk she met one of her neighbors heading to work. The young woman gaped at her, and Sydney blushed.
“Good morning,” Sydney said.
The woman gave her a disapproving look. “Morning,” she said snidely and walked away.
Sydney ignored the snub and headed into the building, stopping at the mailbox to retrieve her mail.
From the far left of the long corridor, Ricky stepped off the elevator and stopped at the sight of her.
“Sydney?”
She saw him standing in his black leather jacket, his left eye swollen with a bluish-black bruise. “Are you ok?” she asked.
Ricky blushed. “Oh, well your boyfriend paid me a visit. I was glad to hear that you left him, and apparently he didn’t take my reaction too well.”
“Nolen did that?”
“Yeah, and my ribs are pretty sore too.”
“He goes too far, too damn far. I’m sorry Ricky,” she said.
Ricky smiled. “So you’re back?”
“Back?” she asked.
“Yes. He said you left him. Both Portia and I have tried to reach you.” He stepped toward her.
Sydney stepped back. “Ricky, I’m with Nolen. I’m not back.”
Ricky stared at her. “I don’t understand. Do you see what he did to me? The man is out of control!”
“I’m so sorry he hurt you, and it’s really my fault. We had a fight and—”
“Wait! Don’t apologize to me for him!” Ricky snapped. “Are you seriously going to stay with him? Didn’t I see on the news that he was arrested?”
“It’s complicated.” She tried to walk around him, but Ricky blocked her way, touching her shearling lined jacket and shaking his head disapprovingly. “Sydney, look at you. What have you become, love?” Sydney put her hand to her forehead and shut her eyes. “You know what? I’m sick and tired of you—and Portia, of all people—judging my love for this man!”
Ricky let go of her arm. “I love you. I’ve loved you for the past two years. You know that.”
“That’s right! You love me enough to sleep with my best friend barely a week after our breakup. Did you do it in my apartment? Wait, knowing her hate and jealousy of me, she probably did it with you in my bed.”
“I'm sorry, Sydney.”
“I didn’t want to go there, Ricky, but since you insist, let me make something clear to you. Am I happy that Nolen resorted to violence and attacked you? No. Will it change the way that I feel about him? No. Yes, he’s complicated. That worries me, I won’t deny it, but I’ve accepted it. I don’t owe you any other explanation.”
“You’ve changed, makes me sad.”
“If you mean that I’ve grown up, then, yes, I’ve changed. He’s my choice, Ricky. I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Ricky said.
Sydney watched him leave, scarcely believing that after all these months, it had come to this. Heading to the elevator, she shook off any lingering doubt and set about what she had come to do.
Inside her apartment Portia sat on the sofa, drinking cocoa and watching the morning news. Her long ringlets were pulled into a ponytail on top of her head. She looked surprised to see Sydney but greeted her with silence.
Sydney tossed the mail onto the table near the door, and removed her jacket, droppin
g it on the old recliner that they’d both referred to as Trish’s chair since their friend could eat, sleep, and sketch all in that one spot. Seeing it empty made her stomach tighten. “We need to talk,” she said.
“Ok,” Portia answered, putting her mug on the table.
“It’s time to clear the air. This friendship we started as girls, it’s not the same. I feel—” Portia stood up, wiping her hands over her denim shorts. “Sydney, I’m sorry.”
“Portia, please let me finish.”
“Wait!” Portia said, putting up her hand.
Sydney blew out a breath in frustration.
“Listen to me, please,” Portia said. “Hear me out, especially if you’ve come to end a seventeen-year friendship.” Portia smiled weakly. “I’ve been jealous of you since my parents split and I had to leave Carolina for New York.”
“What?”
“It’s true. You had your family together. I lost everything. You’ve always had the ability to walk into a room and captivate everyone. Even in that small town, you commanded everyone’s attention. Don’t get me wrong. I love you with all my heart, but I’ve envied it.”
Sydney shook her head. “Portia, you’re beautiful. You know you are.”
“No. I’m pretty on the outside, but on the inside, I don’t believe it. Funny as it sounds, I’m a lot like Trish, except that, instead of being molested, I was ignored. Ignored by my mother right here in New York whenever a new boyfriend was on the scene, and ignored by my dad, with his attention focused on his new wife and their baby. I guess that’s why I chose modeling. I just wanted to be noticed.” Sydney stared at her. “I know things were tough for you when we were kids, Portia.”
“No, Sydney, you have no idea how tough it was. You were never invisible like I was. I guess it’s why I clung to you so quickly. I was wrong to use my body for gigs, and I was wrong to blame you for my unhappiness. I was wrong to sleep with Ricky, just as I was wrong to attack you for following your heart. Oh, God, Sydney, I was wrong for so many things I can’t keep track.”
“It’s all water under the bridge now,” Sydney said bitterly.
Portia let her tears fall. “I do love you and Trish. I know you don’t believe me, and I deserve that, but, it’s true . . . so true. You two are the only real family I have. She’s out there, hurting and scared, and I want to help her. I know you can’t forgive me yet, but, please, Sydney, I’m begging you, take me to her. I need to see her.”
“That’s why I came. I was going to offer to take you to her. I know that a lot has happened, and I’ve tried to understand you, but you’ve gone too far. My friendship with Ricky is over, and it meant a lot to me. I think I’m as much to blame as he is. Still it hurts. Trish almost lost her life because of your impulsiveness, and it hurts too. I know she loves you, she needs to hear you say that the man she loves is not a rapist. She’s fighting for her sanity, and you owe her that.”
Portia nodded. “I’ll do it, and I’ll do whatever’s necessary to make this up to her.”
“You change and we’ll leave,” Sydney said. “I need to get some more of my things.” Nolen walked into the Waldorf-Astoria and headed straight for Oscar’s, an elegant restaurant reserved for the wealthy guests of the plush hotel. He’d made arrangements for Marshall Ellison and William Hesser to meet him. He’d taken his Porche and arranged to meet Sydney in Rochester later.
Marshall saw him enter first and raised his hand. He gestured for Nolen to approach. William glared openly. The man’s face was so red he looked like he might explode.
Nolen joined them at their table. He was in a hurry to have their business done. He knew Sydney would need him when she visited Trish. “Gentlemen.”
Marshall stood and extended his hand. “Good to see you again, Nolen.” Nolen shook it, smirking. “I hope you feel that way after this little meeting.” Marshall looked at Hesser and took a seat. “So, I know you two have met.”
“Nolen,” William said stiffly.
“Yes, we’ve met.”
“Nolen, you and I have been friendly for quite some time,” Marshall began.
“I’ve tolerated you for Todd’s sake,” Nolen said, fixing him with a challenging glare. “I wouldn’t call that friendly.”
Marshall frowned. “Ok, so you want to play it this way, fine. I know all about your threats and intimidations in a matter that is none of your concern. I’m asking you to back off, now.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll intervene and pull my son into line,” Marshall threatened. “He’s not exactly a hero here, and there are certain legal matters in Westmore that I could resurrect to teach him some respect.” Nolen shook his head no to the offer of coffee. He locked eyes with Trish’s father. “Mr. Hesser, I thought I made myself clear. You are out of Patricia’s life. That’s the request of your daughter. Not mine. I’ll make one concession.”
William frowned. “What concession?”
“Let’s just say the lady in my life doesn’t like violence, and I was given the task of handling you and my affairs differently than I have in the past. So let me make clear exactly what you’re facing.” William stared at Nolen, bewildered.
“Don’t misunderstand me,” Nolen continued. “If you don’t heed my warning, I’ll take you out, and you won’t see it coming. With that said, here’s the concession. You forget that you have a daughter, and I won’t leak to the press your indiscretions with your child. The scandal alone would destroy that big tomato empire you’re king of. I’d hate to bring this out and subject her to the public attention, but I will if I have to.” William swallowed hard and looked at Marshall. “Do something.” Nolen turned his gaze to Marshall. “We spoke at the christening about that special inside information you were seeking. Hey, should I drag you into the investigation the SEC is now hanging over my head?”
“Why are you involving yourself in this matter? I thought you stopped cleaning up Todd’s messes,” Marshall said. “We’re all businessmen here. I’m sure we can come up with an equitable solution.” Nolen raised an eyebrow, amused. “Equitable?”
“Yes, the legal fees for your fight with the government have to be mounting, and I think I can help.”
“You’re kidding, right? You don’t honestly think I would need or want any money from you.”
“She’s my daughter, damn it!” William shouted. “I’m sick of you and this Todd person interfering. I don’t care about the scandal. I’m sick of this! Back the fuck off!” Nolen looked at his face, now contorted in rage. “Make me, push me, do whatever your spoiled, sadistic ass resorts to when you don’t get your way, and then I’ll show you just how involved I am.” William glared but held his tongue.
Marshall touched his shoulder. “Let her go through therapy, Will, and once she’s stronger, she can seek you out. They can’t interfere.”
“What? Are you saying you won’t help me, Marshall?”
Marshall cut his eyes at Nolen as if weighing the threat. “Yes, I’m out, Will. I just don’t care enough to take this further. Good luck.” He tossed his napkin on the table and rose.
“Marshall, you swore you would help me!”
Marshall looked in Nolen’s direction and smiled slyly. “You won this round. We’ll play again, and soon.” He nodded and left the table.
“I look forward to it,” Nolen called after him.
Hesser sat back in his chair. “There’s a way to make you pay for this. Maybe I should call my friends in the Bureau and make them aware of your threats.”
Nolen leaned back in his chair, staring at the man whose face made him dream of murder. “You do that, and when they ask why I would threaten the great and mighty William Hesser, I’ll lead them straight to your perversions. See, William, I did my homework. My assistant Annemarie can be quite resourceful. Patricia was only one of your victims. Your appetite for young girls extended much further than her, you sick fuck!” William wiped his jaw. “One day, Nolen, we’ll meet again on my turf, and I promise to be just as merciles
s as you are.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Nolen dropped some folded bills on the table and then looked back into William’s face. “I trust you’ll be out of here on the next available flight?”
“Hmph.”
Nolen laughed. “Good boy.” He grabbed his trench coat from the back of the chair and headed outside for the long drive to Rochester.
“Todd, I think I’m ready to go now,” Trish said, pointing at the window while Todd worked at his laptop. He’d had his assistant bring his clothes, computer, and photos to approve days ago. He’d also made sure that Trish’s painting supplies were brought in and stocked in her private room. That was how he’d gotten her out of bed and laughing again.
She’d refused to discuss the suicide attempt with him, and the doctor had advised him not to push.
“Well, you’re doing better, but we still need to make sure you’re at your best before we leave.” She nodded. “I miss my friends.”
Though he hated the idea of letting Portia anywhere near Trish, he understood that reconnecting the three girls could help Trish. “Soon, sweetie. You’ll see them soon.” Trish put down her paintbrush, smiling, and sat down on the sofa next to him.
Todd moved the laptop to the end table and put his arm around her. “You’re doing much better.”
“I feel better,” she said, snuggling against him.
“I’m glad because soon it will be time to plan our next move.” Trish sighed. “What move?”
“Marriage.”
“You want to marry me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Really?”
“I love you. I want to spend the rest of our lives proving that to you.”
“I’m crazy,” she protested weakly.
“Don’t say that. You’re not crazy. You have problems, and we’ll resolve them, but nothing is wrong with you. Do you understand?”
“Dr. Percy said—”
“And I respect him, Trish, but I know you. I’m just saying that you’re not beyond help.”
“I can’t understand why you’ve stuck through it all, Todd. It has to be overwhelming for you.”
“I’ve never felt more alive in my life, Trish. I mean that.”