Alluring

by Curtis, Sarah

  * * * * *

  He kissed her again, slowly. Pouring all his love, devotion, desire, and need into that one kiss. He wanted her to feel the depths of his emotions. He hated that she felt even the tiniest bit of insecurity. She was so far above any woman he'd ever known, there really was no comparison. He slowly lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "You are the breath I need to breathe. I live for you, Alexis. Without you, I am nothing."

  She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking. "You've got it all wrong, Jack. I was nothing until you."

  He softly lowered his head to hers, and they stood there, breathing each other's air. His thumbs lightly caressed the apples of her cheeks, and he closed his eyes, savoring the sweetness of the moment. He wanted endless moments like this with her, always.

  "Sorry to break up this sweet, domestic shindig you've got going on in the corner here, but ... I only know two people here, and you're it. So alone time is over. You must entertain me."

  He was vastly annoyed by the interruption, but all feelings of irritation left when he turned and saw Steph. Shockingly, a very sedate looking Steph. Honestly, he didn't think she had it in her. Her hair was tamed into some fancy hairdo and her make-up was so light, it was almost nonexistent.

  He turned to Alexis to catch her reaction. He chuckled. Her mouth was hanging open. Guess she was as surprised as he.

  * * * * *

  Alexis stared disbelievingly at her friend. She looked so unlike her Steph that all she could do was stand there, gaping in shock. She looked good.

  No, she looked great.

  Her hair was pulled up at the top of her head in a complicated twist, but it wasn't pulled tight. It looked soft. She wore barely any make-up and what she did wear was very light in tone. She had a beautiful face with her layer of make-up, without it she was a knock-out.

  She had on a modest rose-colored gown that concealed more than it revealed, leaving much to the imagination. But anyone with an active imagination would be able to envision the curves hiding beneath the folds that surrounded her petite 5' 2" body.

  "Well, are you just gonna stand there and gawk at me all day, or are you gonna say something?"

  Alexis laughed, she might not look like Steph, but she sure sounded like her. "You look absolutely beautiful."

  "I concur," Jack said, at her side.

  "I didn't mean to be a mood killer," she waved her hand between Jack and Alexis, "but I don't know anyone here, and I didn't want to just wander around looking like an idiot."

  "We definitely don't want that." Alexis took her arm a guided her into the crowd. "I'll introduce you to who I know but to be honest, that's only like six people. I'm practically in the same boat as you."

  Steph laughed and Alexis felt her relax at her side. "So what's with the disguise? You hiding from someone?" Alexis teased.

  Steph snorted, then gave a throaty laugh. "Hardly. I just thought if I were attending the engagement party of my very best friend, who's engaged to an extremely handsome, disgustingly rich guy, I'd better look the part."

  "You look beautiful, but then, you always look beautiful. You're beautiful inside and out. You shouldn't have to play a part. You're my best friend. I love you just the way you are."

  Steph gave her a big kiss on the cheek. "I love you too. And this isn't me playing a part. It's just another side of me. Just one that doesn't come out too often." She gave Alexis a wink. "Now, introduce me to those six whole people that you know." They both laughed.

  She introduced Steph to Jack's parents first. They enfolded her into hugs saying any best friend of Alexis's was a part of the family. Next, she dragged her to where Mase and the gang where hanging.

  "Guys, I'd like to introduce you to my best friend Stephanie. Steph, this is Gage, Cassie, Mase, and Sabrina."

  After a few minutes of idle chitchat, Alexis felt safe leaving Steph. "I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm going to find Jack."

  Steph gave her a nod and a wave but didn't stop talking. She was definitely not shy around new people.

  She found Jack, looking bored, talking with an older gentleman. He seemed grateful to see her. "I thought you might like to dance."

  Jack turned to his companion. "If you'll excuse me." He swept Alexis away. "Sorry, I didn't introduce you, love, but that would've led to another twenty-minute conversation."

  Alexis giggled, she couldn't help it, the panicked look on his face at the thought of a longer conversation with that man was priceless. They made their way back to their friends. After about an hour of talking, Alexis leaned in and whispered, "You look very handsome tonight. Would it be impossibly rude to skip out on our own party early?"

  Jack gave her a knowing look. "I'll make our excuses. We'll be out of here in five minutes."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The next morning Alexis went around the bedroom, picking up the stray pieces of evening wear scattered haphazardly around the room. Last night, in their mad dash to get naked after they arrived home from the party, they had tossed their clothes not knowing or caring where they landed. Alexis picked up her velvet dress and shook it out, worried she had bruised the fabric.

  She heard Jack's ringtone and smiled. Soon after she started getting calls from her stalker, she'd changed everyone's ringtone, so she would know who was calling. Jack was a revving motorcycle because it was such a manly sound, and Jack was all man. Her sister was a barking dog because she loved animals, and Steph was sci-fi music because she was out of this world.

  Alexis carefully laid her dress on the bed and picked up her phone from the end table. "Hey."

  "Hi, sweetheart, how are you feeling this morning?"

  "I'm good. I'm cleaning the mess we made with our clothes."

  She heard Jack chuckle. "You were sleeping so peacefully when I left, I didn't have the heart to wake you. What do you have planned for the day?"

  "Not much. I need to go to the market. We're out of coffee and I wanted to pick out something special to make for dinner."

  "What's the occasion?"

  "Just to say I love you."

  "How about, I bring home dessert."

  "Chocolate cake from Temptations?"

  She heard Jack chuckle again. She loved that she brightened his day. "Would I come home with anything else?"

  "Not if you wanted to live to see the morning."

  "I'll be in meetings most of the day but don't hesitate to call my cell if you need anything."

  "Okay. I love you, Jack."

  "Love you, too, sweetheart."

  Alexis set down her phone and picked up her dress with the intention of hanging it in the closet, but her phone rang again. It was Steph's Sci-fi ringtone. She laid her dress down again, sat on the side of the bed, and picked up her phone.

  "I'm a popular girl this morning," she said, by way of greeting.

  "You're about to get more popular."

  Alexis stilled. She knew that voice. It had left many messages on her voice mail. It was the voice of her stalker. "Wh ... Who is this?"

  "Oh, come now Alexis, you're a smart girl. You know who this is."

  "What do you want? Why do you have Steph phone?" Alexis's heart sped up and her hands started shaking. She was scared what the answers would be.

  "SILENCE. I do the talking. You just listen."

  Oh my God, this lady was crazy. She could hear it in her voice.

  "If you want to keep your friend alive, come to her apartment. Alone. And that includes your little bodyguard. Ditch him however you need to. If you're not alone, your friend will die. You have twenty minutes. Do not be late."


  "WAIT!" Alexis shouted into the phone before her stalker could hang up. "How do I know she's still alive." After a moment of silence, she heard screaming in the background indicating she must have done something painful to Steph.

  Her stalker came back on the line. "You now have nineteen minutes. You'd better hurry."

  Alexis threw her phone down on the bed and raced to the closet. She was in such a panic, she didn't think about what she did. She slipped on the first pair of flip flops she saw and raced down the stairs.

  The car fob was in a green, glass bowl that sat on a side table in the foyer. She reached in and snatched the remote then dashed into the elevator. She had to evade her bodyguard. She hit the button that went to the second level where the shops were located. She would get off and take the main guest elevator to the lobby, bypassing her bodyguard.

  She had a moment to calm down while in the elevator. This was like every kidnap-action movie she had ever seen. Only it was much scarier in real life.

  She bounced on the balls of her feet, ready to dash out once the doors opened when she realized she'd left her phone upstairs. She didn't have time to go back up and get it.

  The doors began to part. She slipped out the instant she could fit and ran to the main elevators. A large crowd already waited to go down to the lobby. She moved into the elevator with them, and then exited with them in mass. She quickly jogged through the lobby, absently waving to a few people that greeted her and dashed out the doors that would take her to the SUV. She ran, clicking the button to unlock the car before reaching it, and threw open the door.

  She climbed into the car, threw the fob in the cup holder and pushed the starter button. The SUV roared to life. She backed out of the slot and got the fuck out of dodge.

  * * * * *

  Jack was in the middle of listening to a business proposal, when his phone vibrated on the table. He looked down. Hank, Alexis's bodyguard was calling. He instantly became alert, a sick feeling overtaking his stomach.

  "Excuse me a moment, gentleman." He stood from the table, answering his phone as his stepped from the conference room. "Jackson."

  "Sir, there's been some unusual activity."

  "Unusual how?" Jack said in a sharp-clipped voice. His heart beat fast. He could hear it pounding in his ears.

  "There was activity on the elevator. It went down to the second level, but Mrs. Taft didn't tell me she was going anywhere."

  "Did you call her cell?"

  "I did, sir. it went to voice mail."

  "Did you check the penthouse?"

  "I was calling to get your permission to go up."

  "You have it. Fuck! I'll go check and see if the car is still here. Call me when you know anything."

  "Yes, sir."

  * * * * *

  Alexis broke just about every traffic violation on the way to Steph's apartment. She prayed all the way there that she wouldn't get pulled over. Her luck held out, and she screeched to a halt in Steph's extra parking space.

  She jumped out of the car and ran the two flights up to the third floor. She was winded when she reached the top, but still ran as quick as she could down the breezeway that led to Steph's door. She pounded hard, wanting to be heard. The door partially opened, and an arm reached out pulling her in, hitting her head on the door frame in the process.

  The door slammed shut. The apartment was gloomy. All the shades were drawn shut. Alexis felt something hard poke her in the back.

  "Very good Alexis. You made it on time with even a few minutes to spare. Now, here's what we're going to do. We are going to walk very calmly downstairs and get in my car. You are not to yell or try to get away. If you do, I will shoot you with this gun." She dug the hard piece of metal into Alexis's back to make her point. "Do you understand?"

  Alexis nodded her head. She was too scared to turn and look at her captor.

  "I didn't hear you," her captor said in a singsong voice.

  "Yes." It came out as a croak, but she got it out.

  "Good. Steph," her captor yelled. "We'll be leaving now. Thank you so much for having us."

  Was she trying to be funny or was she just crazy? Dumb question, Alexis. Of course, she's crazy. She's kidnapping you at gunpoint! Alexis heard a muffled yell coming from Steph's bedroom. At least, she knew her friend was alive.

  "Let's go." The door opened and she was shoved through. The gun dug into her back even harder. "No funny business. You know I won't hesitate to kill you. Be smart and I might let you live."

  Alexis's mind raced. How was she supposed to get herself out of this mess? Jack was going to kill her if she made it out of this alive. Oh God Jack! He would go crazy when he discovered she was missing.

  They calmly walked down the stairs, like two people out for a stroll. She was led to a black, C-class Mercedes. More than likely, the car that tried to run her over.

  She was taken to the driver's side. "Open the door and get in slowly." Alexis did as she was told. "Keep the door open." She felt the gun dig into the back of her head while the back door was opened. The gun was gone for a second before it came back. She heard the back door close. "Okay, shut your door and start the car. You do anything, and I mean anything funny, and I will blow the back of your head off. Do you understand?"

  "Yes." Alexis's whole body shook. She worried she wouldn't be able to drive. She started the car, gripped the steering, and tensed her body, trying stop the shaking.

  "Make a right out of the complex. I'll give you directions as we go."

  Alexis slowly backed out of the parking spot then did as she was told.

  * * * * *

  The Range Rover wasn't in its spot. Jack quickly looked around. It wasn't anywhere.

  Jack dialed Stan. He filled him in on what happened. "The SUV has LoJack. Find it."

  His phone rang again has soon as he hung up. "Well?"

  "The penthouse is empty, sir. I found Miss Taft's phone on the bed."

  "Bring it with you and meet me in my office." Jack hung up, then took a few deep breaths. He needed to stay calm. He would be of no use to Alexis if he lost his shit.

  He put a call in to Becky on the way to his office, but it went to voice mail. Strange, she was always available. He poked his head in her office on his way to his own. Empty. Jack continued to his own office. He didn't have time to worry about his assistant.

  Jack sat at his desk and pulled out his phone. He opened his photo album and looked at his pictures of Alexis. The first one, of course, was the selfie she took in her cocktail outfit. Jack smiled at the memory as he lovingly traced her face with his fingertip. He scrolled through a few, stopping at one he had taken of her asleep in bed. He remembered she had looked so peaceful and without thinking he had snapped a picture.

  She was on her stomach. One leg bent at the knee, the other one straight. Her hand fisted snugly under her chin. Her curls were in disarray, spread across her pillow, some falling across her face. And she had a slight smile on her lips. He liked to think, she dreamed of him.

  A knock at his door grabbed his attention. He looked up to find Hank standing in the doorway. He motioned for him to come in while putting his phone to sleep and setting it on his desk.

  "You have her phone?" He asked, holding out his hand.

  "Right here, sir." Hank gave Jack the phone.

  He opened the phone log. A call from Hank, a call from Steph, and a call from him were her only calls this morning. The call from Steph came a few minutes after his call to her. He hit Stephs name and listened to it ring five times before going to voice mail. Not turned off then, just not answering.

  He looked up at Hank. "Tell me why
you didn't follow her to the second floor."

  "Sir?"

  "When you noticed the elevator had gone to the second floor, why did you stop to call me? Why didn't you go to the second floor yourself? She might have still been there."

  "Sir, when I noticed the elevator, I immediately called Miss Taft's phone. When she didn't answer, I thought it best to notify you immediately of that."

  Jack sighed. This conversation was pointless. He couldn't go back in time and change Hank's order of events. He now knew for the future, he didn't think well under pressure. "That will be all. Go check in with security and see if they have a spot for you today."

  "Yes, sir." He gave Jack a quick nod of his head and left the office.

  Ten more minutes passed before Stan walked in. Jack stood from his desk. Stan spoke before Jack could say anything. "Police are in the process of tracking the vehicle now. We should find something out soon." He set his briefcase down on an empty chair.

  Jack paced his office as they waited for the call. He felt as though he should be doing something, like he was wasting time.

  Stan's phone beeped a text. "They found your car. It's at the Rosewood apartment complex." Stan looked up from his phone. "That's where Stephanie Willis lives."

  "Let's go." Jack grabbed his phone and they were out the door.

  The police were already at Steph's apartment by the time Stan and Jack got there. When they walked through the apartment door, Steph came barreling at Jack, throwing her arms around his waist and sobbing into his chest.

  He gave her a minute to calm down then carefully set her away from him. She was a mess. Her hair was matted, and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She had a red handprint across her left cheek, but she didn't look hurt anywhere else.

  "Tell me what happened." He had a gentle, yet firm grip on her upper arms.