After Amanda graduated from George Washington University Summa Cum Laude with a degree in business, she got a job at her alma mater as an admissions officer until she decided how she could excel in the business world and possibly even put her own father out of business.
That was when the greed in Amanda began to grow. She saw everything as an opportunity to earn a dollar. By the time she was twenty, she had a stock portfolio well over five million dollars. But it wasn’t enough for her. She not only wanted money, she wanted power and influence. And more than anything she wanted power and influence over men.
She started looking into human relationships. What was the common denominator between all humans, especially between men and women? When did a woman have more power than a man? The answer: sex. Men, almost all men, could be manipulated in the bedroom. That was when she came up with the idea for Promise Stone, a high class, elite prostitution ring that catered to high powered men. Once they were invested in her business, she would have the power to control their careers or threaten exposure of their escapades.
Her business was a complete success. Her clientele included some of the most powerful men in Washington D.C. Through some under the table deals with government officials and zoning boards, she was able to sabotage several of her father’s building ventures.
After a few years, however, she noticed a disturbing trend. Her clients wanted girls that were younger and younger. And not just any girls, they wanted girls from the upper echelon of society. She had to completely rethink her business model.
By this time, her idiot brother was in high school. As a student at Saxon Arms, he was surrounded by the girls of the perfect age and stature. She had to figure out a way to get Ian to introduce her to some of these girls and somehow figure out a way to turn them into prostitutes. It sounded like an impossible idea, but she was determined.
She came up with the perfect type of girl. She had to be impressionable and vulnerable. She also thought that if the girl was perhaps struggling academically, she could trap her into a cheating scandal then force her into prostitution.
The plan worked great for a while, but it was getting more and more difficult to cheat successfully in the private school system. Ian wasn’t much of a help with the cheating since he was a moron. But one day, he spoke of another student that was a bit more technologically savvy. C.J. was a perfect addition to the program. He was brilliant, but kept his intelligence clandestine so as to maintain his status with the popular students. Little did she know that C.J. would be the downfall of Promise Stone.
***
After a long day at work, in which she had tried unsuccessfully to probe the truth out of Lena and tried unsuccessfully to seem normal and relaxed around C.J., Delia trudged up the stairs of her building seeking the comfort and solace of her apartment. But her fortress had been violated by a mysterious note in her door. Another mysterious note. She had been finding them everywhere, on her windshield, in her mailbox at work, even in her purse.
Hands shaking, she opened it and read its contents.
Since you love numbers so much check these out:
17 + 25 = 5 to 10 in prison
Delia looked around as if the author of the note could still be lurking nearby. She shivered at the thought then hurriedly entered her apartment. It was obvious someone knew about her and Chase. She threw her workbag and purse on the bed and began pacing the floor. She wondered if the notes had something to do with her attack. Were they perpetrated by the same individuals? If so, what did they want from her? She thought about calling the police and showing them the notes, but then she would have to admit to an affair with a teenager. She wasn’t ready to do that.
Then an odd thought raced through her mind. Maybe it was Jason. Maybe he was somehow trying to blackmail her into getting back together with him. But that didn’t make any sense. Why would he be so determined to have her? He could have any woman he wanted. As a matter of fact, he practically did have every woman he wanted. What did he want with her?
Shaking off that bizarre idea, Delia massaged the center of her forehead right between the eyes. She was starting to get a headache. There had to be a logical explanation for all of this and a way to get out of danger without going to jail.
Delia was so lost in thought trying to make sense of everything that she nearly tripped over her own feet when the phone rang.
“I trust you got my message,” the digitized voice on the phone said.
“What do you want from me?”
“We just want you to know that no matter what Lena told you about us, it would be in your best interest to not go to the police.”
Delia swallowed hard and remained silent. Should she tell them that Lena hadn’t told her anything? She wondered if that would make the situation worse. Then they would have the upper hand.
“We know how much you enjoy your students,” the eerie dehumanized voice continued. “You keep our secrets, we’ll keep yours. Or you might face a fate worse than jail.” Then it hung up, leaving Delia in a terrified silence.
Chapter 19
Delia sat in front of her computer in her living/bed room trying to get work done. She had gotten so behind lately since all her thoughts were filled with Lena, C.J./Chase, Principal Howard, attacks in the dark, cryptic messages, and threatening phone calls. Plus, Jason had been calling nonstop for the past week and a half. She still couldn’t figure out what he wanted with her. Why did he want to get back together all of the sudden?
She looked at the clock. Seven forty-five. Jason said he would be dropping by at eight, which probably meant more like nine. Still, she wanted to be ready. She dressed in her flannel cloud pajamas knowing that would annoy her future ex. Once, during their marriage, he had gone through her closet and thrown out all of her comfortable sleepwear, leaving only silk or satin gowns, refusing to share a bed with someone who didn’t dress to his standards. Wearing her comfy cloud pajamas was a sign or defiance and independence that she hoped he noticed.
Yet in still, Jason James could be pretty convincing. She considered calling Donna Lee for reinforcement. She needed someone to bring her back to her senses if she started to consider a reconciliation. In her mind, she knew that things would never change with Jason, but he was the king of manipulation and persuasion. She didn’t know if she would be able to hold out for too long.
And then there was the issue with Chase/C.J. She still wasn’t quite over him. Part of her loved Chase, but an equal part of her feared C.J. She was just too confused to make any decisions. Did her love for Chase even matter since he was underage? She could wait for him. She could wait until he turned eighteen and graduated high school.
Delia shook off the thought. She was being absurd. Chase was a child. A child who had lied to her on several occasions and who was obviously involved in criminal activity. A child who had a violent streak that she was starting to fear. Jason might have been a philandering sex addict but she never had to physically fear him.
She picked up her phone and started dialing Donna Lee to pass the time when she heard a knock on the door.
“Hi,” Chase said shyly. “I brought you some flowers. The Tetra lily has a green throat that reminds me of your eyes.” He pulled the flowers from behind his back and handed them to the stunned Delia. Her eyes felt glued open as she took in his blue, old-fashioned suit jacket and fedora tilted to the side. He looked like he’d stepped off a Sinatra Album cover. Her plan to bring out the real Chase must have worked after all. “Can I come in?” he asked when she didn’t say anything.
“Um, I’m expecting someone.”
“This won’t take long. I promise. I just really need to get some things off my chest.”
She still had almost an hour before she expected Jason so she stepped aside and let him enter.
Chase removed his hat and placed it to his chest. “I know I haven’t been completely honest with you in the time that we’ve known each other. I wish I could go back in time and just start from the beginning, but I c
an’t. I wish I could tell you everything now, but I can’t.
“All I can tell you, Delia, is that I love you.” He stopped pacing and stared into her eyes. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything in my life. I love so much it’s hard for me to think of anything but holding you in my arms again. And what I’m asking is that you trust me. Just close your eyes and leap. I promise I’ll catch you and that everything will be fine.”
Delia felt herself melt inside. This was unbelievable. It was the type of speech every woman wanted to hear from a man. But what was it that he wasn’t telling her? What was she leaping into?
Questions circled inside her head as Chase tossed his hat then gathered her in his arms and seized her mouth with an unbearably intense kiss.
“Chase, how am I supposed to trust you?” She panted when he let her up for air.
He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. “Look at me. You know me, Delia. Can’t you feel that this is right?”
Delia only felt confused. She needed answers. “What’s Promise Stone?”
“How do you know about that?” Chase let go of her and stepped back, a fear in his eyes she had never seen before.
“Am I interrupting something?” Jason asked from the doorway.
Chase turned away, visibly angry at Jason’s presence, then made himself comfortable in Delia’s only lounge chair.
“I brought you some flowers,” he said as he approached his wife and kissed her on the cheek. “Orchids. Twenty dollars apiece.”
Delia coughed then gasped for air. After tossing the orchids on the ground, she reached for her night stand and fumbled around in the drawer. Chase leaped from his chair to help her but sat back down when he noticed she had finally found her allergy medication.
“What? What’s going on?” Jason asked.
“She’s allergic to orchids, jackass,” Chase quipped from the chair in the corner.
“What is it with this guy?” Jason’s perfectly tanned cheeks reddened as his hands balled into fists.
“Delia, why don’t you ask him what Promise Stone is since he just used its services this afternoon?”
Jason blanched as his mouth fell agape.
“What is he talking about?” she asked after blowing her nose for the fifth time.
“Yeah, why don’t you tell her how you hired a prostitute today, just like you have every day for the past eight years? It’s your little lunch time treat. How the hell can you go to a prostitute then try to win your wife back?”
It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t possibly be true. Why would Jason need a prostitute? He was always good with women. He didn’t have to pay for sex.
“Your little boytoy is making up lies. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Jason’s voice didn’t exude its normal confidence.
“I don’t?” Chase stood up and approached him. “Well, why don’t you tell your wife the real reason you want her back. The only reason you want her back.”
Jason was painfully silent and brimming with anger as he entered another testosterone laden staring match with Chase.
“Have you ever met your father-in-law?” Chase asked Delia while still staring at Jason. She shook her head. When Jason didn’t provide any further comments, he continued, “That’s because he’s an eccentric millionaire recluse that gets his jollies from yanking his son around.”
Jason bit his lip, but didn’t deny anything Chase was saying.
“You see, Jason was guaranteed his inheritance upon his completion of college, which is probably why he singled you out in the first place. You were smart and impressionable. He needed you to pass his classes. But then daddy changed his mind and added marriage to the requirements. That’s why he was so eager to marry you.”
Delia felt her knees weaken. She figured Jason was initially drawn to her for the cheating, but she’d hoped that during their time together he had grown to love her and that is why he married her. But really, he just wanted his inheritance. She sat on the bed to keep from falling to the ground.
“And now, there’s a new clause. If he ever gets divorced, he loses everything.”
She saw the tears fall upon the lilies before she realized she was actually crying. He never loved her. He only cared about himself and his money. Why had he chosen her? Why couldn’t he have married one of his many other women?
“Is this true, Jason? Am I just your meal ticket?” she asked, brushing away streams of tears.
“Look, we can work this out, Delia. My dad never has to know. We just won’t get a divorce and … and we can split the money. Just think about it, okay?” He knelt in front of her and pleaded with his eyes.
“I will not think about it! I deserve more than that. I deserve to be loved.” She shook her head like a stubborn three-year-old as she noticed Chase removing his jacket, loosening his tie and rolling up his sleeves.
“And you think this … this child can give you that?” He said, pointing to Chase. Chase grabbed his wrist and began a repeat of their last encounter. Seconds later, Jason was out of the door.
***
Chase came back into the apartment and held her in his arms as she wept.
It wasn’t the way he had planned the evening to go. He had imagined that they would spend the evening making love then reminisce about their first date as they held each other. But that was not what happened. Instead, Jason James had succeeded in shattering her self-image once again. Chase knew he shouldn’t have blurted out the truth like that. It just killed him to watch her be manipulated time and time again by that man. He was happy he was at least there to pick up all the pieces.
Delia cried herself to sleep as Chase lay beside her, stroking her hair. “I’ll never hurt you,” he whispered. “I’m going to make you happy. I promise you.”
Chapter 20
When a 29-year-old hockey player retired just a year after his team won the Stanley Cup, questions abounded. Every reporter, journalist, and sports analyst in the country speculated as to why left wing Brad Sharp would make such a rash decision. Some thought he’d found religion and wanted to live out his life as a zealot on some compound. Others thought he just wanted to end his career while at the pinnacle of his success. Apparently only Donna Lee knew the truth. A professional hockey player with HIV would rock the sports world. With the amount of fighting and bleeding that took place during a hockey game, he could have already infected other players.
Donna Lee had the exclusive exposé written and saved on her flash drive. It was the kind of story that would skyrocket her career into the stratosphere. She would probably be able to quit The Sports Guy and get a job with Sports Illustrated or ESPN magazine.
But in going public with this story, she would be exposing a former friend and lover to extreme ridicule and disparagement. His public persona would be completely ruined forever. Sitting in her car outside of her office, Donna Lee guiltily fingered the flash drive. She hated the fact that she even considered doing this to Brad just to further her career.
She really needed to analyze her life and think about what type of person she was and what type of person she wanted to be. And she wouldn’t be able to do that in a stuffy cubicle under the scrutiny of an annoying jilted lover. So, she flipped open her cell phone, called in sick, then drove toward the mall. She could think better in a new pair of shoes.
***
Delia sat across from her sister in what had become their favorite booth in the Black Cat. She tried to resist, but she noticed herself scanning the crowd for any signs of C.J./Chase. After twenty minutes, she gave up and finally looked at her sister as if for the first time.
“Why aren’t you doing your ‘sexy shoulder dance’?” Delia asked of her unusually quiet sister.
With a shrug, Donna Lee said, “I don’t feel like dancing.”
“Then why are we here?”
Donna Lee stared at her drink like it was an alien life form. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just so used to the routine of clubbing and picki
ng up guys that … Let’s just go.”
Throwing on her coat, Delia had to hurry to catch up to her sister, who seemed to be fleeing the club. She wondered if the HIV scare had somehow changed her forever.
Once out of the club, they each walked, lost in their own thoughts until Donna Lee said, “So Marcus and I have a theory about Chase. We think he may have Multiple Personality Disorder.”
“Marcus?” Delia came to an abrupt halt.
“Yeah, the baseball player.”
“Um, I know who he is. What I don’t know is why you’re telling him about Chase.”
“Relax, Dee. He’s not gonna tell anyone. He’s just so easy to talk to. And that’s basically all we did while we were at the beach house.” Donna Lee continued walking as if it was no big deal that she was spreading her sister’s secrets to strange men.
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