YOURS TRULY

by Bella Grant

  “Robyn.”

  I turned at my name, seeing hurt and a lost look in her eyes. Not knowing what this stemmed from was tormenting me, but I couldn’t force her to speak if she didn’t want to.

  “Yes?” I asked in a gentle manner.

  “I-” She stopped mid-word. “Can you wake me up for work?”

  Disappointment filled me because I knew this wasn’t what she was about to say, but I nodded. At least she had an interest in getting to work. “Sure, I will.”

  I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night. I tossed and turned until I just lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I tried to rack my brain to figure out when all this rebellious behavior had started. Just about the time I was preparing to leave after William’s death. I’d wanted a change of scenery and left San Diego to move to Seattle. I frowned, wondering if my move had anything to do with the change in her personality. Still no closer to understanding my sister and what was going on with her, I fell asleep.

  The next morning, I had to wake her up to get dressed for work. Because I didn’t get a wink of sleep, I got out of bed early and had breakfast ready by the time she was dressed and walked into the kitchen. I’d taken her shopping to buy some decent attire for work. Dressed in a blue skirt with a matching jacket, only the slight puffiness of her eyes was testament to what she had been up to last night. Her make-up covered most of the swelling from lack of sleep. She didn’t look so bad if one ignored the distraction of the rainbow hair. I didn’t dare mention to her to dye it back to its original dark brown.

  “How are you feeling?” I inquired, pouring her a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks, I’m good,” she responded, her words dragging. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  I sighed heavily. “It’s time to stop apologizing for your actions, Kelly.”

  She frowned. “But you’ll only be mad if I don’t.”

  “I mean you should think before you act and make better decisions so there’s no need to apologize in the first place.”

  “I just needed to get out,” she murmured, tracing her finger around the rim of the teacup. She peered at me through her fake lashes. “Umm, so, you didn’t see anything last night, did you?”

  “Was there anything to see?” I returned, knowing she was referring to her hot tumble on her companion’s car last night.

  She immediately straightened up out of her chair. “Look, I don’t need you to judge me. Just because you’ve turned a born-again virgin doesn’t mean I have to do the same.”

  “I’m not here to judge you,” I argued with her. “I’m here to love you as your sister, and I’m telling you that it hurts seeing you carrying on like this with so many different guys. Why do you let them use you like this?”

  “I’m using them,” she snapped. “Don’t assume you know anything about me.”

  “I’m just going to say my piece and then we can leave for work,” I told her in a stern voice. “What you’re doing is risky and foolish. You don’t know these men. It’s not just the STDs, but God forbid one turns out to be a rapist or a murderer. I worry about you, Mom worries about you, and we just want the best for you. If you can’t appreciate that, there’s really very little we can do for you.”

  She didn’t respond, and with a sigh, I collected the car keys and we piled into my car for work. She kept her distance from me at work, which was just as well. I was hoping the words I’d spoken to her would sink in. If they had, she didn’t give any indication.

  She worked at the receptionist’s desk, so I didn’t have to see her much. I had tried to convince her she didn’t want to work with Greg, but the more I protested, the more adamant she had been about wanting the job. My only consolation came from the fact that she was two floors beneath us and he rarely had the opportunity to get her alone.

  At one, I skipped off to lunch with Laurel, who insisted we could no longer go to the bistro because she was avoiding the waitress. Apparently, their fling was over and had ended with much drama. The waitress had become attached way too soon, and Laurel was running from commitment. I listened to her drama with half an ear. Usually I found her tales amusing, but with trying to guide Kelly in doing the right thing and making better lifestyle choices, I just couldn’t focus on problems she invited on herself.

  When we returned to the office, I told Laurel the cold truth, that since she had no intention of settling down with anyone, she shouldn’t fool around with women who did. Half her problems would be slashed if she stuck to the easy ones who just wanted sex like she did. My honesty earned me a glare from her as she demanded whose side I was on. She flounced away before I could respond, and I couldn’t apologize because my lunch hour was up. I didn’t think I should apologize either since it was the truth.

  I collected the mail from the front desk and rode the elevator to the top floor, feeling burdened and not having anyone to talk to. I was carrying other people’s problems on my shoulders. Who was there for me when I was overwhelmed?

  Because I was deep in thought, I broke my cardinal rule and pushed Greg’s door open without knocking. I stumbled to a halt, almost backing up before I saw the rainbow-colored hair of the girl sitting on Greg’s desk. Greg’s face was buried in her breasts.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I cried in outrage, slamming the door shut behind me.

  “Robyn!” Kelly exclaimed, her tone full of guilt as she pushed Greg away from her and grabbed the edges of her blouse to cover her naked breasts.

  “I can’t believe you!” I snapped at her. “We just talked about this today and you’re doing the same damn thing I cautioned you about!” I swung my eyes from her to my boss. “And you! You should know better! She’s not even an adult yet!”

  “Look, Robyn I know you’re upset, but she’s eighteen,” Greg announced. “She can do whatever she pleases.”

  “Not while she’s under my roof.” I turned back to Kelly, staring daggers through her. “How could you do this?”

  “Robyn, I’m sorry,” she apologized, re-hooking her bra and fixing her shirt. “I swear I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought you were up here and then-then-”

  “Mutual attraction happened,” he added for her. “Something I’m not sure you understand.”

  “This is sexual harassment in the workplace!” I lashed out at Greg. “And you’re not going to get away with it.”

  He glared at me, sobering. “You might want to think again before you run with that story.”

  “I don’t need to think about anything except that you hired an unqualified teenager to work for you so you could have sex with her!”

  He reached in his drawer and pulled out a small polybag and waved it at me. Inside were small colored pills. “Go ahead, ask me what this is and where I got it?” he goaded me.

  “You promised not to show that to anyone,” Kelly said, fear causing her voice to tremble.

  “What did you do?” I asked her, alarmed at the interaction between them.

  “Your sister brought ecstasy to distribute at work,” he stated, looking very smug as though he had me right where he wanted me.

  “You did what?” I shouted at her, not caring if the entire building heard me.

  “It wasn’t to distribute,” she denied, her voice trembling with fear. “He asked me if I could get him some. That’s why I-”

  “How foolish can you be!?” I slapped her across the face hard because I was seething with anger and terrified she was going to land in prison for this.

  “I’m sorry,” she cried, holding her cheek, tears spilling from her eyes. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “Leave us,” Greg instructed her, walking to the office door and opening it. As she walked by him, he tried to cup her ass and whisper something in her ear.

  “Screw you!” she cried and slapped his hand away as she left.

  He closed the door behind her and turned to me. I could see the malice in his eyes and knew this wasn’t a coincidence. He had planned this. What other
reason would he have asked her to bring him drugs?

  “What do you want?” I demanded, nostrils flaring.

  “Hmm, once upon a time my answer would have been simple,” he answered, strolling back to his desk as though he didn’t have a care in the world. “You spread on my desk, and that’s not completely off the table,” he added before continuing, “but unfortunately for you, the stakes are higher. I have a task for you, and if you don’t, I’ll have your sister arrested. But if you do, no one has to know your sister is a drug dealer.”

  My heart sank, and although I wanted to tell him to screw himself like Kelly had, I knew from the look on his face he was serious. If I didn’t do what he wanted, my little sister would go to prison.

  Seth

  “I’m sorry. It’s not you, it’s just that…” My date trailed off, and I nodded in understanding. I should have called off the date when she walked into the restaurant and her face registered disbelief. She would have left if I hadn’t seen her, but our eyes had connected and she felt compelled to stay.

  I should have said something to her, let her know she didn’t have to stay, but everything had been awkward. Our conversations on the phone had been easygoing, though I had reserved myself in order not to have too much hope. I was glad I had, although I had to say, I was still a bit disappointed.

  She wasn’t exactly beautiful, just average, which was the reason I had chosen her. I was thinking at the time that if I selected a woman who wasn’t extremely attractive, it might be easier for her to accept me and my imperfections. I was wrong.

  “It’s fine,” I told her and mustered a smile. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Thanks for inviting me,” she said as she stood, slipping the gold strap of her bag over her shoulder. She pushed under her chair and stepped back, looking uncomfortable. “Good night, then.”

  “Have a good night.”

  My fake smile fell as soon as she left. Totally useless. As soon as I arrived home, I was going to cancel my membership to the site even though I’d paid for the year in advance. I didn’t get as many likes nor messages from women because of the lack of picture on my profile, and women I contacted mostly didn’t respond. I expected this since people automatically would assume the lack of photo meant I wasn’t physically appealing. In this case I had to admit it was true.

  I signaled to the waitress to bring my tab, and she returned a few minutes later. I had taken great care to choose a nice restaurant for dinner, nothing over the top, so she would understand I was wealthy. I had no intention of letting any of these women know I was a billionaire. Not up front anyway. She had to pass the appearance test – not hers, mine. She must be able to communicate with me without focusing on my scars. A woman who could do that would be worth every penny I had. Unfortunately, I was beginning to think that type of woman didn’t exist.

  I collected my credit card from the waitress, who wished me a good night before I left the restaurant with my head down. Most people didn’t notice the scars depending on the angle of my head. Women who only saw the right side of my face flirted from a distance, and as soon as they drew near, they made a detour.

  Outside the restaurant, I was waiting for the valet to bring around my car when I saw my date still standing outside. The way she had been trying to make a hasty retreat, not even making it through the main course, I’d expect her to be in Timbuktu by now. Her whole demeanor depicted frustration. Common sense told me she didn’t want to be bothered by me and to leave her alone, but I was a gentleman and couldn’t leave her without making sure nothing was wrong.

  I stepped in her direction as the valet drove the car towards me. “Melinda, are you okay?” I asked, coming to a stop beside her. “You seem a little distressed.”

  She turned to me and glanced around us nervously. “Um yes, I’m fine. Just waiting for a cab.”

  “I can drop you somewhere if you’d like,” I volunteered, although I expected a resounding no.

  “Mr. Armstrong, sir, your car,” the valet announced and tossed me the keys to my blue Bugatti. I caught it with ease before turning back to Melinda to get her response.

  “That’s your car?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yes,” I answered, thinking the next date I was on, I would have to borrow Greg’s high school car he’d kept.

  She stared at the car, turned to me with thought, and her lips curved in a smile. I prayed the disgust didn’t show in my eyes. I was losing hope fast in women. Were they all this shallow? Or was I magnet for the shallow ones?

  “I guess you could give me a ride home,” she answered and moved towards the vehicle.

  “I just bet you do,” I whispered, and she glanced up to ask me what I said. “Just said it won’t be a problem,” I lied and opened the passenger door for her. After she was seated, I closed the door and walked around the car to take the driver’s seat. I knew the direction this night was going.

  “What’s your address?” I asked her and was grateful it was in the same direction I was heading with a slight turn off that would still drop me back onto the main road.

  To avoid the awkward conversation, I turned the music on, ensured it had nothing to do with romance, and drove her home. At her apartment building, I parked but before I could alight the vehicle to help her out, she reached across the seat to touch my upper thigh.

  “Seth,” she purred, “maybe I was a little hasty earlier, you know. I think it was the nerves, meeting you for the first time, and I panicked. How about we go on a second date?”

  “Okay, you have my number,” I replied disingenuously, knowing I was going to block her as soon as I got home. “Call me when you think of something we can do.”

  She sighed with relief and stretched across the console to drop a kiss on the good side of my face. I smiled in amusement, wondering if she would have done the same if my other side had been presented to her.

  I walked her just inside her apartment building and declined her invitation for a night cap. She apologized again for turning me down earlier, and after reassuring her I was fine, I headed back to my car. My phone was lit up when I slid into the seat and closed the door. I drew the pattern to open it and read the message she had sent me.

  I’m in apartment 406 if you’re interested.

  “Unbelievable,” I muttered and blocked her before driving off. I dialed Greg’s number and was about to hang up when he answered.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “The date was a bust,” I told him, defeated. “She only became interested after she saw the Bug. I’m done, man. As soon as I get home, I’m unsubscribing from Secretz.”

  “No!” he exclaimed. “You can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Come on, this is just the first date. Look, I’m coming over and we can go through the list of girls again. Maybe some of my luck will rub off on you.”

  I chuckled. “Not even you can help me, Greg. If I get there before you do, I am unsubscribing and deleting the app from my phone and saying good riddance.”

  “I’ll be there!”

  He was waiting for me inside the lobby when I arrived and parked the car. I had given him security clearance to access the building since it belonged to me. A high rise with luxury condos, the one on the top floor belonging to me.

  “What exactly happened on the date?” Greg asked when we walked into my condo. He made his way to the wet bar and poured us both a glass of scotch.

  “Just as predicted,” I said with a shrug. “She took one look at me and decided Frankenstein is so last century. Then she saw my car and I dropped her home. She texted me her apartment number.”

  “Then good riddance. She wouldn’t have suited.”

  “Or I didn’t suit. I never suit anyone.”

  “Stop talking out of your ass, man. Go get the laptop.”

  I retrieved the laptop, handing it to him before I decided I was going to change out of my dinner clothes. I was sure he would end up with nothing just as I had, but at least when he tried and reali
zed what I was saying, he would give it a rest.

  I had to think of other things to occupy my mind and time. In a world where imperfection seemed to be almost criminal, it would be great if a woman came along who would accept me, but if she didn’t, there was no reason I couldn’t live a full life. I tried to convince myself of this but drove myself deeper into despair.

  Dressed in silk pajamas, I strolled to the wet bar where Greg was still sitting, the decanter of scotch looking dangerously low.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be driving home?” I asked, confiscating the decanter and replacing it on the shelf.

  “Gonna take more than just a couple glasses to lay me flat,” he replied and beckoned me toward him. “Come on, I’ve given you a head start. I think I’ve found a woman who may not be so vain. I sent her a hi, and she responded. Get a load of her heading.”

  I peered over his shoulder at the heading, but the first thing I noticed was the absence of a photo. I skipped over the avatar she had chosen and read her heading. Each user had to come up with a header that best described himself or herself. Hers read: I believe the imperfect can be just…perfect.

  My heart skipped a beat at the heading, and I wished she had posted a picture so I could see her. A lot could be gained from looking at a person, but her page was as dry as mine. I noticed she had just joined two days ago.

  “I don’t know,” I mumbled in uncertainty. “She doesn’t have a picture up. How do I know what she looks like?”

  “Really?” Greg scoffed at me. “How about I ask her for a photo?”

  “No!” I protested loudly. “If you do that, she’ll want one of me.”

  “Look, I’m going to go because I left my date at home just to get over here and stop you from giving up after one failure.” He slid off the bar stool. “Don’t screw it up. Sometimes you have to go through several different women and meet them to find the right one. Chat this one up and see where it leads. Look at her profile. I think you’ll like her. She’s into all that committed crap you’re into.”