Beyond Chance

by Karice Bolton

  “Wait until you see it in the city. Nothing like seeing a beautiful masonry building with stepped terraces and red geraniums overflowing through the wrought iron, and then a huge tag right next to it.”

  I laughed. “Guess nowhere is immune.”

  Aaron wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought me in closer. His breath feathered across my scalp, and I felt completely safe in his embrace. This was where I needed to be—far away from the craziness of the trial and the man behind the notes.

  “So you don’t mind about dinner tonight?” he asked. “It certainly wasn’t what I’d planned.”

  “Not at all. I’d love to meet the brilliant man who recognized such talent. Meeting new people will be good. It’ll take my mind off of everything going on.”

  Aaron let out a sigh. “Did you read any of your messages?”

  “No. I just bolted off the plane to you. I didn’t really want to know, and I doubt they found out anything anyway.”

  There was a restrained silence filling the car, and I knew that I was wrong. Really wrong. I wasn’t certain that I wanted to hear what Aaron or anyone had to say about the matter. It was bad enough to be in an accident because someone hated me so much, but now it was like the evil would never go away. Never before had I fully understood the victim’s side of things in law. It made me rethink what I wanted to study if I went back to school.

  I glanced up at Aaron and saw the expression in his eyes. He needed to tell me, and I needed to listen. No matter what temporary fantasy I wanted to play with myself, it wasn’t fair to the ones who loved me. They had to recover from the events as much as I did.

  “Alright. Let me have it,” I sighed.

  “The letter wasn’t sent from Derek Bourot.”

  My blood chilled with Aaron’s statement.

  “What do you mean? How is that possible?”

  Aaron squeezed me closer. “He had a cousin he’d conned into sending it. They arrested him, but the detectives think there’s more to this.”

  “Why’s that? Are you sure they’re not reading too much into it?”

  Aaron bit his lip and glanced out the window. “They think we’re dealing with a group of very unstable individuals. Derek is very persuasive, and there is far more involved than the detectives originally realized. Once they arrested his cousin, they learned more.”

  “How so?” My palms became slick with sweat. How could this turn from one psychopath to a family of them? That wasn’t how things worked. Was it?

  “He’s very manipulative, and he apparently tapped into a couple of causes that allowed him to develop a following. The people who believed in him are very upset and feel he’s being wrongly accused. They see Derek as the victim.”

  “They’re fools,” I muttered.

  “Be that as it may, they’re on the outside and think they’re fighting for a cause. They feel that he was wrongly accused.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “I wish I was. There is good news out of this.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You received another letter, and this one was from Texas so that makes it a federal crime since it went across state lines.”

  “That’s good news?”

  “The FBI’s involved now.”

  I drew in a deep breath as my head began to jumble with information. It felt like my world was coming down around me. The fact that there were people out in the world who believed Derek Bourot’s lies scared me beyond belief. I knew what he was capable of, but I couldn’t let my mind imagine what he could convince others to do.

  “He’s created quite an online presence and the following he has is cause for concern. He’s using religion as the catapult for all this.”

  “What do you mean all this?”

  Aaron took out his phone and went to his email. Scrolling through his inbox, Aaron pressed his lips together and handed me the phone.

  “The investigators never found this information when they were searching his apartment. He was using an anonymizer and wiped his disc clean every time he logged onto the chat rooms.”

  “Chat rooms?” I asked, staring down at the screen.

  To my horror, he had three hundred and seven followers. In the scheme of life that wasn’t many, but that meant there were possibly three hundred and seven individuals who were willing to cause my family harm. I let out a shaky breath and began reading the sermons of Derek Bourot.

  The city gave me chills. I’d never been somewhere that held this much beauty and history any direction I turned. Our car slowly made its way along the tiny streets, and I took everything in about the fantastical city that I’d be calling home. Aaron held my hand as I peered out the window absorbing the French baroque buildings with their pilasters and ornate detailing around the windows and doors. It was like I’d been whisked back to another time until the horns sounded from behind and placed me firmly back in the twenty-first century. This beauty was what I needed to focus on—not some creep behind bars back in the states.

  “It’s breathtaking,” I whispered.

  “I thought we could drive around before we head to the apartment. Give you a flavor of the city.”

  I flashed him a smile and nodded before turning my gaze back to the streets of Paris. The sidewalks were bustling, and the buildings seemed almost alive with the ghosts of another time. Cafés marked every other opening with bakeries, bookstores, galleries, and floral shops in between. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the beauty of one florist spilling onto the sidewalk in a carpet of petals and an arch of fuchsia and white roses inviting patrons inside. The sidewalks seemed to belong to the businesses as much as they did to the city. A real dialogue between the city and the people was evident. There wasn’t one café that didn’t kiss the sidewalk with tables and chairs inviting patrons to take a seat as they walked by.

  As we sat at a light, I looked up to the building across the street and sat in quiet awe. The building was imposing in its beauty with uniquely perpendicular rooflines that almost looked like they disappeared into the sky with the way they sat on the building. The trapezoid shape allowed for a few dormer windows dotting the boxy mansard roof to invite the imagination to wander. Were there people in the attic? Was there a family down below claiming it? I immediately fell in love with this style of architecture. It was different from the baroque style only a few buildings before.

  “Absolutely whimsical,” I said, sliding back against Aaron once the car accelerated again.

  “It is,” Aaron agreed. “That’s from the famed Second Empire. Good old Napoleon III wanted to glam up the city.”

  “Well, it worked.”

  As the car continued to carry us through the streets, my worries from back home slipped away. Not only did I feel a million miles from the fears that threatened my sanity, I felt invigorated and alive with hope. Hope was something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I’d managed to let it slip away along with my dreams somewhere between the accident and recovery.

  Being in a city that crackled with life made me realize how numb I’d become since the accident. The things I usually took pleasure in skidded away from me as my life looped in an uncontrolled game of chance. If it hadn’t been for Aaron over these last several months, I didn’t know where I’d be.

  “You okay, baby?” Aaron whispered, running his hand along my leg.

  I smiled and sank the back of my head into his shoulder. “I am now.”

  He kissed my head and slipped both arms around me as I settled into him. “We’re close to our apartment. I think you’ll like it. The view is sensational.”

  I let out a deep breath and allowed myself to enjoy these few minutes of peace before the night’s activities.

  “I’ll try not to get you in trouble,” I whispered.

  “Trouble?” he asked. “What kind of trouble could you possibly get me in?”

  I ran my hand along his thigh, and he let out a low groan as he leaned into the seat. “That’s not playing fair, Brandy Rhodes.�
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  “When have I ever?”

  The car slowed, and I turned my attention to the building that our driver parked in front of, but rather than Aaron letting me go, he unbuckled our belts and slid me onto his lap. The driver exited the vehicle and Aaron exploited that opportunity. He slid his hand along my cheek and sealed his mouth over mine. The greed behind each kiss sent a feverish desire through me as his lips slowly parted from mine.

  “Welcome home,” he murmured, his lips still pressed against mine, muffling his words.

  “It’s good to be home,” I whispered, offering one last kiss while the driver slammed the trunk.

  Aaron let a little groan out, and I opened my eyes to see him smiling as he slid his hand to the door handle.

  “Absence makes the heart grow stronger,” I said, dropping my hand to his lap, noticing just how insane I must have made him. My job was done.

  He grinned, and I scooted off his lap as he shoved the door open. I attempted to smooth over my clothes, but there was no point. We were going upstairs to our apartment. I stepped onto the sidewalk and was immediately hit with the sweet smell of butter and sugar. I scoped the area and saw a sign dangling from two small chains, La Crêperies Parfaites.

  “That place will be the death of me,” Aaron said, standing next to me on the sidewalk. “And our apartment is right above it. Poor planning on my part.”

  “Excellent planning on your part,” I laughed, my eyes falling to a red door tucked in between the café and a bookstore.

  Ducking back into the car, I strapped my purse over my shoulder and grabbed the three large bouquets of roses and held them tightly as I glanced up at the cream-colored limestone building and noticed it was like the ones I’d admired along the way. Wrought iron cresting tipped the boxy roof, and dormered windows sprinkled the top of the building, along with several balconies overflowing in flowers.

  Aaron paid the driver and took the bags from the sidewalk as I drew in another breath filled with the aroma of sugary goodness. Aaron managed to balance all the bags as I tried to keep up with his swift stride as he walked right to the red door.

  “No way. This is the entrance to our apartment? It’s so cute.”

  He nodded and leaned the luggage against the doorframe. Quickly pushing in a security code, the door buzzed open, and I immediately felt like it was Christmas morning as I stepped inside. The hallway was divine and filled with old-world charm. A line of brass post office boxes lined the right wall, and straight ahead were three marble steps, leading to a tiny elevator. Possibly the smallest elevator I’d ever seen.

  “We might need to do two trips. The elevator’s a tight one,” he said.

  “You don’t say,” I teased, still taking in the lobby when I glanced up and saw a beautiful mural painted on the ceiling. An angel appeared pulling back a curtain of clouds to reveal a white horse drawing a carriage, which glistened in gold.

  “Wow. Is there no surface left untouched?” I asked.

  His eyes connected with mine, and I felt that familiar sensation run through me as he watched me carefully. “It’s really nice to have you here. I never looked up.”

  “Are you serious? You didn’t see that?” I smiled at the revelation.

  He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “I didn’t. You seem to point out the beauty in everything.”

  Whether that was true or not, I appreciated the compliment—especially with everything that had been going on recently that made me feel like negative Nancy. Aaron pressed the call button, and the elevator slowly hummed its way to our floor. He slid the large, brass gates to the side and slid the suitcases to the back wall and stepped forward. “I think there’s enough room for you too.”

  I chuckled at the sight in front of me as Aaron stood as straight as he could, pressing himself to the side of the elevator.

  “Maybe,” I replied. “But a few roses might not make it.”

  I stepped into the tiny carriage and felt it lower slightly. “Is there a weight limit?” I asked, glancing around for signage.

  “Probably,” Aaron said, attempting to maneuver around me as he reached for the brass gate to lock in place. “And with all the crepes I’ve been eating, I probably ensured that we just went over it.”

  Pressing my body as far into the carriage as I could go, I sucked in my stomach and squeezed the roses to my chest. The click of the gate locking into place, and the sound of the gears shifting meant liftoff had commenced, but we seemed to be going nowhere fast as the motor churned.

  “Should I hop off?” I asked. “Is this normal?”

  Aaron shook his head. “Believe it or not, the elevator sounds this promising every time I’ve used it.”

  “Are there stairs? You know in case there’s a fire or something?” I asked, feeling the elevator finally begin to grind its way to the appropriate floor.

  “There are. I usually use them. It’s actually faster even though we’re six floors up.”

  “Oh, I believe it,” I chuckled, just as the elevator bounced into place.

  We did the dance again as Aaron reached across my shoulders to unlatch the gate, and I was never more excited to get off an elevator as I was this second. I’d definitely be getting friendly with the stairs.

  Aaron shoved the gate to the side and I stepped into the hallway, amazed at the sight. The wide-planked wood floors were dull with wear but added a sense of history to the hallway. There were only two doors, one to the immediate left and one directly in front of us at the end of the hallway. I looked behind me as Aaron rolled the suitcases out of the elevator and I chuckled aloud realizing what little help I’d been.

  “Sorry. I think I’m on Paris overload.” I touched the plaster walls, shaking my head as I felt the roughness under my fingertips. “Imagine how many people have lived here and walked through these very halls.”

  Aaron flashed a huge smile and pointed toward the door at the end of the hallway. “Wait until you see inside.”

  Giddiness pulsed through me as he tossed a ring of keys toward me. I caught them with a jangle and started toward the door, analyzing all the odd shaped keys. “Even the keys are fanciful.”

  Arriving at the door, I saw four different shaped locks spaced inches apart. I propped my roses against the wall just when Aaron came up behind me, and my body trembled with the closeness.

  “I’ll show you which key goes with which lock.” His deep, seductive voice made my knees weak, and I wasn’t sure how we’d ever get to the dinner on time.

  “You do that,” I whispered, far more breathily than I anticipated.

  He reached his arms around me and held my hands that were holding the keys. Maneuvering a large brass key with his fingers, he held our hands to the top lock.

  “This one is the first lock you have to unlock or the others won’t come undone. It’s a pressure lock of sorts.”

  My body sank back into his as he clicked the lock open. Aaron pinched another key, this one small and silver, and brought it down to the lock below. “And this one fits in here just like that.”

  His breath feathered over my scalp, and my entire body trembled. How he made opening a door sexy, I’d never know.

  “This is my favorite key. It looks a bit like a heart and unlocks this one.” My hands were completely limp in his as he continued turning the lock, and all I could think about was those same fingers running along the curves of my body.

  “Hurry up and open the last lock. I’ll learn the keys later,” I said.

  He chuckled and lowered his chin next to my ear and whispered, “What’s the hurry?” The deep timber of his voice did me in as his hips pressed into me. Whatever his plan, I was falling right into it.

  The last click of the lock signaled my time to move, but I couldn’t. Aaron removed his hands from mine as I still held the ring of keys. His fingers slowly caressed up my arms before moving my hair to the side. He brushed his lips behind my ear, and I let out a small moan as he pushed open the door to our Parisian apartment.<
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  “Welcome home.”

  I drew in a breath and attempted to gather my bearings as I looked around the beautiful space in front of me. The apartment was flooded with light from the large, open windows. The sheer curtains blew gently from the breeze, and the bright white walls showed off the beautiful, architectural details.

  I bent down and picked up the roses, glancing quickly behind me at Aaron who seemed to be gauging my reaction to our new surroundings. I stepped onto the tiled mosaic entry, only to be left more awestruck. An ornate, crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room. Blue Velvet couches were centered in the room and a chenille throw hung from a blanket rack. Worn wood floors began in the living area and ran into the other rooms. A pale grey rug anchored the room and surpassed my Parisian expectations with its exquisite pattern.

  I looked up to see ornamental frieze detailing wrapped around the entire room, which made the entire space feel more regal and far more sophisticated than any apartment I’d ever lived in. I set my roses on the cherry table that ran along the wall and took another step forward as Aaron closed the door behind us, clicking each lock into place.

  “This is beyond my expectations.” I walked farther into the living room and saw an elaborate doorway leading into another large room and another beyond that.

  “Through there is the dining room and then the sitting room. It’s not that easy to find an apartment with abundant natural light, but we certainly lucked out. The flat is an L-shape so we get sun exposure from all sides at some point.”

  I followed Aaron through the living area, hearing the wood floors creak below with each step. When I entered the dining room, my jaw dropped at the silk taffeta curtains, which pooled into grey puddles on the wooden floors. This apartment really was gorgeous. Another chandelier hung over the table and several paintings hung on the wall.

  “Check this out,” Aaron said, walking toward the back wall. He pressed on a door that I’d completely overlooked, which was flush with the surrounding wall. The chair rails continued from the wall and across the door as if to disguise the opening. “This leads upstairs to the studio. I was told that’s where the help used to live.”