by Maxine Storm
"Janet!" Armand raised his voice.
I didn't even notice he was trying to get my attention.
"Let's get you back to my place," he said. "I'll take care of you there."
We walked a little bit, passing by the drunks and party people totally unaware of what had just happened around the corner. But I just wanted out of this scene. I wanted to be home, with Armand.
Armand opened the door to the limo and helped me inside. He sat down close beside me and shut the door.
He held my arm, silently, and looked up and down my skin, up to my neck and face, examining me for any signs of injury.
"I'm OK," I said. "There's nothing."
Truthfully, I didn't know that. I didn't if that sick freak Philip left any mark on me. But I couldn't imagine Armand staying calm if he saw a bruise or something. He'd probably drive the limo into the alley and run over Philip himself!
"No marks," Armand said. "Thank God you weren't hurt."
I nodded.
"I'm OK," I said.
"You could have been killed, Janet" Armand said.
"But I wasn't," I said.
"It's not a game."
"I know."
"Maybe I wouldn't have been on time," Armand said. A grimace shot across his face as he realized he might not have been there to save me. The thought that something might have happened to me.
"It's in the past now," I said.
Armand turned away.
"Are you OK?" he said.
"Yes, Armand! I'm fine!" I said raising my voice.
"You don't get it, Janet! What would I have done if anything happened to you!"
"I'm not a kid! I can take care of myself!"
"You could have been killed!" Armand exploded.
"I wasn't!" I shouted.
Finally, I felt the tears drop down my face as the adrenaline coursing through my body let up. It was like the IV was ripped out of my arm and my energy was suddenly sucked away.
"You saved me, Armand," I said, softly.
I leaned over and put my head on his chest.
He caressed my head, his hand stiff at first, and then softening.
"I would do anything to keep you safe," he said. "You scared me more than I've ever been in my life."
"I'm sorry," I said. "That drunk guy was losing his mind trying to attack me like that."
"Let's not talk about him now," he assured me.
"I'm really sorry, Armand."
"Shh," he whispered.
"It all went wrong," I said. "It all went wrong."
I could feel the wave of fatigue hitting my body. My mind was shutting down after all the craziness of tonight. I tried to form another sentence but I just didn't have the energy, even to speak.
"We'll talk about it later, Janet."
"Armand, thank you," I said, my eyes totally closed my voice barely more than a whisper. "For saving me. You saved my life."
"Get some rest. We're taking you to my place. We can talk about all this tomorrow."
The limo slightly swayed over the road, down the streets that started to clear out at this time of night. Armand held me as I felt myself drifting off to sleep, secure in his arms.
Chapter 33
I was falling.
My body was falling through the sky, faster than I could recognize, as the clouds blurred into an indistinct blanket of whiteness.
I shouted out but there was no voice, no power left in my vocal cords.
I tried to think, "help, help!" but it was no use.
There was no sound at all. Like the air couldn't even reach my throat.
And when I looked up, that's when I saw it.
The tufts of cloud now whirling into something distinct, penetrating.
An eye.
The logo of Global Eye.
This eye was sentient and was watching me fall.
It was the 'objective' eye I was taught in school. The 'eye' that taught me to keep my heart out of my work, and value only what my head could tell me.
It was the eye of the company, watching me fall.
No words.
Just its lifeless gaze.
No, I wouldn't go like this.
I wouldn't be another story, another victim.
I opened my mouth to shout and it was filled with the cold air of the atmosphere rushing in my lungs, paralyzing me.
One more time.
One more I summoned up my strength. I won't be silenced.
Chapter 34
"Help!" I shouted.
Suddenly a warm arm was around me.
It was Armand.
I was in his bed.
"You were having a nightmare, Janet," Armand said. "It's OK. You're at my place. You're safe."
I took a slow breath and reclined back into bed. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arm around his.
"Thank goodness," I said.
"Can I get you something to drink," Armand said.
"Don't worry about it," I said.
"Are you sure you're feeling OK?" Armand asked. "We can take you to the hospital."
"No, it's not necessary," I said. "Just hold me."
Armand laid down behind me and wrapped his arm around my stomach.
"Don't scare me like that ever again," he said.
I held his arm closer to mine.
"It won't happen again," I said. "I don't know what got into that guy. I had no idea he was going to go berserk like that."
"Don't worry about him," Armand said. "No one will ever bother you like that when you're with me. I'll make sure of that."
I sighed and pushed my body into his.
It was such a relief to be here with him after all we just went through.
I never had anyone in my life have this kind of passion for me. The passion to hold, protect, fight for, past any 'reasonable' limits. It was what I had dreamt of.
"But why you?" a voice nagged at the back of my mind.
"Sure, he beat up Philip," the doubt continued, "but all that shows is what an animal he can be when let loose."
So what?
"Remember what Alex was saying about the violent tendencies Armand had?"
My stomach turned a moment.
Those were all bullshit, I countered.
"You saw it for yourself," the doubt continued. "You know he could do the same - to you."
"No," I said aloud.
"'No', what?" Armand asked.
"Huh?" I said. "Oh, nothing."
"You're still just exhausted," Armand said. "You need to rest some more."
I yawned, as if hypnotized by his words.
"Maybe," I said.
I felt Armand crotch grind against my behind and his hardness sent a shockwave up my spine.
"I don't know if I want to go sleep right now," Armand said, playfully tapping my ass.
But I couldn't resist the waves of sleep slowing my mind.
"Morning," I said, barely lucid. "We'll have fun in the morning. Good night...Armand."
"Good night, Janet," Armand said, as I again fell asleep in his arms, as if they were carrying me throughout all time.
I could get used to that.
Chapter 35
I woke up to the light streaming into the room and gently warming my face.
What time was it?
I shouldn't be in work-mode, especially after what happened yesterday.
But I shouldn't try to forget the long term consequences.
It was going to be serious.
Even if Philip backed down, there was going to be a lot of explaining. Who knows what was going to happen to my career.
I got dressed and found Armand eating in the kitchen.
"You're up," he said. "Have something to eat."
"I really should get going," I said.
"No you shouldn't," he cut in. "You need to get your strength back."
"Being with you brought all my strength back," I said playfully, batting my eyes.
Armand grinned very slightly.
"Cute. Bu
t you're not leaving here until you eat something."
"Fine," I said.
"Take a seat."
He pointed to a chair at the table.
"We can't have it to go?" I asked.
"No. We can't. Now sit down."
There he was, treating me like I was some young no-nothing again. It's like the moment I grew up in his eyes, being treated like a baby was just around the corner.
I sat down.
"Good," he said. "You should be happy that you have a chef like me cooking for you."
I stuck my tongue out at him as he turned away back to the stove.
"Sure am," I said sarcastically.
"Your stomach will persuade you, if I can't," he said.
"Uh huh."
"Careful with that tongue, Janet, or you won't leave here at all," Armand said, his back away from me.
"Maybe that's what I want," I teased.
"What you want will have to wait until after breakfast."
It's like I could never win with this man.
Oh well, when it comes to it, who could argue with food?
I heard the scraping of cutlery as Armand loaded whatever he had been cooking onto the plates, and then carried them over to the table.
The aromas overwhelmed me. Everything seemed so much more mouth-watering than usual.
"Bacon, sausage, eggs, fried onions, peppers, and I threw in some tortillas for good measure," Armand said.
"Wow, looks delicious."
"Eat, eat," he said.
I held my fork and lifted up a juicy piece of bacon up to my lips. The smoky smell made me so hungry.
And then the fear of looking dumb in front of Armand hit me.
He was going to think I couldn't control my appetite. I'm already a bigger girl. I don't want him to think I can't control myself in front of food, even though I was famished.
I never wanted to let him down, even in trivial times like this. To look weak in his eyes again was too much.
I took a small bite and chewed slowly, daintily.
"It's delicious," I said softly.
"Come on," Armand said. "This isn't the king's table, Janet. If you're hungry, eat!"
I looked at him.
Man, the hunger was really getting to my brain if I was really worried about all that.
I took a big bite out of the bacon this time and closed my eyes as I savored the saltiness and the juicy bit of fat that finally signalled to me the end of this spell of hunger.
"It's so good!" I said out loud, unable to control.
Armand laughed.
"See, stop with that silliness from before. Let's enjoy."
He raised his glass of orange juice to toast.
"To..." I stammered. I couldn't think of what to toast to.
"To breakfast!" Armand said.
Our glasses touched and soon the sweet tangy juice from Florida quenched my thirst and cooled me down.
I relaxed into eating as Armand read the newspaper.
"Janet," he said. "I enjoy this."
"What?" I asked. "Breakfast?"
"Yes, silly girl, breakfast. But not just that. Being with you. Being alone with you."
"Armand, I enjoy it too."
"Being alone in bed with you, also."
"I really enjoy that, too." I blushed.
"Time flies with you, Janet. It grinds to a halt when I'm with fake people. But you're real."
"I feel the same way, Armand. Some people in this city are just snakes. Not you, thank goodness."
"I want to us get to know each other even more. I know there are parts of me you haven't seen yet. Some might frighten you. But they're part of me. Part of my history."
"Armand, I would love that. I want to be closer. You can trust me."
"I can," he said. "Thank goodness, I can. It's been forever since I ever could trust someone."
"You can trust me with anything," I said.
"I know the last few days have been crazy," he said. "But they've been worth it with you."
I smiled.
"I don't want you endangering yourself, Janet. I don't even want to think about it. You're my woman. If you're ever hurt, I don't know what I'll do."
"He was just some drunk idiot, Armand. Don't worry about him."
"I don't worry about him, but I care what happens to you. You know the monsters out here in this city. I'll beat them to a bloody pulp if any of them tries to harm you."
I looked in his eyes and saw his intense passion and care for me.
I know Armand could be cold sometimes, but he was just protecting himself, protecting this part of him that he probably has never shown to anyone, except me.
"I understand, Armand. I love being with you. It's the best."
"And my breakfast?" he asked.
"Well, it's the best, too."
Armand winked.
I took another bite of my food and relished the flavors and the comfort in being here with him.
Armand smiled and read the newspaper.
I slowly ate the bacon he prepared for me and savored Armand's cooking. I closed my eyes and chewed, trying to forget all of the craziness of yesterday. Finally, I felt at home with Armand. Finally we could get relax together, if just for this moment.
"What was the name again of the guy who attacked you last night?" he asked.
"Philip," I said, still in my delicious breakfast chance.
Armand put down the paper.
He stared at me.
"Armand, what's going on?" I asked.
"His name's Philip?" Armand asked me back.
I bit my tongue.
Damn, I said I didn't know who he was last time. That it was just some random drunk who was getting too handsy with me in the bar. Someone I didn't know who had no sense of boundaries. Someone who had no respect for women.
Yes, all of that does describe Philip, when I think about it. But I never told Armand that it was Philip. Not that it mattered, right? Whoever it was that was trying to take advantage of me, Armand was the one who was going to knock them out.
"Sorry," I said, trying to play it cool. "What was the question again?"
"You said that the scumbag's name, the one from last night, is Philip?" Armand asked, looking into my eyes, probing for any hesitation.
"Yes," I said.
Armand crossed his arms.
Uh oh. This was not going to be good.
"So yesterday you told me he was a random drunk you never met before," Armand started, "And now you tell me his name is Philip. Which one is it, Janet?"
I started fidgeting with my hands under the table. What the heck was I going to say?
"Huh, yeah, I mean, I *think* he told me his name was Philip," I replied. "He was saying all kinds of things."
"He was, was he?" Armand said.
"Yeah."
"And you couldn't remember that, until now?"
I bit my lip.
"There was a lot on my mind, Armand. All I could think of was getting out of there. Alive. With you."
Armand wrinkled his brow.
"You're not telling me the whole truth, Janet," Armand said.
"What?" I asked. "What do you mean?"
Armand folded his hands in front of him on the table.
"I'm giving you a chance to tell me everything, right now. While I'm still in a good mood."
I shook my head.
"I still don't know what you mean, Armand."
Yeah, I guess I could tell him, but it wasn't going to be like this. And the thing is, I *did* want to tell him. But I wasn't going to be forced to do it, like I was under interrogation. He's always treating me like a kid. Like someone whose control he expects.
Armand frowned.
"This isn't a game, Janet," he said.
"I know," I said.
"Do you know how I know you're lying to me?" he asked.
"I'm not lying."
"I know you're lying to me...because Philip's dead."
"What?" I exclaimed. "What are you ta
lking about?"
Armand picked up the newspaper again and began reading:
"Philip Meiser, 36, was found dead early this morning, nearby Liberty Bar, a popular bar in the Lower East Side Police say the victim was stabbed to death after leaving the bar. The assailants are unknown. Meiser worked as an editor for Global Eye, one of the biggest media companies in New York City. Global Eye's CEO, Maximilian Stone released a press statement mourning Philip and commending his work for the company's newspaper."
My jaw dropped.
This was not supposed to happen.
Philip's dead.
Dead.
My veins went cold.
Oh, God. this is not good. I couldn't speak. What was going to happen to Armand? To us?
And the last people probably seen with him, were Armand and me.
Another realization that froze me.
But Armand didn't kill him.
"But you didn't stab him," I said.
"I know."
Armand put the paper down again.
"Janet, my jacket was left there in the alley. It had my name embroidered on the inside."
I was speechless.
Armand was going to be blamed, at least at first.
"But who killed Philip?" I asked.
Armand didn't reply.
"Janet, you said you worked for Global Eye?"
I nodded my head.
"So you worked with Philip, then?"
I nodded my head again.
The truth was coming out.
"What were you doing with Philip?"
I wanted to shut up. I didn't want to speak. I didn't want it to be like this.
"What were you doing with Philip?" he repeated.
"He was bothering me to get something to drink after work. I was just going to get one drink and then get out of there so he'd leave me alone."
"And what were you doing at work?" Armand asked. He was digging deeper, and I couldn't get out of it.
"We had a meeting."
"A meeting," Armand said to himself. "A meeting about what?"
I swallowed. My mouth was dry. I didn't want to go on, to speak any more, to speak one more word. I wanted to go back to before this all happened. If only I told Philip to go to hell, and never went to the bar with him.
"What was the meeting about, Janet?" Armand pressed on.
"You."
Armand was silent. He stared at me with an intensity I haven't seen before.