by Mac Flynn
My friend laughed. "Maybe that creepy vibe was just you trying to run away from a guy who was seriously into you. You don't exactly notice when they look at you."
I rolled my eyes. "If I want a guy to notice me it's not going to be some rich jerk buying flowers for some other girl."
Felicia furrowed her brow and rubbed her chin. "I see your point." A loud hissing sound alerted her to danger. She stood and walked over to the kitchen to where her frying pan awaited. "And so you've got to deliver flowers to his place tomorrow?"
I sat up and felt the color drain from my face. I hadn't even thought that the delivery would be to his own apartment.
My friend scratched her eggs onto two plates and grabbed a pair of forks. "Or maybe he wants you to meet his mom already and that's where you're going," she teased as she walked back to the living room. She set a plate in front of me and paused when she noticed my face. "You okay?"
I shook myself and straightened. "What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just never thought he'd have flowers delivered to himself."
She plopped into her chair and shrugged. "I could be completely wrong about where you're going. Maybe it's his girlfriend and the ass just wants to show you what you're missing." She took a bite of the blackened remains of the eggs. Her face wrinkled and she put the plate down. "How about I take your mind off things with some nice Chinese?"
I looked down at my plate. The blackened eggs stared sadly back at me. I set the plate down and stood. "Agreed."
CHAPTER 3
The next day arrived, and with it came the eventuality of the evening. I dreaded the five o'clock hour, and made more than my fair share of mistakes that day.
At four-thirty Vorax threw his arms in the air. "That's enough! You've drowned enough flowers today! I don't care if the order is early! Out with you!"
The requested bouquets were duly stuffed into my car and I made the trip to the spacious uptown neighborhood of Park Place Avenue. The city I lived in was divided by a river that ran from the northern mountains to the port in the south. The majority of people lived on the southwestern side while the commercial district took up the eastern shores. The Avenue, however, was different.
Park Place and its equally fashionable cousin Boardwalk Avenue were situated in the center of the commercial district. It was an old area filled with brownstone homes and luxurious high-rise apartments. Around the shore homes and tall apartments was the business heart and-if it had one-soul of the city. Skyscrapers mixed with skyline and brownstone with business to create a cacophony of confusion.
I stopped in a long line of traffic a few blocks from my destination. A glimmer of the last bit of sunlight shone off the largest building in the city, Indigo Towers. I leaned forward and frowned at the strange, capital 'I' shaped structure that ruled the skyline. Its glistening windows slyly grinned down at the rest of us. Even someone in a position to live at Park Place couldn't compete with the wealth behind that monstrosity of wealth.
The light ahead of me turned green and traffic moved onward. I fell back against my seat and followed the lines of cars. One-by-one the drivers in front of me veered off onto side streets until only me and a few posh imported cars drove forward.
I spotted the Park Place Penthouse. It was an imposing tan-colored stone building some forty floors tall. The edifice was ornate, with flowing curls above the windowsills and wide ledges that marked each floor. Hunched gargoyles sat on its corners and glared down at the people who passed by. The front doors were accessed via wide, long steps.
I parked my car on the sidewalk and stepped out. The doorman in front of the building hurried down the steps. His eyes swept over my car and his lips curled back in disdain.
"I'm sorry, miss, but this parking is for guests of the Penthouse," he told me.
I walked around my car and dug out a folded business card for the flower shop. "I'm here to make a delivery," I told him as I hand him the card.
He read the contents and his eyes widened. "Oh yes, you're expected," he told me as he handed back the card. He dug out a card and handed it to me before he pointed to his right. "If you would, the parking garage is around the corner. You're in berth thirteen."
I glanced down at the card. It was a parking pass. "I don't really need this. It'll only take a few minutes," I assured him.
"I'm afraid it's the rules, miss. Deliveries must park in the garage," he insisted.
I frowned and crumpled the parking pass in my fist. "Fine, have it your way."
I slipped back into my car and drove around the corner. The road narrowed, and on the right was an open garage door. A booth sat between the entrance and exit. I pulled up to the window and held out the card. A man pulled aside the glass and leaned out.
"Delivery for room 30," I told the man.
He took the pass, punched it, and smiled at me as he returned the paper. "That's a good pass. You can stay here for as long as you like with that one."
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
He leaned on the sill of his window and nodded at the paper in my hand. "That pass is good indefinitely. You can come and go whenever you please, and stay as long as you like."
I glanced down at the pass. There really was no time limit anywhere in the description. "Thanks. I'll remember that," I replied.
He smiled and nodded. "No problem, and don't forget to put it on the dashboard."
I drove forward into the garage. Parking spot number thirteen was on the first floor and around the first corner. It was a straight shot to the berth, and both fourteen and fifteen were empty. I parked and stepped out. A stairway and elevator just behind me and across the way allowed access to the residential part of the apartment building.
Whoever lived here, they had money.
I pulled out the bouquet of flowers and walked into the elevator. Number 30 was the last floor on the list. I pressed the button and stepped back as the doors shut. The elevator shot up, and so did my heart rate. I pressed the flowers close to me and prayed that a woman would answer the door.
I reached my destination. The doors swung open and revealed a small lobby. The walls were white and the floor was real wood. On the opposite side of the lobby from the elevator was a pair of white doors. I stepped out and the elevator doors shut behind me.
The flowers were just about ruined by the time I stood in front of the pair of doors. A buzzer lay on the right side of the doors. I stretched out a finger to press the button.
The door in front of me creaked open. I stiffened as the portal opened into a dark realm. The light from the lobby barely penetrated the darkness that lay beyond the doors. I stepped forward and peeked inside. Dark shapes of furniture lay in the center of the penthouse. The windows on the left and right were blocked by thick, blood-red cloth curtains.
"Hello?" I called. My voice echoed through the large room.
"Good evening."
I screamed and stumbled to my left. My back gouged into the closed door and the flowers fell to the floor. I spun around and swung my fist in the direction of the voice. My hand was captured in a palm and eclipsed by a strength greater than mine. The open door slammed shut and lights were flicked on.
I found myself in the grasp of the strange man from yesterday. On his pale lips was a sly smile. He wore an elegant evening suit of black pants and a white shirt that lacked the usual black coat.
"I'm sorry I frightened you," he apologized.
I pulled my fist from his grasp and rubbed my sore back. "I doubt it. You meant to do that," I accused him.
He chuckled. "I must admit I did, though I didn't mean for you to injure yourself, nor drop these wonderful flowers." He stooped and scooped up the bouquets. The yellow color of the flowers accentuated his pallor. He swept one arm towards the living room that lay in the center of the room. "Won't you sit down?"
I pulled out the acceptance slip and a pen, and held them out to him. "I'd rather you just sign this so I can go."
"We'll be leaving in a minute," the man promised as he
turned away .
"What does that mean?" I questioned him.
The strange man walked over to a large, empty vase on the thick cherry coffee table. He set the bouquets inside the vase and turned to me. "I have quite an evening set out for us." His eyes swept over my body. "Though your attire does leave something to be desired."
I stalked up to him and jabbed the pen and paper into his chest. "I just need you to sign this and I'll be leaving. Without your company."
He took the pen and paper, and tucked them into his pants pocket. "I will gladly sign the receipt, but after we've had our fun."
"We're not having anything except a quick goodbye, now please sign the receipt or-" He grasped my hands in his cold grip and pressed me against him.
I tilted my head back and looked up into his dazzling blue eyes. He leaned down and spoke in a soft, seductive whisper. "Don't you wish to stay?"
He was handsome and enticing when he wasn't being a creep, and right then he was being a creep. I pulled away from him, but couldn't free my hands. "No, now let me go or I'll call the cops."
He straightened. The sly smile remained on his lips. "Very well." He opened his hands and I slipped mine out from his.
Except now there was something in one of my palms. I frowned and opened my hand. My eyes widened as I beheld a beautiful gold chain. Attached to the bottom of the chain was a small red ruby shaped into a perfect circle. I looked up at him with my mouth agape.
He leaned forward and clasped the necklace around my neck. I pressed my hand against the beautiful gift. It fit perfectly above my breasts. "A little gift, for your trouble."
I glanced from his face to the necklace and back. "For. . .for me?"
He nodded. "Yes. For the trouble I've caused. It could be a parting gift, if you wish, or one of many. That is, if you choose to join me this evening."
I leaned back and raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
His smile widened and he swept his arm to a closed door. "Inside you will find an evening gown. It's been fitted to your size. I'd like for you to join me this evening at a small gathering of my-well, my acquaintances."
I half-turned away from him and studied his face. "Why me?"
"Why not?" he returned.
I shrugged. "I'm not exactly in your league when it comes to credit card limits."
"Does that matter?" he wondered.
My eyebrow arched higher. "Shouldn't it?"
He chuckled eyes and shook his head. "It matters not to me." He glanced at his watch. "Unfortunately, you have only a few minutes to choose. The dinner begins at six, and I make a habit of being punctual." His eyes fell on me, and he held out his hand to me. "Won't you come? I promise the evening won't be dull."
I hesitated for a moment. My eyes flickered between his dazzling face and his pale hand. The pros and cons flitted through my mind. His strange vibe both attracted and repulsed me, but I found myself strangely drawn to him. The heavy weight of the necklace was a definite pro, but one problem stuck in my thoughts.
"I don't even know your name," I pointed out.
He swept his arm across his chest and bowed to me. "It's very rude of me, isn't it? I must apologize for that by telling you my name. It is Simon Cruor."
"Never heard of it," I commented.
He raised his head and smiled at me. "I prefer to keep a low profile." He straightened and offered me his hand again. "But will you come, or would you rather return to that flower shop tomorrow with nothing but fleeting memories of what might have been?"
I pursed my lips, but shrugged. "Why not?"
His eyes sparkled with a strange autumn hue and his smile widened. "Then it will be an honor to show you what the night offers."
I took his hand and let him lead me to a new fate.
CHAPTER 4
That fate started through that closed door, and I found it was a bedroom. A large king-sized bed sat against the back wall and draped over the foot of its elegant white comforter was a bright-red dress. The straps were as thin as pencils and the neckline left little to the imagination.
He stopped us at the foot and slipped behind me. "What do you think?"
I glanced down at the dress and my eyebrow received more exercise. "It looks like it could fall of at any moment."
He leaned close to my neck and chuckled. "That would be a shame, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, nothing so wonderful will happen as the straps are quite tight. Would you like some assistance putting it on?"
I spun around and crossed my arms over my chest. "I said I'd go on a date with you, not get into bed." I jabbed a finger at the door. "Now out."
He took a step back and bowed his head to me. "I am your humble servant, Miss Luvena."
I tilted my head to one side and studied him. "How do you know so much about me, anyway? Are you stalking me or something?"
He straightened and shook his head. "No. Let's just say I investigate my business associates very thoroughly."
I frowned. "Business associates? You mean the flower shop?"
He nodded. "Yes. I gathered that your employer wouldn't ask questions of my order if I offered him cash, and-"
"And he didn't fail to disappoint," I commented.
Cruor chuckled. "Exactly. Now if you wish I can assist you in changing."
I nodded at the door. "I think I'm old enough to dress myself."
He retreated to the door and bowed his head. "As you wish, my lady." He closed the door behind him.
I turned and studied the dress. A sigh escaped my lips and I shook my head. "What have you gotten yourself into this time, Faith?"
A quick change and I felt like a half a million dollars. The other half of the money was with the other half of the dress. The neckline was low enough to reveal ample cleavage and a slit in one side traveled up to my hip. Walking would be difficult. Somehow, though, the outfit complimented my ample curves.
I stepped out of the room with my old clothes draped over one arm. This Cruor fellow was still a near-stranger, so I'd be keeping my clothes with me. He stood off to the left and against the wall where a long, wide kitchen was located. His back was to me, but as I entered he downed an entire champagne glass of red liquid and turned to me. His sly smile and attentive eyes were enough to show me he approved.
He set the glass down and walked over to me where he bowed. "A picture of beauty no Renaissance painter could capture," he complimented.
I blushed. "It's a little flimsy," I commented as I tugged on the slit.
Cruor straightened and smiled. "And yet you wear it with such elegance that it appears to be a part of you." He stepped up to my side and offered me his arm. "If you would, it's time to leave."
I looped my arm through his and hugged my clothes against my other side. "All right, but I'm keeping my clothes with me."
He bowed his head. "As you wish, my lady."
Cruor escorted me to the door where we paused to pick up his coat, hat, and cane. We proceeded to the elevator and rode it down to the parking garage. The doors opened and revealed a limo that waited with its engine running. The suited driver stepped out, a pale young man of twenty with unruly dirty-blond hair, and opened the rear door for us. He bowed his head as Cruor escorted me to the vehicle.
"Ladies first," he offered.
I hesitated in front of the door. The interior was pitch-black. "How about we break with tradition just this once?" I suggested.
Cruor bowed his head. "As you wish."
He ducked into the car. My eyes flickered to the driver who stood behind the door. His eyes were pale gray and his skin was the same pallor as that of Cruor.
I jerked my thumb at the entrance to the car. "Are you two related?" The driver shook his head, but didn't speak. I shrugged. "Just thought I'd ask."
I ducked into the interior. The opposing seats were leather and each was broken into two chairs by a separating armrest in their center. I took the seat opposite Cruor who sat in the back. The door shut behind me, but an overhead light allowe
d me to see my host, though most of his face fell into shadow. Behind me was the closed window that connected the rear to the front.
The car started, and we turned the corners of the parking garage and bumped onto the streets. I glanced out the window. The world sped by in brightly-colored hues of dazzling lights.
"You are ill at ease," Cruor commented.
I tried to avoid pulling my neckline for fear he would glimpse more than some of my previous boyfriends got to see. "I'm alone with a wealthy stranger, in a strange dress, going to a strange party."
He chuckled. "Yes, I must admit I wasn't sure you would agree to such an adventure, but you didn't fail to disappoint."
I frowned. "You sound like you know me really well."
He leaned back. His face was completely covered in shadows. "You could say our meeting yesterday piqued my interest, and I made a few inquiries."
My eyebrows crashed down and I pointed an accusing finger at him. "Then you did stalk me!"
He held up his hand. "Perhaps I did inspect more thoroughly than is proper, but I will offer you a trade." He stretched out his arms and I saw a glint of teeth as he smiled. "You may ask me anything you like, and I will answer with the truth."
I snorted. "And I'm supposed to believe it?"
His smile slipped away and his voice grew firm. "I give you my word, and I never break my word."
I furrowed my brow and studied him for a few moments before I cleared my throat. "How old are you?"
"Five hundred and sixty years old."
I choked on my spittle. "You said you'd tell the truth!"
He chuckled. "I did, and I have, but why don't you ask another less compromising question?"
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. "How rich are you?"
"I haven't tallied my assets in quite a while, but billionaires would envy me were they to know the truth," he replied.
"So how come I haven't heard about you?" I countered.
He clasped his hands on his crossed legs. "As I said before, I prefer to keep a low profile. That includes revealing my riches. Even my close friends are unaware of the full extent of my wealth." He leaned forward and his shimmering bright eyes fell on me. "You are perhaps the only one outside my small circle who knows."