by Cj Howard
Tom was not a rich man, but he had set up a network with some of the lowest forms of life in Vegas. He had several people watching out for Chantelle. He pulled out his phone and called someone at the casino where Chantelle and Justin were married. He had blackmail going on several people working there, and he knew that if he threatened them, they would find a way to get the man’s name and address, and he would know who she married and where he lived.
Once he had set others on the job of finding Justin’s information, he turned his attention to booking his own ticket. He had the money to pay whatever it took. Since Chantelle was staying away from him because of his lack of ambition, he had decided to pursue a career. His career choice involved several shady operations. Tom was sloppy, but his carelessness also made him bold and he had made a great deal of money quickly.
He had taken a lot of risks and his twisted logic made him feel entitled to chase Chantelle since he had supposedly done it all to get her back.
Chapter4
Chantelle arrived at the airport. She assumed that her first class ticket was a mistake. She knew that the disheveled man staying in his friend’s room in Vegas couldn’t possibly afford to send her first class, however, it was confirmed that she was booked in the first class cabin. She remembered boarding being difficult when she flew with Aunt Janine, but this time, it was incredibly easy.
Before she knew it, she was seated in a spacious seat with plenty of legroom. The area was like her little cocoon with an entertainment center. This time she didn’t have to lift her carry-on bag over her head to stow it, while others pushed passed her in a crowded aisle. Instead, an extremely friendly woman offered her a drink. Chantelle was given a glass of wine and an assortment of crackers and cheese.
Seemingly, out of nowhere, the woman transformed her space into a tiny dining area with a fine linen tablecloth and napkin. She still couldn’t understand how Justin gotten her onto a first class flight. She wondered if Sam had paid for it, or if Justin had frequent flyer miles that he used for an upgrade for her. It would be just like the man she remembered from that terrible morning to set aside his own comfort to make her more relaxed on this trip. Once again, her mind slid into the familiar rhythm of thinking about Justin. Why was it that her intellect couldn’t convince her heart to let go of him?
In spite of the many choices on the entertainment center, she took out her own phone, put in her ear buds, and listened to her own music while her mind drifted to thoughts of Justin’s gentle touch and intense eyes. The flight was smooth and a lunch beyond anything she had imagined for airplane fare was served on china. In spite of her nerves, she enjoyed the pasta dish and was surprised that the salad was crisp and fresh. She allowed herself a wine spritzer with lunch. Feeling satisfied, she stared out of the window while drinking her cup of espresso and nibbling on cheesecake.
It wasn’t as good as Aunt Janine’s, but that was a given. Just the thought of Aunt Janine at home thinking of her, made her smile. She knew that no matter where she went in the world or how hard this thing coming to her would be, Aunt Janine would always be there for her.
Chantelle gathered her belongings to disembark. Originally, she had hoped that she could have just a carry-on bag, but she wanted to feel secure that she had everything she needed. She knew that she was only to see Justin for one afternoon at the lawyer’s office, but Aunt Janine insisted that she stay for a few days to get to know the city.
Aunt Janine hadn’t traveled much, but she wanted more for Chantelle. She had nagged and pushed in her loving way to get Chantelle to take advantage of the opportunity. “Channy, you need to see things. I know you’re feeling down about the situation you’re in, but you’ve got one of the greatest cities on earth waiting for you and you need to get out there and see it!” Aunt Janine didn’t mince words when she had something on her mind. “Now, I don’t want you to give me any more sass about this. You plan more days into your trip and get yourself out to see something. Remember that I want pictures! You get me something from the Statue of Liberty. Hear me, now?”
Chantelle had tied a bright blue ribbon to her black luggage so that she could find it quickly on the carousel, but again, being a first class customer had its perks and leaving the airport couldn’t have been easier, in spite of the fact that this airport was overwhelming in every way.
Justin had arranged for a car to meet her and she wondered again how he could afford to do this for her. It wasn’t a special car. As a matter of fact, it was so plain that she couldn’t make out what kind it was once she got inside and thought of it, but still, hiring a car in New York seemed like an expensive thing. Then she realized with a sad heart that Justin may have been considering the fact that marriage would be entirely more expensive than these expenditures that were aimed to annul the marriage! She wondered at her own feelings of sadness at this thought. She, too, needed to end this marriage and get on with her life. It didn’t make sense to feel so strongly about a stranger.
The car dropped her at a simple hotel. It was clean and safe and seemed to be catering to business travel. The service was quick and polite. She opened her suitcase in her room and saw the bright colors of her sundress. She wished that she were in a mood to put it on and hit the buzzing and busy sidewalks of New York. Now she really wished that her friends were here. She took the dress out and shook it. The colors raised her spirits and she hung it neatly. If nothing else, it made her glad to see it there, even if she never wore it in this city.
She pulled out her suit. Although she had packed it carefully and properly, it was a bit wrinkled and the blouse certainly needed a touch up. Thankfully, the room was equipped with a steamer and an iron. She didn’t have much time, but before long she stood in front of the mirror, ready to go. She had to admit that she looked well. The black heels were conservative enough to fit in anywhere, but the stylish and classic design of the knock-off Manolo Blahniks set off the suit perfectly.
The suit fit her so well that she couldn’t believe she had purchased it off the rack. It followed the curve of her backside, giving an impression of the smooth, roundness beneath without drawing too much attention for a business setting. The blouse looked great after she heated it with an iron, and the scarf seemed to intensify the shine in her hair. She had chosen to wear her hair down, but smoothed it out for a professional look.
She wished her earrings were real stones, but at least they were of decent quality. A person would have to look at them with a magnifying glass to know that they weren’t real diamonds. She had butterflies in her stomach as she grabbed yet another knock-off; her Burberry-like purse. She was saving up for a real one, but it seemed that the day would never come.
Justin and Chantelle had arranged to meet at a coffee shop near his penthouse. He didn’t want her to see his home because she would realize that Sam was not the one with a fortune. She walked in to find him already seated at a table, nervously playing with a spoon and ignoring his cup of coffee. Chantelle couldn’t stop the leap she felt inside when she saw his face. During their separation, she had often wondered if her memories were making her feel more for this man because she had exaggerated his good looks in her mind, but as he stood, she realized that he was even more attractive than she remembered.
Justin was dressed in a simple, but well cut suit of fine fabric. She knew clothes and if she hadn’t been so distracted by his face, she would have realized that this suit was not cheap. His hair was carefully groomed, but it still had a bit of a windblown look about it.
His blond hair caught the light and looked almost golden. She had forgotten how tall he was. She looked up at him and had to hold back from reaching out for his broad chest.
Every part of her wanted to lean into his body and feel him against her, but the thing that made her lose her train of thought was the blue of his eyes. In this light, his eyes took on several shades of blue. She caught flecks of gold and green around the edges and found herself unable to speak.
Justin could have solved the probl
em by being the first to begin a conversation, but this gorgeous woman had stopped him in his own tracks. She looked so fresh and smelled almost edible. His hands wanted her. He wanted to run his hands down her back and to cup her flesh and draw her body up to his own. He literally shook off his feelings and worried that she would see his stiffness outlined beneath his suit.
At the same moment, they came to their senses. “It’s great to see you, Chantelle. You look fantastic.” His eyes ran down her body and he found himself unable to speak again for a moment, but once he had broken the silence between them, Chantelle found her voice.
“Thank you for taking care of this trip, Justin. It was very comfortable and I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.” She grinned and lifted one eyebrow. “I must say, I was a little shocked to get a first class ticket. Did you rob a bank or is Sam playing at being a travel agent?”
It took a moment for Justin to remember that not everybody flew first class on a long flight. Even with his friends, Justin had paid for an upgrade and he had never flown coach in his life. He had actually felt a little guilty for putting her on a commercial airline rather than having her flown in his private jet, but he quickly remembered the act he had to put on concerning his lack of substantial money.
“Oh, right. Well, something like that.” He fumbled in his breast pocket and took out his wallet. “We should go. I know we have time before the appointment, but sometimes getting around can take a long time.” If he was going to keep up this ruse of having limited funds, he needed to take normal methods of travel through the city. The times he had gone with his friends had shown him that it took a lot longer to get where you were going without a wad of money in your pocket.
They stepped out of the coffee shop and toward the curb. The sun had recently come out after a quick burst of rain and the sidewalk was shining with residual water. Justin stepped back quickly to try to get the attention of a cab down the street. Just at that moment, a car pulled up to the curb to deposit a woman who appeared to be in an immense hurry.
A puddle of muddy water had collected from the recent thunderstorm and as the car drew up close to the curb, the water in the gutter splashed up, soaking Chantelle from head to toe with the mess. The woman barely acknowledged her before speeding off and the driver immediately turned back into traffic. Chantelle stood, water dripping from her new clothes and shoes. She was furious but there was nobody left to launch at with her angry words. Her anger dissolved into sorrow and a sense of defeat settled over her. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried in life, something always came along and beat her back down.
It was just like her college education. She struggled every semester to take another class, but knew that it was a dream that might not come true, and it seemed that every time she reached for love, she ended up with nothing but trouble.
Just then she caught sight of a familiar form down the sidewalk. She tried to get another look, but shook her head. It couldn’t have been Tom. She had left him in Vegas and even if he did want to follow her, he never had enough money to eat out, let alone get on an airplane! Besides, she had only told him about this earlier in the day. To book a same day flight would cost an enormous amount of money!
Standing there soaking wet, with so many thoughts flooding her mind, Justin turned to her and a look of real concern covered his face. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I should have made sure you were in a safer place. Chantelle, let’s get you somewhere warm and dry.” He took her shoulder and guided her to the enormous and awe inspiring building that was almost directly behind them.
The doorman seemed to recognize Justin and was about to greet him with courtesy and respect, but Justin shook his head subtly, gave the man a wink, and slipped him a few bills.
“Hello, I hope you won’t mind. I’m taking this lady inside for some assistance.” The doorman wasn’t sure why Justin behaved as if he were any stranger on the street entering the building, but he helped them in and decided that it was none of his business.
Chantelle did notice that Justin seemed to know exactly where he was going. They went through the reception area and into what appeared to be a private elevator. Even though she was dripping wet, Chantelle couldn’t help but notice the beautiful lobby with its high ceilings and the delicate sounds of water coming from a fountain in the center. Part of her wished she could just collapse into one of the comfortable chairs and have a good cry, but Justin seemed to sense her mood and put one arm chastely around her back and allowed her to lean into him.
The elevator opened into what appeared to be a home. She was confused that it didn’t go to a hallway or another lobby of some sort. Justin hurried her into a bedroom with bathroom, and told her to go ahead and take off her clothes. He informed her that there was a robe hanging on the door in the bathroom. Before they reached the door of the bedroom, he was calling to have someone pick up her suit and blouse for rapid dry cleaning, and asked them to make arrangements for her shoes to be cleaned and shined.
Chantelle handed her clothes to him through a crack in the door and then sat in a daze on the California king sized bed. The guest room where she found herself was spacious and obviously decorated by a talented designer. Her thoughts swirled as she noticed a small print on the wall. She stood to look at the print from one of her favorite artists before realizing that it was an original. She stepped back with her hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe that the owner of this penthouse had spent upward of a half million dollars on this small print, but she was also pleased to know that she was in the apartment of someone who shared her taste in art.
She took the bathrobe from the hook on the door and wrapped it around her body. She inhaled the same, fresh scent that she noticed on the robe in the hotel in Vegas. Her eyes opened wide. Like a second sight, she realized that both robes were reminiscent of Justin’s smell and that this must be his penthouse. That would explain the pricey airline ticket and so many other points of confusion that he had tried to smooth over. She wondered why a man would try to cover up such a thing.
Chantelle swung open the door to the living area and stormed through calling Justin’s name. He poked his head out of the kitchen with surprise. “This is yours!” She said with emphasis. “You are the one with money. You are the one who paid for my ticket and the hotel in Vegas. Why did you lie to me? Were you afraid I wouldn’t cooperate with the annulment? Do you really think I’m that shallow?” She stomped her foot and put both hands on her hips.
He tried to deny her claims. “This? No, this is Sam’s place. I’m just staying here.”
She cut him off with a short, derisive laugh. “No, we’re past that now. You need to stop lying to me right now or you will make it worse!”
In spite of her fury, she was utterly gorgeous. Her hair swayed as she gesticulated and fire flared from her dark eyes. He was worried about being discovered and yet could not help feeling that familiar hardness swell and desire flooded his body at the sight of her.
She pointed her carefully manicured finger directly in his face and said in a low, firm voice, “I am a lady. I may not have much money and I don’t live in a penthouse, but people love me and I love them. I don’t put a shield around my heart to protect a lot of…” she gestured around the room, “… things. Things don’t matter. People matter!”
She turned to leave the room and Justin quickly followed. “Chantelle, it’s not like that.” He put out his hand to stop her, but she pushed it aside. “I… don’t know how to say this. I didn’t want you to know about my money because…” He swallowed hard.
Chantelle looked into his blue eyes and saw sincerity. He paused and then spoke, “I didn’t want you to see me as a spoiled, rich kid. I know it wasn’t right, but even though I was surprised to find you that morning, I felt something for you. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I’ve never felt like this before.”
Her face softened. At the same time they smelled something burning. Justin’s eyes widened. “Damn! The soup!” They both hurried into the kitchen.
He shook his head with disgust while he awkwardly carried the scorched, smoking pan to the sink. Chantelle couldn’t help but laugh.
“You can’t even re-heat a can of soup? I’m sure they didn’t teach that at whatever prep school you went to.” Her eyes were merry as she gave him a sideways glance.
“I must admit that being raised with a personal chef leaves little incentive to learn to cook.” Justin’s boyish grin made her chuckle.
“Alright, then. Let me take over.” Chantelle began to search the kitchen for items to make a decent soup quickly, but Justin stepped forward.
“Hey now! I wanted to make soup for you. The only problem is that you’ll have to teach me to do it.” They looked at each other and smiled. They threw together a quick soup with leftover baked chicken and a thick broth. Chantelle didn’t have time to make the homemade egg noodles or moist dumplings she had learned to make by Aunt Janine’s side, but she did take a few of Justin’s leftover vegetables and made a soup worth eating.
They sat across from each other in a nook in the kitchen overlooking the city. Although the view was beautiful, they chose to look at each other over the steaming cups of soup. He couldn’t help but remember how sexy she looked after peeling off the jacket of her suit. The pale blue blouse clung to her dark skin, and he wanted nothing more than to tear it off her. He was about to lose control and reach across the table for her when the doorbell rang.
The dry cleaners had returned her suit. They realized that time had gotten away from them, but now the need to traverse the city slowly was no longer valid. Justin got on the phone and told the attorney he would be a bit late. After Chantelle dressed and fixed her hair, they zipped in the elevator down to a waiting car. Sitting in the car, Justin felt that they had been saved by the bell. Another moment alone in his home and he would have caved in and confessed his feelings for her.