There was a creepiness about this man that made me very uncomfortable. I grinned, acknowledging his comment and went to walk away, but he side-stepped my movement and cut me off.
“I’m Kyser Harkin,” he said, and held out his hand. Kyser Harkin. Where have I heard that name? Harkin? Harkin? Harkin? Oh, that’s right.
“Clint’s boss,” I said, shaking his hand, having remembered where I had heard his name before. Clint had mentioned him numerous times and I recalled his name from the burlesque bar evening as well.
He nodded and looked me up and down. “Lenorah Rossi. A real pleasure to meet you. I’ve been wanting to make your acquaintance for a while.”
Of course I wasn’t shocked he used my real name. He was the mighty president of the New York chapter of the Lappell. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was holding a file of information about me in his coat pocket.
“And why is that Mr. Harkin? Are you one of the many curious, or are you like your associate Mr. Wickburn?”
I probably should have been a bit more intimidated by such a powerful man, but it was my experience that such men welcomed the more forward approach. They appreciated when you showed no fear. It amused them, it excited them, and I hoped, would work in my favor.
Kyser laughed. “Arthur Wickburn. Ah yes, he was sloppy wasn’t he?”
“And you’re not?” I glared at him, trying to figure out his motives.
“You don’t need to worry about me like that Lenorah.” His face was hard but still trying to be friendly.
“Then who should I be worried about? Devon Lockley perhaps?”
Name dropped.
Kyser cocked his head, studying me before giving me a response. It took a minute but when he finally spoke, all he said was, “Who?”
You know very well who!
Kyser’s eyes darted across the room before he leaned a little closer to me. “Lenorah, whoever this Devon Lockley person is, I’m sure he isn’t the person you need to worry about.”
He was trying to say something without saying it directly, his statement laced in double meaning.
“Then who should I be worrying about?” I asked. Kyser grinned, his face smug like he knew everything but loved giving nothing away. He looked over to Clint standing near Josh at the bar.
“I think your fellow is waiting for you.”
Clint’s eyes stared at me from across the room. He used his hand to wave me over. I started walking over to Clint, not even saying good-bye to Kyser. I didn’t need to waste my time with a man like that. I’d already wasted too much time with men like him before. I had concluded in my head that he was just another version of Arthur Wickburn, but probably more capable and even less emotionless.
As I hurried as fast as I could over to Clint, which wasn’t fast given I was wearing six-inch Jimmy Choos, there was a loud bang that caused the whole room to cower. It sounded like something smashing. It came from the entrance near where Clint and Josh were standing. Their eyes looked over to me in alarm as they both went to check out what caused the noise. When I finally got closer, they both walked back in shrugging their shoulders like the sound had just come out of thin air. Clint walked over and took my hand.
“Everything alright?” I asked, as he stopped and cupped my cheek with his palm.
“Perfect. Everything is just perfect now that you’re next to me.” He kissed me softly on the lips. We noticed the crowd starting to gather around a small stage with an announcer. He was a tall, thin, suited man with a moustache, who had a woman in a long white silk evening dress holding a number of envelopes standing next to him. He tapped a microphone a couple of times to get everyone’s attention.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen, now for the highlight of the evening, the winners of our silent auction.” The room erupted in soft clapping as everyone moved inwards and towards the stage.
“I’ll call each lovely flower up one by one, and announce the winner, and hopefully our beautiful blooms will reward them with a kiss. It is tradition after all, right everyone?” He smiled broadly, encouraging the crowd to clap their approval. The audience clapped loudly but then the applause quickly died down.
Clint leaned down towards me and whispered in my ear. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Tess flew into New York early. She called while you were in the shower, so I invited her to come tonight if she arrived in time. She has access to our apartment so she can crash there if she gets in late.”
I smiled up at Clint who was so thoughtful when it came to my best friend. “That was really nice of you to invite her. I’m so happy she is staying with us this week. I hope we see her soon. I left my cell at home so I hope she doesn’t try and call me.”
The room clapped as the peony was called up to the stage first. She was a beautiful statuesque woman with long cascading blond hair and a peach, beaded gown. “And the gentleman with the highest bid was Douglas McBluff with a generous donation of eighty thousand dollars. Mr. McBluff, please come up and claim your kiss, and your prize.” An elderly gentleman in his fifties hurried to the stage, eager to plant his lips on the buxom blond. She giggled as she kissed him, welcoming the kiss for charity. It was actually a very fun sight, and knowing that all this money was going to help the environment made it even more exciting.
Josh came to stand over with Clint and I, as we stood talking in hushed voices. We watched woman after woman with flower corsages get called to the stage, giving kiss after grateful kiss to their winners. The room was happily abuzz when my flower was finally called. Clint stopped me momentarily as I tried to walk off. “See you in a minute,” he said, excited. I winked at him and walked up to stand next to the host.
“Please welcome to the stage our lovely and delicate orchid.” Claps were heard around the room. “And I must say, our orchid here received the highest bid of the evening with a generous donation of two hundred thousand dollars.” I beamed at Clint, who was not returning the same elated facial expression. The look on his face wasn’t excitement, it was confusion. And then it dawned on me - it was not his bid. OH NO!
I didn’t have time to panic because the host moved quickly on to the winner’s name. “Please let’s make welcome our most generous guest this evening, Samuel Voltaggio.” The room’s clapping was the loudest it had been and there were more cheers than for any of the previous victors. I scanned the crowd and from a corner, I saw Samuel emerge onto the side of the stage, coming up and walking up behind me, his arm going around my waist, pulling me closely next to his body. He stopped, so he was positioned between me and the host.
The host, who was delighted by his generosity, shook Samuel’s hand and then said, “Thank you Mr. Voltaggio for your donation this evening. It means a lot to the Errol Environmental Society. Would you like to say a few words?” Samuel’s smoldering eyes glanced over to me and my dress and then he took the microphone. How was it possible to feel so angry and so turned on at once? Samuel had just walked back into my life again, giving me that same burning look and natural confidence I always found so appealing. Once I got over the initial shock of seeing him, I realized that he had just put himself in the worst possible danger with both my Dad and Clint. I was not permitted to see Samuel and if word got back to my Dad about this evening, then this could really be it for him. I didn’t know what to do. I could feel the hate of Clint’s gaze on us as Samuel inched closer to me on the stage. Should I stay or should I run off? What should I do? But I didn’t have time to think. Samuel was already holding the microphone before I could make a decision about the best course of action.
“Thanks for such kind applause, but there really isn’t any monetary amount high enough for this young girl. Isn’t she the most beautiful girl in the room?” Samuel turned and looked into my eyes, hitting me in the heart with his memory, making me feel instantly soft in the way I returned the look. Samuel’s arm on my waist only pulled me tighter, and then I felt the pinch of knowing Clint was watching us, remembering where my heart really was. As I tried to pull away from Samuel, the
room then started chanting, “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!”
I looked at Samuel and shook my head, but he only grinned at me. He lifted the microphone again to his mouth. “There is one more thing I would like to say first,” he turned and winked at me and then looked out into the crowd, his head looking directly at Clint. “All’s fair in love and war.” Samuel then dropped the microphone and spun and dipped me with aplomb, planting his lips on mine in front of the whole room. Everyone clapped and roared as he kept his lips lingering on mine for what seemed an obscene amount of time. I was so shocked by both his presence and his kiss, I barely moved. I couldn’t speak or react. His kiss was hard, but still tender. It felt like a message from him, that he still felt exactly the same for me, like no time had passed, and that this kiss was a declaration of battle that Samuel intended to win.
When he finally lifted me up so I was standing straight, I let my eyes search the room for Clint. He was still standing next to Josh in the crowd, with an unreadable facial expression. The fact that I did not know that expression made me feel scared. Josh’s mouth was hung open in what must have been shock. After the crowd stopped clapping, Samuel took my hand and led me down the stairs.
“But..my…Dad?” I stuttered, my head spinning out about all the possible dangers Samuel would now be faced with.
“Not a problem,” he stated calmly, like it didn’t matter. Like his life was not about to be taken away. How can he be so relaxed right now?
“What?” I said, very confused as we reached the bottom of the stage. I quickly removed my hand from his grip. He laughed and snorted, which infuriated me. He had no right to do this, especially to Clint. Samuel tried to put his hands on my waist again and his mouth on mine, but I turned away from him, my knee then going for his groin. He anticipated my move and turned his waist before I could connect.
“Damn, I do miss that fiery temper of yours.” He laughed at my failed attempt to drop him to his knees.
“What the hell do you think you are doing Samuel? This is really wrong, even for you. You know I have a boyfriend.” My choice of words angered Samuel.
“Wrong Len, wrong! I’ll tell you what is wrong, especially about your so-called boyfriend!” The crowd started to disperse as people parted. I looked up to see Clint and Josh striding our way. Samuel’s eyes darted to where he saw them plowing through the crowd. He then pecked me on the cheek and said, “Gotta love you and leave you Len. See you round.” He started to slip off behind the stage, stopping only once to yell back, “Did you like the gifts?” He grinned again like a naughty boy before slipping into the darkness behind me.
“Where is he?” It was the first thing Clint said as he approached me, his voice menacing. Now I truly feared for Samuel’s safety.
“I don’t know. He left behind the stage.” Clint went to follow but I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t go after him, please.”
Clint tried to shake himself from my grip. “You can’t really be saying that to me.”
I continued to hold his arm tightly. “I don’t want you to fight him.”
“Don’t do it Clint,” Josh piped up. He had followed Clint, knowing what was about to happen, knowing he would need to calm the situation for me. “It’s not worth the bruises. Trust me, I know.” I was grateful Josh was trying to help me keep the peace. Josh and Samuel had been in a fight before at a ball back in Morewell, so if anyone could relate, it was him. Clint just stared off into the darkness behind the stage. His whole body tensed and I could see him contemplating his next move. There was more movement into the crowd as a vision in green came running up to us. Choppy red hair, a cheeky glint in her eye. When the figure finally got close enough to us, I recognized the face. I wish I could have been happier, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. It was Tess. She had made it to the Gala after all.
“Surprise!” she announced. “I made it. I’m so excited to be here.” She jumped onto me, hugging tightly. I returned the hug but not with the same enthusiasm.
She stood and looked at all of us in our frozen states, oddly quiet, not moving or making a sound.
Her face went back and forth between me, Josh and Clint, as we all avoided each other’s eyes. The tension was obvious and painful, and Tess, being Tess, couldn’t help but recognize the uncomfortable atmosphere between us.
“Well gee. What? What did I miss? Did someone die or something?”
“Or something,” I thought.
Chapter 12
The Past
~ ~ ~
I lay, face-down on my bed under the moonlight as it filtered through an open window from the other side of the room, near a small bedside table lamp. It was late at night and I was reading a book to kill some time. My eyes glanced at the clock on my table. 1.07 am. I was waiting for the shadow to sneak in through the window, the warmness to creep in behind me and slide up beside my body as I lay patiently in anticipation. There was no alarm in me when I finally felt the smooth skin brush up on my back, and a face come resting near my head, lips finding their way from my neck and then to my cheek. I felt his eyes staring down at my book as I read, taking interest.
“Everyone has secrets. It’s just a matter of finding out what they are.” The smooth sexy voice was reading over my shoulders. I giggled as his hands began to wander under my T-shirt and rub around my ribs.
“I like that,” he said, his lips returning back to my neck. “That’s good.”
“Oh really,” I cooed, enjoying how close our bodies were.
“Whatcha reading?” His voice genuinely wanted to know, but now his tongue was in my ear, almost making me completely forget about the book.
I managed to compose myself and my thoughts. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.”
“Is it good?” he asked, his lips on my ear lobe, biting and sucking gently.
“Well I do enjoy a good thriller.” The back of my shirt began to lift up and I felt tiny kisses being planted on my lower back. I moaned at the feeling. Samuel always took his time when he explored the skin on my body. He always made the most of our time together, kissing me in every place possible. There was so much tension between my legs. It was killing me that we were waiting to go all the way and what made it worse, is that he spent every moment with me, turning me on. Thank God I was a master of pleasing myself. I would never get any sleep if I allowed myself to be constantly wound up. We had however, finally reached the stage of mutually pleasing each other without actual penetration, so at least I could look forward to that satisfaction. I swear my hormones were going to make me explode if we didn’t have sex soon. I understood why he wanted to wait, but my body was not happy with that decision. I was a virgin because I had never had a boyfriend long enough to get that far. My Dad had chased or scared away any guys who were interested in me, due to him being extremely protective. Samuel and I had to take extra precautions when we started to meet because our friendship was the forbidden kind. He was the son of the man my father considered his nemesis, so we knew that what we were doing could lead to very brutal consequences. The welfare of us both was seriously at risk, but we continued to secretly see each other, even though we knew it could end at any minute in the most gruesome way possible.
Perhaps we should have stopped seeing each other, been more sensible. We both knew the unnecessary risks we were taking, and that what we had, couldn’t go anywhere. Not in the future sense anyway. We were living in the moment, embracing the minutes we had, knowing that with each passing second, it could be our last. I guess when you are living in that kind of mindset, each minute becomes more and more special. It intensifies feelings quickly, makes you more attune to what you want, and what you can lose. You feel time more because there isn’t enough time for what you might need. Everything slows down and speeds up. When we first met, we joked that we could end up like Romeo and Juliet, and now, it didn’t feel like a joke, but art imitating life.
The danger was always in the back of our heads, sitting there, reminding us tha
t our actions were very irresponsible. But as much as we were aware of this, we couldn’t stop. We didn’t want to stop. There was something about Samuel that reached into the very core of my being, and spoke to me with the kind of symphony that my heart craved. He understood what it was like being me. We had the same upbringing. We had suffered loss. Samuel had also lost his mother when he was young, but not to death. When Samuel was five, his mother simply got up and left one day, fleeing the country, and never returned. She had not been killed, but Samuel still felt the loss like she was dead. He never saw her or heard from her again. Sometimes it felt like we were two lost souls trying to find love in the same kind of darkness. Our conversations usually led to new ways we could meet in secret rather than reasons we should not. We were being ignorant in our youth, allowing our feelings to grow, and they were growing at an alarming rate. My heart was leading my actions now, and my all rational thoughts from my head were pushed aside to make way for what I now I felt, and what I couldn’t run from.
“So where is it?” Samuel asked, still exploring the skin on my back.
“Where’s what?” I asked curiously, arching my back towards his mouth, wanting to be closer to that voice that made me want to lose control.
“The tattoo? Where on her body?” Samuel pointed to my book again. I bit my lip, and dropped the book to the floor.
“Why don’t I show you?” I said in the sexiest voice I had, which probably sounded awkward given I knew nothing about sex.
I slowly started to lift my shirt up and over my head, tossing it next to the book on the floor. He looked at me in adoration and lust. The way he looked at me made me hot all over. I still couldn’t believe we were in this place. It had been three months since I met Samuel, and in that time, our friendly chats had gone from innocent kisses to full-blown make out sessions, to secret rendezvous in the middle of the night. It wasn’t like we wanted to sneak around, we just had to.
Samuel stared at my breasts. Breathing hard as he did. “I think it might have been here,” I said, twisting my body as I pointed to my lower back, my chest moving as I did. I then crawled forward to Samuel, who was now standing at the end of my bed, watching me. I got up on my knees and then pointed to where my heart was, in between my breasts. “Or maybe it was right here. I’m not quite sure Samuel. Where would you put a tattoo on my body?” I reached to Samuel and took his hands, placing them firmly on my chest.
Pieces of Truth Page 10