by Kris Calvert
“That’s not the point. I love it. I’m just not used to this kind of attention.”
He walked toward me and I couldn’t think straight—dazzled by his handsome face. “I never want to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. You just need to understand how grateful I am to have you here. And I guess I’m not doing a very good job of showing my gratitude.”
I smiled. “You are. And I’ll keep the purse, but you need to know I’ve waited a long time to spend my own money again. Don’t take that away from me.”
“Duly noted.”
I pulled the lipstick out of my pocket and opened the top of the sparkling rose and dropped it in. “It’s a perfect fit.”
“Shall we?” he asked as he held out his arm.
“Yes.”
I locked up my office and we took the elevator all the way down to the parking garage. “What’s up with this?”
“Haven’t you noticed? It’s storming again. Six has the limo in the garage waiting for us. I didn’t want you to get your prettiness even the least bit wet.”
“Six? What about your dad? Isn’t he coming tonight?”
“He’s waiting in the limo too.”
“Oh shit.” The words came out on their own. “Is everyone waiting on me?”
“Actually, they are waiting on us.”
“Who else?” I asked as we stepped off the elevator.
“Madge is with my dad.”
“Of course she is,” I muttered under my breath.
Six smiled at me as the elevator doors opened and I gave him a little wave.
“You look ravishing, Miss Indie.”
“Thank you, Six.”
He opened the door and David gave me his hand as I climbed into the back of the stretch limo.
“Good evening, Lewis.” I gave him a nod and he took a deep breath as if he were breathing me in. I immediately turned to Madge to acknowledge her presence. “Madge.”
David climbed aboard and as soon as Six shut the door we were off to the Ritz-Carlton. It was quiet in the car as David and his father exchanged looks but not words. I tried to keep my head down and away from the staring eyes of Madge and Lewis both—although I was sure they were staring at me for completely different reasons.
The trip was short and as we exited the car to a myriad of flashbulbs and cameras, I leaned into David as I tried to shield myself from the madness.
We quickly made it into the hotel as the rain began to pour outside. Just past the interior corridor, I pulled Lewis aside by the arm and whispered in his ear. “If you start to feel tired or bad in any way, let’s get out of here—and fast.”
He smiled at me for the first time since I’d met him. “Sounds like a plan.”
Dinner was beautiful and I enjoyed David introducing me to everyone simply as Indie Luce—not Indie Luce who worked for him, not Indie Luce the nurse. Just me. I felt important. Between chatting up the governor of the state of Georgia over drinks and even having others fawn over me and my new dress—I felt like I meant something.
The band kicked into high gear as dessert was served. David stood abruptly when they began playing Frank Sinatra’s You’d Be So Easy to Love. “May I have this dance, beautiful Indie?”
I must’ve had a shocked look on my face because what he said next made me giggle. “You do know how to dance, right?”
I stood and took his hand. “Of course. I just didn’t know if you were ready for what I’m about to throw down out there.”
He gave me a little tour around him once on the dance floor before curling me into his body. His strong frame and forceful leadership made me smile. I loved him being in control. For once in my life I didn’t have to think. I was in heaven.
As we danced I could tell we were the center of attention on the floor. “I think I’m making all the other women jealous tonight.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re kidding, right?” I giggled uncontrollably.
“God, I love it when you laugh. It just lights up my whole world, Indie.”
“What?”
As the song ended I got a quick dip and a kiss on the hand as he led me from the floor back to our table. As more than one woman called to David with a wave or a blown kiss I realized I was probably one of many on David’s roster. “These woman are throwing themselves at you. Are you watching this?” I asked.
He looked to me and smiled. “I’m only watching you. From the moment I shook your hand a week ago I’ve only been able to think of one thing—you.”
“Okay, okay,” I said with a laugh. “I’m going to powder my nose and then check on your dad.”
David took my hand and gave me a serious look. “Don’t laugh, Indie. I’m telling you the honest truth. You’re all I think about.”
He squeezed my hand, and the euphoric feeling I had as I walked away must have shown in my face as everyone I passed on the way to the ladies room smiled at me.
I sat at the fancy vanity chair and opened my sparkly rose purse to reapply my lipstick. I heard the toilet flush and saw Madge come toward me to have a look in the mirror herself. An older woman dried her hands and exited, leaving only Madge and I alone.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but you should remember David is a man of many tastes and I highly doubt he’ll think much of you once you have to start being a nurse. You’re just a hired hand, dear. Don’t forget it.”
I sat and took it. I didn’t say a word. After she’d left I thought of all the things I could’ve said. I looked down at my hands as I slowly dropped the lipstick in my new purse and wondered if it was true. I was a hired hand, but I certainly didn’t feel like one. As I lifted my chin from my chest another woman walked from the bathroom stall and sat beside me.
“Don’t listen to her. She’s only thinking of herself.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Madge.”
“I’m sorry. Have we met?”
She shook her head. “No. But I’d like to. My name is Michelle.”
I extended my hand to her. “I’m Indie. Indie Luce.”
A huge smile crept across her face. “You don’t say.”
I smiled back at her as she looked me up and down, sizing me up. “You wouldn’t happen to be the daughter of Michael Luce?”
I winced in shock. No one had mentioned my dad’s name in years. “I am—if we’re talking about the same Michael Luce.”
“Oh my darling,” she said as she took my hand in hers and gave it a pat. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment?”
I couldn’t speak so I shook my head no.
“Your Aunt Sally and I worked together for years. I went to see her just the other day.”
“What? I’m sorry. What’s your name again?”
“I’m Dr. Michelle Elden. I worked with your aunt in the Philippines for five years after I finished my residency. I worked with her and David’s mother, Rachael.”
“David…Thornbury?” My heart began to beat wildly and my anxiety level shot through the roof. I could feel myself flush and I found it hard to catch my breath. “Wait. What?”
“Yes, my little darling. I knew your mother and your father. But I know your Aunt Sally the best.”
“But you said Rachael. You mean Rachael Love Thornbury was in the Philippines with you and my Aunt Sally?”
“Yes dear. She was a missionary. She met Lewis a few years later. So sad she died at childbirth. None of us ever got to be around David as he grew up. Lewis saw to that.”
“Wow.”
She nodded and gave me a smile. “How is Sally? I saw her a couple of weeks ago.”
“I visited a couple of days ago. She’s, ah…she was having a hard time—babbling a lot, and not making much sense. But now that you mention it she did say the word Rachael. I wonder if she knew when I explained I was working for Lewis.”
“What else did she say, dear?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. It was such a mish-mash o
f stuff. She kept saying to beware of something. Nef…” I shook my head. “I don’t know. It’s all a blur. I’ve had a couple of rough days myself.”
Michelle looked around the bathroom to make sure we were alone. “Nephilim, dear.” She spoke softly—almost a whisper but I heard her loud and clear. “That’s what she was saying.”
“What?”
She stood and walked to the door, pausing before she opened it to leave. “It really was a pleasure to finally meet you, Indriel. You’re a beautiful girl—inside and out.”
“Thank you.”
“Listen to your Aunt Sally.”
I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. Picking up a piece of paper sitting out on the vanity I asked the attendant for a pen. She happily obliged. I wrote the word Nephilim down on the small square of paper and handed the pen back to her just as I folded the note and dropped it into my sparkly bag. I’d kept David waiting too long. I was afraid he was going to think I was up to something.
I hurried out of the ladies room and back to the table where I found Madge and Lewis sitting as David was two tables over, laughing and smiling.
“How are you feeling, Lewis?” I asked as Madge shot me a scowl.
“A little tired.”
I picked up his huge hand and took a look at his watch. “It’s ten. If you’re ready we should go. Shall I gather up David?”
“Okay.”
Madge shook her head at me. I didn’t know if it was because I’d touched Lewis or because I was calling the shots. Either way I didn’t care. Michelle was right. She was only thinking of herself. I pushed myself away from the table and watched him text for Six to pick us. Strolling to David, I placed my hand on his back to let him know I needed to break into his lively conversation. He turned and smiled, saying two words. “Yes, love?”
I leaned in to quietly speak in his ear. “Six is bringing the car around.”
He looked over my shoulder and saw that his father and Madge were no longer at the table. Lewis was all talked out.
He gave me a nod and turned back to the table. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Indriel Luce.”
I got a round of nice to meet yous and responded accordingly while giving David a pat on the back letting him know it was time to go.
“Take care everybody. We’re out of here.”
There was a loud round of goodnights before David turned and took me by the hand, wrapping it around his arm to lead me from the banquet hall.
“I’m sorry,” I said as we whisked out of the main ballroom and into the hotel lobby.
“Don’t ever be sorry. That was perfect. Thank you. I sometimes get carried away chatting and don’t think. What you did was just…well, it was perfect. Just like you.”
We arrived back at the GlobalTech high-rise and I had to laugh a little when Lewis, David and I all went into the building. Six had instructions to take Madge to her own home. It was highly satisfactory for me to tell her goodnight and turn and walk away with both Thornbury men by my side.
We took the elevator up in silence. David and I got off on our floor and Lewis gave me a single nod when I told him I’d be waiting for him in the exam room.
My dress was still swishing as we walked the long dark hallway that led to my office and apartment. “Thank you again for the lovely evening. I’ve felt like Cinderella.”
“Except there weren’t any ugly stepsisters,” David added with a grin. I didn’t have the heart to tell him Madge had been ugly enough for both stepsisters and the stepmother.
“Well,” I said as I opened the door to my office and flipped on the lights. It was cozy at night in the room, but still a little big and empty. Since it was the first night I was going to stay in the building I was glad I had sweet memories of the amazing dance with David to take with me to bed.
“Well.” He repeated the word and stared into my eyes.
I took a deep breath, my chest heaving in the beautiful dress and watched David’s eyes roll back in his head as he took one step away from me. “Jesus.”
“What?” I asked as I casually took off my pumps and sat them on the table in the corner of the room.
“Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
I shook my head no.
“I’m…” He choked out the word. “You’re…”
“Look David, I need to change and your father is going to be in here at any moment. I don’t think it’s such a good idea for you to still be standing in my office.”
David pulled me to his chest as he wrapped his arm around me, caressing my exposed back. “You’re probably right. And this probably isn’t such a good idea either, but I can’t help myself.”
He placed his other hand on my cheek, brushing what seemed to be imaginary hair out of my face. Leaning into me, he took me by the chin and lightly kissed my lips. He pulled away and stared into me. I could tell the small kiss wasn’t going to be enough for him.
He pulled me tightly against his body, pushing his hips into mine as he parted my lips with his tongue, stroking my mouth to ecstasy.
A bolt of lightning flashed and the entire building trembled with the clap of thunder. I moaned and pulled away. The last thing I wanted was to be caught making out with the boss’s son.
“Your dad.” I gasped for air as I stepped back. “I need to change.”
“May I come back?”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
He nodded. “I’m coming back.”
With a quick peck to my lips he walked out the door and I rushed into my apartment to change.
I slipped out of the dress and laid it across the king size bed and quickly put on a bra, jeans and an oversized shirt. I slid on a pair of flip-flops and walked into my office, shutting the bathroom door behind me. Lewis was waiting in the chair across from my desk.
“Sorry. I wanted to change. No need for a ball gown in the exam room.”
Lewis stood without acknowledging me and walked through the double doors that led to the makeshift hospital room. I followed close behind and flipped the wall switch to illuminate the space. “Have a seat,” I said as I gestured to the exam table. “How have you been feeling today?”
“Tired.” He said the word but didn’t even look up from the floor. It was the first time I’d seen Lewis truly wiped out. Even at his worst he had more energy than most healthy humans.
“You’re going to feel tired more and more, I’m afraid. But once the forty-two days are over with and the chemo helps, God willing, you can have a break from it.”
“Ha.” He snorted. “God willing.”
I put the automatic blood pressure cuff on his arm and it began to fill with air and work its magic while I pulled my stethoscope from the wall to listen to his heart. “Anything else giving you problems?”
“No.”
I turned to find the white capsule sitting in the small plastic cup. I handed it to him with a bottle of water. “Did you take your nausea meds a couple of hours ago?”
He nodded.
I gave him a pat on the back and smiled. “You’re doing great.”
He breathed me in before climbing off the exam table and walking out the door without another word. I knew he was mad at the world. Why wouldn’t he be? He felt cheated. All my patients felt cheated. Lewis Thornbury was no different.
TWENTY
I waited until midnight for David to return to my office. I wrote my notes in the chart for Dr. Beaman and picked up my apartment. I’d thrown clothes, shoes and panties everywhere getting ready for the party tonight. Hanging up my new dress in the closet, I took all the others and zipped them back up in their bags and took them into my office. I hoped Six could arrange for them to be returned in the morning.
After doing everything I could think of while waiting, I finally decided that David had taken my advice and wouldn’t be “coming back”. I shut my office door and locked it, turning out the lights one by one as I worked my way into the bathroom.
I washed my face, b
rushed my teeth and took my hair down one pin at a time, finally allowing it to fall over my shoulders. I shook it out and ran the hairbrush through it a couple times before turning off the light in the bathroom and shutting the door. I turned on the flat screen television that hung on the opposite side of the wall from my bed and found a silk nightgown and robe in the drawer. I was used to holey t-shirts, and a peignoir set was something I’d never worn before.
I exchanged my jeans and shirt for the sheer silk and checked myself out in the mirror before climbing into bed. I casually flipped channels searching for my favorite thing: really bad reality television.
I was just getting into an old rerun of Tattoo Nightmares when I heard his voice.
“Indie…”
I crawled out of bed and walked to the door of my bedroom to listen for it again.
“Indie…”
I opened the door from my bedroom to the connecting bath. I searched along the wall for the light switch but couldn’t find it. It was as if it had been moved. Knocking off all the towels that sat in a neat stack on the vanity I stumbled through the room, knocking my knee into a table. “Shit!” Grabbing the lamp from the table before it crashed to the floor I sat it down and felt my way into the lampshade, searching for the switch.
With one turn it clicked and cast an amber hue into the dark room. I turned to follow the sound of my name and froze in my tracks when I saw it. The tub in the center of the bathroom was filled with water—to the brim.
With each drip from the glassy pool onto the floor I heard my name. Indriel.
I couldn’t breathe. I needed air. I rushed out the door and into the office, searching for the one window I knew I could crack into the night. Turning on the first light I found I rushed to the window, pulling back the heavy curtain and banging on the window to open it.
I leaned my head against the cool pane as the evening breeze blew across my body. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself.
Turning around, I rested against the cracked window allowing the air to waft across my neck.
“Indriel.” I heard my name again and opened my eyes. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Mike sitting silently, staring forward in the chair opposite my desk, shadowed by darkness.