On Friday, Erica returned to work, a girl on a mission, and called John’s office a second time.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Braden is still out of town. Would you care to leave a message?” the woman asked.
“Can you reach him?” Erica demanded.
“I have a number for emergencies, but…”
“Consider this an emergency,” Erica said firmly. “Tell him to call Erica immediately. He knows the number,” she snapped, slamming down the phone and looking suspiciously at the box on her desk. I won’t even open it, she promised herself, getting up to move it to the window sill. I’m done playing his silly games, she thought, continuing her inner tirade and giving the present a small shake before setting it down. I slept in a fucking tutu for God’s sake, how pathetic is that?
She had just opened the music box when her phone rang. Looking for an off switch and failing to find a way to stop the tinkling notes of “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” she stuffed it in her desk drawer, but not before the caller heard the music.
“I see you got your music box, sweetheart,” he drawled, his voice deep and rich.
“Yes, yes I did,” Erica replied, her hand partially over the mouthpiece. “Thank you, it’s lovely,” she whispered, getting up from her desk to close the door.
“I’m glad you like it, honey. So, what’s the emergency?”
“Listen JB,” Erica began firmly, squaring her shoulders. “While I appreciate your thoughtful gestures, they have to stop.”
“Why?”
“Well, for one thing, you’re a client and it’s not suitable for me to accept gifts from you, and for another, people are starting to talk,” she insisted.
“Technically, I’m a prospective client,” John replied smoothly. “I won’t actually be a client until I find a match and sign the contract. In the meantime, if I want to buy you gifts, I will.”
“John, please be reasonable,” she sighed, worrying the charm that hung around her neck. “Next week you’ll meet women who are more than willing to engage in the type of relationship you want. Just be patient.”
“And what type of relationship do you imagine I want, Erica?” he asked simply.
“You obviously want a little girl of your own, JB, despite what you put on your application. I don’t understand why you weren’t honest with me from the beginning, but that doesn’t matter now. There will be a number of women here next week who are looking for a loving daddy to care for them. I’m sure we’ll be able to find the perfect girl for you.”
“Then you’re wrong on both counts, sweetheart. First of all, you won’t be able to find the perfect girl for me, because I’ve already found her. And secondly, I wasn’t particularly looking to be anyone’s daddy, until I met a girl who desperately needed one.”
“In that case, I guess you won’t need our services after all,” she sassed, annoyed that she’d put so much effort into arranging this gathering with him in mind. “If you’ve already found what you’re looking for, then we have nothing further to discuss.”
“I believe we have a great deal to discuss,” he replied firmly. “Erica…”
“No, we do not! I suggest you start sending gifts to the girl you desire, Mr. Braden, and stop wasting my time,” she yelled, slamming down the phone.
Almost instantly it rang and she picked it up. Before she could get her name out, John’s stern voice began reprimanding her.
“I believe we’ve been over this before, sweetie, and I thought I made myself perfectly clear in Vegas. I will not tolerate impertinent behavior from you. Never hang up on me like that again unless you’re willing to pay for it over my knee,” he warned. “I have treated you with the utmost kindness and respect and I…”
“Kindness and respect,” she cried. “Is pulling me over your lap and blistering my ass a sign of kindness and respect?”
“I didn’t ‘blister’ your ass my love, but I may yet if you don’t stop this tirade, and yes, spanking you was a kindness whether you realize it or not. You tried to manipulate me, and you failed. I could have ended our relationship right then, but I chose to teach you a little lesson in manners instead, one it seems you have forgotten rather quickly. Maybe what you need is a refresher?”
Erica sank into her chair, her hand on her tummy. “No, JB, no I don’t,” she assured him breathlessly. “I’m sorry I was rude and hung up on you. It was very unprofessional.”
“It was very childish,” he replied, “but then I understand you better than you know, and so I’ll cut you some slack on this one, providing it doesn’t happen again.”
Sighing in relief, Erica used a much softer tone. “Then I guess this is truly goodbye, John. If you’ve found the woman of your dreams, you obviously won’t be attending next week’s function.”
“Oh, I’ll be there, sweetheart,” he assured her. “You see, the woman I want is you, Erica.”
“But John…”
“Hush darlin’, we’ll hash it all out then. I’ll see you Friday; try to behave and just enjoy your surprises until then. It makes me very happy to give you things I imagine you didn’t get as a child. Humor me, sweetie.”
“Okay,” she whispered, nearly speechless as she hung up. Taking the music box out of the drawer, she looked at the tiny brick road that snaked through the trees leading to Oz as she listened to the tinkling song. She was in way, way over her head.
Chapter Four
Susan was on her knees and up to her elbows in dirt when Kelsey brought out two glasses of lemonade and handed her one.
“Still not drinking?” Kelsey asked, sipping her drink.
“Not much,” Sue replied. “I had a couple of glasses of wine last night to help me fall asleep, but that’s about it. I kind of promised Marcus before he left that I wouldn’t overdo it,” she sighed, shifting onto her butt.
“So how’s it going in that big place all alone? You know you’re always welcome to stay here until he gets back if it gets too lonely.”
Susan snorted. “Oh I bet Ty would love that,” she laughed. “He can barely tolerate me when Marcus is around. I’m sure the last thing he wants is me living in his house for the next week.”
“That’s not fair,” Kelsey said. “Ty loves you.”
“Like a hemorrhoid?” Sue suggested.
“Well he does think you’re a pain in the ass at times,” Kelsey admitted, laughing. “Do you think all of these will come up next spring?”
“I don’t see why not,” Sue replied. “We followed the directions. By next May, this border should be full of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths,” Sue continued, getting to her feet. Handing Kelsey her glass, she used her hands to dust of the seat of her jeans.
“Do you want to stay for dinner? Ty should be home soon, and we’re having steaks on the grill while the weather is still nice.”
“No thanks. I’m going home to take a long hot shower and curl up with Marcus’ new book. I figure I better read it in case someone asks me how I liked it. It’s the least I can do to make up for not going on the book tour with him.”
“I’m really surprised he let you get away with that,” Kelsey said, “not going with him, I mean.”
“Truthfully, so am I. I think he’s trying to show me he trusts me not to lie around eating Cheetos and chocolate while he’s gone.”
“So what are you having for dinner?”
“Cheetos and chocolate,” Susan laughed as she gave Kelsey a quick hug before getting into her car. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
He’d only been gone a week, and Susan was having a difficult time accepting how much she missed him. In her mind, loving someone was far different that needing someone, and she wondered if Marcus was feeling the same angst. The nightly phone calls only seemed to make it worse. Hearing his deep voice, his questions about what she’d eaten that day, only made her want to say, “Come home now, I’m being very bad,” and she knew she’d officially come unglued.
If he mentioned who he’d dined with that evening, she pictured women faw
ning over him and offering him their room keys. Her dreams centered on him, remembering their last night of love-making in great detail, and she often woke up covered with sweat. She regretted not going with him; although she knew she’d have hated it, at least she would be sleeping in his arms instead of tossing and turning all night.
Susan stepped out of the shower and toweled off. After moisturizing her skin, she combed her hair and went into the bedroom. Slipping on a nightshirt, she plucked Marcus’ robe from the closet and wrapped it around her. It was miles too long, but it smelled like him, and she needed the comfort of his scent tonight. Her intention was to go downstairs, light a fire in the fireplace and curl up on the sofa with his book, but that plan was aborted as soon as she entered the upstairs hall.
Creeping slowly to the top of the stairs, she peered over the railing cautiously as she listened to the voices coming from below.
“Just leave my bags here,” a woman’s voice spoke. “Hopefully there will be staff to carry them upstairs in this God forsaken place. I don’t know why he insists on living here in the middle of nowhere,” she continued, handing something to a uniformed driver.
Susan stared at the tall blonde woman dressed in an immaculate winter white dress and coat that probably cost the moon. Not a hair was out of place. She was model thin, her hair cut in a blunt bob, and her fingers were long and graceful with perfectly manicured nails.
Slowly coming down the stairs, Susan paused.
“Ah, good,” the woman said with a tight-lipped smile. “I’m glad to see there is some staff on duty. Carry my things up to the master bedroom, and then bring me a scotch and soda in the office. I have some calls to make,” she continued, tossing her coat on top of her luggage. “When you get through with that, you may go up and unpack my things.”
“Who are you?” Susan asked, although she was sure she’d seen her somewhere before.
“I’m Mr. McCarthy’s fiancée, Bianca Dubonnet,” she replied, finally taking in Susan’s appearance. “And put on some proper clothes,” she ordered, her eyes traveling from Susan’s bare feet to her messy bun. “I realize that when the cat’s away the mice will play, but this is unacceptable, and I shall speak with Marcus about it when he returns. Hurry along now and get me that drink, I’m positively parched, Miss…?”
Susan spun her ring around so only the gold showed as she looked into the cold blue eyes of Marcus’ former girlfriend. Apparently his fetish was no longer an issue and she’d returned, capturing his heart once again.
“Oh, I guess it’s Mrs. isn’t it?” Bianca stated observing Susan’s hand and not waiting for an answer. “That good because I won’t keep anyone on after Mr. McCarthy and I are married who may get ideas above her station. I hope I’ve made myself clear?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
“Perfectly,” Susan said, spinning around and heading up stairs.
“Wait! Aren’t you going to take my things?”
“Not in this lifetime, bitch,” Susan called over her shoulder as she headed upstairs to pack.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to dismiss you,” Bianca called after her.
“That won’t be necessary. I quit,” Susan yelled back before she slammed the door to the master bedroom.
Less than an hour later, Susan was in her car and headed out of the mountains. The back seat and trunk were filled with her things, and she had absolutely no idea where she was headed. The important thing was she would be away from the two-timing rat and his pretentious lover.
Her hand reached into the bag of Cheetos she’d snagged from the kitchen along with a couple of Pepsis, and she crunched furiously as tears streamed down her cheeks. What a sucker she was! Why would someone of Marcus’ stature want to marry a little nobody like her? It was ridiculous and she should have known better. All that bullshit he fed her was just a line, probably something right out of one of his books. Maybe he even used her to make Bianca jealous, to lure her back to him?
Bianca, ha, she was colorless from her white blonde hair to her pale skin. Even the clothes she had on were white. The only thing that broke the monotony was the color of her eyes, a frozen blue. Fine, if that’s what he wanted, then they deserved each other. She hoped that the first time he indulged his fetish for spanking, the woman cracked like plaster.
God, if I eat one more Cheeto, I’ll throw up, she thought, tossing the bag over the seat.
Marcus had been blowing up her phone for the last fifty miles. She sent each and every call to voicemail with a sob. It wasn’t until she hit the foothills that she finally realized her phone would lead him right to her, if he was so inclined, and then she’d have to kill him, if she didn’t fall into his arms begging him to love her as she loved him. Crossing a small bridge, Susan opened the window and tossed the phone into the black water below. She’d pick up a pre-paid one when she hit a city. At the very least, she had to call Kelsey and let her know she was alright, and if Kels didn’t agree to keep the number secret, she’d toss that phone, too.
She headed southeast, with no particular destination in mind, and thought about her options. Money wasn’t a problem; there was plenty in her account, and if that ran out, she could always go back to being poor. She knew how to do that, stretch a buck until it hollered uncle, although holding down a job wasn’t her strong point. Her main weakness as far as spending was clothes and her precious stilettos and she had a trunkful of those. Marcus had been more than generous in that department, even though he never let her wear her heels, the bastard. No, he felt they were dangerous and unnecessary, but she noticed Bianca the Bitch was wearing them!
Pulling into a convenience store, she filled her tank, putting it on Marcus’s credit card with an evil grin, before kicking the pump when she realized her own stupidity. Shit, now he’d know where she was. What an idiot. She might as well have waved a sign, here I am, come find me. Is that what she wanted? Hell no! If he wanted Bianca, he could have her, with Susan’s blessing. Despite having been over his lap more times than she could count getting her ass spanked, she still had some pride. There was no way she wanted to spend her life with a man she couldn’t trust.
You didn’t even ask him about it, her inner voice whispered. What if he has a logical explanation?
“There is no ‘logical’ explanation for having two fiancées,” she said out loud as she headed into the store.
Susan filled a large cup with Pepsi and ice, hit the ATM for cash and used the restroom before she made her way to the register. She was just outside Albany and having made a huge mistake using Marcus’ card at the pump, set about cleaning up her mess. Using the same card, she purchased five gas cards in the amount of $200 each, slipped them into the pocket of her jeans and walked outside. Taking a seat at a picnic table, she watched people come and go as she sipped her drink. The store was well-lit and busy, and Susan scanned the vehicles for out-of-state plates. Spotting a frazzled young mother with three children in tow, she smiled. Florida plates, perfect!
“Excuse me,” Susan said as she approached the woman. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor?”
“Um, I don’t know, I’m kind of busy,” the woman replied nervously.
“Oh, this will only take a minute. I see you are from Florida? Are you by any chance heading south?”
“I am, but I really don’t have room, and I don’t pick up strangers,” she said, hiking her youngest higher on her hip.
“Please don’t be frightened,” Susan pleaded. “I don’t need a ride, that’s my car over there,” she continued, pointing to her vehicle. “Are you heading home soon?”
“Tomorrow morning. My dad’s been sick so we drove up for a week.”
“I’m sorry,” Susan said. “Look, I know that this is going to sound strange, but I’d really appreciate it if you’d let me give you two gas cards to help you with your trip expenses. They’re prepaid and worth $400.”
“What do you want for them? Are they stolen?”
Susan laughed. “No, I just bought them
. I’ve had some good luck lately and I want to pay it forward. I’d really like you to have them,” she said, offering two of the cards. Good luck, my ass, when did that ever happen?
Tentatively the young mother reached out and took the cards, looking at them closely.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Positive,” Susan said with a grin. “It would mean a great deal to me.”
“Oh dear, now you’re going to make me cry. This trip has been way more expensive than I thought it would be. I was worried we would have to sleep in a rest area on the way home,” she sighed, her voice quivering. “Now I know I’ll have enough to stop at a motel. How can I ever thank you? You have no idea how relieved I am,” she continued, wiping away a tear.
“No thanks are necessary,” Susan said. “I’m glad to do it. I hope you have a safe trip.”
“Thank you, thank you so much.”
The rest of the cards went to an assortment of people; an older woman who was heading west to visit her sister in a nursing home, a young couple on their way to Virginia where the husband was due on board his ship in three days and a car full of students headed to New York City to watch a play on Broadway. All in all, she felt good about the cards, and although Marcus could track the purchase of the cards, trying to find out which direction she went would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Getting in her car, she headed toward Massachusetts.
Chapter Five
The gifts kept coming the following week, and Erica felt like she was on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute she was fuming with righteous anger that John refused to stop sending her gifts she associated with being a child, and the next she was undone at his thoughtfulness and intuition.
He bought her extensive art supplies, complete with coloring books and crayons, paints and an easel and package after package of stickers, glitter and journals. One beautifully wrapped gift box contained white cotton panties and long nightgowns of white, pink, blue and yellow, trimmed with delicate lace and tiny buttons. There were bunny slippers and hair ribbons, flavored lip gloss, and nail kits complete with tiny jewels to decorate her nails. A box of DVDs contained dozens of movies, including every Disney movie available as well as classics like “Annie” and “The Wizard of Oz.” He included the entire collection of Shirley Temple movies and a collector’s edition of “The Little Princess.” It was mind-boggling to say the least.
The Last Match Page 4