by B. B. Hamel
As I headed toward the lab, my phone started buzzing suddenly. It was a message from Cox, asking me to meet him in the security room. With a sigh, I headed off, wondering what fucking shit had gone wrong this time.
Cox was sitting in front of a bank of video screens that showed shots from all over the mansion. He was replaying a particular video over and over, watching some figure enter the screen and then disappear over and over again at varying speeds. I stood in the doorway until he noticed that I was there.
“Thanks for coming, sir,” he said.
“What’s up?” I stepped inside, standing over his shoulder.
“Got this not long ago.” He held up a piece of paper. “Thought you’d want to see it right away, sir.”
I read it once, read it twice, and nearly fucking threw up.
I had to step back and lean against the wall. I hoped that Cox didn’t notice how much that note was affecting me, since that would be a dead giveaway. I knew that I needed to get my shit together, but I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The timing was too perfect, or maybe it was too fucked up.
I look down at the piece of paper again and read it slowly to myself.
Back down or die. Which do U rly want: Mom or Daughter?? Back down or die.
Somebody knew. Or at least somebody was making a very, very good guess. I went back mentally over my time with Emily, and was coming up with a blank. Nobody had actually seen us together as far as I was aware, and we had been careful.
Except for at the charity event. There had been that waiter, though he came after we were already finished. There was the possibility of a drone, but I hadn’t heard anything nearby, and besides, if the media had a picture of my stepdaughter going down on me, they would be printing it in every single major newspaper.
No, this was somebody closer. I bet it was somebody in the mansion that saw the way I looked at Emily and was making some lucky fucking guess. Probably the same person that decapitated the dog robot.
“What are you looking at?” I asked Cox finally, getting my shit together.
“It’s the perp, sir.”
I got closer and watched him play it again. The screen was a shot of the front door, and everything looked normal for a few seconds. Then a person wearing a black sweatshirt with the hood up and a pair of jeans walked into view. He wore a white mask, very plain and creepy, as he taped the note to the front door. Finally, he rang the bell and ran off.
“Who is this?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “None of the guys working the perimeter spotted him, which suggests that he’s either an insider or very skilled. We searched the area, but we didn’t find him.”
“When did this note appear?”
“An hour ago.”
I nearly gagged. A fucking hour ago? “How many people saw it?”
“None,” Cox said. “I answered the door and found the note.”
“Good.” I shoved it into my pocket. “This sort of insinuation can ruin me, especially at this point, even if it isn’t true.”
He nodded but said nothing, watching the video again.
Somebody was coming at me and coming at me hard. Cox said he thought it could be an insider, and I completely agree with that assessment. I was sure that he was going through every single person in the mansion and checking their backgrounds over again, but I doubted that would turn up much of anything. Whoever it was, they knew what they were doing.
Cox was good, and he had brought in new men, but how much could we trust the new guys? As far as I knew, they were men that Cox vetted and hired, but people made mistakes. Evelyn was uncomfortable around them, and I didn’t blame her. Just having a bunch of new people in the mansion that I didn’t know annoyed me and put me on edge, even if they were security.
But I couldn’t go on some wild witch-hunt. That wouldn’t do any good, and it would only tip off the media that something was happening. I needed to keep my head down and trust that Cox would catch this guy before something bad happened.
“Update me on what you find. I’ll be in the lab.”
Cox nodded and I quickly left the room.
As I walked, I pulled the note from my pocket and read it again. It was composed of cut out letters from magazines, which is such a classic bad guy note that it almost seemed comical. If it weren’t for the content of the message, I might really laugh at it. Unfortunately, it was too on the nose, too fucking accurate to be anything but seriously threatening.
I had to back off. I didn’t want to, but Evelyn was right. If anyone got a serious whiff of Emily and me, I’d be destroyed, Evelyn would be embarrassed, and Emily would be a laughingstock. It wasn’t just about me anymore; I had to think about Emily and Evelyn.
I couldn’t be a selfish prick anymore, not if I wanted to deserve a girl like Emily. I had to do better. If that meant resisting her and keeping my head down, well, I was going to have to fucking try.
Even if it went against everything that I wanted.
17
Emily
It was everything I imagined it would be. His body felt right, perfect against mine, and his dominating presence only intensified every single gesture, word, and feeling. The setting itself couldn’t have been more perfect with the steam slowly rising in that gorgeous Turkish bath.
I dreamed about him that night, which wasn’t something I expected. In my dream, he kept walking away from me while looking over his shoulder, a smile on his face. He was begging me to follow, but every time I tried to catch up, he’d walk faster and faster. It was a weird dream but I all but forgot about it when I woke up the next morning.
As I made breakfast and went about my day, he was all I could think about. I knew it was stupid and maybe wrong, but I also knew that there was no stopping it anymore. I gave myself to him and he gave me something I never expected in return. I needed it again and again, and I knew that just once would never be enough. Carter was a man unlike any other I’d ever met.
I had boyfriends in high school and even one in college. They were nice, but they were boys. They wanted to drink beer and play video games all day long, and then would grudgingly take me out to a movie or something like that. They never knew how to satisfy me, not really, not the way I needed. They were just too fast, too awkward, and too uncoordinated. Those guys didn’t know how to touch a woman the way she really needed it.
I never knew what I was really missing until Carter showed me. He was older than I was, though it wasn’t that strange at all. He was experienced, a man that had been around the world and knew exactly what to do and when to do it. He wasn’t some horny teenage boy that was going to come in ten seconds because he couldn’t control himself. Carter was sensual, poised, and incredible. He had the experience to make me feel good.
I never thought I’d be interested in an older guy. Maybe a senior in college or something like that, but not one that was over ten years older. Sure, it wasn’t like he was actually old enough to be my dad, but still. He had a considerable amount of experience compared to me.
I wanted to learn. I hated to admit it to myself, but Carter knew more about sex than I did. He did things and said things and made me feel things that I never pictured before, and I could tell that it was only the beginning. I wanted to learn from him, wanted him to teach me exactly how to fuck. I wanted him to show me what my body was capable of.
That was all I could think about all day. I kept checking the Marauder’s Map, but he never showed up on it, even through that night. He either had his phone off or maybe he was stuck at work, but I went to bed that night frustrated and tired.
The next day was the same. I woke up from a strange dream about him and lounged by the pool, waiting for his dot to appear. I kept picturing the things he would do to me and the dirty things he’d say to me, and I was practically dripping wet all afternoon. I’d never been so excited before, so turned on. Carter didn’t even have to do anything to get my body going.
By the time six o’clock that night rolled
around and he still hadn’t shown up on the map, I was too excited to wait any longer. I hurried up to my apartment, showered off, and as I got dressed I had an idea.
Carter liked surprises. He sent me some lingerie and the flowers because he enjoyed spontaneous practical jokes. He didn’t even seem angry when I handcuffed him to the bed and left him there for a maid to find, which admittedly was probably a little overboard. If he didn’t want to show up on the map, well, then I’d just have to go find him.
I waited until ten, when I knew he’d be finished working, and I slipped on the lingerie. I had to have a little glass of wine first to help with the nerves, but soon I was dressed in that sexy outfit. I sent him another Snapchat of me wearing it then put on a long beige coat I had to cover it over. Heart hammering in my chest, I left my room.
He was going to love this. I walked down the hall and checked the lab first. There was nobody in it, and so I went on to his music room. I passed a few security guys and a few other staff members, but none of them looked at me strangely. I wondered if they knew what I was doing and were just being polite, but it didn’t matter either way.
He wasn’t in the music room, either. I checked the map one last time, and he still wasn’t showing up. I checked Snapchat, and sure enough he had looked at my Snap, though he hadn’t replied.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I had one last place to look for him. I walked across the house and into the wing he shared with my mom, praying the whole time that I wouldn’t run into her.
I got lucky and found myself at his bedroom door. I knocked once, softly, and then again more loudly.
The door creaked open and Carter looked out at me, a strange, reserved smile on his face.
“Emily,” he said.
“Hi, Carter.”
“What’s up?”
“I have something I want to show you.”
His smile wavered for a second. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll come out.”
“No, we should go in.” I stepped in past him and he tried to protest, but I ignored him. He was acting strange, but I was way too excited and amped up to notice.
I practiced this moment in the mirror and had really psyched myself up for it. I never, ever put myself out there like this before, and could never imagine doing it for anyone but Carter. He was the only one that made me even remotely excited enough to really bare myself like this.
“Emily,” he started, but I didn’t let him talk. As soon as the door shut, I turned to him and pulled off the coat, letting it drop to the floor.
I stood there wearing nothing but that lingerie and smile, hands on my hips. “Is this how you pictured it?”
His jaw dropped. He stared at my body exactly the way I wanted him to, but suddenly he turned away. “Shit,” he said.
“What?” I asked, suddenly sensing something was off.
“Emily, I’m so sorry.”
“Carter. What?”
“Can you, uh, shit. Can you put that coat back on?”
I was mortified. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I quickly grabbed the coat and wrapped it back around me.
The bastard didn’t want me anymore. He had a taste and now he was done, just like with every other girl out there. I didn’t know why I thought I might be special or thought that he was changing. Clearly, I was wrong, and I just made a huge fool of myself.
“Listen,” he said, turning back to me. “It’s not you.”
“Oh my god,” I said, pushing past him.
“Emily, wait.”
I couldn’t stand there and listen to his bullshit cliché excuses. I had to get out of there before I humiliated myself further. I pushed open the door and stormed out into the hall, Carter following behind me.
“Emily,” he said again. “Hold on. Let me explain.”
“No,” I said, whirling around at him. “You listen to me. You’re an ass and a manipulative jerk. You don’t care about people if they don’t benefit you somehow. You’re a user and I’m done with you, Carter Green.”
He stood there, shocked, as I turned and stormed off. I heard my mother’s door open, but I just ignored it as I quickly left their hallway.
As soon as I got into the stairwell, I started running. I could feel the tears coming and I didn’t want him to see them. I ran as fast as I could across the house until I finally got into my apartment, slamming and locking the door behind me.
I collapsed onto the floor, crying harder than I had cried in a long time.
I was so embarrassed. Carter didn’t want me, and I really had no clue why. He seemed like he wanted me that night, and he said he was only going to keep wanting more. I didn’t know what happened between then and now but something had. Maybe it was my fault, and I just wasn’t sexy enough for him. Maybe this lingerie thing was too late.
But no, I couldn’t start blaming myself. Carter was an asshole and that was all there was to it. He thought he could toss me aside just because he had me already.
I got up, trying to compose myself. I went into the bathroom, tore off the lingerie, and shoved it into the trash. I got changed into sweats and a sweatshirt, poured myself a nice big glass of wine, and collapsed onto the couch.
Carter Green was an asshole. He was exactly who I thought he was at first. Carter charmed me and managed to convince me that his reputation wasn’t deserved, but clearly I was an idiot for believing him.
I was going to keep playing along with this bullshit for my mother’s sake, but I was done with him. I put myself out there for the first time ever, and maybe I’d never do it again.
It was safer on my couch with a glass of wine, hiding from the world.
18
Carter
I took the long way to work the next morning, my head still spinning over what had happened the night before.
I hoped that I could just back off Emily and things would be okay. In my mind, she’d understand why I was putting distance between us. I turned my phone off, or at least disabled its Marauder’s Map, so that I wouldn’t show up. I thought maybe that was enough, but clearly I was totally mistaken.
She knew as well as I did how messed up what we were doing was. I didn’t want to end it, not at all, which is probably why I was taking the cowardly way out and avoiding her. That was pretty fucked up in itself, and definitely a mistake. She deserved better than that, but I realized that truth way too late.
She looked fucking gorgeous standing in my room wearing nothing but that lingerie. Emily is perfect, her body absolutely stunning, and she probably didn’t even realize it. I could tell how nervous she was as soon as she came into my room and said that line. My cock was instantly hard, and I knew that if I didn’t turn away, I’d do something we’d both really regret.
I wanted to explain. If she knew about the note and what that meant, she would totally understand. But clearly she was too hurt, because she ran out of there. Evelyn came outside after her little speech and convinced me to let her go, otherwise I would have followed and explained. Evelyn said Emily would need time, and so I had to give that to her.
I should have just taken her right then and there, even if it was a bad idea. She wanted it as much as I did, and that was all that mattered to me. Fuck anyone that didn’t understand what we had or thought it was wrong. Things were too fucking complicated for some outsiders to really judge us.
Instead, I tried to be responsible. For the first time in my life, I really was thinking about what was best for her and doing that over my own desires. If I followed my heart, I would have torn that lingerie off her and fucked her rough on my bed without a second thought. Instead, I thought that turning away and trying to explain was the best thing.
Clearly, I fucked up and I had no clue how to fix it.
I’d never been in a position like this before. In the past, if some chick got pissed about something I did, I just walked away from her. I didn’t have time for petty bullshit drama. This was different, though. This was all my fault, although that never really mattered
in the past. Suddenly I gave a shit if I hurt Emily, probably because I cared about her more than just for her body. I cared about her as a person, and I was finding myself ever more drawn to her with each minute we spent together.
As I entered the office building and rode the elevator up, I couldn’t believe I was obsessing about this. I really wouldn’t have given it a second thought just a year ago, or maybe I would have if it were Emily. Maybe I was changing, but maybe also I had found someone that I wanted for more than just her pussy and her lips. Emily wasn’t just a piece of ass for me.
I kept seeing her face as she stormed away from me. It was so vulnerable, so clearly broken and hurt. It probably took a lot for her to do what she did that night, to come into my room in person and put herself out there like that. Having me turn her down was probably a nightmare for her, and something she was really terrified of. I was such a stupid ass.
I just wished I could explain. I’d try again later, after work, after she had some time to process and calm down. Evelyn was probably right, she just needed a breather.
Still, the look on her face would haunt me. That pure hurt, and all because of me.
I got into my office, depressed and angry. It took me a couple of minutes before I noticed the note that was left on the side of my desk, folded over once and with my name on it.
I unfolded it, assuming it was something from Evelyn. Instead, it was another note with letters cut out from magazines, and it scared the fuck out of me.
Carter, You will be Hurt very soon. Watch Out for that Daughter of yours. She’s in Danger. Step down Or Else.
I read the note one more time then immediately called Cox. I explained the situation to him and he agreed to double security.
“Where’s Emily right now?” I asked him.