by Sarah Noffke
Aiden’s passion, which I’ve craved, is finally unleashed when he kisses me. A gasp escapes my lips. My stomach lurches forward as if trying to grasp onto something. I’m breathless, but not from being stuck in the elevator. The space isn’t too small; instead the space between us now feels too vast. He softly pulls away, leaving me intoxicated. The combination of his eyes and smile weakens me. However, I yank him closer, asking for more, knowing it will split me forever, but unabashedly I dive head first. I never stand a chance of truly resisting him, but he can never know that.
He snakes his arms around me and wrenches me into him tightly. “Roya, can I tell you a secret?”
“Umm...sure.” My voice cracks.
“I could have done without all this drama, but I’m grateful I had an opportunity to show you how much I care.”
“Oh yeah? So are you going to fire someone every time I get mad at you?”
“Whatever it takes,” he teases.
“I think we can come up with other ways of resolving our conflicts,” I say, zipping up the last bit of space between us.
“I like resolving conflicts with you,” he says, regarding me with a primal intensity.
“Me too,” I admit. “But shouldn’t we think about getting out of here? People are going to start wondering why the elevator is out of commission.”
“Always the practical one, aren’t you?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m having some especially impractical thoughts right now,” I say, threading my hands in his hair.
A fierce smile spreads on his lips. “You never cease to surprise me.” Aiden backs away, never taking his hungry eyes off me as he fires up the elevator. Once we arrive at level five he turns and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. “Please don’t go.”
Aiden steps out of the elevator, giving me one last licentious look. My life is a massive ball of uncertainty right now, but there’s one thing I know. I’m absolutely, forever in love with that guy.
Chapter Eleven
The knock thuds at my door. Actually it sounds more like something collided with it. I tap the button and a second later my heart deflates. Joseph leans against the doorway, his eyes closed, head resting on his arm. Is he sleeping? He’s paler than the last time I saw him, although I didn’t think that was possible. I prod his arm and his eyes flutter. He jerks, appearing disoriented, lost.
“Joseph?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own. “Are you all right?”
“Stark.” He waves a finger at me. “You. Can’t. Leave,” he slurs.
“Are you drunk?”
“Course not.”
“Then what’s wrong with you?”
“Tired, that’s all.”
My mind flips to the vision I’d seen of Joseph tormented in his bed, suffering from a night terror of some kind.
“You can’t leave,” he repeats.
“Tell me what you’re working on.”
“I-I-I can’t.”
“Then I’m leaving.” Everyone’s got a breaking point. If I hold out, I’ll find Joseph’s. If it means bringing him back from this desolate state then I’ll stay, but I have to know what he’s doing so I can help him.
“Please, Stark.” He grabs both of my shoulders. Shakes me. His breath smells like dirty lake water. “Please don’t do this. I beg you. You don’t understand. I know I can’t do this without you and it’s so, so, so important. Please. Don’t. Go.”
Through clenched teeth I say, “What are you working on, Joseph?”
“It’s so great and you’re gonna love it. But it’s a surprise. I need you to wait until it’s ready.” The bloodshot red in his eyes makes the green of his irises more intense. “Just stay here, please, and I’ll show you what I’ve been working on soon. It’s so worth the wait,” he says with his hands clasped together.
“No. Tell me what you’re working on or I’m leaving,” I say, a strict firmness in my voice.
“Stark, I’ll never forgive you if you leave. You’ll ruin everything!” Spit flies, landing on my face.
Disgusted, I wipe it away. “That’s your threat to me? You’re going to hold some grudge? You can do better than that.”
“I don’t have anything else I can do to make you stay.”
“Oh, but you do. If you tell me what you’re working on then I’ll stay. It’s that simple.”
“I CAN’T! Why don’t you understand that?!”
“Joseph, have you looked in the mirror lately? There’s something truly wrong with you. You’re sick or on drugs, and I can’t figure it out. And it’s scaring me.”
“There’s nothin’ wrong with me,” he snarls. “And I’m not on drugs.”
“Let me help you.” I reach out to grab his arm.
“No!” He yanks away from me.
Tyrannical tears threaten at the corners of my eyes from his rejection. “Fine,” I say in a hush. “Then I’m going to ensure someone else helps you; protects you from yourself.”
Joseph’s eyes grow wide. “No, Stark. No.”
“I’m going to Trey. I’m telling him you’re working on something that appears to be killing you.”
“You can’t do that!” His forehead wrinkles. Every feature on his face is etched with terror. He’s got to be close to breaking now.
“Why not? Siblings are supposed to tattle on each other, didn’t you know?”
His eyes burn with anger. The scowl on his face actually scares me. “Go ahead and leave the Institute. I don’t give a damn anymore,” he says in a hoarse voice. “I’ll complete the project without you and you’ll be sorry. Sorry you ever doubted me.”
“Let’s hope you’re right. Let’s hope I’m not the one who’s sorry this secret project kills you.”
His jaw flexes. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? Everyone else here may bow down to you and never doubt your judgment, but I do. You’re wrong on this. I’m right.”
“Tell me what you’re working on.” My words come out in a rush, desperation replacing my confidence. “I’ll help you. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
“NO,” he says, his tone much more strict than mine had been moments prior.
I shake my head, at a loss. “Fine, Joseph,” I say, surrendering. I don’t know what else to do at this point; my heart can’t take one more evil look from him. “Don’t tell me. And I won’t rat you out to Trey. But please be careful.”
“Does this mean you’ll stay?” he says, hope in his voice.
“No, you know the deal. If you change your mind then let me know. And if you choose not to forgive me for leaving then so be it, but no matter what I love you.”
Chapter Twelve
A soft rap jerks my attention away from the book I’m reading, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. As I yawn into a standing position, the blood starts to pump more vigorously in my legs after being curled up for too long. I’m not sure why Bob and Steve would send me any packages since I’ll be seeing them in only a few days.
The door slides back with its usual shush. I’m surprised not to find Patrick idling, holding a package for me. No one stands at my door. The hallway is empty. I step back with a shrug and barely catch out of the corner of my eye the glint of red on the blue carpet. The random object looks out of place on my doorstep. A playing card. Specifically, a queen of hearts. I sneak another look around and when I don’t spy anyone I lean over and pluck the card from its spot. It appears ordinary enough, but I know it’s not. For one thing there’s a weight to it, much heavier than a normal playing card. Flipping it over I find neatly printed text. It reads:
A queen of hearts can get in anywhere.
I frown. What is this? A riddle? I despise riddles. Why can’t people speak in plain English in this place?
I want to believe this isn’t meant for me, that someone left it at my door by mistake. However, I don’t buy it. I tap the button beside my door and it shuts behind me with a sucking noise. A full minute passes where I stand perplexed in the middle of the hallwa
y with a strange playing card in my hand. Where exactly will this queen of hearts get me? I take a tentative step and eye the card. I’m not sure what I’m expecting, maybe a brilliant insight to materialize.
The corridor of the administrative lodging is one big rectangle with the hallway to the elevators at the north end. My room, Z, is located next to this hallway. I stalk past the elevators and round the corner. I’ve never ventured down this other corridor. The idea to turn back seizes me just before a pulse surges between my fingers. I freeze. With a cautious look down, I eye the card pressed between my fingertips. Why did it do that? Is it about to explode, like this has all been a trap? The card looks harmless clenched between my thumb and pointer finger.
Sighing, I take another step forward. Again the pulse. Again I stop. Take a step backward. Nothing happens. What exactly does this possessed card want me to do? Obviously not to go backwards. Another step forward and as I expect the card vibrates, encouraging me to continue. Five more steps and with each the queen of hearts sings its praises by pulsating between my tightly clamped fingers. My insides jangle with both anticipation and trepidation. Is this a treasure hunt or a trick? What am I searching for and who put me up to it?
This corridor is different than mine. The hallway where my room is only has doorways on the exterior wall. But here, in this hallway, a solitary door sits in the middle of the interior wall. Several doors cover the opposite exterior wall, all marked in alphabetical order.
The card keeps up a continuous buzz as I stroll with curiosity to the lonesome door. Beside it isn’t a letter, like every other one in the administrative lodging wing. Instead there’s a key card scanner. Dozens of doors like this occupy the Institute. I never give them much thought. It’s strange to find one here, but no stranger than anything else in this place.
With a shrug I pass the door. The card goes suddenly still. After a few paces I stop and take one deliberate step backward. This action is greeted by a pulse from the queen of hearts again. With hurried steps I walk until the vibrations discontinue. It’s at exactly the point that I move past the door with the key card scanner. Suspiciously I eye the door. So is this where I’m supposed to go?
I tap the button under the scanner, thinking that maybe it’s unlocked. It’s not. I growl at the door. Maybe I should chuck the card on the ground and retreat to my room. If someone really needs me to find something then they should give me a real map. Still, curiosity snakes around my insides, willing me to figure out this riddle. I turn the card over again:
A queen of hearts can get in anywhere.
Tentatively, I peer around to make sure no one’s watching. With nervous anticipation, I hold the card up to the scanner. It buzzes once. The door slides back, disappearing into the wall. Triumphant joy resounds in my chest until I spy another hallway with more doors. Ugh. At least this one is short. I take a hesitant step forward, expecting the card to buzz again. It doesn’t. Instead the door slides shut behind me. Then the card lights up. Actually a single dot illuminates on the bottom of the card.
Several steps bring me to the first set of doors. Door A sits on my right. E on my left. The card now has three lights illuminated at the bottom. I peer down the dead-end corridor. Two doors sit across from each other. One more flanks the end of the hallway. I continue to take tentative steps, watching the card for any indications. It remains quiet, but the three lights stay illuminated until I reach the next set of doors. B and D. Now there are four lights at the bottom. I wonder if I’m supposed to go to the doorway at the end. I take one curious step toward it and the card’s lights fade away. One swift step backward brings me even with the other doors. The four lights shine bright again. So now what am I supposed to do? Pivoting, I face the door marked B. Nothing happens. Baffled, I swing around to the door marked D. The card zings with the most intense vibration I’ve felt from it yet. The heart next to the queen illuminates. I peer down the hallway where I came from and consider retreating, feeling like a nut standing here. Do I knock on some potential stranger’s door? The red heart continues to shine bright. I shake off my cowardice and rap on the door. Here goes nothing.
It slides back immediately.
Chapter Thirteen
“You found me,” Aiden sings, impeccably framed in the doorway and wearing a brazen smile. It’s the first time in a while I can remember seeing him not wearing his lab coat. The black button-up shirt fits perfectly over frayed jeans. I glance down at the card, then to his excited expression, putting all the pieces together.
“You?” I accuse.
“Yes me,” he says, seizing my wrist and tugging me into his room. He shuts the door once I’m inside. I squirm with unease as I search him, then the place he calls home.
“Dr. Livingston, did you lure me to your room?” I say in pretend outrage.
“Indeed I did.” He tips forward on his toes, then back to his heels.
“I’m not sure it’s prudent that I remain behind a closed door with you. I dare say my honor might be in question.”
Aiden smirks. “Well, if you harbor a single hesitation then I encourage you to gather your petticoat and march out of here. Please do spare me with your forgiveness though for my presumptuous nature.” He plucks the card still pinned between my fingertips and slides it into his back pocket.
I blush and break into an easy laugh. “All right, Aiden, what’s up your sleeve? Why the game?”
“You enjoyed trying to find me, right?” he asks.
I level my gaze at him, but don’t answer.
He shrugs. “All right, I know this isn’t the most romantic place, but it’s quiet and private and the perfect spot for what I thought could be our first date.” He steps aside to reveal a table arranged with candles, flowers, a tea kettle, a bowl of fruit, and a deck of cards.
My eyes drift back and forth between him and the table.
“But…” I lose my words easily.
“You don’t have to stay, of course...”
I wave him off. “What about the other Head Officials? What if they saw me come in here? Or how about when I leave?”
A dazzling smile unfolds on his face. “They’re all at a budget meeting, and those last ages.”
“Shouldn’t you be at that meeting?”
“Absolutely not. I never attend those bore fests. I always send my vote by proxy with the excuse that I have work to do.”
“And don’t you have work to do right now?”
“Always,” he says at once. “But it will have to wait.”
“Because I’m leaving,” I say and regret it immediately. I don’t want to ruin this, but it’s true. I’ve wanted his undivided attention for so long and all he can ever offer is a few minutes in his lab.
“Yes and no. Yes, because if I’m not going to get another chance like this, then I want to seize the moment. And no, because I’ve wanted to spend time alone with you, uninterrupted. We’re overdue, don’t you think?”
My heart suddenly beats faster. I take a few deep breaths to steady it. “But why all this? Why couldn’t we just dream travel and meet up?”
He shrugs again, but this time it holds regret. “I wanted to spend time with you in the flesh. It’s so much more personal.” I stare at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. “And, I have to be honest with you.” He hesitates and it’s enough that I suck in a breath and hold it. “I do my best work during dream travel. I rarely ever take that time to go anywhere but my lab. And I’m currently working on a big project so…that’s simply what I have to do right now.” His hand brushes against my cheek. I love when he does that. “But I have this time devoted to you and only you right now. I hope that’s enough.”
It’s enough! One hundred percent yes! It’s enough! “All right,” I say indifferently. “That will suffice for now. What did you have planned for us tonight?”
Aiden holds my chin in his hand and I think he’s about to kiss me. “I’m so very glad you asked that.” He turns and presents the table that sits a few feet away. “I’m g
oing to school you in a game of spades. Have you ever played?”
I shake my head.
Aiden rubs his hands together. “Then I vote we wager something on this first game.”
I laugh. He pulls the sturdy, wooden chair out for me. His room is easily double the size of mine with a private bathroom and study. Honestly, the room looks way too tidy to belong to Aiden, but I’m guessing he cleaned up for our date. The floor still has stacks of books punctuating the area.
He takes the seat next to mine, giving me a flirtatious look. I’m all nerves and anticipation.
“How do I get you to do that more often?” he asks.
“What?”
“Smile. You don’t do it as much as you should.”
I hadn’t realized that I was smiling but of course this whole surprise date has lifted my mood considerably.
“So how do we play this game?”
Aiden shuffles the deck. “It’s very simple. The object is to have the most spades when the game is over, hence the name. I’ll deal us both out some cards, and there’s also a center stack. I’ll go first because I’m the oldest. Then—”
“Wait, that doesn’t seem fair.”
“Please don’t interrupt your elder,” he scolds with a smile. “Anyway, you can pick up from the card that’s upturned or pull from the pile, but you must always discard.”
I nod. Sounds a bit like gin rummy.
“Now when someone lays down five or more spades then the other person has to pick up the discard pile. That is, unless it’s your birthday month then you have one free pass. And if you don’t have five spades then you can throw down three and make your opponent pick up three from the discard pile. Oh, and if you want to pick up a few extra from either the deck or the upturned cards then all you have to do is have a straight flush of any other suit. Then you’re—”