Almost Lost, Never Forgotten

by T. L. Sieving

  “So, since this is ‘honesty’ night I’ll tell you what ended my modeling days. Ana already knows some of it because Lucy you’re the only person in the world who doesn’t read the entertainment news. But some things weren’t in the press and this is the real story.”

  Sam takes a deep breath and continues.

  “I was 16 years old and had been modeling in other countries without my parents since I was 12. By this time Renault Financials was transitioning from my grandpa to my dad so my parents were very busy putting on face and my mom was always doing movies, so you know, they were busy. My dad was the obvious successor as the company has always been a family owned and operated business. My dad had a good friend that worked closely with him that he’d met in college at Harvard. They were so close that I thought of him as an uncle; his name was Henry Travolt. Well Henry was in Paris at the same time I was and we met for dinner. That was very common for us as Henry did a lot of the international travel for Renault. In the middle of dinner he took a phone call and looked extremely serious. He told me we had to go and immediately ushered me into a waiting car. We took a private jet to an island in Greece that my family owns.”

  She stops to take a sip of her drink before continuing. It breaks my heart to see the pain she’s in telling the story.

  “So we’re in Greece and he cuts me off from all electronics and tells me my parents died in a plane crash. He told me he was keeping me safe in Greece away from all the press and sharks that would be coming out for my family’s money. I believed him and I trusted him. I started to become very close to Henry even though we had a huge age difference. I felt very close to him and trusted him with my life.”

  I can see how hard this is on Sam so I stop her and kneel in front of her. “You don’t have to tell me any of this Sam. You can stop whenever you want.”

  She shakes her head in agreement but continues her story. Nick moves me to a chair and starts working on my hair.

  “I started feeling attracted to him. We would cuddle on the couch in a parental way at first but… then it moved to him rubbing my leg… and I liked it. I liked it guys.”

  Sam stops for a few minutes and wipes her eyes, composes herself, and then starts back in. Ana and I are both very quiet and so are Nick and Natalie. These are Sam’s longtime stylists and I trust them the same way that I trust Ana and Sam.

  “It was about 30 days into being with him in Greece. I really had no reason not to trust him. I knew how the press was with my family and my modeling so I knew going into seclusion would be smart. But at 16 I was also very impressionable and I was thinking about Henry in a sexual way. My God, it grosses me out so much to think about now!”

  She stops and looks at us but I don’t say anything; I just wait for her to continue. I’m not judging her in any way. I have no idea what that must’ve been like. Sam again composes herself before she speaks again.

  “We’d been there for a month when agents stormed in with guns and raided the place. I was sitting on the beach and Henry was nowhere to be found.” Sam stops for a few minutes. When I look at her I see the turmoil she’s going through in reliving this, but she continues.

  “They thought I was some spoiled teenager making trouble for my parents for attention. They treated me like a no good rich snob. Henry was gone, nowhere to be seen and no one saw us on the island. It was a mess. Turns out he was the one who called in the police to find me there. My parents had listed me as a missing person but that didn’t create the diversion in the company he was hoping for. Henry thought my parents and grandparents would be in such dismay that they’d have him take total control of the company and he could liquidate funds. When that didn’t work he thought turning me into an attention seeking brat of a problem would. My parents believed me and knew something was up so when he tried to start liquidating money they caught on and he got away with nothing.”

  “Wow Sam, I’m so sorry you went through that!” I tell her. We’re all quiet as Natalie leans over and starts Sam’s makeup ending our discussion.

  Once we’re finished getting beautified, and Nick and Natalie leave, I ask Sam what happened to Henry. She said they never proved he was there with her so the majority of the world thinks she set this all up for attention.

  Sam tells me Jax was there for her and he was her only friend for a long time. She never trusted anyone else until she met me and Ana.

  Once we’re all ready the mood is a little more somber than it should be so I speak up.

  “Ladies! I’m thankful for all the trust and honesty we share. I won’t let Chase or Henry take any of that away from us. We’re going out with some seriously hot men tonight in hopes that Ana gets laid. Let’s get ready to have some fun.” I raise my glass and add, “Bitches, let’s have some fun!”

  We lighten the conversation quite a bit and talk about our outfits, where we’re going to dinner, and the dancing we’ll do tonight.

  I’m the first to go downstairs and I see Jax standing at the door with a sexy smirk. He looks good enough to eat.

  “Wow gorgeous, you look… I don’t know… gorgeous!” Jax says as he leans in and kisses me.

  “Why thank you kind sir, you look good enough to eat and I mean that literally,” I whisper in his ear while he grabs my ass.

  “Knock it off! It took hours to get that hag to look like that!” Ana says and we all laugh.

  “Watch your mouth, this hag is mine,” Jax says as he kisses my cheek.

  “Ok that’s too much love my way guys,” I tell them and elbow Jax in the stomach which ends up hurting me but I won’t show him that.

  Jax scoops me up and tells me that he wants to escort me to dinner. He says I look absolutely gorgeous and tells me how much he’s looking forward to our night together.

  I want to grab him and take him to my room for a quickie, so I do!

  We leave at 7:30pm to go to dinner and true to Jax’s words the paparazzi are relentless. Sam gave me an impromptu managing session in the car of how to walk out with Jax, stand, smile and wave and say nothing.

  It sounded silly in the car but I did just that when we got to the restaurant amongst shouting from the paparazzi.

  “You handled that very well.” Jax whispers in my ear and I smile up at him. A look that is captured by a million light flashes.

  Dinner is fabulous and the conversation flows perfectly. Ana is going to get her wish. Dexter Walsh is flirting with her shamelessly and she’s eating it up. It’s only dinner and his hands are already on her leg. Hmm, this reminds me of a special dinner Jax and I had a few months ago.

  Dexter is one of Jax’s friends. He’s an actor and was in a movie with Jax recently and he seems like a nice enough guy.

  Besides us girls, Jax, and Dexter, there’s one other actor at the table that Sam is flirting with; Jack Sower. Jack has known Sam for a long time and is talking to her about this film that is not yet titled that we’re celebrating tonight. Jax has signed on to be the star and the Director. I’m so proud of my man.

  We finish dinner around midnight and again leave through the sea of paparazzi ready to snap our pictures. Why they want pictures of us coming and now leaving is beyond me, but it’s expected so we smile. Jax grabs me and poses for a picture. I’m surprised, but flattered, that he wants this photo of us secured in the news.

  We leave the restaurant and go to the club where we plan to dance the night away. We go through the back ally that I remember from that first time I was out with Sam and met Jax. I smile to myself. That night seems like ages ago.

  Sam leans over and tells me she’s going to do it. It takes me a half second to realize she’s talking about, the movie! Acting has always been her dream and after telling me the horrible kidnapping story it made her realize she works so hard to prove to the world she’s not that punk they think she is. Sam is smart and can make it in her dad’s financial world, but that doesn’t mean she has to do it.

  I’m happy for her that she’s releasing her demons. We’re both getting away fro
m pasts that have hurt us and becoming the women we want to be.

  We finally arrive at Club 6, which is the club that the Renaults own. We go through the kitchen and up the back way until we enter the club. I can’t help but feel nostalgic from that first night. We’ve been back here plenty of times, but I’m so happy to be here with my best friends tonight.

  We start our party in the VIP area and Jax teases me that this is where I first texted him.

  Just to be cute and flirt with my sinfully sexy man I send him a text.

  12:32am

  Lucy: You were smoking hot that night in your tight black shirt but tonight you are making me crazy lusting after you. I can’t wait for you to rip my panties off!

  I swear he turns a bright shade of red when he reads it. I take his phone away from his hands and kiss him.

  We’re having a great time sharing stories, and Sam has pretty much sealed the deal by telling everyone that she wants to do the movie.

  Ana, Sam, and I go to the ladies room together to freshen up and tell the boys we will meet them on the dance floor. Ana lets us know she’ll be sleeping at our place with Dexter. We high-five her because we’re so excited for her to get laid. And Dexter is hot.

  Sam says her and Jack won’t be hooking up but will be flirting. Jack’s in the movie so she doesn’t want to hurt any friendships until she really figures this out.

  We stay in the bathroom a little longer just having some girl talk. They tease me about how loud I am with Jax but we all agree I can be loud if it’s that satisfying. Some random girls hear us in there and congratulate me on having a real orgasm with a guy. We burst out laughing!

  We finally leave the bathroom in search of our men and I decide I need a glass of water first. I was drunk last night and now again, so I know I need a ton of it. I go to the bar and order the water and this guy next to me tries talking to me. I try to be nice but he’s being flirty and a little too grabby.

  Mike the bartender knows me and tells the guy to back off.

  I look over and see Sam. She’s white as a ghost and I have no idea what’s wrong. I walk over to her and see Jax with security escorting a man out of the bar.

  “What’s going on Sam?” I ask her as she throws herself into my arms. I can feel her shaking and know she’s crying. I’ve never seen Sam like this. She’s shaking and I have no idea what the commotion was all about.

  Jax comes back and she jumps into his arms. I just stare at them while he comforts her. I’ve never seen my best friend so upset and it bothers me terribly.

  “What happened?” I mouth to Jax not wanting to make a sound.

  “That was Henry and I don’t know what he said to her but she can’t stop shaking and I’m afraid she’s going to slip into a catatonic state. I’ve seen it before. Lucy I’m going to take her home. Can you go get Ana and meet me in the back?” Jax asks me.

  “She doesn’t need a crowd for this. Either you or I take her home, but that’s it.”

  “I agree, I’ll take her home. Stay with Ana, ok!” Jax says and he’s off.

  I’m so worried about Sam. I don’t know what happened but I could see the fear and devastation in Jax’s eyes. I know he will keep her safe.

  I need a moment to breathe before I go find Ana. I’ll keep everyone away from the house for at least an hour. Hopefully that is enough time for Jax to get Sam calm enough to go to bed.

  I need some water so I make my way over to the bar and ask Mike for another glass of water. The bar has gotten much busier so I don’t have a place to sit, but that’s ok. I look around for Ana and don’t see her yet. I place my purse and my water on the bar and yell to Mike asking him for some more.

  I reach down and fix the strap on my Manolo Blahnik’s. The strap that is around my ankle is poking into me so I need to adjust it.

  I grab my purse and my water and take a last large sip.

  As I walk toward the dance floor I feel a little off. I stop and try to focus my eyes. Everything is…

  Black…

  The whole world spins out of control and I can’t stop it.

  Chapter 18

  I wake up in a bed but have no idea where I am. My vision is blurry but I hear voices. I just can’t really make them out.

  The more I try to focus, the more I feel sick. I close my eyes tightly hoping it goes away.

  I slowly open them back up and I can see a little bit better and can make out a man’s voice. I look over and spin out of control. I’m so dizzy and can’t stop it. I’m going to throw up. I tear the blankets off me and someone grabs me and rushes me to the toilet.

  I barely make it. I throw up everything that is in my stomach and then some. I’m dry heaving and someone is holding my hair back and putting a cold cloth on my head.

  The room is spinning and I keep trying to puke more and nothing is there.

  “I’m taking you back to the bed ok?” I hear someone say but I have no voice as they carry me back to bed and I slip back to sleep.

  I wake up with a blazing headache. The light coming into the room from the window is killing me. I open my eyes and I see Jax sitting on the chair next to the bed with his head in his hands.

  I try to get up and Jax jumps up to assist me, “Lucy, Oh my God Lucy! How are you feeling?” He asks.

  “I’m going to puke,” I try to say but it comes out as a whisper. Jax picks me up out of bed and takes me to the bathroom where I puke again.

  I brush my teeth before he carries me back to bed. I want to tell him I can walk, but I really don’t think I can. Wow, I must’ve drunk way too much.

  Jax hands me a glass of water with a straw in it and tells me to take some small sips and asks me if I want to try some toast. I nod and drink little sips and take small bites of toast.

  Jax looks horrible. I hope he hasn’t been taking care of me while feeling sick himself. I wonder why we’re not in my room, but I don’t have the energy to ask yet.

  “Are you ok?” I ask him slightly louder than a whisper.

  “Baby don’t worry about me. Let me be the one worried about you.”

  “How much did I drink last night? I think I blacked out. I didn’t mean to drink so much. I’ve never felt this bad,” I say to him

  “What do you remember from last night, Lucy?”

  I remember going to dinner and then the bar. We were dancing and having a good time. I don’t recall anything besides that. And I really don’t remember drinking so much.

  He seems so distraught sitting on the bed next to me pulling his fingers through his hair.

  Exhaustion takes over. I close my eyes and fall back asleep.

  When I wake up it’s already dark outside. This time it’s Sam sitting next to me; staring at me. As soon as I move she wraps her arms around me. Before I can talk she shushes me because Jax is sleeping next to me.

  I finally don’t feel like I’m going to throw up but I’m not feeling that much better. I take a few sips of water knowing dehydration is most of what a hangover is.

  “Where are we?” I ask Sam.

  “Jax says you don’t remember anything besides dancing at the bar?”

  I think about that for a few minutes and shake my head agreeing with her statement. “Last night is foggy to me,” I tell her

  Jax starts to stir and sits up. “Hey girls,” he says in a sleepy voice.

  “I’ll call for some soup from room service, do you want anything Jax?” Sam asks him.

  “Yeah I’ll have whatever you order,” he says as he walks into the bathroom and closes the door.

  Sam calls room service and I try to get up but I’m feeling really weak. When Jax comes out I ask him to help me brush my teeth and he does.

  Soup arrives and mine is just broth but it tastes so good. She also ordered smoothies and they feel so soothing down my throat.

  Once I feel like I’ve had enough I ask, “Alright guys, why are we in a hotel room?”

  Sam and Jax look at each other before Sam speaks.

  Henry showed u
p at the bar and harassed her telling her they should go share another month in Greece. Before he could really talk to her, security showed up and escorted him out. Jax and I decided he should take her home and that I’d go find Ana and Dexter.

  They don’t know when or where, but they think someone slipped something into my drink and I’m stunned. But what really shocks me is that it was Chase who saw me being taken advantage of by a stranger. He got security to help stop the situation and brought me here, to his hotel room.

  “Oh my God!” is all I can say.

  Jax is sitting next to me with his head down but I see a tear streaming down his face.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” I lean over and wipe his tear away.

  “Lucy, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to take care of you,” he tells me.

  “It’s ok, really,” I tell him. I don’t know what to say. I’m still processing everything.

  Sam looks just as defeated. I don’t get why they look so glum.

  “Wait, Chase?” I ask out loud. I don’t understand how Chase got involved.

  Jax tells me that Chase was at the bar and saw us earlier but didn’t say hello. He saw the commotion of Sam and him leaving and saw me at the bar getting a drink.

  I look at Sam because that’s all Jax tells me.

  “Chase stepped in and protected you Lucy because we left you alone at a bar; my parents bar! Someone tried to hurt you. I’m so sorry Lucy,” she says and hugs me. I can hear her crying and I feel so bad.

  I have so many questions but they can wait.

  “Listen up guys. I’m a big girl and I can protect myself. You’re not in charge of protecting me, even when I fail to do it myself.” If they are looking this sad because they failed to protect me they need to stop. It’s my job to take care of myself, not theirs.

  Sam excuses herself to call her Dad and let him know that I’m ok.

  “The doctor said you need to keep hydrated, so drink this Gatorade,” Jax says as he hands me a blue Gatorade.

  I just look at him, “Doctor?”

  “Yeah… oh fuck, Lucy!” he says as he puts his hands through his hair. “Chase called his team doctor to come look you over.”