I’m not a traumatized kidnap victim, but I sure came back changed.
For the three of us, a girls’ night in has become infinitely more luxurious. Carter’s house in the Caribbean had its own cocktail bar. Here at home, there’s a slightly smaller, still impressive version.
“I wasn’t too sure what to think of all this,” Lara admits as she’s sipping her Mai Tai, “but you seem to be happy and it’s all that counts. This cocktail bar? I’d marry her for it.”
“Sorry about that, but I’m already taken.” Carter stands in the doorway, smiling at the offhand compliment. She walks into the room, on purpose or not drawing all the attention to her. Yes, I wear the clothes that she buys me and says are beautiful on me, but I don’t know that I wear them with the same elegance. We kiss, and she surveys the table with a regretful look.
“I just came here to check something with Marlene quickly. It’s going to be a long night, sorry. You girls have fun. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow,” she addresses Haley and Lara.
Sometimes, her presence makes me self-conscious in front of my friends, because I think of everything that happens once we close the door behind us…which is weird, I’m aware that the start of our relationship wasn’t exactly ordinary. I know the story had everyone wonder, and the questions didn’t stop once Carter proposed to me.
“Oh, and why don’t you stay overnight? Penelope can drive you home tomorrow—or one of my drivers.”
“I’d love to,” Lara answers right away. Haley nods. “Thanks for the offer.”
“Okay. Good night.” Carter turns to join Marlene behind the bar where they speak in hushed tones, and I refrain from sighing. There will always be secrets. No need to be a baby about it. She made her point clear.
“She is something,” Haley says. Of all my friends, she’s the one hardest to placate. I’d like to tell her the whole story someday, ease her mind, but I made a promise. Maybe I’d achieve the complete opposite. It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.
“So, how are you doing, two days away from the big day?” Lara asks.
“I’m good, I think. It’s still pretty unreal,” I admit. It will take me a little while longer to grasp it all though I am learning to enjoy the sheer luxury I’m surrounded with. Seeing the money that goes to less privileged women, in our own and other countries, helps. Carter grew up in a lower middle class home with a family who loved her—in their own way—but didn’t have the vision to believe a girl could or should run a multi-billion dollar company. Obviously, she has proven them wrong.
“Unreal doesn’t even begin to cover it. This is like living in a luxury hotel…and I’m not saying this because I’m jealous,” Lara affirms. “You worked your butt off, and you’re still doing it. You deserve it. Well, as long as you let us come visit every once in a while.”
“Come on. Don’t be silly. Of course you’re always welcome.”
For some reason, my eyes are stinging. It might be the fact that I almost didn’t make it to this conversation and general dream life, if it wasn’t for Carter’s quick intervention. I owe her a lot. I shouldn’t be so petty about her trying to protect me, because if she hadn’t bothered in the first place, there’s no saying where I’d be now.
This is not the time to obsess about it though—I’m going to get married. Picking up my glass, I take a quick sip of my drink, a Sex on the Beach that brings me back to the day Carter first brought me to her bar in the Caribbean home.
I trust her. I have, almost from the beginning. This will be no different.
After dinner, I show the girls the guestrooms, two adjacent ones connected by French doors.
“Would you like to see the library? We could have the book club there some time.” It’s not that I mean to brag. I’m still in a state of constant amazement.
“We will have book club here every time,” Lara enthuses as we walk through the tall wooden doors. I’m overwhelmed whenever I come here. I thought what I saw in Carter’s Caribbean home was a dream, but this library is over the top. Knowing that the way to a woman’s heart is via books, Carter had provided me with all the materials I needed to keep up with my sociology classes during my “time-out” as well as a selection of fiction. This bigger version has it all, the classics, the current bestsellers and award winners, among many lesser known titles. There’s a section I assume is for the benefit of my friends mostly, and so I’m afraid we might have to go through all the alpha males again. Oh well, those have an amusing side to them—and I can suggest Fingersmith and Death by the Riverside the next time.
I spend the night alone in a bed that’s much too big for one person, and after breakfast, I drive Haley and Lara home. The pattern is the same: Lara squeals at the sight of the Mercedes, Haley seems a bit troubled still.
Another day goes by that I barely see Carter, and then at night, when I’m half asleep, she crawls under the covers with me, the heat of her naked body easing me awake, into her arms, under her spell.
There aren’t any locked doors to keep me in anymore, but besides, nothing much has changed.
* * * *
For most of my life, I believed I was a pretty responsible person. I never missed a payment on anything, never failed a test, never broke a promise—come to think if it, that sounds like the most boring life ever lived, but I was comfortable that way.
Classes, responsibilities, my new job, all of those vanish on this day of all days.
I’m awakened to a sweet pulsing ache, caused by the fingertips playing between my legs, brushing, gliding, coaxing me back into a state of sensual overload. I moan before I even open my eyes.
“I’ve been thinking about the best way to start this day,” Carter whispers. “It seems like you’re enjoying yourself.”
It must be early if she’s that relaxed about it, but I can’t help admitting it feels good to start the day exactly like the last one ended…Not that it will make me any less nervous about the wedding, maybe more so, because I’ll be thinking about this, her, inside of me.
There’s a soft breeze ghosting over my body when she takes away the sheet, but I’m not cold, on the contrary.
“You’re so beautiful. Sometimes I can’t believe you’re still here with me.”
It’s a rare moment of vulnerability, something she feels safe showing as long as I’m in her hands, breathless. We both know what’s really unbelievable is that she chose me, and didn’t shy away from less than legal methods to make sure she had an opportunity to make her case. She has the perfect case. I’m addicted to her and the way she can make me feel.
Her fingers curl slightly, and my hips rise, my body’s attempt to feel even more, deeper. She moves around a bit. The next thing I feel is her tongue, warm pressure against my sensitive flesh, and I am undone.
She’s right, of course. There couldn’t be any better way—or for us, any other way to start this day. As I still lie trembling with the overload of sensation and sheer insane happiness, Carter kisses me softly before she gets up.
“Already?”
“You’ll see me again soon. Then it’ll be serious.”
“You don’t think this is?”
Tying the belt of her black silk robe, she turns to me with a knowing smile. I love her so much. While I’m a little disappointed I won’t have the chance to put this thought to action right now, I can’t wait for the day to begin.
There’s always the wedding night.
Chapter Three
Carter
I take a shower in the adjacent room and get ready for Denise who usually does my hair and make-up here at home. There’s a knock on the door, and Marlene enters. She has a look of awe on her face when she helps me close the strapless gown in the back, and I can relate. I never thought this day would come either.
My wedding day.
Marlene, just like Nick, head of security and my best man, knows about the thigh holster. On this day of all days, I won’t take any risks. The truth is, I’ve taken a lot of risks until this moment,
and I don’t want any of them to come back to haunt me. I’ve dealt with some pretty shady people over the years.
“I wish you all the happiness in the world,” Marlene says. “You deserve it.”
She and Nick sat with the wedding planner to optimize security—it’s not just for us, but the person who’ll officiate the wedding. The idea is to have this day go smoothly and still have a few surprises left for me and Penelope. Marlene’s eyes are suspiciously watery, and the thought springs to mind that this is real, as real as my everyday life in the cutthroat world of running a multi-billion dollar business.
I once thought that the only way I could keep a partner was to throw my money around, but actually the money is the only aspect Penelope is still struggling with at times. She came to me freely after the FBI took her home. Strangely enough, she’s in it for me, the person that’s to be found somewhere underneath my public persona—someone better than what most people think of me, I don’t know.
That someone became obsessed with a young woman in acute danger.
There had been a gradual build-up, from the first pictures and videos I was provided with, planning to get her out of the trafficker’s crosshairs, to the moment I first met her in person.
When I knew I could never let her go, and I was ready to do whatever it took to keep her.
Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?
I’ve got good instincts though, when it comes to business and people. Now Penelope is all mine. She might worry about gifts and an overall expensive lifestyle, but it’s actually a small price to pay.
The door opens, and Denise peeks her head inside. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I ever can be,” I say. “Knock yourself out.”
I catch a look at myself in the full-length mirror, wondering what my mother would say if she was here. My brother Jimmy and his second wife will be here today, as well as Susan and her royalty-title-but-no-money husband. No word on our mom who once said I’d never find a husband if I didn’t stop interrupting grown men, and accept that they knew better about business than women do. She doesn’t like that I use my middle name instead of the more feminine Amelia. I loved both my grandparents, but Grandpa’s name has surely worked better for me. I remember every bit of mom’s advice I never took: Pay attention to how you carry yourself, be sure to wear flat shoes, your date won’t be thrilled if you’re a foot taller. I dated men, too, a long time ago, but I never made compromises with my footwear—or when I had a point. It’s not like women can’t stab each other in the back, and there’s plenty who do so, especially when we’re trying to get our piece of the small slice society deems enough for us—but I’ve done better with women, in the conference room and in the bedroom. They listen. They look at different angles of the problem. Without a doubt, Penelope challenges me.
Brenda Forbes who’s biggest regret is that she failed to turn her older daughter into a demure lady who never raises her voice, is definitely a challenge in my life too, but she won’t be here to comment on the proceedings.
I look in the mirror, the transformation created by the talented stylist and make-up artist. It took me a long time to understand that this could be something I wanted, that it’s something more than pleasing my mother, men, or society at large.
Besides, when you know there’s no way your wedding pictures won’t end up in some paper—we gave an exclusive to pre-empt all other attempts—you might as well look your best.
There you go, Mom, thirty-eight is a long way from never.
* * * *
Nick drives me to the hotel located in the historical building I own, looking handsome in a suit and a bordeaux-colored tie to match the bridesmaids’ dresses.
The room reserved for the ceremony is already filled with guests, and all of a sudden, moments start to pass in a blur, small talk with Jimmy’s new wife. A few long-time business associations. Jimmy and Susan are talking to Penelope’s friend Haley, the one who can’t yet decide whether she’ll ever warm up to me. I idly think about paying off the house she shares with her husband Ryan and two kids. It’s a little small for them, especially if they want another kid, but they could rent it out eventually. Lara, the other book club BFF has just bought a condo with her boyfriend.
Penelope’s parents already paid off their house, but there’s a nice Caribbean cruise in their near future.
It’s sort of my introduction into the family, because I’m not good at all that emotional stuff. It’s some kind of distraction as well—there’s this small part, this shadow of obsession I can’t have them look at. I promised to let Penelope go after a year, but I sure did everything I could to make her want to stay, and there was always the tiny possibility that I might have broken that promise. After all, with me, she has everything she needs.
“Congratulations,” Adrian, Susan’s husband says, taking my hand. He’s carrying himself with the quiet understatement of old money, even though there’s not much of it left. The things we do for love. He seems to be one of the good guys though, genuine. Life turned out pretty well for my siblings.
“You look amazing,” Susan adds, smiling cheerfully. “I can’t believe I’m actually…”
“At my wedding? I know it’s hard to believe.”
“Come on, that wasn’t what I was going to say. I never thought you were even remotely interested in anything outside of the business.” She’s only a year younger than me, but she married Adrian fourteen years ago.
“That was so what you were saying. Congrats, sis, you’re not going to be an old maid after all,” Jimmy jokes, and I shake my head, but hug him anyway. “Forget about it. What do I hear, the FBI was investigating you?” This is not a good question to ask with members of the press near.
“I was an honest mistake. Frankly, one I don’t want to talk about today.”
“That’s okay. There’s always time tomorrow. It sounds interesting.”
“Oh for Christ’s sake, stop. This is my wedding day, remember?”
Jimmy laughs. He’s fitter and tanner than when I saw him last time, had a new album out earlier this year that was climbing the charts and went on an extensive outdoor tour as some big name’s support act.
“By the way, Su and I have a surprise for you.”
“Hey,” Susan chides. “Do not spoil it.”
“I’m scared,” I say, half-seriously, but then I’m distracted, because the officiant is ready, Nick and Haley are here, and then the music starts. Penelope walks in on her Dad’s arm. I could have done without the old patriarchal gesture, but I have to cut her parents some slack—they are giving her away, after all, into the different unfamiliar world that is mine. Within an instant, everything around vanishes expect for her, my lover, in a few moments, my wife. I will love and cherish her all right, with everything I have. Penny steps closer, beautiful in the shorter dress and silver-white sandals, her hair wound up. When I take her hands, I realize they’re shaking—or is it me? We listen to the officiant’s words, and then it’s time to say the vows.
“I do.” There’s hardly anything as profound and life-changing as giving that promise in front of other people, to commit the rest of your life to someone. It runs a lot deeper than anything money can buy. I didn’t feel like that when I made my first million—or billion.
We exchange rings, and that’s it. Penelope looks at me with an expression of awe. Behind her, I can see Haley wiping her eyes, though her smile seems forced. It’s her who never believed Penelope would take a timeout and leave everything behind, family, friends, job—and the book club—just like that. I’ll have to watch her.
What follows are many handshakes and a lot more hugging than I’m comfortable with, and someone finally has the sense to break out the champagne. I’m taking small sips only, aware of the weapon I have on me. So far, so good, it doesn’t look like anyone feels the need to disturb us on this day. I watch Penelope talking to Lara. She looks excited, and so incredibly young.
A lot of good came out of a horrible situation, no doub
t about it.
“So I was right when I said you’d never find a man who’ll want to take care of you. I was wrong about many other things.”
I spin around, nearly dizzy, thinking I might have been the one who’s so stressed out her mind is playing tricks on her. I’m not dreaming. All of a sudden, I understand what Jimmy meant by the surprise…They brought Brenda here, all the way from West Texas.
“This was really beautiful,” she says, her eyes shining with tears. “You’re beautiful. I thought you were crazy when Jimmy told me you were going to marry this young woman, but…” She shakes her head, laughing. “What was I thinking? You never wanted to listen, always wanted to do things your way. I guess it’s time I accept that.”
To an outsider, it might seem like a backhanded compliment, but I’ve grown up with this woman, and what I detect between the lines, gets to me in a way I’d never expected.
“Mom.” I didn’t expect to cry on my wedding day. It’s a happy occasion. There’s nothing to cry about. But I do, for this gesture I’ve waited for a long time.
“I wanted to give you something. I believe it would be silly to do money or dishes like normal people, because obviously, you have everything anyone could want.” Her tone is a bit gruff, that’s how we deal with emotion. She produces a small box she hands to me.
“This belonged to your great-grandmother. Your grandmother gave it to me on my wedding day. It’s yours.”
“You…you didn’t give it to Susan,” it’s the first thing that comes to mind. I’m dumbfounded.
“That’s because Susan didn’t take that long. It was either giving up hope or waiting for the special occasion.”
“Thank you so much.” I don’t know what to say, still in shock that she’s actually here. Penelope appears at my side, saving me from any further potential embarrassment. I introduce the two, and it’s a moment of pride, and reconciliation.
Nothing bad is going to happen today. I can’t promise tomorrow…but if there’s any moment in life you should celebrate like there’s no tomorrow, this should be it.
Surrender To Me (Surrender Trilogy Book 2) Page 2