Uncorked

by Rebecca Rohman

  “Where will you go?”

  “I honestly don’t know. I promise I’ll be in touch with my new telephone number and email address within the next few days.”

  “What about Mitch?”

  “He’s the love of my life, but he’s better off without me. Until the police resolve this, you all are. I have to do this. You and Mitch would continue to help to your own detriment, and I can’t allow that to happen. Besides, I don’t think he’s certain about our future anyway.”

  “Stop being ridiculous. Anyone with a good pair of eyes can see how deeply in love with you he is.” Maggie responded, buttering toast in front of her.

  “Unfortunately, it’s not about love. It’s about me being a liability. I cost him boatloads of money and almost his daughter. He made it abundantly clear that the latter was not a chance he was will to take, and you know what? I agree with him.”

  A horn from outside interrupted their conversation.

  “That’s my cab. By the way, Craig, I’d like your blessing to send out a memo to the staff letting them know I’ve resigned.”

  “Sure, Darling,” he said, circling her in his arms. “Always remember how much I love you, and don’t be afraid to call me if you need anything.”

  “I love you, too,” she replied, kissing him on his cheek. “And Maggie, I love you. Thanks for everything.”

  Minutes later, Chella waved goodbye as the cab pulled into traffic. She asked the driver to make four stops: two to say goodbye to Vicky and Kacy, one to pick up one of those anonymous credit cards she had overnighted to the UPS store, and Mitch’s penthouse. Once inside, she walked around, left him a letter and his keys on the bed, picked up a shirt of his draped over a chair, and took in his scent. After one last look, she pushed the button to open to the elevator doors. She was about to step inside, but quickly ran back to his shirt, slipped it in her bag, and left to start her new life.

  Chapter Twelve

  Chella arrived at the airport ticket counter. At this point, she would allow fate to take here where she should go next.

  “Good morning, Miss. Checking in?” said the young man at the ticket counter.

  “Actually, I don’t have a ticket.”

  “Where would you like to go?”

  “You tell me. I’d like a one-way, first-class ticket on the next available flight to somewhere beautiful.”

  The young man smiled at her. “So you’re adventurous?”

  “I guess I am,” she replied with a slight smile.

  His fingers worked rapidly over the keyboard.

  “Within the U.S.?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “How does Aspen, Colorado sound? We have a seat available in first class for a flight boarding in forty minutes. I know, for a fact, it’s beautiful—especially in the fall.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  On the way to the gate, she picked up a prepaid cell phone. Once she boarded the plane, she intended to shut off her current phone. Only a few people from then on would have her cell phone number. If others wanted to reach her, it would have to be via email. When she reached the gate, there was a fifteen-minute delay—just enough time to make one last phone call to Detective Carter.

  “Carter speaking.”

  “Hi, Detective. It’s Chella Noon.”

  “Ms. Noon, I hope you’re doing better today.”

  “I’m leaving the state for a while. I resigned from my job.”

  “I’m sorry you felt you had to do that.”

  “Detective, you know they intend to use those pictures to try and hurt me. My job would be the next best place to humiliate me.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “I wanted to call to give you my new number. I’ll be shutting off this phone.”

  “Ms. Noon, please be careful. Hopefully while you’re away, we can solve this mess once and for all.”

  “I hope so, too. It would be great if, when the new year arrives, I have some idea of where my life is heading. I’ll be setting up a new email account, too, not using my name, so please be on the lookout. I’ll send you a text message when I’m settled.”

  “I’ll try my hardest, Ms. Noon.”

  “I know you will. Take care. I have to go now.” After quickly giving him her new number, she shut off her phone and boarded the plane.

  Five hours later, Chella took a cab ride over to a vacation home real estate company. While on the plane, she had done research and found one online. She was happy to be going to Aspen, but the one thing she forgot to take into account was the beginning of the snow season. Accommodations may not be readily available. After spending the afternoon with a realtor, and looking at three homes, she secured a beautiful home with superb views until the beginning of the year. It was too much house for one person, but the panoramic vistas made up for the price.

  It was exquisite, the type of place one would never go alone. Accompanying the views were massive stone fireplaces in many rooms throughout the house. By mid-afternoon, she was in her new home. All she wanted to do was make herself a hot cup of coffee, sit, and take in the view.

  For the first time since she left the penthouse, she allowed herself to think of Mitch. She missed him terribly. She had looked forward to spending their first Christmas together. Now, she was back to where she was almost a year ago, from that early December day when she met him. In many ways, it was worse, but she was happy that for a time—no matter how short it was—she had experienced happiness. She knew how it felt to be in love. Ironically, love was the very reason she had to leave San Diego.

  Mitch sat with Emily in her hospital bed playing Chinese Checkers. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Emily had received an enormous bouquet of flowers complete with a stuffed animal and balloons.

  “Wow, Daddy, it’s beautiful. Who is it from?”

  “Let’s see. There’s a card attached.” He pulled the card from the envelope and read it to his daughter. “To Emily, from Chella. Hope you’re doing better every day. Even though I can’t be with you, know for sure that you will always be in my heart. I’ll be thinking about you. Love always, Chella.”

  “I love them. Can we call Chella to thank her?”

  “Sure,” he replied, picking up his cell phone and calling her number. Her phone went straight to voice mail. “Sorry, Sweetie. I got her voice mail. She’s probably on another call. We’ll try again in a while.”

  “Daddy, why didn’t Chella come with you to L.A.?”

  “Well, she has a job. She had to work.”

  “It’s Saturday. Chella doesn’t work on Saturdays.”

  You’re too smart for your own good…

  “She does sometimes, Sweetie.”

  “Can she come to visit me when she’s not working?”

  He was beginning to realize that he’d have a tough time getting Chella out of Emily system. All this at a time when he wasn’t sure how or if to move forward with her.

  “We’ll see. I’ll have to see if she has time, but I know she’s really busy at work right now. If I were you, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”

  “Daddy, are you upset with Chella?”

  “Why would you ask me that?”

  “I don’t know. You looked kind of sad when you told me not to get my hopes up.”

  He massaged his forehead as he tried to figure out how to respond to his daughter’s statement. Evidently, he had not been doing as great a job as he thought of covering up all the turmoil going on inside him. “Let’s try calling her again.” He hoped that would distract her.

  When he got a voice message for a second time, he left Chella a message then allowed Emily to thank her herself. After he ended the call, Charlotte and her family entered the room. He had not slept in almost two days, so he left and headed to a hotel to get some rest with plans to return later that evening. Hours later when he woke, he glanced at his watch, it was 3 a.m. He realized then how exhausted he must have been. He had a missed call from Charlotte. She left him a message saying t
hat the hospital would be releasing Emily the following day. It was too late to return to the hospital, so he activated the alarm and returned to bed.

  The next day, Chella called Emily at the hospital as she sat taking in the views of the beautiful mountains. She was so concerned about her. She didn’t want Emily to think she abandoned her.

  “Hello… good morning.”

  “Charlotte?”

  “Yes, who’s this?”

  “It’s Chella, how are you?”

  “I’m great. Getting ready to take Emily home today.”

  “That’s wonderful news. I was just calling to say hello to her. Is that okay?”

  “Of course it is. I’ll put her on, but I’d like to have a word with you after.”

  “Okay.”

  “Hi, Chella. Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers and balloons. I love them.”

  “I’m so happy you do. You must be feeling better if you’re going home today.”

  “I am. I’m so excited. Mommy told me a few of my friends from school will be coming to visit me. I’m going to get all of them to sign my cast.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  “Chella, will you visit me to sign my cast?”

  Chella hesitated at her question, not quite sure how to answer her. “I’m sorry, Sweetie. I won’t be able to make it, but I wanted you to know that even if I’m not there, you will always be in my heart. Promise me you’ll believe that.”

  “Why can’t you come? Is it because you have to work?”

  “I had to go away for a while. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

  “You’re sad, just like Daddy.”

  Chella heart sank at Emily’s comment. She felt guilty.

  Mitch, sad? I hope he can forgive me for the pain I caused someday.

  “I don’t want you to think about that. I want you to get better.”

  “Will I be able to come visit you when I’m better?”

  “Probably not, I’m really far away. Emily, you will always be very special to me. Please tell me you believe that.”

  “I do,” Emily replied sadly.

  “Enjoy seeing your friends today.”

  “Will you call me sometime?”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Charlotte returned to the line. Chella heard her tell Emily she would be back in a second.

  “Chella, I’m back. Look, I know this is none of my business, and I could beat around the bush, but I suspect that I’d be better off being direct. Is everything alright with you and Mitch?”

  “No. I can’t say much more than that. I tried to deal with Emily’s questions the best I could. I didn’t want her to feel that I abandoned her. There’s no way to explain it to a five year old. I need you to please reinforce to her that I will always care about her.”

  “Chella, I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry, too. I’ll talk to you another time. If it’s okay with you, I’ll call occasionally to check in.”

  “That’s fine. Are you sure this is something you two can’t work through?”

  “I don’t know. Please send my love to Emily. I have to go now.”

  Chella immediately ended the call. She didn’t think talking to Emily would be this hard. Hearing the disappointment in her voice when she told Emily she wouldn’t be able to see her was difficult, but she took a deep breath, pulled out her laptop, and set up her new email account. She also drafted a memo to the employees of Sheyenne International, letting them know she had resigned and thanking them for the pleasant working relationship she’d shared with them over the last ten years. She intended to complete it and get Craig to send it out the next day.

  When she was done, she sent her new email address to Detective Carter and called Craig.

  “Craig Spencer speaking.”

  “Hi, it’s me. How are you?”

  “Oh, Darling, it’s so good to hear from you.”

  “I wanted you to have my new number and to tell you not to delete any emails from Nicolette Taylor.”

  “That’s your name these days?”

  “At least in email circles. If you need any help with the promotion, she’s the consultant you can call.”

  “You’re a gem. You don’t have to do this.”

  “I’m available to help, but through you and you alone.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me where you are?”

  “You suppose right, but you do know how to reach me.”

  “I guess that’s what’s important. Do you need anything?”

  “One small favor. Can you send out that letter to the staff for me, please? I’m almost finished with the draft.”

  “Sure. As soon as you get it to me, I’ll send it out.”

  “Great. Thanks for everything. Send my love to Maggie.”

  Mitch got to the hospital in time to see the nurse helping Emily into a wheel chair. Charlotte was out of the room.

  “Daddy!” Emily screamed.

  “How’s my favorite girl today?” Mitch asked, kissing her forehead.

  “I’m great. My head doesn’t hurt as much.”

  “Fantastic. Excited to get home?”

  “I am. Chella called. I asked her if she could come visit, but she said she couldn’t because she was too far away.”

  “She is, Sweetie. San Diego is three hours drive away.”

  “I don’t think she’s in San Diego.”

  “What makes you say that?” Mitch asked curiously.

  “I asked her if I could come see her when I was better, because she said she couldn’t come to see me. She said she had to go away.”

  “We’ll see. I’ll give her a call later. Maybe she had to travel for work. I’ll be heading back home tomorrow. You think you’ll be able to manage without your dad for the next few days?”

  “I’ll be fine, Daddy. Bring Chella with you next time. I’d like to see her.”

  Mitch arrived in San Diego early the next morning. He had a business meeting, so he headed straight to his office from the airport. By noon, all his meetings were out of the way.

  He sat at his desk, gazing at the photo of Chella. He picked it up and stared into her eyes. He missed her, but he questioned whether he should be with her. The accident with Emily opened his eyes, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to keep all the issues that followed Chella from spilling beyond the borders of San Diego. For the first time since he’d started seeing her, he felt like he had to make a choice between his daughter and the woman he loved. The choice was clear. Now that his daughter had fallen in love with her, he’d be forced to break her heart and tell her that Chella could no longer be a part of her life. He was still so angry with Chella. If only she had trusted him, he wouldn’t have been forced to make that decision.

  His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his office door. Greta entered and handed him a package.

  “This just came in for you. It’s marked private and confidential.”

  “Thanks, Greta.” He felt the package for any bumps. In the last few months, he made it his business to learn how to recognize a letter bomb. He tore away the seal and emptied the contents on his desk: nude images of Chella.

  Ten of them, maybe more, and a note that read

  TELL HER RUNNING AWAY WON’T FIX ANYTHING.

  THERE’S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM, AND I INTEND TO USE THEM.

  He flipped through the images. With each disturbing vision, he clenched his teeth harder. He read the note a second and third time and punched a glass of water he had on his desk. The glass and its contents smashed against the wall.

  He called Greta on the intercom. “Greta, who brought that package?”

  “It was delivered by messenger, Mr. Mariani.”

  “Thanks,” he said, ending the call.

  “He tried calling Chella, but her phone went straight to voice mail again. It occurred to him she had intentionally shut off her phone. Th
is was the fourth time he had tried to reach her.

  He called her direct line at the office, but there was no answer. When he tried calling via the operator at Sheyenne International, he learned Chella no longer worked for the company.

  His blood raced. He quickly called the driver he had been using and asked him to pick him up immediately. He slipped the pictures into his briefcase and headed over to see Craig at his office.

  Chella’s office door was closed, and the lights were off. Jade sat at her desk, barely looking at him. She muttered hello under her breath.

  “Mitch, it’s good to see you. I’m glad you’re back,” Craig said, shaking his hand as he entered the office.

  Mitch closed the door behind them.

  “Where’s Chella?”

  “She hasn’t contacted you?”

  “No. The last time I spoke to her was Friday. I’ve called her three or four times since, and I keep getting her voicemail. She hasn’t returned any of my messages. I called here, and I find out she no longer works here. What going on?”

  “She resigned early Saturday morning then left. She wouldn’t tell me where she was going, but she gave me a new number to reach her and an email address. She refuses to tell me where she is.”

  “Can I have that information? Please?”

  “I’m sure she’ll kill me for doing this, but she didn’t say not to. She doesn’t always know what good for her, anyway,” Craig replied, writing the information on a slip of paper. “Note the name on the email address.” He handed the paper to Mitch.

  “Thank you.” Mitch replied, glancing at the paper. “Any clue where she might be?”

  “None whatsoever. She was out the house by seven Saturday morning.”

  “I need to call Detective Carter. Someone sent me a package with pictures and a note.”

  “When?”

  “About a half-hour ago.”

  Mitch called Detective Carter. They made plans to meet at Craig’s office.