by Sam Crescent
Yeah, crazy woman. You want to pay a bill even though said person doesn’t want to take the money. You’re so smart, Emily.
“Emily, honey, he pays for your apartment and always has.”
“What? Who?”
“James Stork. He’s been paying your rent since you moved in here—the money you pay, it doesn’t cover anything. I offered you the place because of him. He takes care of you.”
She held the envelope to her chest. “James has always been paying?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” She stared down at her check. “But it’s my apartment.”
“I know. He pays for everything you need.”
“How do you mean he pays for everything?” she asked.
“Emily, this is a simple apartment. I own this very building, and I rent out all of the places to people who can afford them. I also provide assistance when maintenance is required, certainly extensive changes to said apartments.”
She felt her face heating up. When she first moved in, she hadn’t really liked the place, but it was better than her home, which had been sold to pay for her parents’ funeral costs and outstanding debts.
It had been a hard time all around, and she missed home.
“James took care of all of my bills? Including the redecoration?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Now she felt a little … out of sorts. “He didn’t need to do that.”
“Emily, I think it’s time you realized James has been taking care of you for some time now. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I know you’re upset, and it wasn’t my intention. Keep your money, honey.”
Mr. Cole closed the door, leaving her in the darkened corridor.
Staring down at the money, she looked back up at the door and folded up the envelope, shoving it into the back of her pants.
Stepping outside, she went to her car and paused.
There had been work done on her car, extensive work. Pulling out her cell phone, she did a quick search to see the price of repairs, as some of them she remembered. Emily nearly dropped her cell phone as she saw the price of each repair.
Climbing into her car, she drove toward the mechanic shop. Billy was there, working on one of the cars, and he stopped when he caught sight of her.
“Hey, darlin’, didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“Did James pay for all my repairs?”
Billy’s eyes went wide. “Sweetheart, I think you need to take that up with him.”
“I’m asking you.”
“And I’m really uncomfortable talking to you about this. It’s between your man and yourself.”
“He did, didn’t he? All this time, I thought … how much do I owe you?” She pulled out her rental money.
Billy held up his hands. “You don’t need to be paying me. James takes care of everything. Whenever you bring the car in, I’ve got instructions to call him with regards to the price. He pays the bulk of it, and we settle on a sum for you to pay.”
“But this is my car.”
“And he’s your man.”
“You’re talking about before I became his, Billy.”
“Emily, you’ve belonged to James for a long time. He’s only taking care of you is all. You were a mess, and you needed someone. He was the only one who stepped up. I don’t think you should be mad at him.”
She spun on her heel and climbed back into her car. She didn’t know how she felt.
Chapter Six
Full beer deliveries always required a lot of work. On a Friday morning, the bar was running on empty, and he didn’t want to have to advise his customers to drink soda because he hadn’t ordered enough.
Three of his security and barmen were always available to help.
Lifting up twenty-four cans, huge drums, and bottles upon bottles of spirits and wine, they each took them down to the basement cellar beneath the bar. Each time they did, Nancy was there to tick the item off.
He didn’t want the woman lifting too much. He’d already offered her a raise and a bonus for her help in drawing Emily closer to him with a full apology for the way he spoke to her. He had no right to be mean.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, they had all stopped for a break. He drank the lemonade and watched the approaching car.
The moment he saw Emily, he knew something was wrong.
Just then, he recognized his cell phone vibrating. He’d turned it to silent as he got to work. There were missed calls from Mr. Cole and from Billy. Shit. And from the look on Emily’s face, he knew she knew.
She slammed the car door closed. She looked all pent up with fiery passion. Only her anger was directed at him.
He could handle it.
“We need to talk.”
The guys and even Nancy had all stopped to watch.
“Come on, then,” he said. “Don’t wait around for me to do all of this. Get it done. We’re opening tonight, and I’ve got a band signed up.” He snapped his fingers, and putting his other hand at Emily’s back, he walked her into his office, where she stepped out of his hold.
“How could you?” she asked.
“I seem to be at a disadvantage.”
“Why don’t you phone up your friends? I’m sure they would be more than happy to tell you exactly what is going on.”
“Again, at a disadvantage here, Emily.” He wasn’t, but he was stalling, trying to buy himself some time, anything to not piss her off even more.
“You pay for everything.” She had her hands down at her sides, hands clenched.
She really didn’t look happy.
“Okay,” he said. “Now I know why Mr. Cole and Billy wanted to call me. I figured you were having some trouble.”
“You pay for my apartment, my car—what else do you pay for?”
He folded his arms, staring at her. “I pay for everything, Emily. Your wage is high for the cleaning you do. I only need you to come in once or twice a week. I run a tight ship. I just like having you around, and there’s no way I’d risk anyone getting close to you.”
“All this time you’ve been manipulating me?”
“I’ve been helping you. I’m not manipulating you.”
“I thought I was handling life well. I was being the grownup. Dealing with my own bills. Taking care of myself.”
“You’ve been doing an amazing job, Emily. You were too young when your parents died.”
“I was eighteen. Legally an adult.”
“Exactly, but you were hurt. Not to mention the trauma of losing both parents as well as the damage done to you. They took your house. I couldn’t stop them from doing that. Your parents had accrued a lot of debt and had a payment plan, but they put their house against those plans. With them gone, I couldn’t take on their debt.”
“But you took me on,” she said. “Is this like some weird kink to you?”
“No! For fuck’s sake, Emily, if this was a kink to me, you’d think I’d have waited two years for us to happen?”
“What is it then?”
“I’m in love with you, okay? That’s what the big old secret is about. I’m in love with you and have been for a long time. You’re everything to me. I love you. It’s why I take care of you. Why I pay for everything. Why I was there when you first woke up. You needed me, and you still need me. I know you think I was manipulating you, but I was doing my best to take care of you, and give you the space you needed to recover.”
She started to cry, and he went to hold her, but she shook her head.
“I need to … I’ve got to go.”
She spun on her heel, but this time, he didn’t follow her. He’d known that when she found out the truth it would be hard for her to deal with. For two years she’d thought she was being strong, when the truth was, he’d been propping her up, helping her, when she didn’t even realize it.
Nancy moved out of the way, holding her paperwork to her chest.
“Go to her, Nancy. Make sure she doesn’t hurt herself or do anything stupid, okay?�
�
“You want me to help her?”
“Yes.”
“It’s my shift tonight.”
“Obviously, I’ll cover. Just make sure she’s okay.”
Nancy put the paperwork on the desk and ran outside.
He moved toward the window and saw Nancy run to Emily’s car.
His woman stopped, and Nancy climbed into the passenger seat. He’d probably made a big mistake letting Nancy take care of her, but the older woman did care about her in some way.
Rubbing at his temples, he felt the stirrings of a headache.
Fuck!
He’d never wanted Emily to find out.
While she’d been dealing with her grief, it was easy to come up with excuses for why something was so cheap, or why she didn’t need to pay. He hadn’t been paying attention when she told him she had an appointment at the bank. It should have raised flags, but he’d been so happy, he’d not even thought about her finding out the truth.
She’d not been ready to know the full extent of his involvement in her life.
He didn’t regret it. Emily had needed help, and no one else would do it. So, he had.
Sure, he had reasons but he’d no intention of acting upon them. Not until she was ready. Not until she could handle the kind of love he had for her. It was a deep, possessive love, one where he felt this overwhelming need to take care of her.
****
“The kids are spending the night at Granny’s house, so we’ve got the entire house to ourselves,” Nancy said. “Which, men, broken hearts, and pain, can only be healed by wine.”
Nancy handed her an empty glass and filled it up. “Drink up.”
“I know why you’re doing this. James sent you to help me, didn’t he?”
“Eh, you shouldn’t worry about that. I’d have come and seen you after my shift, Emily. You got to understand that. He only took away my shift so I can see you tonight. Help you deal with whatever problems plague you.”
“What did you hear?”
“Not a whole lot, to be honest. When it comes to you, James always requests privacy, and well, you’ve seen how ripped the man is, and his reputation. Everyone, and I mean, everyone, does as he says.”
“Oh, believe me, I’m starting to realize just how much everyone does for him.” She sipped at the wine.
“Why don’t you tell me what has got you all twisted up inside?” Nancy drank some wine and let out a little hum. “That’s the good stuff.”
So Emily told Nancy every single sordid detail, or at least everything she knew. She had her glass filled up a second time.
“That was some dark time with your parents. I remember it because it was the time I lost my … sweetheart.”
“You did?” Emily knew Nancy’s husband had died, and she’d even gone to the funeral.
“Yes. It was a hard time for everyone. Your parents, my husband, it was all a little difficult. This is how I dealt with my honey passing. I sat, sobbed, and drank wine. The pain of losing him, I didn’t think I’d make it. We had three beautiful kids, and he was only forty-five when he died. Too young, but his heart was too weak.” Nancy sighed. “Emily, I want you to know that to a point I understand you’re upset. James manipulated you, and it hurt. I get it, I really do.”
“But you also see his side?” Emily asked.
Hearing about Nancy’s husband passing, it made her feel guilty to know she’d unloaded her own pains on this woman, who was still grieving. Or at least, it looked like she was. As far as Emily knew, Nancy hadn’t moved on. She worked to support her three kids, and to keep this roof over her head. She was a hard worker, loyal, kind.
“I do. I know you’re upset now, but look at it this way—wait, more wine.” Nancy got to her feet and disappeared to grab another bottle.
She returned, pulling out the cork with a pop and filling up their glasses.
Emily hadn’t been one for alcohol, but she was liking the lightheadedness. She noticed Nancy wasn’t showing signs of drinking all that much, but whatever.
“Where was I? Oh yes, look at it this way. James had your back. When your parents died, he was there for you. You didn’t have to worry about a single thing, and I’ve got to tell you, there is only one way that can ever happen, love. James, my dear, Emily, is completely in love with you.”
“What if he just wants sex?” Emily asked.
“Have you two gone to the bedroom?”
“Yes, many times. Even in his office.” She covered her mouth and giggled. “I think the wine is starting to have an effect on me.”
“Good. Let it work. It’s good for a woman to let loose. Is he good?”
“James at sex?”
“Yeah.”
“He is. He’s so big and amazing. I was a virgin, and he took care of me. It was like reading a romance novel.” She giggled as Nancy filled up her wine glass.
The giggling intensified with each sip.
“You’ve got to keep him, Emily. James is a keeper, and I know you’re pissed, but he means well. I’d give anything to have my baby back again. He took care of me, you know. The way James does you. I know he felt so guilty for not taking care of his health. I miss him so much.” Nancy sighed, closing her eyes.
“I need to use the bathroom.” Emily grabbed her cell phone and followed the directions toward the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet, she dialed James’s number.
He answered on the first ring.
“I think I’m still very much mad at you, but I wanted to tell you, I love you too.”
“Emily?”
“I’ve had a lot of wine so I may not remember any of this, but I do love you. In fact, I kind of fancy you as well. I love it when we have sex.” She giggled. “When you go all dirty on me and tell me to call your thing a cock.” She gasped, covering her mouth. “I love watching us together as well. It’s so naughty.”
“Baby, you know I’m going to make you regret this phone call.”
“No. I was talking with Nancy, and she’s in so much pain still. She lost her hubby, but I was so wrong to be mad at you.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“You were taking care of me in a stalkery way, but you were still taking care of me.”
“No excuse.”
“Why are you being my voice of reason?” she asked.
“I know come the morning, you’re still going to have your views, and you think I didn’t feel this way myself. You’re twenty years younger than me, Emily. Believe me, there have been many times over the past couple of years I’ve crossed the line.”
She giggled. “I like you crossing the naughty line.”
“I’m coming to get you. I’ve got to see drunk Emily.”
“I giggle a lot and burp.” She did exactly that. “Sorry, that wasn’t very sexy, was it?”
“It was fine. No more wine.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter Seven
Sipping at his coffee, James looked into the bedroom where Emily looked a complete mess. She was cute, no doubt about that. When he went to Nancy’s home, he had seen the older woman wasn’t so drunk, but Emily had been wasted.
He’d thanked Nancy for taking care of her, and putting Emily over his shoulder, he’d carried her out to his car. She had squeezed his ass.
Yep, Emily was a little tease with drink inside her.
With some fresh air, the moment they’d arrived at his place, the vomiting and sickness had taken over. He’d held her hair as she spewed up her entire night out.
“Such a waste of money.”
He knew a lot of people felt that way.
He’d washed her, because she had vomit in her hair, brushed her teeth, helped her to bed, and watched her, in case she had decided to throw up throughout the night.
Fortunately, she hadn’t.
He smiled though. There was no doubt, it had been cute.
She rolled over, curling up in a ball. She started to wake up, and as she did, she became aware of her pounding
headache.
She let out a groan.
“Kill me,” she said.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he said.
She dropped her hands and groaned again. “I talked to you.”
“You did.”
“I told you some secrets.”
“How you like it when I talk dirty to you, and how you love to watch me fucking you?”
“Yes.” She covered her face again. “My head has hammers inside of it.”
He picked up the painkillers he’d already gotten for her, and the water.
She sat up, and he watched her take them, tilting her head back as she swallowed them, taking one tablet each time.
“You know, you swallow more food in one mouthful than the tablet.”
“I know, but I fear it gets stuck in my throat. It’s a whole big deal.” She handed him back the glass, and he sat down beside her on the bed.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked.
“Terrible. I vomited everywhere.”
“You did. I cleaned it up. I didn’t even know projectile vomiting was a real thing. You have shocked me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You don’t need to be sorry. It’s all gone now.”
“No, for … my reaction yesterday.”
“Ah,” he said. “Out of all of our conversations, I wondered which one you wouldn’t regret,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I really didn’t.”
“It’s fine, Emily.”
“I was shocked.”
“I imagine finding out a guy is taking care of you at every single level can be a little scary.”
He reached out, tucking some hair behind her ear and offering her a smile.
“I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful though.”
“You didn’t.” He’d figured if she ever did find out the truth, it would be a little upsetting for her. Now, he knew for sure, it had been.
She reached out, taking his hand. “I feel a little guilty.”
“What for?”
“I didn’t … I mean … I had no idea you had even noticed me back then.” She stroked the back of his hand with her fingers. “I was so caught up with my pain, I didn’t even notice you. I mean, I was always grateful when you gave me a job, and helped me wherever I needed it. I just didn’t realize you were there the whole time.”