Whiskey Tango

by Alison Beamon

  “London, don’t.” Her father warned but she opened it anyway. Right there in living color were the images that he had leaked. There was even one of her sleeping in her own bed. Tossing it on the table the photos slid out and spread out on the table. She had never seen grown men move so fast. They were pushing and shoving to get the images back into the folder.

  “How bad is it?” She asked her father and he knew what she wanted to know. The images were not what bothered her. It was the damage to his company that was worrying her.

  “It is minimal.” Was his answer and she did not believe him. If it was minimal then he would not need his damage control team.

  “I am sorry, Dad.” The tears welled up and she was not able to stop them. Her father was hugging her as she cried into his shoulder.

  “It is okay, London, we will fix this.” Why did everyone keep saying that? Sure they might be able to fix the damage that it was going to cause. They would not be able to fix the damage that it was doing to her.

  “Do you know why?” She asked because that was something that she really wanted to know.

  “Not yet, but we are working on it.” She would just have to accept that. Unless she wanted to ask Jon and at that moment she did not.

  “There is a Nina Jones on the phone for you, Sir.” Her father’s assistant said coming into the room. She held a cordless phone out to him.

  “Lane.” Her father always answered the phone like that. She listened to his one sided conversation. They all did. She wondered why this conversation was so important to them all.

  “Thank you for calling.” Her father said and handed the phone back to his assistant. They all waited while he cleared his throat.

  “It seems that our Mr. Tango was engaged to Nina Jones. We knew that they were connected.” He said to London before he continued.

  “She seems to think that he blames me for their breakup. Something about giving her the job that took her away from him.” When his eyes met hers she saw the anger there.

  “He thinks I took away the most important person in his life, so he came after mine.” There was more than a little anger in his eyes when he finished that statement.

  The thought that it was not all her fault did nothing to ease the pain. It made it worse.

  She had been a means to an end for him and that meant that he had felt nothing for her. His whole seduction had just been a way to get even. Nothing helped. She stayed at her father’s house until Friday and she knew she could not hide out there forever. Her cell phone was still on the counter where she had left it. No one had touched it and no one had turned it on. She could only imagine the calls she missed.

  Instead of turning it on she placed it back on the counter. She did not want to deal with anybody. Her father came into the kitchen.

  “I am going home.” She said as he kissed her on the top of her head. She did not want to think of what all of this was doing to him.

  “I don’t like that idea. I would rather you stay here.” She knew that he only had her best interests in mind, but she needed to get back to living. Sure she was still hurt and she was sure that would take a long time to get over, but she had to try.

  “I am so sorry, London.” He said then and she faced him. “It is all my fault.”

  “No it is not. We all got caught up in the web. There is only one person to blame.” That was Jon she thought. She had not heard anymore about the damage control and at that moment she was not so sure she wanted to.

  “You are paying the highest price, and I wish I could just take it all away.” Yes the price was high, but that was small considering what it was going to cost her in the long run. The issues she was sure she would have with trust. She closed her eyes as she remembered her visit to her doctor. There was probably a message on her phone. At that moment she was not sure she wanted to hear it.

  “Lonna Hughes has cancelled her gala gown with us.” He said and she really wished he had not told her that. They needed a big name to bring them publicity. It was all too much.

  “Do you have another cell phone?” She asked him, he always had spares around the house. He moved to the drawer and pulled one out.

  “I had it sent over this morning. I am sure yours is fried.” That was probably the truth. There was no need in dealing with it all at that moment. She needed to get out, she had to clear her mind.

  “I might come back tonight, but I need to go home for a little while.”

  “The door is always open.” She kissed him on the cheek and made her way to her car. It was in the exact spot that she had left it.

  “London.” She heard him call her name and turned to see what he wanted.

  “Take my car, please.” He said and she nodded. It would be easier to move around town if she was not in her car. People would not expect her to be driving anything else.

  “Thanks, Dad.” There was still the sound of sadness in her tone. She could hear it herself. Driving she made her way to the doctor’s office. When she entered the office they saw her and one of them waved her on back. She hated the way that made her feel.

  “I need to know the test results.” She said to the doctor when she was sitting at the small table in a private room.

  “You are clean. Did you want to do a pregnancy test?” That thought had not even occurred to her. There was something about that word that scared the hell out of her.

  “No, I will come back if I miss my period.” Not having contracted any diseases was a major relief. That was only the first thing she was concerned with.

  “What happened?” The doctor asked and she knew that she should not say anything. The damage control team would have all the answers when it was time.

  “I am still trying to figure that out.” It was not entirely a lie. It was not exactly the truth. There was just something about saying what the team thought. She was just a tool that he had used to get his revenge.

  Turning into her church parking lot, she simply sat there. She was not ready to go inside, but there was some comfort in sitting in the parking lot. Heading inside was not an option so she said a quick prayer and drove away. Her neighborhood was quiet as she drove up to her house. The garage door button was in her car and so she would not be able to park the car inside. Well not unless she went through and opened it.

  Entering her house she was hit with the flood of emotions. The man was everywhere in that house. Everywhere she looked she could see him. This was not going to work. Quickly she went up to her room. The bed was still unmade. The bottle of whiskey still sat on the night stand.

  In her closet she grabbed a suitcase and started throwing her clothes into it. She did not care what she just wanted some of her stuff at her dads. In the bathroom she got all of the items she would need.

  Then she was moving back through the house. The sound of a motorcycle made her heart jump in her chest. Praying that it was not him she hurried through the house. The sound of the motorcycle came again and she hid by the front door until it passed. Running she made her way to the car and tossed her stuff in the back.

  Getting into the drivers seat she heard the motorcycle again and looked up to see that it was Jon and he was coming up her driveway. With hands that shook she started the car and got out of there.

  The motorcycle followed her and she was not sure what she should do. She most definitely did not want to see him or talk to him. Why was he doing this to her? The tears burned her eyes and she wondered what she should do.

  The cell phone rang and she saw that it was her father. Who else did she think it was going to be? He was the only one with the number.

  “Hello.”

  “Are you okay?” She heard the sound of worry strong in his tone.

  “Yes, I am coming back over there now.” She looked to see that he was still following her.

  “Jon Tango called us, he has videos.” Those words were rushed out almost as if he did not want to say them.

  “What does he want?” That was all she wanted to know at the moment.
Turning into a parking lot she put the car in park. He was right behind her.

  “He did not say.”

  “I will be heading that way soon.” They ended the call and she opened the door of the car. London felt like she knew him well enough to know that he would not hurt her. Jon came up to where she stood, but made no move to touch her. The tears pooled and her lip trembled.

  “What do you want?” The hurt was strong in her tone. She did not want to look at him.

  “Haven’t you done enough?” She asked when he did not say anything. She could not bring herself to even look at him.

  Looking everywhere but at him she waited. Seconds turned into minutes and she did not think he was going to say anything. She did not want to stand there all day waiting. Turning she opened the door to the car. His hand came around her and he closed it. She felt him against her. She could not stop the tears and simply let them fall.

  “I have to hurt him.” London did not like those words. The emotion closed her throat and so she shook her head slowly from side to side. His body was pressing into hers and she wanted to die.

  “By destroying me?” Those words did escape and she hated it.

  “You are just the one in the middle.” Those words crushed her and she pushed back against him. She had to get away from him. The movement had him off balance and he stepped back. Jerking open the door she almost made it inside before he was grabbing her around the waist and hauling her back against him.

  “I have videos of you.” He threatened in her ear.

  “I don’t care.” That was the truth. Images, videos, none of it mattered to her broken heart.

  “Your dad does.” That did not help. Spinning she looked into his eyes, that was a mistake. It could not be helped now. The tears were streaming down her face.

  “Do you think any of this will bring her back? She knows about everything you have done.” There was not the slightest hint of emotion on his cold face. Nothing.

  “I am going to the police station and I am going to get a restraining order against you. If you release anything else I will make sure that the world knows it was you who did it.” The tears did not stop but she was okay with that. He reached for her but she pushed his hand away.

  “Don’t touch me.” The ache in her chest was almost unbearable.

  “Don’t come near me again.” There was still nothing on his face. He was so cold and it bothered her.

  “I don’t ever want to see you again.” This time when she opened the door he did not move. She was inside the car and driving away from him. She meant it. If that man released anything else she would go public and tell the world what it was about. She really did not think that would matter to him. But it would help her.

  London was planning on going to the police station and getting that restraining order, but at the moment, she could not stop the flow of tears. It had to get better. Instead she drove to her father’s house and pulled into the garage.

  No one came out to the garage so she simply sat there. Her mind tried to wrap itself around the situation. There was a knock on the car window and she opened her eyes. Her father was standing there and she did not like the look on his face. Opening the door she got out.

  “What happened?” The question was asked as she moved to get her stuff from the back.

  “Nothing else. Matthews thinks you should get a restraining order.” Nodding she agreed.

  “I thought about that too.” She admitted as she followed him into the house.

  SIX

  The restraining order was acquired but it did not make her feel any better. The damage control team was doing all they could, but the photos were still out there.

  The following Monday she decided that she did not want to hide anymore. There was also a small issue that she wanted to try and correct.

  The company plane landed in Burbank and she made her way off. She hoped that she would not be recognized here. After all she was a thousands of miles away from the trouble back home. Still the idea that she might be recognized had her wearing a jacket and sunglasses.

  “I need to see Lonna Hughes.” The man at the desk did not say anything to her.

  “What is your name?” He asked and she took a deep breath.

  “I am with Lane Designs, Sir.” Praying against all odds that the appointment had not been cancelled, she waited.

  “I would like to see London Lane.” She heard him and wondered if he had seen the images on the internet. “I bet they aren’t even real.” She waited the shame rushing through her. Buttons were pushed and he looked back up to her.

  “1107 Eleventh floor, elevator is there.” He said pointing. The nerves in her stomach were getting the better of her. Saying nothing she made her way to the elevator and pressed the up button. Several other people joined her, but no one spoke. London kept her head tilted down in hopes that no one would notice her. In the elevator she tried to stay in the corner and kept her face to the front. She did not want anyone knowing who she was.

  Stepping out on the eleventh floor, she made her way down the hall. The door opened quickly after her knock and a man stood there.

  “Mrs. Hughes cancelled this meeting.” The man said and was about to close the door in her face.

  “Please, Sir.” She said stopping the door with her foot. “Tell her it is London Lane and I just need to speak to her.”

  “Let her in.” She heard the female voice say and she took a deep breath. Her pre arranged speech was all but gone from her brain. The door opened and she was allowed to enter. Lonna Hughes was seated on a chaise lounge and she was reading a book.

  “I am not here to try and convince you to reconsider, I just want to tell you what happened.” That was the truth and she meant it. If this woman did not want to be associated with her she would understand. Lonna closed her book and stood up.

  Moving to the couch she held out her hand and London knew she wanted her to sit.

  When she was seated on the couch, Lonna sat beside of her. The words that she had all but memorized would not come and she really just wanted to get this over with.

  “I met a man at a bar and I was stupid enough to go home with him. He was angry at my father and he used me to get revenge.” The hand that covered hers was warm and she looked up.

  ‘What did your dad do to this man?” The gentle tone of her voice made London want to tell her everything. She knew that she was not supposed to.

  “My dad hired his girlfriend and gave her a job in Paris.” It sounded so simple when she said it like that. “She broke up with him and left him behind.”

  “There is more.” Her words were not really a question.

  “Not really, he thinks my dad took away the most important person in his life so he is going to destroy me.” That still hurt and she knew that her voice caught when she said that last part. She hoped Lonna did not hear it.

  “You have feelings for him.” Again it was not a question.

  “I am working on those.” London was not sure that she would ever be able to forget them, but given time, she may be able to live with them.

  “I really just wanted you to know. I wasn’t like that, he was my first.” This was the first time she had admitted that. There was no way she was ever going to tell her father or her mother. She would probably never admit to that again.

  “I did not know that he was taking pictures, and now he claims that he has videos.”

  “Oh, Sweetheart, men can be beasts when they want something. I know your friends keep telling you that it gets better.”

  “My dad keeps saying he will fix it. But he can’t.”

  “I was going to say that it takes time. It hurts the most right now because it is fresh. You trusted him, and he hurt you. I don’t know if you will ever get over that, but you will get past it.” Lonna drew her into a hug. This woman made her feel better than any body else had. “I will think about the gala gown and let you know. I have had my share of incidents myself.”

  London stayed for a lit
tle while longer and they talked. She was still trying to hide in the elevator and as she made her way past the man at the desk she stopped. Back at the desk she raised her sunglasses at him. He looked at her and she knew that he recognized her.

  “They are.” That was all she was going to say. The man sat open mouthed as she walked away.

  The next day she went to work. The place was somber as if in mourning. She did not like it. The people that were usually all so friendly would not make eye contact with her.

  “Hey, London.” Except for the security guard. He was smiling from ear to ear, she did not want to think anything bad about that. The man was always smiling. Waving she made her way to her office. She was waiting on her email to open when her father popped his head in.