LIGHTER

by Cole, Mila

  We were dismissed like the servants we were, but I had a fat check in my pocket for my start-up bonus, so I wasn’t about to complain.

  I closed the door to the office behind us.

  “Intense, am I right?” Tony gave me a cheeky grin behind his graying beard.

  “Right, man,” I scoffed. “I better go find the girl so I can figure out our plans for the week.”

  “You moving this weekend?” he asked me.

  I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m going to meet with the landlord today to pay the first and last months’ rent, but it’s going to depend on what the princess has in store for us.”

  “The princess?” I heard him snicker as we walked down the long hallway and into the foyer. “You better not get caught calling her that.”

  I laughed. “I could call her worse.”

  The sound of footsteps caught my attention. When I glanced to the edge of the doorway, Lighter was just coming to a stop.

  Shit. I hope she hadn’t heard me. I imagine she’d have me thrown out on my ass in a New York second if she went running to tell daddy.

  “Call me later,” Tony said as he patted my shoulder.

  “Sure.” I eyed him carefully, trying to read his facial expression. Did he think she heard me? He wasn’t giving anything away if he did. He just moved quickly past me and over to the elevator. He didn’t look back.

  I spoke to her first. “Hey.”

  “Hi.”

  She didn’t seem upset, but I was still going to tread lightly with her.

  “I’m supposed to meet with you to go over this week’s schedule.”

  She barely looked at me as she walked across the shiny marble floor, her bare feet soundless. “My phone is in my room.” She continued to walk past me. When she looked back, she said, “You coming?”

  “Right.”

  “Oh wait.” She stopped me. “You forgot to curtsy.” I could see the rage there in her eyes.

  Fuck! I cleared my throat. I’d screwed up royally—pun intended.

  Her feet shuffled and she started walking faster toward her room. If her legs weren’t so short, I would’ve had to jog to catch her.

  She threw open her bedroom door with force. Didn’t realize there was so much fire in her, but I deserved her attitude this time. I really did feel bad. Not because I’d said it, but because she heard me. Getting caught was never fun.

  “I’m sorry.” I stretched out my neck. It was hard to swallow those words, especially when I was telling them to her. It felt like swallowing a mouth full of thick tar.

  “It’s fine.”

  I groaned. I fucking hated that word. It was like a fucking female rite of passage, and it got under my skin.

  My body moved instinctively like a wildcat, and I stood close enough to her side that she could feel my breath on her skin. I knew it. I could see the way she shivered under my cold glare. If she wanted to act like a child, then I’d treat her like one. Maybe a little fear would keep her mouth shut. I didn’t need her running off to daddy and telling on me every five minutes. He warned me that she could have tantrums, and that she’d likely try to get me to let her go off on her own. I was never supposed to take no for an answer. She had to listen to me when it came to her safety.

  “I’m only going to say this once, Princess, so listen good. I don’t like a liar. So don’t tell me you’re fine and pout like you’re ten years old. If you’re pissed, then say you’re pissed. We’re not going to play fucking games. The two of us have to work closely together, and I don’t like it any more than you do, but I need this job and you need security. I got your back. You best believe that.” I bit down hard. “But I won’t listen to your childish bullshit.”

  “I’m pissed,” she said right before she slammed her elbow into my gut.

  I grunted and then laughed. “You hit like a girl.”

  “Don’t call me princess,” she said to me as she climbed up on her bed. “I don’t like it.”

  “Fair enough.” This day just kept getting better. I rolled my eyes and clenched my jaw, holding back the words I really wanted to say.

  I pulled out the chair from her desk and placed it next to her bed. I sat down, straddling the back and facing toward her.

  “We good?” I asked.

  She reached for her phone on the nightstand and didn’t make eye contact with me. “Let’s go over my schedule.”

  I pulled out my phone and opened my calendar app. Before Chloe was in my life full-time, I didn’t even know phones had calendars.

  “On Thursday I’ve got to make an appearance at Laken Belltaire’s art exhibit at 8:00 p.m.” She was in full business mode now, and that I liked. “The event is in the Jon Lyon’s building on Fourth Street. I don’t like to be late, and I should be there thirty minutes at most. Friday is pretty open, but I’d like to schedule a time for me to go to the farmer’s market downtown. What does Friday look like for you?”

  Farmer’s market… Really? “What about ten that morning, or is that too early for you?” Damn my mouth. I couldn’t help the snippy comments. They just sort of rolled off my tongue before I had the chance to stop them. Old habits were hard to break.

  She snapped her head in my direction, her silver-violet hair whipping around her face. “Ten is fine.”

  Fine.

  She was just using the word to piss me off, and it was working.

  “I plan on staying in this weekend, aside from dinner with my father on Sunday at seven o’clock.” Her voice was clipped.

  “So nothing Saturday?”

  “You hard of hearing in your old age?” Lighter’s voice was serious at first, but I caught a light smile playing on her lips when I looked up. She was a cocky little brat.

  “Funny.” I glared but didn’t smile back. Instead, I let my icy stare work its magic.

  She quickly changed the subject.

  Smart girl.

  “Monday is busy,” she continued. “At nine thirty that morning, I have a gynecologist appointment. From there, I’ll need to stop at the pharmacy. I have to be on campus by twelve for my advisor meeting. Then at four o’clock—”

  “Wait.” I interrupted. “There has to be an easier way to do this. Can you just text me the schedule?” And fuck, I would have to sit with her at the lady doctor. Sure as hell hope I don’t have to hold her hand. Maybe I could send Tony.

  “Do you have email?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Fine. Type your email address on this.” She passed me her phone. There was that word again. “I’ll email the monthly schedule to you.”

  I grabbed hold of her wrist, and her breath hitched. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt her, just stun her a little. “You made your point.” I eyed her. “Enough with the word fine. I’m serious.” I don’t know why it ticked me off so bad. I think it was just her. She got under my skin like a fungus.

  “I…” She stopped. Her eyes fell to where my fingers were touching her, and I knew that she was affected by me, but from the look in her eyes, it wasn’t sexual. She looked like a scared little girl. “I didn’t realize I said it that time,” she said. “Habit, I guess.”

  I let go of her and nodded, quickly changing the subject. “I’m putting my cell number in your phone too in case something changes, or you have an emergency and need me for some reason.”

  “Okay.” Lighter stretched her legs out, and the movement caught my attention. When I looked over at her, she tilted her head back, rolling it from side to side. Her tan, bare legs were slightly open in front of her.

  My dick jerked from behind the zipper of my jeans. There was no denying a fine body, but the moment she opened her mouth again, I was back to being a limp noodle. Just like that—poof, and it was gone.

  Her mouth would look amazing under some duct tape.

  Fuck! I can’t even believe I just thought that.

  Time to go, Slick.

  Clearing my throat, I stood from my chair and tossed the phone lightly on the bed. “Email me the s
chedule. I’ll be back around six tomorrow morning.”

  I could’ve sworn she said “fine” under her breath, but when I looked at her, she said, “Okay.”

  After I nodded, I was out the door like my ass was on fire.

  Nighty-night, Princess.

  Four

  Lighter

  I tossed and turned all night, and when I woke up because of a nightmare, I was done. I figured there was no way I’d get any more sleep. It was nearing 5:00 a.m., so I just got up. My eyes felt heavy and my body felt drained, but I wasn’t closing my eyes again and seeing that face.

  I ran myself a hot bath and slipped down inside the tub. Mornings like these made me wish I were back in New York, back in the comforts of my apartment. Where no one cared what I did or said. I’d never wanted to come back to Philly. I thought I could convince my father to let me stay, but he’d said no. He shot the idea down before I could even get the question to roll off my lips. He told me that once I got my degree, then I was free to go back. I hated being under constant surveillance. I hated this city. But mostly, I hated myself for not being stronger. It was easy for me to run away to New York back then. Safer.

  But I ran away in hopes that I’d never have to come back. There was only one bridge separating me from that other world, nine-tenths of a mile separating Philly from New York.

  After I finished washing my unruly hair, I stepped out of the tub. The rush of the cold air against my wet body caused goose bumps to rise on my skin. The reflection staring back at me was dull. My face was void of emotion, and the black circles under my eyes were dark and noticeable, clearly displaying my lack of sleep.

  I had nothing on my schedule for the day, but I felt like I needed to get out of the house for a while. I’d been cooped up for three days. I just needed sunshine or something. Maybe fresh air would help lighten my mood a bit. I’d been in a funk since I arrived back home.

  I slipped on a pair of dark jeans and a loose-fitting white top before sliding on my flats. My mother would cringe at my appearance if she could see me. I tied my wet hair up in a messy knot and slipped on my black Yankees cap and my favorite shades. It was the closest I could get to incognito.

  The penthouse was quiet when I made my way through the hallway. Mom was still out of town, and I figured Dad was either in his office or already out for the day. I just wanted to take a walk around outside these walls and maybe get a cup of coffee. No harm no foul. I’d just slip out for a minute; no one would even notice. The security team was probably in the kitchen having breakfast, unless Dad was still home. In which case, they wouldn’t even be in the building yet.

  The elevator doors opened just as I was about to press the button, and Slick stood there glaring at me.

  I felt like a mouse caught in a trap.

  “Going somewhere?”

  His dark, beady eyes turned my stomach. I hated having security.

  “Just for coffee,” I replied.

  “Let’s go, then.” He stepped to the right so I could get onto the elevator next to him. When I did, the space suddenly felt smaller than normal.

  My hands tightened around my shoulder bag as I stood next to him.

  “Do you sneak out at six in the morning a lot?”

  I hated how he thought he knew me. There was always some kind of hidden meaning behind his words. He only knew what my father told him, and my father didn’t know as much as he thought. You can’t send your daughter off to prep school for five years and expect to know them. He still thought I was a fragile thirteen-year-old girl.

  Maybe the fragile part was right, but I’d changed.

  When I looked over at Slick, he was still waiting for my response. His arms were crossed over his chest, and it looked like he was about to bust out of the black button-down collared shirt he was wearing. Yesterday he was wearing jeans, but today he was all business wearing the khaki dress slacks my father insisted on.

  The elevator made a dinging noise when we reached ground level. It felt like being saved by the bell. I stepped out too quickly, catching the point of my shoe in the crevice of the floor. My arms flew up as I hurtled toward the floor of the lobby. I thought for sure I was going to face-plant, until I felt a strong arm around my waist.

  When I was steady on my feet, he released me. I could still feel the warmth of his sturdy arm as if it were still wrapped around me. Uneasiness stirred in my chest. “Thank you,” I whispered, trying to clear my head. I wouldn’t dare look over my shoulder at him, because I knew that if I did, he’d be smirking like an egotistical maniac. Instead, I charged ahead out the lobby doors. Mel, the doorman, greeted me in passing, and I offered a slight smile. It was the best I could do. My morning crabbiness was nothing unusual.

  As soon as the cool air hit my face, I felt alive again, like I could breathe. There was something about Slick that made me feel wobbly. Not like I was off balance, more like my stomach was tilted on its axis and I couldn’t right it if I tried. It didn’t sit well with me. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I found him attractive—ridiculously attractive. But I was sadly disappointed to learn that he was just another prick my father had hired, like everyone else who’d made an appearance in my life (outside my mother).

  Ducking my head, I turned to the left outside the front of our building, walking in the direction of the closest coffee shop. Each time I glanced up, I noticed that people were staring at me. It happened so much that I rarely thought of it, but today was different. The nightmare from last night was still freshly lingering in my mind. I felt small, helpless, and completely out of my comfort zone. I should’ve made myself coffee at home instead of walking into the lion’s den without my claws out.

  “Slick,” I called out over my shoulder. My words were hasty, and he was beside me in an instant.

  “Lighter,” he said with ease. “Everything okay?”

  I stepped to the side of the curb out of the way of this morning’s walking traffic and kept my gaze down at my feet. The streets were incredibly busy at such an early hour.

  With Slick walking two paces behind me, I felt like he was making things worse. All I wanted to do, was to get my damn coffee and go back to the house.

  “Would you mind walking next to me today, instead of behind me?” It wasn’t an odd request. I’d asked security to walk beside me before. Sometimes it looked like we were just ordinary people when they were next to me. I needed ordinary today.

  He gave me an odd glance, and I shook it off. He was probably making a mental note about me in his head. Mentally jotting down that I was a helpless little girl in need.

  “Okay,” he agreed, which surprised me. In the short amount of time I’d known him, he didn’t come off to me as the agreeing type. His dominant nature was more prominent.

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I started walking again. He matched my short strides.

  “No more Yankees hats while we’re together. You’re making me look bad,” he muttered as if we were old friends.

  And for the first time since we’d been in each other’s presence, he made me smile.

  I didn’t reply back to him, but I didn’t have to. There was some kind of silent understanding between us, and I didn’t want to say something to screw it all up again. My mouth tended to get me in trouble where he was concerned.

  The Coffee on the Corner café was not crowded, thankfully. We were in and out in no time.

  Just as we were walking out the door, my phone rang from inside my bag. Glancing at the screen and seeing “Mom,” my day perked right up. I couldn’t believe she was still awake. It must’ve been like 3:00 a.m. in LA. She must’ve just finished a shoot.

  “Mom,” I answered as we made our way back down the street. “It’s so good to hear your voice.”

  “Hey, sweetheart. How are you?”

  “I’m okay, I guess. I had a long night last night, but I just got a coffee, so I should be good to go soon. How’s the movie coming along?” She and I had a pretty good relationship despite the fact tha
t she was hardly around anymore. She visited me a lot while I was away at school, much more than my father ever did. We were as close as we could be even though she was always a half a world away.

  “It’s going. I’m exhausted today, but I’m getting a little break, so I shouldn’t complain. How’s the new security team working out?” she asked.

  I glanced over at Slick, who seemed to not be paying much attention to my conversation. “Fine.” I froze as I said the words, and when he glanced at me, I knew that he heard me say it. I didn’t understand his obsession with the word, but I was trying my best not to use it, at least not toward him. He had quite the temper, and I found myself not wanting to make him mad. Unless he called me Princess—those were fighting words. “The team really just started today,” I told her.

  “Your father seems to really like this team he put together this time. Maybe it will last.”

  “Maybe,” I replied as I continued to walk. “When will you be home?”

  “I’ve got four more weeks left here, and I have to go to Vancouver for two weeks after that, and then I’ll be home.”

  My shoulders fell. Six weeks until I could see her. Six weeks alone with my father. “I miss you,” I admitted. I didn’t care if it made me sound pathetic. I did miss her.

  “I miss you too. I’ll call you again at the end of the week.”

  I nodded. “Okay, Mom. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Bye, dear,” she said, then hung up the phone.

  It was nice to hear her voice, even if she was hundreds of miles away.

  “Miss Derosa,” Mel acknowledged me again as we entered the building.

  “Mel.”

  He gave me a wide-toothed grin this time since I’d said his name. The old man had been the doorman in our building for as long as I could remember, and it was probably the second time in my life I’d actually said his name. You would’ve thought it was his birthday with the way his eyes lit up.

  He had my mother to thank for it happening at all. She lightened my mood.

  Man, I missed her.