Dark Layers (Volume 4)

by Gray, A L

  "I will see you soon Miss Gooden." I say impassive as I walk away from her.

  I want to fucking spank myself, I want to literally hang myself up for everyone to see what a weak wanker I am. I need to control my personalities, if not for myself than for Anile.

  Once I'm back in my palatial office, I sit in a daze for such a long time and read over all Anile's letters. How the hell can I insure I am good for Anile, how the hell can I insure her safety with me? I don't want to mess her up, she doesn't deserve to have someone like me tarnish her innocent mind. She's been through so much already in her short life. I mentally recoil her life - her evil father, her mother being taken from her when she was a child. I feel so sad for her. Maybe we shouldn't have any kind of relationship, maybe I should just have her work here and never have a relationship with her? I should make her hate me so she never tries to pursue a relationship with me - surely that would be easier for us both? I shake my head furiously. Could I even do that - make her hate me?

  While mentally fighting with myself, I clock a few errors in her letters, and without thinking properly, I grasp my phone.

  "Hello?" Anile says sweetly.

  "Miss Gooden?" I say.

  "Yes, is that you Mr. Darks?"

  "Yes, who else would it be? Do you not check your caller ID?" I snap.

  "Sorry, Sir. What can-"

  I don't have time for this, I cut her off dead. She has to hate me, she must for her own salvation. I think this is best for her.

  "There are numerous errors in these letters. Re-write them properly, what do you think I am running here, a bloody GCSE exam?"

  There is a short pause, and for a second, I want to apologise to her. Fuck, what the hell is wrong with me? I seize my head in confusion.

  "I am not a secretary, if you wanted a secretary to write your letters, then maybe you should have hired one qualified for the job!" She slams down the phone.

  Well fuck me in the arse! I am wide-eyed. A strange feeling that I have never felt before washes over my skin like water. This woman, this woman has possessed me. She is sweet, unknowingly sexy, and she has a punishable mouth.

  "Shit!" I curse. I have to have her, I know I won't be able to help myself.

  My phone rings and I answer it quickly thinking it's Anile calling to apologise.

  "Yes?" I snap.

  "Elijah, you alright mate?" It's my oldest friend, Amin.

  "Yes, I'm good, mate. Sorry about the rude greeting, it's just been a bizarre day at the office. What's up?"

  "I ain't spoken to you this week and I wondered how you were doing? What's going on at the office?"

  "Believe me, you don't want to know." I say, almost sarcastically laughing at myself.

  "Oh I do - spill." He orders.

  I roll my eyes, desperate to tell someone what's going on.

  "Do you remember that girl, Anile? The one I told you about a few years ago?"

  "Yeah, what, is she working for you?" He laughs.

  "Actually she is."

  I hear him gasp loudly down the speaker. "Elijah, you should stay away from her. You know you are not mentally healthy enough for such a young woman."

  I seize my chin in question. "Do you really think that?" I whisper.

  "Elijah, unless you are ready to change, yes I do think that. She doesn't deserve what your family has to offer."

  I sigh long and steely. "You're right." I lower my head, I'm defeated. "What do you mean, 'ready to change,' how can I change?" Hope was in his statement.

  "Mate, if you want to be in a proper relationship, you need to find a way through your dark side. You must not hurt her, she's not like your wives."

  "I know." I take a moment to ease my dark soul. "I want to change, be good, for her." I confess.

  "Then you have to be sure you try, with every ounce of strength you have, mate."

  "How?" I ask.

  I'm no good at all this feeling stuff. Amin has always been there to keep me mentally right. We were soldiers together, he has seen me through my darkest hour.

  "You need to constantly think before you do anything with her, don't act impulsively. And before you say you are not an impulsive person, we both know that isn't true when it comes to sex."

  "You're right." I think hard, I think how I can test myself. "What if I don't rush sex with her, take things slowly, build a relationship first?"

  "That's it mate, you have got the right idea. Stay on that path, and call me, whenever you need me, Elijah."

  "Thanks Amin, as always, you are a loyal friend."

  "Elijah, you are my brother. I will always be here to help you."

  I smile affectionately and hang up the phone. If I keep myself in check regarding sex, things should be okay between Anile and I, surely? We need trust before anything else, I need to trust her. And that is what I plan on building between us before anything else.

  Lunchtime arrives. I rise to my feet and make my way down to the cafeteria. Jezebel usually brings me my lunch but I have hope that I'll run into little Anile.

  I GLIDE INTO THE cafeteria with ease. Everyone stops their conversations and just stare at me. I'm used to this, and to be honest, I like it - it shows my authority. I eye Anile and Hester sitting at the centre table in the cafeteria. I want to shake my head because I was hoping Anile would be alone, I cannot keep interrupting them. I order a coffee and an apple at the counter and make my way back out of the cafeteria, but I stop by the doors. I'd love to know what they are saying, I'm deadly curious. I smile viciously and make my way around the back of them, insuring I don't catch their eyes. While standing behind Anile and Hester, I catch a second of their conversation.

  “You are the only one so far; I have to admit, Mr. Darks makes me feel, uneasy. I’m not sure if I like being around him. One minute he's so lovely, and the next, well, I'm sure you get the picture.” Anile says uncomfortable.

  Well, that's good to know. I smile to myself and Hester catches me. She just stares in shock.

  “Ms. Prynne, if you will?” I say cool. I motion for her to leave us, and like a good little woman, she gets up and leaves. I place my coffee and apple on the table and I take a seat next to Anile.

  “So I make you feel uneasy?” I say, staring right at her.

  She says nothing, she's just staring with horror written all over her pretty face. I lean closer to her and rest my elbows on the table top - I'm trying to exude intimacy. I catch her fingers in the corner of my eye, she's annoyingly fiddling with an apple. I grasp her hand to stop her from fondling it - her anxiety is bugging me, I want her to feel comfortable but I have absolutely no idea how to calm her nerves. She glances at her hands and then back up at me quickly. I don't heed her gaze, I'm staring at the serendipity apple. I watch it roll off of the table. It hits the floor silently, or I am the only one who cannot hear it. Anile shocks me, she tries to break free from me and tries to rise to her feet. I grasp her jacket.

  “Sit back down Anile.” I order quietly.

  She submits perfectly, and stares with an open mouth. Oh what I could do with that mouth.

  “Well? I do not make a habit of asking the same question twice Anile.” I snap.

  “A little.” She whispers. "But you know that already, don't you?"

  Not fully Princess, but now I have confirmation.

  “You are very innocent looking Anile. How old are you?”

  “Did I not list my age on my Curriculum Vitae?”

  I almost roll my eyes at her, if you did I would have seen it, I'm thorough like that.

  “I'm twenty two, Sir." She confesses.

  I smile at how young and sweet she is.

  "I am going to release you now, stay put." I say low.

  "Okay." She squeaks.

  “Good girl.” My head becomes heavy, like a rush of Anile swimming endlessly around inside me. Fitchers bird comes to mind. My past two wives are almost dead to me, and now, I have my third all lined up.

  “The third and youngest sister.” I whisper whil
e shaking my head. Desires do come true.

  “The what?” She gasps.

  The thought of offering Anile the chance to prove I can trust her makes me hard.

  “Hmmm, Fitchers' Bird.”

  I loosen my grip on her arm and my hand idly makes its way to her sweet face. I graze her cheek with the back of my fingers and gladly accept the rush I get from her body.

  “Et vos eritis mihi in tertia.” I whisper.

  I release her face and start to rise to my feet, but not before collecting her hand, and I open her hand, slowly. I place my lunch in her palm with a riddle of who I am - I wonder if she gets it?

  "Millions saw the apple fall, but only one asked why." I say, and with hesitation, I let go of her hand and rise to my feet with two questions on my mind - am I good enough for her? Or should I just let her go?

  AFTER HALF A DAY of consideration, I realize that I need to see Anile alone, in the comfort of only our presence. I need to see if she is strong enough for me, I need to see if I am ready to collide my paintings. I call Hester from my office phone and nervously await my fate.

  "Hester?" I ask.

  "Yes, Mr. Darks."

  "Send Anile up to my office, right away."

  "Um, okay, Mr. Darks."

  I hang up and make my way into my office utility room and cast my eyes over my company cameras. This room is private enough, no one would ever suspect that I have eyes all over my company. I see Anile and Hester talking so I switch on the sound. Anile looks so tiny on camera, she's so young. I seize my head and wonder if this is fair to bring Anile into my dark life - is it wrong of me? I hear Anile strangely begging Hester to help her leave, and my heart falls through the planet. I quickly turn off the cameras and run out of my office and to the lift in the lobby. This is it, make or break. If she leaves before I get to her, I will accept our fait and know it is not right of me to pursue her.

  CONTINUED

  The bridegroom looked up, saw the decked-out skull, thought it was his bride, and nodded to her, greeting her kindly. But when he and his guests had all gone into the house, the brothers and kinsmen of the bride, who had been sent to rescue her, arrived. They locked all the doors of the house, that no one might escape, set fire to it, and the wizard and all his crew had to burn.

  THE END...

  Novels by A L Gray

  Dark Layers (Volume 1)

  Dark Layers (Volume 2)

  Dark Layers (Volume 3)

  Dark Layers (Volume 4)

  still to come

  coming soon

  Starting With

  AWAKENING

  THE ORIGINAL PROPHECY SERIES

  Prepare to be possessed by Vampires in 2015.

  Erica, a girl who's suffering with the loss of her parents. She remains optimistic that she and her brother - Lucian - can come through this tragic time in their lives together.

  She tries to save her brother from his own salvation, but she gets caught in the crossfire of a supernatural would.

  Erica is lured into this dark possessing world by a man that is too sinister and dangerous for her, but little does she know, he has an alternative agenda.

  Love is an enigma not to be reckoned with and while Erica believes in only one form of love, for her, it comes in many ways to test her soul.

  Confused by her feelings for two men, she continually fights with her emotions to do what is right, not only for herself, but for her loved ones.

  Will her love ultimately define her fate?

  Romantic, funny and shocking tales of events that will keep you hooked and wanting more.

  My Thanks

  I want to thank all my readers. Every time you purchase one of my books you are supporting me - thank you. If it was not for you, there would be no me, and for that I am eternally grateful.

  I want to thank my cousin. You know who you are. You helped me day after day with my edits. I adore and cherish your opinion - I am forever grateful for your help and patience.

  About the author

  Anita Gray aka A L Gray lives in Kent, in England, with her partner, stepson and two dogs.

  Her passions are reading, playing the piano and listening to music, but most of all, writing stories and getting every detail out on paper for others to hopefully enjoy.

  She quotes - God bless all my readers

  Other Quotes from A L Gray

  Live, love, learn - always do, don't ask, what if

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