by Jenny Lynn
“Come with me sir,” the woman said as she guided him to the men’s section. “Sofia will help you find what you need Miss.” I followed the other woman up a set of stairs to the women’s section as I watched Nicholas walk away.
“Did you have anything in mind?” Sofia asked me.
“Um, not really,” I told her. “A sundress maybe? Shoes, and underwear?”
“I’ll pick a few things for you to try on,” she told me as she guided me to a change room, trying not to stare at my police t-shirt and sweatpants. She had me turn around, mentally checking my size, then left. I stepped into a brightly lit room with a tall mirror in a golden frame. I removed my clothing, leaving them on the ground. After a while there was a knock at the door. I opened it a crack, and she held out a white lace bra and underwear.
“I thought we should start here. I have a knack for sizing, these should fit you,” she told me. “If not let me know and I will get a different size. I checked the tags, she was spot on. The woman had a talent.
“These should fit, thank you,” I said as I took them into the room with me. I slipped them on; they were incredibly flattering and soft against my skin.
“How do they fit?” Sofia asked through the door.
“Perfect,” I told her.
“I have a few dresses for you,” she replied. “And heels.” I opened the door and she handed me a few dresses on hangers as well as a pair of nude heels. One dress was white with red and blue embroidered flowers, the other was a soft blue and the third was a soft grey with lace. I tried them on one by one, they all fit beautifully and were unlike anything I had in my closet. It was hard to pick one, they were all incredible. I twirled in front of the mirror, feeling like a princess. There was a knock at the door.
“I’m not sure which I like best,” I said through the door to Sofia.
“Let’s see then,” said a different voice. It was Nicholas. I blushed as I opened the door, wearing the soft blue a-line dress. Nicholas was looking like his normal self wearing a fitted grey suit and crisp white shirt. He tilted his head looking at me, a slow smile on his lips. Then he looked past me at the other two dresses hung up on hangers.
“She’ll take all of them,” he told the sales lady who nodded to him.
“Nicholas, no,” I began to protest. “It’s too much!” He pressed a finger to my lips.
“I insist,” he told me. The woman followed me back into the changeroom to remove the tags from what I was wearing. When she was done I stepped out and followed Nicholas downstairs, he was having the cashier fold my other dresses and place them into a gorgeous leather tote bag he had also purchased for me. I shook my head at him, this was over the top but there was no sense arguing with him. We left the store hand in hand, a few people walked past and turned their heads to look at us. I blushed, we made quite the couple walking down the street together.
“Would you like to grab a bite to eat before our flight?” Nicholas asked. “I don’t want your memories of Spain to be all bad.”
“They aren't,” I told him, lifting myself up on my heels to kiss him gently. He entwined his fingers with mine and we walked along the street until we came to a beautiful cafe with ivy along the wall and an airy open patio. In the corner a man was playing guitar and singing softly in Spanish. We went over to a table and sat down, a cheerful waiter came over to us immediately.
“Welcome,” he said as he handed us both menus. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I’d love a glass of sangria,” I told him with a smile after glancing at the page.
“Make that two,” Nicholas told him. The man nodded and walked away, Nicholas looked at me across the table. “You don’t know how good it feels to see you smile Breanne,” he told me.
“You were right, earlier in the hotel.” I told him. “What happened was terrifying, but I don’t want to live in fear. Maybe it was a mistake? Maybe they were looking for someone else?”
“We have no way of knowing right now,” he said. “The police will investigate and I’ll be taking precautions in the meantime but I’m still going to live my life.”
“You’re amazing,” I said. “You’re so calm in the face of this. I don’t know what I would do if you were hurt, or worse.”
He reached across the table and stroked my hand. “Let’s not worry about that. Let’s just enjoy our last few hours here.” He looked down at his menu and I did the same. The waiter reappeared and placed two large glasses of bright red sangria in front of us.
“Do you need another moment?” he asked.
“I’m ready,” I said. “I’ll have the seared scallops please.”
“And I’ll have the croquettes,” Nicholas said as the waiter collected our menus. He nodded then walked away and I glanced over the railing at the pedestrians making their way down the street, past the cafes and shops that lined the boulevard. There was a warm breeze in the air that ran through my hair, brushing it against my skin. The sky above was pale blue, clouds floating past. It was picture perfect, we were two tourists enjoying a meal as if it was normal. As if we had not been in mortal danger hours before. I needed to follow Nicholas’ lead and not dwell on what could have happened, nothing good could come of that. I needed to trust him, trust the police and trust that whoever had attacked us would be brought to justice. The alternative was just too horrible to consider.
18
After a taxi ride to the airport, we were flown home. The return trip lacked the excitement of our flight to Spain; the tone was much more serious this time. Nicholas was coordinating for a security escort just in case. He offered one to me, but it just didn’t make sense. I wasn’t the target in this situation, I was just a woman who was with him when he was attacked. It was unlikely anyone would be coming after me.
Nicholas dropped me off at home with the promise that we would make plans for the weekend. He needed to head to the Chicago police station to make a report about what had taken place, in case he was in any further danger. He hoped this was a crime of opportunity limited to his visit to Spain, but as much as I wanted to believe him I still had an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. There were so many questions swirling, why had we been attacked and who wanted to have him killed? The only thing we could do now was be cautious and try to continue on with our lives.
I walked into my apartment and started to unpack my belongings. I had promised to have a drink when I got back home with Tabitha and she was texting to confirm I would meet her at the Red Room at eight. That left me enough time to change, call my parents to confirm their visit and get caught up on a bit of studying. At seven thirty I left my apartment and jumped on transit to meet my friend, eager to talk through the events of the past few days with her.
I arrived a bit early and grabbed a table by the back. I ordered a gin and tonic while I waited, happy to be back in Chicago and in familiar territory. I liked the Red Room; the space was small and intimate with crimson walls and a variety of paintings by local artists on display. The ambiance was cool and casual, a great place to sit and catch up with a friend or for a laid back date. I sipped at my drink and glanced around the open room. There was a man near the front with a pint of beer typing away on his laptop, a couple a few tables away from me lost in conversation and a table of friends engaged in what seemed like a lively debate. Behind the bar the bartender was polishing glasses. The door opened and I saw Tabitha walk in, scan the space, spot me then quickly march over. I was about to say hi when she shot her arm towards me, phone on display, an intense look on her face.
“What the hell, Breanne,” she almost shouted. “When were you going to tell me?”
I looked from her face to the screen of her phone. She had an article open, apparently the attack on Nicholas Blackstone had made the news. There was a photo of both of us, completely soaked, a blanket wrapped around me as we talked to the police officers. In the background firefighters were battling the blaze. I hadn’t even noticed the cameras, I guess we had been whisked away by the poli
ce before the media had a chance to jump us.
“I was going to tell you,” I said, keeping my voice low. Tabitha’s bottom lip started to quiver and her eyes began to water. She threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around me, almost knocking me out of my seat.
“If anything ever happened to you I don’t know what I would do,” she said with a choked sob. “My god, are you okay? This is so scary.”
I rubbed her back soothingly. “I’m okay Tabitha, I’m okay.” She reluctantly let me go then took the seat across from me. The bartender walked over and asked if he could get us anything.
“I’ll have a rum and coke - a double,” Tabitha told him. He looked to me, I was almost done my drink.
“I’ll have another gin and tonic,” I told him. He nodded then headed back behind the bar.
“What the hell happened?” Tabitha asked me.
“Well, the trip started out amazing. When we flew there the pilot let me sit in the cockpit and help during take off. It was incredible, I never thought I’d be able to do something like that.”
“Aren’t you afraid of heights?” Tabitha asked.
“I guess I’m getting better with it. Nicholas likes to push me out of my comfort zone, it can be a bit scary but at the same time it’s exciting.”
“And you were staying on a boat?” she asked.
“Yeah, that was another surprise. We landed and went to the yacht he booked for our stay. He needed to leave right away for his meeting, so I had the day to myself. I didn’t mind. I went to the Barcelona aquarium and then took myself out for a bite to eat. I honestly had the best time. That evening when Nicholas came back he arranged for us to go out on the boat and have a picnic under the stars. It was one of the most romantic evenings of my life. We docked that night and the ship’s captain left. I was asleep when it happened.”
“What exactly did happen?” Tabitha asked, the look of concern apparent on her face.
“Nicholas heard a noise. He woke me up, then he snuck upstairs to see what it was. I didn’t really know what was going on, I was still half asleep. He rushed back downstairs and locked the door, he was in a panic. There were men on board, they had guns and they shot at us through the door. When they couldn’t break in they started a fire.”
Tabitha’s hands flew to her mouth and she shook her head, her eyes wide. The bartender came back and placed our drinks down in front of us, I thanked him and he walked away. I took a sip of my drink, needing the liquid courage. It was harder than I thought it would be, reliving what had happened.
“How did you escape?” Tabitha asked.
“Nicholas opened the window, we needed to jump out into the water. It was pitch black, the water was so cold. Nicholas helped me out, then he came after. I looked back and could see the silhouettes of two men on the dock. We swam to the next dock, then saw the police arrive. We headed back, the men had escaped. The police took us to the station and got our statements, gave us dry clothes, then dropped us off at a hotel.”
“Do the police have any idea who did this?”
“No, and neither does Nicholas. He went to the Chicago police after he dropped me off today, if they need anything from me they’ll let me know. In the meantime he’s going to have a security detail until we get to the bottom of this.”
“Have you told your parents?” she asked.
I nodded. “They were understandably freaked out. Nicholas agreed to have dinner with them when they visit, I’m sure this is going to be a topic of conversation.”
“This is serious, Breanne,” Tabitha said. “Are you scared?”
“To be honest I’m still in shock, but Nicholas is pretty sure they were targeting him and I should be safe. They had no way of knowing I would be there or who I was.”
“I’m really glad you’re okay,” Tabitha said. “And I guess you and Nicholas are public now, with the news coverage and all.”
I laughed, grabbing her phone and showing her the article, reading the caption out loud. “Nicholas Blackstone, CEO of Blackstone Enterprises with mystery woman.”
“They’re sure to identify you sooner or later, I wouldn’t be surprised if you get hounded by reporters.”
“I have nothing to say to them,” I said firmly. “This is private. But I will give my name so I’m not ‘mystery woman’.”
“What if they ask you to clarify your relationship with Nicholas?”
I shrugged. “They have no business knowing that I’m his girlfriend.” As soon as the words left my mouth Tabitha’s eyes widened.
“Wait, you are?”
I smiled, a blush spreading across my cheeks. “According to Nicholas I am.”
Tabitha clapped her hands together and squealed. “I’m so happy for you! You two are amazing together, and I can tell how much he cares about you. When do I get to hang out with you both together?”
“Soon I’m sure,” I assured her. “It’s still early, and he has a lot on his plate right now with everything.”
“Of course, of course,” Tabitha agreed. “When the timing is right I’d love to meet him. If he’s going to be a big part of your life, I want to get to know him better.” I appreciated how supportive she was, I was so grateful to have her in my life. “I’m sorry that your trip was ruined,” she told me.
“Well, it was nothing short of memorable. And Nicholas did everything he could to make sure we left on a good note. I’m just really worried about him, I hope the police catch whoever tried to hurt us. I can’t shake the feeling that they won’t give up this easily.”
“I know what you mean,” Tabitha said, her voice low. “I hope you left the danger behind in Spain, but Nicholas has access to the best security and resources. I think he’ll be okay, you both will.”
“Thanks Tabitha,” I told her. The situation was still so surreal, but she helped make me feel grounded when life had thrown me the most massive of curve balls.
“First the fire at the restaurant, now this,” Tabitha said shaking her head. “I hope you keep away from open flames for a while.”
I laughed darkly, she had a point. “And to think I was always such a big fan of candles…”
“Any romantic candlelight dinners planned for this weekend?” she asked.
“Not that I know of. I’m seeing him this weekend, but if I’ve learned anything lately it’s to expect the unexpected. Then he’s having dinner with my parents next week.”
“Girlfriend. Meeting the parents. International travel and near-death experiences. Wow, this really is serious,” she said.
“It’s not what I was expecting, that’s for sure,” I agreed. “But what about you? How are your classes going, and what’s new in your life?” I was eager to change topics and shift the focus from me.
“Well,” she began reluctantly. “Nothing to compare with what you’ve been through lately but I have a date this weekend.”
“With who?”
“Remember that guy Tom I told you about from my History class? Tall, smart and hunky with dark rimmed glasses?”
“How could I forget,” I laughed. “You’ve been crushing on him since the start of the year.”
“Well he finally asked me out, we’re going to dinner and a movie this weekend.” Tabitha was beaming with barely concealed joy. I was happy for her.
“That’s so amazing! As soon as he spends some time alone with you he’s going to realize what an amazing woman you are,” I assured her. “Who knows, maybe eventually we could all go on a double date.”
Tabitha laughed. “Let me get through the first date then we can talk.”
We sat together, two friends catching up in a quiet bar, as Tabitha and I moved on to talk about work and school, our families and books we were reading. It all felt so wonderfully normal after what I had just been through, it was exactly what I needed and I was grateful for having her in my life. Maybe she was right, maybe I left all threats and danger behind me in Spain and life would finally get back to normal.
19
I di
dn’t set an alarm Saturday morning, instead letting myself wake up naturally. I needed the rest, I hadn’t been sleeping all that well lately. I stretched, got out of bed then walked over to the kitchen and started coffee. While it bubbled away, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee starting to fill the room, I picked up my phone and checked my messages. Nicholas sent me a text asking me to call him when I woke up, then there was an email from my manager Mark. They were making good progress with the cleanup and if everything went according to schedule the restaurant would be open again next week. I had shifts tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
I dialed Nicholas, he picked up on the fourth ring. “Good morning, Breanne,” his deep masculine voice still managed to make my heart beat a little faster.
“Good morning,” I replied.
“I have something I would like to ask you,” he began to say, I noticed a hint of apprehension. “But I want you to know that you can feel free to say no.”
“What is it?” I asked, fairly sure there was next to nothing he could ask me I would say no to.
“I would like you to spend the night, tonight,” he told me, then paused. There was clearly more to it than that and I waited for him to finish. “Tomorrow morning my mother is hosting brunch for my family and a few acquaintances. She’s invited you to join us.”
My eyes widened, Nancy Blackstone was inviting me to have brunch at her home? “Oh,” was all I could say, stunned.
“I understand if you’re uncomfortable after how she treated you at the wedding and don’t want to go,” Nicholas assured me.
“I appreciate that she invited me, and I would be happy to go,” I told him.
“You’re sure?” he asked. I smiled, he was so protective of me. His mother still made me nervous but I knew that if I truly wanted a future with Nicholas I was going to need to spend time with his family.
“I’m sure,” I told him. “Besides, you agreed to have dinner with my family next week.”