What If You

by Sandi Lynn

  “I look forward to it.” A sly grin crossed his face.

  5

  Asher

  Damn, she was beautiful. I’d already noticed the day I ran into her in the elevator. Five feet six, long blonde hair that laid in beachy waves over her shoulders, beautiful blue eyes and a bright smile. Not to mention her body, which was the first thing I’d noticed. Slender and toned with tits that were appropriately proportioned. Not too big, but not too small. They were the perfect size for her frame. And tonight, I’d see how perfect they were as she lie naked in my bed. Obviously, when she saw me, she was curious and asked Diana about me. I was more than happy to satisfy her curiosity. Picking up my phone, I called the hotel and made arrangements for dinner and a bottle of champagne.

  I arrived at the hotel an hour early to shower and change my clothes. Just as I finished dabbing on some cologne, there was a knock at the door.

  “Good evening, Everly,” I spoke as I opened the door.

  “Hello, Mr. Remington.”

  “Come in, and please call me Asher.”

  She set her purse down on the table in the entryway while I pulled the bottle of champagne from the bucket.

  “Dinner will be here in a few minutes. Can I pour you a glass of champagne?”

  “Sure. Thank you.” A small smile crossed her lips as she walked over to the window and stared out at the city view.

  “This view is amazing.”

  “It is amazing.” I walked over to where she stood and handed her a glass. “I don’t believe I’ve told you how beautiful you look.”

  She inhaled a sharp breath as her eyes stared into mine.

  “Mr.—Asher, I came here tonight because I really need to talk to you about something.”

  The tone of her voice was serious, and as much as I wanted to hear what she had to say, we were interrupted by a knock at the door. After dinner was set up, we both took a seat at the table that sat six. The sooner I let her tell me whatever it was she wanted to, the sooner I could take her into the bedroom.

  “This dinner looks delicious,” she said as she placed the cloth napkin on her lap.

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

  “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but it’s very important that you listen to me.”

  “Go ahead, I’m listening.” I smirked as I cut into my filet.

  “I’ve been having dreams about you.”

  “Really?” I grinned. “I can’t say I’m surprised. “You’re not the only woman who has told me that.” I gave her a playful wink.

  She let out a light laugh as she pointed her fork at me.

  “I do believe that. But my dreams aren’t in the way you think.”

  “Then by all means, tell me about these dreams of yours.”

  “You can’t sign the merger agreement with M&H Properties.”

  “Excuse me?” I narrowed my eye at her. “How the hell do you know about that?” I asked in shock as I set down my fork. “There are only a few people who know about that pending merger.”

  “I just do. If you take over that company, you’re going to lose everything.”

  “Is that a threat, Everly? Who the hell sent you here?” I shouted as I stood from my chair.

  “Mr. Remington, please calm down.”

  “Calm down? You come into my hotel suite, threaten me, and then have the nerve to tell me to calm down!” I shouted as I pointed at her. I walked over to where she sat, gripped the arms of the chair and placed my face mere inches from hers. “Who sent you here?” I spoke through gritted teeth.

  “Your father.” She swallowed hard.

  “My father is dead.”

  “I know.” She bit down on her bottom lip as I narrowed my eye at her. “He passed away three months ago from a massive heart attack.”

  “What the hell are you doing? Stalking me and my life? You’re fucking crazy.”

  I let go of the chair, grabbed my glass of champagne, and paced around the room.

  “So I’ve been told many times,” she spoke.

  I stopped, turned my head and stared at her.

  “So you admit you’re crazy and a stalker?”

  “I’m neither of those. I need you to listen to me. Please.”

  “You need to leave right now, and if you don’t, I’m calling security and having you thrown out.” I shouted.

  “Listen to me, Asher. I see things. I dream things and they happen. That’s the honest to god’s truth.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle as I shook my head at her.

  “You’re a whack-job lady, and you need some serious help. Does Diana know how crazy you are? Because I can’t imagine her being friends with someone like you.”

  “When you were a little boy, your father used to bring you to the office. You would sit behind his desk with a pen and notepad and pretend you were drawing up contracts. When you were fifteen you got busted for smoking pot by the pool with your friends. Your father was supposed to be on a business trip, but he came back early. He grounded you for a month.”

  “Stop!” I shouted as I pointed my finger at her.

  There was no way she could have known all that. No possible way. I took a seat on the couch and placed my face in my hands.

  “I know this is a lot of information and I know how hard it is to believe. Trust me. But you have to believe me.”

  I inhaled a deep breath as I looked at her from across the room without saying a word.

  “If you can’t believe me, I understand. But I’m begging you to reconsider signing that merger agreement. Your father wasn’t going to. He found out some things and by time he could tell you or anyone about it, he passed away. I know you trusted your father and always believed he made the right decisions. He wasn’t going to go through with it. Don’t let these people destroy you and the company your family spent their life building.”

  “Get out now!” I pointed towards the door.

  “Asher, pl—”

  “I said get out!” I spoke through gritted teeth.

  She grabbed her purse from the table, threw it over her shoulder and placed her hand on the handle of the hotel door.

  6

  Everly

  Fear is the common response to things we possibly can’t believe in or conceive in our minds. We fear the unknown. Things we can’t understand. When fear takes over us psychologically, we have the tendency to become irate, defensive and possibly destructive. Asher wasn’t behaving any differently from anyone else, and I expected this type of reaction from him. I could only hope and pray that once he calmed down, he would think about what I’d told him and make the right decision.

  “Wait!” he shouted as I slowly turned the door handle. “What do you mean my father found out things?”

  “He found out what your uncle and lawyer were going to do if that merger went through.”

  “How do you expect me to believe what you’re saying?” he shouted. “Do you know how crazy all of this sounds? How crazy it is that you’re standing here telling me that my dead father told you and sent you to stop me from going through with that merger?”

  “Yes!” I shouted as I turned around and faced him. “I know how crazy it all sounds. You think I want to stand here and tell you all this? You think I like hearing people tell me I’m a psycho and need to be placed in a mental hospital? I can’t help that I was born with this. You think I like it? But I do the best I can with it. And if I can help someone’s life not be destroyed by the evil in this world, then I’m okay with that.”

  He looked away from me, got up from the couch and poured himself a drink from the bar.

  “There’s a hidden safe behind the wall vent that’s located in your father’s bedroom closet. Inside you will find a journal where he detailed everything he knew about his lawyer, your uncle and the merger.”

  “I know of no such safe,” he said as he slammed back his drink.

  “Nobody did but him, Mr. Remington. I’m sorry about all this. I should go now.”
r />   “Yeah. I think you should. No offense, Everly, but I really don’t ever want to see you again.”

  “I understand.” I turned back towards the door.

  “Wait. My driver will see to it that you get home safely. He can be here in a few minutes. I’ll call him now.”

  “Thanks, but I’m fine. I can take a cab.”

  “It’s not up for discussion. Damien will take you home.”

  “If you insist. Have a good evening, Mr. Remington.”

  “And how the hell am I supposed to do that after everything that transpired here?”

  I gave him a sympathetic look as I walked out the door. When my feet hit the pavement of the sidewalk outside the hotel, I saw a tall man with jet black hair and dressed in a black suit standing next to a black Rolls Royce.

  “Damien?”

  “Miss Everly, I presume?”

  “You presumed right. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You as well.” He gave a slight nod as he opened the passenger door for me.

  The moment I climbed inside and placed my hand on the seat, images of the night Mr. Remington died flipped through my mind.

  “Oh no,” I said.

  “Miss Everly? Are you alright? Miss Everly?” I could hear Damien call to me.

  “I’ll be right back. It’ll just take a moment.”

  I climbed out of the car, ran inside the hotel and took the elevator up to Asher’s suite. Knocking on the door, I took in a deep breath.

  “I thought I made myself very clear that I never wanted to see you again?” Asher spoke with irritation when he opened the door.

  “Your father was murdered,” I blurted out.

  “Jesus Christ. My father died of a massive heart attack.”

  “That was induced by your uncle. The vile is in the left-hand drawer of his desk. The one he keeps locked.”

  “Let me guess, my father told you that?”

  “I saw it when I climbed into your Rolls Royce. That’s where your father died, right?”

  “Yes.” He looked down.

  “I’m sorry,” I said as I walked to the elevator.

  “Thank God you’re home. How did it go? I’ve been sitting here on pins and needles,” Diana said.

  “You know. A lot of the word ‘crazy’ was thrown around. Not to mention all the shouting. Just the typical reaction when I have to tell someone what their deceased loved one wants them to know.”

  “Shit. Really? Did he believe you at all?”

  “I honestly don’t know. He did say he never wanted to see me again.”

  “Ouch. Aw, come here.” She held out her arms. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I’m used to it.” I sighed. “I just hope he gives some thought to what I said.”

  The front door opened, and Daniel walked in.

  “Hey, what’s going on here?” he asked as he threw is keys down on the table.

  “Mr. Remington didn’t take the news very well,” Diana spoke.

  “Ah. I see.”

  “He told her he never wanted to see her again.”

  “I’m sorry, cuz. But you kind of expected that, right?”

  “Yeah. It comes with the territory. But there’s something you should know.”

  “What?” He cocked his head.

  “Mr. Remington Sr. was murdered.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “He died of a heart attack in the back of his Rolls Royce. The moment I climbed in the car, I saw what happened. He was at the office and he had just told his attorney and his brother that he was canceling the merger. They had words and Roland went over to the mini bar in his office and poured Mr. Remington a drink. Before he gave it to him, he pulled a vile out of his pocket and poured it into his scotch.”

  “I’ll take a look at the coroner’s report tomorrow at the station. Did you tell, Remington, about this?”

  “I did. I don’t think he believed me.”

  “Well, unless he comes down to the station and insists there’s more to his father’s death than a heart attack, there’s nothing we can do.”

  “I know. Anyway, I’m heading to bed. It’s been a long night.”

  “Get some rest.” Daniel kissed my forehead. “You look tired.”

  7

  Asher

  I stepped inside my father’s Park Avenue penthouse. The last time I was here was when I had to go through his things before I had them moved out. The walls where expensive artwork once hung, were now bare. The only thing left was the furniture. I needed to put the place up for sale, but I’d been putting it off for one reason or another. Reasons I wasn’t even sure of.

  I went to his bedroom and opened the closet doors. Stepping inside and walking over to the vent, I knelt down, pulled the screwdriver out of my pocket I borrowed from the hotel, and unscrewed the screws. Pulling off the vent cover, I saw a small safe sitting inside.

  “I’ll be damned,” I said as I stared at it. “You couldn’t have told me the combination.” I sighed.

  I tried a bunch of different combinations I thought my father would have used, including the combination only the two of us knew for the safe at the office. But there was one I had yet to try: the date of my mother’s death. Punching in the numbers, the door opened. I stared at the brown leather journal sitting inside. After I grabbed it from the safe, I placed the vent cover back and climbed into my Rolls Royce.

  “Find what you were looking for, Asher?” Damien asked.

  “Yes. Actually, I did. Just take me home.”

  “So I guess Miss Everly was right.”

  “There’s more to her and I’m going to find out what it is. I can guarantee she knew my father. He must have told her about the journal. There’s no other explanation.”

  “Why now, Asher? Why three months after your father’s death? I worked for your father for many years and I have never seen that woman before in my life, nor have I ever heard her name.”

  “My father was good at keeping secrets. Who knows, maybe she’s his daughter from an affair. I don’t think she’s much younger than I am. I don’t know, Damien.”

  “You’re grasping, Asher.”

  “No. I’m being fucking realistic. And for her to tell me that my father was murdered and that my uncle had something to do with it. If that was the case, the coroner would have discovered it.”

  After Damien dropped me off at my penthouse, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, poured myself a double bourbon and sat down on the couch to read the journal.

  My eyes flew open to the ringing sound of my phone. I was sprawled out on the couch with the journal laying on my chest. I had no recollection of falling asleep. Grabbing my phone from the coffee table, I saw my Uncle Roland was calling.

  “Hello.”

  “Asher? Are you sleeping? It’s nine o’clock. Where are you?”

  “I’m home. I’m not feeling well today. Tell Isabelle I won’t be coming into the office. I can do work from here.”

  “What about our final meeting for the merger? It starts in an hour.” His voice was agitated.

  “Reschedule it, Roland. I have to go.”

  I ended the call before he could say another word. The truth was, I drank too much last night as I read my father’s journal. Picking up my phone, I called the main number to the office and put it on speaker.

  “Remington Property & Capital. How may I direct your call?”

  “Diana Lafferty, please.”

  “One moment and I’ll connect you.”

  “Diana Lafferty speaking.”

  “Diana, it’s Asher Remington.”

  “Uh, hi, Mr.—”

  “Don’t say my name. I don’t want anyone in the office to know that I’m calling you. As far as everyone is concerned, I’m home sick today. I need you to give me Everly’s phone number. I have to speak with her.”

  “Sure.”

  As she rattled off the number, I stored it in my phone.

  “Thank you. This conversation stays between t
he two us. Understand?”

  “Yes. Completely. Have a good day.”

  “You too, Diana.”

  I dialed Everly’s number and it went to voicemail. After leaving a message, I set my phone down, made a cup of coffee and took a shower.

  Everly

  “Thanks, Everly. I’m so happy we finally got to meet in person.”

  “Me too, Regina.” I smiled. “Same time, same place, next week?”

  “I already put it in my calendar. I’m going to go home and work on that list.”

  “Excellent.” I grinned. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “You too, Everly,” Regina said as she got up from her chair and walked out of the coffee shop.

  I still had some coffee left, so I picked up my phone and noticed I had a voice message. I never kept my phone ringer on during a session. My clients paid me for one-on-one attention and that was exactly what they got. Pressing the voicemail button, I brought the phone up to my ear.

  “Everly, it’s Asher Remington. I need to speak with you. It’s urgent. Please call me as soon as you get this message. The number I’m calling from is my cell number and the best one to reach me at. I hope to hear from you soon.”

  Dialing his number, he picked up on the second ring.

  “Everly?”

  “Mr. Remington.”

  “I called you a half hour ago. What the hell took you so long to call me back?” he spoke in an angered tone.

  “I’m working, and I was with a client. Do you answer your calls when you’re in meetings?”

  “Don’t get smart with me. I don’t like that.” His authoritative tone irritated me.

  “Mr. Remington.” I sighed. “Why are you calling me?”

  “I need to see you as soon as possible. Are you available now?”

  “You said you never wanted to see me again.”

  “I know what I said, but it doesn’t matter right now. I need to speak to you. Give me your work address, and I can meet you at your office.”