by E. L. Todd
“Hold on.” She put me on hold for a moment before she returned. “He says he’s sent over from Charlie at Calvin Klein.”
I didn’t know a Charlie. “Send him in.” I could keep retrieving information from her, but it would save time if I spoke to the man myself.
“Okay.”
The door opened a moment later and a man walked inside. He wasn’t wearing a suit like I assumed he would be, and he wasn’t wearing the kind of clothes someone in the fashion industry would wear. He wore dark jeans and a leather jacket. He had thick facial hair and beady black eyes.
“How can I help you?” I stayed in my seat and watched his every move.
He took a step further into the room but didn’t say a word. His eyes were trained on me, appraising every feature of my face. His eyes focused on my eyes the most. The thin lines of his mouth remained immobile because he hadn’t said a word.
I felt a tingle in the air, a prickle of unease. The tension rose from nothing and turned into a blinding wave of pain. It was oddly similar to the demeanor Maximum Shot possessed. It was eerie and creepy.
And a little terrifying.
I tried not to jump the gun and make the worst possible assumption. Maybe bad things happened to me in the past but that didn’t mean they would happen again.
But my gut told me something was wrong here. “I asked you a question. Speak or leave.” I refused to show any fear. Giving into my fright would only be a sign of weakness.
As more time passed, the more hostile the air became.
The door opened and Abe walked inside.
Thank fucking god.
Abe looked him up and down, suspicious. “Who are you?”
The man turned his cold gaze on him, eyeing him with the same amount of detail.
The tension was rising, and I silently thanked Slade for hiring Abe to look after me. Without him, I would be all alone.
Abe placed his hand on his holster, not bothering to be discreet about it.
The guy smiled, showing his perfectly white teeth. He raised both hands in the air. “Whoa, big guy. Show off to someone who’s interested.” His playful demeanor was a direct contradiction to who he was just a moment ago. He chuckled then patted Abe on the shoulder like they were old friends.
Now I was even more confused.
“Irene from the runway office wants to arrange a joint photo shoot. We were hoping we could team up together.”
The entire interaction was still odd despite his friendly attitude. “I’ll think about it.” I wasn’t committing to anything or even considering it when I still wasn’t sure what was going on.
Abe dropped his hand from his gun, assuaged that the danger had passed.
“That’s all we can ask.” He came closer to my desk. “Well, it was a pleasure meeting you. Your building is very nice.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t take my eyes off of him, waiting for him to switch back to his quiet hostility.
“I’ll check in next week for your decision.” He gave me a quick nod before he walked out. He even gave Abe a smile as he went. The door shut behind him, and we were left in silence.
Abe stared at the door like he expected him to return. “Sometimes I get these feelings…like something is out of place but I can’t determine what it is.” He slowly turned back to me, that calculating look in his eyes.
I grabbed the phone and immediately called the Calvin Klein office. “Hey, I need to speak to John Scott.” After a brief hold I was transferred to the district manager.
“Hey, Trin. What’s up?”
“Do you have a Charlie working there?”
“Charlie what?” he asked.
“Any Charlie. Is there a single employee working there under that name?”
After a quick scan through his computer he gave me an answer. “There was a Charlie working here but he left about two years ago.”
“And there’s no one else with that name?”
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
He did more searching then came back to me. “The closest name I have is Cameron. But no, there’s no one by the name of Charlie.”
I felt my face go numb. “You’re sure? ”
“Positive.”
Chapter Sixteen
Slade
I straightened my jacket and faced Don Murray in the hallway. I was about to have my interview with Rolling Stones in a few minutes. It was nothing like the Jimmy Fallon Show when I was on television for all the world to see, but it was still nerve-wracking.
Don was in a particularly good mood. He rocked on his heels and couldn’t sit still for even a moment. “Pre-order numbers are insane. Slade, this is going to be a huge release.”
“That’s awesome.”
“That video and appearance on Jimmy Fallon were huge in this release. Great call, Slade.”
I shrugged. “I’d like to think we did that together.”
He eyed his watch. “You’ll meet with Pete any minute. You remember everything we talked about?”
I nodded. “I think I got it covered.”
“Great.”
My phone rang in my pocket, and I wasn’t sure who would be calling me right this second. I pulled it out to peek at the screen but had no intention of answering it. But when I saw my wife’s name on the screen it changed everything. She knew what I was doing right now, so her call must be important. “I have to take this.”
“Slade, you’re about to go on—”
“I have to take this.” I stepped away and took the call. “Baby, what’s up? I’m about to go on.”
Her voice was frantic and a little frightening. “Slade, I don’t know what’s going on. He came into the office and I knew something was off. It was just a feeling, you know? And then Abe came in—”
“Baby, slow down. I can barely understand what you’re saying.”
She took a deep breath before she spoke again. “I’m scared. This scary man came and I think he wanted to hurt me…”
I froze in place and could hardly catch my breath. I felt sick. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m still at the office because I’m scared to leave. I need you.”
She didn’t need to say anything more. “I’m leaving right now.” I hung up and returned to Don. “I have to go.”
“Excuse me?” he snapped. “You know how hard I had to work to get you this interview?”
“I’m sorry, Don. I really am. But my wife needs me.”
“Can’t it wait?”
The question pissed me off. “Let’s get something straight. My wife and my family are here.” I raised my hand above my head. “And work is way the fuck down here.” I lowered my hand beneath my waist. “That will never change.”
***
I ran into the office and saw her standing there, looking pregnant and flustered. I still didn’t understand what happened to make her call me, and I suspected it was a false alarm. Paranoia hung on her shoulders every single day, and I knew she was still skittish. But whether it was a false alarm or not didn’t matter. She asked for me—and I would come. “Baby, I’m here.” I wrapped my arms around her and saw the look of relief spread across her face. She pressed herself into my body like she wanted to be absorbed directly into my chest.
I held her close to me and felt her breathe deeply against me. “I’m here. Everything is okay.”
Abe stood off to the side, his expression unreadable like always.
“Talk to me.” I rubbed her back and breathed her scent into my nose. She smelled like oranges and vanilla, like always.
She finally pulled away from me, slightly assuaged but still afraid. “This guy came in and claimed he was from Calvin Klein. But I didn’t recognize his name and he wasn’t dressed like someone who worked in the fashion business. When he came into my office he just stared at me and didn’t say anything. I got this creepy feeling, the same feeling Maximum gave me.”
I hated hearing his name.
“That’s when Abe came in an
d placed his hand on his gun. The guy laughed it off and left.”
I really thought she was reading something from nothing. She was seeing things that weren’t there. “Baby, I think everything is fine. He was probably just an awkward guy. Sometimes people are like that.”
“But when I called Calvin Klein and asked about him, no one had any idea who he was.”
Now the fear sank into my bones.
“It didn’t feel right,” she continued. “If Abe weren’t here…I don’t know what I would have done.”
I turned to Abe. “What did you think of it?”
“I didn’t like him,” Abe said. “I wasn’t sure if he was a threat until Trinity called their office. The fact no one knows who he is and has never heard of him is a red flag, sir. I’m not sure what he wanted with Trinity or what his intentions were, but I don’t think they were good.”
Now I felt even worse. That old fear was getting to me, making me sick. “What do we do?”
“We have his face on some of the cameras in the building,” Abe said. “I’m going to call a few friends in Homeland and see if I can figure out who he really is.”
“What would he want with Trinity?” There was no possible reason anyone would want to hurt her. She was just a woman running a fashion empire. Why was she constantly a target?”
“I have no idea,” Abe said. “She’s not the type of person with a lot of enemies.”
“She’s the type of person with no enemies,” I corrected.
Trinity gave me a frightened look, like there was more to the story that she wasn’t telling me.
“Baby, what is it?”
“What if…it’s Maximum?”
She really was scared out of her mind. “He’s dead, Trinity. I saw the light leave his eyes. There’s no room for any other possibility. They pronounced him dead at the scene and took him away.”
“I know he’s dead. But what if…people he knows are trying to avenge him?”
That was far-fetched. “No one even knew what he did to you. No one knew we were behind everything that happened to him. That’s just not possible.” I didn’t mean to put her down but I didn’t want her to entertain this ridiculous notion.
“I can’t think of anything else.”
“Maybe there is nothing else. Maybe he was just a strange man.”
“Slade, it didn’t feel right. Just trust me on that.”
I believed her—completely. But I also believed she was still shaken up over everything that happened. She’d been through a lot, and I couldn’t blame her for being paranoid. She had every right to be. “I believe you, baby. But I don’t think anyone is trying to kill you because of Maximum. Until we get to the bottom of this, I say we go home and stay there for a while. Abe will move his station there.”
“I’ll be there day and night, sir,” Abe said.
“Well, you don’t have to work around the clock,” I said. “But we would like it if you could be there in the evenings.”
“What about the day time?” Trinity blurted. “I’m going to be home alone?” She couldn’t keep the hysteria out of her voice.
“No,” I answered. “I’m going to be there.”
“What about work? Your record is about to come out.”
I didn’t forget. “Who cares? You’re more important.”
Her eyes softened in a way they never had.
“Why does that surprise you?” I’d proven my love for her a million times over. She was the priority, as well as Olympia. Selling records and becoming famous meant nothing in comparison.
“I know it shouldn’t surprise me. You’ve been the greatest husband in the world. I guess I’m surprised I get to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m surprised you changed so much for me. What did I do to be so special?”
“It’s nothing you did, baby. It’s who you are.”
***
I sat beside Trinity on the couch and ran my fingers through her hair. Both of her hands were placed on her distended stomach, and it was the first time she looked relaxed in days.
“Should we tell my father? Sean?”
“No. I think we’re okay.” Since I hadn’t seen this strange man in person I didn’t have enough evidence to really see him as a threat. Maybe he was a homeless guy off the street looking for cash. Maybe he was high out of his mind and didn’t know what he was doing or saying.
“Are you sure?”
“We have a bodyguard who protected the President of the United States. I think we’re good.”
“I’m so worried. This pregnancy has made me more emotional than usual.”
Which was why I suspected this whole thing got blown out of proportion. “You have a little person inside you. You have to feel everything for two people.” I moved my hand to her belly and rubbed it gently.
“Thank you for staying home with me.”
“Of course.” This was where I belonged, by my wife’s side. When I vowed to be with her forever I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to do this job right. I wasn’t man enough to be someone’s husband. But I realized I was being too hard on myself. As long as I put her first I was okay.
“I know your record is coming out tomorrow…”
“It’s just an album. And there’s not much I can do to help anyway.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
“Don explained my absence. He told the world I was taking care of my sick wife. Come on, that’ll just make people love me even more.”
She chuckled. “I’m glad I can be a publicity stunt for you.”
“But it’s not a stunt. I’m using the truth to my advantage.”
She moved into my side and wrapped her arms around my waist. “What do you want to do? Play a game?”
I nodded toward the bedroom. “How about…you know?”
She shook her head. “Abe is here.”
“So what? He’s on the other side of the house.”
“He’ll still know what we’re doing.”
“Who cares?” I asked. “As long as he gets paid it shouldn’t concern him what we’re doing.”
“Still weird…”
“Come on. Don’t you think you should reward me for being a good husband?” I would do anything to manipulate her into giving me sex. I loved it.
She bit the corner of her lip indecisively.
“Come on. It’ll relax both of us.” Actually, it would do the exact opposite but she didn’t need to know that. My fingers moved to the back of her neck and I rubbed the muscle gently, forcing her eyes to droop and her breathing to become deep and slow. I pressed my face close to hers but didn’t kiss her. Silently, I teased her.
As soon as her lips parted I knew I was getting what I wanted. “Okay.”
Chapter Seventeen
Roland
I needed to forget my fear and just do it.
I needed to go to my dad’s office and face him—like a man.
My need to apologize wasn’t just to get in his good graces again. It was because I felt bad for what I said and did. I was in the wrong and I knew I was.
But that didn’t make this any easier.
I finished up at the office and submitted the final draft to the chief editor. Once the layout was finished and all the articles were ready for publication, I was free for the weekend.
Heath came into my office just before I put my computer to sleep. “Leaving anytime soon?”
“Just have a few things to finish up.”
He was still irritated with me. I could see it in his eyes. “So you can go home? Or do you plan on going somewhere else?”
Heath was difficult to live with when I was constantly getting the sink eye. “I was going to go by the office on my way home.” That was the truth. I wasn’t just saying that because I thought he wanted to hear it.
“Good. Bout time.” He shut my door and walked off, not saying goodbye or giving me a kiss.
This wasn’t how I wanted to start our lives as newlyweds. The honeymoon was great until we reac
hed the airport and I got into a huge fight with my dad. After that, all the sex and romance stopped.
***
I got held behind an extra house because something was missing from the layout. After I fixed that I was finally able to leave. It was getting late and I knew my father would be home by now, so I’d have to drive out to Connecticut.
I didn’t mind the drive. It gave me more time to procrastinate.
I left the building with my satchel over my shoulder and began the walk to my apartment building. The traffic on the sidewalk was noticeably less since everyone had already gone home for the day.
When I came to the streetlight I hit the button and waited for the crosswalk light to turn green. It was going to be a bit of a wait so I pulled out my phone and played a few rounds of candy crush. When that got boring I shoved the phone back into my pocket and realized a man was standing nearby. It almost made me jump because I hadn’t heard him approach. The sidewalk and street was unnaturally quiet, so I was surprised I didn’t hear his feet tap against the concrete.
The light finally turned green.
I crossed and reached the other sidewalk, my hands in my pockets because the air was slightly chilly. The temperature in the city had dropped unexpectedly. I kept walking and tried to think of what I would say to my father.
Would he forgive me?
After a few blocks I noticed the man still hot on my tail. I swore I could feel him looking at me, his eyes drilling into my back. When I casually looked over my shoulder I caught him looking right at me.
Was I being paranoid?
There wasn’t anyone on the street and some of the streetlights were out.
I told myself it was nothing. I was just scared to see my father and face him head on. I was just disappointed that my relationship with Heath wasn’t the best at the moment.
It was just a bad day.
But I couldn’t shake him.
I purposely stopped and bought a newspaper from a machine just to see what he would do. I didn’t even read The Times but I bought a copy anyway. I shoved the coins into the machine and snatched a paper.
Conveniently, he stopped and pulled out his phone and acted like he was talking to someone. He stopped walking and stood off to the side, watching the few cars go by.