Oblivion: Surrender (5 page)

Soft, masculine chuckles momentarily stun me. “Your body is just as outspoken as your mind” Carter taps a pen to his sculpted lips
, leaning back into the chair. He’s deadpan. Arousal in the pit of my insides flushes my cheeks. Somewhere in my body, a mild electric current is still reacting to his charm. I’m not telling him he’s partially right, but my scandalous stomach betrays me and growls louder than before.

“It’s not used to being denied what it wants” I conf
ess. His eyebrows lift in amusement. Brave enough to dive into those sapphire oceans, I can’t find any trace of the ogre from an hour and a half ago. Honestly! I can’t keep up with his mood swings. And I hate that he’s making my blood hot. “Denial is delayed gratification” he smirks. “Challenges are the elixir of life. Don’t you agree?”

Uh…
I don’t know where he is going with this, and I can’t stop the ball from rolling in my direction. Delayed gratification is unfathomable in my world; I’d go berserk. I bite my bottom lip. “I believe that challenges aren’t refreshing if they keep you from experiencing spontaneous pleasure”

Carter baffles me with a brilliant, immaculate white smile.
“Is that what your body is craving, Alyson?”
You have no idea.
The electric current stings painfully, threatening to combust into a fire.
No. Stop it.
I can’t let him obliviate my intimacy after he behaved like a barbarian. Who does he think he is?

I meditate a simple response. “Pizza is my gratification
.”

“Ah
.” He strokes his chin with the pen. “Not Thai food, courtesy of your subordinate, Matthew Sanders?”

The question catches me off gua
rd followed by epiphany, heavily dawning on me. Good grief. I should have known this had to do with possessiveness in the first place. Carter thinks he
owns
his employees like he dominates everything else in life.
I’ll show you…
Spitefulness boils in place of the electric current. My pearly white smile matches his smirk. “Not today but I think I’ll make it up to him with dinner.” In his tailored and expensive dark suit, Carter continues to tap the pen to his chin and nods coolly. It’s my turn to smile secretly.

******

Coming back to my anemic office is depressing. Compared to the chromatic interior design of the rest of the hotel, my office is a blanched glass cave. I took the stairs on the other side of the hotel to avoid walking past the front desk. Particularly, I wanted to avoid Matt’s complaints about Carter ruining our lunch. I don’t want or need to know anything else about him. He’s a jerk beyond my wildest nightmares. Just then, I hear a text message go off in my purse.

I haven’t
seen you in ages!

How about we have a ladies night wit
h Sandra and Nina at The Island?

—
Opi

I grin. I haven’t seen my girlfriends since I sta
rted working! A night at the club and a few drinks are what I need to take my mind off things, especially from Carter. I quickly answer back.

I heard that’
s an awesome club. You’re on!

Meet you Saturday at 9pm

--Ali

Slipping the phone back into my
purse, my breathing quickens as I find the list of private investigators and their phone numbers in my purse—only five candidates to be exact. I researched the names that were closest to Miami Beach. I heave a heavy sigh. Gabrielle’s return is eminent, and I don’t have any more time to waste. My resurrecting heartbeat pumps energy into my veins halfway pulverizing the boulders of agony blocking all life from entering.

For almost two years, I’
ve pushed my sanity to the edge of an abyss to muster the courage for this moment. The walls I’ve built crumble down and my nerves turn to jelly as I dial the first private eye, Elias Goldstein & Associates. His office is about 20 minutes away from Caravana. I can’t help but laugh when he automatically assumes I’m an angry wife wanting to catch my husband red-handed.

My questions range from what their services include to
their total costs, but our conversation is cut short when he reveals he charges $800.00 as his retainer aside from $60.00 per each hour of service. I scratch my head and cross out the name. With living expenses and working as a store clerk, I wasn’t able to put that much money aside. The second office I contact is Alexander Mason Investigations. A chipper female secretary informs me that they offer a free consultation is offered to approximate the investigations fees.
It’s worth a try.
I bring Michael’s necklace to my lips.

She lets me know
there are few appointments booked for next Saturday…and then I remember where I am. Oh boy. I let her know I will call her back soon with a response. There’s no telling what mood Carter will be in from minute to minute. I check the clock. It’s been an hour since I was last in his office. I debate whether to call him or visit his office but choose the first option—as a precaution. The line rings three times.

“Alyson”, his
husky voice is sexy and authoritarian. I pause briefly. My breathing is unsteady. Strangely enough, Carter is not rushing me. He isn’t speaking. He is dead silent on the other side of the line. I moisten my lips.

“Mr. Stevenson, I’d like to request
next Saturday off if it’s possible.”

I swear I hear him cuss under his breath.
“It’s not possible. What’s the reason?” He demands. In my mind, the cool sapphires have transformed from gems into intimidating icebergs. “I asked you a question.”

“I have personal business to take care of, sir.”
I blatantly respond. He can’t be punishing me for being late.
“It’s a matter that can’t wait.” My request is almost a plea. “It must be quite urgent if you require the entire day.” Carter is eerily pensive.
Think quickly.
I offer a valid substitution. “I am willing to do overtime to make up for the missed day.” And in a split second, I can almost predict his mood changing from frustration to consideration. “I will think about it” he hangs up the line.
Jerk.

******

Ferdinand picked me up before dark to look at the Ford Focus. The official diagnostic: a dead battery. Go figure. Something significant has to stop working when I need it the most. Fortunately, I can count on Juliette or Ferdinand to drive me to work until I can afford a replacement, most likely when I have an approximate fee for Mason’s services. Behind me, he is scoping the number of peppers I’m dicing for mango chutney. His eyes widen in fake shock. “Good grief. I thought the inferno caused by your boss was plenty for you.”

The unforeseen remark
sways the sharp knife too close to my thumb. “Careful! You’re going to hurt yourself!” Ferdinand grabs my hand. “It’s nothing” I fret, going to run my finger under cold water. “Your comment is way out of line.” My tone is harsher than I mean it to be. Ferdinand lifts his hands in apology and walks to the bottle of wine, filling our glass goblets close to the top. His movements are suspiciously mischievous, and I know exactly what he’s doing. It doesn’t take much alcohol to provoke my unfiltered honesty, and this will be my third glass.

He hands me the glass. “
What does this really have to do with?” Ferdinand’s gaze searches my face for an honest answer. “I thought talking to a private investigator would calm you down.” His sparkling chestnuts inspect me as if he were reading his favorite book. There are no secrets between us. When I don’t know how I feel, it’s a weight off my shoulders to know that my best friend can help me figure it out.

I bite my cheek.
“I’m not excited about telling Juliette” I confess. Ferdinand’s eyebrow relaxes and he squeezes my shoulder. We both know she’s never agreed with my decision to search for Michael. Juliette practically lived my pain when he disappeared. She was my rock when I believed I was going to die too. Deep inside, I know that she and Ferdinand are both afraid I will suffer more if the investigation doesn’t prove me right, but I can’t stop now.

I’ve wa
ited too long to give up on one decision that will bring me some kind of closure. I need Juliette’s support on my decision. I want her understanding now more than ever, but I’m also aware that she believes Michael drowned in the river, a belief that I can’t live with and refuse to accept. “I can’t live with uncertainty and hate for life anymore.” I smile weakly at Ferdinand, who evidently shares my concern over Juliette’s reaction.

“
You know Juliette loves you more than anything, Alyson. She’s known your plans all along and never tried to stop you from coming this far. Don’t worry, give her time and she’ll come around.” I nod and sip the wine. “Well…I suppose you’re right.” I wave him off and finish preparing the fish tacos. “I’m usually with you.” Suddenly, Ferdinand pauses and takes the knife from my hands. “You’re not getting away with it. Who’s the COO driving you crazy?”
Whoa! Curveball!

Chapter 5

“Y
ou just don’t give up.” I work with diced ingredients in front of me, throwing them into a bowl and expertly mixing them. The alcohol is shifting my gears into drive. My lips as dry as the Sahara Desert, it must be from Florida’s insane heat. Peeking next to me, Ferdinand has been gauging my actions this entire time.

“
That’s your nervous reaction! Then I was right. You
do
want to fuck your boss.” Jesus what’s the point in responding? The answer in my head doesn’t match the one about to come out of my mouth. I can’t fool Ferdinand, much less kid myself. “Peach.” Ferdinand takes my free hand and gently slaps my cheek with it. “I knew this
‘Adonis’
wasn’t just a heat of the moment guy.”

“
He
is
over and done with like this conversation.”

“Alyson, you’re an awful liar.
” Ferdinand says. “I can’t believe your fire is extinguished when you have that intoxicating light in your eyes again—”

“Stop it…” I urge.

“That look you get when you can’t get enough of something no matter what you do. Then there’s no turning back until you get what you need—”

“Carter Stevenson
is a pain in the ass, and he isn’t worth the struggle, okay?” I finally explode into one million pieces, walking into the living room and holding my head with my hands. I feel Ferdinand’s hand on my back. “
Mr. Stevenson
isn’t one of those drunken bar bastards I used to sleep with…This man is everything but helpless. He’s a wealthy, dominating, intelligent, and extremely handsome COO who’s not remotely interested in me anyway. I’m sure the majority of his tastes in life are upscale. That includes his choices in women.”

For some odd reason, a vague prick of pain stabs
me somewhere in the chest. Ferdinand is side glancing me, still not fully convinced of my words but kisses my head. “Ali, I didn’t make you talk about this to pressure you. I love you like a sister and I’ll be damned if someone who’s not worth it hurts you or Juliette again.” I smile and rest my cheek on Ferdinand’s shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about.” Carter is not worth any woman’s trouble.

******

When I wake up the next morning, Juliette is busy finishing a second batch of pancakes. I’m not looking forward to talking with her. At least Ferdinand is still here. He crashed in her bedroom last night. I kiss her on the cheek. “You look tired. When did you get back last night?” I ask, pouring coffee into my mug and sitting down at the table. “Past 11:00pm. The photo shoot went great. I got paid double the amount and I’m on call all week!” She proudly fills me in with the details. “The model’s name is Caroline Elisebrook. I think she’s married to a mega construction tycoon. It turns out that the makeup artist she hired had to be hospitalized for appendicitis.”

Juliette excitedly waves her hand while taking a sip of coffee. “She promised she would refer me to her sister who has influential connection
s in the advertising industry.”

“I’m so glad!” I wrap my arms around her. “You deserve the success.” My fingers squeeze her protruding cheeks. Her grin is immense. “It’s our success, Ali. Hell, I was so excited last night, I almost stumbled over the wine bottle you and Ferdinand left in the living room floor. What were you guys celebrating?”
Here it goes.
The smile on my face dissolves as quickly as it came. “Um…” I stab my pancakes with a fork and eat a large piece, passing it down with the hot coffee. Juliette’s grin turns into concern.

“…I’m starting to call private investigators and have plans to meet one next Saturday.” Juliette looks at me with a somber expression. I groan internally. She’s reacting like I knew she would
. “Ali, don’t you think you are taking this too far?”

I slowly drop my fork and close my eyes, counting to ten. “Why can’t you suppor
t my decision to find Michael?”

“I do. You’re my sister, almost my daughter, of course I support you.
What I don’t support is the storm you’re creating in your heart.”