Sweetness (5 page)

Over the next few
days
Mark and I do every touristy
thing there is to do in New York. We took a ferry ride to
the Statue of Liberty; we visit the 911 Memorial site; even
take in a Broadway show. Unfortunately, my father and
Mia are on vacation and so we can’t spend time with
them while we take in the sites. Today we are going out
to Staten Island to watch Max play ball. Max plays minor
league baseball and now that he is out of college his
managers have been talking about sending him up to the
majors. Max has played ball for a few years now for the
Staten Island Yankees. He was scouted in high school
and offered to play out west for the Texas Rangers but
Wanda’s parents insisted he finish college first and get a
degree. Max didn’t resist too much. He knew what his
odds were in becoming a major leaguer and what it takes
to maintain such an unstable career. He isn’t dumb to the
fact that he is always one injury away from it all being
over in a flash. Even though I think he is a total ass at the
moment he is brilliant and sensible beyond his years.
Now that he has waited patiently, it is his turn for
something great to happen.

I wasn’t sure at first if going was such a good idea,
but Wanda and Mark insisted. As we stood at the box
office to get our tickets my nerves were getting the best
of me. Just as I was ready to ditch them at the gate
Wanda gets a text from Max asking if we are there yet.
She responds that we are at the gate. A few seconds later
she gets a second text from him. She showed me her
phone that read:

I nodded and she knew it was ok to respond. She
showed me what she typed and I feel saddened by the
wedge between Max and I. Max is my best friend. I don’t
want to argue with him but I just don’t understand that
one conversation with Glen, a man he has never met
before, could have him doubting what I told him was the
truth.

Yes she is, but she is still pissed at you and so am I. But
good luck. Don’t worry about it now. We will see you
after the game.

Glen’s lies having the slightest ring of truth is sick
beyond imagination. I don’t know how I can get Max to
believe me. Wanda believes me and I know she chewed
his ass out over this mess. I hear her phone go off again.
She smiles and shows me the screen.

I smile and we walk into the stadium to take our
seats. The stadium is packed. It is a warm summer night
and the field is quite a site to see. The sun is setting over
the city skyline beyond the outfield making the sky look
like a beautiful painting of pink and blue brush strokes.
The smell of food and the sound of roaring fans is
exciting. We all take our seats and grab some food from
the passing vendors before the game starts. As the
players enter the field I can see Max scouring our section
looking for us. Wanda is the first one out of her seat
waving at him like a fool. Mark and I are laughing while
Wanda hoots and hollers when they announce Max’s
name. She is very proud of him, we all are. Wanda shows
her enthusiasm by yelling out, “That’s my brother.
Whoo Hoo Maxie.” I am not sure if he hears her or just
sees her but to say he is embarrassed is an
understatement.

“We just had a difference of opinion on
something. I am sure we will be fine,” I lie. Needing to
change the subject so he wont’ ask too many questions I
ask, “I need you to figure out what you are going to do
with the apartment. What room you will want and
whatnot. I am going to leave all the furniture because the
apartment in Hill Tower is fully furnished.”

I need him to understand that just because he is
out on his own he has to be responsible. “Max will be
there to look out for you but you need to make good life
choices Mark. No wild parties and if you have guests,” I
say guest with a raised brow, “please be careful. College
life can get wild sometimes. If there is anything you need
I am a cab ride away. I may even let you keep my car for
a while. I will be so close to work I can walk or hitch a
ride in with dad sometimes if I need to. We’ll see.”

“Emma, mom already gave me the safe sex speech
and Glen told me everything I need to know about
women so I think I’m set.” Oh God. What did Glen tell
him? What would a rapist know about consensual sex
with a woman?

“What exactly did Glen tell you?” I try and say as
calmly and nonchalantly as possible. I really shouldn’t
have stayed away so long. Glen’s influence on Mark has
probably done untold damage to his dating life.

“He told me about how to treat a woman to get
them coming back for more.” Mark jokes but I’m not
laughing. I don’t even think I’m breathing. “Glen is a real
ladies man, Emm. He has them knocking down his door
two at a time. I know you don’t like him but he really
isn’t a bad guy. Once you moved out we started hanging
out more and it was nice to have an older brother
around. I know it wasn’t always easy to live there but the
past few years everyone really started to chill out. Glen
took over the shop and Paul stopped drinking. Mom is
happy and Holly is working at her dream job in a full
service spa. All the tanning she can handle.” He snorts.

“Just be courteous and treat woman with respect.
If a woman says no, that means no. Convincing her
otherwise is wrong. Do you understand that? I don’t’
know what Glen told you but-“

“Jesus, Emma! He didn’t tell me to force myself on
my dates if they won’t put out,” Mark says with a look of
disgust on his face.

“I am sure he didn’t, in so many words I am just
saying that you need to understand that no means no,
and…well…this is New York, some of these girls are
different. Just be careful is all. You come from a wealthy
family and some woman will see you with dollar signs
hanging above your head.”

“Thanks Mom, can we watch the game now.”
Case closed for now. I don’t know what Glen’s game is
but using my little brother as a pawn is a shitty move on
his part. I don’t need him filling his head with bogus
dating tips.

After the game we wait
in the parking lot for Max to
come out of the locker room. A group of players file out
of the gate and I immediately spot him wearing light
colored jeans, fitted black V-neck t-shirt with no sleeves,
and converse sneakers. His hair still damp from his
shower, I watch his silky dark hair reflect the moonlight
like a sheet of onyx glass. As he walks toward my car I
can’t help but notice how attractive he is.

“Hot,” I whisper to myself.
“What?” Mark questions.
“Uhhh….hummm,” I clear my throat, “its hot out

I climb into the drivers seat and sink down slowly
knowing the black leather interior is going to scald the
back of my thighs. I start the car and turn the air on full
blast needing some much-needed relief from the summer
heat. I can hear Wanda and Mark talking with Max
outside the car, recreating the game winning highlights. I
nervously check my Facebook page with my IPhone to
pass the time. After 10 minutes of pretending to check
my email while they socialize with players and fans in
the parking lot, nerves build up in my stomach again.
Wanda opens the passenger door and climbs in as Mark
and Max climb in the backseat.

“Where to, guys?” Mark says while I back out of
the parking lot, “anyone else hungry?”
“Yes, this ball park food sucks. Mexican and
margaritas,“ Wanda blurts out before anyone else could
speak.
The tension in the car is thick and the silence
deafening. I turn the radio on to drown out the awkward
silence. I can feel Max’s eyes burning into the back of my
head while we drive home. As we approach the city
Wanda glances in my direction with a look of confusion
marring her face.
“Where are we going?”
I smile at her and tell her to open the middle
console. Pulling out a key with a red ribbon on she
shrugs.
“Surprise!” My smile widens as I stare out into
the bustling city streets. “A courier dropped off two sets
of keys today along with parking garage passcodes and
entrance instructions. Wanna’ go see the new pad?”
“Hell yeah!” Wanda exclaims, matching my
excitement.
The tension is broken as we pull into the parking
garage attached to Hill Tower and into the designated
spot for our apartment. My dad owns the building and
even lives in the penthouse apartment on the 28
^th
floor.
He always gives his employees first dibs when an
apartment opens up based on seniority. It’s sort of a
company perk. My father takes great care of his
employees because he values them and their families. He
makes sure that his employees have the best healthcare;
he is flexible with schedules when he can, and pays them
very well. All he asks in return is loyalty, trust, and
confidentially. He has a strict ‘one and you’re done
policy’ on any performance issues. There is usually a list
a mile long for any openings at Hill Marketing Agency.
Of course my apartment is close to the top because
it has better security. You even need a pin code to enter
my floor from the elevator. Living in the city can be
dangerous so he has taken every precaution to make sure
Mark and I are as safe as possible; it is very important to
him.
I put in the pass code to enter Hill Tower from the
garage and we all walk into the foyer of the apartment
building. Everything in the building is stark white with
black accents. The shiny marble, tile floor is white with
black veins and looks as though the tiles were
strategically placed to make it seem like one large piece.
The sitting area is laid out with white leather couches, a
sleek, glass coffee table and modern lighting. A large
sandstone fireplace is positioned in the middle of the
room, surrounded by glass with a full 360-degree view.
The white granite topped front desk is high enough to
deliberately cover the surveillance video screens. There
are always two security guards on duty at all times. One
at the desk and one making rounds throughout the
building. My father had been renovating this building for
the past two years and I have not yet seen the final
product, until now. It is very impressive to say the least.
I notice a familiar face sitting behind the front
desk. “Luke!”
Luke Jacobs is my father’s head of security and
often drives my father or Mia where they need to go. He
runs a tight and efficient ship and he is very meticulous
in his duties. He is not a remarkably handsome man; in
fact I suspect he is so good at his job because he blends in
well with, the average Joe. For a 34 years old guy he is
well trained physically, always clean shaven and well
groomed, military style buzz cut style hair. Not ugly, but
not the most handsome man I have ever met. The first
thing I notice about him is he is not sporting his uniform
of a black suit with white shirt and black tie. Instead he
looks more laid back in a pair of black pants, white t-shirt
and black baseball cap.
“Emma. Mark. Hey guys. You here to check out
your new digs?” he says as he gives me a hug, “its pretty
swanky up there.”
“Yes, I take it was you who had the keys couriered
over.”
“Yup, I thought you would want to get a jump on
things since you start your new job on Monday. Your
dad will be in late Sunday night but he said to wait for
him here in the lobby at 0800 and you can drive in
together.” Luke extends his hand to Mark, but his eyes
are fixed on Wanda. It’s as if he can’t take his eyes off
her.
“Thanks Luke. I think we will take a look around
for now. The moving van is coming tomorrow so we
wont move anything in tonight.”
Blinking back to look in my direction. “Ok, great. I
will be here all day tomorrow so let me know if you gals
need a hand.” I smile when he says gals because it is so
out of character from anything I have ever seen. Luke’s
not really a smooth talker. He is mostly the hardass,
military type.
“Thanks, Luke. By the way it’s refreshing to see
that you own something other then a suit. If I didn’t
know better I would think you were a regular guy and
not some hot shot personal assassin.”
“Personal assassin,” he scoffs, “hardly my job
description. I was doing some undercover surveillance
around Hill Tower and HMA. I did a final sweep of your
apartment today and the Penthouse. You have all the
codes you need in this envelope. You are up on 26, there
are only 4 apartments on that level. Your dad’s on 28 and
security is speed dial 9 if you need us.”
“Thanks, Luke. I will see you later, sir.” I say as I
salute him, after he hands me the envelope.
“Have a good night you guys. Be safe,” he says
shaking his head at me as he walks back to the security
room door. I see him from the corner of my eye watching
Wanda from where he is standing. I nudge her with my
elbow and she blushes as they make eye contact.
Oh, how cute. Wanda blushing. I don’t think I
have ever seen here so demure around a man before. She
usually comes at them guns a blazing.
“Lets go guys and see how the other half lives,” I
whisper as we make our way towards the elevators. I still
haven’t said a word to Max. I don’t think he even cares
because since we got out of the car he has been talking
animatedly with Mark about the game.
As we arrive on the 26
^th
floor the doors open to a
long hallway. Our apartment is the last one all the way at
the end. We walk down the hall and all I can think is, this
place feels expensive. The décor has the same sleek and
modern feel as the lobby with its white marble floors,
modern lighting and large mirrors all down the corridor.
When I open the front door we all just stand in the
doorway like we don’t belong here. The first thing that
catches my eye is the huge floor to ceiling glass wall. It is
exquisite and displays the city’s night sky. Walking
further into the apartment the open kitchen, which is fit
for any gourmet chef, is on the right. It is all dark wood
with black granite countertops and the best stainless steel
appliances money can buy. Mark immediately makes his
way to the fridge and when he opens it he is pleasantly
surprised that it is well stocked, as is the pantry. The
living room area is to the left and is plainly decorated
with a black leather sectional facing a huge flat screen TV
that is hung above the fireplace. The fireplace is
beautiful and has glass rocks inside instead of wood. The
modern coffee table has fresh cut flowers and all my
favorite magazines on top. There is a large white dining
table that seats 10 between the two areas.
The open floor plan makes this place feel huge.
Beyond the kitchen area there is a hallway that extends to
the back of the apartment As I walk down the hall I open
a closet to the left that is equipped with a full washer and
dryer. Thank goodness, no more laundromat for us.
Score.
A few feet away there is a door to the right that
opens to a small bedroom, fully furnished with a private
bath and a closet that spans the entire length of the wall
facing the bed.
“Lets look at all the rooms before we choose,
Emm. I think since I have the master now you should get
the master here...unless you don’t want it then I will be
more then happy to take it off your hands,” Wanda states
innocently, not wanting to give it away that she likes the
privacy of her own master suite at the Brooklyn
apartment.
“We’ll see what else we got here first,” I reply.
We walk further down he hall and see another
door on the left side. This room is bigger with the same
floor to ceiling glass windows on the far wall, king size
bed, private bathroom and walk in closet.
“Never mind Hill. You take the master, this one is
mine,” Wanda says in a ‘the mater is settled’ sort of way.
“Done! I get the master, no trading.”
I run to the end of the hall to the frosted glass
double doors that are trimmed in white metal. I open the
doors to see a huge master suite fit for a queen. The floor
to ceiling glass wall runs along the left wall. There are
two white leather sofas flanking a seating area near the
glass wall with the same style fireplace and TV setup as
the living room. In the middle of the room there is a huge
modern metal bed with intricate headboard that is
accented in gray and blue. On the right side of the room
there is an office area with new MacBook, printer, and
lovely glass desk setup.
A few feet to the side of my bed there was a short
hallway that leads to the master bath. Before walking
into the bathroom I notice the closet door has a note on it
in Mia’s handwriting.