The Claiming of Sadie Graves (20 page)

I hand her my phone, wordlessly. She puts on her cheaters.

She uses her finger to swipe through the pictures, pauses, and hands the phone back to me.

“Well, that settles that” she says with finality. “Exactly” I say. We both sigh.

“Okay, so now what?” she looks at me; open to whatever I say next.

“I’m going to fulfill my contract to Sutton Shield, but I’m doing it in an unconventional way. I can’t work in the same building as Lucas. I’m going to Bain to tell him that I’m going to do something different. And, I’m returning my bonus so he can use it to pay for another space for Sexy Sadie. I feel like I have a little bargaining chip.”

She nods. “Okay, that sounds fair.
Then what?”

“Then I’ll design like crazy, and churn this line out with a vengeance. I have a huge packet of orders for fetish lingerie from Monday night. I’d like to develop a line of specialized items that are…um…sanitized for the general public. Could you get behind that?”

She laughs out loud. “I can. Let me see the designs before you show them to Bain. I don’t want him to fall over unconscious, or anything.” She hoots with laughter. “Honestly, Sadie. You get yourself into some scrapes, don’t you? For such an innocent.” She smiles, and her eyes do too.

“I don’t know, Anna. I
seriously don’t know what to think anymore. I came into all of this completely naïve. I wish I could go back there, now.” I drop my head. She comes over to hug me, and I leave my head on her shoulder for a minute.

“Sadie, everything’s going to work out for you. You’ll see.”

A couple of tears squeeze between my lashes, but I wipe them away. I look at the time, and realize I’d better get cracking if I’m going to meet Bain Sutton at noon. I thank her for giving me license on the fetish items, hug her one last time, and head down Fifth Avenue.

They.

Not good.

I take a deep breath, knock on Bain’s door and enter quietly.

This is going to be hard, but I’m ready.

Lucas and Bain are sitting at a round table, to my left. Lucas rises quickly, acknowledging my presence. Bain gets up, too, and looks genuinely happy to see me. Lucas is wearing his poker face.
Fine. I can play that too.

“Sadie! I’m glad you arranged this meeting. Lucas asked to join us; I hope that
’s okay with you?”
He knows. He’s asking permission.
That’s new. I nod, acquiescing.

“It’s your
company, Mr. Sutton; I just work here. I won’t say anything to one of you that I won’t say to the other.” My voice sounds strong.
Whew. That’s good, because I feel like turning around and running through the door.

Bain’s eyebrows shoot up
.
“Very good. What’s on your mind, Sadie?”

“I wanted to talk to you about two things, Mr. Sutton. The first is a big order for fetish lingerie that I was given on Monday night. I talked to Anna, and we both think it can be developed for mainstream consumption, provided it gets sanitized a little. I’m working on the prototypes now – in fact, I got five of them done yesterday afternoon. I wanted to clear it with you; pursuing this direction as a sideline. I’m sure you’ll want to talk to Anna about it, but she told me this morning she likes the idea.”

“Interesting. What do you need to move forward with everything, Sadie?”

“I’m not sure. Just time to create the patterns and test fits, I think. I can sandwich that in between working on the regular line. I’m not afraid of hard work, and I can get both done on deadline.”

He smiles. “I have no doubt.” He looks at Lucas, who hasn’t said one word. “Do you object, Lucas?”

“I don’t. Though right now, I think if I
did
object Sadie would probably tell me to go fuck myself.” He looks directly at me. He looks terrible – sleep deprived and probably dehydrated. There are dark circles under his eyes.
I was avoiding looking at him, but now I’m glad he looks like shit.

Terrific.
  Poetic justice.

Bain looks a little uncomfortable. “Well, that sounds like a no-brainer, Sadie. If you think there will be a market for something, I think we should take a chance on it.”

“Okay, I’m glad that’s settled. Now, for my second request.” I reach into my portfolio, and pull out the envelope with the $175,000 cashier’s check in it. I hand it to Bain, casually.  He pops open the envelope and looks inside; his eyebrows immediately knit together. “In light of recent events, I don’t think I’ll be able to work effectively on the 10
th
floor.  I’d like to return this to you, so I can use it to secure a different design space, away from this building. Jenny Whitson will be starting in a few weeks, so I need to move quickly to find something suitable. I’m not asking for this, actually. I’m telling you. I won’t be working here in this building, but I’m committed to fulfilling my contract. I wish I hadn’t signed it now, but it’s too late, so I’ll make the best of it.”

Lucas swallows hard, and looks slightly ill. Bain’s eyes open wide for a minute, but he resumes his composure quickly. “You regret this?
Really?”

I exhale. “No, Bain. I regret
this
.” I gesture to Lucas, and back to myself.  

I get up from my chair. “I appreciate your time today. Thank you for the meeting.” Both men stand, and I get my portfolio and my raincoat.

Lucas moves toward the door, as if he’ll walk out with me. I get closer to the door and then turn and raise my hand, palm out, to him. “Stop. I work for you, and that’s it.”  He looks stricken. “Sadie, please. I know what you think you saw. I…”

I cut him off. “I have multiple pictures, Lucas. There’s no mistaking what I saw. If you need something from me as my boss, I’ll be happy to discuss it. Otherwise…”

I go through the door, and walk to push the
down
button on the elevator. He follows me. He’s irritated now, and he starts to shout. I feel like shushing him.

“Do you know that Violet is like my sister? I’ve never slept with her.
I haven’t. I know she’s crazy about me, and I should have done a better job of pushing her away. I had to tell her on Monday that I can’t oversee her career anymore, and she was devastated. That’s why she showed up at my apartment on Monday night totally inebriated. I can’t spend time with her anymore, Sadie. 
Because I want to spend my time with you
. I only went to that fucking shoot because it was such a big moment for Violet. She called me fifty times, begging me to come. And when I got there she kissed me right away, and everyone was acting like we were a couple. But Sadie, I don’t want her. I want
you
.” He’s followed me into the elevator, and we’re alone. It would be easy to be convinced by his sincerity. Yeah.
If I were a complete dumbass.

He pushes me into a corner, and starts kissing my neck.
He groans, whispering, “Oh, baby. Please.” His hands reach behind me and cup my backside. Then he pulls me forward, toward him. My arms go out, pushing him away. He pulls my arms down to my sides, gripping my wrists. “Shh. Sadie, don’t fight me” he says.  He pushes me against the wall, and keeps kissing my neck, moving up to insert his tongue in my ear. Every hair on my body stands on end. I’m pinned, and he starts to rub against me.

He
has an erection.

I’m immobilized.

Sadie, don’t fight me. I want you. 

Oh, God.

I feel panic start to paralyze me. My windpipe closes, and my chest feels like it’s going to burst. I start to fight Lucas, hard, now. He pulls back, confused, and looks at me full in the face. My chest. Oh. I need air.

I pull in one deep breath but it goes nowhere. My mouth is open, alarm on my face. 

I croak, “No, no, Dust…”

He isn’t fast enough to catch me before I hit the carpeted floor of the elevator.
On the way down, I feel my head bounce hard against the brass handrail. After that, everything’s dark.

“The Chain”

Fleetwood Mac,
Rumours

I wake up to a blurry scene. My head feels like it’s on fire. I’m on the couch in Lucas’ office, legs hanging over the edge. Louella, Bain and Sandra are all nearby, and I’m being ministered to by paramedics. Lucas is on his knees beside the sofa, his hand clasping mine.

I try to
keep my eyes open, but it feels like work. So I lie quietly.

The paramedic in charge is explaining to Lucas that I’ve most likely incurred a concussion. He suggests that they don’t leave me unattended for any length of time. I can eat, if I like.
But if I have any of a host of symptoms, I’m to be transported to a hospital. Lucas has obviously put himself in charge of my care. He is speaking to the EMT as if we’re in a long-term relationship, promising to look after me.
Ugh. What a bastard.
He runs his fingers across my temples and to the back of my head. There’s a goose egg back there, and it’s throbbing.

The paramedics pack up to leave.

Louella offers to move a meeting both men are scheduled to attend this afternoon, and both Lucas and Bain think it’s a good idea. She leaves the room to take care of it.

Bain comes to stand at the end of the sofa, and speaks to Lucas and me, with a low voice. “Look, you two. I’m not really clear what’s going on here between you, but in no way am I okay with your relationship getting in the way of business. Lucas, leave Sadie alone for now. She very pointedly asked you to; I don’t know if your hearing is off, or what.” He turns to me. “Sadie, I’m sorry about your head. Rest until you feel good enough to go home. Calvin will take you, when you’re ready.” I nod.

“Dad, I’m trying to convince Sadie that there’s nothing going on between Violet and me” Lucas says, not dropping the point.

“If you’re a one-woman man, Lucas, it will show itself eventually. Until it does;
stop making an ass out of yourself in front of my star designer, hmm?” He turns and leaves the room.

Louella
appears at the door. “There’s a man downstairs looking for Miss Graves, Mr. Sutton.”

He looks surprised. “Who is it?”

She looks at a Post-It note stuck to her hand. “Jonathan Tierce is the message I got from the desk. The owner of the nightclub
Latex
? ”

Lucas looks up, and his face
hardens instantly. “Get him on the house phone.”

My head is burning, but I notice Lucas’ quick change of demeanor. “Who’s that?” I drawl, softly.

“Someone I literally can’t stand. I’ll handle this.”

Louella
brings Lucas a cordless phone, and he switches it on. “Tierce. It’s Lucas Sutton. How can I help you?”
He doesn’t sound helpful at all.
He sounds positively glacial.
“Yes, Sadie Graves works here now.” He pauses. “I see. Yes, it’s understandable that Anna would direct you here. But no, Sadie isn’t available to meet with you today. If you’ll leave your card with the concierge, I’ll have my personal assistant get back with you. And, Tierce?” He sounds odd, confrontational. “I’m in a relationship with Sadie. I don’t want you anywhere near her; something you can plainly understand. ”

He listens
for a few seconds, and scowls. “I wish Peter had never brought her to that meeting. I sincerely doubt your ability to stick to business, but if you can; you can meet with Sadie. Just know, I’ll be present every time you’re in the same room together. Do you understand?”

Another pause.
“Good.” He hangs up without saying goodbye.

What was that all about?

My eyes are still shut, and Lucas comes back over to the sofa and crouches beside it.

“I’m so sorry about today,
Sadie. I don’t know what I do that triggers those attacks, but if you’ll just tell me…” I shift and roll slightly away, not able or willing to talk about it. I think, a
re you sorry about yesterday, too?

“
Do you feel well enough to stand? Let me take you back to my place. You’re not supposed to fall asleep, and I want to be with you until you’re past your period of observation.”

I groan, and sit up.
Hmm. That wasn’t so bad.
I pass my hand over the back of my head.
Ow.
That smarts.

In the end, I figure I’m not dead yet and I’m going to survive. I sit until I can stand, and when I get to that point
Louella pokes her head into Lucas’ office to smile at me. “Can I get you something, Miss Graves? A drink? Or something to eat?” I realize I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.
Salmon teriyaki. It’s been a long twenty-four hours.
I’m starved.

I tell her so and she
steps out to her desk to arrange for something to be brought up.