The Sanctuary (38 page)

“I miss you, darling.” Val’s smooth, deep voice penetrated the phone.

“Is it eleven already?” I completely disregarded his comment.

“Yes, it’s after eleven. Why don’t we video chat? I want to see you.”

I flipped open my laptop and pressed the camera button. His face jumped onto the screen.

“I’ve missed you.”

He said it again. I didn’t think I could ignore it twice before raising red flags. “I missed you too. I’m sorry I was caught up with work, reviewing contracts.” I was still feeling uneasy, but at least I now knew why.

“Am I disturbing you?” His face looked worn and tired, as though he hadn’t slept for days.

“No, I was just reviewing some things before bed.”

Val cringed. “Did you forget about tonight?”

“Nope, I just lost track of the time.” I blew a kiss to the screen.

“I miss those lips.” He groaned deeply.

“I’m sure you do.” I couldn’t help but be sarcastic. My mind was already tricking me.

“How are you feeling?”

“A bit better. I think I ate something that disagreed with me. I’m tired and wiped out. I think I may call in sick tomorrow.” I faked a yawn to hide my lie.

“Oh?”

He looked disappointed, but I was feeling bitchy, and I was itching to ask him about the contract. I had no time to appeal to his soft side. “I bumped into a friend during lunch. She mentioned a rumor she heard.”

He raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “About me already?”

“She said you made some contract changes recently.” I began my line of questioning.

“I did, a few weeks ago. Why? Did she ask if you were pregnant?” He smiled.

I decided to play along. “Actually she did because of a few rider modifications. What did you do?”

He smiled again. “I followed up on the promises I made to you.”

“Which were?”

“Hired help if we have a baby when I’m touring,” he stated proudly.

“Aw…that’s sweet.” I faked a smile. “I also heard something else.”

“What was that?” He grinned through wisps of gray smoke that floated and veiled his eyes.

“She said that you signed a contract for two more albums.” I stared at the screen, awaiting his answer.

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Not that I’m aware of. That part is untrue. Don’t worry, my love.”

“Well, did you sign the contract and the rider at the same time?” I needed the truth out of him.

“No, I did not. Why are you questioning this?”

“Did you read the contract when you signed it?” My voice grew angry, and I gasped, holding back tears from falling.

“No, it’s all standard and boring.” He began to press his fingers together. I could tell I was pushing his buttons.

“Well, maybe you should have.” I broke. I couldn’t control my emotions. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

“It’s all customary. Nothing changes. Why are you so upset?”

I grabbed the contract off the table and waved it in front of the screen. “Because I did. I read it. You’re signed into two more albums. What’s that, another six to eight years of recording and touring?”

“How did you get that?” he growled sternly.

“When were you going to tell me? You lied to me. You told me this was your last album. You told me you would be there for me if we were going to have a family. We’ll be past forty by the time you’re done.”

“Calm down. I’ll fix it. I promise I will take care of it.”

“How?” I demanded.

“I’ll talk to my lawyer to see if there is something we can do.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“How could you be so stupid to sign something that would affect us like this?”

“We weren’t engaged at the time, Eve. My lawyer reviewed it, and I trusted it was standard. I didn’t think to read it.” Val looked angry that I was cross with him.

“Where is your business sense?” I continued to scold him.

“Enough, Eve. I hear you loud and clear. I will see what I can do to fix it.”

I exploded in a fit of tears. I couldn’t control my emotions.

His eyes softened. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not feeling well. I need some sleep.” I wiped my nose.

“All right, but please calm down. Can I call you in the morning?”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure if I’m going to work. I’ll call you when I wake up. Night.” I slammed the computer shut.

I rescheduled the partnership meeting and took a few days off to tend to my constant morning meetings with my new partner, the toilet. The break gave me the time I needed to gain a clearer vision of how I wanted to proceed with the company.

It also gave me time to smooth things over with Val. He made me realize any additional records meant a better life for us. More records meant more royalties in the future, and I always had his family and my aunt to keep me occupied in his absence.

Just as I sat down to begin the meeting, Jude popped his head through the door. “Can we talk?”

I glared at him. “Excuse me, everyone.” I entered the hallway and shut the door behind me. “How did you know I was in today?”

“Did you think my employees wouldn’t tell me?”

“You mean my employees. We have no deal, Jude,” I stated firmly.

“Why not? You have a better plan?” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not getting into bed with you again.”

“That wasn’t the plan I was thinking of, but it could be a better one.” He winked.

“Don’t you have a business to run? A client to lie to?” My tone was curt. I had no time for his games.

“And what do you plan on doing to protect yourself? Someone has to.”

“I’d rather be honest than be deceitful. I will not lie to someone I love. Shit happens, divorces happen. I’m having his child. He’s not going to take away my only source of income.” The rules had changed since I had those two little blue lines to worry about.

“No, he’ll just hit you up for annual distributions to pay for his coke habit. Because we all know how well he does after a breakup. Maybe you can hope for the best and pray he ODs.” Jude sneered at his knowledge of Val’s personal life.

“Get out of my office,
now
.” I gestured down the hallway, making my point.

He ignored my demand. “So, you’re going through with the partnership?” He cocked his head to the side, awaiting my answer.

“You already know the answer. Why bother asking?”

“And when you get divorced? You’ll be alone with his kid, screwed for income.”

“Oh come on. Do you really think I’ll suffer? I can afford to take care of myself and a child.” I walked away, but he followed. He was a persistent ass.

“Make me a partner. You know I can run things around here. None of those three nitwits have the business sense you or I possess. They couldn’t even handle the PR when you decided to play stripper in Finland. Besides, I have the cash to offer to you for the majority of the ownership. They don’t.”

He crossed his arms and stood there cocky as hell, but he made a valid point. They all were excellent planners and organizers, but they lacked the finesse to run a company. Jude knew what it took to keep a company out of the red. He had the financial backing to keep the business running and the client list to retain profits.

“And if you need to return, you will have a position making your same salary.”

“Then you’d be my boss. I don’t think so.” I laughed. “If I come back, you return the majority to me at the purchase price.”

He shook his head. “Then what’s in it for me?”

I paused briefly. “You get the pleasure of telling me you were right. Did you expect more?” I held open the meeting room door and gestured for him to enter.

Jude followed. “Let’s get started, people! As of today, this company is going be run differently.”

“Jude, kindly sit down, or I’ll ask you to leave.” I stared at him coldly.

“You know that’s not how I do things, doll.” He placed his hands squarely on the table before me.

I challenged him. “I am not your doll, not in the office and certainly not outside. You can either let me run my business, or you can leave without what we discussed. Now, sit down and shut up.”

After a half of day of reviewing contracts, negotiating, and policy discussions, the partnership meeting ended. I finalized the deal and signed off on it. I was a silent partner for the firm, with a permanent yearly salary and an option to return full time.

It was satisfying to know I was getting such a huge chunk of change out of Jude. My staff wasn’t happy, but this was the only solution to keep the company alive.

“Let’s celebrate!” Jude grabbed me and shouted down the hallway to Vicki, “Oh Vicki, I want your office. I need to be close to Eve. Make sure you move out by tomorrow.”

“You can’t do that. She’s my right hand around here.”

“Then she’ll be my right hand, but down the hall. Let’s get lunch.”

There was little I could say or do to stop his demands. He was in my position now. “That’s not fair, and you know it.”

“She’ll deal.” He spun around. “Hey you, yeah you, Sharon? Get an interoffice email out about the partnership. Vicki will give you the details. We’re going to lunch, oh, and schedule a meeting with Kristen for four p.m. today. I need a press release out as soon as possible.”

Sharon kept walking without a reply. She detested the way Jude arrogantly barked orders, and I didn’t blame her. He was demanding when it came to work, but that’s why we got along well. He ran a tight ship and got things done. And I loved it.

We stood in front of the elevator in silence. I could feel him staring at me. “Are you happy?” His voice softened.

“Right now, not really. I think I’ll pass on lunch. I’m going home. I’m tired.”

“But we should celebrate. We did it. There’s no way he can touch the company. We own it.” He smirked.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped in, thankfully alone. “And you’re happy because you screwed him or saved me?” I couldn’t help but wonder about his motives. I knew with Jude there always was one.

“I can’t be happy for both?” He placed his arm around my shoulder. “It’s for the best, or you wouldn’t have agreed to it. You still have some sense in you.”

I shrugged my shoulder in an attempt to brush him off. “I suppose. We can celebrate next time. I’m going home.” The elevator doors opened, and I quickly breezed out of the lobby onto Madison Avenue to hail a cab.

“Why don’t I call you around eight, and if you’re up to it, we’ll go out to dinner? My treat.” He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, opening the door to the taxi that stopped for me.

“I’ll let you know.” I had no intention of going to dinner with him. It would be awkward.

As soon as the taxi sped away, I dialed Val.

“Hello, darling,” he murmured in my ear.

His voice was even sexier over the wire. “I’ve got good news.” I was excited. “As of today, I’m a silent partner, and when I leave, I take a yearly salary to boot. They’re going to announce it on Monday, and I’d say within six to nine months I’m all yours.”

“That’s fabulous news. I am glad you worked it out.”

“What are you doing tonight?” I felt impulsive.

“I’m working, why?”

“I’m going to take a nap, but I want to talk to you later.” I glanced down at my watch, quickly calculating the hour difference. “How’s eight your time?” It was our usual time, and he wouldn’t suspect a thing.

“I should be home by eight.”

“Great, I’ll talk to you then. I love you.” I closed the phone. “Driver”—

I peeked through the window—“there’s been a change in address. I need to be at JFK as soon as possible, and I’ll pay you double if you get me there quickly.”

I arrived at my L.A. home forty minutes before I expected Val to be there. I quickly deactivated the alarm and stepped inside. The house was trashed. His guitar was sitting on the couch. There were beer bottles and random lyrics written on half-crumpled sheets tossed everywhere. I stepped over cigarette packs, socks, shoes, and a plethora of other things before making my way into the kitchen. It was totally unacceptable to live this way, especially in my house.

I opened the fridge. It was empty. I had a feeling of déjà vu, as if I’d stepped back into time when I’d first moved in with him in Helsinki. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to order food. I needed to shower and change before he got home. Rushing upstairs, I practically tripped over his dirty clothes.

I swooped down and picked up his laundry, tossing it into the laundry room. Running back into the bedroom, I emptied the ashtrays and tossed the random bits of trash scattered around the room before I headed into the bathroom, to shower and change into a sexy lace cami set.

I looked at my watch. Ten minutes to showtime. I ran the blow dryer through my hair, threw on makeup, and stepped out into the bedroom at exactly seven fifty-five p.m.

The door opened and closed downstairs, followed by shuffling and movement. I picked up my cell phone and dialed. His cell phone reverberated downstairs. My heart fluttered, I couldn’t wait to surprise him.

“Hello, darling. How was your nap?”

“Refreshing. I miss you though. It isn’t the same sleeping alone.”

“I know how you feel. The bed seems empty without you.” I heard him open the refrigerator and pop open a beer.

“My assistant delivered something for you, a surprise to celebrate the sale. She left it in the bedroom.”

“Why the bedroom?” I heard his footsteps traveling up the stairs.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you see what it is?”

The door crept open, and his hand flipped on the light. I jumped out of bed and leapt into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“What are you doing here?” He kissed me deeply on the mouth, holding me tightly to him.

It was good to feel him next to me again. “You look like you haven’t slept in days. Are you okay?”

He laughed and placed his beer on the dresser. “Now I am. I can’t believe you’re here.” He picked me up and carried me to the bed, placed me down, and pulled off his tee shirt, boots, and socks. It figured the first thing he wanted to do was make love. He slid on the bed next to me and ran his fingers over my arm, slipping down the strap of my tank.

“Do you know what it’s like sleeping in a strange house without you by my side? I am completely—”