Three of Diamonds (Hamden Series) (7 page)

“Guess what, Boyd!?! Your sister gave us permission to move the Harry Potter marathon to the media room. We’re going to do it slumber party style, Boyd!” The sounds of euphoria that came from not only Boyd, but some of the other kids as well, was enough to fill Lola’s heart with joy. He truly loved it here, and when he was here, she never worried about him. With many hugs, Boyd and Aimee let Lola head out to start her shift at the Hawthorne for its opening Gala.

“Lola! What the hell was that about?” David Rafferty demanded, as he barreled through the kitchen, finding his target.

Well, that must be a record!
Didn’t take long for that incident to work its way down the perpetual grape vine.

She was leaning her shoulder against the wall, with her back toward him. The fact that she didn’t turn around to face him, only increased his irritation. “Do you have any idea who you were so completely rude to out there?”

Why, yes I do. His name is Wes, aka Adonis, and he is a founding member of a BDSM club called Olympus. The question is, why do YOU know who he is?

Lola’s heart still felt like it was going to beat out of her chest, regardless that it had been at least five minutes since she left her post at the bar. It was her erratic heartbeat she was concentrating on, rather than the arousal coursing through her. She has never had such a reaction to a man. What is it about him? She has seen him three times, spoken maybe a couple dozen words, why does it feel like she is a magnet being pulled when he is near? Thinking back to what she said to him minutes earlier, she cringed.

Anything else, sir?

Said in almost a purr, like she has done time and time again in her dreams; those erotic dreams that he had headlined repeatedly. Those secret unconscious moments of pleasure, when her mind gives into her desire to please him, to satisfy him, to be enough to fulfill his colossal carnal drive.

Then the way his eyes widened when she said it. Could anything else be worse? The blue depths trimmed in light brown lashes that looked soft and full. She saw how the action lessened the slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. One of those kind of markings that look sexy on a man but a sign of war on a woman. She needed to stop thinking about him. Didn’t she just tell him to leave her alone? Didn’t she just ax any sort of advance he would make? He couldn’t be confused at her words.

“Look, you apparently have me confused with someone else. If you think your money impresses me, what can I say, I’m not a diamond or top shelf kind of girl. I’m more the mood ring or house brand. Now, if there isn’t anything else I can get you from the bar, I have a job to do, which does NOT include mingling with the guests. Please, let me take the next guest in line, unless you need a refill on your HIGH END Scotch?”

“Lola, I’m talking to you!” David’s voice brought her back to her current location. She turned to face the man. It always struck her as funny that the Hawthorne would hire someone like David, as the banquet manager. But, if you were married to the general manager’s daughter, landing the position was probably quite easy. He stood there trying to seem intimidating as he crossed his arms in his two sizes too small navy blue suit coat. The fact that he was peering at her through outdated thick black glasses, along with a flyaway comb-over, made it difficult to focus on his words.

When she continued to remain mute, David’s annoyance skyrocketed.

“That was Wes Thompson, the Vice President and lead architect in the design of this establishment. Do you have any idea the implications of embarrassment you brought on to Mr. Dwyer? Your insubordination and outright break in employee-tolerated behavior is unacceptable. I have no choice but to fire you. Go see Diane, and pick up your final check.” He held out his hand, expecting her to take his word as law and politely put her employee badge in it.

You’ve got to be kidding me!
Fired for telling a man that she was not interested in becoming an acquisition or a passing of time. He was mistaken if he thought she was going to get teary eyed. She would not defend herself or plead for her job, or give him the satisfaction of compliancy.

“Well fuck you very much, David. Hope you and your snitch, whoever it was, has a super fantastic night.” She walked by him with her head held high and dropped her badge at his feet.

Twenty minutes later, she was climbing into her jeep, and emptying her pockets with the few tips she had received. The fifty-dollar bill caught her attention as it laid on top. “Son of a bitch! He really thinks he is a God!” Without thinking twice, she climbed back out of the jeep, leaned over, placing the bill under the passenger windshield wiper of the car parked next to her. Whoever’s car it was, just received a special surprise thanks to a man named, Wes Thompson. Lola climbed back into the driver’s seat, and happily drove off toward her couch and the restless night’s sleep that was waiting for her.

“That was amazing!” The brunette said, from the other side of the bed as she looked at the strong back and delectable backside that was currently bending over to retrieve his pants on the floor next to the bed. When no response came. “Is there a problem, Wes?” she said annoyed and used.

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes. What did she want, pillow talk? Didn’t work that way. He was sure to tell her beforehand what he needed and his terms for it. Did she not know him enough by now to not expect the annoyingly insisted upon requirement of chitchat after sex.

“No problem, Trudy. I’m just going to get dressed and get back downstairs,” Wes said, as he pulled his pants up and fastened them before walking over to the wing chair where his tuxedo shirt landed.

“What’s the rush? Why don’t you come back to bed and see if I can arouse you enough for another round.” Her voice was a little too high as she offered what she must have thought, was a wonderful idea.

“Not this time, Trudy. But, the suite is paid for the night. Make yourself at home,” he answered, while efficiently knotting his tie with much learned finesse and slipping on his tuxedo coat.

Without another word, he walked toward the door, and went through it. As he made his way to the elevators, his eyes were transfixed on the black, white and gray asymmetrical patterned carpeting. He chuckled to himself thinking, how ugly he thought it was when Howard Dwyer picked it out to line his multimillion-dollar hotel. But, who was he to say anything, he just turned the man’s vision into a steel structure.

When the elevator dinged, he entered, looking at the mirror on the far wall. He stared at his reflection, answering the question burning in his eyes. Why wasn’t it Lola Nash under him rather than Trudy? What was it about the exotic beauty that had him willingly taking any bed partner to alleviate the desire she struck in him. He was a man that disciplined himself on his control of gratification, specifically the sexual natured ones. But, one look from the cat eyed woman had him reacting like a raging teenage boy.

He replayed their brief conversation in his head. There was no denying the irritation she had towards him, but why? How had he wronged her? He made it a point to treat any woman with the utmost respect, regardless of his taste between the sheets. It unsettled him, to be truthful, but he gave her his word that he would leave her alone. At least for the time being, anyway, he thought. Just like the buildings, he brought to life from his drawings, which are filled with facades for optimal visual stimulation. He planned to discover all of Lola’s depths and secrets, which she had hidden behind her self-made walls. He rubbed his hands in anticipation, and ignored the throb behind his zipper that he was damn sure wouldn’t be going away anytime soon.

“Relax, Aimee. You have thought of everything, it is going to be great!” Lola said, trying to calm her friend down, before Aimee wore a hole through the carpet of her office from all of her pacing.

Today was the day that executives from DiLorenzo & Associates were coming for their walk around. They were coming for an informal meeting to discuss Aimee’s plans for Aaron’s Place growth. Thanks to the wonderful work of Mrs. Cooper, Aaron’s Place sat on fifty-seven acres of pristine Vermont land. Aimee’s and ultimately the foundations plans for expansion, was really the original dream of its founder. Aimee just brought it to fruition.

These last few months, Lola has watched Aimee and the rest of the team at the center, work themselves to the bone, making sure everything was in place to not disrupt any of the current facilities activities. She made sure every “i” was dotted and every “t” crossed. It all came down to this meeting, the first in a series.

“I’m just so nervous. I have a horrible feeling that I forgot something,” Aimee said as her French manicured fingers quickly shuffled through her paperwork for the twentieth time.

“You didn’t, you thought of everything!” Lola said, knowing it was true. Lola walked over and rubbed tiny circles on Aimee’s back, hoping the contact would calm her. Lola had never seen the usual, cool, calm and collective Aimee so frazzled.

“Aimee, they’re here.” Jerry, Aaron’s Place Assistant Director, said from his desk outside Aimee’s office.

“Come on, deep breath. You got this, Aimee. I’ll be right there next to you.”

“What would I, or this place, do without you, Lola?” Aimee gave her friend a tight hug and then gave her head a little shake, took a deep breath and grabbed the copies of the written proposal. “Okay, there is coffee, tea and water in the fridge in the mess hall. Oh, and could you, bring in the small box of muffins that are the counter next to the fridge, too?”

“No problem. Go on, bring them into the conference room and I’ll be along in a moment with the refreshments.” Lola said, as she gave Aimee a gentle push toward the door and her guests.

Lola walked down the hall and around the corner to where the mess hall was. She quickly grabbed the large tray that was kept on top of the refrigerator. Placing the bottles of water and goodie box on it, she went about making the coffee and tea. While they each brewed, she busied herself with cleaning up the dishes that were in the sink. She filled the carafes, making sure the cream and milk pitchers were filled, and headed off toward the meeting.