Conflict Of Interest (10 page)

Evan’s POV

Chapter 17

I decide to skip the gym to enjoy the perfect warm weather and sun and I went for a run after work. Running clears my mind and helps me think clearly. Tonight, I am meeting Natalia and her friends for some drinks. I called her earlier for the plan. She insisted that she go with them so I accepted. After all, making her happy was what I aim for. I want to invest everything that I have for this girl.

Hot water runs down my body. I am feeling it a little hotter than usual, but I welcome the tingly pain. It feels good after this long run, helping me loosen all my tight muscles. I am getting ready for the night, but before I leave and meet Natalia, I am going to pass by Marissa’s apartment. I needed to clear things with her. That almost kiss last night meant nothing to me. It can't mean anything; I have to clear things with her so she knows where she stands and stay there.

I get to her apartment and knock several times before she opens it, all soaked and wet, covered in a towel. Her face is as surprised as I am. “Evan, what are you doing here?”

I lowered my eyes as I apologize. I’m sorry I’ll wait out here while you get dressed.”

“Don’t be silly, just come in and wait in my living room.” She opens the door even more.

“I just want to talk and then I’ll be out of here,” I say this, looking to the ceiling. I didn’t want to give her any indication that I wasn’t serious.

She says “hmm” as she walks and gets me a beer from her fridge. She walks over to hand it to me. I really don’t want to spend any more time here. I shake my head, refusing the beer, but she insists.

“Evan, don't be silly; here, drink this as I go change into a better look for you.” I grab it and chug! I was pacing back and forth, looking around at her decent apartment. I have been here before but not too long to actually take notice of anything.

It has a big kitchen and a big living room. Her decorations are artsy. She loves painting it looks like. Walls are full of design portraits. After a few minutes, feeling like a long time, she comes out and grabs herself a beer to join me.

She drinks from the bottle as she walks toward me. Her hair still wet but she has jeans and a t-shirt on.

“What's up, tough guy?” She says, smiling and offering me a seat. I stayed standing. She finds herself a seat and puts a leg up in front of her.

“Marissa, I came here to apologize for the kiss. I didn’t know, you took me by surprise.” I looked at her; she had a face of disappointment.

“You came all the way here to tell me this?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I wanted to apologize.”

“I know, Evan, the deal. It’s her and I know where I stand.”

She gets up from her seat to walks toward me. We get interrupted when my phone rang. She moves back, giving me space.

“It’s the office,” I say as I answer.

“Hello?”

“Evan, plans have changed. Mission needs to be done tonight instead of tomorrow. Come to the office soon.” I end the call and head out as I tell Marissa.

While heading to the office, I text Natalia.

Evan: I will meet up with you at Frederic’s little later. Working a little late tonight. Miss you.

Instead of going straight to my office, I enter the conference room. There’s the whole office team in here. My bosses, their bosses, and their bosses. All in suits and some with ties.

“Evan, there you are.”

“We need the best man for the job here, Bennett says as he points at me.

“What's going on; why the plan change?” I ask

“Mission needs to be completed tonight, we have the teams all ready,” Bennet answers.

Dammit. I hit the table with my fists, the room silently quiet.

I run my hands through my hair and pace. “I thought it was for tomorrow,” I say calmly out loud. I did not want to really show how angry I really was.

“We found new information. Frederic and his team are bringing in an order of contrabands from another state. They are stashing it in a private room in the back of the club,” he adds.

“We just need your order, sir.” Bennet stares, waiting for my answer. “Everyone is on it right now, Evan. It’s too late to change plans,” Joe said as he crossed his over his chest.

What am I going to do? I had no choice but to go on with the mission. I think for a second, but I guess there is nothing else to do besides go on with the plan. I looked at my team as I said. “You have my permission.”

I head fast out of this office to mine; I had to get a hold of Natalia. I picked up my cell to call her and it went to voicemail, so I texted her instead.

Evan: Where are you?

I waited a couple of minutes patiently. The door opens to my office. What Marissa? Are you ok?

Natalia is there tonight with her friends and I need to take the out before anything happens.

Don't worry we can go over after we finish here and I’ll go with you. You got to get back in the conference room.

After two long hours talking about the plan and what will go on, I head out to the club.

We arrive at the place and Marissa right behind me. I look around and I see Natalia, Alyssa and Alex in the VIP area. I tell Marissa to stay put and after all I cannot make a scene right now. I get pissed off instantly. I see Natalia dancing with a man that’s all over her body. I want to grab him by the neck and kick his ass. “You need to stay calm, Evan,” Marissa hollers at me. I gave her a look of
don't get in my business
.

I walk toward Natalia and I grip her arm maybe a little too tight but I didn't hurt her. She tried to push away, and I released her arm to avoid a scene.

Rubbing her arm, “What the hell are you doing? You are hurting my arm.”

The tall blond, boy looking like a Barbie Ken was coming toward me. “Hey, man, what are you doing?” Marissa came right in the perfect moment and took him away. If not I would have dislocated his jaw out of his face.

I know Marissa can handle the situation. We need to leave now and I will explain.

Natalia’s POV

Chapter 18 (Before the altercation)

It’s Friday and the mall is packed. Alyssa and I decide to go shopping in between class and work to buy an outfit for our double date tonight. I’m looking at the clothes rack and while Alyssa is trying on shoes.

“I’m excited for tonight,” Alyssa says, waving her hands around in some form of excitement. “Are we meeting at Frederic’s or your apartment, Nat?”

“We can meet there at the lounge if you want. I will let you know if anything changes.” We go to a couple of stores until we both find our perfect outfits.

Home sweet home, I think as I walk into my apartment from a busy day at work after the mall. I didn't have a chance to look at my cell the rest of the afternoon. I check now and notice two texts from Evan.

Evan: I will meet up with you at Frederic’s little later. I am working a little late tonight. Miss you.

Evan: Where are you?

I reply to him now

Nat: I will text you when I am on my way there. Can’t wait to see you!

I jump in the shower and then straighten my hair and apply a little bit of makeup. I get dressed and look at the clock to see it only took me about an hour, not too bad.

Modeling in front of my bedroom mirror, I think I look damn good. I am wearing a sapphire blue, glittery dress with a low cut v showing just enough cleavage. The back is open straight down to my lower waist. I added a pair of silver peeped toe five-inch heels and some silver hoop earrings.

Deciding that I look hot enough to go to the club, I grab my bag and run out of the door. I flag down a cab and wait for one to stop. Once inside the cab, I give him the address to Frederic’s. I am bouncing my foot in anticipation of seeing Evan.

The cab driver lets me off at the front of the club. I start my walk to the front of the line when I see the two bouncers, George and James, notice me right away. Thank God for having connections. They’ve been working for Frederic for the past couple of years so it makes it easy to get in quicker.

“Hey, sexy girl!” George yells, trying to get my attention.

“Hey, boys,” I say as I give them a quick wave.

“Tonight has already started off crazy, so be careful with the drunk men,” George says.

I bypass everyone and walk right through the front doors. I am walking straight to the VIP area. I am hoping Alyssa is already here. As I began to glance around the VIP area, I notice from a distance Frederic is sitting with four girls surrounding him. I look over to them see Alyssa and Alex and two other guys on the other side of them. This lounge is packed tonight with people, but it usually always is. Is the place to be in the area?

The security guard offers me a hand to climb the step to the VIP area. Alyssa jumps on me, giving me a huge hug. I give Alex a high-five.

“What’s up, Nat?” he asks while smiling and waving his hand to me.

“Where is the alcohol?” I loudly ask while moving to the beat of the music playing.

I see Ben, Alyssa‘s friend from class who is also one of the bartenders here, bringing drinks and he hands me a glass.

I lean over to him, bringing his ear down to my mouth. “What is this?”

He replies, “It’s a Margarita made by me.”

I grab it happily and start sipping.

“You look amazing,” he says, eyeing me up and down.

“Thanks!” I turn away from Ben and wave a ‘Hi’ to Frederic and he nods as well and continues on with his ladies all over him. I shrug my shoulder while holding my gag reflexes.

“Where is Evan?” Alex asks me.

“He should be here soon. Let me text him, telling him that I’m here which I have completely forgotten to do.”

I notice tonight the VIP area is even busier than usual. Some women and men are entering the VIP areas, which are personal friends of Frederic.

We are mingling and having a great time dancing to the music. I look over and Alyssa is all over Alex. I yell “get a room” and continue dancing. I look at my watch and time has passed by so quickly. The night is close to being over. I guess Evan is not coming after all. I check my phone and no text either. I decide to go out of the VIP area, to go dance on the dance floor.

A good-looking guy joins me and we dance together. He’s tall, blond, and handsome. All of a sudden, I feel a tight grip on my arm that jerks me off to the side. I went to raise my arm so whoever was holding it would let me go. When I get loose, I turn around and see Evan.

Rubbing my arm, I yell, “What the hell are you doing? You are hurting my arm.”

Looking around, I notice that he wasn’t alone. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know him he asked me to dance.”

“So you just dance?”

“Apparently I did.”

“We will finish this later, but right now, you cannot be here. Please, let’s leave now and take your friends with us,” he says with urgency in his voice. He looks and sounds desperate.

I feel so confused right now. “Why the fuck should I leave? Because you say so, I am just supposed to do whatever the hell you want me to?”

“Please, Natalia.”

“Please nothing. I am going back over there to dance some more.” If you move toward him, I will pick you up myself and take you out of here.

He grabs my arm again. “No the fuck you’re not. Quit being so defiant.”

“If you'd told me the real reason I need to leave maybe I wouldn't be so defiant.”

“I can’t tell you right now. I took an oath! He took a deeper breath. I took an oath, Natalia,” he repeats through gritted teeth. “I can’t tell you unless we are married.”

“I hope this isn’t a proposal because that is so not happening just so you could tell me.”

I look at his face, seeing how pissed he really is, but there is more there. He looks guilty.

“You’ve been lying to me and you are pretty damn good at it. I think you actually enjoy it.”

I am so pissed off right now. I know my face is red. I can feel the heat coming from it.

“Hey, guys. What’s going on?” Alyssa interrupts with a smile that starts fading when she notices how upset I am.

Turning to Alyssa, I say, “Can we have a minute, please?”

She turns around and walks away toward Alex.

“I am not leaving with you, Evan.”

“Do I really have to remind you what's at stake here, Natalia? There's a very serious problem here where we might not get out of this alive. Any of us.”

I freeze with his words and I decide to take it seriously.

“Now get your friends and let’s leave now.” I am still standing there when he yells, “Do it!”

He walks away as I start moving toward my friends. I keep my eyes on him and I watch him walk right to that same woman that he was with the night I met him and that night at the club. Marissa I think is her name. I go ahead and tell Alyssa and Alex that we need to leave.

“What is going on?” Alyssa asks with a worried face.

“I don’t know but something is about to go down.” I notice the crowd is being evacuated by the bodyguards as we start walking.

The night flew by; I didn't realize it was closing time. We start walking faster to the exit door. At this point, I just want to be home and away from this chaos. Evan has some explaining to do.

Alex, Alyssa, and I stay outside for a couple minutes before we decide to wait across the street in the distance of the club to see if Evan meets with us before I go home. New York City traffic is heavy. Cars and people going their own way.

I send him a text to let him know where I am. Alex and Alyssa sit on the grass as I just stand there, leaning beside a tree, just looking to see if there are any signs of Evan.