His Wicked Pleasure (22 page)

              “Yes. You sure did,” said Kristie standing up as she smoothed out her outfit. “How do I look? Is my hair and makeup okay?”

              Making a face, Lorie folded her arms across her chest and said in an aggravated huff, “Please tell me you’re not thinking of getting back together with Sebastian.”

              “I can’t answer that honestly Lorie. Sebastian and I have history.”

              “Yeah,” said Lorie as she walked out of Kristie’s office. She stopped in the doorway before she decided to turn around and face her sister. “He’s been toying with you since you were in grammar school. Aren’t you tired of the back and forth? The up and down?”

              “I want answers and, apparently, he has them for me.”

              “I think your wasting your time. Sebastian has hurt you over and over again. Don’t you think it’s time to get off the merry-go-round?”

              “I’ve been off the merry-go-round for a while and yet, he’s all I’ve been thinking about lately.”

              “Okay,” said Lorie. “I get it. I really do. He’s gorgeous, he’s got great hair, and great teeth.”

              “He’s not a horse Lorie,” Kristie laughed. “Although, never mind. I better get going. I really want to hear what he has to say. He’s been calling me for weeks now.”

              “Go. I’ll talk to you later,” said Lorie as she walked towards Daniella’s office.

              With a million things going through her mind, Kristie got into her Jeep and drove to meet Sebastian with a sense of anxiety. Parking, she cut the engine and sat in her car a few moments before she got out. “Deep breaths. Breathe in and out. You can face this man.”

Taking a few steps out of her car, she felt the damp August air surround her and looked up to the sky. It was going to rain soon. Not wanting to get caught in a downpour, she walked swiftly towards the entrance of the Grill, opened the door and walked inside. To her right was Sebastian pacing like a caged lion.

              “Kristie,” said Sebastian rushing towards her. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I was beginning to worry.”

              Feeling her palms get sweaty, she rubbed them on her suit a few times while she remembered to breathe. Looking at him, she managed a shy smile and replied, “I know you have. What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

              Looking around nervously, Sebastian pulled Kristie off to the side. Taking a long breath and letting it out in a huff he said, “You know that tall guy you’ve been dating?”

              “Declan?” asked Kristie looking at Sebastian confused.

              “Yeah. Him.”

              “I don’t have time for games. Is he the reason you’ve been calling me like a crazy person?” Barked Kristie while she folded her arms across her chest and stepped away from him.

              “Come with me,” he said in an angry voice. “Look. Look to your left. What do you see?”

              Kristie looked to her left and saw Declan sitting in a booth for two with another woman, her complete opposite. The woman appeared tall, with short, jet-black hair, dark eyes and a muscular build. Kristie turned and faced Sebastian and asked in a sad voice, “How long has this been going on?”

              “Wait? No. This is the first time I’ve seen him with another woman.”

Not wanting to hear anything else out of Sebastian’s mouth, Kristie walked over to the cozy little booth, leaned her hands on the table and said, “Isn’t this adorable?”

Declan looked over at Kristie and was about to say something but Sebastian stopped him.

“I told you he was a loser. Every move you’ve made since we broke up has been backwards and stupid.”

Kristie looked at Declan and said, “I thought you were out of town? You’re a liar. And you Sebastian,” growled Kristie doing her best to keep her voice from cracking. “You lied too. You knew he was here with another woman and wanted me to see this. Have either of you have any shame? Any sense of loyalty?”

Sebastian grabbed Kristie around the waist and pulled her away from Declan. “Come on. You know he’s not for you. I’m the one for you. We made a promise to each other a long time ago. Let me keep that promise and make things up to you.”

Kristie moved towards the door and opened it. Looking back at Declan and Sebastian, she said in a sad voice, “I need to stay away from both of you.” She made her way outside. Walking towards her Jeep, she heard footsteps coming up from behind. Taking a zigzag path towards her car, she heard a click

“Bitch,” called a female voice. “Don’t take another step. This time I won’t miss.”

Kristie stopped and held her breath. A slight sense of nausea suddenly came over her as she felt her stomach flip flop over and over. Fear of being shot suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks as the sound of her pounding heart was echoing in her head. Letting out her breath, she called without turning, “Bitch? I’m confused. How’d you know I was here?”

“Confused? My office is three doors away from yours Miss Rossi; I heard Sebastian’s name and my ears pricked up,” scoffed Delores in an angry growl. “I’m so sick of you. Everything about you screams sunshine and happiness. I’m here to take it all away from you.”

Kristie’s entire being quaked with fear, as the thought of bullets piercing through her suddenly became even more of a reality. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Take what away from me exactly?”

“Come on Ms. Rossi, you’re not that stupid. You know exactly what I took away from you. Don’t you remember my face when you caught Sebastian with his pants down not too long ago? Was my disguise really that good?
 

Thunder echoed in the distance as lightening flashed in the sky. Kristie turned slightly being sure to keep her emotions masked. “That was you? You sure fooled me.”

“I’m so sick of every guy in the neighborhood drooling over you and your stupid sisters’. Without all that makeup and money, you’re just another worthless whore.”

Feeling the sting of her words, Kristie sucked in air as she attempted to control the shaking of her entire body. “I’m really sorry,” was all she was able to say. Her voice completely failed her.

“If you were smart, you would have stayed away from Sebastian. He was mine. I called dibs on him from the moment I met him,” barked Delores in an insane growl. “He was mine. But no you had to shake your tits and ass at him every chance you got. Now I have your company’s money and your man. How does it feel to be robbed and cheated on by a so called friend/employee?”

Tired of the anticipation, Kristie turned to her left and started to walk to her car and as she took her third step, two shots were fired.

~*~*~*~

At that moment, everything around Declan seemed to go in slow motion. The sound of Kristie’s scream ricocheted from every angle as all blood drained from his head. Standing up straight, he pulled himself together and ran towards Kristie. “Are you all right?”

Letting out the breath she was holding, she looked around and noticed police officers surrounding her. Managing to find her voice, she replied, “I’m fine. I think.”

He watched her with intensity for a moment but before he was able to speak to her, the police sergeant walked over and pulled him away.

“Hey Kristie,” said Sebastian walking over to her with a look of concern. Reaching out and pulling her into an embrace, he asked, “Are you all right? Want me to call your family?”

Pulling out of his hug, Kristie looked at Sebastian for a moment before she spoke. “Thank you. Thank you for going out of your way for me. This whole thing couldn’t be easy for you.”

“It wasn’t,” said Sebastian with a frown. “Heads up. That lady cop that was sitting at the table with your man is headed over here.”

              Kristie turned and nodded towards the female officer. “Officer Joseph,” she said in a soft voice.

“That was quite the performance,” said Officer Joseph with a slight smile. “I thought Sebastian was going to kiss you.”

              “I was but didn’t want my ass kicked,” replied Sebastian rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

              “It took a lot of courage for you to come to the police about Delores Maxwell, it gave us enough information to set this trap. Thank you for working with us. We can finally put this case to rest,” said Officer Joseph staring at Sebastian with a proud look on her face.

              “How could I not? Dolores bragged about her promotion and let it slip how she tried to kill Kristie and wanted her dead. What was I supposed to do?” replied Sebastian feeling sick. “She’s always been jealous of Kristie.”             

~*~*~*~

              It had been a week since everything had happened with Dolores. She’d fired at Kristie and the only thing that had saved her was the Kevlar vest she’d been wearing. Despite everything, Kristie had moved on with her life. She’d needed to. Focusing on Dolores would have killed her.

              Although she was busy with her business, Kristie was extra busy with making plans for Declan’s birthday. She sat back in her office and let out a loud sigh of relief once everything was figured out.

              “Miss Rossi,” called Stefan through the intercom. “There’s a Mary Kavanagh here to see you. I can send her away if you’re busy.”

              “Not necessary. Please send her in,” said Kristie while tidying up her desk.

              Her office door opened, and in came a tall woman in her early fifties with medium brown hair cut short, dark brown, almond shaped eyes, and a prominent nose. Her build was on the cusp of not thin, not chubby, giving her a soft appearance. Kristie stood up and smiled, “Welcome Mrs. Kavanagh. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation.”

              “Please dear, call me Mary,” said Declan’s mother as she walked over to Kristie and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much for reaching out to my family. We absolutely love our accommodations.”

              “I’m so happy to hear that,” said Kristie with a warm smile. “Come, let me show you around.”

              Turning to look at Kristie after the tour of Rossi Co., Mary asked, “Is this all yours?”

              “Rossi Co. belongs to my sisters and I. It’s a work in progress.”

              “Well, I’m sure your parents must be very proud of all of you,” replied Mary while taking Kristie’s arm and squeezing.

              “My parents are no longer with us. They passed away a while ago. They were in a horrible car crash and died on impact,” said Kristie looking down the hall at her parent’s portrait.

              “I’m so sorry,” said Mary with a frown.

              “Thank you,” said Kristie taking Mary’s offered hand. “Come. I made arrangements for lunch. I’m sure you must be hungry.”

~*~*~*~

              Declan dressed in a dark suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie. Making his way towards the gala Kristie invited him to; he looked around to see if he could find her. Letting out the breath he was holding, he relaxed a little the moment he spotted Lorie and Paul walking towards him.

              “Well don’t you clean up nicely,” said Lorie with a bright smile. Looking around, she asked, “Where’s my sister?”

              “I don’t know. She asked me to meet her here,” said Declan with worry etched all over his face. “Do you think something happened to her?”

              “Let’s go inside,” said Lorie patting him on the arm. “Maybe she’s already here.”

              Declan felt his heart quicken with each step. Opening the huge, wooden, double doors, he stepped inside and attempted to see but was blinded by darkness and one bright white light.