Rose of Betrayal (11 page)

Ralph had to end the
interrogation for Brad's sake.
 
He was
prepared to spill everything when the sound of shuffling feet echoed in the
hall.

           
Everyone paused to listen to the
footsteps nearing the room.
 
Time froze,
lungs ceased to work, and eyes refused to blink as they focused in anticipation
on the door.
 
Muscles tensed.
 
Throats ventured to ingest the fear lurking
within.
 
Brows beaded with
perspiration.
 
A cool draft dancing across
the floor swirled around limbs, its chilling tentacles creeping up everyone's
frame.

           
Feeling as though his chest was in a
vice grip, enshrouding his body with his arms to control his quaking Brad made
a shoddy attempt to stand.
 
Just as he
began to rise, his eyes caught a glimpse of the green slippers halting in the
doorway, and then trudged up the long green pant legs topped by a tunic and
stethoscope.

           
Removing his wire rimmed glasses and
labor soaked cap, the stranger’s haggard face examined the four statues.
 
Entering the gloom, he languidly secured the
door before locking his attention on Brad.

           
Seconds ticked as the time bomb
generated by Brad's worst fears exploded.
 
A cry reverberated off the four walls, “No . . . no . . . Dear God, no!”
Fireworks detonated before Brad's eyes.
 
Weakness the victor, he slumped to the floor unconscious.
 

           
A vision appeared.
 
Kneeling beside him, she placed his head on
her lap to sooth his face with soft, cool hands.
 
Long dark hair fell forward creating a cocoon
locking out the world as pink, bow lips brushed his, “I knew you'd come for
me.”

CHAPTER 10

“SEPTEMBER
2010”

           
Waiting
anxiously for Sam to return from freshening up, Ted became frantic wondering
how to convince her New York was the preferred place to pursue a designing
career.
 
In conclusion, he decided to
take time off from work to give her a tour capable of weaving its own
magic.
 
Certainly, Brad would not mind
holding down the fort, after all, what were friends for?

           
Captivated
by her discoveries, Sam lingered in the lavatory.
 
The gray, textured wallpaper woven with
specks of red, ceased at the glistening black marble floor.
 
Ebony fixtures included a heart shaped
Jacuzzi centered in a glass enclosed patio offering unobstructed views of the
skyline and Central Park, bushes, trees and flowers in varied containers
encompassing the exterior provided privacy and a country garden atmosphere.

           
Suspended
from a skylight, a crystal chandelier made the room sparkle with subdued
light.
 
Full-length mirrors on all the
walls offered a replica from every angle.
 
A marble shower occupied a corner.
 
The black lacquer vanity accommodated three marble sinks adorned with
ornate, brass, lion head faucets.
 
Smells
of spring came from a myriad of vases scattered around the room filled with
fresh floral arrangements.
 
Reluctantly
Sam dried her hands on crimson towels that felt like velvet.
 
The whole experience made it difficult to believe
she was in a towering office building. Having dawdled too long, she returned to
Ted.

           
Examining
the muscular body facing French doors leading to the patio made her heart
somersault.
  
Slowly approaching,
pondering his handsomeness, she said, “Thank you.
 
I feel better now.
 
What the airline attendant said was
true.
 
The flight was nothing compared to
the taxi ride here.”

Ted turned smiling at the beautiful
creature melting his heart.
 
“I could
have told you that, silly.
 
That's why I
wanted to meet you at the airport with my limo.”

Twirling like a ballerina, she
exclaimed.
 
“I can't believe I'm actually
here.
 
It’s like a fairy tale.”

“Do you approve, baby?”

“Oh, it's absolutely beautiful, quite
a change from home.”

Closing the distance, Ted placed a
hand on each side of her face. “Say the word and it’s all yours.”
 

           
Dealing
with the sensations his touch invoked, was perplexing, particularly his desire
flamed azure eyes perpetually making her feel like a sex object.
 
Irritation flared, “What do I have to do to
get it all, Ted, sleep with you?
  
That
is why you wanted me to come to New York, is it not?
 
It was not to help me with my career.
 
So, let's drop down right here, right now and
get it over with, then maybe I can relax and enjoy my visit.”
 

           
A
shockingly accurate insinuation that reminded Ted of what he had done many times
before with numerous other women.
 
Lashing anger made him want to grab her, throw her to the floor to mount
and pump her until satisfied, but, at that point, he would lose her, and for
some reason the thought made him sick to his stomach.
  

           
Wisely,
a deep persuasive voice, with no concise thought gushed words. “That is not all
I want.
 
You should know that by now,
Sam.
 
I am madly in love with you,
feelings that are new to me.
 
I have
never known anyone like you.
 
I need time
to be sure.”
 
Facing her, motionless,
trembling inwardly he was baffled by the magic spell she perpetually cast
capable of wrenching his insides and coercing him to utter things completely
foreign to him.

His startling
unexpected confession made Sam wonder about his sincerity. His mouth suddenly
covering hers with a warm, tender kiss multiplied the confusion.
 
Buckling knees brought her against him, his
arms around her offering much needed support.
 
Lowering her defenses considerably his lips on the prowl began
sprinkling gentle kisses on her neck.

           
Caressing
her cheeks with his thumbs, he pleaded, “Stay, Sam.
 
Stay here with me for a short time so we can
find out what it would be like to live together.
 
All I ask is that you give me a chance.
 
I cannot change overnight.
 
Whatever you want, I do not care.
 
Please, give me a chance.”
 
Ted’s spirits took a dive.
 
A newfound sincerity exposed a dimension of
his personality completely void of his normal aggressiveness.
 
Since meeting him Sam he believed their
relationship lacked the qualities necessary to form a bond other than sexual
attraction.

“O.K. Ted, I'll stay, but promise me
you won't force me to do anything that makes me uncomfortable.
 
I need to be certain that I love you.”

           
Nut’s
that is what she was, Ted wailed inwardly.
 
He had never waited for anything in his entire
life.
 
Whatever he wanted, whenever he
wanted it, he reached out and snatched it.
 
Puzzled as to why it was not working in this relationship flustered
him.
 
Possibly playing hard to get was
why she affected him the way she did.
 
Now he was more determined than ever to win her affections.
 
Take her blasted virginity.
  
He would fight with all he had before giving
up. The foreign yearnings she kindled within made him feel alive, and made
obtainable things he never dreamed of before.

           
Maybe
the time had come for him to settle down, buy a home, and have a family.
 
A family, certainly, Sam would want a
family.
 
No!
 
There was no room in his life for
children.
 
He would never share her with
anyone, and yet, Sam was any man's dream and if he couldn't settle down with
her, then it would be impossible.

           
During
the following week’s Ted devoted all his time to Sam exploring every square
mile of Manhattan.
 
She need only ask to
have her wish granted.
 
One week flowed
into another, filled with fun, excitement, and romance.
 
They enjoyed carriage rides in Central Park,
their arms entwined bodies huddled beneath heavy woolen blankets keeping the
nip of fall at bay.
 
The filtering sun
painting leaves of autumn kissed them with its radiation despite the crisp air
rouging their cheeks to a healthy glow.

           
Giggling,
they chased each other up the spiral staircase until reaching the top of the
Statue of Liberty, reservations not necessary due to his reputation.
 
Triumphant, chests heaving from exertion,
they hugged and took turns peppering the others face with kisses.
 
While Miss Liberty rocked them in her bosom,
they peaked through the small windows of her crown at the shimmering water and
boats below, breathtaking views misting Sam's eyes.
 

Like a child, Sam
watched the
Rockette’s
dance and kick in unison at
Radio City Music Hall.
  
A time when
leaning back in his seat surveying her with admiration, nostalgic memories came
of the time he and Brad attended the show for the first time.

The golden beauty of
Trump Towers dazzled Sam with its interior walls towering above where sparkling
water magically appeared then flowed in a steady stream to the pool below.
 
They spent hours browsing the enchanting
shops, each offering its own unique experience.

Sam's nails dug into
Ted's arms as the elevator hurled them to the top of the Empire State Building
exiting them onto the walkway circling the structure.
 
With wind thrashing their clothing,
cautiously approaching the railing, they huddled studying the miniature scene
below.
  
The protective fencing relieved
Sam’s jangled nerves as she recalled horrible stories of people jumping from
its ledge.
 
Reflections making her dizzy
and bringing her head against the warmth of Ted’s overcoat.

           
Though
difficult at first, she found it enthralling to have the long, black limo
waiting for them at the end of each exploration to whisk them to another
exhilarating destination.
 
Completely
lost in their love, they were oblivious to the chauffeur fretting over the
incalculable traffic jams, honking horns, pedestrians, and the police
patrolling on horseback.
 
They were too
busy munching on cheese and caviar, kissing away the remains of champagne.

           
During
the ensuing weeks, Sam managed to coax Ted into attempting things he had never
tried before.
 
Under a great deal of
protest, he bought a pair of jeans, something he normally only wore in Wyoming.
 
Renting roller blades’ they skated through
Central Park.
 
After falling a few times,
he caught on and began enjoying every invigorating moment particularly those
spent behind Sam watching her beautiful body make exotic moves.
 

           
They
enjoyed picnics, fed the pigeons, sailed boats with youngsters in Central
Park's pond, and while Ted watched his boat float away, he realized it had been
a long time since feeling like a child.
 
Glancing at Sam, he admitted her perky, mischievous manner had taken an
inner ember and transformed it into a raging fire.
 
All at once, he found it frightening
perceiving life without her.

           
Having done everything she wanted,
Ted decided it was his turn. There were so many elegant places he wanted to
take her, but not until he convinced her to purchase a new wardrobe.
 
Accustomed to sophisticated women dressed in
classy designer clothing, he desperately wanted the same for Sam.
 
With as much finesse as he could muster, Ted
explained his feelings and after several days of debate, persuaded her to go
shopping.
 
She would rather design her
own, she argued, but he insisted there would be plenty of time for pursuing her
career.