Strapped (23 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

It is already lunch time when I leave the building. I text Taylor:

Shyla:

Want to grab lunch?

Taylor:

You know I would love to, but unfortunately I have back to back meetings scheduled and Marsha just ordered lunch so I could sneak it in. Call Harrison whenever you want a ride back. OXOX

Shyla:

OX? You have it backward!

Taylor:

I like kisses before hugs ;) gtg.

I head to my favorite bistro in the area, which always has a wait for lunch. I take immediate seating at the bar and order my favorite salad. Things are not perfect, but they are settling into place. Taylor is a good guy. I know it. I just do.

“Thinking happy thoughts?” I nearly fall out of my stool. To my right is a remarkably good-looking man. He is well dressed, his light brown hair broken up with glimmers of gold, his skin smooth and freshly shaven. I can smell the subtle aroma of his aftershave. His crooked smile reveals a perfect set of teeth. He wears a pair of dark jeans with a white button down shirt and light grey sports coat.

“Oh, I, uh, I guess?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. You just had the most satisfied look on your face.”

“I did?” I chuckle at the thought. I didn’t realize my thoughts were all over my face. “I must have looked crazy.”

“No. Just purely content. Something good must have happened.”

Is this guy trying to pick me up? I don’t know what the hell kind of pheromones I have been giving off, but this guy is hot. I mean, I thought I was pressing my luck with Taylor and now some other guy who I am sure has no issues with the fairer sex is trying to start up a conversation at the bar. I am in a good mood, and he is very friendly and polite, so I engage him in conversation.

“Sort of. I just finished a job interview that I believe went pretty well, but you never know with those things.”

“When do you find out?”

“The interviewer said in the next few days.”

“I am sure it’s all yours.”

“Well, you aren’t going to tell me if you think otherwise.”

“Why don’t we celebrate with a drink?”

“It’s not even one o’clock.”

“I said a drink, not ten shots.” His facial expression reminds me of someone, but I can’t place who.

Harrison is driving me home, so I agree to just one drink. We order gin and tonics and man are they stiff. Just a few sips has me feeling a little looser with strangers than usual.

“So what do you do for a living, friendly sir?”

“Oh, it’s boring really. I run an international high level security firm. I never asked what the job was that you were applying for.”

“I am a graphic designer. I was applying to be an assistant director at an agency called Rubix.”

“So you are the artsy type then?”

“One could say that. Although, I never have thought of myself as ‘artsy’ before.”

The banter back and forth is light and friendly. I want to drop the hint that I have a boyfriend, but there is no natural way so far for me to bring it up without sounding presumptuous about his intentions. I get to the bottom of the drink and while I am enjoying myself, this is the perfect time to phone Harrison. I excuse myself as I call Harrison on my cell. Once I am done, I return to the conversation and apologize.

“I’m sorry, I was calling my ride.”

“You don’t have a car? I know you probably wouldn’t accept a ride from someone you just met, but I would be happy to give you a one.”
If only he knew.

“Thank you, but it is totally fine. I do have a car actually, my boyfriend insisted that I drive in with him this morning since we were headed in the same direction. So I am calling his driver to come get me. Honestly, I prefer to drive, but parking is a nightmare around here anyway.” There. I was able to smoothly mention a boyfriend, and a very successful one at that. That should squelch any attempt at getting my contact info.

“Wow. A boyfriend with a driver. He must be a big shot.” I hope he doesn’t think I was trying to belittle him, which was not my intention.

“Oh, well, he is a successful businessman, but he is just a regular guy beneath all of that stuff.” That was a fucking lie. “From the sound of it, Mr. Security Firm, you sound like a big deal yourself.”

He smiles. The flattery worked. “What’s his name? Maybe he has used my firm for security services before.”

Should I say the name? Oh, what the hell. “His name is Taylor Holden.” Mr. Security Firm’s eyes go big, bigger than I expected and he sinks a bit into his seat.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. No. He is just a bigger deal than I thought. He also has a reputation as commitment phobic so I didn’t know he had a girlfriend. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I mean that you must be very special.”

“Do you know him?”

“Not really, a long time ago we had some dealings. He probably wouldn’t even remember me.” His familiar demeanor is now gone. I get the sense there is more to that story, but I don’t know him well enough to pry. “He is definitely a lucky fella.”

Just then I receive a text from Harrison that he is outside. “Well, that’s my driver...Taylor’s driver. I should go. Thank you for the drink and it was really nice speaking with you. Maybe we will run into each other around these parts if I get the job.”

“Maybe.” He smirks. Something is so familiar about him, but I can’t quite get a hold on what it is. “I am so sorry, but I never asked you your name!” I laugh. I can’t believe I spent the last hour with him and we didn’t even exchange names.

“My name is Shyla.” I extend my hand for a shake. As he stands up to extend his hand, I see his tall, athletic stature for the first time.

“Eric.”

***

With nothing to do for the remainder of the afternoon, I figure I might as well cook something for us. Taylor is a big fan of ordering in. He told me he used to have a live-in chef, but hated the lack of privacy. He is his most comfortable with a small amount of people in his inner circle. I find the cookbook he used for the paella and flip through it, settling on a recipe for a pork roast with rosemary potatoes. Harrison insists that he pick up the groceries for me once I tell him what my intentions are. He also informs me that there is an herb garden with every herb I could ever want and so I head outside to get the rosemary.

The land behind the property is vast and I have never really explored it fully. I follow the narrow path that Harrison directed me to and find a vegetable and herb garden hidden behind tall shrubs. There are so many good options and so I grab other veggies that I figure I can somehow incorporate into dinner. As I pick, I can’t help thinking about Eric. The entire encounter was so familiar, something like deja vu, but not quite. His reaction to Taylor’s name only added to the strangeness of it all. It wasn’t the typical response of a guy being let down. Something else usurped that, he became distracted. Maybe he knows about Taylor’s secrets? I think I’ll ask Taylor; but what will he think about me spending an hour talking to a handsome stranger at a bar? I need to bring it up casually. If this Eric guy is important, he will take the lead with the conversation I am sure.

The house is full of appetite inducing aromas as the roast cooks. Taylor lets me know he is on his way home earlier than usual. He has been working at the office a lot more lately and it’s wearing him down. I don’t tell him about the dinner to keep it a surprise.

“What is that amazing smell?” he says as he walks into the living room. His tie and shirt are already undone.

“I used that ancient book of secrets you have in the kitchen.” I give him the once over. “That Holden Industries guy is running you ragged.”

He smiles with his eyes closed from exhaustion and throws himself of the couch. “Business is good Shy. With the Russian deal coming through, thanks to you, and the Chinese increasing their imports, H.I. is swirling. I would probably be a lot saner if I still had you there to keep me grounded.”

“One, that deal had nothing to do with me. It was all you, Henry and Liz. Second, me working for you was fun while it lasted, but it will never happen again.”

“Well, things should go back to their normal level of insanity in the next two months or so. Negotiations are a bitch.”

I serve up our plates on the breakfast bar. Mentioning Henry reminded me that I should extend the peace pipe. I also haven’t gotten around to calling Lizzy and I feel like an asshole for it. “Speaking of H.I., we should reunite the gang. I miss our nights out.”

“I assumed you were done with Henry.”

“I am over it. We were drunk and he didn’t know about us. Does he know about us?”

“He kind of figured it out on his own. He put two and two together.”

“And Lizzy?”

“I think she is sharp enough to know. But I won’t discuss that stuff with her. She’s like my sister. That’s all you my darling. By the way, delicious. Absolutely delicious. Hey, how did the interview go?”

“I don’t want to get too excited, but I think it went really well. They said they would call in a few days.”

“Who interviewed you?”

“His name is Chad Lemmings. Do you know people at Rubix?”

“A handful. Not this Chad guy. You should probably run a background check on your superiors.”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous!”

“I am not being ridiculous. They run one on you, don’t you think you should know about the people you work for? You would be shocked the things you can find out about people. Criminal records, avoidance of child support payments...”

“No one does that. No one, except maybe a paranoid millionaire.” He shrugs his shoulders as a takes a sip of his wine. Background checks, perfect segue to ask him about Eric.

“Hey, speaking of security, do you know someone named Eric?” He puts down his glass as soon as the words come out of my mouth.

“Eric? Why do you ask?”

“It’s probably nothing. I was eating lunch and this guy sparked a conversation with me. I told him I was dating you and he said worked with you a long time ago. He made it clear you weren’t close friends of anything, I just thought it was a coincidence.”

“Did you get a last name?”

“No...he was tall. I guess he is in his thirties. Light brownish, dirty blond hair.”

“You really shouldn’t have told him that you were dating me.”

“Wha...What? I thought we were past that.”

“No, I mean you need to be selective about who you tell your business to.” He shakes his head with mild frustration. “This is my fault. You’re not used to living like this...you have to be careful. Maybe I should have an escort with you.”

“An escort? Are you kidding me?”

“It’s not you that needs watching, you have to be careful who you divulge information to from now on. You may be naive about this, but people have tried to steal from me before. Telling strangers you are dating one of the richest men in the US can attract seedy characters. Things will be different for you from now on and for me. I have never had to worry about someone else before.”

“I don’t see you walking around with escorts.”

“What do you think Harrison does?”

“Harrison?” I laugh mockingly.

“Yes. He may seem like a polite chauffeur to you, but he is a former Navy Seal and Secret Service officer. He packs heat every where we go and pretty much only leaves my side when I am at H.I., which is secured, or at home, which has a great security system.”

“I had no idea. I thought he was Mr. Belvedere.” Taylor’s face goes from stone cold to a faint smile when I say this.

“Well, he has many talents.”

“This is all besides the point Taylor. This Eric guy was not some sort of psycho. He was very nice and he has his own security firm or something. I mean, he is the person that protects people like you.”

“I’ll bet. Just watch what you tell people. Seriously. If I hear about anything fishy, I will have Harrison on your ass like white on rice.” The threatening text messages immediately flash into my mind. Should I tell Taylor? He just threatened to get me a security detail and that will seal the deal for sure. I am just going to continue to keep that one to myself.

Taylor is very quiet for the rest of the night. I want to believe it’s because he is tired, but I know that’s not the reason. This lifestyle is so new to me. I had no idea people have threatened him or tried to attack him. I always thought he wanted to keep the relationship a secret for the same reason he kept his other relationships a secret. I had no idea that telling people about us could ever put me in danger. Still, when it comes to this Eric guy, I do think he is overreacting. He was just a guy trying to pick up a girl at a bar. Taylor heads to bed early, insisting I leave the dishes in the sink for the maid, but I clean them anyway. By the time I head into the bedroom he is asleep.

***

My eyes shoot open and I feel around the bed for Taylor, but he is not there. The only things I can see are the large red numbers coming from the digital clock on the nightstand: 3:23. Where is he? I feel my way out of the room. The kitchen and the great room are both empty. Maybe he received a late night call from the office? The office light is off. I begin to feel a sense of panic. I need to calm down. There is no way he would have been kidnapped beside me without me noticing.

Eventually I head to the lower level. I begin to hear the faint sounds of heavy breathing and surfaces pounding from a distance. I follow the sounds to his gym. The door is just slightly ajar. There is just enough room for me to peek in with one eye. He is hitting a heavy bag really hard. Kicking and punching, nearly screaming as he does it. His eyes are filled with rage and he is pouring with sweat. This isn’t a normal workout. He is angry. I haven’t seen him this angry since the day I found his book. I want to step in, but this is a private moment. I go back to bed, but can’t sleep. I stare at the red digits on the clock, watching as each minute passes. 4:15. He is still not back. Should I go back? I am paralyzed with indecision. I don’t want to smother him, but I know if I don’t insist, he won’t tell me a thing. Overcome with a sense of resolve, I shoot up out of bed, stumble in the dark to the door and march down the hallway to the staircase.