Treacherous (2 page)

“
Relax, Nathan. We
won’t be talking about this case. It will be strictly casual.
Besides, it will give you a chance to meet our
daughter.”

I had seen a few pictures of Charlotte
Jayne while looking through Stephen’s file. She was twenty years
old, blonde, and very attractive. I wondered what Stephen Jayne was
up to?

“
Mr Jayne, I still
don’t think…”

“
Hush now. You will
come. Susan can’t wait to meet you. See you tomorrow night at
seven.” He patted my shoulder and left the bathroom, discarding his
piece of paper towel as he exited. I was left standing there more
confused than ever. What did Stephen Jayne want with me, the
Officer who had, only three days earlier, arrested his client for
embezzlement?

I guess we would wait and see.

Chapter
Two

Charli

After my English lit
class that afternoon, I headed back to my apartment. I lived alone
because I liked my own space and hated people touching my things. I
liked knowing that everything had its own place and no one was
going to move it. I dumped my book satchel down on my bed and
headed over to my computer, pressing the on switch. While waiting
for it to boot up, I
went to
the kitchen, opening the fridge to find there was still half a
pepperoni pizza. I put the remaining four slices on a plate, and
heated it up in the microwave. I tested it by trying to eat a piece
of stringy, melted cheese that was stuck on the edge of the plate,
but it was freaking hot, and I ended up burning my finger. While
running my fingertips under cold water, my phone rang. Knowing it
was probably Mia waiting to initialize Plan Rebellion, I didn’t
bother checking caller ID. Bad idea.

“
Hey, Mi.”

“
It’s me,
Charlotte.”

I flinched. Only two people called me
by my full name. My Mum and Dad.

“
Are you still hanging
out with that wild girl?”

“
Hello,
Mother.”

“
You know, I told you
she would lead you from your path. You need to stay focused if
you’re going to run the company one day.”

Normally, I just let
my mother ramble on about how I was a delinquent and that I needed
to meet me a lovely young rich man and get married, be a lawyer and
eventually have two kids, a dog and a big-ass mansion in the
Northern or Eastern suburbs. But I was sick of it. From this moment
on, I was putting my foot down.

“
What if I don’t want
to run the company, Mum?”

“
What? Don’t tell me
this Mia girl has put these delusions in your head.”

“
No, Mum. This is my
decision.”

I heard my mother exhale slowly and I
knew what was coming. She was so predictable.

“
Maybe Nathan will
change your mind.” Oh no.

“
Nathan?”

“
Yes. He is a lovely
young man. I think you two will get along just fine.”

It was my turn to exhale. But I did
mine in frustration.

“
Mum, I told you, I
don’t want to be set up.”

“
Charlotte, we’ve had
this talk before. We agreed I wouldn’t set you up on any blind
dates if you found yourself a suitable and respectable boyfriend.
But it’s been two months since that talk, and you still haven’t
found one. I think its time I intervened. You are 20, after
all.”

“
I know. I’m still
young.”

“
Old enough to be
married.”

I rolled my eyes. I
wasn’t going to listen to her anymore. And I definitely wasn’t
going to meet this Nathan guy.

“
Okay, Mum. I have to
go. I have to study.”

“
Okay, sweetheart.
Please think about it. Nathan really is a good guy.”

“
Okay, Mum.” I hung up
and screamed in frustration. I poured myself a glass of Merlot, and
took the pizza and wine into my bedroom and sat them beside the
computer. The computer was now up and running so clicked onto the
Internet and logged onto the university chat room. I had two open
chat windows awaiting me. One of them was Mia.

“
Hey sorry, the witch
called.” I typed.

“
2 nights in a
row?”

“
Yep.”

I was about to type, “and guess what
she wanted?” but Mia practically shared my brain, so she beat me to
it.

“
And let me guess, she
still wants to set you up with this ‘friend’?”

“
Yep. His name is
Nathan.”

She sent me some ogling eyes. “Hot
name.”

“
I have no idea how
old he is. All she told me was his name.”

“
I
bet he
is
hot. And rich.”

“
I don’t care about
money, you know that.”

“
I know, but it would
be an added bonus. The only reason your mother would be setting you
up with this guy is that he’s probably twice or 3 times as rich as
you.”

“
Probably. But I don’t
care. I’m not meeting him.”

“
No,
but you will want to meet
this
guy.”

“
Which guy?” I began
to panic.

“
The one in the other
chat window.”

No! She didn’t! I
quickly looked at the other blinking chat window and clicked onto
it. The user name said
F.Scott
and he had
already said hi.

“
Well???” Mia asked. I
ignored her and kept looking at the stranger’s window. Taking a
deep breath, I started typing.

“
Fitzgerald fan,
huh?”

He started typing
without delay as if he were just waiting for me.

“
He is great, but not
a favourite. Are you a fan?”

I hesitated. I didn’t know what to say.
So F.Scott could be a legitimate name.

Finally,
I replied with, “yes.” And a few
seconds later with, “So, F. Scott is your real name?” I couldn’t
help myself.

Again,
without delay, he
replied.

“
Yes. What does J
stand for? I know the C stands for Charlotte.” He was referring to
my username, which was C.J. At university, we were required to use
our real names in our chat usernames as to avoid Internet scamming.
It still happened though.

“
My last
name.”

“
Which is?”

This guy was relentless. I shook my
head and smiled. “Why do you want to know? What’s your first
name?”

“
I’ll tell you mine if
you tell me yours.”

“
Oh, it’s like that,
is it?”

“
Yes. It’s exactly
like that.”

I sent him an emoticon with its tongue
poking out. Then I realised how easily conversation was flowing
with him.

Suddenly, a plan
formed in my mind. Mia’s window was still blinking so I clicked on
it. She had grown impatient and written numerous messages to me,
some of which included, “are you having virtual sex with him?” and
“I better leave you 2 alone.” then I realised she had signed off,
so I closed the window and clicked back onto F. Scott’s.

“
Okay, Mr F. Scott.
Let’s meet for a coffee 2mrw morning @ 8 and we can tell each other
at the same time.” I almost smacked myself. I couldn’t believe I
had just said that! It wasn’t like me to outright ask a guy out
like that. But I was becoming a new person, a new Charli, and I had
a plan. This was Plan Rebellion in action: Phase one.

“
Great. I’m looking
forward to it,” he added with a smiley face and a wink. In fear of
making an utter fool of myself, I ended the conversation there. I
shut down my computer and took my plate to the kitchen, smiling to
myself. Phase one was in action. Mia would be proud of
me.

Chapter
Three

Charli

I woke at seven and
was ready in half an hour. I deliberately slowed my morning ritual
down to procrastinate. I was the worst procrastinator. When I
didn’t want to do something, I procrastinated like there was no
tomorrow. But I had brought this on myself this time. Normally, I
would give Mia credit for that. When it was seven forty-five, I
grabbed my handbag and slipped out the door. I lived on campus, so
the coffee shop was only two minutes away. When I could see the
coffee shop up ahead, I began to panic. Crap! Why hadn’t I asked
what this guy looked like or what he would be wearing? But if he
were a typical guy, I would probably have received some
innuendo
. I’m glad I hadn’t asked. I wished I knew his first
name. I would have looked it up on the student network. But no, I
didn’t know his first name. Again, I told myself for the millionth
time this morning, I got myself into this, so I had to dig myself
out.

I pushed open the
café doors and stepped into the warmth. It was autumn and the air
was getting cool around campus, so this was the most popular place
to be. Glancing around, I see that there were only a few other
students in the café this time of morning, but I didn’t see anyone
on their own. Again, I told myself to relax, that it was early. He
would come. I stepped up to the counter and ordered my usual—a soy
caramel latte. I added rainbow sprinkles then made my way to a low
red couch in the corner near the window. This was so I could see
anyone coming into the shop. Plus, I loved looking out the window
at the changing colours of the autumn leaves. At exactly one minute
to eight, the door opened and a draught of freezing air wafted in
towards me, causing me to shiver. Man, it had gotten colder. I was
about to glare at the person who had done it, but the sight of the
sexiest hazel eyes I had ever seen met me. I was mesmerised. I
hadn’t realised I was staring like a dummy until he
spoke.

“
You’re prettier than
I would have imagined.”

I shook my head. Had
he just spoken to me?
Wake
up, Charli! The gorgeous owner of those sexy eyes had just spoken
to you!

“
Um… excuse
me?”

“
You’re C.J., aren’t
you? You’re the only lonesome girl in this place and it’s exactly
eight.”

I blinked. “Uh… yeah. It’s me. I mean…
yes, I’m C.J.” Oh My God, I was stuttering like an idiot.

He chuckled and
draped his jacket over the back of the chair opposite me, and then
stepped up to the counter to order his coffee. When he had paid, he
came back to my table and sat. He was lean, had dark hair, which
was longer on the top and shaved on the sides. A light dusting of
stubble covered his chin. I had to snap out of it. This was a part
of my Plan Rebellion. I leaned forward.

“
You must be F.
Scott.”

He put a hand against his clavicle and
grinned, flashing his pearly whites. “In the flesh.”

“
So, are you going to
tell me your full name?”

He chuckled again.
“You get right to the point, don’t you?”

“
I don’t like waiting.
Or wasting time.”

“
If you put it that
way…” He got up to grab his coffee after the barista called out the
name Frankie.

Frankie.
I smirked. I knew his name. When he
turned back, Frankie saw that I had heard and smirked,
too.

“
So, I, uh… I guess my
secret is out. Time for yours to reveal itself.”

“
You’re relentless,
Frankie
,” I said,
drawing out his name, adding a smile for good
measure.

He sat down in his chair and reclined
back, draping one leg over the other. One arm was draped over the
side of the chair and the other hand held his coffee. A wickedly
seductive smirk covered his face. I shook my head and laughed. He
was impossible.

“
Fine. But before I
tell you. I want you to tell me where you met my friend,
Mia.”

“
Whoa. Is one accusing
another of a crime?” he asked, putting his hands up in
surrender.

“
What?” This man was
odd to say the least, and to be honest, I was a little wary. Seeing
my expression, he leaned forward and reached out for my free hand
across the table, startling me.

“
Relax,
Charli.
” He said my
name in a low and seductive tone. I froze. How did he know? “I
know.”

I promptly pulled my
hand from his and stood up, gathering my things. “Look I don’t know
who you are, how you know my name, or how you know my friend. But…”
but, what? What was she going to say? That he was a creep? That I
was out of here? All of the above? Thankfully, to save me from my
internal debate, Frankie spoke.

“
I’m sorry. Please sit
down, Charli. I mean you no harm.”

I hesitated, but looking into his
dreamy greenish-brown eyes, I couldn’t help but reconsider. I sat
back down, switching off my conscience.

“
Let us start over. My
name is Franklin James Scott, but I prefer Frankie. I met your
friend, Mia, through a mutual friend at a campus party, and she
happened to tell me about you.”

“
I’m going to kill
her,” I growled. Frankie chuckled.

“
I bet she also
happened to tell you I was single?”