A Billion Broken Pieces (Incongruity Series Book 2)

by Thandiwe Mpofu

  “I know. But something smells off here.” I point out. “Why tonight? Why are all of the wolves coming tonight?” I question.

  This has been at the back of my mind for a long time, wondering why on earth tonight is so important for everyone.

  “Yeah, this is crazy! On the surface, it all looks like it makes sense but, no way.” Max chimes in, his thinking cap no doubt in brainstorming mode.

  “Has Lawrence Harvey confirmed his attendance?” I question him and he stops. We look at each other and the light bulb goes off.

  “No way!” Max says.

  “Make sure Tom has the place secured. I want eyes on Chloe at all times.” I instruct.

  “You got it. What about the boys?” He questions.

  “What did you find about McGuire?” I ask him.

  “Gambling, Really bad too.”

  Well damn. That means one thing; Desperation.

  Chapter 28

  Chloe

  I'M IN A STRANGE LIMO, with a strange man who is busy on his phone, with a stupid sinister smile on his face.

  I can’t believe I’m in this situation. A situation that I could have avoided if only I had trusted that whatever I wanted to learn, I would in due time.

  “Now will you tell me your name?” I question, my words coming out rougher than I intended them to be.

  I don’t want to antagonize this man in anyway. He looks volatile, unstable in some way. A dangerous fool is what he is.

  “Oh, where are my manners? I can’t believe we have come all this way in our relationship and you don’t know my name.” He says, with mock manners that make me almost gag.

  “We are not in a relationship.” I grit out. This guy is delusional.

  “A mutual, work relationship is what this is.” He says, his hands flying every which way. I have also come to realize that he uses his hands to speak, like a lot, it’s annoying.

  “You still haven’t answered my question.” I remind him, feeling angry at myself for putting myself in this drastic situation.

  “Caleb Lorenzo at your service.” He introduces himself. But where have I heard that name before? Have I ever heard that name anywhere or I’m making things up?

  “Great. And what am I doing here?” I ask him, sarcastically.

  “You my dear, are my date for tonight. You will introduce me to Lawrence Harvey but privately and I will do the rest.” He says with confidence, as if his plan will work out.

  “And what makes you think he will want to talk to you?” I question, skeptically. If I was Lawrence Harvey, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Caleb.

  “Oh, I’m sure he wants nothing to do with me.” He states unbothered, making me turn to look at him sharply.

  “What do you mean by that? Lawrence Harvey already knows about you?” I demand. This is bad, this is really bad for me. And Sam. And for Gideon.

  Oh my God, Gideon. He must be livid and blowing a gasket by now. I just hope Max is still alive.

  “Of course, everybody knows the Lorenzo name is bad news.” He declares with pride. Looking at me with expectancy.

  “What?” I demand.

  “Aren’t you going to start begging for mercy or declaring your allegiance to me?” He questions seriously.

  And I’m blank.

  All I do is stare at him. Has he lost his damn mind? Is he sane?

  “Why would I do that?” I question, seriously.

  I actually want to know the answer to that. I don’t think its normal behavior for anyone to walk around and expect people to bow down in worship at the mention of their name. As if they are some kind of higher power.

  Sorry bud, there is only one Higher power I know and I’m sure he doesn’t look as arrogant and stupid as Caleb.

  “Well that’s what everyone does.” He states simply. “You really don’t know me, do you?” He finally asks after a beat of silence.

  I shake my head mutely, still studying him. This guy is nuts. I have to find a way to get away from him. One thing I know for certain is that Gideon is going to be there at the gala tonight, if not already. I just need to catch his attention.

  Somehow, I need him. I hope he knows that.

  ALL TOO SOON, THE CAR slows to a stop and soon, the limo is right by the red carpet rolled out in front of the hotel’s entrance. There is a sea of paparazzi waiting. Flashes of cameras are going off like fireworks on the Fourth of July, the dazzling glimpses of light coming and going so fast, making me slightly dizzy.

  I don’t want to walk through that gauntlet of press, let alone have a picture of mine taken with this criminal of a man. I have to get out of this somehow.

  “Err, my name is not on the invited guest list and neither is yours.” I point out, looking at him.

  “What?” He starts, looking at me appalled. “I thought you took care of that.” He demands.

  “Will you calm down. My boss has the final say as to who can be admitted in and who will be escorted out. And you almost strangled him to death, so. . .” I say, letting my intended meaning flow unspoken.

  “So, how am I getting in then?” He questions, looking like he will burst a vein that is throbbing on his forehead.

  “I’m staff, so my entrance is from the back. You can enter that way as well.” I inform.

  Honestly, I can enter through any entrance I so desire. Hell, I chose this damn hotel for this gala, I sure as hell can do what I want. What I don’t want though, is to walk through with a man that I know is unhinged.

  “Alright. You better not try to be clever. I can reach out at any time and cripple you. Remember that.” He warns, looking at me. Then he instructs the driver to take us to the back entrance.

  The car passes the perfectly decorated and lit up entrance and takes a left to go around to the staff entrance. All too soon, the car stops and I watch as Caleb’s goons open his door and mine.

  I gather myself, and my composure as much as I have, and step out of the limo. I hike my dress up, looking down at the long slit at my left, courtesy of Sam who wanted me to seduce Gideon visually. But now, I wonder if this magic dress will work its magic because I know, I can feel it, that he isn’t happy with me at the moment.

  I just hope he can allow me to explain.

  We use the kitchen entrance to get in and pass through the chaos going on in there. Orders and instructions are being shouted out at the tops of the instructors lungs. Everything has to be perfect tonight, well that’s what Stefan wants. But something tells me what he wants is not what’s going to happen tonight.

  As soon as we pass the doors from the kitchen to the reception hall, where the invited guests are mingling and chatting with each other, with nonsensical talk that doesn’t matter in the long run, Caleb steps closer to me and places a hand at the small of my back. And I loathe his touch. It makes my skin crawl and I actually feel like barfing.

  “You are my companion, and you will introduce me as just Caleb.” He instructs in my ear as we walk. With me walking ramrod straight. I don’t want to be here with him. I don’t want him to be controlling me like this.

  “Yes.” I say, searching the room for any familiar face. I know for certain that Sam is going to be here. I told her to make sure that Max drives her over before I left her place. I just hope she isn’t alarmed, but most of all I hope Gideon has worked out the message I left with my friend.

  “Good evening, some champagne?” A server asks and I wish I could grab a flute because I think I might need that rumored liquor courage. I need all the help I can get.

  We walk around greeting patrons, especially the ones that I know from being in association with Demetri Holdings. Caleb for the most part remains silent unless spoken too, which I don’t oppose.

  But all too soon, he spots the subject of his evil plans and well, he looks like a child that has just spotted a box of ridiculously amazing candy. Candy that will no doubt make him sick.

  “There he is, it’s time to act.” He says to me and prompts me to walk but I really don’t want t
o do that. I look around frantically looking for Sam, she has to be here somewhere. Where are you, you smart Doctor?

  “Excuse me, Miss. Smith.” Comes a voice from behind us, and I turn to look, grateful for whatever interruption I can get at this moment in time.

  “Yes?” I question as I stop and turn around. And my breath stops, it’s John. I almost gasp out in relief, my knees weakening slightly. He is here.

  “Miss. Smith, we are requesting your presence in the control room. We have an emergency only you can solve.” He says in a serious voice, wearing the same uniform that the servers are wearing, most definitely impersonating them.

  We look at each other and I make sure to school my facial features to impassivity so that I don’t let on to Caleb or his goons that are around to notice that I do, in fact, know John.

  “Can it wait, Miss. Smith has other duties.” Caleb grits out, annoyed.

  “I’m afraid the orders came from the top.” John says coolly, looking at Caleb. Assessing the enemy.

  “Of course, would you show me. . .” I start but am soon cut off when I hear the unmistakable sound of my best friend calling my name. I turn around and see her standing with Lawrence Harvey, laughing. “Hey, Chloe!” she hollers, “Come meet Lawrence, Charles’ friend.”

  I tense up.

  “Looks like your friend is ahead of schedule.” Caleb says with glee. “You can go perform your duties but like I said, try anything funny and your girl is toast.” He threatens, then lets my arm go, walking over to Sam.

  I hear him introduce himself as a friend of mine and that I will be back shortly. A work emergency that needs to be sorted out, is my excuse of absence.

  I look at John still standing beside me. “Where is he?” I question hurriedly. If there is anyone who knows what to do in this situation it’s Gideon. And I need him. I’m anxious and sweaty all over, I need him to calm the rages in me.

  “Fred is waiting to your left. He will take you directly. He is waiting for you.” He informs, his voice has a bit of sympathy and I realize as he talks that the sympathy is for me.

  I guess I am in big trouble after all.

  “How angry is he?” I ask as I start walking in the direction John pointed out.

  “I can’t say, Miss. Smith.” He says quietly. Miss. Smith? This must be worse than I thought.

  “Watch her please. She’s in trouble.” I inform him as I point at Sam. As I turn back to look at her, I notice another figure standing in the shadows, blending in with the shadows like he does best, watching me and Sam at the same time.

  I smile and start walking as fast as I can to get to him.

  I reach where Fred is waiting for me, also dressed in the same regalia as John, impersonating the staff. He nods my way but otherwise doesn’t say anything as he leads me to wherever Gideon is.

  We pass multiple turns and rooms and then go through a side door. I notice that we are in the laundry room of the hotel busy in the works. We pass through another perfectly hidden door then straight to a service elevator that waits open, waiting for us.

  I watch as Fred scans a card and then punches in a code, much similar to the same procedure he does at Gideon’s place. I realize in that moment what I should have known all along. This hotel belongs to Black House Properties. Essentially, Gideon owns every square inch of this place. A place where Demetri will dazzle and finagle money out of people, charming them of their votes.

  I step in when Fred gestures for me to do so and wait for him to step on but he doesn’t.

  “Aren’t you coming?” I question.

  “I think it’s best he doesn’t see my face for while.” Fred responds solemnly and I know why. I put him in this position where he feels like he lied and betrayed his boss.

  I want to tell him that I will make this right somehow but as the doors close and I feel the shivers raking my body, I think to myself. How am I going to pacify six foot four of hot, sexy and angry male?

  The elevator takes forever to reach an unknown distance but at the same time, it feels like just a split second. The elevator stops and then the doors start opening, very slowly.

  I’m looking at my shoes, clutching my dress in one hand and a matching clutch in the other. As the doors open, I take a deep breath and start exiting the elevator, not watching where I’m going.

  I feel him before I can see him. His pulsating energy vibrating with anger and viciousness. He doesn’t make a sound, nor does he move towards me. My gaze tracks towards where he stands, in the middle of a large foyer.

  And God, he looks delicious.

  His hands are flexing at his side, a sign of restless agitation. I can feel his anger from all the way here. I feel his icy gaze tracking my every move, watching his vein at the base of his thick throat work. I know he is trying to keep him cool and I’m suddenly so nervous.

  I have never been this nervous and shy in my life. Much less shy in front of a man who has seen every inch of me. Heat flares in his eyes, savage and volcanic in nature, as if he is about to erupt.

  “Gideon. . .” I start.

  “Don’t.”

  And with that, he strides over to me in three, four, long strides. He snatches my wrist, with a bite of pain and leads me in a direction that I can’t see.

  All too soon, he opens a door and then closes it shut once he has me inside. And then he turns the lock.

  Double shit.

  Chapter 29

  Chloe

  Gideon switches on the light and a dim light bulb is the only source of light. This isn’t a hotel room, it’s a damn convenience room, with mops and brooms adorning the walls. The shelves all have cleaning materials on them.

  I fold my arms and look at him. “What is the meaning of this?” I demand. I know he is angry, angry at me no doubt but a convenience room? This isn’t high school.

  “No, you don’t get to ask questions here.” He tersely demands. “You have exactly five seconds to explain to me why you have been lying to me for the past few days.” He states.

  He is desperately trying to hold on to his sanity and I can tell, looking at me like he wants to fuck the lies out of me, but then he is aware of where we are, A dirty romp in the closet? He wouldn’t. Would he?

  “Gideon, I had no opportunity to tell. . .” I start.

  “Really? How about the night you came back from work, and then later in the night you begged me to make you forget about a meeting you had with that asshole?” He grits out. “You came so hard on my hand and even then you had no opportunity. . .”

  I slap him so hard, the loud clap bounces off the walls of the cluttered room.

  “You have a nerve Gideon Black.” I start angrily, getting riled up despite his anger. It’s almost as if his short fuse lights up mine. If ever there is such thing as a toxic, poisonous relation, it’s whatever twisted thing we have going on.

  “How dare you act as if you have never lied to me before. Now the medicine doesn’t taste so good now does it?” I mock as I glare at him, throwing down my clutch.

  “Did you just slap me?” He questions incredulously.

  “I did and I will do it again. Who are you to mention what I choose to do with my body?” I demand.

  “Who am I?” He questions, taking one stride towards me and he is suddenly in my personal space. He leans down towards me, “I am the man that made you come, several times. You think that asshole can do that for you?” He demands angrily.

  The tension in here, the anger, it’s too thick and palpable. All around us, we can’t even move without making the other livid, without setting the other off.

  “Newsflash asshole, you are not the only man that can get a woman off.” I almost shout, my heart thundering but I don’t care. He is so entitled and thinks just because of his deep pockets and his looks, forget all the information he has, that he can say whatever he wants to me. Or get whatever he wants from me.

  “Really?” His voice is now low, too damn deep.

  He doesn’t wait for me to respond tho
ugh, no, that’s not what he wants. As quick as lightning, Gideon grabs me by the waist and hauls me into his hard, hot and aroused body. This is an entirely different Gideon. He is pure male lust, untamed and uncontrolled. And that knowledge makes me want to give into the aberrant craving that he coaxes out of me each time he touches me.

  I feel myself get feverish, reacting to him in spite of myself. He leans down and kisses me. It’s not a sweet, soft kiss. It’s a hard and painful and I savor every second of it. He bites my lower lip and soon ravages my mouth.

  He pushes me into the nearest wall and immediately starts assaulting my neck, biting the flesh there with abandon. His hands roam over my body, while his mouth licks, sucks and bites every inch of accessible flesh on my body. I moan, loudly. I can’t help myself and I don’t care. I claw at his tux, wanting it off, wanting him to remove it.

  I need to have him. Now! I want to lose myself in the dangerous, feral rapture of his dominance, and I don’t give a damn about where we are.

  He leans down and bites my pebbled tits through the thin fabric of my dress. First on one, then the other. I’m at a point of no return, I feel like a flood is between my legs.

  “Gideon.” I moan

  “Damn your mouth, Charlotte. Shut up!” He demands and then proceeds to hike my dress, the slit being a convenience after all. I guess that’s the magic the dress possesses.

  Gideon means to take me. In this dirty, small convenience room. And as he looks at me, our heated gazes connecting, this isn’t for me. It’s for him. But I can’t stop him. How can I when my body is in desperate need to mate. To please him.

  “You seem to have forgotten who you belong to.” He grits out, pinching my nipples roughly.

  “Gideon. . .”

  “I’m going to make you fucking remember, every inch of you belongs to me. Including your damn secrets, your thoughts, your desires.” I try unsuccessfully to bite back a moan but I can’t, not when he forcefully tugs and pinches my nipples like he is doing now.