Heart Of Stone

by Hayes, S. I.

  The limousine pulled up and Cordell opened the door for him with a nod.

  “Thanks.” He smiled climbing inside. It was warm and to his surprise Donnella and another couple were inside.

  “Matthew, darling.” Donnella drew out the words, profusely. “This is my partner Rupert Walsh. He is the man behind the Keynote Gallery. I thought it time you two actually met.”

  Rupert extended his hand and Matthew took it trying not to seem too eager, sure they could see his heart jumping out of his chest.

  “Good to meet you, son. “I’ve had a chance to see some of your pictures. Moving stuff. I do apologize for the combing. It was needed. I do hope everything was returned in pristine condition?”

  “Yes, Sir. It was. Thank you. And thank you for the complement.”

  “Not at all.”

  “So you’re a photographer?” The woman with Rupert asked, her eyes lighting up. “I’m looking for someone to do new shots.”

  “Yes, Cattie here is a model, you see.” Rupert waved his hand down her length as though she were a prize.

  “I’m looking to branch out. Nothing too raunchy. Just some tasteful nudes. Ya know?” She was tall and thin, her skin bronzed her hair platinum blonde. Eyes blue. She’d photograph well as any of them.

  “Uh huh, well I’m sort of swamped and I don’t usually do that sort of-”

  “But I’m sure you could find the time?” Rupert insisted.

  Matthew looked at Donnella, who sat back as though not paying attention. Okay, no help there.

  “Like I said, swamped, but I suppose I could recommend someone who could do them, at cost if you like. I have a friend who’s very talented.” He glanced at Donnella briefly again, seeing her lips upturn in a little bow of a smirk.

  “Well if you say they are good.” Rupert conceded. “I’ll happily pay what they are worth of course.”

  “Okay.” Matthew nodded. “Give me your contact info Cattie and I’ll have her get in touch with you.”

  ***

  “You handled that very well.” Donnella whispered as they walked up the steps to the Governor’s mansion.

  “Yeah, what was that? Throwing me to the dogs?” He half chuckled.”

  “Had to be done. But you did it beautifully.”

  “Sink or swim?”

  “Sink or swim.” She squeezed his arm. “Tonight you’re gonna learn to high dive.”

  ***

  The doors to the mansion were opened wide and the red carpet met their feet. The lights danced beautifully off of Donnella’s Backless sapphire gown. Tailored in such away as the dragon tattoo was fully covered but the balance of her back was still tastefully exposed. The front was a halter bejeweled with swvarski crystals and probably cost more than Matthew could spend in a month. As it was he was wearing a two thousand dollar Virgin Wool Armani Tux, the under shirt the same shade of sapphire blue as her gown. His cufflinks which she gave him in bed the night before made of silver and crystal reflected the lights like her dress.

  “I feel like a glittering fool.”

  “Or a sparkling vampire.” She teased, running a finger down his cheek, letting the nail graze his chin.

  “I’d stake myself. And if you do that again, I’ll have to pull you into a room and muss that gown.”

  “I’m not wearing any panties.” She squeezed his ass, and pulled him through the crowd.

  So not fair. He kept thinking to himself as they ran in to people she knew. Every time they got near a door not blocked by a cop playing security, someone Donnella knew, or she felt he needed to know would find their way into their path.

  While ending up back in the circle with Rupert and Harold Donnella seemed distracted. Matthew bent down to her, whispering in her ear. “Is something wrong, other than the obvious?” He groaned slightly, as she gently and covertly caressed his semi-hard groin.

  “Gimmie a sec?” She pulled away from him. “If you could excuse me for a moment?” She turned heading through the crowd, toward a table against the wall, where a man was sitting alone with a drink.

  “Who’s that?” Matthew asked eyeing him with ease over the crowd.

  “Samuel Sinclair.” Harold mumbled.

  “Ah yes, the jilted one.” Rupert laughed. “Seems she hasn’t been seeing much of him since you, my dear boy.”

  Matthew narrowed his eyes, letting them follow Donnella as she approached.

  ***

  “I didn’t think you would come.” Donnella spoke first as he appeared to be staring straight through and past her.

  “Is that your new beau?”

  “You know me better than that, Samuel.”

  “Then why haven’t we been fucking lately? Used to hit that three times a week, twice on Sundays. Now I get this lame shit about you being on the rag? Then just too busy.” He stood up taking her by the wrist.

  “Let go of me Samuel. Don’t you dare make a scene. Especially not here.”

  “I know that little cunny of yours gets wet when I manhandle it, so why don’t we go a round for shit’s and giggles?”

  “I said let me go!” She tried to pull away as he pushed his fingers up against her through her dress.

  There was a loud cracking sound in her ears and he was gone from her personal space and on the floor, his chair knocked back.

  He held his chin, and spit blood on to the floor.

  “I think she said to let her go.” Matthew spat, hardly winded towering over the now scrambling to get up Samuel.

  The police security were on them both in an instant, as Donnella tried to explain. People stopped what they were doing to watch as the police officers ushered them all outside and pushed Matthew and Samuel into separate police cars, locking them down.

  “Please you don’t understand!” Donnella pleaded. As they pulled away with them.

  ***

  “What is taking so fucking long!” Donnella paced outside in the waiting area of the precinct where she and Harold had followed the police cars. “All I want to do is explain what happened.” She went up to the window again, just as one of the arresting officers came out from the back offices. “Finally! Listen, this is all my fault. See I was talking to Samuel, and he grabbed me!”

  “It’s true officer.” Harold came to her side, his tablet in his hand, showing the officers a video. “As you can see, Mister Mayfield was attempting to stop Mister Sinclair from further assaulting my boss, Miss Donnella Stone.”

  The officer looked to her, then the video once more. “Can I borrow this a moment?”

  Harold handed it over.

  “So you are Donnella Stone?”

  She nodded, her face was flushed and her makeup smeared from crying. “I know I look like a two dollar hooker at the moment, but I assure you I am, Donnella Stone.” The cop handed her a handkerchief from his pocket and she wiped at her face. “Thank you. Officer?”

  “O’Riley, Ben, O’Riley. That Samuel guy has one wild tale he’s shellin’, about you payin’ him to... Well I’m a gentleman, so I ain’t repeating what he’s been sayin’ but ya know where I’m goin’ with this?”

  “He’s trying to get out of the fact that he sexually molested me, well you got it right there in color!” She countered. “Now please will you release Matthew Mayfield?”

  “Will you be filing charges against Mister Sinclair? For the assault Miss Stone?” Ben asked, taking off his hat and fixing his hair.

  “No, but you can hold him for the night if you’d like.”

  He nodded with a smile. “We can do that, he did cause a ruckus at the Ball.”

  Twenty minutes later and Matthew was being escorted out of the back by Officer O’Riley, who handed Harold the tablet and a card. “He’s all yours. If you ever need anything, here’s my card, for Miss Stone.” Harold nodded taking the card.

  Donnella flew to Matthew, wrapping her arms around him, he let out an honest laugh mixed with the twinge of pain. “I thought they weren’t gonna let you out.” She mumbled into his chest, squeezing him
hard.

  “It’s okay, I’m right here, a little worse for the ware, and I’m not gonna be able to work very well for about six weeks, but I’m okay.”

  “What?” She pulled away, seeing that he was wearing a sling and that his right hand was in a cast. “How?”

  “Guys got a head like a rock, apparently. But I managed to knock out three of his permanent teeth, so I think that with you pressing charges you should be square.”

  “I’m not pressing charges.”

  “What?”

  “We should take this away…” Harold insisted, grabbing them both by the elbows.

  ***

  “How are you not pressing charges?” Back in the car Matthew was livid as he stared across the gulf of space between them.

  “Because aside from putting his hands on me, he was right. I had been avoiding him to be with you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” She huffed, then turned in her spot. “You knew about him? Since when?”

  “Night one. Harold told me.”

  Her eyes turned to Harold.

  “He asked buttercup.”

  “So you just told him?”

  “Seemed like something he had a right to know. So there weren’t any misconceptions about his place in line on the totem pole.”

  “Alright fine. Whatever. I’m still not pressing charges. But I can use this to void the arrangement. Walk away clean. No penalties for either side. If he wants to come calling we have the video to keep him away.”

  “I’ve already sent it to the backup.” Harold smiled. “If you two could drop me home first, that would be great since I missed my ride at the Gov’s.”

  “We can do that.” Donnella answered knocking on the glass. The partition dropped. “We’re taking Harold home first.”

  Cordell nodded and the car slowed, turning around to head back to mid-town.

  ***

  “Are you mad at me?” Once Harold had left the car Donnella attempted to talk to Matthew once more. He had said very little the rest of the ride, and she was growing concerned. They were still in their early stages and she wondered if perhaps, he was having second thoughts. “Do you want out of the arrangement?”

  He looked at her briefly, then ran his fingers down the bridge of his nose. “No. I don’t know. It’s just been a lot. Really quick.” He sighed heavily. Looking down at his now broken hand. He’d never hit anyone before. Never had a reason to. What was this woman doing to him? “I’m tired and in pain. They gave me a prescription I have to get filled. Can we swing by a pharmacy?”

  “Yeah, sure.” She tapped the glass again. “Pharmacy.”

  ***

  When they arrived back at The Stone Tower Matthew was already feeling the effects of the OxyContin the doctors had given him. He had taken twice the recommended dosage, to try and dull everything swirling around inside his head and all that managed to do was make the world around him spin. Donnella had Cordell help her get him into the apartment and past Pepper who barked aggressively at Cordell upon entering with Matthew over his shoulder.

  “There’s a spare bedroom, just over there.” She pointed Cordell in the right direction as she calmed down the concerned pup. “Shh, it’s okay, Daddy’s just a little high right now. I’ll let you outside okay?” She knew that in a pinch Pepper would use the grass pad Matthew had bought for the terrace, and she considered this to be a pinch.

  When she came back without Pepper she found Cordell still in the apartment waiting for her. “Ma’am.”

  “Go home. I’m responsible for that mess in there, time I cleaned it up.”

  “With all due respect, I think the man needs a break. More than just the one in his hand. We need recharging too, and this guy has been running ragged for you.”

  She looked at Cordell. “I think that is the most you have ever said to me at one time… Like ever.”

  “It needs being said, Ma’am. You’re other suitors… They didn’t take you into account. This one shows interest.” With those words Cordell turned and let himself out.

  Donnella looked into the room, then at herself. Going back up the stairs, she retrieved Pepper and then silently took her leave of the apartment.

  9

  Matthew awoke to a throbbing hand and a quiet apartment. He looked around expecting to find some sign of Donnella milling about, sure she wouldn’t have left him in the state he had been in the previous night.

  “Fuck, did I actually say I wanted out?” He ran his hands through his shortened hair. Sort of missing how it used to fall into his face more and curl behind his ears. Now it faded up and needed product to look presentable. He was still in the tux, and the sling. Going upstairs he let Pepper out while he stripped, waited for her, then climbed into the hot shower. Glad for the massagers that were built in, as he felt like he’d been hit by a train. Of course showering with his hand hanging out of the stall was rather annoying, but he was tall enough to accomplish the task with ease.

  Scrubbed, and dressed at least partly, as he had on pants he fumbled with his phone. Using the left hand was not a simple task, when he was not a lefty in the least. He saw he had a voice mail, and a missed call from Donnella. He hit the call back first but it went to voice mail. “Listen it’s me, anything I said last night. Forget. I didn’t mean it. Please call me.” He hung up. Then dialed his voice mail.

  ***

  ‘Matthew,

  Last night you were so far gone I didn’t want to leave, but I took some good advice given to me. I may be pushing you too hard. I see that now. I can be ravenous at times and selfish. I have some business to attend to over the next few days. Some taking me out of town. So take that time to decide what you need.’

  “What I need?” He hung up the phone. “What I need is a kick in the head.”

  ***

  Donnella sat at her desk inside The Stone & Co. Offices located in Lower Manhattan. The view it’s only saving grace. She’d spent the better part of three days trying to get around Donavan Kelly and the rest of his staff to get a meeting with Gerald M. Mcloughlin and been stonewalled every step of the way. Her proposal was solid. She knew the old man would go for it, if she could just get him to look at it. She growled tossing back her head. It was Christmas Eve, her least favorite of the holidays. All of her staff left early for the office party she let them throw in the lower levels, but never herself attended. All except Harold. He waited patiently for her to finish her little temper tantrum.

  “You should just call him already.”

  “I said I would give him the space he needed. Told him to call me. He hasn’t so obviously he’s still working things out.”

  “Actually, from what Xavier told me, he took the train back to Connecticut to see his family and friends for the holiday.”

  “That must be nice.”

  “What’s that, the train? God no, it’s filthy and awful!”

  “No, Harold, family for the holidays.”

  “Oh, right. Your father sent another large check. With a snow globe from Aruba.”

  “Back in the Islands. Good old dad.”

  “Seems that way.”

  She let out a deep sigh. “I’m done here, but do me a favor before you drink yourself into a merry little elf. Make a note to call Kelly on the twenty- sixth and tell him I want to meet. Anytime.”

  “Yes, Miss Stone.”

  ***

  “So now you’re home with your tail between your legs?” Mary, Matthew’s mother asked matter-of-factly as she took a sip of mulled cider. As soon as he walked through the door she could see the distress in his contact filled eyes. He had hugged her tightly and over a batch of her cider told her the whole story. Meeting Donnella, how they spent their time. He didn’t keep things from her, she knew about his other girlfriends. Not that that was what Donnella was. Not exactly. That was part of the rules too wasn’t it? He wasn’t even supposed to be telling her any of this. But this was mom. Mom wasn’t going to run to
the tabloids. She didn’t run with the tales of his father, so why would she now?

  “You’re in love with her?” She asked gently.

  “I don’t know… Maybe.”

  “Maybe?”

  “I just don’t know. I mean it’s been what like a month since I met the woman? But she makes me feel things. I just don’t know.”

  “What do you know?”

  “That I want to see her again.”

  “Then see her again.”

  “You make that seem so simple.”

  “It is. You pick up the phone. You call the girl, and invite her here for New Years. Either she say yes and comes or she doesn’t. Either way you have your answer. Now let’s go watch It’s a Wonderful Life. You can call her in the morning, and wish her a Merry Christmas.”

  ***

  “Merry Christmas.” At 12:01 A.M. Mathew smiled into the phone. Hearing Donnella’s voice quietly answer on the other line, he knew he had woken her, but he wanted his voice to be the first one she heard that morning.

  “Matthew?” She questioned more alert. He could hear her siting up and shuffling out of bed. “Where are you? You sound so far away?”

  “Connecticut. I went to see my Mom for Christmas. We have a tradition of overpriced turkey and movies to watch.”