by C. L. Stone
After Soma walked out, closing the bathroom door, I considered his offer. How much did he really know? Would he be honest with everything I asked?
I undressed and stepped into shower, feeling the sting on my sensitive skin. All I could do was wash away the makeup and figure out the next step.
I didn’t know what to do with Oliver’s cell phone for now, but when I was done in the shower, I stashed it with the other linen in the bathroom closet, underneath a pile of blankets. There was nothing to do with it until Oliver got in touch to let me know he got a new phone.
After I lathered up with a layer of aloe, I put on a robe and opened the door to the bedroom.
Soma sat at the foot of the bed, elbows at his knees, bent over his cell phone. He turned his phone off and sat up. On the nightstand was a tray with a collection of what looked like twenty different types of ice cream in a set of small dishes, along with a plate of cookies.
My anger had subsided a little in the shower. I knew neither Ace nor Soma had to do anything for me. Ace could have dropped me off at a random gas station, and I would have been forever grateful for the ride and would have never been in the middle of this. They could have called the police at any time once they’d found the truth about me. I was risking nothing by helping them at this point, while they had every right not to have believed a word I said about being innocent. It wasn’t like I had proof. Here I was asking for proof of them and I was invading their lives.
“Do you want to do this here or go to the living room?” he asked.
I answered him by crawling onto the bed and settling near the pillows. He joined me, taking off his shoes and sitting cross-legged in front of me, putting the tray between us.
Because I didn’t have anything else to wear, I sat cross-legged but I used a pillow in front of my body to block the view in case the robe slipped open. “I really need to get some new clothing.”
“You have an appointment tomorrow, remember?” He motioned to the tray. “I’m fond of the pistachio myself, but I wasn’t sure what your favorite might be.”
Amusement lit me up inside. How was he so thoughtful? Each dish had little more than a few bites of each flavor, making it possible to try a little bit of each. “Shall we share?”
“Good idea.”
I dug my spoon into a chocolate marshmallow dish, and ate a bite. I didn’t realize I was hungry until the cream melted and settled into my empty stomach. I hadn’t eaten much all day. At dinner I had picked at my food. The ice cream was better than I’d had in a long time. I licked my lips and then the spoon.
Soma started with the strawberry. A tiny bit stuck to his upper lip. “So tell me what happened. Why were you so angry when you got back?”
I reached out to him, wiping at his face with my fingers to clear away the cream.
I paused when my finger brushed by his lips, a move I hadn’t planned, but once I realized it, I radiated a blush.
Soma said nothing, looking at me with an arched brow and the tiniest start of a smile at the corner of his lips.
I needed to be transparent if I was going to ask the same. I wanted to know who he worked for, and why I was here.
So, I sat back and told him.
We continued to eat different ice creams and I had a couple of cookies. When the sugar was getting to be too much for my stomach, I sat back, watching him finish the rest. I left the pistachio alone, since he said he liked it, and he ate it.
I skimmed over what Oliver and I had discussed—what I told him and what he told me about himself—mostly because I felt it wasn’t my place to talk about what happened to him.
“So I don’t understand why Ace lied to me,” I said.
Soma cocked an eyebrow. “What makes you think he did?”
“He said they were rivals. Oliver says Loïc said they are friends.”
He shrugged. “Their relationship is rather bizarre, but you’re asking for two different opinions of what one man feels about the other. They can both be true.”
“What?”
He smiled. “Loïc is much fonder of Ace than Ace is of Loïc. Ace finds him annoying, but he also wouldn’t let Loïc get into any serious trouble.”
“So they’re frenimes?”
He tilted his head back, laughing. “I never thought of it that way. I think it is more Loïc doesn’t hold a grudge, and Ace sees Loïc as an opponent. But even opponents can respect one another.”
I scooped up the pillow, hugging it to my body. “Did he really believe I could distract Loïc?”
“Apparently, it worked if Loïc had his new bodyguard sent off to protect you. He has an interest of some sort in you.” He moved to the edge of the bed, putting the tray of ice creams aside on the table. “Just not the way Ace thought it would work. You never can know everything your opponent knows, or what he might do. You have to make a move and see the result.”
I hadn’t thought about it, maybe because we were in a rush, but it was Loïc that talked Oliver into coming after me. What Oliver said, from what I remembered, it sounded like Loïc was just as concerned for my safety. So why the snub at the restaurant? I pressed my cheek to the edge of the pillow, brushing the softness against my cheek. I stretched my legs straight out. “Can you think of why Loïc walked right past me at the restaurant? He acted like he had no idea who I was.”
Soma stretched out an arm, crossing over my calves. He placed a palm over my knee. “I can’t read his mind, but I’m going to guess he was trying to not let on that he knew anything about you. Or to test you out, perhaps. If there’s anything with Loïc, he’s usually pretty upfront and honest. I’m sure he was scoping you out as much as you were him.”
I chewed on my lower lip, my brain getting foggy as I was more tired now.
Soma smiled at me and then patted my knee. “Scoot over? And lie down.”
“I still want to know more.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I crawled under the blanket with the robe on. Soma dimmed the light to its lowest setting, and stretched out on the bed beside me, on top of the covers. He propped his head up with his hand and gazed over at me.
“Can Ace really help me?” I asked.
Soma breathed in deeply and let out a long sigh. “I think if it is possible, he’ll do everything he can to help. I don’t want to promise everything will magically go away. Some things are just out of his control.”
What could I expect? It would be a miracle if he could help at all, but I wanted to give him a chance. “Soma?”
“Yeah?”
“Earlier today, I took my own house tour. I didn’t mean to be nosy. I couldn’t help but notice a score you kept in your notes. Was that Ace and Loïc?”
He nodded and dropped his head to the pillow. He turned over on his back and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s why he wanted you to distract Loïc. He’s behind in their little game.”
“What game?”
His lips twitch, and he formed a few syllables but he would stop short each time. Finally, he pressed a palm to his forehead and glanced over at me. “You know what? I find it hard to describe. But I can show you.”
“How?”
“Tomorrow. When we go to get you some clothes. We’ll play the game ourselves.”
“What’s the goal? What are the rules?”
“They vary, but don’t worry. I’ll show you.” He rolled over onto his side and looked over me, his palm pressed over his heart. “We are who we are, Eva. I promise. Remember, truth is usually someone’s honest opinion, and people see things very differently sometimes. It doesn’t make Ace or Loïc a liar. Just different people with different viewpoints.”
“That’s very poetic of you.”
“I won’t take credit. I’m sure I read it somewhere.”
I rolled onto my back, fighting the sudden impulse to sleep, fumbling with further questions.
I fell asleep before I could think of the next one to ask.
Games
When I woke up
, the pair of jeans and T-shirt Soma had shown me last night were spread out on the small bench at the foot of the bed. On the nightstand sat a small plate with chocolate croissants, a bowl of fruit salad, and a carafe of apple juice.
I reached out to the spot next to me, where the dent in the pillow indicated Soma had stayed all night. There was an additional blanket at the foot of the bed. He must have gotten one for himself.
The phone.
I sat up, startled, and dashed haphazardly to the bathroom.
The phone was still there, nested between blankets.
I let out a long breath. Even holding the phone felt weird. I wanted to tell Soma about it and what it meant.
I hated adding one more secret with him. Somehow, it felt wrong.
The phone had one message, an information card that automatically inserted Oliver’s new phone number and his name to the contacts. I relaxed again on the bed, helping myself to a bit of the food so it wouldn’t go to waste. When I was finished, I prepared myself to get dressed.
Soma had brought the selection of different makeups upstairs. I dressed and applied a fresh layer to my face, changing the shape again through contouring.
I brushed my hair with my fingers, encouraging it to keep some of the bounce after showering last night. I wanted a ponytail with my T-shirt look, but I thought keeping my hair down actually helped to change the shape of my face a little.
Downstairs, I found Soma in Ace’s office, at his computer.
Soma wore a stiff, white cotton shirt this time, long-sleeved. He had the collar unbuttoned, showing off more of his throat. The cut was form fitting around his chest and torso. Elegant. Armani? I wasn’t too sure at the moment as it was a standard style.
“Where’s Ace?” I asked.
“He’s not back yet.” Soma closed whatever window he had open and then pushed the chair back so he could stand. “But he should be back this afternoon.”
“Where did he spend the night?”
“In a hotel,” Some said. “I’m not sure exactly what his plan was, but I’m sure he’s fine. Let’s get you a new wardrobe.”
Staying in a hotel overnight? How bad did things go after I left the restaurant? Was Zoey still chasing him?
I followed Soma through the house to the back door. “Does he not tell you everything he’s up to?”
“I wouldn’t expect him to,” he said. He opened the back door and stepped aside to allow me through. “He can usually take care of himself. Although, I wish sometimes he’d give me more information. But if I really need to know, I’ll ask and he answers.”
I said nothing more as we went to the garage. We got into the town car, with me sitting in the front passenger side near him, and we were soon driving through tourist areas of downtown Charleston.
My mind drifted as people walked by and Soma slowed the car. If I had been my old self, I would have desired to get out of the car, to join them and see what there was to see in an East coast tourist town in the top of the season.
Soma parked not far from Market Street. I got out, scanned the perimeter, wondering if any of the people here today would see me and know I was here last night with someone else. I didn’t know how small town Charleston was, and if locals recognized each other. Would people recognize my face from the news? Dinner was one thing, but this was out in public.
I was already getting paranoid about who I was with and who saw what. I hated the feeling. It wasn’t a way to live. I always tried to live my life so I never had to be paranoid.
Soma took the lead. Across the street from the central open-air market I’d seen the night before was a larger building. Its archway entrance was carved from wood, painted, and the glass doors had large brass handles. There was a placard on the wall, but the lettering was a little too small for me to read as we approached.
I was about to ask Soma what this place was when I felt a small hand brush my arm. I turned, sure it was some tourist walking too close.
Instead, I was met with a wide pair of eyes, as a child no more than ten lifted a handmade sweetgrass rose in my direction.
“Would you like one?” he asked. He wore dirty old shoes, jeans too short that they didn’t cover his ankles and a sports shirt two sizes too big that was hanging off of one shoulder. With chubby little fingers, he twirled the rose. “Five dollars.”
My breath caught and I scanned the area. I’d faced something like this before, somewhere in Europe where children hustled for money. Often enough, it was followed up by a pickpocket.
Before I could answer, Soma was by my side. He took one look at the child, the rose and then reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty. “Keep it, kid,” he said.
He guided me to the doors to the building, opened it and had me go inside, following close behind.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said. “When I was in Europe, that was how...”
“They find out which pocket you stash your money.” He pressed his lips together, glancing back out to the child who had pocketed the money and was holding the flower to other people. “Sure. It could happen, but he’ll also go hungry tonight if he doesn’t make enough money.”
“You think so?”
He squinted his dark eyes at me and nodded. “Kids like that, if they don’t make a quota, they go hungry. Even here in America.”
“Maybe we can do something,” I said.
“I did.” Soma tilted his head toward the glass double doors, where the child was waiting outside with the rose, twirling it in his fingers. “He’ll eat tonight. I remember his face. I’ll make a few calls, have someone look into him later.”
I bit my tongue, wondering how Soma knew. But then, he had lived here a while.
How common was child hustling in the streets? And so close to where thousands of tourists a day probably walked by? Adults, sure, I expected that, but children? It made me angry.
But every place had something. At least Soma was willing to make a few calls about it. That made me happy. I wouldn’t have known what to do.
Soma urged me away from the entryway doors. I let myself get distracted by the sleek black and white tile flooring, the boutiques on either side of the hallway. The high ceiling was arched, made of glass, and sunlight poured over us. There were fake streetlamps built into the walls between each shop. I imagined at night it was beautiful. The inside was made to look like it was outdoors, only protected and with air conditioning.
It wasn’t the busiest area either. The shops were open, some with attendants at the doorways. Displays were fully colorful. Yet, I only saw handfuls of people in each store. Maybe it was too early?
Was it not that noticeable to the tourists that this area had shopping, too? It didn’t seem like a mall entry to me. It was a little unnoticeable from the street.
“Come with me,” Soma said, going to the first shop on the right, a jewelry store with a small sign in the front that proclaimed it was closing in a few weeks. The display window only had a couple of engagement rings on a table, looking lost in the grand space.
Soma stopped at the door and nodded to me, winking. “Do me a favor. Go inside. Look around. I’ll be back to get you. I just need to get something.”
I puzzled over why I couldn’t go with him, but I wondered if it was something for Ace.
Soma urged me in and walked down further into the mall.
Odd.
The jewelry store was small, and the displays housed only a couple of rows of rings, bracelets and other pieces. I found the spacing strange, but then realized if they were closing, most of the merchandise was probably gone. This was just what was left over. The plainness of the staging of the jewelry was just the result of moving out. Making use of the last of the lease while they were still here.
If this was what was left, didn’t that mean everything else had sold?
There didn’t appear to be anyone in the shop, but there was a curtain near the back and I suspected a salesman was behind it.
Why wasn’t he out here?<
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Since I was alone, I took the time to send a text message to Oliver, letting him know I got his message.
Before I could think of what to say, a phone call was coming in.
I glanced behind me, standing by the door and answered. “Hello?”
Oliver spoke, his voice huskier than last night. “I got word your boyfriend is out of town.”
I didn’t bother to correct him about the boyfriend part, since he knew the situation. Perhaps he was being careful to not name anyone? “Do you know where?”
“From what I heard, it was to Atlanta.”
My jaw slackened, and I stared hard into a display of bracelets. “I wasn’t told about that.”
“He may just be doing what he promised, but I also called the police department there. Your ex keeps pointing all the fingers at you. Wanted for questioning is about to turn into a warrant for arrest.”
I sucked in a breath, holding it until my lungs burned for release, and even then I didn’t want to. “Does...my boyfriend know this? Is that why he left?”
“I don’t know. All I know is, he’s there. The police department said he was asking a lot of questions. That’s how I know.”
“He’s supposed to go to the charity event tonight. At Loïc’s.”
“Not sure if that’s enough time to do anything. Changing your mind about going to Atlanta?”
“I’ll have to,” I said. “If there’s a warrant.”
“Girl, don’t rush it.” Pause. “Maybe I can do you a favor?”
“How so?”
“Let me tell my boss about this. Let me ask, as a favor to me, that he look into something that could help.”
Loïc. “Are you sure?”
“I talked to him this morning. He was keen on ensuring you weren’t at all harmed, and even approved of me giving you that cell phone.”
“You told him?”
“He agreed with me when I said you needed one. I thought about it after I talked to him. I didn’t want to lie about why my cell phone was gone. If I get caught in a lie, I’m out the job. Anyway, he hasn’t done wrong by me or you. If you want me to, I’ll put in the word. I don’t know what he can do, but I think he’ll help if it is possible.”
