Until you came (Series Stonebridge, #3)

by Diana Scott

  “Hard? I wish it was just hard. It's being unbearable, the worst of nightmares, a fiery hell,” I snort feeling overwhelmed. “I perfectly understand that his situation is not easy and that both Raymond and I demand a lot of him, but for God's sake, he never stops behaving like a complete son of bitch. He lives in a bad mood, argues about everything and keeps grunting at me every time he looks at me. At times I think he has come to hate me. Every day I return with new courage and thinking that today will be the great day, but I go out pulling my hair and cursing even the white pigeons.”

  “Pigeons?”

  “Yes, those cute white ones that symbolize peace...”

  “I still don't understand...”

  “It doesn't matter,” I put the labeller on the table. “He hates me and I don't know what to do about it.”

  “Don't be silly, he doesn't hate you.”

  “Oh, no? “

  “Unresolved sexual tension.”

  “Excuse me?” My eyes open like plates but a second later I throw an endless laughter with tears included.

  Only Solange is able to see passion among so much fury.

  “I told you... “ I answered wiping my tears. “I'm sorry, but I wasn't going to laugh so much. Did I tell you that he throws foam through his mouth when he sees me?”

  “And something else that's not foam.”

  “Solange!”

  “I don't know if they told you, but the accident only affected him from the legs down.”

  “The truth is that I didn't worry about those things. I'm not such a shallow woman,” I bite my lip to hide my huge lie.

  “Whatever you say, but if you want Reed in a better mood we both know what therapy works for these cases," she replied as she handed me an information folder. “Now let's talk about work, that's what I came here for.”

  “Of course, of course.”

  I alder my skirt with my hands trying to look like a professional although the truth is that my brain thinks at the speed of light. What if Solange was right? What would happen if I abandoned the role of good Samaritan and moved to the position of harassment and demolition? Is that what he expects from me? Is that what he needs from me? Because if that's what it is, I'm more than willing to...

  “Anne, are you following me? “

  “Of course, of course...”

  Solange walks ahead and I shake my head.

  We both walked down a corridor that led us to a large armored door. At first, it caught my attention a lot but the routine of work and personal problems made me park my intrigues.

  “Where are we?”

  “You'll see.”

  Solange places the palm of her hand on the side of the wall and then inserts a card. A small metal picture is instantly illuminated as if it were a scanner, it beeps three times and the huge door opens wide.

  Solange comes in first and I follow her, trying to close my dislocated jaw as I walk through the door.

  Wonderful old pieces appear before my eyes dazzling me with their story. Some of them are true jewels of incalculable value. Necklaces of Egyptian gold and rubies, expensive 18th century watches, an original Rembrandt, all wonders impossible to value.

  “My goodness, Solange, do you know what you have here?” I ask as I carefully approach my finger to a precious sphinx.

  “I think so," she says amusingly. “This is my armored room. Here I keep the most important pieces of the gallery.”

  “It's amazing, this is fantastic.” I can't keep my mouth shut while I walk in ecstasy.

  This room is the candy store for any professional like me.

  “It is and that's why I want you to be part of this project.”

  “I don't understand,” I say looking at her with genuine curiosity.

  “I want to start a new period for Tina Collection. I want Tina Collection to start in the auctions market and all the way up. I want us to be a reference in the market.”

  I sit while I look one by one at the pieces on the shelf in front of me.

  “The pieces you have here could attract buyers of the highest level.”

  “I know, but I want a spectacular start. I want to be a reference in exclusive auctions.”

  “And with these pieces you will be.”

  “They are not enough for the launch. I want something more powerful. Something not to be forgotten. Something unique.”

  “I don't follow you.”

  “Come here and you'll understand everything.”

  I get close to her. Our arms touch as my eyes focus on a small door in the wall. Solange approaches her card to the little door and it opens, leaving us in front of a delicate coffer made of very old Egyptian wood. I would say, without any doubt, that this box was part of the Ptolemaic period of Ancient Egypt. I have no idea what it may contain, but what I do know is that the box itself is a relic of incalculable value.

  Solange moves her fingers delicately and I stop breathing at the very moment when I get to see the two pieces inside.

  “They can't be. It is not possible... They were never considered real pieces.”

  A wonderful jewel in the form of a snake to be worn on the pulse of women rests next to a sublime emerald necklace.

  “May I?”

  “Of course. Nobody better than you to corroborate their origins.”

  “They are pearls of lapis lazuli," I say as I bring it closer to my face. It's been more than 3000 years since this type of emerald has been extracted from Egyptian soil. Mines were found near the Red Sea that have been of enormous importance to ancient Egypt. Lapis lazuli, however...” I squint my eyes when I see the delicate blue dye of the jewel. “This was used daily because of a powder obtained from the stone for painting as make-up, delineation of the eye to accentuate the look,” I said inattentive analyzing the necklace in rapture. "Tutankhamen's own mortuary mask is decorated with this precious blue color. Funeral necklaces in gold with lapis lazuli inlays have been found as well...”

  I remain silent amazed at so much beauty. I observe its hook again and again until I find the brand that makes it unique. It is indisputable.

  “And what do you think? Am I right?”

  “My goodness Solange, I don't think I can breathe. You have Cleopatra's famous Jewels. This is unbelievable.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Closures that represent Horus, unique details... yes, we should analyze them better but I'm not wrong.”

  “So my dear, if you say so, we have Cleopatra's Jewels. Yes, don't look at me like that, you will take Tina Collection to the highest level and for that you will organize the best auction of the century in which we will present our authentic Cleopatra Jewels.”

  “Solange I don't think I'm ready, I've never organized an auction.”

  I speak without being able to stop caressing the wonderful piece. It is much more than precious, it is sublime.

  “Nonsense, I don't know anyone more professional or more qualified than you. You will do an excellent job.”

  “I am grateful for your trust but I swear it is not false modesty; in fact, I have never held an auction on my own.”

  “But you've been in one, haven't you?”

  “Thousands, but it's not the same.”

  “Trust yourself, Anne. I know you'll take Tina Collection to the top.”

  “If you say so...”

  “I'm saying it. By the way, I forgot to tell you that I've already made all the arrangements for you to enter the room as well. Tomorrow morning they'll give you an access card to the warehouse and Cleopatra's Jewels.”

  “Ok...” I answer a little overwhelmed by what’s happning.

  “You and I are the only ones authorized to enter. It's a room with extreme security measures, do you understand?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Anne, no one knows that Cleopatra's jewels are in my possession, but once the auction is announced, we'll have to take extreme precautions.”

  “Don't worry about it.”

  “Great, now let's go up t
o the store because I need to talk to you about some other details before I go.”

  “Good.”

  “Is something wrong?” Solange stopped by my side as soon as I closed the room.

  “No, well... yes.”

  The poor woman looks at me without understanding a word and I'm not surprised. If I were her, I'd be the same, so I preferred to get straight to the point.

  “You see, I know that we have been working together for a short time and that you trust me and I am totally grateful to you and I want you to know that I intend to compensate you as soon as I can and that...”

  “Anne, get to the point.”

  “Yes, well, I'd like to leave an hour early every day. It'll be a matter of a month, two at the most, I swear I'll make up for it by going in earlier, but I need to go to the hospital at that time.”

  “Hospital? Are you ill?”

  “It's not because of me, it's because of the baby.”

  “Are you pregnant?” Solange's voice sounds so strange that I can't help laughing inside.

  “It's not my baby. It's because of Reed's daughter.”

  “If you think that makes anything clear to me, I'm going to say no.”

  “You see, last week I decided to go to the maternity ward and meet her. I was behind a glass doing tricks when a nurse mistook me for a relative,” Solange lifts his shoulders confused. “Anyway, when I realized , I was already sitting with the girl on my lap.”

  “Anne, what are you talking about?”

  “Ugh," I keep talking as I walk into my office and take a seat trying to be a little clearer. “On Monday, after helping with Reed's therapy, I needed a little distraction and I thought, ‘Why not? The girl is not to blame for all our mistakes’, so I went up to the living room. The truth is that I do it every time the sessions with Reed end... So I looked for her behind the glass as usual but that day a nurse confused me with a family member and made me come in. She said that the little girl, being in incubator, needed human contact at least two hours a day and that no one came by to visit her. I tried to explain to her that I was just a friend of her father but she didn't care, she pushed me into the living room and threw me a robe while she waited for me with folded arms and the face of a few friends to change.

  “Just a friend?”

  “And what did you want me to say! So that was the only thing that occurred to me. The nurse explained that since her mother was in a vegetative state and her father was in therapy, no one was going to see her and she feared that the little one's health would suffer. It seems that incubator kids need physical contact, skin to skin.”

  “So you agreed to be that human being who caressed her skin...”

  “Something like that. At first, I refused but the woman did not hesitate to use all kinds of pressures.”

  “Pressures?”

  “Yes, she brought me the girl, opened my robe, put it on my bare chest and I couldn't resist anymore. She's so small and tender, you'll see, she has such a delicate mouth and such beautiful hands. The fingernails are delicate and...”

  “And what are you supposed to do when you're there?” She asks, interrupting my detailed description.

  “When I get there, I take off my clothes and they put an open robe in front of me. The nurses place the girl on my chest so that she feels my warmth. We both covered ourselves with a blanket and looked at each other and stroked each other.”

  “Anne, that's beautiful.”

  “I hope Reed feels the same way.”

  “Didn't you tell him?”

  “I didn't find the right time.”

  “But it's been a week!”

  “That's what it looks like...” I say in a muffled voice.

  “You have to tell him.”

  “Yes, I know, but the idea make me tremble a little.”

  “You're helping his daughter, she won't get angry.”

  “I'm not sure, what if he refuses to see her again?”

  “That tadpole has conquered you.”

  “From head to toe. She has the same eyes as her father, but with a special sweetness. She's beautiful.”

  “You must tell him”:

  “I'll do it but I need some time,” my eyes beg complicity.

  “I won't open my mouth, but listen to me: he won't bother.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I'm leaving and don't worry about getting anything back. You are a wonderful and admirable woman, you have my total permission to be absent whenever you wish”.

  “Thank you.”

  Solange picks up her bag to leave when she seems to remember something and turns to talk to me with a wonderful smile on her face.

  “If you calm his tension, Reed might be nicer when you tell him the truth.”

  “Solange!” I exclaim with false modesty.

  “My dear, the devil knows more from experience than from being old.”

  “It's not like that,” I answer amused.

  “Of course not, I just made it up. Unresolved sexual tension, my dear, solve a man's frustration and you will dominate the world," She says mischievously before leaving.

  Solange may not be so crazy after all. I'm not one to use sex for personal gain. I've never done it, but in this case she may not be so disoriented. If I can clarify our situation, I will get a better response to his treatment. No, it's not a crazy idea at all and... My goodness, who do I want to fool! I'm so horny that if I approach to a cigarette lighter I will burn. Self-esteem looks for sexy lingerie in his closet.

  Stay away from me

  “You fucking asshole, I'm sure I don't pay you to kill me.”

  “Although I don't dislike the idea, I must say that my job is getting you to stand up. If my calculations do not fail me, we are on the right track.”

  “Simple tingling and slight movement of the fingers are far from being symptoms of recovery.”

  “Come on, man, we've got to start with something. And now let’s stretch more.”

  Raymond's strong hands stretch his legs in the water in such a way that Reed feels broken inside but not a word of complaint comes out of his lips. The cramps are becoming more intense and although the pool is at a very pleasant temperature, the numb muscles in his legs reveal themselves with every effort of the therapist, but Blackman prefers to bite his tongue rather than show his sadist therapist a slight trace of weakness.

  “Does it hurt, Blackman?”

  “You fucking sadistic asshole.”

  “I am Something of that. Did I tell you that I once went out with a woman who liked to spank my delicious ass?” He said as he stretched his numb muscles.

  “Don't even think about keep talking!” Reed wanted to show fury but his scream turned out to be a real tear of pain.

  “Well, Blackman, you're ready for the next level.”

  Reed tried to analize the meaning of those words but the pain wouldn't let him think clearly. When he wanted to react, it turned out to be too late. Raymond pushed him back and his strong hands were released from the metal grips causing his body to sink like Titanic before his iceberg. The water covered his head in an instant and his desperation to save himself dominated him in desperation

  “He... elp... wa....ter...”

  The mad man tries to hold on but his legs don't respond and the water covers him completely. He raised his arms desperately trying to stay afloat but his body weighs too much. The water enters through his eyes, mouth and nose, he coughs madly as he pulls out his head but his weight again drags him to the bottom.

  “Come on Blackman! I didn't think you were so soft.”

  Raymond's arms intertwine under his armpits, bringing him to the surface. The almost drowned man gets his first puffs of air by spitting water out of his mouth while the cough gets some oxygen into his lungs.

  “What the hell are you doing!” He shouted in anger as the cough invaded him. “Son of a bitch! You almost drowned me. “

  “If you moved your legs you'd stay afloat.”

  “Fucking bastard, I'm
paralyzed!” The roar of his insults resounded all over the covered pool.

  “Your legs are already capable of receiving small stimuli. If you put your mind into it, you will be able to make short movements. Blackman, your physique is ready to respond, you are the one who has to want it.”

  “You think I don't want to walk!”

  “I think your mind is the one that doesn't want to fight.”

  “Get me out of the water!”

  He stretches out his hands to reach the railing but Raymond won't let him.

  “You fucking asshole, you want to drown me like a dehydrated lettuce.”

  “You're not getting out of here until you try. One small movement of your legs and you'll manage to stay afloat. I'm only asking you to try!”

  “Fucking nigger, I can't.”

  “You can but you don't want to!”

  “My legs don't respond.”

  “Well, make they answer you.”

  “That's impossible.”

  “They would if your brain ask them to do it. You must do your part. Come on, man, focus your inner strength, think and look for the fighting power within you.”

  “I don't have that power. I lost it”.

  His body relaxes in the water and Raymond defeated decides to bring him closer to the handles so he is able to hold on to its arms.

  “Come on man, that sweet woman has endured your entire bad mood. She's been by your side for a month trying to cheer you up and silently accepting each of your stab wounds. Do it for her. She has to love you very much to keep coming back.”

  “That woman abandoned me at the first difficulty.”

  !And I'm sure it was all your fault. Blackman, we are men and we know each other, it is enough to see you to know that you are neither docile nor sensitive, you are a diamond in the rough and the roughest of the market. Women seek affection, friendship, understanding, sincerity and you seem anything but sensitive. You may be a bit handsome, not as much as I am... But being good in bed is not enough for a woman to keep her love for us," he said, smiling superiorly. She's here during the hard times, that's all you should care about.”

  Raymond shook his head releasing drops of water through the air.

  “You're also a father, don't you care about that little girl's fate?”

  Blackman closes his eyes trying to remove the image of his little girl from his mind, but he doesn't succeed. From the moment he saw her, he hasn't been able to forget her. So tiny, so weak, as alone as he is.”