Destination D

by Lori Beard-Daily

  “As intuitive as you are, I find it hard to believe that you did not see that your partnership was in jeopardy.”

  “Marc, I tell you, I was totally blindsided by it.”

  Marc looked at her sympathetically. “I want to hear what happened.”

  “What good will it do?”

  “You’d be surprised at how talking can help a situation. Have you talked to anyone about it yet?”

  “I just told my roommate, briefly. But that was the night you…”

  “I called? I guess my call put a big damper on your evening. Now I know why you never called me back.”

  Pam looked into his deep-set blue eyes and for the first time felt like she could get lost in them. “I was at a loss for words,” she said, sitting down on the sofa and staring into her empty wine glass. “Just totally numb, ya know? I was all prepared to be told that I was going to be made partner, and then all of a sudden I’m hit with this stack of bullshit statements from paralegals that have accused me of harassment, cruelty, and unusual punishment— you name it!” Pam shook her head at the incredulity of it all.

  “But why?”

  “Let’s just say that everyone at the firm finds me very intimidating.”

  “And what do you think?”

  Pam was quiet for a moment. No one had ever asked her that question before. “Yes, it’s true,” she answered confidently. “But it’s how I win all of my cases, and it’s how I get people to respect me, except I really dug into someone who didn’t deserve it.”

  “Who?”

  “My paralegal and former college classmate and friend.”

  “How did you two end up working together?”

  Pam blew out some air and started shaking her head. “Oh man, whew! When I think about how dumb that was, it makes me angry.”

  Marco reached for her hand and lightly stroked it. She felt a small quiver in her stomach and gently tried to pull out of his reach, but he gave her hand a small squeeze and it remained steady.

  “It was supposed to be for a short term assignment, and then it was three years later and we were still working together.”

  “What happened?”

  “I didn’t want our friendship to cloud our work, so I forced myself to become detached. I knew I needed her because she was the best paralegal in the firm, but my pride didn’t want her to know how much I needed her. It wasn’t my initial intent. But, I made her feel inferior. When I think about how I treated her, I really feel terrible.”

  “Why do you think you feel the need to intimidate people so much to get what you want?”

  “I don’t know. I guess intimidation and fear have been the driving force behind all of my successes.”

  “Did someone intimidate you when you were growing up?”

  “Not really. You know, I told you I was the third child of five siblings. It seemed like I always had to fight to get what I wanted.”

  “Hmmm…a case of middle child syndrome, heh?”

  Pam managed to form a smile. “Yes, I guess you could say that. My two older brothers always got special treatment from my mother because she needed a lot of help when my father was at work. She looked at them like they were the center of the earth. Then, of course, that left me and my twin sisters. Those two got a lot of attention because they were the twins, and together they were quite a handful! My brothers were tight, the twins were each other’s buddies, and I was kind of the odd one out, you could say. But as I got older I got over it, and I didn’t feel like I needed to continue to fight anymore with my middle child drama syndrome. I developed my own sense of self, went out into the world, became this great attorney, and just when everything was going the way I wanted, then…”

  Marc squeezed her hand again and gently massaged her fingers. “And then what?”

  Pam paused briefly feeling as if she was peeling off a layer of bruised skin that needed to be healed. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

  “Take your time.”

  “I was in a relationship that ended very badly.” Her eyes watered again as she got up. “And when it ended, the loss was so great that it took a piece of me. I’ve managed to survive by just working really hard, you know?”

  “And it helps to ease your pain when you hurt other people?”

  “No, it just happens that way. Believe me when I say that staying focused on what I need to accomplish gets me through the day. Sometimes I guess my drive seems to step on other people’s toes. What are you doing? Trying to psychoanalyze me or something?”

  “No, I’m just trying to understand how that brain of yours works. I’m curious about something. You said your father was the chief of police, right?”

  “Oh, you remembered? Yes, that is correct.”

  “Well, since your father was the chief of police, how did his subordinates view him?”

  “They feared him, but they respected him,” she said defensively.

  “Hmmm…I see. Which was it more, fear or respect?”

  Pam thought about that earnestly. “Good question. I used to think it was respect, but as I look back on it, I guess it might have been more fear than anything. My father was a gentle man, but he was very firm. He ran a tight ship, and if you weren’t on the same deck then you had to jump off.”

  “Can you give me an example?”

  At first Pam felt put off by the direction in which this conversation was going, but the more she listened to Marc, the more he made sense. Had she unconsciously used her father’s intimidation tactics all of these years? She thought all of it was just due to her bad experience with Greg.

  “Well, I remember the time when he thought one of his officers had taken some drug money from a crime scene. None of them would tell what really happened, so my father conveniently reassigned them to some of the worse precincts in the city.”

  “What happened next?”

  “The money suddenly reappeared. The first time he discovered the money was missing, he came home that evening and sat at the dinner table and stared right through all five of us and said, ‘I betta not ever catch none of ya’ll stealin’ or lyin’. Ever!’ He snatched up his plate and went and ate in the dining room alone. My mother ran out and told him, ‘Drake, don’t intimidate these kids to make them do what you want! What’s the matter with you?’”

  “What did your father say to that?”

  “My father sat back in his chair and looked at her sternly and said, ‘They betta learn early on or they’ll end up like one of my officers behind bars.’ Okay, I’ll admit it. You’re a pretty good shrink, Marc. I can see how I have taken my father’s threatening tactics and used them on the paralegals at work. Now what’s next?”

  Marc smiled as he did when one of his patients had a significant break. “What do you want to be next?”

  “How about we not make me one of your head cases just yet? Let’s talk about you,” Pam said eying him cautiously.

  “Well, that’s fair. Hmmm, let’s see. Where do I start?”

  “How about your family?”

  “Okay, are you sure you want to know? I mean I don’t want you to change your opinion of me.”

  “What makes you think I have an opinion of you?” Pam joked.

  “Ah ha! Well, you’ve got me there, Counselor. I must admit, that was a good one.”

  “No, seriously. I’d love to hear about your family.”

  “Well, my father was an alcoholic and was abusive to my whole family when we lived in California.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Very. Fortunately, my mother managed to escape by keeping a job as a maid without my father knowing about it. She would give her money to one of the ladies she was working for, for safe-keeping so Papa wouldn’t waste it on liquor, and when she saved up enough money, she took me and my two older brothers and caught a bus to Salt Lake City, where we changed our names and started a new life.”

  “Now that is incredible! Your mother is a remarkable woman.”

  “She is. You ever heard o
f Shine Cleaning?”

  “Yes, I’ve heard of them before. I hear they’re an excellent cleaning service.”

  “I know. My mother founded the company several years after we moved over to the states. It’s really well-known over on the west coast, but it’s spreading around,” Marc said.

  “Is your mom still running the business?”

  “No, she eventually sold it and was able to send all three of us to Ivy League schools from the proceeds,” he laughed.

  “That’s fantastic.” Pam hesitated before she asked her next question. “So, where’s your father now?”

  Marc shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know, and don’t care.”

  “I see,” she said as she caught him staring into her eyes.

  Marc got up, tugging at her hand to pull her up from the sofa. “Enough of this heavy talking. I’m starting to feel extremely lucky tonight. Are you up for some gambling?”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “So, let’s hit the slots, Counselor!”

  Safe Return Home

  Looking at Amanda with one eye open, Melvin said, “Good morning, suga.” “Hey there, you,” Amanda said, hoping Melvin didn’t hear the guilt in her voice.

  Melvin felt Amanda’s hesitancy as he leaned over to kiss her. “What’s the matter, baby? Gimme some of that good kissin’ I’m used to,” he said pulling her face closer to his. Amanda finally gave in and kissed him tenderly. “Now, that’s better. How you feelin’ this mornin’?”

  “Never been better,” she said, pushing herself away from him as he leaned in to pull her back.

  “Where are you trying to rush off to?”

  Amanda smiled sheepishly. “I’m just about to make my way to the bathroom. Is that okay with you?”

  “Hurry back in here, then.” He patted her on her rear end as she breezed past him.

  When Amanda finally reached the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror and was suddenly overcome with nausea. She turned on the water and vomited into the sink as quietly as she could.

  “Are you all right, baby?”

  She could hardly breathe. If her heaving didn’t stop soon, she knew Melvin would become suspicious.

  “Amanda?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, splashing some cold water on her face. She stared at herself again in the mirror, feeling like an adulteress, even though she wasn’t married.

  “Well, now, just one more day before you return back to work.”

  “That’s right,” Amanda yelled back with a mouthful of toothpaste.

  “I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad, because I think you were going a little stir-crazy around the house. You were starting to run out of projects.”

  “I can always come to work for you,” she yelled back as she spit out her toothpaste and rinsed out her mouth.

  “And do what?”

  “Oh, I dunno, some hammering, pulling up some carpet,” she said as she walked out of the bathroom and crawled back into bed.

  “Oh, so is that all that you think I do all day?” he said as he grabbed her underneath the covers and nibbled on her neck.

  “Melvin, stop! No!”

  “No, I ain’t stoppin’! You think you’re so cute, don’t cha,” he said while crawling on top of her, pressing his face against her neck then blowing on it.

  “You’re acting like a fool, Melvin. Get off me!” she squealed and caught her breath as he got off her and started laughing.

  “I’m only a fool when it comes to you, baby! Amanda, I need to ask you something,” his voice turned serious.

  Amanda patted him on his thigh. “Sure. What is it?”

  “You know I’m not a man of many words, but I know what I want, right?”

  “Yes,” she said propping her pillow so she could look him in the face.

  “Okay, here goes,” he said, smiling nervously as he opened up the nightstand drawer and pulled out a black velvet box.

  Amanda’s stomach began to flip. “Melvin!”

  He opened the box and slipped the one-carat pear-shaped diamond onto her finger. It was set in platinum with smaller diamonds around the band. “Will you marry me, Amanda? It sho’ would make me a happy man,” he said.

  The look in his eyes turned Amanda’s guilt to heartache. She wished she could erase what happened last night. She wiped away the tears that were traveling down her face. She thought about the irony of her situation. After three years of dating, Melvin had officially proposed to make her his wife. How ironic for him to ask her now.

  Mile High Club

  The night passed quickly while Pam played the quarter slots relentlessly and Marc played the roulette table. “Hey, Pam!” Marc yelled. “C’mon over and give me a lucky number.”

  Pam put another quarter in the slot. “I’ll be over in a minute. I think I finally got her warmed up!”

  Ching! Ching! Ching! The quarters rolled out so fast that Pam couldn’t collect them in her bucket fast enough. “I won! I won! Five hundred dollars! Yes! I won!” she screamed all the way over to where Marc was. Before she caught herself, she grabbed him and hugged him. He turned around and kissed her eagerly on the lips.

  “Congratulations!”

  “Thanks,” Pam said, caught off guard a little.

  “Sam, here is my lucky charm,” Marc said to the roulette table attendant.

  “So, what does the charm, say, sir?”

  “Five!” Pam shouted.

  “Let it all roll on number five!” Marc laughed. “The lady gets half of whatever I win.” Marc watched as the numbers spun and the ball rolled directly into the five slot. “Oh yeah! I told you she was good luck! The Bellagio owes the good doctor here seven grand! Yes!”

  “You gambled seven thousand dollars? Marc, are you crazy?”

  “Crazy for you!” he said lifting her up to swing her around. Then he kissed her while the crowd cheered him on.

  “Marc! Put me down!” Pam laughed. “You’re embarrassing me!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, setting her down. “Let’s go cash in our chips and quarters.”

  “This was such a great evening,” Pam said as she watched the cashier count their winnings. “I can’t believe you won all of that money.”

  “We won it.”

  Pam looked up at him admiringly. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun. She didn’t want the evening to end.

  “Pam, why don’t we go back to the room and have a nightcap,” Marc said almost as if he had read her mind.

  “A nightcap would be good. It will help me get a good night’s sleep too, especially after such a whirlwind evening in that casino.”

  As they rode the elevator back to their floor, Marco noticed that Pam couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m glad to see you’re so happy and relaxed. Vegas will do that to you,” he said.

  When the elevator doors opened, he took her hand and escorted her to his suite. Pam took off her shoes and sat down on the loveseat next to the window. The amazing view reminded her of the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz. It would be so easy to fall in love with this city, she thought. Vegas had all of the colors, brilliant lights, and excitement.

  Marco handed her a glass of cognac and took a sip of his and sat next to her. “Here, I want you to try this.” He watched her take a sip and could tell she enjoyed its smooth flavor. “Good, huh?” he said as Pam nodded. “One of the things I admire about you is that you never hold back. You speak what is on your mind.” His smooth accent sounded like easy listening music. She could listen to his voice all night.

  “Well, thank you.” Pam wasn’t sure where this was leading, but she liked what she was feeling.

  “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable,” he said, giving her a quick peck on the lips. “Pam, I want to make love to you. Will you let me?” He felt the tension in Pam’s back as she pulled away from him. She was the first woman he had ever read wrong.

  “Do you always ask that question in such a formal manner?” she laugh
ed, as she gestured to his glass insinuating that it was the cognac talking and not him.

  Relieved that she still had a sense of humor, he spoke assuredly, “Usually, I don’t have to ask. Believe me, you are the first,” he said as he placed his hand on his heart.

  Pam took both their drinks and set them on the nearby table and sat in his lap. She settled herself on his hardened bulge and seductively draped her arms around his neck. She delicately brushed the back of his hair with her fingers. Whatever had come over her, she didn’t want to think about it. She wanted only to feel again.

  “Show me what you’ve got, Doctor,” she purred as she placed her fingers between his legs and unzipped his pants. He smiled obligingly, helping her with his zipper and revealed himself to her.

  “Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Pam grinned.

  Marco found the zipper on her jacket and pulled it down to reveal her breasts. He bent down and gently sucked each protruding nipple, sliding his hands down her pants and slipping them down to her knees. She felt herself throbbing as his manhood rested on her leg. Marc eased her onto the sofa, carefully laid her down, and pulled her underwear and pants completely off.

  “I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” he said in a low sexy voice as he headed toward his suitcase.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Pam said breathlessly.

  He took off the rest of his clothes and pulled out a pack of condoms. “How many do you think we’ll need?”

  “Ummm…bring them all and we’ll see,” she moaned.

  Still erect, he slipped the condom on and walked over to her as she lay naked on the couch. He sat down next to her, placing her back on his lap and skillfully moving inside of her. She felt relieved that he was not into having unprotected sex. Her moan was loud as his manhood touched her very core. It had been so long since she felt this way, as he lifted her up while still inside her, then he carried her to the large ottoman next to the bed. He laid her down, easing himself farther inside her, and then glided himself back and forth until they reached a steady rhythm.