by Jacqwin Hess
“And…are you any good at that?”
“Um…”
“I’ll take that as a yes. What other music do you like? Your favorite?”
“Heavy metal and hard rock—”
“Are you kidding me, like what? I do, too.”
“Really? All the classics, anything from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and the ones of today that are more grunge; Linkin Park, Foo Fighters, Staind, Thirty Seconds to Mars is off the charts, love them, Jared Leto, I really have the hots for him and oh god, ah…Trent Reznor. I’d be a sandwich between those two any day. Sorry, no offense,” she replied. She knew he didn’t take any when she heard him lightly laugh on the other end. “I love their music. Oh man, I could go on forever with the music thing. Some Blues and Jazz, like songs from Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman. Fred Astaire—all the greats from the 20’s, 30’s or 40’s, but not a 50’s fan. I love all of them and all forms of music.”
“Except Country. Oh and 50’s.”
“Right.”
“What else do you love?” You! Oh my god, I’m so in love with you, you sexy bastard! Of course she didn’t really, not in her heart, but her mind and body was totally there.
“Indoor conservatories and gardens. Museums. But…it’s crazy, I live in the greatest city in the world for all that stuff, yet…I’ve never been able to go to any of them. I’ve never even been to a concert in my life, of any kind or to any of the gardens or museums. Not since I was a child. Nuts! Now, Your turn--”
“Shit. My three o’clock is here, an extremely important man and he’ll walk if I don’t call him in.”
“Ooh, you just don’t–”
“No-No, I’m serious. I promise.”
“Fine, next time we talk, you better be ready to give it up, I’m going to ask you anything I want.”
“Deal. So…does that mean we have a date, Adriaunn?”
“Yeah.”
“Say it. Clearly.”
“All right. Yes, Sebastian Warren Darvaine, I’ll go out with you on a strictly plutonic date and no other kind. I’m never busy or doing anything. So you send me the details.”
“Perfect. Talk to you later, darling. Bye.”
“Bye.” Adri couldn’t help the little giggle that escaped at being called ‘darling,’ but then sighed, realizing it wasn’t going to be tonight. Alone again on Friday night. Boo! She huffed, then froze when she looked over as Victoria came in and dropped against the wall. Her arms crossed and her brows lifted. “Yes, strictly plutonic. I’m not a whore, never was and never will be. I’m not just jumping into the sack with a near-total stranger. We’ll see just how serious and all crazy in want-for-me he is.”
“Yes, Adriaunn, yes you will. I just hope you don’t learn it the hard way. Tread carefully. Sebastian Darvaine isn’t a man to say ‘no’ too, tease and deny him and fuck with.” Victoria came off the wall, turned, and walked away.
Sebastian raised his eyes and looked at his own image that stared back down at him, his blonde brow cocked at him. He said it all with that look and Sebastian huffed, crooking a grin and putting his attention back into the concept plane he was standing under and working on.
“Father.”
“Son,” Sebastian responded back, rolling his eyes back up at his son and then looked back to the car, working the wrench.
“I knew I’d find you here. Avoiding the masses, no doubt.” Lance Darvaine replied, removing his suit jacket and then began coming down the steps to stand in the pit with his father. He still wore a half grin as he began rolling up his sleeve of his suit and waited for his dad to respond, but of course he didn’t. He didn’t have too. “You sure know how to rack up the enemies, don’t you?”
Lace was speaking about Meldcorp of course and what Sebastian did to the company, manipulating and ruining them, buying it out and then selling it off in pieces. He was vicious about it and stunned a lot of people, who expected a merger between Darvaine Enterprises and Meldcorp. The media was all over it and sitting outside his home, Darvaine office building and anywhere else they thought he’d be. The place had a high electric fence all the way around the complex and the best security system and surveillance cameras in the world, so no one got near his facility without him knowing it.
Sebastian did what he usually did when moments like that happened and he wanted to avoid the media—disappeared in his labs where he worked on different projects and he got lost in his favorite hobby of building concept cars, planes or whatever.
“So ah…what’s this thing going to do when you’re through with it? Fly obviously.”
Sebastian lips curled in a half grin over at his son, who, bless his heart, tried to be interested in all the tech stuff, but it just wasn’t his thing. That’s okay. He loved that his son at least like sports and they had that in common. “Everything. It’ll take off like a jet, though it won’t be able to fly like one and have the capability to land on water. Lancon A4 and the test run on it was beautiful!”
“So it’s like a car, that has wings coming out of the side of it and flies and then capable of landing and floating on water. That’s ah…kind of awesome actually.”
“Yeah, it is. Think of the places this thing could get you where normally you couldn’t get by foot.”
“Cool. So ah….need any help?”
“Well, I could use a beer right about now.”
“A beer? Seriously? I’m your beer bitch now?”
“Yes and then come back and you can help.”
“Fine,” Lance replied, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, taking back off up the stairs and going to get them a beer. When he returned, handing his dad his beer, he saw Sebastian was watching something on his phone, inching his dad's hand down so he could watch too.
“Watch this. This is funny.” Sebastian replied and together they watched the man outside trying to attempt to breach his fence, touching it, instantly jerking and screaming out. He let loose of the fence and dropped on over, shouting out and shaking his hand and arm, that was numb now.
“You’re so bad, but yeah, that is funny shit.” Especially since there were warning signs all along the fence telling people it was high voltage and not to touch. The guy picked himself up. “Oh my god, he pissed himself!” The guy was so embarrassed he ran back to his car, rubbing his arm and immediately sped away.
“Gotta love stupid,” Sebastian replied and then tucked his phone away. “So, thanks for getting the beers. Now you can be my tool bitch.”
“Awesome,” Lance replied, scrunching his nose, pretending to be so excited about that and his dad asked for a Philips screwdriver and he handed him a flat head instead.
“Awesome,” Sebastian replied, tossing it down and grabbing up the right one. “That’s my boy!”
“Oh well. Sunday, you and me, Giants stadium. We’ll bond there.”
“Sounds good.”
Adri woke by hearing a ding on her phone. What the hell time was it? She looked at the phone’s clock and seethed. Whoopsy. It was almost twelve noon, but it felt good just to sleep in, keep rolling over and over and going back to sleep. It was Saturday after all. Now she was bored with it and kind of hated that she had nothing to do. She pushed the button to see who was texting her and she stared at her phone, not sure she was seeing right.
Sebastian: What are you doing?
She flopped over and smiled as she came up on her knees, typing, stopping to tug down her tank just in case there were any prying eyes through a camera lens or telescope. It’d been a whole week, eight days to be exact, since she’d heard from him and her inside gripped with excitement.
Sebastian: You’re not still in bed, are you?
Adri: Just hanging out today, not doing anything and no I’m not still in bed.
She jumped up just before she hit the send button, so at least it wasn’t a lie.
Sebastian: Good. So are you ready for our exciting, fun-filled, plutonic date? You promised and said you’d go. I cleared my whole schedule just for you darling.
Adri: It’s Saturday. You seriously work on Saturday? Do you ever take a break?
Sebastian: I do now. So are you ready for this date or not?
Adri: I told you I’d go.
Sebastian: Well then hurry up and get down here. I’m waiting!
She actually screamed out and continued staring down at the phone. She ran to the window where he was down below, ankles cross and leaning against a sharp looking sports car of some kind. Oh swoon! Her brain babbled suddenly, unable to have a coherent thought now. He stole her breath away and she just couldn’t believe it was real, that he was actually there–for her. He was dressed in blue jeans, tan loafers, a white button up shirt under a beautiful tan tweed blazer, his sunglasses on and looking so gorgeous—like a freaking model! She would have thought Ralph Lauren was doing a photo shoot by the way he stood there dressed like that against that gorgeous car and…in the back of the convertible was a brown leather bag. He lifted his hand and wound his finger at her to hurry up and get on with it. She jumped, spinning away and ran to the bathroom, thanking God she showered before bed last night. She was cold most of the night, so she didn’t sweat—she was clean.
Adri: Will be a minute. Need to know where we are headed—what to wear.
Sebastian: Casual. Like me and pack a bag for one night-just in case nothing comes up and we don’t have to rush back tonight and get tomorrow.
Casual?! He looked stunning and so dressy!
Adri: Your form of casual and my form of casual differ—we’re not going to be around beautiful women dressed CASUALLY in lawn / garden dresses and Easter hats?
Sebastian: No! It’s just going to be the two of us. OUR date. And EASTER HATS?
She was about to text back, but another of his came through.
Sebastian: Never mind. Just get down here woman!
Adri: Your woman
She stared down at the words and then pushed send.
There wasn’t a reply and she didn’t go look at him, going to do what he said.
Sebastian looked up from the phone he’d been staring at since she last replied. She was carrying a medium size suitcase, which he reached down and took from her, setting it next to his bag—the contrast between the two unmistakable, but Adri wouldn’t ever notice the class difference, or at least she wouldn’t care, and she didn’t. He looked back and she held up her phone, sweeping a finger across her cheek to pull back a stray hair as the wind blew.
It was what looked like the rest of her text.Adri: (Your woman) and then in the text box were the words (for the day) and she tapped her thumb on the send button and his phone dinged. He humphed and crooked a grin at her. He stepped back as he opened her door for her, but she didn’t get in right away.
“Truth. Am I okay for where we’re going? I didn’t have time to do my hair right. Is it okay like this?” She gasped as he pressed her against his car and gripped her hair, jerking it back, getting his lips close to hers. “Plutonic! BFF and all that shit, remember?”
Now she had him smiling and laughing down at her. “Right. You’re perfect,” he replied as he swept a gentle finger down her cheek and kissed her. “Now. Get in. Quick,” he said, throwing on his sunglasses and pretending he didn’t see Victoria and Stan with some of their friends coming up the sidewalk—having stopped to stare and watch them. Adri turned around and couldn’t help but touch his bag, looking it over and no, not thinking at all about the contrast between the two or caring.
“I love your bag. It’s so beautiful. That’s my favorite color in leather; Camel.” She sat back and her eyes went to the side mirrors seeing Vic and Stan. Oh shit! No! She smiled and spun around, waving at them and shouted out. “I’m off on my first date–our first date. Wish us luck! Bye!” He shifted the gears of his Pagani Huayra and sped away before they could be stopped. He gave her a sly look as he gave a single wave in the air. “Speaking of, where are we going on this date?”
“Catskills.”
“Oh, I love it already. I’ve always wanted to go.” She leaned over and popped a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you. It’s wonderful.”
“Good. So, just sit back and enjoy the ride,” he replied. She wiggled her butt a bit against the awesome plush black leather seating and got comfortable, smiling as he put in a cool song, turning up the radio—putting in the perfect driving music once they were out of the city and on the highway.
The band to start them off was Anberlin–Paper Thin Hymn and it was absolutely perfect, loving the awesome guitar rips as he sped out of the city, watching the city fade behind them and the country welcome them. By the way he drove, reading signs and taking particular exits, she was certain that he knew where they were going, but didn’t push and just stayed quiet, enjoying the ride up I-87. The car rode like a dream and was so comfortable, the day perfect and the man next to her…so gorgeous and perfect. She had to force her eyes to stay off of him, but couldn’t keep her hands down in her lap, putting one hand out to feel the air and the other…
Sebastian tensed when he felt her fingers touch the top of his arm, trailing upward over his arms, his wrist, over the top of his hand and he loosened his grip on the stick, hoping. He took the chance, slowly loosening his grip and spreading his fingers out, his heart pounding in his chest in pure ecstasy as she slid her fingers between his. He kept his eye on the road and she kept her eye out on the scenery around them as they drove. He tightened his fingers back down around hers, holding her hand on his.
Two hours later, he pulled off into the town of Kingston, pulling off on the side of the road when he looked over and saw she was asleep. He sat there, still holding her hand, lifting it up and looking over her face, then reaching over he caressed her cheek. “Adriaunn?” he gently called her name and then moved closer, pressing his lips to hers.
“Plutonic,” she moaned out, fluttering her eyes open and smiling at him. His face was so close, able to smell his breath, that was so good, but not trusting her own, she pressed her mouth shut.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty. I knew you wouldn’t want to miss this.”
Indeed, she didn’t. She gasped out and stared at the gorgeous scenery around them and then his face as he smiled, putting his shades back on, shifting gears, and looking into his rearview mirror before taking back off. It was stunning, driving through the hills along the Hudson River, driving into the cute little town of Kingston. They turned in the middle of town and headed west where they drove for some miles into the country.
“It’s hard to believe all this beauty is just outside of New York.”
“Yeah, this is as far as Grandma could ever get Grandpa to go outside of the City. He could never stand to be too far away.”
“And I suspect his grandson doesn’t like to be either,” Adri replied. He twisted his lips and rolled his eyes at her–guilty. She read the passing sign, seeing Ashokan Reservoir, and then a minute or so later, the lake was on each side of them as they drove over a bridge on Reservoir Road. They stayed on Reservoir Road for maybe two miles before turning off of it, driving a long way down a dirt road. “Where in the world is this leading? I don’t see a house or anything in sight.”
“Ah, just an old family lake house. I haven’t been here in forever.”
“Aww, a little cabin in the woods?” Adri replied and then froze with her mouth dropping open as they started to head toward a massive house that came into sight. It sat up on top of the tallest hill and then shut her mouth as he stopped before a massive wrought iron gate. He punched the code in the keypad and watched the gates open before the white stone house, staring in shock at the three-story old family lake house. He pulled into the driveway slowly, looking out of the car and shaking his head. “My god…grandmother’s irises are still all over the place. They’ve just gone wild.” He stopped the car, grabbing a handful and jerking them free, then handed them over to her, doing it several more times, making her laugh as he handed them to her. Once he pulled to a stop and turned off the car, he sat there looking the place over,
hand still on the ignition and steering wheel.
Adri watched him for a moment as he looked the old place over. “Good memories or bad?”
“Good…and…some bad. Mom was a terror and…this was my safe-house, my grandmother?...mean as they come and you didn’t fuck with her only grandbaby. She was the only woman who ever put the fear of God into my mother. I’m certain she is why I’m still alive today.”
She was about to tell him to get real and to be serious, but…something in his darkening expression made her keep her mouth shut and realize that he was serious. No ugliness. Not today! She threw her arm around his neck, grabbing his head and pulling his lips to hers, kissing him. “Come on Sebastian! Show me the place!” She turned and opened the door. With the flowers in her grasp, she got out. He smiled after her, and finally got out to join her.
The house was a breath-taking masterpiece in architecture. It was so open and beautiful, a 1930s art deco style, huge circular living room with a wall of windows that overlooked the lake and mountains all around them, which carried up to the second floor, the master bedroom she assumed. “Oh Sebastian. It’s…stunning.”
“Yeah, not too bad,” he said, setting down the bags he’d grabbed from the back of the car by the stairs and then walked on in, stepping down into the sunken living room and then back up into the kitchen. “I was expecting far worse. It will be half way decent with some repair and a little TLC. It won’t take much to get it back into shape,” he said, tossing his keys and sunglasses on the island in the kitchen. Setting his hands on the bar, he looked over the seams between the wall and ceiling, glad to see that they were still joined and there were not major foundation problems. The place just needed to be painted and a new roof, he noticed as he looked up and saw the couple of spots where it had been leaking.
