Dark Matter: SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE

by Jessica Loft

  Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye that caught her attention. She quickly turned to look at what seemed out of place as a dark haired woman tackled her to the ground.

  Elizabeth was out of breath as she hit the ground with the woman falling on top of her. Before she could think twice she was being elbowed across the face. Amidst the screams from the gathering crowd Elizabeth heard nothing except a dull thumping in her ears. In-between blows, she saw a twinkle of something in the crazed woman’s other arm. It was a knife. She sprang into action and tilted her hips upwards trying to knock the woman off balance. They rolled across the cement, both trying to gain control. Elizabeth fought furiously to free herself, thrashing and scratching at her attacker.

  “You’re gonna pay, you bitch!” the woman screamed.

  She rolled her back to the cement and managed to slam Elizabeth against it before she grabbed a handful of her hair with her left hand. She sat up and reached back with her right hand to thrust the knife down toward Elizabeth’s neck.

  Elizabeth laid there in shock as she saw the knife coming at her. Suddenly, there was black.

  Elizabeth sat up dazed. She realized, she was OK, where’d the woman go, where was the knife? She turned to see a man dressed in black wrestling with the woman on the ground knocking her arm until he got the knife to fall out of her hand. The woman was continuing to scream and spit angrily at him as he pressed his elbow across her upper back and held her down harder. He must have knocked her off of me. Elizabeth sat there still confused.

  “Okay, okay. That’s enough,” he said to the woman. He turned his focus to Elizabeth.

  “Are you alright? Did she hurt you?” he asked with deep, genuine concern in his eyes.

  Elizabeth looked herself over, she was dazed; but adrenaline was pumping through her and she was becoming more aware. Her neck felt like it was burning. She reached up to check and felt the wetness of blood. She gasped. But feeling it a little closer, it just seemed like a flesh wound.

  “I think I’m ok,” she mumbled in response. She looked around to find Tom. He was still holding onto the handle of the car door, a look of utter shock on his face.

  “Tom,” she said calmly. He continued to stare at the scene before him. She waved her hand to grab his attention.

  “TOM!” His eyes finally shifted to her.

  “Call the police, please.”

  ***

  Elizabeth had decided to take the rest of the day off after she left the hospital. Under normal circumstances, Elizabeth would not allow herself to relax enough to have downtime but the events of this morning had drained her completely. She was exhausted and just wanted to rest. She even took the time to treat herself to a long hot bath. Her body ached all over and she had hoped the warm water would soothe her sore bruised muscles.

  Stepping out of the bath she wrapped herself in a soft, warm towel, and sighed as she walked over to the mirror. Reaching up, she touched the bandage on her neck. The knife had only grazed her neck but she had needed a few stitches. For the first time in her life, she had to admit she was shaken up. She was a woman who maintained control of every aspect of her life. Today a deranged woman on the street had robbed her of that.

  Elizabeth went over the scene in her head. She had seen her life flash before her eyes in that moment. For a second, she almost felt some regret. She began to question her devotion to her career. Had she missed too many other opportunities because she was so focused on success? Should she have made more room for love, family, and travel? She laughed out loud, “No, this is not going to happen to me, I am not a victim.” She quickly dismissed her feelings as symptoms of shock.

  However, the thought of returning to the office was still frightening. She planned on canceling her in-person meetings for the next week. Working from her home office until the dust had settled sounded much better.

  She thought about the man who had intervened and saved her. He had just happened to have been out for a morning jog and saw the attack. She hadn’t noticed him on the street when she got out of the car; but she was lucky he was there. She tried to picture the scene in her head. But most of it was still a blur. Being pushed to the ground. The knife coming at her. The jogger holding down the woman who had attacked her. It was just bits and pieces, and as much as she tried she couldn’t remember his face.

  She picked up the card the detective had given her from her dresser. He had scribbled the name of the man who had saved her from being hacked into pieces. Shane Castle. What a regal name. She had never heard of this man Shane Castle before. But, she was definitely going to properly thank him, as soon as she could locate him.

  She went into her closet and got dressed into some comfy pajamas and wandered into her home office. She sighed when she saw who was sitting at the desk. There is reliable Tom. Although she was shaken up and didn’t want to leave her home she didn’t feel like being alone either. And work needed to be attended to. He was sitting at his desk working at the computer. When he noticed she was standing there he started to get up to help her.

  “Elizabeth, how are you feeling? Don’t you think you should be resting or something? Do you want me to make you some tea?” he asked, his voice full of tension.

  “No, no, Tom. I’m ok,” she tried to assure him.

  “I’m looking into finding you a proper bodyguard, we can’t take any chances,” Tom had a look of determination on his face; this wasn’t negotiable.

  “Ah, ok. Yeah, maybe that’s for the best right now… Also, can you locate Mr. Castle and send him a thank you card and flowers?” She said, and then paused and thought for a moment.

  “You know what, actually, contact his bank and pay his mortgage and any debts he might have,” she said.

  Tom raised his eyebrows; he was surprised at this gesture. Elizabeth was generous, sure, but wasn’t always the most thoughtful. Usually, it was Tom who remembered thank you cards and gifts.

  But this time, Elizabeth found herself overwhelmed with gratitude. She hadn’t stopped thinking about the man, Shane Castle, since she left the scene of the attack. It had been a very long time since Elizabeth had felt indebted to someone. She looked at Tom.

  “I didn’t even thank him this morning…I don’t even remember what he looks like. I was in shock but the man saved my life, for God’s sake,” she paused.

  “No, never mind the damn card and flowers, please invite him here, I’d like to thank him in person.”

  Tom nodded. “No, you’re right. I’ll call him right away.”

  ***

  Elizabeth’s home office, like the rest of her sprawling condo, was the stuff of interior designers’ dreams. The building had vintage architecture with vaulted ceilings and crown moldings. Her furniture was clean lines, luxurious materials, and golden accents. However, it had warmth too, as Elizabeth was fond of the feminine touch; soft neutrals and fresh flowers.

  The windows stretched from the floor to ceiling, showering Elizabeth and Tom in light as they worked at their desks. It was two days since the incident outside of Connor Tower. Elizabeth was at her desk, she sipping a cup of warm tea as she reviewed her documents for an upcoming merger. Adjacent to her, Tom typed quickly and efficiently at his own desk. The housekeeper, Sandra, knocked gently on the door.

  “Ms. Connor, Mr. Castle has arrived. Would you like me to show him into your office?” she asked.

  “No, no. Please show him into the living room, I’ll be right out, Sandra, thanks,” Elizabeth said. She took one last sip of her tea and closed the file in front of her. She pushed herself up from her desk and began to leave the room, she felt excited to be able to properly thank this courageous man. Tom rose from his chair, about to follow her to the meeting.

  “Tom, you don’t need to join us. It’s not business after all. Just keep working on that acquisition, I’ve got this. It’s no big deal, really, I just want to thank him,” she said. Tom nodded and sat back down at his computer.

  She walked out into th
e hallway and peered down the corridor to the living room, she was surprised to realize she felt a little nervous. There he was, Shane Castle. Standing in front of the stone fireplace looking up at the O’Keeffe hanging on the mantel. He was an athletic man, tall and broad-shouldered. As she watched him, he ran his hand through his wavy black hair and pushed it back from his face. Through his black pants and green canvas jacket, he looked muscular; even from behind, he looked like a man who would stop an attacker in the street.

  Elizabeth felt a rush of emotion, she had never been so grateful to another human being. Just thinking about what he had done for her caused a lump to rise in her throat. Although she didn’t know the first thing about him, as she looked at him, she felt an instant and staggering attraction to this strange man in her living room. She took a deep breath to steady herself and walked into the doorway.

  “Mr. Castle, I’m Elizabeth, I really appreciate you taking the time to come by,” she said.

  After the attack, in all the commotion, he had only noticed her stern business attire and the fear on her face. Now standing in her home Shane realized he had saved business mogul, Elizabeth Connor. In magazines and newspapers he had seen pictures of her plenty of times, she looked like a typical cold businessperson. He turned toward her, and smiled. Elizabeth was not dressed in her usual business attire; she had on her favorite worn skinny jeans with a ripped knee and a loose black V-neck. He could see the real Elizabeth now, delicate and pretty with freckles across her nose. She seemed nothing like he had imagined her, she was vulnerable and nervous. He suddenly realized he was getting a glimpse of a rare side of Elizabeth Connor that only her closest friends and lover would know. The attack must have definitely shaken her up.

  “Shane, just Shane, is fine. Quite the place you have here, Beth. And yeah, not a problem, I was hoping to find out if you were okay or not,” he looked at her, a smirk passed over his handsome face.

  “You look different today, I like it.”

  Suddenly, heat rose over her. She felt herself flush as he looked her over, the last time she had felt this way she had been in her freshman year at college. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her, was so familiar, so casual. She analyzed him in return, he was not the kind of man she had ever been interested in. He was rugged, and unrefined. Yet, she found him staggeringly attractive, there was something almost forbidden about him. She tried to think of a clever reply but fell short. Shane watched her look for words and he clarified.

  “I mean the power suits look great, don’t get me wrong, you just seem more approachable in jeans. I like this look, that’s all,” he could tell he had made her uncomfortable and he smiled, amused. He changed the subject before she could react.

  “How are you doing? I see you were hurt after all,” he touched his own neck where her bandage was. She touched the bandage and nodded.

  “Ah, yes, just a few stitches, nothing serious. The doctor said it probably wouldn’t even scar. It could have been much worse,” Her face darkened as she considered what could have happened had he not been there. She shook it off.

  “Can I offer you a drink? Maybe a coffee?”

  He shrugged. “Sure, that would be nice.”

  “Please, have a seat,” she gestured to the soft leather sofa, then nodded to Sandra who had overheard her offer drinks and was standing at the ready.

  She sat down on the sofa and Shane sat down next to her, relaxing into the soft cushion. Elizabeth studied his face for a moment. His nose was straight and his jaw was strong. Black stubble made his green eyes even more remarkable.

  Elizabeth thought, how could I have looked at his man and not remembered his face? He had a fire in him, his eyes burned with life. She could look into those eyes forever. She stopped when she realized she was staring at him. Shaking her head a little, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

  “So, it was very lucky for me that you were out for a jog the other morning. I really can’t thank you enough, it’s not just anyone who would intervene in that kind of situation.”

  “Yeah, well, you looked like you could use a hand. He smiled. And, it was just the right thing to do.” He found her surprisingly warm and a little awkward. Not something you expect when meeting the CEO of a major company.

  “I’m glad you’re okay. Did you find out who the woman is that attacked you?” He asked?

  Elizabeth sighed.

  “No, I spoke with the detective. The investigation is ongoing so he isn’t giving out any details. I guess at this point, it’s looking like it was a random attack by a disturbed woman.”

  Sandra brought in a tray of coffee and placed it on the marble coffee table in front of them. She set out the cups before them and poured the coffee, then stood and waited a moment to see if they needed anything else. Elizabeth nodded to excuse her.

  “Thanks, Sandra,” he said, not taking his eyes off of Elizabeth. Shane picked up his cup to drink.

  “Hmm, from my perspective, she seemed to know who you were. I mean the attack did not seem random to me. But I guess the detective will get to the bottom of it,” Shane took another sip of his coffee. He looked up from his cup and put out his hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

  “Beth, I really appreciate the gesture, but it’s a bit much. I can’t accept it.”

  “I’m sorry?” Elizabeth said, she wasn’t sure what he was referring to. Then it occurred to her, she felt a sense of embarrassment creeping up. She closed her eyes. Oh, God, what was I thinking! She glanced over at him with a sheepish look on her face.

  “My mortgage was mysteriously paid yesterday. Based on where you live, and the fact that your last name is Connor; did you happen to have anything to do with that?” He narrowed his eyes at her.

  “It’s too much. I really can’t accept that,” he was firm, resolute.

  “…Yeah… I guess maybe that seems a bit, ah…lavish. It’s just that you saved my life and I wanted to thank you and…,” she was rambling.

  What the hell was going on?

  She was not a woman who was lost for words, ever. She almost never questioned her decisions. People, especially men, did not make her uncomfortable. She felt momentarily disappointed in herself. I’m really letting this guy get under my skin, she thought.

  “Listen, I really do want to do something. I can have Tom cancel the payment if you want. But I wish you would accept it. Really, it’s my pleasure.”

  He shook his head. She was determined to right the situation. Suddenly, an idea came to her. Impulsively, she blurted her words out at him.

  “Shane, let’s make a deal. Have you ever worked as a bodyguard?” He tilted his head to the side; his gorgeous face looking puzzled.

  “I need a personal bodyguard. You keep the money but consider it a signing bonus. Tom insists that I hire someone for protection and I can’t think of a better candidate. You’ve already proven yourself in the field,” the thought of Shane Castle protecting her made her feel safe. “Please,” she added.

  He looked down at his coffee and considered for a moment, then he looked up at Elizabeth. His eyes fixed on hers and her cheeks began to blush again. He felt drawn to her. He didn’t understand why, but also felt the need to protect her.

  “Yes, it’s a deal. I will be your bodyguard.”

  ***

  Tom was pacing back and forth across the office furious, but not saying a word. Elizabeth had rarely seen Tom worked up like this. He was almost angry AT her; she could tell he was trying to hold back. But Tom was nothing if not professional, he would never disrespect Elizabeth.

  “Of course, ultimately this is your decision. But we don’t know this guy, how can we trust him with your safety. He isn’t experienced and there are plenty of highly qualified candidates. I’m just wondering if your judgement...”

  “Stop there,” Elizabeth cut him off mid-sentence. “Let’s not say something we’ll regret. You’ve never questioned my judgement before, let’s not start now.” She straightened all the pages in front of her
absentmindedly as she spoke.

  “I like him, Tom. He makes me feel comfortable. Besides, I want to get back to work as soon as possible; this saves time and effort. No interviews.” Tom flopped into his chair and sighed.

  “Okay, you’re right about that,” he admitted quietly.

  “Yes, I know. Let’s go.” She smiled, and picked up her briefcase from the desk and started for the door.

  They looked like an owner and her pet dog as they made their way down the corridor. Strong willed Elizabeth with sulking Tom beside her. Shane stood up from the sofa and adjusted his jacket when he saw them approach. Although he wasn’t happy about the decision, Tom had already arranged for Shane to be outfitted appropriately for the position with a crisp white shirt, a silk tie, and tailored, black Armani suit that fit like a glove over his athletic body. He reached up and fiddled with the tie, clearly uncomfortable. Looks like the tables have turned, she thought, someone is uncomfortable in a suit.