“How can I pay you back?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s stubborn too.
“Umm…” I paused, as nothing came to mind. She looked up to the grey sky exasperated.
“Then no, Luc, let’s go to lunch, I’ll manage.” She turned around and began to wobble back to the car.
I took a few steps to catch up to her and took her by the arm. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?” I chided her and she looked a little taken aback. “I have a lot of money, these shoes won’t even poke a dent in my wallet. How about we find a way for you to pay me back?” The second the words left my mouth I realized it sounded sleazy. Her face contorted with disgust.
I raised both hands in the air releasing her arm. “That is completely not what I meant and you know it, I told you I don’t have intercourse with women.”
“Are you into some kinky shit then?” she asked with the same tough demeanor.
“I am not. I used to like regular foreplay and fucking. I’m just not that guy anymore…” I trailed off. I haven’t been this honest with a woman in I don’t know how long, maybe never, it felt good.
Her face flushed pink at the mention of foreplay and fucking and I would be damned if she didn’t looked turned on. The truth is so am I. “Look, I was going to eat on my own, I’m used to doing that but the truth is I enjoy your company, so let me buy you a pair of shoes and we can enjoy some good conversation, that’s all… besides I am now starving, so you would be doing me a favor by choosing something quickly so we can get to the restaurant.” I said, expressing a reasonable line of logic that I hoped she would accept.
“Okay,” she relented quietly. I finally pulled the door to the Jimmy Choo store open and Vicky walked in front of me. The air was cool and the store was modern and beautiful. “Just pick what you want.” I waved my hand to a vast wall covered in shoes. Her eyes went wide like a little girl at Christmas and a real smile broke on her lips. I couldn’t look away. I was in awe, making her happy felt too good. She walked over to a pair of high heel shoes with laces. A moment later, a salesperson had brought them out in her size and my cock went hard watching her walk back and forth in them, so I remained seated trying to pull myself together.
“Are these good?” I asked with a wicked grin.
“Yeah, they are so comfortable for a pair of four inch heels. What’s with the smile?” she asked and her cheeks flushed.
“Those are seriously hot,” I responded and her cheeks flushed even more.
“But this is too much, Luc… they are five hundred dollars,” she sighed.
“We’ve discussed this and you agreed. You should stick to your word. I will go pay,” I said, standing up from the chair. I handed the saleswoman my Visa and she put the sale through. Minutes later we were leaving the shoe store and I was feeling different. I can’t explain it. I‘ve met lots of hot women in this city that were beautiful, but then they came off as too opportunistic given my position and money or they had the emotional capacity of a baboon. Vicky was different; she really was a wild card.
As we made our way back to the SUV, she walked in front of me swaying her slender hips. Her legs looked even more toned in these shoes and I muttered under my breath. “Those are a serious pair of fuck me shoes right there.” By the time we had entered the SUV, I’d imagined fucking her seven ways from Sunday. Damn this girl was undoing me.
***
Moments later we were seated at a table for two in a quiet corner of La Roche, a fancy French restaurant. After arguing with Vicky about paying for lunch for over ten minutes she conceded and allowed me to order what I thought she would like. She mentioned being Italian, which means she liked meat as much as I do. She was so petite though without an ounce of fat on her. I wondered if she eats anything at all.
“So what brings you to New York?” I asked, hoping to break the ice a bit and find out a little about her.
“I’m on vacation,” she replied not removing her gaze from my eyes. That was definitely a lie.
“Why are you in New York?” she asked in return with a playful tone. With our eyes still locked on one another, I could feel my cock hardening in my pants. Luckily, I was seated at the table with a tablecloth to cover me. I definitely became horny over the past two years but it was nothing I couldn’t relieve with a little rub of my hand, but now sitting here across from her made me think of how deeply I could penetrate her.
“Honestly?” I asked, lifting both of my brows in challenge.
She nodded as if it was obvious. “Don’t give me that look, Vicky, your answer wasn’t honest at all.” My straightforward answer threw her for a loop and her eyes widened.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” she paused unable to find the words.
“It’s okay, I don’t mean to come off too strong. Look, I’m clearly attracted to you. I wasn’t lying the other night when I said I don’t have sex. I really don’t. The reason I am in New York is that my father is a mob boss…” I paused gauging her reaction. She burst into a fit of laughter.
“That’s a good one, I haven’t heard that one before.”
“I’m serious,” I replied solemnly. Her demeanor changed and her eyes went round and soft.
“My father groomed me to take over the family business but I wanted out. My family disowned me and I came to New York to start a new life. So there you have it. Now, how about you come clean and tell me the real reason you look so lonely all the time.” I know I may have pushed her a little too hard and her responses had been anything but predictable, but I needed to know.
“Wow, your family is mafia, eh?” she nodded her head in disbelief, but she didn’t answer my question.
“Yeah.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “They are trouble, its another reason I don’t get involved in relationships, love is weakness,” I replied.
“Yes, love is weakness,” she repeated, throwing me off.
“Tell me more,” I urged her to speak.
“What do you want to know, Luc? My mama died of cancer two years ago and my father became an alcoholic. My brother took off to who knows where, and oh yeah, the week I found out my mother was dying, I also found my boyfriend of four years fucking another girl. The reason I look lonely is because I am.” Initially her words came out bitter and harsh, but by the time she told me about the boyfriend, her tone had lost its bite. I felt guilty that I urged her to divulge because it was clearly painful for her. We clearly shared the feeling of being deceived by a loved one. Despite all the lies I told my ex-wife, she was also less than honest when she didn’t reveal the reason she didn’t do relationships. It was because she gave her heart to a boy when she was only a girl. Betrayal stings, that’s for sure.
“I’m sorry, I should have never forced you to admit that.”
“Why? You were right, I was lying and it wasn’t fair. You have been open and honest with me since the moment we met.”
“I’ve learned that secrets can be dangerous, but I am a dangerous man too, Vicky. I need you to know that. It’s the reason I was being honest with you.”
“Is that what you tell all your dates?” she chuckled with disbelief as she shook her head. I was surprised she was still seated at this table with me. She was a smart woman I could tell.
“No, you are actually the first. I’m not going to lie, I feel something for you and it is scaring the shit out of me right now. The reason I am being honest with you is so we can have lunch and then you can be on your way. I need to scare you off, I am a monster, trust me.”
“Holy shit, what does that mean? You said the same thing last night. You are clearly not a monster if you left your family and started a legitimate life. The pieces don’t fall into place, Luc. What aren’t you telling me?” she asked throwing me off again. I knew this girl was sharp but not this sharp.
I was speechless. The waitress came by with our food and we ate silently for the rest of the meal. When we were done, she looked at me for a few moments but didn’t speak. The air around us remained tense an
d uncomfortable to say the least.
“You don’t need to worry, Luc, like I said I’m not looking for a relationship at all. I don’t want love. Anyways, even if I did, your story about your family doesn’t scare me,” she looked directly at me challenging me.
“Why doesn’t it scare you? It should,” I paused assessing her. This girl was a walking contradiction. She came across strong but her insides were broken. Her eyes were soft but her body language was sure and confident. “Do you have a death wish or something?” I asked, tilting my head, assessing her. I asked her that question in the car and some weird emotion came across her face, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. This girl was a mystery to me. The minute I asked the question again, my memory of the way she fought off her attacker flood my mind. She was more than confident. She came to a sex party in a new city on her own. She was going to take a bus in the middle of the night dressed like a prostitute. She isn’t scared when I tell her I am a monster or that my family is mafia. The revelation hits me and I blink, my stomach falling out from under me. This girl doesn’t want to live. I’m saddened because there is something so perfect and pure about the broken mess that is Vicky Molino.
My chest constricted but I wasn’t nervous. It’s almost as if my heart had come alive again. I realized that I want to understand her pain. The revelation hit me hard. This contradiction of a woman sitting across from me was making me want, making me hope.
“Hey, what’s up with the staring? You’re freaking me out.” She leaned forward across the table and waved her hand in my face, pulling me out of my daze. I blinked again.
“Are you going to answer my question?” I asked her with a hint of challenge in my tone.
She was quiet for a moment and wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning back on her chair. She wasn’t shying away from the question though she gave me attitude. Like how dare I ask such a question?
“Is that what you are used to, Luc? You tell girls that you are all badass and they go running?” she snapped back. I inwardly chuckled not wanting to offend her, but honestly her feistiness was too cute.
“Not exactly, Vicky. Back home the girls knew who I was. They knew my family was dangerous but very wealthy. Those types of girls used to hang around me and not run because they were the type only interested in money, and trust me when I say, I had a very large following. The thing is, Vicky, my gut tells me that you aren’t some slut trying to score herself a rich guy to take care of her…” I continued. Her lips turned down. Did I hit a soft spot? Maybe. “I think you’re smart, educated, and can take care of yourself, which leaves me wondering why you are putting up this tough facade of 'I don’t give a shit and nothing scares me.'”
I end my assessment and she picked up her purse from the floor and began to get up from her seat. Shit! What’s wrong with me? Yes, I was trying to scare her away, but I invited her to lunch and I was being an asshole. “Vicky, I’m so sorry.” I stood up from my chair and placed my hand softly on her arm. “Please sit down, have a latte. I really am sorry I don’t know why I am coming off so strong. As you can see, I didn’t lie the other night when I said I hadn’t been with a woman in two years. I clearly need to brush up on my manners. You are my lunch guest and I treated you badly. Let me make it up to you. Stay…no more questions,” I said exhaling. My earlier need to protect myself from falling for this girl made me behave badly. I wanted to show her that I’m not that guy, I’m not an asshole.
She looked unsure of whether to stay and as she stared into my eyes. I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. Damn, I was practically begging. Her defensive demeanor lightened and I’m relieved when she takes her seat again. The waitress came by and I ordered two lattes.
“Why, Luc?” she asked with a pained expression throwing me off.
“Why what?” I ask, confused.
“Why haven’t you slept with a woman in two years?” she asks. I guess I set myself up for this.
“Honestly, Vicky, and I don’t know why I am being so open with you. Let me get this out that I have never been this open with a woman before, but I will consider it part of my personal growth…” I mumbled. Clearly my psycho analyzing babble bored her. Only when I look up to her eyes, she was watching me intently. “I’m boring you?”
“No.” She shook her head… “Go on.”
“Have you ever met a person and just by looking in their eyes you feel like you can almost see through them or that they can see through you?” I asked, inwardly cringing. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. What happened to the badass mobster that took what he wanted and didn’t ask questions, didn’t consider the consequences?
“Luc, we aren’t doing this, I’m sorry…can’t we drink our lattes and discuss the weather?” She grinned looking uncomfortable. “It doesn’t matter what it is you are feeling when you look at me or I look at you,” she drawled.
“You feel something when you look at me?” I ask surprised.
She flinched. “That’s not what I meant. This is just lunch. We are two adults trying to make light conversation unsuccessfully, but we are still trying. I don’t do relationships. You are right. I was in university, I was working on my electrical engineering degree, but I never finished it. I like to be independent and I definitely don’t need some rich guy to take care of me. Besides, there are no happily ever afters…” she paused to take a small sip of her latte. Huh! This must be the damage her boyfriend caused.
My eyes are glued to this wonder before me. I don’t know what it is. I’m the epitome of evil. I’ve done bad things that I feel remorse over, but my remorse doesn’t change anything. I live my life haunted by a dark past. Vicky was just a girl. She must be at least seven or eight years younger than me. She looks like she’s barely had a chance to live, let alone mess up. Whatever happened to her must have been bad but she is good. I am not and I needed to remember that.
“I’m sorry to hear such a young person as yourself having such a grim outlook on life,” I smiled sadly. She gave me a small smile laced with guilt. I wondered what the guilt was about? Then I inwardly kick myself because I needed to stop wondering about her.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. Bryce’s name lit up the screen. “Hello.” Bryce is usually quick and to the point. I don’t do too much talking. He’d asked me to set up an internship for the girl that was in his office this morning. Little did he know that the girl was sitting across from me at lunch. Many students have applied for an internship at Tyson Global but very few get in. How is it that this fake magazine reporter has got herself inside Tyson so quickly? I was groomed to look at all aspects of a situation and be suspicious all the time. Suddenly, I was suspicious of Vicky Molino and her intentions. Yes, she was strikingly beautiful and perfect, but after defecting from the family business I’ve had to look over my shoulder every step of the way. As Vicky looked out the restaurant window watching people walk by, I closed my conversation with Bryce. He said he would be calling her tomorrow with his proposal.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“That was Bryce. He just informed me that he wants to offer you an internship.” I tilt my head assessing her. I didn’t understand why Bryce would do that.
“Oh,” her head flinched back. She seemed just as shocked as I was.
“Why does Bryce want to do that?” I asked, suspicion in my tone. I know it was an invasive question but I couldn’t help it. It’s something that had been ingrained in me.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged with nonchalance. I didn’t buy it but I figured I had pressed her enough so I let it be.
“I enjoyed lunch but I have to get back to the office,” I said, looking at the time on my phone. I would have loved to spend more time with her, but I had an important project to attend to.
“Yeah, of course,” she said placing her latte back on the saucer.
“Where are you headed? I can ask my driver to take you, once he drops me off. I’m sorry but I do have to get back to work.”
“No worries, I’m
fine. I will find my way,” she waved me off.
“Vicky, please let Jean, my driver, take you where you need to go,” I insisted.
“Sure, I guess back to the motel. I wouldn’t mind changing into something more comfortable before venturing around the streets of New York.”
“You’re still at that motel?” I snapped with disgust in my tone. Shit! I offended her again. “I’m sorry it’s just…”
She cut me off. “Don’t apologize I know it’s gross and decrepit. Trust me, I am not used to staying in places like that, but I have a budget here in New York,” she explained looking a little ashamed.
“You don’t need to explain yourself, I’m just worried about you staying in such a place,” I said as I got up from my chair. She stood as well and we both headed to the restaurant exit. I placed my hand on the small of her back guiding her out. Touching her felt natural and I wanted more of her. I haven’t wanted more since I was back in Canada. As I thought of Canada I was reminded why I don’t sleep with women and I removed my hand from her back. She almost looked as disappointed as me by the loss of touch. Oh, Vicky, even if I wanted something with you, I would end up disappointing you and hurting you. My haunted revelations taunted me over and over again as we made our way to the car.
The drive back to Tyson was once again quiet as she sat on the far end of the seat looking out the window. What a messed up date. First I tried to get in her head and came off too strong. The next minute I was envisioning shoving my tongue in her mouth and licking her creamy white neck and now things were just awkward. The SUV stopped in front of Tyson.
“Stay safe, Vicky. Jean will take you where you need to go,” I smiled sadly.
“Sure, thanks for the shoes,” she said lifting one leg in the air showing me her fuck me shoes and her sexy muscular leg. “And for lunch,” she smiled lightly.
“Anytime,” I muttered. “Bye, Vicky.”
“Bye, Luc,” she replied.
Wild Cards Page 8
