Sweetness

by S Gonzalez

  Tuff shit. I am not backing down. He doesn’t get to call the shots until Monday, so tonight I will wear what I like. Willing my backbone to straighten out, I take a deep breath and turn toward Gabe. “I don’t officially start my new job until Monday, so tonight I am not the bosses daughter. I am a spectator watching her new favorite band.”

  “If you say so, Miss Hill. But I will warn you, this event is getting a lot of press and if you’re photographed, there is a good chance you will be recognized, as, Emma Hill, employee of HMA and daughter of owner Martin Hill. But if that is how you wish to portray self this early in the game, then there is not much I can do to stop you.”

  His head games will not work. I will not bend to his will. He’s slick but I am not budging. I am wearing this dress and I look good in it. He will not convince me otherwise.

  “Yes, Mr. Hernandez, I say so. Also call me Emma. You make me feel old when you call me, Miss Hill.” I turn to Luke. “Will you be driving us?”

  “Yes, Emma. Cars out front.” Luke walks around the desk and holds the front door open for Gabe and I. He opens the door to the limo and we both climb in silently. I really don’t want to sit next to Gabe so I sit on the bench seat opposite the bar, tugging on my hemline in a failed act of modesty. He sits on the back seat between the two doors, purposely not looking at me. I fidget with my fingers in my lap and toy with my black leather wristlet. The car is uncomfortably silent except for the tick of his watch and the bustle of traffic outside the car.

  “If you really don’t want me to work with you I will tell my father to put me elsewhere. I had no intention on being an intern for the Assistant CEO.” I break the ice without looking up.

  “If that is what you want, Emma. I am sure you can convince your father to change his mind. You strike me as a very persuasive girl.”

  Jesus. I was trying to be nice here. What the hell is his problem?

  “It is obvious you don’t like me, Mr. Hernandezcan I call you Gabe?”

  “I prefer you didn’t. I like my employees to call me Mr. Hernandez. I am not your friend, I am your boss. It is not that I don’t like you, Emma. I don’t know you. I do however not approve of the behavior I have seen thus far. You are a reflection on the company and in turn a reflection on me, not to mention your father. Making out in elevators, answering doors to strangers while wearing nothing but a bikini, and looking like-,” He regards at me up and down, “you just climbed out of a 1980’s rock video, is not something I would tolerate from any other employee. This is an event that HMA is hosting and like it or not, you are expected to act the part”

  “I am not some spoiled kid.” I hiss. “I will work very hard for you and my father. I didn’t even know about HMA hosting the event until yesterday, so let’s both pretend I still don’t. I will enjoy my last night with Dominic before he leaves on tour. Then Monday, I will show you what I am capable of.”

  “Do what you want, Emma. You have made it clear you will anyway, so I won’t waste my breath any more.” He looks deep in thought while he watches the city pass by. I catch him stealing glances in my direction through the reflection in the window. Its weird but I can feel his eyes on me every time without even looking.

  When we arrive at the club, the front door is alive with lights and photographers while fans are screaming to get in. Gabe tells me to stay put then instructs Luke to take me to the rear entrance. Luke nods and calls the security guard posted in the rear. I watch Gabe smile and pose for pictures in front of the step and repeat, while Luke fights the traffic at the front of the building. His shitty attitude toward me is replaced with a brilliant smile while he works the crowd. Talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  Luke turns down the ally to the rear of the building. There is a large security guard posted outside waiting for me.

  “I’ll see you later. Mr. Hernandez will contact me with a pickup time,” Luke mutters.

  “That’s great but I am not going back with him. I will find my own ride,” I give him a wink before I scurry towards the club.

  I walk in the building to find it bustling with excitement. There is equipment being moved, loud noises coming from the front of the club, and people rushing by with headsets on. I look around for someone who may know where I can find Dominic, and find a young man digging through a drum case. After getting his attention he was more than happy to assist me. He points to a red door on the far side of the open area with the words “private” displayed in black lettering.

  Dodging cases and roadies along the way, I gently knock on the door. The guitarist, Justin, answers. Dressed in black jeans and a white t-shirt with, Lost, written on the front, Justin gives me a once over. “Girl, I don’t know who you are, but I am glad you’re here.” He says in an Aussie accent and flashes me a look like he wants to eat me.

  “Knock it off, dude. That ones mine,” says Dominic, as he steps away from the vanity.

  He is mouthwateringly sexy in black cargo pants and his t-shirt with no sleeves. Memories of what is underneath his clothes cause my dirty little mind to wander.

  “Emma, you don’t disappoint! You look-“ he leans in to whisper in my ear, “good enough to eat again. Right here, if I had it my way.”

  I make a full turn to display the entire package. “You like?”

  “Uh…,” someone clears their throat from the couch behind Dominic. He turns around and as I look past him all the blood drains from my face.

  Glen!

  What the hell is he doing here? Not again. Not again. This can’t be. This can’t be happening again. It’s like déjà vu. Glen can’t be here. I take a step back to put space between us before I slip into a panic attack in front of all these people. Without taking my eyes off of him I take another step back and stumble over the person behind me. Dominic’s arms reach for me and hold me steady.

  “Hello, little sister.”

  Dominic steadies me on my feet and shoots me a confused look. Looking between the two of them I feel like I am going to hurl all over he floor. The room grows silent. Prying eyes wait to see what is going on. I don’t know what Glen’s game is, but the outcome WILL be different this time. This time I will scream bloody murder if he so much as touches me.

  “Little sister?” Dominic is the first to break the silence. He glares back at Glen.

  Glen shrugs.

  I see Dominic working something out in his head. “Wait…the show in Jersey…you were the brother who took her out of the club? You never said anything to me about it,” he states dumbfounded.

  “Yup, she was underage, you jerk, and you were molesting her on stage. I was there with a bunch of my friends who were asking me why I was allowing my best friend to dry hump my sister in front of a room of people,” Glen said, punching him in the arm.

  “Yea, but you should have told me it was your sister. I wouldn’t have crossed that line had I have known.”

  “It’s done now. Besides, I put the fear of God in her that night. She was not going to do anything like that again any time soon, so there was no reason to make a big deal about it with you.” A smirk plays on Glens face and bile bubbles up in my throat.

  “How do you two know each other?” I ask Dominic. He pulls me closer to him by my waist. “And Glen, what the fuck are you doing here.” I make no attempt to hide my anger.

  He will not ruin my night. I will personally cut his balls off if he tries to mess with me. I have waited for years to reunite with Dominic, and if Glen even tries to pull anything I will take him down.

  “Glen and I went to high school together. The night he took you away,” Dominic peeks at Glen, “without telling me. I invited him and the rest of my friends to the show. I invited him tonight, too. It’s weird you guys are related and I didn’t know. You don’t have the same last name.”

  “Glen is my step-brother, not my brother,” I hiss, heated with anger. “If you’ll excuse me, I am going to find my friends.” I pull out of Dominic’s grip and step out of the room into the frantic back stage. I feel a
hand on my shoulder and immediately go into defense mode.

  “Get the fuck off-“, whipping myself around I see Dominic holding his hands up in defeat. “Sorry.”

  “Emma, what’s wrong. Why are you mad at me?” His eyes are searching mine for some sort of answer. I know this must be very confusing to him. If he has no idea that I am Glen’s step-sister, that means Glen wanted it that way.

  “Sorry, I am not mad at you. I don’t exactly get along with Glen and I don’t want to be anywhere near him. I am going to watch the show with my friend, Max. He is here somewhere. I will see you after. If you still want?” I tell him, defeated. I don’t want to leave but I can’t stay here with Glen looming around.

  “Of course I want to see you. Don’t go. Stay back here with me.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Glen approaching us.

  “Emma, I am going to find my table. I have a friend waiting on me. You stay back here with Dominic. You are his date and I’m intruding.” I narrow my eyes at him. He is not being sincere; he is trying to make me look like a fool. He always has this knack for fooling everyone around him into thinking he is this nice guy, but I know better. He is a sick, perverted, sonuvabitch.

  “Of course, Glen, you go find your date. She probably charges by the hour, so you should get your moneys worth,” I spit out.

  Filter, Hill, filter.

  Dominic snorts a laugh. Glen’s eyes are glowing with that merciless look of rage only I have ever seen. But immediately corrects himself when Dominic steps in front of me.

  “Dominic, call me from the road, dude. I will see you when you get back to town. Your car is safe with me.” They clasp hands and gave each other a half hug not releasing their grip, then slap each other on the back with their free hand.

  When they release, Glen looks over Dominic’s shoulder, “Emma, can I just speak with you for one sec.” I turn my head slightly with my eyes not leaving his. “Please. One second.” He puts his finger up.

  “Fine” I conceded. “Dominic, I will meet you back in your dressing room.”

  “Ok, Sweetness. Don’t be too long. I have to go on soon. Maser…I will see you later man. You two play nice,” he reprimands as he turns and walks away, disappearing into the chaos. We both make sure he’s out of earshot before looking back at each other.

  Glen steps closer so he can whisper, “Emma, Emma, Emma. I thought we agreed the last time this happened, when you embarrassed me in front of my friends while dressed like a slut, there will be

  consequences.”

  “Fuck you, scumbag.”

  “Tu..tu..tu..Princess.” He clicks with his tongue behind his teeth. “Perhaps I need to teach you how to act like a proper young lady again.” The hell he will. Glen has not touched me in over 4 years. He will never touch me again.

  I take a step back, smiling a toothy grin as if I am a crazy person. “Glen, you so much as look at me crooked and I will have your ass bounced right out of here. I am a friend of the owners, and my father’s company is hosting this event. You are on my turf, asshole.”

  “Princess, I do like it when you are feisty. Don’t forget, Emma, tit for tat. I warned you what would happen if I ever caught you with Dominic again. Nothings changed.”

  “You don’t scare me, Glen. And if you ever threaten me again they are going to find you in the bottom of the East River.”

  “I love it when you play hard to get.” Glen licks his lips like a lion ready to eat his prey.

  “I am warning you for the last time Glen, don’t ever threaten me. I am not a kid you can push around anymore. You can’t hurt me.” I say through gritted teeth as I turn back toward the dressing room.

  “We’ll see. Have a pleasant evening, Princess.” He yells in my direction, earning my middle finger to shoot up in the air without turning to look at him.

  I know he is pissed. It is a dangerous game I am playing, provoking him like I am. But I can’t let him get to me. He can’t have any power over me. I have worked so hard and fought so hard to be the woman I am. I can’t let him break me into the scared girl I once was.

  I knock on the dressing room door and Justin is on the other side. “Jailbait, you’re back.”

  “Uh, yeah. I guess I am.”

  “Good. I hope you got rid of Maser. Saves me the trouble.” He pops his head out of the door to look around.

  “Yeah, he’s gone. Sorry about that. Is Dominic still in here?”

  “Yup. He’s all yours, beautiful.” The room clears with a snap of Justin’s fingers before I enter. Dominic, sitting on a director’s chair facing the door, scans my body up and down.

  “Want to tell me what that was about?”

  “Not really. We don’t get along. He is a jerk and…I don’t want to talk about him.”

  “Good. I don’t want to talk about him either. He was just back here picking up the keys to my car. I am storing it behind his shop until I get back.”

  I walk over to Dominic and he opens his legs to grant me closer access. I lean in to run my nose up his neck and across his jaw before placing a small kiss on his cheek. Damn he smells good. If I could smell one thing for my entire life it would be him.

  “I do want to talk about you,” he murmurs, pulling my body closer so there is not even air between us. “I’m sorry I left before you woke up. You looked so peaceful sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “Its ok. I had a really nice time last night. I really liked the music. I have been humming it all day. Maybe once you put it to words you can send me a copy.”

  “Deal,” he says with a slight smile, like he is keeping a secret. “But for now I got to go on stage. I want you right off to the side. Just like old times.” He stands and runs his large hands down my bare arms before kissing me. “I like when you watch me. But do me a favor, don’t’ bend over. You look smoking hot, but I don’t want anyone else to see my girl’s ass. This dress is very short.”

  “Your girl? When did I become YOUR girl?” I say mockingly as I wrap my arms around his neck.

  “Last night.” I open my mouth to speak, and then close it when nothing comes out. He cuts me off by holding up his finger to my lips.

  “Calm down. I don’t expect you to be my girlfriend or anything I am just saying that tonight…you are my girl. I know I’m leaving tomorrow but I wish we could have more time together. For now, lets just enjoy each other.”

  “Fair enough. Are you ready or do you need a minute alone?”

  “I’m good. Lets go.” He grabs my hand and leads the way through the crowd never letting me trail too far behind.

  Off to the side of the stage, hidden by curtains, we watch the crowd chant for the band to make an appearance. The voices are loud and the entire scene is thumping with anticipation and excitement. The stage fills with smoke while the MC speaks. The lights glow through the fog of smoke and dart off the walls in all directions. The energy is electric. Just as the band is announced, Dominic kisses me and takes his rightful place on his pedestal. As he straps on his guitar our eyes lock one last time before he starts playing cords that would please the devil himself.

  After a few songs I see, Max, wondering around backstage, looking through a crowd of people. “Max.”

  He looks around searching for my voice in every direction. “Max over here!”

  I throw my arms in the air and wave them high. Max’s eyes bulge out of his head, probably because of the way I am dressed.

  “Emma? Emma Hill? You look hooooot!” Max rocks back on his feet, making a spinning motion with his finger, indicting he wants the full picture.

  I roll my eyes at his need for gawking. “Come on, come watch with me.”

  I grab his hand and we watch the four men on stage rock out in a mass of smoke and sweat. I notice Dominic glaring at me briefly between cords. Why? His eyes lock my hand, which is still locked with Max’s.

  “Tonight you are my girl.” His words replay in my head.

  I release Max’s hand and mouth ‘sorry’ to Dominic as he gla
nces in my direction again. His face is distorted in anger but he never falters playing the song.

  After the song ends Dominic takes determined strides in my direction. He takes off his shirt and kisses me hard, clearly staking his claim on me in front of Max. I hand him a bottle of water and roll my eyes. “Dominic, this is my friend, Max.”

  They shake hands before he takes a sip and I wipe the sweet off his face with his shirt. “Max, nice to meet you. Take care of my girl until I get back,” he tells more than asks.

  Dominic kisses my cheek and moves back toward the stage shirtless and shimmering with sweat from under the lights; like he has been dipped in silver glitter. When he grabs the mic stand I see a glimmer on his chest. As he turns to face Rocco, I see that the glittery objects are his nipple piercings.

  He did that for me?

  I lean into Max, more serious then I have been all night. “Glen’s here.”

  “What? What is he doing here?”

  “Get this. Him and Dominic went to high school together. The night Glen pulled me out of the club, five years ago; it was because their buddies were all there. When Dominic pulled me on stage, they were busting Glen’s chops about it. That’s why Glen got mad and made me leave with him. Dominic had no idea he was my stepbrother. He is here tonight picking up the keys to Dominic’s car, because Glen is storing it for him at the shop, while he is on the road.”

  “Wow. That’s seriously messed up. What did he say to you? Anything?”

  “Yup, I told him off. Then he asked to speak with me. Since people were all around, I agreed. He said since I embarrassed him and was dressed like a slut again; I needed to be taught a lesson. He alluded to the fact that he would teach me how to act like a proper young lady. Again.”

  “Where the fuck is he? I am going to kill him.” Max turns to walk away and I grab his arm. I really don’t want a scene tonight and I definitely don’t want any more questions being asked.

  “No, Max. Don’t. I told him if he threatened me again they would find him at the bottom of the East River,” I chuckle at the thought of Glens face when I said it. “He is not worth it. I am only telling you because I really pissed him off and since he can’t hurt me the way he wants to, I am sure he will find another way. His way may be by hurting you or Wanda to get to me. Please make sure she gets home safe tonight. Also, let her know he is lurking around. If he as much as looks at her the wrong way, have his sorry ass bounced out of here. ”