Secrets, Lies and Deception

by Shaw, Vicki

  Hey girl,

  I hope you had a good sleep after you went back to sleep. I should be home about 6 pm. Make yourself at home. If you need anything just give me a call but I am sure there is everything you need, you may just have to find it. Have a good day and try to relax a bit.

  Love ya C xox.

  I put the note down on the counter and go in search of something to have for breakfast. Well brunch, it is already 10 am. I walk over to the fridge and open the door. She was not joking when she said everything I could need would be here somewhere. I pull out some bacon, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms. It takes a couple of times opening cupboards to find a chopping block, knife and pot to start cooking. I chop everything up and put it in the pot, but you cannot cook without music, so I go in search of a radio or a sound system. I finally find it in the sitting room. Quickly grabbing the remote, I turn it on. One of Carly’s and my favourite songs starts to blare out of the speakers that I can see. I am hoping I can hear it out back in the kitchen, but I should have known there would be hidden speakers in here as well. I turn the stove on and start cooking, dancing and singing into the wooden spoon in my hand. I put some bread in the toaster and wait for it to cook. By the time, the toast pops up the rest is ready. I dish it up and walk out to the back porch to enjoy the sunshine.

  I just finish putting my plate and the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher when I hear my phone ringing. It stops before I could get to it. I wait to see if whoever rang left a message while I turn the music down. The message tone sounds. I get my phone out of my handbag that I left on the coffee table last night when I walked in. I look at the screen, and there are five missed calls from a number I do not know. I look at the times of the calls and thy started at 8 am this morning. I dial my message bank and listen to the first message.

  ‘Miss Wilson, My name is Aaron Miller, and I have a very urgent matter that I need to discuss with you. Could you please ring me back on this number as soon as you can? I will wait for your call.’

  I have no idea who Aaron Miller is or why he is calling me. Listen to the next four messages that are all from him saying the same kind of thing. I delete all the messages and with a sigh ring the number, he left. It answers on the second ring.

  “Aaron Miller”.

  “Hi, Mr. Miller it’s Roxie Wilson, you left a number of messages for me to ring you back.”

  “Ah. Yes, Miss Wilson I am so glad you called me back so fast. I need to talk to you about some matters regarding your father’s death.” I feel all the blood rush from my face as I sink to one of the chairs in the sitting room. A thousand thoughts are rushing through my head all at once. He died of Chronic Airways Disease, there cannot be anything more to it than that. “Miss Wilson are you still there?”

  “Yes, sorry, I just don’t know what this could be about he died of CAD so that should be the end of the story.”

  “I am so sorry Miss Wilson I can hear I have upset you and that is the last thing I wanted to do. It is about his payout he received when he first got ill.”

  “I’m sorry I still don’t understand do I have to give it all back?” By this stage, I am shaking all over.

  “No Miss Wilson quite the opposite. You could go for more because as part of the original settlement if your father died before he turned 65 his family could go for more. As you are the only living relative, it would all go to you. Look, I know this is not easy to take in right now. I would like to set up a meeting with you as soon as possible to get things started. Are you free tomorrow to come and meet me in my office?” Shaking my head to try to clear it and take in what I have just been told.

  “Sorry, Mr. Miller but I no longer live there. I am staying with a friend in Brisbane for the foreseeable future, and I don’t know when I will be back in town.”

  “Ok well if its ok with you I will meet you there I have a friend who has a firm in the city, and I’m sure he will let us use one of his offices. I will get back to you when I have all the details together.” I agree than hang up the phone. What the hell just happened? The last thing I want is to have to think about Dad’s illness and death all over again. If this is true then why didn’t I know about it when the original claim went through after all, I was there in all the meetings?

  Walking back to the kitchen, I try to put it out of my head. I know just the thing to do to try to forget about the phone call. I walk to the pantry and open the doors. It is like another room just on its own. I look around and see what kind of treats I can cook for when Carly gets home. I might even whip something up for dinner.

  Before I know it, it is already 5 pm. I have cooked jam drop biscuits, devil chocolate cupcakes and red velvet cake. Looking at the counter tops, I wonder how Carly and I are ever going to eat all of these delicious treats. She will just have to take them to work with her and share them with her co-workers. I would hate to see them go to waste.

  Now what to do for dinner? I dive back into the pantry to see what is there then look to see what meat there is. I get myself a cold drink and sit down at the breakfast bar to think about what to cook. I know Carly loves a roast, but it is too late to cook that, maybe I can cook her that tomorrow night. It is the least I can do for her for letting me stay with her. I walk back over to the fridge and open it. There is a lovely piece of salmon sitting there looking at me. With my mind made up with what I am going to cook us for dinner, I go back upstairs to have a look around up there.

  As you step off the last stair, you are walking into another sitting room if you walk straight ahead you walk into the office/library. The walls are lined with all kinds of books. I have a quick look at some of the titles and cannot wait to start reading some. There is an old wooden desk with a laptop computer sitting in front of the office chair. Behind the desk is a huge window overlooking the yard and pool. The yard is not a normal size it is more like an estate with a water fountain in the middle. Walking back out the office door to the right is the master bedroom that takes up the whole end of the house. It has a sitting room, bathroom and dressing room. The other bedrooms all have bathrooms a well. There is even a game room. I glance at my watch and see its 5.30 pm. If I want to have dinner ready for when Carly gets home, I better hurry and have a quick shower.

  I am running back downstairs when I hear my phone ringing. I quickly answer it not even looking at who the caller is.

  “Hello,” I say out of breath.

  “Hey, Roxie it’s me. How has your day been?”

  “It hasn’t been too bad” I puff into the phone.

  “Are you ok? You sound out of breath, and if I didn’t know better, I would say I interrupted you having sex.” With a laugh I answer

  “Yeah right and who would I be having sex with? I left Mr. V at home in my drawer next to the bed.” I can hear Carly trying to control her laughter.

  “Ok, ok enough, you’re going to kill me. I will be home soon. What do you want for dinner? I’ll pick something up on my way.” As I wipe away the last of the tears from laughing so hard, I finally reply

  “Nothing I’m cooking.”

  “Aw ok, but my boss is coming over so we can finish off some work.”

  “I can’t wait to meet him and there is plenty for one more,” I say. “Ok, only if you’re sure you don’t mind cooking.”

  “I’m sure. Now get off the phone so I can start dinner or we will be eating at midnight.” I say as I hit the end button.

  After pouring myself a glass of white wine, I make a start on dinner. I have decided to cook poached salmon, tangy tomato salsa, tossed garden salad and potato and pumpkin crisps. I turn the tunes up again and get lost in cooking. It always takes my mind off my problems. I am singing on the top of my lungs and dancing over to the oven to check on the salmon. When I turn around, I stop dead in my tracks. Carly and who I guess is her boss are standing there. Carly is pissing herself laughing, and her boss has the biggest grin on his face. I feel my face turn bright red as I grab for the remote to turn the music down. Carly finally has control ov
er her laughter and introduces me to the man standing next to her.

  “Roxie this is Max Hall, my boss. Max this is Roxie, my sister. Well not my blood sister, but my sister all the same.” I have to pick my chin up off the floor before I can say anything.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Hall.” I extend my hand out to shake his. He takes it and softly and replies.

  “I’m pleased to meet you to Miss Wilson. Please call me Max. Carly has told me so much about you. I’m so sorry for your loss.” I’m at a loss as to what to say back because Carly hasn’t told me anything about her smokin’ hot boss.

  He is about 6’2 tall, with wide shoulders and slim waist. His eyes are the greenest green you have ever seen. I do not know what it is, but something just does not feel right about Max.

  “Would you like some wine? And please call me Roxie.” I offer as I turn to get another two glasses out of the cabinet behind me. As I turn back to them, Max has come around the counter and is opening the second draw. I notice he has a bottle of bubbly in his hand. I shot Carly a look with my eyebrow up saying “what the fuck” she just shrugs and mouths

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  We are sitting at the dining room table that feels like a little bit of overkill with the size of it. Carly and Max try and keep the conversation light, but I get the feeling they cannot wait to be alone together to “work”. After we have finished dinner, I ask if they would like a desert giving them the choices of all the things I cooked today. “You have been busy today.”

  “Well, after I got off the phone to Mr. Miller I needed something to take my mind off it, so I cooked.” Carly just looked at me with a blank look on her face.

  “Who is Mr. Miller and why was he calling you?” Carly asked looking confused. I walk over to the kitchen to start getting everyone's desert and with a shrug; I explain the rest of what the phone call was about. “So when is this meeting going to happen?” Carly asks.

  “I don’t know yet and, to be honest, I don’t even know if I want to go.”

  “What! You have to go” Carly exclaims and Max is in total agreement. “If you want me to come with you I’m sure my boss would understand if I took a couple hours off, so I can go with you,” She says while looking hopeful at Max.

  “Yes, of course, you can have the time off just let me know when it is so we can rearrange any meetings for that time.” I smile at Max and say thank you. Max takes his first spoonful of the red velvet cake and moans.

  “This is amazing and I thought dinner was great. However, dessert is better than the caterers cooking. If you ever want a job cooking for our business meeting just let me know.” He says as he is waving his spoon around. With a grin I reply

  “I’ll keep it in mind, but I’m not planning to stay for the long-term. This is just a pit stop while I make plans of where I’m off to next.”

  “I’m sure Carly has told you; you can stay here as long as you need to.”

  “Yes, she did. Thank you so much. It means the world to me to be able to stay here with her so we can spend some time together.”

  “You’re welcome. Carly is one of our top employees. We like to keep her happy” I notice the look that passes between them as he is talking. “I think I’m going to grab a book out of the library and read in bed for a while. It was nice to meet you, Max.”

  “It was nice to meet you to Roxie. I’m sure we will see more of each other.” I walk over, give Carly a quick hug, and whisper in her ear

  “We need to talk about you keeping things from me.” With that, I say goodnight and walk up to my room.

  I get changed into my cami and shorts and jump into bed. I settle down to read the book that I got from the library on my way to my room. It is only a light romance, but I am hoping it is enough to keep my mind replaying the phone call I received today. Only a few pages in it is not working, every few lines I have to reread it. I put it aside on my bedside table and turn off the lamp. I toss and turn for what feels like forever, but I finally fall asleep.

  TWO

  Roxie

  The next few days pass with reading and me cooking. My favourite place to read is in the downstairs sitting room. I was right about the lounges. You do not sit on them you sit in them. I have fallen asleep a few times on them now because they are just so comfy. This is where I am when my phone rings. The number is not familiar.

  “Hello.”

  “Ah, Miss Wilson I’m glad I court you. Sorry for the late notice but I will be in town later today. Is there any chance you could meet me at around 4 o’clock?” As soon as I heard his voice, I knew it was Mr. Miller. He sounds like an older gentleman with a friendly voice.

  “Good morning, Mr. Miller. That should not be a problem.” I say as I am looking around for a pen and paper. He gives me the address and all the details I need to know while I am writing it all down. I will have to put the address in my GPS so I don’t get lost. I'm not used to driving in heavy traffic so the drive will be slow. I thank him and hang up. I ring Carly to see if she will be able to come with me. A secretary answers her phone and informs me Carly will be in a very important meeting until after six tonight and she could not get a message to her until after it is finished. Damn, I forgot she had this big meeting today. She did tell me last night while we were eating dinner. I guess I will just have to go by myself.

  I grab my bag off the sideboard. I am walking towards the door looking in my bag checking that I have everything when there is a knock on the door. Still looking in my bag I do not see who is standing on the other side and open the door.

  “What are you doing here? And how did you know where I was.” I say as I walk past not even bothering to stop.

  “Roxie we need to talk. You just left without even saying goodbye.”

  “I don’t have time for this now Steve. I have a meeting I have to get to.” I say while still looking in my bag for my car keys. Remembering I left them on the kitchen counter.

  “Damn it. I’m never going to get there at this rate.” I mumble under my breath.

  “Where are you going? I’ll drive you there, and we can talk on the way.” I stop and look at Steve.

  “No, it’s fine I will drive myself. You didn’t want to go to a meeting regarding Dad while he was alive, why would you bother now.” I say as I give him a hard look and push past him. He grabs my arm and turns me around.

  “Why do you have a meeting about your Dad? I thought everything was settled.”

  “Yeah, well, so did I, until I got a phone call on Monday.”

  “Come on just let me drive you, please.” He is looking at me with hopeful eyes.

  “Fine” I pull my arm out of his hold and match down to his car. He follows me and opens my door. I get in the car and fold my arms over my chest with a huff. He climbs in behind the wheel and looks at me.

  “You are so sexy when you’re mad and pout like that,” He says with a smirk on his face. I do not even bother with a response. I just shoot him a death look. He puts his arms up in front of him in a; I surrender way and chuckles. Man, he makes me mad, but that chuckle and smirk are damn sexy as hell.

  We pull out of our parking spot and head towards the address. As he is concentrating on the road, it gives me a chance to study him. His hair is jet black and curls just above the collar of his suit. I remember how soft it is when I ran my fingers through it. His eyes are a soft blue, like the mid-day sky in the middle of summer. I always thought his nose was too straight for a male but on his face it somehow adds to his good looks. From his nose, my eyes travel down to his lips. They are not too big and not too small, they have just enough fullness to them to add to his good looks. He knows how to use them and his tongue in just the right way. Still travelling down I take in his thick neck and strong shoulders.

  “Like what you see?” He says as he glances over at me. I feel my face flush.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask as if I do not know what he means.

  “I saw you checking me out.”

>   “I was not.”

  “Whatever.” He has the biggest smirk on his face. I just shake my head and look out the front window annoyed that he caught me.

  When we arrive, my heart starts to beat a hundred miles an hour. I do not know why I am so nervous. I look up at the tall glass building in front of me. We walk in and make our way to the front desk.

  “Hi, I have a meeting with Mr. Miller.”

  “What’s your name?” The woman behind the desk asks.

  “Roxie Wilson.”

  “Yes Miss Wilson, if you just make your way over to the lifts, go up to the 12th floor and turn right. You are in meeting room 6.”

  Steve and I make our way over to the lifts and as we arrive the door open Steve puts his hand on the small of my back as we walk in. He hits the button for the 12th floor. I start taking deep breaths to try to settle the nerves that are getting worse with every floor we pass. Sensing my nervousness Steve grabs my hand a gives it a reassuring squeeze. I look up and give him a small smile. We arrive on the 12th floor, step out of the lift, and turn right. Behind thick double glass doors that say BOLT enterprises is a desk with a gorgeous young woman sitting behind it. I stop before we reach the glass doors. Steve stumbles over me.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks with a concerned look on his face.

  “This can’t be right; this is the company that owns the business where Dad used to work. Why would the meeting be here?” I just cannot process why Mr. Miller would set up the meeting here. He would know these are the people that Dad had to fight tooth and nail to get the little he did out of them. There was only enough to pay for his medical bills and living expenses while he was sick.

  “I don’t know but let’s go and find out.” Steve puts his hand back on the small of my back and opens the door for me. He steers me over to the desk.