Out Of The Dark

by Arlene Gonzales

  ***

  I give the file a quick look-over to get familiar with the new client before I make the call. After reviewing it, reading everything I need to know about Mr. Allen or at least what we have in the file, I call Chris.

  “Hello?” His voice is smooth and deep.

  “Hello, Mr. Allen, my name is Alexis Moore. I’m Mr. Harlow’s assistant and would like to set up a meeting so we can discuss what we need to do for you.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Moore. Sure, what works for you?”

  “It’s Miss, and please, call me Alexis.”

  “Miss…hmmm, good to know. Okay, Alexis, you tell me when and where you want me.”

  His voice is silky smooth.

  “How about two o’clock this afternoon, here in my office?”

  “Okay, it’s a date. I’ll be there in your office at two.”

  “See you then, Mr. Allen.”

  “Please, Alexis, call me Chris.”

  “Sure thing. See you then, Chris.”

  We hang up and the rest of the morning goes by quickly. I call and leave a message for Brock Quincy to call me regarding the photoshoot for Chris. I also start looking into what radio stations Chris could make a guest appearance on. Right before lunchtime my office phone rings.

  “Yes, Kathy?”

  “There is a Brandy Galvan here to see you, Alexis.”

  “Send her in.”

  She knocks, then lets herself in. I’m actually glad to see her. She gives me a sad smile and takes me by surprise when she hugs me.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  There’s that question again! I chuckle, thinking, I really need to change that. “Oh yes, please don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Well, not really, but I’m trying. Your boss is hard to stop thinking about.”

  “If it helps, Aiden is a mess as well. He’s thinking of you and nothing else. He needs to get his head on straight, because tomorrow he has an interview on a talk show and I’m just worried he won’t go through with it.”

  “Have you had lunch yet? Maybe we can talk…” Why did I ask her to lunch? Is it because I want to find out about Aiden, or because I really think we could be good friends? Why can’t it be both? I notice the shopping bag in her hand. “So what’s in the bag?”

  “Oh! This is for you. Aiden wanted me to give it to you.”

  For a split second I think it’s a gift from him and smile. My smile quickly falls when she says, “It’s your purse. You left it in his room.”

  She notices how uncomfortable I am and says, “How about that lunch?”

  We go to a nearby café. As we sit and wait to order, I say, “Tell me about Aiden so I can try and understand why he is the way he is.”

  “What do you want to know, Lexie?”

  “Does he have any family here? How long has he lived in New York? Has he ever been serious with anybody or does he only do the causal thing?”

  Brandy giggles and puts up her hand. “Whoa, whoa. One question at a time, okay?”

  “Sorry, it’s just he is so complicated. I never know what he’s going to be like or what kind of mood he’s going to be in.”

  “I know, Lexie. It’s okay, but first let me ask you a question: do you care about him? I mean like really care about him, or do you just want to see what you can get out of being with someone like him?”

  I don’t even have to think about the answer, because without a shadow of a doubt I already know what I feel. But if I say it out loud, then there is no going back. “I care about him more than I’m willing to admit.”

  She looks at me, confused. “Why don’t you want to admit it?”

  “I’ve been through a lot in my life. If I admit how much I do think and care about him, I’m giving him the power to break me. I don’t think I can survive another heartache.”

  Giving me a reassuring smile, she reaches for my hand. “He has no family in New York, but he has a lot of family back in Italy, Tuscany to be exact. He’s lived here for about eight years. His family does visit him a lot, and he goes back home too. I have never known him to be in a serious relationship before you.”

  “But we are not in a serious relationship.”

  Leaning forward, she says, “Listen to me, Lexie. I have never seen him care about any woman the way he cares for you. I can see it in his eyes and the way he talks about you. He says you drive him crazy.”

  I can’t help but giggle and roll my eyes. “I drive him crazy? What about what he does to me? I never know if he is going to be romantic or angry. If he’s going to be loving or cold and distant.”

  “All I can tell you is to be patient with him. He’s a good man with a kind heart. It’s not my place to tell you his life story. He needs to be the one to give you the answers. Plus, I don’t really know about his personal issues. I know the basic family stuff, and I do know about his love life, because until you there was really no love life…only mindless dating. He would never date one woman for too long.”

  We finish up and say our goodbyes. I go back to my office. When I walk in, there is a big, beautiful bouquet of the red camellias. I don’t even have to read the card to know who they are from; they’re just like the ones he sent the first day we met.

  “When did these come, Kathy?”

  “While you were out to lunch.”

  I brace myself before opening the note:

  Ti penso ogni giorno. Tu sei quella che stavo aspettando.

  There’s a small arrow at the bottom of the card, so I turn it over. Finally, something in English!

  Alexis, if you want to know what I have written for you, then please see me tonight, I beg of you.

  How can he think I would want to see him after what he said to me? How he made me feel? Okay, I do want to see him, but the question is, can I? This man has me all tangled up. When I’m with him, I don’t know which way is up or down. Then out of the blue there is a text alert on my phone. I look at the screen. It’s from Aiden. I swear this man has ESP.

  I open the text:

  Alexis, I know I have no right to ask this, but please give me a chance to explain things. I need to see you. I am lost without you. I beg of you, please.

  I tell myself I need to listen to his explanation so I can better understand him. Against my better judgment, I reply:

  I get off at six, you can pick me up then.

  In an instant I receive a text back:

  I look forward to seeing you.

  I call Shannon and she answers right away. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “I’m not coming home right after work.”

  “Oh, why? Where are you going?”

  “Aiden is picking me up.”

  I tell her about the flowers and the texts and that I want to hear what he has to say. I owe it to myself to know what is going on with him.

  “Lexie, if this is what you really want, then I am behind you all the way. I always will be, you know that, but please be careful and call me if you need to.”

  We hang up and my phone rings. “Yes, Kathy?”

  “Alexis, there is a Chris Allen on the phone for you.”

  “Okay, put him through…Yes, Mr. Allen what can I do for you?”

  “Well, you can start by calling me Chris, and is there any way we can meet at five instead of two? I had some things come up that I cannot get out of.”

  “Oh, sure! Is everything okay? Can I help you with something?”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll see you at five, Alexis.”

  ***

  It’s five o’clock before I know it, and right on time my phone rings.

  “Chris Allen here to see you,” Kathy says.

  “Send him in, Kathy.”

  Just as I’m getting up to greet him, he is standing in my doorway. Wow, is every guy that walks in here going to be gorgeous? I mean, damn he is hot; different from Aiden—because let’s face it, Aiden is in a class all of his very own—but he’s something to look at.

  Chris Allen is easily six feet tall, with light brown hair, gra
y eyes, and fair skin. His file says he’s twenty-five years old.

  He’s played with a couple of other artists such as a duo known as “Wishing on Stars” and another pianist by the name of Alex Levin. His style seems to be old melodies and swing dance types. He has played at a few clubs, including Birdland and the Swing 46 Jazz and Supper club.

  Also, according to Aiden, he has a reputation of using women and discarding them when he is done. But who is he to talk when it seems he does the same? Even Brandy says she has never seen him with anybody for too long.

  I reach out my hand to him. “Hello, Mr. Allen.”

  He shakes it. “Please…I thought we agreed you would call me Chris, and you are Alexis.”

  “Yes, of course. Come in and have a seat.”

  I walk around to take a seat at my desk as he sits down and gives me a big smile.

  “So, Alexis, tell me what you’re going to do for me. How are you going to get me more exposure?”

  I start to tell him about the interviews I’ve set up and a photoshoot he will be having with none other than Brock Quincy.

  “Let’s see how that goes,” I say under my breath.

  “Why? Don’t you think he is a good photographer? Should we get another one?”

  I didn’t mean to say that aloud. “Oh no, Chris, he is the best in the business. We couldn’t find a better photographer if we tried.”

  We discuss the terms of the contract for almost an hour. I don’t even notice the time until I see him looking at his watch. I glance over at the clock on my desk. Ten minutes till six. He reaches across the desk and takes my hand. “Alexis, are you seeing anyone?”

  “Are you really asking me that on our first meeting?”

  “Yes, are you seeing anyone?” Before I can answer his question, Aiden answers it for me.

  “She’s with me.”

  I look up and see Aiden standing at the door. He’s wearing a dark blue pinstripe three-piece suit with a white shirt and red tie. God, can this man be any more gorgeous? His stance is powerful. He walks over as if gearing up for battle, his deep blue eyes fixed on Chris.

  I stand up. “Chris, this is Aiden Steffan. Aiden, this is—”

  “I know who he is,” Aiden says.

  Chris stands. “Hello, Aiden. As you can see, we are in a meeting, so if you do not mind, maybe you should wait outside till we finish.”

  “Really? Since when do business meetings involve you asking my girlfriend out?”

  “Alexis is your girlfriend?

  Aiden answers through gritted teeth. “Yes, Alexis is my girlfriend.”

  “Does she know of all the women you go out with? And that they aren’t usually blondes? Does she know how you use them for a few months and then throw them away as if they were nothing?”

  Aiden laughs out loud. “Chris, that sounds like you’re talking about yourself. But let me be perfectly clear: Alexis is my girlfriend and if you do not keep your hands off of her, then you’re going to have a problem playing the piano. Do we understand each other?”

  Chris is about to stand right in front of Aiden but I get in between them. “Aiden, please stop.” I turn to face Chris. “I am so sorry for this. Maybe it would be better to finish up at another time. Please don’t think that this is the way we do business. I’ll be calling you with the schedule of the interviews.”

  Looking at Aiden, he grins. “I look forward to our next meeting, Alexis. Hopefully there won’t be any interruptions. Then again, maybe we could have dinner at my place. I’m a great cook.”

  In a flash Aiden pushes me aside and is on Chris. I yell at the top of my lungs for them to stop or I’ll call security. Chris pushes Aiden off of him. Grinning, he says there is no need, then walks out the door. Before he leaves, he turns and says, “I guess I should just bide my time and let you mess up, like you usually do.”

  “You’ll be waiting forever; she will always be with me.”

  I turn to Aiden. “What do you think you’re doing? You cannot threaten my clients. And since when am I your girlfriend? You were the one who yelled at me to get out of your room. You also told me it was my fault that Frank stalked me. How do you think that made me feel? Now, in front of another man, you say I’m your girlfriend. Are you marking your territory? Do you think I’m one of your possessions that you can use only when you feel like it?”

  My whole body starts to tremble. I don’t realize how loud the quarrel between Chris and Aiden had gotten until Michael, Kathy, and Linda walk in.

  Kathy comes directly to my side.

  “Alexis, honey, are you all right? Linda and I could hear the arguing from my desk.”

  Linda put her hands on my shoulders. “Yes, if there is anything we can do for you, let us know.”

  I feel embarrassed knowing I was at the center of it all, and now the whole office will talk about me being involved with Aiden. I’m in way over my head here. What is somebody like me doing with somebody like Aiden?

  Michael sends Kathy and Linda back to their desks and looks between me and Aiden, letting out a loud sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. Just as I think he is going to walk out, he stops and closes the door.

  Turning to face us, he says, “You know, I may be out of line here…I mean, you two are supposed to be adults…but when something interrupts the workflow here at my office, then I feel the need to interject. Aiden, you are a very important and well-liked client. I do not wish to lose you, because I think we have done really well together and I think we can continue to have a good working relationship. It benefits the both of us to keep going the way we have. Alexis, I know you haven’t worked here long, but I do believe you bring a lot to the table. You are a great assistant, so I don’t want to lose you either. So what I guess I’m trying to say is, will the two of you get your shit together so this won’t happen again? I don’t ever want anyone getting hurt in these offices. Believe me when I say that I’ll be talking to Chris as well. And it would be great if you remembered he is a piano player. We can’t afford to let him get his hands hurt in a fight, or he might be finished before he really has a chance to show us how talented he is.”

  Looking between us, he says in a much firmer voice, “Do I make myself clear?”

  We both answer as one. “Yes, Michael.”

  Chapter 14

  This was a whole other side to Michael. True, I haven’t worked here long, but it still took me by surprise, even though his reaction was warranted.

  Aiden walks to him and puts his hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry this had to happen here. I have the utmost respect for you and the working relationship between myself and your company. Michael, please accept my sincere apology and be assured that it will not happen again. I am sure Alexis feels the same way.”

  I look at him, then at Michael, and say, “Yes, I am so sorry. Please accept my sincere apology.”

  He nods his head and gives us a small smile. “Should I have Julie handle your contracts from now on, since the two of you are in a relationship and it might create some issues?”

  Again, we both answer at the same time. “No.”

  I take a step forward. “No, Michael. That will not be necessary. I promise you that nothing like this will ever occur again.”

  He leaves my office but does not close the door. I feel like a kid who just got a lecture from her dad. I turn to Aiden. “Maybe we should get out of here so we can talk and get this over with.”

  The look he gives me says he wants to say something, but decides against it. Then he surprises me by saying, “It will never be over for us.”

  He does that a lot, surprise me. Granted that it’s a pleasant surprise, but still it’s like a roller coaster ride that I can’t get off, and even if I could, would I really want to?

  ***

  When we walk out, I look around for his BMW Z4, but see nothing. Then I notice the driver waiting by a vehicle with the door open. Aiden puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the car. The driver is muscular, taller than A
iden, and wears a black T-shirt with a jacket over it. He’s bald, around thirty years old, and has light skin. He looks tough with his sunglasses on, but then he smiles.

  “Good evening, Miss Moore.”

  “Oh please, call me Alexis.”

  Aiden introduces us. “This is Anthony.”

  I notice the gun he has in his holster and suspect he wears the jacket to try to hide it. The car is a beautiful black Aston Martin. The interior is also black and the rich leather feels so soft to the touch I could sink into it.

  I turn to Aiden. “I remember reading an article saying this car was sold in the Middle East or by invitation only.”

  “Yes, it is, and I was honored to be on that list.” He pulls me close to him and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

  I move away. “We have to talk before I can even think about being with you, Aiden.”

  Looking nervous, he says, “We can talk at my penthouse. If you want to go home after that, I will drive you, but please give me a chance to try and explain things to you. I had the cook prepare dinner for us. We will eat first, then talk, si?”

  We sit in silence the rest of the drive to his penthouse. Then we pull into the underground garage and park in one of his spots. The other space has the silver BMW Z4. I smile, remembering how fast the car takes turns and how sleek it feels.

  Aiden takes my hand. “Maybe one day you would like to drive it, si?”

  He leads us to the elevator and taps in his code, 1983. While we’re on our way up, I have to keep telling myself to get my head on straight, but the electric pull that’s always there has me breathing hard and we haven’t even made it into his penthouse yet.

  The doors open and he takes my hand. We make our way to the great room. Once again I admire the atmosphere. Even though it is so big, it still feels warm and inviting.

  “Would you like something to drink, Alexis?”