The Crime of Protection

by Gloria Martin

  What did people see in this experience? It was loud, the floors were sticky with eons of spilled soda and food and it was cold. So freaking cold.

  Abby was miserable, but she focused on the task at hand and tried to push the rest out of her mind. Being cold was the least of her problems right now.

  She watched as the puck was passed from man to man, marveling at how such hulking men could be so light on their feet. They ducked and weaved through the mass of shoving bodies, gliding along the ice as if the skates were merely an extension of their bodies.

  Abby got caught up in the beauty of it. The sound of the skates cutting the ice and the clap of sticks slapping together was mesmerizing. Abby found herself enjoying the game even while she desperately searched the men, looking for Trevor. He had to be here somewhere.

  A timeout was called and the crowd booed. Abby didn’t know what had happened, but it didn’t matter. The men were skating to their respective coaches, removing helmets as they went.

  This was her chance to spot Trevor!

  She jumped out of her seat and rushed down the stairs. Her eyes were locked on the men as they came to the railing in a line to speak with the coach.

  Abby moved until she was close to where they were filing by, but she still didn’t see Trevor. Had he been taken to the hospital already? Had something happened to him on the road?

  Their fight flashed through her head and Abby’s stomach knotted. Would the last thing she said to him be the last thing he heard? How would she live with herself?

  “Abby. Abbryana! Over here.”

  Was she hearing things?

  “Abby! That’s the wrong team.”

  Abby looked up and down the rink to the other team’s box. It was Trevor shouting at her from behind the bench. Abby couldn’t believe her eyes. What was he doing there?

  She worked her way over, ignoring the angry words of people as she passed down the row. There was no one on the ice, she didn’t know why people were yelling at her to sit down.

  Abby finally reached Trevor, surprised to see that he wore his jersey and a pair of jeans and sneakers.

  “Did you get hurt?” she blurted out.

  “No Abby. I didn’t.”

  “Then why are you not on the ice?”

  “I did a lot of thinking, and it turns out, you were right. I talked to the coach and he’s hiring me as his assistant. No one knows yet, but Coach is retiring at the end of the year. When he does, I’ll take his place.”

  “So that’s it? You’re just giving up playing?”

  The relief she felt was clear. Trevor smiled tenderly at her through the plexiglass.

  “I’ll never forget what you asked me before I left.”

  “‘Are you going to choose love or the game?’” Abby remembered.

  “And I realized. I didn’t have to choose. I could have both.”

  “You can?” Abby teased.

  “I can. After all, choosing to play meant I could lose you. And a life without you, Abbryana Ferris, isn’t really a life at all.”

  THE END

  Bonus Story 14/40

  The Light

  Interviews suck. I thought having a doctorate degree in marketing would get you hired automatically, I guess not. Maybe it didn’t help that I only applied for the most prestigious enterprise on the east coast, but, you know me…

  “Are you not ready yet?” Laney yelled from the kitchen. Laney has been my best friend since college, when we were roommates our freshman year. She is still in school studying to get her doctorate in music theory but we live together in an apartment in the city.

  “Almost!” I yelled back. I settled for a dark purple pencil skirt and fitted white blouse with a matching purple blazer. I only wore light make up, I was afraid it would stain my clothes. I did wear a conservative colored lipstick, a darker purple than my skirt. I chose plain black heels. I tied my hair back and looked at myself in the mirror, my bronzed skin and brown eyes stared back at me. I think I looked pretty professional.

  “Good you’re here, I made you breakfast.” She smiled happily. She’s a chirpy little thing, literally. She is no more than five feet tall, her hair is closer to the ground than she is. She has very small features, like a pixie. Jet black hair, blue eyes, small face. Sometimes I just want to put her in my pocket.

  “Thanks but I don’t think I can eat, I am way too nervous.” I said, as I poured a cup of coffee. It was all I could manage.

  “You will do fine, of course they are going to hire you.” She assured me.

  “Thanks, I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay, we’ll go out and celebrate!” She spoke surely. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag to leave.

  I climbed into my new Mazda, a gift from my parents after I got my doctorate. They lived far from the college, I only got to see them on holidays. Hopefully if I got this job, I could travel more. A starting salary of six figures isn’t bad for a mere thirty-three year old.

  The commute to the building wasn’t bad. I found a spot in the parking garage and walked less than a block to the entrance. The building looked like a fortress, an empire. Meeting with the CEO himself had me all kinds of nervous, but I was sure he was no more than a sweet, old man. I read everything about this company, the CEO had been described as a kind leader. It was one of the reasons I wanted to work for this particular company.

  “Hi, I have an interview with Mr. Bryson.” I told the receptionist in the lobby.

  “I see. We will escort you to his office.” One of the other women behind the counter took me to the elevator where she pressed the button to take us right to the forty-fifth floor… that’s a lot of floors. The elevator was completely glass, I thought I would fall through but we finally reached our destination.

  “Just wait here one moment. Would you like some water?”

  “No, thank you.” She smiled nicely and knocked on a large, double mahogany door.

  “You can go in now.” She smiled and went back to the elevator. I took a deep breath and calmed myself before I grabbed my briefcase and went inside.

  “Ah, Ms. Martell, please come in.” His chair was facing the panoramic glass. I took a seat across from his desk.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bryson.” I said. My voice was regaining its normalcy now that I wasn’t so nervous. He is just a sweet old man, right?

  “Please, call me Cade. Can I call you Salena?” He turned in his chair to face me and I couldn’t hide my gasp of surprise.

  “Are you alright?” He asked again. I recognized his voice now, it was deep and warm and… distracting.

  “Um, yes. I mean, yes you can call me Salena.” He smiled warmly and I could feel my face heat up. There was a pull between us…some kind of tether that wouldn’t break, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.

  “Is it hot in here? You look flushed. I can turn the air up.” He moved to get up but I stopped him.

  “No, it’s okay.” I smiled back shyly. I lost myself in his deep green eyes, I don’t think I had ever met a more beautiful man. I should have looked in the photos section when I googled the company. He stared right back at me, like he was looking into my soul.

  “Your resume is the most impressive one I’ve seen since I started this company,” he said, as he looked through the copy he had. I thought he was just saying that but, then again, I do have a doctorate.

  “Thank you,” I said quietly. I couldn’t stop studying his face. The way his brow creased as he concentrated, his thick, masculine hands, his smooth skin and sharp jaw line.

  “Salena?”

  “Yes?” I shook my head as I returned to paying attention.

  “I asked you when you could start.” He chuckled.

  “Oh, as soon as possible,” I replied. He smiled at me again.

  “I hope you don’t do that in board meetings, you seem distracted.” Well you are very distracting.

  “Board meetings?” I asked aloud.

  “Yes, the position for chief marketing office
r has been open for quite a while now. I would like you to fill it.” My breath caught in my threat. I knew a doctorate would come in handy.

  “You…really?” I asked, breathlessly. I struggled to compose myself, but this was not what I expected. I expected a ton of questions, but all my work experience is listed in the resume and cover letter, there would be no need, but this was far from expected.

  “Yes, you are a very bright young woman.” He looked into my eyes and I stared back. No man had ever affected me like this. It was unnerving.

  “I’m flattered.”

  “Is that a yes?” He asked me.

  “Oh! Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Bryson.” I stood up and shook his hand. He stood up and came around his large desk.

  “Thank you, and please, call me Cade.” He smiled again. Our hands were still touching and I pulled away quickly.

  “Thank you, Cade.” I shivered, as his name rolled off my tongue.

  “I have a contract here. If you could look over it and sign it. It breaks down your benefits, holidays, salary. Everything you need to know.” He picked up a file off his desk and handed it to me. I slid the file into my briefcase and couldn’t help but notice his eyes on me.

  “I suppose I will be seeing you soon then?” He said to me.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “If you have no objections, you can start Monday. I will be sending you an email and add you to the board’s mailing list so you can get all of the emails.”

  “Okay, thank you for everything.”

  “You’re welcome.” He smiled warmly at me. I turned to leave. I couldn’t be around him one more minute without taking his face in my hands and kissing him like he’s never been kissed before.

  I couldn’t even concentrate as I drove home. I received plenty of horns tooted at my distraction. Finally, I reached the apartment and couldn’t wait to dish to Laney. Not only about my job, but my new found crush? Whatever adults are supposed to call it.

  *****

  I hid in my room as soon as I got out of my tight clothes. I brewed a cup of tea and looked over the files. First, were the company rules and regulations which said nothing about relationships between employees, by the way. Then I went over my holidays and benefits; they were as expected dental, health care, and all the normal holidays. Once I got to the section about my salary, I thought for sure I should forget about a town home and buy a plot of land next year.

  I paused once reaching the contact info. It listed the members of the board and the activation email, which I did immediately. I received one back, saying I was added to the mailing list, then there was one from Mr. Bryson himself. It wasn’t personal, it was headed ‘dear newest employee,’ so it was nothing special…I lingered over the reply button, should I say thank you? I wanted to say something, it was tempting but I had to stay professional, for my own sanity.

  “You have been quiet since you got back. How did it go?” Laney pressed, as soon as I left my room.

  “A lot happened.” I paused and smiled at her. I wasn’t even sure if I should say it. It would make it all so real.

  “Like?” She shook me.

  “I got the job. Well, I actually got a different job.”

  “What different job?”

  “He made me CMO.” I said quietly.

  “That’s amazing! Why are you acting so weird?”

  “I just… if you had met him you would understand. He’s young. Like our age young, and good looking. He’s distracting.”

  “Ooh, how distracting?”

  “Emerald green eyes, and dirty blonde hair distracting.” I laughed.

  “I am jealous. You’re lucky he’s your boss.”

  “I don’t think so.” I stood up and went to the kitchen to get water. “I think it makes it worse that he is my boss. I can’t approach him it would make me look like I am sleeping my way to the top.”

  “True.”

  “Well, we have to go celebrate. Pick your poison.” I rolled my eyes but I knew she wouldn’t give up.

  “Fine.” I agreed. “I’ll go get ready.”

  “I already picked clothes out for you, it’s on the bed!” She exclaimed. Of course she did.

  I washed my face and did my make up before I even went to look at what she had picked out for me. It was as expected; a crimson red bandage dress and tall, black strappy heels. I dressed without complaint and met her in the living room.

  “You look hot!” She exclaimed.

  “Me? Look at you!” She looked stunning in her deep purple, extremely short dress and matching heels. Her jet black hair was pulled up in a pony-tail with a black leather band.

  “We both look amazing, now let’s go.”

  She blasted the music in her little Fiat all the way downtown. We decided on the new club, but I didn’t think we could get in.

  “I thought only A-list celebrities could get in here.”

  “Well, you are in luck because I am one.” She smirked at me by the entrance.

  “What do you mean?” I asked her.

  “We aren’t just celebrating you today. I got a deal with the record label that makes short films, I’m doing film scores.” She gushed, with a big smile.

  “That’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t want to step on your news.” She shrugged. I hugged her tightly.

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Me too.”

  “So, what does that have to do with getting in?” I was still unsure.

  “The owner is one of the actors.” I nodded.

  We got in easily, like she said. It was loud, it was red and black. It was as expected for a night club. She bought our first round of drinks and we hit the dance floor for a while before we got some appetizers to eat.

  “So, about your boss.” She said, with a mouth full of calamari.

  “I don’t want to talk about him.”

  “Oh come on, we have to.” She pouted.

  “There is nothing to say. He is my boss. I work for him. I am very attracted to him and I am afraid of what it will to do to me.

  “Come on, you are one hot African princess, who wouldn’t be attracted to you?”

  “Thanks, but I don’t think so. Not every guy can handle their opposites.” I had enough encounters with them in college. For some reason I attracted more people like them than my own race. My first boyfriend had been white. I dated him for three years before he left me for his ex-girlfriend. Sometimes I wonder if they are still together.

  “True. So how much are they paying you for this position on the board? That town home is sounding a lot more possible.” She winked.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I giggled. She held her hands out, testing me.

  “Starting salary is six figures, before bonuses.” I sighed. Her eyes widened in surprise, just like mine did when I first saw it.

  “Wow! So we can start looking then?” She asked. We both laughed.

  “I’m actually not opposed to it.” I smiled. Our little apartment was part of our past. We have both moved on to new things, bright futures. It’s time our home reflected that.

  “Did you tell your parents about the job?” She asked me.

  “Yeah, I told them. They were pretty excited.”

  “Are they going to come down?”

  “No, I won’t see them until Christmas.” My parents were quiet people. My dad owned his own real estate business and my mother ran her own event planning company. We began living better and better as the years went by and they became more successful. They lived in a country home up north, with three acres of land. Too bad I never got to live there permanently. I guess that’s just how it goes.

  “That’s too bad.”

  “Are you coming with me this year?” I asked her. She usually spent Christmas with us, since we met in college. She had grown up in foster homes. Getting a scholarship was the only reason she could go to school. She had been in the system since she was a baby. Le
ft their by her parents. She had never been interested in finding them either.

  “Of course I am.” I was thinking too far ahead, but it was only about five weeks away. Thanksgiving just passed and I didn’t even shop on black Friday, that’s why this job is so important to me. Letting my boss’s good looks get to me was not an option.

  “Let’s burn these calories.” She pulled me up and we made our way back to the dance floor. We ignored the looks we were getting from all the men. Neither of us had time for a man in our lives.

  “Are you ready to go?” I nodded. I felt like we had been here for hours.

  “Let’s stop at that old diner, I’m starving.” I nodded in agreement. I was too.

  I got a warm cup of coco and ordered the pancake combo. This place had the best, buttery pancakes. I remember coming here with my study group in college, eating pancakes and drinking all the coffee they had.

  “What’s his name again? Your boss.” Laney asked me.

  “Cade.” She rolled her eyes into the back of her head.

  “Oh my God, that is such a sexy name. Try and get a picture the next time you see him.” I rolled my eyes at her foolery. She can be so weird sometimes.

  “Can I get you ladies anything else?” Our server asked as she brought our food.

  “Just some water with lemons please.”

  The pancakes were just as I remembered them, absolutely amazing. I was ready to pry myself out of the dress once we got home. We took turns using the shower and then passed out exhausted in our rooms. This day had been full of surprises; my new job, her big break, and the last thing I thought of was Cade. I don’t think seeing my boss’s face before I fall sleep was healthy.

  I was less than excited to go into work tomorrow. I knew I would have to see Cade again, and on top of that, I had to make myself a good reputation when I met the rest of the board. It was overwhelming.

  Laney was working all day on her music, I was trapped in my own thoughts full of worry. I tore my closet apart trying to find the perfect outfit to wear tomorrow. I gave up and decided it would come to me in the morning. I spent the rest of the evening with Netflix and a few glasses of wine. I set my alarm and hoped for the best.