Beyond Love Lies Deceit

by Melissa Toppen

  “Will you be gone long?” I ask, hating that the question somehow seems desperate.

  “I’m not sure.” He answers, giving me a half smile. “Try to get some sleep.” He backs slowly away from the window, eventually turning his back to me completely as he crosses the room towards the door.

  “Luke.” His name almost feels unfamiliar on my lips because I am so used to calling him Mr. Scott.

  He turns back to face me just as he steps into the hallway.

  “Would it be possible for me to do a little exploring while we are here? I have a few places I would really like to see and I was hoping maybe I could squeeze in a couple of hours of sightseeing.”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged.” He smiles. “Goodnight Allie.” The use of the name leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth but I swallow it down, nodding as he turns and disappears down the hall.

  Hugging my arms around myself, I peer back out over the city, catching my own reflection in the window as I do. I stare at myself; study the lines of my face, the darkness of my eyes. I wish I recognized this girl. I wish I knew who she was but I don’t. It may be my face that I see, but that doesn’t change that the person staring back at me is nothing more than a stranger.

  ****

  “So you think it went well?” I peer up at Luke as we make our way out onto the busy sidewalk, almost immediately colliding with an oncoming patron who shows very little remorse for nearly running me over.

  “New Yorkers.” He smiles, clearly catching the brief anger that flares in me over the man’s reaction. “Don’t worry, they aren’t all like that.” He glances back towards the direction of the man and then back down to me.

  “Everyone seems so... stressed.” I admit. “Like they can’t get where they are going fast enough.” Coming from the West, it is a completely different feel than what I am used to.

  “True, though I suppose most people that live here find that energizing. I love the hustle and bustle of the city. Mainly because it’s so different but also because everything seems so alive. Not that L.A. doesn’t have that too but it’s just not the same. There’s not a place on earth like New York.” He grabs my elbow, steering me to the left past a long strip of massive stores.

  “And to answer your question, yes, I think it went very well.” He smiles down at me, before turning his attention forward again.

  “So what happens now?” I ask, gently brushing into his arm as I try to avoid yet another patron who finds it necessary to walk in the center of the sidewalk.

  I feel him tense at the contact and immediately correct the action.

  “Sorry.” I apologize, glancing up at the side of his face to see his forehead creased in concentration.

  He remains silent for another long moment before finally answering my question.

  “Tonight we will meet with Mr. Porter and his son to discuss finalizing Sco-Tech’s offer. I’m hoping we did enough today to have them ready to discuss terms.” He veers to the right, his hand going to the center of my back as he guides me in the same direction.

  Heat immediately forms at the point of contact and begins slowly spreading through my limbs. I try not to let the feeling consume me but the task proves easier said than done. When he finally drops his hand an immense amount of disappointment immediately takes its place.

  We continue the walk back towards the hotel in silence. It’s clear Luke is in his head. I can sense the wheels turning every time I glance in his direction. I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking about. What I wouldn’t give to spend five minutes in that beautiful head of his poking around. If there is one thing I can say about Luke Scott, he sure knows how to keep people at arm’s length.

  It’s confusing and infuriating and yet, completely understandable as well. I mean, I am his assistant after all. It’s not like this is a personal trip. We are just here on business. He didn’t invite me for any reason other than helping him close this deal.

  But if that’s true, why do I get this intense feeling every time his eyes meet mine? It’s like he’s two different people. Mr. Scott, my boss and then Luke, an incredibly attractive man that has me feeling things I know can’t just be all me. There’s something there, I know he feels it too. I don’t know what he’s done that justifies drawing that conclusion but I just know.

  “Allie.” I glance up at Luke, realizing immediately that he’s talking to me and I, so lost in my own thoughts, completely missed whatever was said.

  “Sorry, what?” I ask, feeling the heat flood my cheeks.

  “I asked if you were hungry.” He shakes his head on a smile, grabbing my forearm to pull me off to the side in front of a small little sandwich shop.

  “This is one of my favorite places in the city.” He gestures through the large window which puts the entire ten table restaurant on full display to the outside world.

  “I could eat.” I say, turning my attention back to him.

  He gives me a wide childlike smile before pulling the door open and ushering me inside.

  I am immediately hit with the overwhelming smell of freshly baked bread. It’s intoxicating and I find myself breathing in deeply as we approach the counter that sits along the back wall, a large menu displayed above it.

  “This doesn’t really seem like your style.” I say the comment aloud without really meaning to.

  “Just because my family has money doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the same everyday treasures that other people do.” He doesn’t seem offended by the comment but I can’t help but feel guilty for saying it.

  “I know. I just...” I start but his laughter immediately ceases my words.

  “It’s okay Allie. I get it.” He gives me a flashing smile before turning his attention to the young girl working behind the counter.

  He rattles off his order without even glancing at the menu and then turns to me, gesturing for me to order. Quickly glancing back up at the menu, I settle for a turkey sandwich on rye and a cup of chicken tortilla soup.

  After retrieving our order, Luke leads me to a small table in the corner, directly next to the large display window.

  “So how did you find this place?” I ask, sliding into my seat as Luke takes the one directly across from me.

  “When we were teenagers, Ryan and I would go out exploring the city while my father was here on business. We made it a point to never eat at the same place twice. After a couple of years and several trips to New York, we had dined in almost every corner of the city. But this was the one that always stood out to me. Now I always make sure to stop here anytime I am in the city.” He says.

  “Were you close, you and Ryan I mean?” I ask, taking a small bite of my sandwich.

  I immediately see what Luke sees in this place as I go in for a second bite, the bread so good I swear I could eat it with nothing else.

  “Well clearly you know we aren’t that close anymore.” He answers after swallowing his own bite, insinuating that I know Ryan far better than I actually do. I honestly have no idea of the inner workings of their relationship.

  “I wasn’t aware of that.” I answer truthfully.

  I know they have their differences and that Luke does not approve of a lot of the things Ryan does but it isn’t until this very moment that I am learning that the tension runs deeper than that.

  “Well you are now.” He shrugs, knowing he can’t take the statement back. “But to answer your question, not really. Ryan and I couldn’t be more different and while there were and are things about Ryan that I love, at the end of the day we just don’t see eye to eye.”

  “I’m sorry.” My apology is sincere.

  I had a sibling once and I can’t imagine not loving him with my whole heart. It makes me sad that Luke has never experienced that type of bond with his brother, though it does make knowing what I have to do a little easier.

  “Don’t be.” He brushes off the comment. “The Scott family has always been a family divided. Ryan has always been my father’s son where I was my mothers.”r />
  “What happened to her?” I ask the question, wanting to see how far I can get him to open up.

  Learning information about Luke is not the easiest of tasks. He is a very private person and for someone who is dying to know everything about him, it’s hard not to pry.

  I can tell by the way his shoulders go ridged and his eyes darken that this is not something he wants to talk about.

  “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.” I tack on, regretting asking.

  “No, it’s okay.” He finally says after a few long moments of silence. “I don’t usually talk to people about her.” He turns his face to the side, looking out the window for a long moment before finally turning his gaze back to me. “She passed away when I was fourteen.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that.” My reply is soft.

  While I already knew this fact, I can’t contain the rush of emotion I feel knowing that I lost my mother at almost the same point in my life.

  I wish I could tell him this fact; that I could tell him he’s not alone and that I know what losing a parent at that age feels like but I can’t. There is no way for me to reveal any of my past without risking revealing my true identity and as much as I want to, I know it’s a risk I can’t take.

  “It was hard, especially given that after she was gone my father and Ryan both brushed her memory away like she had never existed.” I can hear the emotion thick in his voice and can’t control my urge to reach out and lay my hand on top of his.

  He looks down the moment the contact is made and like a light switch, his entire demeanor changes.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be telling you this.” He says, pulling his hand away.

  I can’t help the devastation that surges through me at his rejection. I want to comfort him. I want him to know he’s not alone, but clearly that is not something he is willing to accept from me. I give him another apologetic look, not sure of any other way to react other than to just function as if nothing happened at all.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked about your personal life.” I slide back into the mode of his assistant.

  “What time are we meeting Mr. Porter for drinks again?” I ask, desperate to escape the awkward heaviness that seems to have settled around us.

  “Seven.” He answers stiffly, turning back to his food, prompting me to do the same.

  “How far are we willing to go to acquire his company?” I ask, trying to push the previous conversation away.

  “As far as we need to. It’s vital that we continue to expand, especially with smaller companies that own a lot of the market in specific areas.” He answers, letting the heaviness somewhat fall away as we move into a less sensitive subject.

  We continue to make small talk throughout the remainder of lunch, mainly discussing work which Luke seems the most comfortable talking about. By the time we exit the restaurant a few minutes later, he seems back to himself for the most part, or at least that’s what he’s trying to make me believe.

  The remainder of the walk back to the hotel is almost completely silent. I can’t help but feel like I crossed a line I can’t come back from by asking him about his mom. I’ve never really had someone to talk to about this kind of thing so I’m not really sure what the rules are here.

  I am also in foreign territory when it comes to dealing with men, especially a man like Luke. One minute I feel like the electricity between us is going to cause the room to erupt in flames, the next I feel like the entire area has been doused in cold water. He’s so back and forth, hot and cold, I find it exhausting and impossible to keep up.

  But despite everything going on; my relationship with Ryan, Luke’s inability to open up to me, my desperation to keep my real identity concealed, one thing remains true. I have never in my life felt the way Luke makes me feel. Deep down I think that scares me more than anything else.

  Chapter

  Twelve

  Luke

  If there is one thing I can say about Allie Reynolds it’s that she never ceases to surprise me. I knew bringing her along on this trip would be beneficial, even if there were selfish intentions involved in me asking her to come; like keeping her away from Ryan for example. But watching her now, seeing how easily she is able to manipulate Mr. Porter and his son Shane is unlike anything I have ever seen.

  This woman is a natural. She knows exactly what to say, how to act, adding in just the right amount of flirting and flattery to have them eating out of the palm of her hand. What I thought may be a tough acquisition, Allie has actually made quite easy for me.

  In less than two hours she has taken the two men’s reservations about selling out to Sco-Tech and completely changed their way of thinking. The amount of detail she knows about our company is astonishing and I am quickly realizing that I severely underestimated just how brilliant she is.

  I watch as she speaks, the way she leans across the table to truly engage her audience. When she drops her head back on a laugh and lays her hand lightly against Shane’s arm, my stomach tightens in an instant. I have to swallow down the sudden urge I feel to push his arm away from her touch. The thought leaves me a bit shaken but it’s a feeling I can’t deny.

  Allie Reynolds, no matter how tempting, is off limits. Not only is she my assistant whom I need to maintain a professional relationship with but she is also seeing my brother, in some form or another. Though I know that will be over the moment he gets her into his bed so I’m not sure if that should even play a factor.

  After less than three hours at Sachkets, the two gentleman rise from the table, Mr. Porter immediately turning to me.

  “Well Mr. Scott, how about you meet me at the office tomorrow morning. Say ten o’clock?” He extends his hand to me the moment I rise to my feet. “We can go over the specifics and be done with this business then.”

  “I will be there.” I agree, giving him a firm handshake before reaching out and shaking Shane’s hand as well.

  “Miss Reynolds.” Mr. Porter turns to Allie. “I hope we meet again sometime my dear. I have a feeling you have a very promising career in this field.” He winks, dropping a brief kiss to her hand.

  “Thank you Mr. Porter.” She smiles graciously, the familiar pink hue taking over her cheeks the moment her eyes flip to mine.

  She immediately looks away, turning her attention to Shane who approaches her next.

  “Here’s my card.” He leans in and kisses her cheek. “Call me the next time you’re in New York.” He waits until she takes the rectangular strip of paper before turning to join his father as they exit the lounge area of the bar.

  “Did we do it?” Allie asks the moment to two men are out of ear shot. She hits me with an excited grin as she slides back onto her stool.

  “You did it.” I say, reclaiming my seat as well. “You were incredible tonight.” I tell her truthfully, still a bit in awe of the woman sitting across from me.

  “Me? I didn’t do anything.” She insists, her deep blush plain as day despite the dim lighting of the bar.

  “Are you kidding me?” I give her a disbelieving look. “You made the entire deal happen. The only thing I did was have the sense to bring you along.” I hold up two fingers to our waitress before she even reaches our table, signaling that we will take two more.

  “Oh I probably shouldn’t.” Allie pulls my attention back to her when she realizes I am ordering more drinks. “I’ve already had more than I should.”

  “Nonsense, we’re celebrating.” I say, knowing that she has the right idea but not being able to walk out of this moment with her.

  I just want to exist right here and now with her without considering all the reasons why I know I shouldn’t.

  “Are we now?” She laughs sweetly, the sound so fucking beautiful it takes everything I have not to reach across the table and pull her into my arms.

  “We are.” I nod to the waitress as she sits a new drink in front of each of us.

  “Well if you insist.” Her smile widens as she picks up her gla
ss. “To your acquisition of Cyntech.” She says, holding her glass up.

  “To our acquisition of Cyntech.” I correct her, lightly tapping my glass of scotch and water against the fruity pink concoction she has been drinking all night.

  Chapter

  Thirteen

  Samantha

  “Luke Scott.” I can’t contain my laughter as Luke ushers me onto the elevator, squeezing my side as he does causing me to squeal out.

  “She’s ticklish.” He nods, committing it to his memory, a devilish look in his eye.

  “Don’t you dare.” I warn, squealing again when he makes a move towards me.

  He immediately stops, holding his hands up on a laugh.

  “I won’t. I promise.” The playfulness in his voice sounds through the enclosed space.

  I give him one last warning glare and then turn my attention forward, trying to focus on keeping my balance as the elevator begins to climb. The trip up seems never ending and with each painfully slow floor we pass, the heavier I feel the tension inside the elevator grow.

  After the Porters left the bar, Luke and I stayed and had several more drinks, celebrating what he said to be a closed deal. I can’t remember a time where I have enjoyed myself so much. We laughed, we joked, but mostly we flirted. Exchanging heated glances for a good portion of the night, Luke didn’t try to hide the fact that he wanted to touch me, using every excuse in the book to do just that.

  You have something here. He said as he reached out and brushed his thumb gently against my bottom lip.

  What happened? He had asked before trailing his fingertips lightly across the small jagged scar on the back of my hand.

  I knew early on that I needed to slow it down and I told myself the same thing with each moment that passed but I just couldn’t bring myself to stop it. I wasn’t ready to say goodnight to Luke. Hell, I’m still not.

  My head spins slightly as the elevator jolts to a stop, causing what little balance I still have over my body to give and I sway slightly, reaching out to catch myself on Luke’s arm as he steps up directly next to me.