Taken

by Mia Ford

  "You want to meet my friends? Well, I've only got one."

  "Why is that?"

  Natasha smiled and shrugged he shoulders as she took a sip of her martini.

  "I don't know."

  "Well, I'd love to meet your one friend."

  Again, I was very surprised. In the past I've told women I want to meet their friends and they gush and go into a rant about this girlfriend or that girlfriend, making sure to tell me which one has bad breath and which one just got out of an abusive relationship and which one was totally hilarious but you can't take anything she says seriously.

  But not Natasha. It was like I had told her: “By the way I have quite a hole in my sock”. She shrugged her shoulders, took another sip and batted those big blue eyes at me. She had to be a witch because I was succumbing more and more to her spell.

  When she put her hand over mine on the table and just looked around, her thumb caressing the crease between my index finger and thumb I felt something.

  "Her name is Diamond. She's been my best friend for a couple years now."

  "What is it you like about her?" I asked, looking for clues into Natasha's way of thinking. Women almost always saw each other with a more judgmental eye than they ever would with a man.

  "She's a real person." she took another sip. Her lipstick had left a ring around the edge of the glass and I found myself longing to touch it. "She'll tell me when I'm screwing up but she won't take any pleasure in it, you know what I mean?” she looked at me pursing her eyebrows together. “Some women will call you a friend but take every chance they get to knock you down a couple notches. It isn’t like making me feel bad about my haircut will make the cellulite melt off your thighs. Hell, if it did there’s be fights on every corner all day every day.” Then she burst into hysterical laughter at her own joke. She did that a lot. “I bet you have a friend like that. Someone who keeps you in check."

  I nodded my head.

  "Sort of. My brother has always been the guy to tell me when I'm screwing up."

  "I didn't know you had a brother." Her eyes lit up as if it was some huge accomplishment to have a sibling. "I'm an only child. I'd have loved to have a brother or a sister growing up. I had a dog. Not the same thing, I bet."

  "Actually, you're not far off." I replied, watching her nose wrinkle as she laughed.

  "Well, maybe I could meet your brother some time."

  How could she know, right? I knew my face gave me away as I felt the muscles tighten in my jaw and the look on her face suddenly became very concerned.

  "Did I say something wrong?"

  "No." I said, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips. But I couldn't help feel maybe I should tell her. No. There was nothing to say. Besides, it was her shell that needed to be cracked. Not mine.

  It didn't take long for Natasha to arrange a date with this Diamond friend of hers. Of course I sent the car to pick them both up. I had expected to see a frumpy, slightly overweight thing that was a little more conservative in her dress and reserved in her demeanor. That was usually how these kinds of meetings turned out. But Diamond shined as brightly as her name implied. The game had suddenly become a lot more interesting.

  We were at a regular bar where the waiters and waitresses had to wear a white button down shirt and black pants to give it a hint of cheap elegance. They took drink orders without writing them down and smiled professionally as some trippy techno music was piped through the speakers.

  The introductions were made and I squeezed between the two girls making sure my hand was placed firmly on Natasha's thigh so Diamond could see.

  "I'd like two bottles of your best champagne." I said quietly to the waitress who nodded her head.

  "That would be our Dom Perignon at one hundred fifty dollars a bottle, sir. Shall I bring them out?"

  "Please do." I replied.

  "Dom Perignon? You really don't have to go through all the trouble." Diamond said smiling sweetly. "We're happy with...with..."

  "Some Mad Dogg and two straws." Natasha said sending the girls into a fit of laughter. I had to smile, too. They were fun. This kind of banter continued throughout the night as we sipped champagne and they entertained me with stories of bad dates, bad jobs, great weekends and what they considered to be great adventures. To them, a trip to the suburbs, stopping at a honky-tonk for a beer and karaoke was one for the ages.

  There was something splendid about the simplicity between Natasha and Diamond that made it even harder for me to do what I had to do next. Like I knew would happen, Natasha got up to go to the bathroom, leaving Diamond sitting at the table with me. Luck was always in my favor. If things didn’t go as planned they would inevitably unfold even more to my advantage if I just paid attention.

  "I can see why you guys are such good friends." I said.

  "Yeah? Well, Nat is a great girl. She is the yin to my yang. We complement each other. And I’m not telling you anything you don’t know but she’s been giddy as a school girl since you met. It was really great what you did. You know, helping her get a job. She’s a good worker. Her bad luck with the last place she was at was jealousy. Believe me.”

  I nodded my head.

  "I don't know if she's told you that we've made love."

  I watched the expression on Diamond's face as she nearly choked on the last sip of her champagne and her cheeks turned a bright pink.

  "Uhm, you know, we're grown women. We don't need to get anyone's permission or approval for that kind of stuff and so...thanks for sharing." She rolled her eyes at me. It was disrespectful. Here I was trying to make things easy for her and she’s being ungrateful.

  "I'm really glad you see it that way.” I said, letting her bad manner slip by. “So even though I couldn't make love to you because that is what I do with Natasha, I'd be happy to screw you."

  The look on her face was priceless.

  "What did you just say?"

  I grinned.

  "Like you said. We're all adults here. We don't need permission or approval. I'm just talking about a good time. An adventure. From what I've gathered just sitting here you're a girl who likes a little adventure."

  Now the odds of this situation going in the direction it did were so much in my favor it was almost like cheating. I had no doubt in my mind that if money could be put on this kind of bet I’d make another billion within seconds. I would tell my future protégé that when presenting a girl with an option, any option, she will either be thrilled or disappointed. Be prepared with a response for both.

  The wheels were turning in Diamond's mind and I could see she was contemplating my offer. But, as I had expected she let her false morality and faithfulness to her friend win out. Without another word to me she grabbed her jacket and coat, slid out of the booth we were sitting in and headed out the door. Just then Natasha returned looking around for her.

  "She and I exchanged words." I said.

  "What? What did you say to her?" Natasha looked angry. It was that false feminism that crept into every woman now and then when they think they know what they want. The truth is no woman no matter how independent, will not accept her place lower on the totem pole if it means a lifestyle free of worry. I was a man who could actually make good on that kind of offer.

  "I told her how I felt about you and that it might mean you won't be seeing much of each other in the future."

  "Why would you say something like that?" she sat down but didn't cozy up to me as she had before. “That shouldn’t make her just leave without saying good-bye.”

  "Well, I’ll tell you why she left. Money.”

  “You’re crazy. Diamond isn’t like that.”

  “Really, have you ever loaned her money?”

  “No. She’s never asked for any.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “Because I never have any.” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

  “No. It’s because asking a friend for money is a sure way to lose that friend.”

  �
��Well, she didn’t ask you for a dime.”

  “Not yet. But trust me, Natasha. It’s not because she doesn’t love you or want you to be happy. She does. But money, and I’m talking about my kind of money, it changes people.”

  While I watched her look around the room as she tried to figure out how she was going to feel about this new development I studied her lips. They were full and pink and I had to lean in to her and kiss them gently. To my surprise she kissed me back. I would have enjoyed a little fight. A little withholding of her touch in a silent protest to what I was telling her. It would have made future attempts at physical contact that much more exciting. But, the Universe doled out my pleasures as it saw fit.

  “I also told her that if things continued you were going to be expected to spend more and more time at my side.”

  “More time at your side? I’m not a dog, you know. This is getting a little overwhelming and I think maybe…”

  “I'm falling for you." I hate to admit this but part of what I was saying was true. Natasha was the kind of girl who could be trusted. Not because she was this wide-eyed "see the good in everyone" kind of girl but because she was suspicious. She looked for the catch, the exchange knowing full well that nothing comes for free. But, if she felt the truth was what she'd get in return then only a mutt pulled out of a rainstorm and given a can of Alpo could be more faithful. And to a guy like me that kind of dedication was worth its weight in gold.

  I wanted to say more but I didn’t. I watched as the weight of my words sunk in. It was a delicious cascading affect that could be seen in the eyes. Me. The money. The lifestyle. It all showed in the eyes. Like a fire suddenly burst to life in a furnace.

  You can imagine how surprised I was when Natasha’s eyes stayed the same cold blue. What was she thinking? I was feeling more and more attracted to her by the second.

  "Natasha, my lifestyle is a little different. I want to make you part of it."

  "Please don't tell me you’re a swinger. I can't handle that kind of lifestyle no matter how good-looking you are." she joked.

  "No. Nothing like that." I said shyly. "But people will be jealous of you. I’m sorry to say even your very best friend. I've seen it happen before."

  "I'll talk to her. She'll be fine."

  "Will you? Will you do that and smooth things over?"

  "Yeah. Who knows, maybe it was the champagne. It doesn't agree with everyone."

  I threw back the last few drops in my glass and then proposed an idea.

  "Let's go see your office." I said, grabbing my jacket and scooting out of the booth.

  "See my office? Why?"

  "I just want to make sure Mrs. Ogawa is treating you right."

  "Oh, they are. I love my new job." she said but I could see the hesitation in her eyes. It was beautiful.

  "Then let's go there."

  "I don't think so. Someone is bound to see us. They've got security cameras. Plus the night watchman and all that jazz."

  “Where’s your sense of adventure?” I teased as I pulled out a couple of hundred dollar bills and threw them on the table.

  “And I don’t even have an office. I have a cubicle. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.”

  “Come on. No one will see us. Trust me.”

  I looked into her eyes as if I were searching for something. Again, that pretty pink glow rose in her cheeks and I remembered how red they had been that first, and only time, we had been together. She was playing a game, too. I could feel it. And it drove me crazy with desire that she dared to do it.

  Her eyes stayed with mine until I slipped my right hand over her left hand and pulled her out of the booth and out to my car.

  I had driven myself this time. Thankfully Diamond had chosen to leave when she did because the Nissan GT-R was only a two-seater.

  “This is a nice car. But please don’t speed.” Natasha had said to me as she poured herself into the seat.

  “You don’t like to drive fast?” I asked her a little puzzled.

  “The date will be over quicker if you go too fast.” She said, smiling.

  One more point for Joshua Hewitt.

  I did as the lady asked and cruised along the busy city streets letting the men get a good look at the car and the women get a good look at woman in the car with me. We made a couple turns, hit a couple red lights until we finally made it to the tall building that Natasha now called her place of employment.

  Slowly pulling the car around the corner I slipped into the employee parking lot.

  “I’ve never been down here.” She said a little nervously. “I don’t know where to go. But I see right there.” She pointed to the corner of the ceiling. “Camera. That’s it. Now we are officially trespassing after hours.”

  I had to start to laugh at her a little. She really wanted to play by the rules.

  “Wait. You can’t park here.” She said while I was still smiling and shaking my head. “It says reserved for the VP of Operations. VP, Joshua. You don’t look like the VP.”

  “Really? What does he look like?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never met the guy. But I’ll bet he likes to work all kinds of weird hours and if he sees your fancy wheels in his spot it will cause a huge scandal. I’ll get the boot for sure.”

  “You won’t.”

  “I will. You know how these executive guys are. I wouldn’t be surprised if the guy peed on this parking spot to mark his territory in addition to having that sign put up.”

  “I can assure you no one peed on this spot.”

  I shut the engine off and smiled at her, getting confortable in the seat.

  “Please, Joshua. Don’t get me in trouble.”

  “Come here.” I said quietly. She flopped a little closer to me, the look of worry still on her face.

  “Closer.” This time she leaned in and looked at me suspiciously.

  “Just a little more.”

  Her beautiful round face was inches from mine. I could smell the scent of her skin and could tell behind the playfully cynical expression on her face she was loving this.

  “Is your heart beating fast?” I whispered.

  “Yes.” She said.

  “Are you scared you’re going to get in trouble?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you scared you’re going to give in and make love to me again?”

  I watched as she swallowed hard and her expression showed how surprised she was at my interrogation. “Are you?”

  “Yes.”

  Leaning in just a little closer to her but without touching her I continued to ask her questions. Her answers became heavier and I watched her breast heave as her breathing quickened.

  “Do you want me to kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want me to make love to you?”

  Her hesitation didn’t fool me. It was all part of her game. I didn’t wait for her to answer. I slipped my arms around her and pulled her on top of me. We never made it inside the office. There would be plenty of time for that.

  Besides, I was the Vice President of Operations. I could come by any time I wanted.

  DIAMOND

  “What am I supposed to do, mom?” I was near tears.

  “Honey,” my mom sighed into the phone. “I think the best thing you can do is let Natasha figure this out on her own.”

  “But what he said! It was so sleazy. I mean he’s got to have some kind of mental problem, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, there is no doubt about it.”

  “Then shouldn’t I tell Nat? What if he’s, you know, unstable?”

  “What do you think will happen if you tell Natasha what he said? Do you think she’s going to believe you? Or do you think he’ll sweet talk her into believing him? I’ll bet that’s what he’s already done, too. A guy like him doesn’t just make an indecent proposal without having his alibi already in order. You said he’s rich?”

  “Filthy. We’r
e talking in the billions.”

  “I hate to say it honey but that kind of money changes people. She could be your best friend today and that man starts making it rain and it’ll be Diamond who Tomorrow.”

  I laughed a little. Just a little. The sad thing was that I knew my mom was right. As much as I loved Nat and wanted to think she’d believe me over Joshua I knew I was up against a more experienced player than I could ever be. And he had no rules. And he had no conscience so I had no chance.

  “So what do I do, mom?”

  I tried to explain to my mom the situation as best I could while keeping a PG rating. I knew she was going to tell me to just keep it to myself, be supportive of Nat in her decision and stay the hell away from Prince Charming. But I couldn’t tell her the look that was in Joshua’s eyes, that grin that was like he just swallowed a dog dish full of shit. But it was the vibe. The unnerving assault that was so sudden I still hadn’t recovered from it.

  I’m not going to be so dramatic as to say I felt violated but I will say I felt like I had a film of some unnamable filth all over me.

  “If I were you I wouldn’t say anything right now. You’d be surprised how some of these kinds of sticky situations resolve themselves without your doing anything. Do you have any idea how many times your father suggested we go to his mother’s house when I didn’t want to. Instead of throwing a fit or trying to talk him out of it I would just not say anything. Then he’s start to talk about the long drive, the weather might be bad, he was tired after working all week. The next thing I’d know we were sipping coffee at the kitchen table while he talked to his mother on the phone. Everything worked out just fine because I didn’t make an issue of it.”

  “But that didn’t happen every time.” I said, letting my pessimism show.