Taken

by Mia Ford

  “Yeah, well, it has been amazing but…”

  “But what?” Diamond asked, taking a quick drink of water. We had slipped into a greasy spoon diner, took a booth in the back and waited on a couple of cheeseburgers to arrive while we caught up.

  “Last weekend,” I started. “Joshua told me not to make any plans. He’s been telling me this for the past several weekends, Di. Every weekend he’s got something planned and…”

  “And that’s bad?”

  I took a deep breath.

  “No. We flew in his private jet to Aruba.”

  “I thought you looked tan.”

  “Yeah. And then we spent a weekend in Aspen."

  "Aspen? Do you know how expensive it is there? I take that back. Do you know how expensive it is just to get there? It’s straight up a flipping mountain!”

  Diamond was laughing at me.

  “You’re afraid of heights.” She said pointing her finger at me. “Didn’t you tell him?”

  “Of course I did. But he would just kiss me and then…I’d forget and just…you know.”

  “Okay, my sympathy meter isn’t really budging off the zero line.”

  “And then there are the presents.”

  Diamond’s smile fell from her face. She leaned in closer. Folding her hands in front of her she whispered.

  “What presents? And don’t say it too loud or someone might follow you home, clunk you over the head and steal them. That someone might be me. Did I say that out loud?”

  “Well, he thought I needed some new clothes for work and for each of the trips we’ve gone on.” I took a drink of water. “I now have eight bathing suits. I’ve got half a dozen cocktail dresses that I’ve only worn once and don’t have any idea where I’d wear them again. I’ve got three new watches, one more sparkly than the next. And this.” I held out my wrist and pulled up my sleeve.

  Within an instant my wrist seemed to grab every ray of light and bounce it back into space, twinkling and blinking as each round diamond on the tennis bracelet shimmered brightly regardless of the dim lighting in Standees Diner.

  “Oh my gosh.” Diamond took my hand and pulled it closer to her. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many diamonds all together in my life. This could choke a pig.”

  “Right?”

  “And so, what is the problem?”

  I swallowed hard. I pulled my hand back and covered up the bracelet under my sleeve.

  “He has a brother.”

  “So. Is he single? Can you hook me up? It would be the least you could do considering I am your best friend and I did save your life.”

  “When did you ever save my life?”

  “That time you almost gave that homeless guy your phone number.”

  “Sean wasn’t homeless. He was a street performer. He did freelance work. He said he lived in one of those tiny-houses, you know. Smaller than a studio?”

  “Is that was the local transients are calling their cardboard boxes these days. Tiny-houses? I saved your life. That guy was nothing but trouble. I could tell. Saved your life.”

  “Well, believe me, I would fix you up if his brother wasn’t…Marty.”

  I quickly covered my eyes with my hands. My cheeks were hot with embarrassment and I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry.

  “Marty? Marty, your boss, Marty? The other successful billionaire you’ve been dating? They’re brothers?”

  “Yes.” I said, tears starting to fall down my cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m crying, Di. I really don’t. But when I sit back and think of what has happened I feel like crying. So I do.”

  Telling Diamond this weird twist of events had a very therapeutic result. I felt lighter and even though the tears rolled down my cheeks I wasn’t hysterical. In fact, for the first time I thought I might be getting close to sorting out my feelings. Thank goodness I decided to stalk Diamond today. I really needed her.

  “Well, start from the beginning. Tell me how you first found out.”

  I wasn’t even sure where to begin because it was a very peculiar night. I took a deep breath and let the words just fall out. Once I started I couldn’t stop.

  “What is this benefit for?” I asked Joshua as I got dressed at his penthouse apartment in a new outfit he had picked out for me. It was a beautiful soft pink satin dress that clung to my curves yet covered everything quite modestly. Since we had just finished making love the pink rosiness of my cheeks was the perfect complement to the dress.

  “I’m not sure.” He said as he watched me get dressed. It seemed as if he got just as aroused watching me get dressed as he did watching me undress.

  “You don’t know who you are giving money to?”

  “I’m invited to a dozen of these things a year. Sometimes I go. Sometimes I don’t. But, now that I have this beautiful ornament to hang off my arm, you can bet I’ll be showing her off every chance I get.”

  “Is that all I am to you? An arm ornament?” I teased. Joshua didn’t make me feel like that at all. He made me feel like a princess being escorted to the ball.

  He stood up, walked over to me and without touching me with his hands leaned down and kissed my lips. How I wished he would have swept me back to the bed right then but he didn’t. It was funny. Whenever I felt like that was all I wanted to just be in his arms, to feel his weight and burn with his kisses he’d give me that smoldering look that he was giving me now. I couldn’t be sure if it was the kiss or the look that made me pant with desire but either way, I was a ball of sexual frustration by the time we got into the limo to head off toward the mystery charity event. Something told me Joshua liked that, too.

  Riding in the back of the limo I had to admit it felt like prom. Here we were, all dressed up going to such a grown-up affair. Joshua, who never seemed to be nervous or excited about anything except, well, me. I looked out the window as he rubbed my thigh over the silky-satin of my bushing pink cocktail dress.

  “Will you know anyone here?” I asked, wondering if I needed to prepare for any questions from an Aunt Winifred or Cousin Momo or maybe an ex-fiance who was a supermodel because aren’t they all supermodels?

  “These are mostly going to be people who know my brother. He likes to socialize in small, controlled groups. Like a science experiment.” Joshua’s voice took on a sharp tone as he spoke about his brother.

  “Is he going to be there?” From the sound of it I was hoping not. They didn’t seem to get along.

  “No. I swiped his tickets. He won’t be there.”

  I knew I heard him wrong.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “I stole his ticket. I took it from his mail at work. I thought you’d enjoy going so I took his invites.”

  “My gosh. Joshua. Don’t you think he might get mad?”

  “He’s always mad about something. You should know.”

  “What?” I had no idea where this conversation was going.

  “Isn’t he always grumping around every day, at the office.” Joshua’s face was calm but sly. “Marty Reid. Besides, he’s got a couple of big meetings coming up in the next couple of days, right? He’s too busy.

  This conversation had taken me from Park Avenue down to some seedy alley in the Bronx.

  “Marty Reid is your brother?” I almost choked. My whole body flushed yet I felt a chill. Was it possible to instantaneously come down with the flu? Now I knew why I had the luck of two billionaires vying for my attention. It was because the universe likes practical jokes. Somewhere some divine being was laughing so hard tears were streaming from his divine eyes. He’d be repeating this incident to the other angels or saints or whoever he told jokes to and they’d all be laughing with wide eyes saying “no you di-int” while they searched the cosmos for my face that I swear has the word SUCKER written on my forehead in some kind of invisible ink only these divine beings can see. I probably have KICK ME on my back, too.

  “Didn’t I mention that?”

  “No.” I said, barely hearing the words
come out of my own mouth.

  “Yeah. He’s my big brother. How did you think I got you that job?”

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  “And that was how I found out.” I said, sinking my teeth into the greasy, fully-loaded cheeseburger that tasted so good.

  “Does Joshua know you’ve been with his brother?” Diamond asked after swallowing down almost a fistful of shoestring French fries.

  I shook my head no.

  “Are you sure?” She pressed.

  I licked the corners of my lips.

  “I don’t think he knows. I mean, he doesn’t talk to Marty very often and well, I would think that one of them would have said something by now, right? I mean, one of them would have said hey, I hear your dating my brother, too. Greedy much? Right?”

  Diamond nodded her head.

  “Do they look alike?”

  “Well, I suppose now that I think about it they have similar features. But I wasn’t looking for a family resemblance, you know.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “Well, I’ve thought about it a good bit and I’ve decided to do nothing.”

  “Wha…” Diamond began to cough. She pounded her chest and gulped some water, regained her composure and looked at me like a wild woman. “What?”

  “Yeah. I like them both. And from what I can tell they both like me. Why shouldn’t I let a few more dates go by and see if one of them pulls away from the pack?”

  “Hey, no shame in that game. But, Nat, are you sure that’s you? I mean, when I describe you to people I don’t think I’ve ever used the word ‘playa’.” Diamond said.

  “I should hope you never say ‘playa’ just because you sound retarded saying ‘playa’.”

  “You know what I mean. You’ve never been the gold-digging kind.”

  “I’m not digging for gold.” I snapped. “These guys approached me. It isn’t like I get dressed in c.f.m. heels and head out to the pro basketball games to snag me a NBA player.”

  “No. That came out wrong. I’m sorry. I just meant that you are a fair fighter. You don’t manipulate. That’s all I meant.”

  I believed her. The truth was even if both Joshua and Marty were regular working stiffs like me, I’d still continue dating both of them. I liked both of them. Joshua was wild like a storm at sea. Marty, he was like autumn. That was the best way I could describe him, subtle, comfortable and quietly beautiful. Both of them brought out different feelings and idea and qualities in me.

  Plus, I’m not going to lie. I was experiencing things I never had before. With Joshua it was big bashes with flashing cameras and elegant gowns and people who looked at me with pea-green jealousy.

  But with Marty it was quiet nights in front of the fire, long talks at the office about our hopes and fears and fantasies.

  “It’s the best of both worlds right now, Diamond. I don’t see why I should choose just yet. Not yet.”

  “Hey,” She said, wiping her mouth with a paper napkin. “Far be it from me to criticize.”

  I looked at Diamond for a second.

  “There is something else going on in that pretty brunette head of yours. Spill it.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes you do. Di, if you don’t come clean I’ll cry.” I said. I was only joking but I could tell by Diamond’s expression that something heavy was weighing her down.

  Whatever it was that she was holding back wanted to come out. But she was more stubborn than a mule from South Carolina.

  “The truth is, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Guys with that kind of money sometimes think they are above the rules. Just make sure you hold them to it. Make sure they still open the door for you and don’t swap stories and all that stuff that gentlemen are supposed to do.”

  “Are there still gentleman out there?” I asked, hoping to lighten Diamond’s mood a little.

  “Of course there are. There are tons of them. They might just be short order cooks at the neighborhood diner instead of multi-billionaires.” As Diamond said those words I saw her eyes suddenly dart to the guy who had just taken over for the cook who had prepared our burgers.

  He was a tall glass of water with broad shoulders and muscular arms. And when he turned around to look at Diamond he caught us both checking him out. With a perfect smile he winked.

  “And you’ve been scoping him out the whole time I’ve been spilling my guts to you?” I whispered, pretending to be mad.

  “How could that be? He just got here.” Diamond said, blushing and smiling back.

  “Well, I think we’ve had enough talk about men, don’t you?” Diamond nodded and took one last sip of her water. Reaching for her purse I stopped her.

  “This is on me.” I said.

  “I can leave the tip.” She offered to which I shook my head.

  “Please, let me do it. Consider it payback for when you saved my life.”

  “I saved her life, you know.” Diamond said loudly to the cook who was watching us get up to leave.

  “Well, you’re a good friend.” He said back, his smile bright and wide, crinkling his eyes in the corners.

  “Aren’t I though? And so this meal was her way of thanking me.”

  He leaned over the counter motioning for Diamond to come a little closer.

  “Does she hate you?” he said still grinning.

  Diamond started to laugh and so did I.

  “Come back again sometime. I’ll make you my special.” He said, nodding politely and waving bye to us.

  As we stepped outside there were a few paparazzi waiting. I hadn’t yet achieved Kardashian derangement but there were a few rookies who seemed to think there was some kind of story behind me.

  “This is nuts, girl.” Diamond said, covering her face against the flashes. “And to think some people seek this kind of attention out.”

  I tried to smile politely knowing full well that the pictures were not going to capture a sweet woman smiling politely but instead I’d look like a half-wit who should be sitting in a corner with a dunce cap on. I never was very photogenic.

  “I know. I’m sort of embarrassed.”

  Just then, a black limo pulled up. It was as if the poor driver had just been sitting there, rubbernecking at the door just waiting for us to come out.

  “Hop in.” I said as the driver rushed from behind the wheel to open the door for both of us. Diamond climbed in and I scooted right in behind her.

  “Great. I wonder what the tabloids are going to say about us getting in this hearse together.”

  “Oh my gosh. It’s not a hearse.” I said laughing.

  “No. I’m teasing. It is really nice.” Diamond was rubbing her hand over the dark leather when suddenly she stopped. “You guys didn’t do anything nasty back here and now I’m sitting…”

  “No. Don’t be gross. We save that for Joshua’s sports car.”

  “Whew! Okay. What about Marty?”

  I stopped and couldn’t help but get a little dreamy for a second.

  “He’s a little more traditional.”

  “Oh, isn’t that sweet. Just oral till you kids meet each other’s parents.”

  “You are so gross!” I squealed, happy to have my friend back.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I meant just anal.”

  “No way! You are a sick individual! Totally!”

  The limousine drove around through the city. We laughed and talked watching the people who tried to see in the tinted windows as we rolled past.

  “Natasha. I just want to say one thing.” She took hold of my hand and her eyes had tears in them. “Whatever happens, whatever you choose or whatever these two men do just know that I love you. I want nothing but the best for you and if you ever need me for anything you can just call. Anytime.”

  “Di, you sound like you’re worried I might get lost at sea or something.”

  “I’m just saying. No matter what happens or what anyone tells you I’ll always b
e your friend and I’ll always be right there if you need me.”

  As I waved good-bye to Di when we dropped her at her apartment and the limo was now taking me home, I couldn’t help feeling like she knew something she wasn’t telling me.

  Whatever it was had her nervous. That made me nervous. Little did I know just how far things could unravel in a matter of days. Little did I know how far minds could unravel. I am now convinced that desperation is the creator of monsters.

  JOSHUA

  Going in to work was like stepping foot in your family’s trailer home for Christmas after you’ve been in Paris for three years.

  People looked at me as if they didn’t recognize me. That is, those who were brave enough to make eye contact with me. Some of the old familiar faces came and shook my hand. Some just gave me a nod. My brother, who is always so diplomatic, welcomed me in front of the board of directors. But I could tell by the way he avoided looking at me that he wasn’t thrilled I was there.

  Note to my future protégé: If people are uncomfortable when you are around it means you’ve got something they want. My brother was always uncomfortable when I was around. But, he managed to hide it pretty well while he told of the company treading along in the black and plans for the future.

  There were a few squawkers who always complained.

  “We’ve got three contracts that have yet to break ground and have been tied up in arbitration for almost two years now.”

  “The property that was acquired in Prague has not enticed any of the locals to apply. We’re sending our people over there at three times the cost.”

  “The new legislation pushed through at the eleventh hour by that S.O.B. in the White House is going to cost our southern branches to reconsider the their distribution procedures.”

  Waa. Waa. Waa. A bunch of babies.

  I sat back at the opposite end of the conference table, swiveling in my chair watching them all. Some of the directors were cool customers. They listened pensively, every once in a while smoothing out their ties or nodding their heads in agreement with something my brother said.

  Then there were the worriers. The cry-babies, no matter how golden their parachute was, it just wasn’t enough. They freaked out if even the slightest setback caused them to only reap about 1.7 return instead of the 1.8 return they had gotten last year on their billion dollar investments.