Insufferable Proximity

by Z. Stefani

  Not only that, but with everything going on with Julian King, Heaven was not sure how often she would be able to contact Jade. Considering the fact that they talked on the phone no less than three times a week, it was safe to say Jade would be sick with worry if she could not get a hold of her.

  That would initiate the domino effect, Jade would call Heaven’s mother and when Sybille could not get in contact with her daughter, all hell would break loose. Between, Jade, her mother, her aunt Coco and Maude there would be a full-blown missing person’s case in effect within an hour. It would turn into a fiasco, complete with a neighborhood search party and missing person posters with high definition pictures of Heaven plastered about the state. She knew those women well and it was best to just explain the situation to Jade and prevent a lot of unnecessary drama.

  ***

  Julian left the office early, unable to concentrate at work, his mind was focused on his upcoming meeting with his enemy. He went to his main house to make sure everything was ready for her, instructing the staff of their new schedule for the next thirty days. He debated the idea of finding an available woman to release his frustrations on, but decided to refrain from all sex until he was able to get his hands on Ms. Deville.

  ***

  “You what?” Jade barked as the fork full of salad that she was about to put in her mouth was momentarily suspended, “you broke into his office and sent that virus through his computer?” she looked at her friend in utter shock, although knowing Heaven as well as she did, she should not be the least bit surprised. Heaven was known for going to extremes when it came to competition, and was liable to do anything to guarantee her victory. The thrill of the hunt was deep in her DNA and Heaven’s good judgment was usually enslaved to the battle.

  “Everything just disappeared, I guess it‘s completely destroyed.” she grinned.

  “I told you that virus was powerful.” Jade smiled ear to ear, she had specifically designed that virus to destroy her ex- boyfriend’s entire computer. Since it was the same computer he had used to correspond with the tramp he had repeatedly cheated on her with, she felt it was a fitting payback. Unlike Mr. Julian King, Jade’s ex-boyfriend could not afford to just run out and replace it.

  “I had no idea. Maybe you should rethink the whole career change, you’re too good with computer software to quit now.”

  “I am so done with computers, I swear I’m throwing my laptop out.” Jade frowned, “Speaking of which, they will never be able to fix Julian King‘s computer. Its garbage now, they might as well throw it out.”

  “Or throw it on top of his head.” she grinned.

  “I can’t believe you broke into his office, Sevigne.”

  “I can’t believe I got busted,” Heaven scoffed “it would have been the perfect plan.”

  “Foiled by the secret security camera.” Jade chuckled “and Mr. Julian King himself.”

  “That’s not funny Jade.” Heaven rolled her eyes.

  “No, the fact that you are about to do a thirty day jail term is not funny,” she could not stop the smile from spreading across her face, “what’s funny is that I’ve warned you about this for years and you know I have. You could have prevented this.”

  “That’s enough.”

  “No, you should have listened to me a long, long, long time ago when I told you that impulsive streak and your temper were going to get you in some serious shit one day. And of course, I was right.” she took a sip of her French vanilla latte, “Too bad you had to learn the hard way instead of just listening to your friend who is only looking out for your best interest.”

  “Shut up Jade.”

  “I mean really Sevigne, what would possess you to break into his office, steal his proposal and destroy his computer?” she shook her head, she knew Heaven got a little crazy when it came to competition, but this was a bit much, even for her.

  “I don’t know.” Heaven looked at her best friend and shrugged her shoulders, she was still asking herself that very same question. Heaven lowered her head in what appeared to be defeat, a move Jade had never seen her do before. “It was like some out of body experience or something.”

  “Well I hope you can muster up another out of body experience for the next thirty days.” Jade tried to use humor to lighten her friend’s mood.

  “Yeah me too,” she looked up at Jade again, “this guy really hates me Jade.”

  “As much as you hate him?” Jade asked, finding it hard to believe that Julian King actually hated Heaven. Sure, she was difficult on the outside, but on the inside- actually very deep down inside, Heaven could be sweet.

  “If not more.”

  “Damn.”

  “I think he’s going to torture me to death.”

  “No, he’s not going to kill you, but I guarantee he’s going to want lots of kinky sex.” she giggled.

  “You’re not helping matters Jade.” she snapped, not finding her sarcastic friend the least bit funny.

  “Hey, Julian King is a sexy mother-fucker! If I had to be sexually tortured, I’d definitely want it to be by his hand.” she fanned herself with her napkin, getting a sudden rush of heat through her neither region. “I still have flashbacks of seeing him at that Christmas party last year, that man is a GOD!”

  “Don’t say that! That is disgusting, you do not know him. He is a cocky, egotistical, competitive, selfish, self-righteous egomaniac and there is nothing sexy about that.”

  “And you aren’t?” she laughed. “Don’t forget I’ve known you for a very long time Sevigne Deville, and you’re just as competitive and cocky as he is.”

  “I am not.”

  “Yes you are, remember Dena Rich and the archery competition?”

  “That’s different, that bitch tried to cheat and I worked too hard to let her get away with it. I deserved that award, I won that competition fair and square.” she grinned thinking of the box in her closet filled with all the different archery awards she had won over the years.

  “It didn’t hurt that the little accident you concocted sprained her wrist, forcing her to forfeit.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered if my wrist was broken and she was in perfect condition, I still would have won, Dena was a punk who only liked archery because she had a crush on Bradley, who was obsessed with archery. And I already told you I didn’t have anything to do with that accident, that was purely coincidental.”

  “And I still don‘t believe you.” Jade smiled from ear to ear.

  “Whatever, what’s your point?”

  “My point is, I think you just met your match.” she shook her head.

  “I can’t believe you’re saying this crap to me!”

  “What? I’m telling the truth, come on Sevigne, you know you’re a little bit of a cold-hearted bitch.” she smiled, loving her friend just the way she was, she just wanted more for her then Sevigne would allow herself to have.

  Sevigne had always been the same impulsive, stubborn and aggressive girl she was now. Jade loved her to death and trusted her more than anyone, even her own mother, but she also worried about her. Heaven’s demeanor was always cold and distant, even back at school. She had skipped the whole boy-craze phase and social scene, instead opting to spend all of her time studying. She considered fun a luxury she could not afford and had never let loose or just had a good time. Heaven was always so tightly wound and buried in her career that Jade worried that she was letting life just pass her by.

  Sure, there were plenty of 26-year-old virgins and there was nothing wrong with waiting for sex, but it went much deeper than that with Heaven. Heaven was anti-sexual and despised anything that had to do with romance, sex or emotion. Jade understood why, being raised by a mother who sold sex was disturbing and as a daughter, you either succumb to the lifestyle or defy it.

  “Real sympathetic, you sure are taking my imprisonment lightly, aren’t you the least bit worried for me?” Heaven raised her brows in question.

  “Not really, honestly I’m more worried about
him. You’re going to eat him alive and he has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.” Jade smiled ear to ear, “besides you need to loosen up and if it takes 30 days of lock down enforced by your semi-psychotic, albeit ridiculously-sexy co-worker to loosen you up, then so be it.” she could not prevent the laughter. “I always said it would take an army to make you surrender, I hope he is enough.”

  “Some friend.” she scoffed.

  “You know I love you, you’re like my little sister.”

  “Well, I just wanted to let you know where I’ll be in case you don’t hear from me, friend.” she frowned as she stood up from the table.

  “No, come on Sevigne, I was just kidding! You can’t leave mad, I’m not going to see you for the next 30 days.” she pleaded, but Heaven was headed outside. Jade sat the money down on the table then followed Heaven outside. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m leaving.”

  “Aw come Sevigne, I’m sorry, you know I didn’t mean It.” she wrapped her arm around her friend who was refusing to look at her. Jade had never seen Heaven like this before and she did not like it one bit. “Besides, he’s probably just trying to scare the shit out of you, I doubt he meant what he said.”

  “No, you didn’t see his face, he meant every word.” her words were filled with worry and her mind was doused in doubt.

  “Well, we are very clever girls and between the two of us, I am sure we can think of a way out of it.”

  “I don’t think so Jade, not this time.”

  “He’s a man, men can be reasoned with, sometimes you just have to show a few tears.”

  “Cry?” Heaven barked out, “Are you crazy?”

  “It beats the alternative.” Jade’s reasonable statement gave Heaven something to think about.

  “True.” Heaven said hating her options, but willing to cry on command if need be.

  “Come on, let’s go save the whale and figure out what we can do to get you out of this.”

  “Fine.” she followed her friend to her car, focused on the sliver of hope she now felt.

  ***

  Signed Submission

  The sky was balancing between the thick blackness that cast a navy fog over the swaying trees and the flashing fiery white bolts of lightning that lit up the dark night as if it was early afternoon. The thick drops of rain fell from above like liquid bullets, fast enough to bounce off any object before being absorbed into the forming puddles on the ground below.

  Heaven Deville stood outside of the brightly lit restaurant “Platinum”, her large black umbrella and matching rain jacket her only defense against the storm. She knew she should just walk into the restaurant and avoid the unpredictable bolts of electricity cracking through the sky above her, but she just could not bring herself to go inside.

  Julian King was inside waiting for her, waiting with his demands and his retribution, his sole intent to degrade and humiliate her. He wanted to pay her back for the three years she had bested him, for all the times she had mocked him, proving her worth was more than his. He wanted to be declared the victor of their competition, that long three year battle for the top spot at the firm, and now he finally had his chance.

  For the first time in her 26 years of life, she was truly nervous.

  She looked at the enormous silver sign, with the restaurant’s name in bold black letters, attached to the red brick building above her head. The light bulbs inside of the thick shadow box were beginning to flicker with the beat of the lightening, and Heaven felt a sliver of hope. She looked up to the pale silver moon, surrounded by a thick fleecy darkness, then shut her eyes and silently prayed that a hurricane would suddenly appear and whisk the restaurant away, then distribute it in tiny pieces over the northern side of the state. She opened her eyes to see the sky had calmed down a little bit in response to her, denying her request as the last bolt of lightning curled into a snide grin before dissipating before her very eyes. It was at that very moment she knew, nothing could save her from her lecherous fate, even her own karma was eager to make an example out of her and force her to pay for her lack of judgment.

  She took a deep breath then extended her hand to the highly polished silver door handle, but when the brightly hued, stain glass door opened up, she quickly drew back as if bitten by a snake. She stepped to the side, hiding her face with her umbrella as a finely dressed couple exited the establishment.

  “Platinum” was an exclusive restaurant that catered to the elite of the elite. There were some who got lucky enough to get a reservation almost a year in advance, but most could not get in at all, unfortunately she fell in the latter category. Of course, Julian King could get in, he probably had a permanent reservation and his own personal table, she thought.

  “Spoiled prick.” she murmured to herself. The irony of the situation was not lost on her, Platinum was the one and only place that her superior skills of persuasion were useless to her and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get a reservation. Before tonight, she would have sold her best friends kidney to be able to dine potential clients at such a swanky place, but now she would give her own right leg not to have to go inside.

  As much as she hated Julian King, and would love nothing more than to blame this entire unfortunate incident on him, she knew she could not, she had no one to blame but herself.

  That was the worst part about the whole situation, it was her own damn fault. She just could not leave well enough alone, she had to go and do the stupidest thing she could think of. Really, what was wrong with her? What had been going through her mind that she honestly believed she would get away with something so unethical not to mention illegal. She had worked very hard to get where she was today and to think that she may have ruined it all with such an impulsive act of desperation, completely sickened her.

  She should have known better, not just for the obvious ethical reasons, but how could she have been so stupid to think that a sex-crazed freak like Julian King would not have cameras in his office. They had probably been installed for sexual purposes, she imagined him smiling into the lens as he and his temporary slut for the night, performed lurid acts in front of the camera. She knew in her heart the twisted pervert had probably left the camera rolling and just gotten lucky by catching her breaking into his office.

  How could she have been so foolish? Had she truly believed she would get away with it? It had made sense at the time, considering everyone at the firm knew of the secret saboteur out to sabotage Julian King’s career. She had assumed everyone at the office would automatically think it was another act committed by the mystery villain, but never once did she consider the fact that all of the previous misdeeds could be pinned on her.

  If word got out about what she did, she would be blacklisted indefinitely, no firm in the state of New York would dare work with her. She took one last look up to the sky, giving it one last chance to produce some type of natural disaster, aware of the fact that she was just delaying the inevitable. She was stuck between a rock and a chainsaw, there was nothing she could do to get herself out of this situation. She refused to voluntarily quit a career she loved and jail was out of the question, she had no other choice but to go inside.

  She would just have to force herself to submit to the demands of a lunatic, because that vengeful beast had her right where he wanted her. She took the deepest breath she could muster before reaching out, then slowly turning the doorknob, opening the large glass door and finally walking inside.

  She had no more then stepped inside and closed her umbrella when the smell in the air over took her. The strong aroma of caramel with just a hint of vanilla drifted through the brightly lit restaurant. She felt her knees wiggle and her stomach flutter as the smell enveloped her. She absolutely loved sweets, it had been her one true weakness since childhood. As a child, she was unable to resist, but as an adult, she forced herself to, she would not succumb to her cravings. She was in a war of wills against herself and it was a battle she refused to loose. She had a hard enough time trying
to tame the curves of her body as it was, and she did not need the extra pounds making it harder. Still, in stressful situations like this, she felt that familiar weakness nagging at her. She opted to hold her breath and try not to breathe in such a delectable scent as she walked over to the host.

  “Miss Deville here for Mr. King.” she said and the host looked taken aback.

  “Of course.” he attempted to smile, but it looked as if the very act had brought intense pain to his face “May I take your jacket?”

  “Yes.” she answered, removing her black rain jacket then handing it to the host who held out his hand as if he was expecting a pile of manure, his eyes skimming over her with a look of disgust. “And this.” she handed him her umbrella, watching his reaction.

  She had gone out of her way to look especially unattractive tonight and she could tell by the look on the host’s face that her plan had obviously worked. She had carefully picked out the most unflattering suit she had in her closet, it was two sizes too big, unaltered and she was sure there was a small hole somewhere near the bottom of the hem. She also went the extra mile with her hair, slicking it back into a bun so tight, she feared her hair was de-rooting as she stood there. She wore the worse granny shoes she could find at the local supermarket and then to top it all off, she pulled out her special ‘man proof’ glasses, they were thicker and more unattractive than the ones she normally wore to work.