Better Off Dead

by Alice Bello

  “Tell me about this girl you’ve found… is she pretty?”

  Gabriel chuckled, his chest expanding and jerking with the effort. She loved the feel of his body, especially at times like this, when it moved unexpectedly. So alive.

  “Jealous?”

  Delia stabbed her finger into his stomach, making him groan.

  “Okay, okay! You’re above petty things like jealousy… and gratuitous violence.”

  “You think that was violent?” She looked up into his eyes and fought off the craving for him, and the yearning to just melt into those fathomlessly deep brown eyes of his. “See what happens if you say she’s prettier than me.”

  “Not even close.” He leaned in and kissed her, tasting warm and alive.

  After Delia nestled back into the muscles of his chest, Gabriel continued. “She seems to possess the attributes that will impress my family. And she’s shallow, manipulative, and a complete gold digger.”

  “She will fit in well with your family.”

  Gabriel sighed and pulled her tighter to him. “I’m going to ignore that one.”

  She smiled and inhaled the delicious aroma of his naked flesh.

  “But she is goal oriented, and she has prowess when it comes to acting out a part and manipulation. I truly believe she’ll be able to play her role more than well enough to fool my family.”

  “Good,” Delia whispered, though the feeling the thought of someone else being at his side made her feel anything but.

  “And once she’s in place and my family is no longer so fixated on finding me a mate, we’ll be free to be together.”

  “Ironic how you need to get married to someone else so we can spend more time together.” She could hear the bitterness in her own words.

  Gabriel looped his forefinger under her chin and pulled her face up to his. “This was your idea.”

  She closed her eyes and pushed back the sudden wetness and burning. “I know, I know. It’s just…” She pushed all the crazy thoughts out of her mind. She would do anything to be with Gabriel. Anything.

  She looked deep into his eyes again. “It’s nothing.” But there was something there. Something new and uninvited. It was a feeling. That feeling that comes when you just know things are going all wrong. She pulled herself up on top of Gabriel, their bare skins sliding with the remnants of the fallen rain. She straddled him, pushing her hands hard into the muscles of his smooth chest, making him groan.

  She stared into his eyes. If there was something wrong, wouldn’t she be able to see it in his eyes? But his eyes were filled with his usual longing for her. But was it love? She needed more than anything to believe that indeed it was. For if she didn’t have his love, then what did she have?

  ~*~

  Lucy slept deep and hard that night. Her dreams were of shopping in boutiques and huge high-class shopping Meccas, of driving something sleek, expensive, and midnight blue (a new color for a new life) and receiving acceptance letters from every university she’d applied to. Even Stanford—that one had come in a golden envelope and the words glittered magically as she read them.

  She woke the next morning still sore but filled with purpose. Luvici was to pick her up shortly after she left for school. He was to park three blocks away so that her grandmother and mother wouldn’t suspect.

  Her mother was still asleep—the late shift always took it out of her. Lucy’s grandmother made her breakfast, and Lucy picked at it, only taking a bite or two when her grandmother was looking. She poured herself a cup of coffee after discarding the rest of her food in the trash. If she didn’t eat it, she wouldn’t have to work it off later. She would put off starting her workout regime until her shoulder had healed, but she would start dieting in earnest now.

  She would miss her grandmother’s cooking. Her own mother had only been a microwave kind of cook. If it wasn’t for the full time cook her father had employed year round Lucy would have never known there was such a thing as place settings and silverware. Also, having a cook meant that when Lucy had started eating low-fat, low-carb, the cook simply prepared something different for her.

  But her Gram’s cooking was special. Though full of fat and sugar and salt, it was also filled with love.

  Lucy grabbed her book bag and gave her grandmother a kiss as she made to leave.

  “Do you work tonight?” her grandmother asked, catching her at the door.

  “Oh, ummm… yes. So don’t wait up for me.” Lucy kissed her grandmother again. She didn’t like lying to her, however she would be doing things in preparation for her new job, so she actually wasn’t lying.

  Sure you’re not, Princess.

  Five minutes later Lucy found Luvici parked in a sweet, shiny red convertible. He had on a pair of shades and was leaning back in the driver’s seat soaking up some rays. He looked happy... too damn happy. Lucy stood there just staring at him. Sure, he’s really feeling that financial crunch.

  Finally she got into the passenger’s side seat, wanting nothing more than to slap him good. All that feeling sorry for him—finding he had layers, like some rumpled puppy/onion cross breed—was gone. She was going to hold her tongue, at least until Luvici drove her into San Bernardino, so she could pick up the car Dante Enoch had waiting for her, and of course the credit card. She would try not to be too late to school. But she absolutely wanted to break the card in.

  She was wondering what kind of car Dante would pick out for her. Probably something practical; he seemed a very practical man. But he was elegant too. Whatever it was, it would be elegant. That, at least, was a comfort.

  Luvici hadn’t moved a muscle. Was he asleep? Lucy finally took a breath to tell him to wake up, but ended up saying what was really going through her head. “I thought you said you were broke?” She looked to him and saw a smile slide across his face. Jerk… “I don’t call having this as a second car being financially strapped.”

  “What would you call it, then?” Luvici was looking downright smug behind his sunglasses.

  “I’d call it a mid-life crisis. Darla, Kenny… this shiny new penis shaped car. Looks like someone’s feeling over the hill, trying to regain some of his lost youth.” Luvici still had that irritating smile on his face. “What would you call it?”

  Luvici held out a set of keys in Lucy’s direction without actually looking at her. “I’d call this penis shaped midlife crisis yours.” He gave them a shake and the keys jingled merrily, sparkling new in the sunlight.

  “Mine?” Lucy felt tingly all over. Suddenly she started looking around at the sleek lines of the car, how the red paint blazed in the sun, at the soft as butter tan leather seats.

  “All you have to do is drive me back to my office and you’re free to rack up all the speeding tickets you want.”

  Lucy smiled. “What makes you so sure I won’t just take off and leave you in the dust?”

  “My unwavering belief in human decency,” Luvici said.

  Lucy snorted.

  “And I have your credit card in my wallet. And you don’t get that until I’m safely deposited at my office.”

  Lucy reached out and took the keys form Luvici. “I was just kidding. I’d never just ditch you.”

  “Sure you wouldn’t.” He didn’t sound as if he believed her.

  Lucy got out of the car and headed over to the driver’s side. Luvici awkwardly crab walked over the gearshift and plopped into the passenger seat. Lucy was surprised the man could move like that. She was sure from his belly that he hadn’t done exercise of any kind for over a decade. Unless you counted boffing Darla and Kenny as exercise, then maybe he was fitter than he looked.

  “Where’s the trust?” Lucy slid in behind the wheel and turned the engine over with a wicked roar.

  “Just don’t kill us, okay Hart?”

  Lucy smiled at him calling her “Hart.” It was funny and made her almost like him. Almost.

  ~*~

  A credit card through Enoch Industries, in her name, and a spanking new iPhone came with th
e car. And after Lucy left Luvici in a cloud of dust at the curb of his office building, she decided an impromptu ditch day to break in the credit card was in order. Every boutique on the main drag of San Bernardino was calling her name. She chose a store that was new—since she wasn’t really in the mood to run into one of her former girlfriends—and the shop really did look promising. Gucci and Prada adorned the front windows.

  Lucy parked the shiny new convertible, closing the top and locking the doors… something she’d never done with her own car. She just thought that if anyone actually did anything to it, Daddy would buy her a new one. Now she knew Daddy wasn’t buying her anything, anytime soon. And though the car wasn’t technically hers, it felt like it was. She felt a little swoon of happiness as she hit the car alarm, admiring her own reflection coming from the polished-to-perfection paint-job.

  Like it was a movie, Lucy turned dramatically to face the front of the boutique. Get ready salespeople, I come bearing platinum!

  And as soon as she flashed the platinum credit card she was suddenly barraged by three pathologically cheerful salesladies. In no time at all they brought her a plethora of dresses, shoes, lingerie, silk tops, and designer jeans. She’d stacked up some promising pieces for reconsideration… and the sales staff was bringing her more with blurry speed. They had even offered her champagne—a platinum card must make everyone look older than they are.

  But for no apparent reason Lucy suddenly felt tired… depressed… like somehow finally getting to shop was—unbelievably—disappointing. Usually she’d had already decided on twenty different items and would be effortlessly picking out more. But she only had five things piled up, and nothing was looking good to her, even though she knew they were beautiful, and they’d be even more gorgeous on her.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  And then she saw a couple girls pass by the front windows of the shop, both laughing, both laden with shopping bags.

  Am I lonely?

  The thought was really disturbing. She hadn’t felt lonely, not even after she’d lost all her friends and found herself incarcerated in Four Corners. She’d felt betrayed and angry, but never lonely.

  Lucy asked the sales women for a breather. “I just need to make a phone call. Won’t take but a minute.”

  “Of course,” the lead saleswoman said, ushering the other clerks away with a terse clap of her hands.

  Lucy sat there, holding her phone. She couldn’t call anyone she knew. Her old friends were out of the question… and her family couldn’t know about what she was up to. Lucy hit the phonebook option on her new phone and found the numbers for Dante and Gabriel Enoch, and Enoch Industries already programmed in. Lucy couldn’t picture Dante or Gabriel standing around helping her spend their money on a heap of designer clothes.

  Luvici’s number was programmed in too. And not just his office phone number. It had to be his cell. He’d been pushy on their one shopping excursion, but he’d been good company, and he had great fashion instincts. Lucy bit her lip, weighing her options—but since she had none, the process accelerated right into her clicking his name and him picking up on the second ring.

  “Did you burn a hole in the credit card already?”

  “Funny,” Lucy had to smile. He was really funny. “I haven’t actually bought anything yet.”

  “What’s up?”

  Lucy suddenly felt really stupid. She should enjoy spending money on herself. This was something she was really good at. “I’m not having any fun,” she confessed. “I used to do most of my shopping with my girlfriends… but they’re not my friends anymore… not that they ever really were.”—What am I saying? He isn’t my freaking shrink!—“It’s just…” She just couldn’t say it aloud.

  “You’re lonely?” Luvici asked.

  “Yeah…” She bit her lip again, and then asked in a tone far too desperate for comfort, “Can you come and shop with me?”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you... you were great yesterday, and I feel like I’m sinking here.”

  Silence. Then Luvici chuckled. “I’m swamped right now, but I know the perfect someone to be your shopping buddy. Where are you?”

  Lucy told him her location, and Luvici told her to sit tight, “She’ll be there in ten minutes.” Then he hung up.

  Lucy suddenly wondered who “she” would be. She was praying it wouldn’t be Darla. Pretty woman, but she had a tacky edge that just wouldn’t be conducive to shopping anywhere other than Victoria’s Secret.

  Ten minutes turned to twenty, and Lucy was about to just buy the meager pile of clothing she’d picked and call it a day. Even sitting in class wouldn’t be so grueling. At least there she was used to being ignored… though that might change now that she was getting back her mojo… and her looks.

  Suddenly a gorgeous young woman in her early twenties breezed through the doors of the boutique, shot the nervous looking saleswomen with a commanding, brilliant smile, and then turned that smile on Lucy.

  “I hear you need someone to help you spend the Enoch family fortune?”

  Lucy smiled back. “Some of it, at least.”

  “As long as you spend enough to make Dante’s head explode, I’m in.” Her expression was priceless. She was wicked and funny, and Lucy liked her immediately.

  “I take it you don’t like Dante?”

  “Oh, I love the old goat… don’t tell him, he’d never let me live it down…”

  Lucy suddenly felt a blush running up to her face. “You love Dante?” The thought of Dante as a sugar daddy to this very young beauty was enough to make Lucy gag.

  “Yeah, I kind of have to… he’s my father.”

  Oh… that’s better. So I’m going to spend Enoch money with a member of the family.

  “I’m Elaina, by the way. Elaina Enoch.” She brushed her stunning ebony tresses over her shoulder and extended her hand to Lucy.

  “Lucy Hart.” They shook hands. Elaina’s manicure was gorgeous, as were the rings on her fingers and the bracelets dangling from her wrists.

  “I know,” she said, then turned to the saleswomen, “We’ll see everything again, and I’d kill for a Bloody Mary.” Turning her attention back to Lucy she said, “Everyone in the family has heard about you.”

  “Really?” Lucy tired not to let her surprise show. They’d only worked out the deal the day before, and already there was press going through the family about it.

  “Of course. You can’t have the Al—” Elaina coughed, “the next head of the company marrying just any Lolita he sinks his teeth into… no offense. There will be plenty of scrutiny on you, and not all of it will be as pleasant as our little shopping date here will be.”

  Lucy suddenly realized that she should be acting the part of Gabriel’s moon-eyed fiancée. Had she already blown it?

  “Well, I know it’s kind of fast, but… but I’m really in love with Gabe… I mean Gabriel. He’s just so…”

  Elaina was looking at her like she was telling the most hilarious joke. “First thing you have to do is come up with a plausible, if not absolutely sickeningly romantic story to float with the family. I’m surprised daddy didn’t already give you one.”

  Lucy just stared slack jawed.

  “But, it’ll be better if you come up with the details yourself. Dante has no imagination, and he’s so unromantic. I’m surprised my mother hasn’t divorced him yet.”

  Just then a salesclerk brought Elaina the Bloody Mary she’d ordered, and Lucy could see a legion of saleswomen lined up with at least two items a piece in their hands. They were practically salivating.

  “Anytime you’re ready, Miss Enoch.” The lady practically bowed to Elaina.

  Lucy was impressed. This chick must shop like a maniac!

  “Give us another sixty seconds, then bring over the first wave… and keep them coming.” She turned back to Lucy. “Just remember to tell the story the same, over and over… details are important, and the more romantic and gushy the better. The Enoch family have weak
stomachs when it comes to sticky sweet love shit.” She took a healthy chug off her Bloody Mary before she sat down beside Lucy on the leather loveseat.

  “And don’t forget to tell Gabriel… I mean, Gabe—that’s so cute!—all the details. It might make him want to throw up, but his story is going to have to match up with yours.”

  “You’re really good at all this, aren’t you?” Lucy said as the first fleet of designer dresses flew in for their inspection.

  Elaina pointed at a stunning blue silk number with intricate bead work on the hem and neck line. It practically screamed Valentino. “I love that. It would drape beautifully with your knock-out shoulders.”

  Lucy looked at the dress and had to admit it was gorgeous. She nodded her agreement.

  “And yes.” Elaina winked. “I’m very good at keeping the truth from the family. I’m just surprised Daddy didn’t ask for my help earlier.”

  She smiled as Elaina plucked another dress—Armani—and a lovely pair of silver Prada mules from the stream of merchandise. “They really should have.”

  She and Elaina cut a swath through four more boutiques, stopping only long enough for a quick lunch at a restaurant that would never take walk in customers, but the moment they laid eyes on Elaina they were bumped to the top of the list and were seated and had drinks within three minutes.

  She felt downright miserly compared with this chick. Even at her best she only hit two stores a day, and though many stores catered to her, they practically fell over themselves trying to please Elaina.

  She couldn’t imagine how much money Elaina spent to deserve such devotion. Elaina, the goddess of the shopping expedition.

  They had just begun to shop in the fifth boutique when they started talking about Gabriel. Lucy confided that even with his great looks, his personality was sorely lacking. Elaina cackled.

  “And I bet he loves you calling him Gabe!”

  “Probably not, but he deserves it.”