Treasure My Heart

by Altonya Washington

  “I know it’s dangerous thinking.” Oliver nodded. “It’s my anger talking.”

  “I know about Vectra. She told me about the abuse.”

  Oliver rubbed at his eyes while a muscle danced viciously along his cheek. “It was a hard time, even harder given the fact that we knew the snake. He was right there the whole time, and we never suspected he was hurting her. When she told me and Dad to stay out of it—” he chuckled “—I think we both went a little crazy.”

  “Oliver.” Minka scooted closer to where he sat. “I didn’t think there was anything to tell. I never thought he’d go after me that way, never thought he held that much resentment over what happened.”

  “I know you didn’t.” Oliver moved closer. “I didn’t tell you that because I was fishing for any additional explanations. I only wanted you to know the rest of the story.

  “It’s not easy to love—watching what my dad went through after my mom passed, watching what Vectra went through. One wrong move by that idiot she was attached to could’ve been her death sentence. The idea of love and loss terrifies me, Minka. I don’t mind admitting that. I’m not proud of it, but I don’t mind admitting it.”

  “I understand.” She squeezed his arm.

  “Really?” Surprise registered on his handsome, cinnamon-doused features. “Then maybe you could tell me why the fear of loss is becoming a smaller blip on my radar?”

  Minka smiled, looking down at her remaining breakfast, which she’d lost complete interest in. “I’ve heard that love does that.”

  “Yeah.” Oliver nodded, smiled and took her hand. “Yeah, I’ve heard that somewhere.” He gave a tug until they were engaging in a slow, sweet kiss across Minka’s breakfast tray.

  They broke apart in laughter when the tray hindered how close they wanted to be. Oliver dutifully set it aside, and their kissing resumed. The buttons along the front of her borrowed sleep shirt offered only a minor hindrance.

  Minka relished Oliver’s touch, which melted away any residual effects from her harrowing experience. He tended to her nipples with infinite care and gentleness until Minka arched beneath him, hungering for more.

  The knocking on the door barely registered, but Oliver noticed.

  “Are you kidding me?” he muttered.

  “Have you guys made up yet?” Vectra’s voice drifted in behind the knock.

  Minka laughed while Oliver turned his head toward the door.

  “We’re tryin’!” he yelled.

  * * *

  Zena Moritz Gerald sat across from her granddaughter on an elegant settee embroidered with her initials. Poised, cool, she raised a delicate china cup to her lips and sipped her tea that filled the room with the rich aroma of bergamot.

  “And why am I just hearing about this now?”

  Minka sighed, shifting her position on the wing chair in the office where she’d joined her grandmother for afternoon tea. She knew honesty was best, and that Zena would sniff out anything less faster than she could blink.

  “You’re just hearing about it because Sim has placed security guards on me and plans to amp up security at the stockholders event. The security you already have in place will definitely notice the addition of more men.”

  “Mmm...” Zena continued to sip her tea, knowing that she was heightening anticipation of her response until it reached agonizing proportions.

  “Otherwise, you hadn’t intended to tell me a thing?” Zena kept her eyes on her teacup while posing the question.

  “No.” Minka swallowed down a wave of nerves.

  Zena at last showed signs of agitation. She set the ornately designed cup on an end table that matched her settee.

  “I’m starting to have second thoughts about letting you take the helm, Babylove. Ah, ah...” She raised a hand when Minka piped up to speak. “It doesn’t have anything to do with your business savvy, sweetness. It’s the fact that you’re so careless with your own life. I’ll probably have to look for a new successor anyway once you get yourself killed.”

  Minka cleared her throat, but otherwise remained silent.

  “Who else knew about this?” Zena turned to pin her with a look when there was no response.

  Minka rolled her eyes. “Mr. Walt and Lorna.” She waited for Zena to explode. She frowned curiously when the woman merely smirked and shook her head.

  “They wanted you to know, Gram, but I made them promise not to tell.”

  Zena slowly made her way toward Minka, whose eyes widened in suspicion when the woman patted her head and then dragged a hand through her hair.

  “Lord, could you be any more like me?” Zena came round to sit on the arm of the chair. “I commend you for at least taking someone into your confidence.”

  Minka turned wide eyes up to her grandmother. “I never meant to be deceptive.”

  “Oh, honey-lump, I know.” Zena laughed. “You just didn’t want me to worry. So I’ll save you from the lecture your grandfather gave me when I tried to handle certain ugliness on my own and refused to include him. Don’t even try it.

  “I know you know the story. Your mother’s mother worked for Bry’s company back when it was only a hole in the wall. Millicent was there when I came on board.

  “I was the high yellow hussy who took Bry from his then fiancée and proceeded to not only marry the man, but to presume I understood how to run his business.”

  Minka smiled. Of course she knew the story. “Gramp B. was a billionaire because of you.”

  “Damn right.” Zena laughed along with Minka before her expression changed. “I’d do it all again, you know? I’d take all the insults and innuendo...it was all worth it for that glorious time I had with your granddad. The only thing I’d do differently would be to perhaps let go of some of that independence. It’s a wonderful thing, but it can sometimes be a person’s worst enemy. Especially if it prevents us from reaching out for help from those who love us.”

  Minka toyed with the fringe cuff of Zena’s burgundy lounge dress and absorbed the advice.

  “Your grandfather made me see that I didn’t have to handle all that stuff that went down in the early days on my own. I’m glad you sought Walt’s and Lorna’s help, Babylove, but you’re about to be brought out of the shadows. Your life is about to change.” She patted Minka’s cheek. “I’d like to see you with a truly special someone who can support you through the coming years.”

  Minka sent her grandmother a cunning smile. “I know you suspect there’s something between me and Oliver Bauer.”

  Zena looked delighted. “He is a delicious-looking thing, isn’t he? Rose and Oscar put together a very fine specimen. Very fine.” Some of her delight melded into concern. “But I hear he’s quite the ladies’ man.”

  “He says he loves me. His sister says it’s not a word he’s prone to use, not even with family.”

  “And I suppose she would know.” Zena fiddled with the upturned collar of Minka’s blazer dress. “I guess the important thing though is what you think about it.”

  Minka touched her fingers to her lips to hide her smile. “I believe him,” she said.

  Zena looked pleased. “And how do you feel about him?”

  “I love him, Gram.”

  Zena appeared doubly pleased. She clapped once and dropped a kiss to the top of Minka’s head. “So I guess the next logical question is whether I should turn tonight’s event into an engagement party.”

  Laughing, Minka eased her arms about her grandmother’s trim waist and hugged her.

  Zena planted a second kiss to Minka’s head. “Be happy,” she whispered.

  * * *

  The annual BGI shareholders’ meeting was always a study in excess. Zena Gerald thought it gave the holders confidence in the company’s security. As if that was ever in question, given BGI’s consistently stel
lar performance in the market.

  At any rate, Zena made it her mission to go all out for the event. A diverse array of caterers was on hand to provide dishes for a variety of buffets. Live performers brought musical entertainment from a selection of genres.

  The Gerald mansion was a vast gold-lit portrayal of elegance. Guests made their way inside on the royal blue carpet that ran the length of the wide drive. The stream of blue velvet disappeared inside the expansive foyer that shimmered from the effects of the electric candlelight and chandeliers.

  Minka had given Oliver the particulars of the event and he seemed eager to attend. She observed the gathering from her perch at the foyer stairway—a row of five steps on either side of the space that arched up and led to the great room.

  She had spent the previous night and day with her grandmother, but Oliver had promised to meet her here. She had yet to spot him. In an attempt to keep her mind off his absence, Minka made her rounds about the room. Zena had yet to make her grand announcement, but it was obvious from the manner of the guests that the news was already well known.

  Dressed in a curvy gown the color of merlot, with side splits that offered seductive glimpses of calf and thigh, Minka made several successful turns about the room. She discovered that the experience wasn’t as harrowing as she’d expected it would be. Feeling accomplished, she took a flute of champagne from a passing server and decided to grab a bit of fresh air on the empty terrace.

  “I wasn’t sure if I was arriving at the Gerald mansion or Fort Knox when I got here.”

  Minka turned in the direction of the voice and smiled at Calvin Spring. They walked out to the terrace together. “My grandmother would enjoy that comparison.”

  Spring laughed. “It’s quite the gathering, that’s for sure.” He looked behind them into the house, which teemed with guests. “I can understand the need for the extra security.”

  Minka gave a weak smile.

  “I’m afraid the extra security is my fault because of Will’s attack the other night.” Spring sighed, looking as though he’d lost his taste for the gin in the tumbler he held. “Guess I should look into some extra security myself. We told the police he’s been out sick for several days. I still don’t understand why he would attack you?”

  Minka’s curiosity had heightened the longer Spring talked. “He holds me responsible for losing his job at Wilder. Remember I told you about his time there when we spoke over the phone?”

  “Well the folks I’ve got shadowing him won’t miss a thing if he gives them something to sniff out.”

  “Calvin.” Minka set her glass on a ledge. “Be careful. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt over this.”

  Calvin stepped in to squeeze Minka’s elbow. “Don’t worry, the creep won’t even know my folks are looking over his shoulder.”

  “You wanna bet on that, boss?”

  Minka and Spring turned at once, both jolted by the sight of Will Lloyd, emerging from behind a stone pillar. He was carrying a gleaming knife.

  Calvin reached for Minka and tugged her behind him.

  “What a gentleman,” Will sneered. “Or maybe it’s just about protecting the hand that feeds you.” His glare moved to Minka. “I stopped in to check things out at the office today, unnoticed, of course. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I knew a real-life billionaire. All that time posing as one of us normal folks. Did you get off on seeing how the other half lives, Ms. Gerald?”

  Minka scanned the terrace, but everyone was still inside. Figures, she groaned inwardly.

  “Am I boring you, princess?” He moved closer to Calvin Spring, his gaze never leaving Minka’s face. “Let’s see if we can do something to keep the princess interested, boss.” He landed a vicious kick to Spring’s midsection and quickly grabbed Minka while Spring doubled over from the impact of the blow.

  Minka’s scream was muffled by Will’s hand clamping down hard over her mouth. “Don’t worry, princess, your shining knight will be joining us.” Jerking Minka along, Will put another punishing kick to Spring’s ankle and smirked when the man groaned. “On your feet, boss. This is on you, Minka,” he sneered while Spring made an effort to stand. “If you had just kept your nose out of my business—”

  “It was Qasim’s business, not yours.” Minka tried to wrench free of Will’s hold on her arm. “Did you even give the slightest damn that you were stealing from kids? Kids, Will? As a soldier, didn’t that bother you?”

  “Shut your mouth.” Will gave her another punishing tug.

  Spring was finally on his feet and tottering toward Will and Minka. Will showed his displeasure of Spring’s dragging movements and jabbed the man’s spine with the tip of the knife. Minka and Spring screamed at once, but the knife jab drew no blood.

  “Damn you, Will.” Minka renewed her struggles, somehow holding on to her courage. “You were a soldier, weren’t you? How can you threaten the lives of people you went to war to protect?!” She knew she was taking an awful risk in trying to reason with him, but was gambling on the fact that a shred of the honorable soldier was still somewhere to be found.

  “What the hell do you know about being a soldier? You think that life is a cakewalk? Do you?!”

  Minka gasped, her courage oozing away. Spring stepped forward. “Will, man—”

  “Back! You get the hell back!” Will showed his boss the grisly weapon. “You don’t know what the hell we went through over there. Nightmare isn’t even the word for it. As bad as it was though, I’d take it all again for the world of crap I got handed to me over here.”

  “Not everyone’s story is the same as yours, Will.” Minka felt some of her bravery returning. “Things aren’t perfect, but they have changed.”

  “That’s what people like you want to believe.” Will held Minka flush against his chest while glaring at Spring. “You big shots sittin’ on your high hills, closed up behind your gilded doors. Nothing touches you, nothing matters until someone like me goes for a piece of the pie.”

  “That pie wasn’t yours, Will,” Minka gritted out. “You weren’t entitled to a slice.”

  Will’s smile was purely sinister. “Do we really want to talk about slices, Ms. Gerald?” He brought the knife in closer to Minka’s cheek.

  “Lloyd, don’t!” Spring lunged forward, hands outstretched.

  Will retaliated by hurtling the knife into Spring’s arm. Spring crumpled while Will laughed over his agony. He wrenched Minka along as he went to retrieve the weapon. Will’s focus was on reclaiming his knife. Minka said a swift prayer, squeezed her eyes shut and rammed her elbow high between his ribs. She heard his stunned grunt as his hand loosened from her arm. She wasted no time breaking into a run.

  Minka stumbled a bit in her pumps but remained upright and ran screaming toward the party.

  Will quickly recovered from the blow. Turning his attention back to Spring, he grabbed the knife, checked his grip on the handle and prepared to launch it at Minka’s departing figure.

  Minka heard a thud and risked a look over her shoulder. She stumbled to a stop. Stunned, she saw Oliver standing over Will’s body. Will was hunched on all fours, drawing in ragged breaths as a heavy stream of blood oozed from his nose and upper lip.

  Oliver was moving in to deliver more blows, but he froze at the sound of Minka’s voice saying his name. The fierce haze seemed to lift from his brain, and he stepped over Will. He drew Minka into a crushing hug as swarms of security arrived on the terrace to take Will into custody.

  Minka could feel Oliver trembling as he held her. “I’m okay,” she soothed.

  Oliver needed more proof, apparently. He lifted Minka off her feet, looked her over head to toe and then buried his handsome face into the side of her neck. For long moments, he breathed her in and squeezed her in an ever tightening embrace.

  Guards helped Spring to his feet.
Guests who had gotten wind of the incident had congregated at the French doors that bordered the terrace.

  Minka relaxed into Oliver’s arms.

  CG Spring’s terrified call rang out seconds after Will overpowered the guard who had moved in the closest. Will relieved the man of his weapon in one swift, expert move, indicative of his military training.

  Despite the fact that he was outgunned, Will was determined not to go down without a fight. He blindly aimed the gun, but received a round to his calf before he could fire. A second shot hit his shoulder. Losing his footing, Will stumbled back against the terrace’s stone railing.

  Minka’s scream mingled with those of other guests as Will Lloyd faltered back off the terrace edge and disappeared from sight.

  * * *

  “Déjà vu.”

  Minka managed a wavery smile when Oliver’s voice rumbled into her ear where she rested against his chest. All she wanted was to shield her gaze from all the concerned stares and the hustle of bodies as people worked to make sense of the night’s events.

  Qasim and Vectra walked into the small den where Zena had whisked Oliver and Minka off to. Her dark eyes widened expectantly and locked with Qasim’s.

  “How’s Will?” she asked.

  “The fall broke his leg in three places.” Grimness cast an even darker element to Qasim’s features. “That won’t be a happy accompaniment to the gunshot wound in his other leg. And that shoulder of his is gonna need some TLC for the foreseeable future.”

  “Will he go to jail after this?” Vectra asked.

  “He’ll go to jail during this,” Qasim confirmed. “He’ll be in custody around the clock during his recovery.”

  “Is he sick, Qasim?” Minka’s voice was small.

  Qasim’s grim expression intensified. He understood what Minka was really asking. “I’m no doctor, and it sours something inside me to think the bastard could get away with being a jealous, self-centered snake. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he were given a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

  Oliver expelled a curse. “Either way I think we can safely expect him to be institutionalized for the foreseeable future, in either a hospital or a prison.”