Finding Erin

by America Leigh

  “How about a drink?” I motioned towards the kitchen.

  “We got red or white?” she sarcastically replied.

  “Both” I giggled, letting the prospect of people watching me drift away. I would deal with it eventually if the occasion rose, but I turned to look at Faith and wiggled both my eyebrows at her, while holding a bottle of red and white in each hand. It was Faith’s turn to giggle now, giving both of us a little sense of relief. For now.

  Justice and Peace arrived not much later than Faith had and they helped us finish off the wine I had opened. I could sense their unease, but they never mentioned it.

  We sat there joking about one of Faith’s patients trying to flirt with her whilst she was stitching him up. Faith had blushed scarlet at the mere mention of her going out on a date with him. She shrieked in laughter at us. We all busted out laughing at her disapproval of an innocent date. The night drew on and the potential danger grew fainter as our laughter engulfed the whole house. We all would be suffering in the morning with the amount of empty bottles on the coffee table.

  As it happens, the light through my bedroom window felt like knives piercing my eyeballs with flames. Last night it had been a very good idea to open the wine and forget that someone was snooping in all of our personal information. I cracked an eye open staring at the ceiling and was ready to harm myself for drinking the house dry. Faith, Justice and Peace looked even worse than me as I entered the kitchen making me feel slightly better. The late shifts they were on were a blessing in disguise, as they each had surfaced with either black rings around their eyes or a pounding head. I had both.

  “So what are we going to do?” Peace asked the table, frowning. We had all danced around the issue last night, but the cool harsh light of day brought our situation back into full focus.

  “Nothing”

  “Nothing” Justice challenged me.

  “Yes nothing, we don’t even know if there is anything for us to worry about yet”

  They all mumbled in agreement. My lack of concern made them give me a cautious look. We all finished off our drinks and tided around the living room, we all slinked off in our own directions. My weekly blog was still overdue and the buyers were coming to audit the files, equipment and contacts at the end of the week.

  It wasn’t until I checked my emails a couple of hours later, I started to panic.

  INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH THE BUYER TOMORROW AT 2PM. My agent casually sent over. Fuck a duck. What the hell. They were supposed to be coming on Friday. Sally couldn’t see the problem with having an extra meeting to introduce her to the buyers personally. I had never heard of the company, let alone who Edward Vance was. I had always dealt with Alex since the very beginning.

  “Have you ever heard of an Edward Vance?” I asked the girls as I re-entered the kitchen. Their shocked faces spoke volumes.

  “Errrrr, yeah Erin. Have you been living under a rock” Justice teased.

  “Why, what am I missing?” I gave each of them a puzzled look. I didn’t have a clue who he was, I’d never heard of the man. It was Faith’s turn now to smile at me, somewhat mockingly.

  “Have you heard of Vance Media” Faith questioned, giving me a knowing look. Shit. A. Brick.

  “Exactly” Faith added, now in full gloating mode at my epic fail.

  “So… like…Edward Vance of Vance Media” I asked again, knowing full well that I was right.

  “Ere yeah, Erin” Justice said in her sing song voice. They were taking full advantage of me asking that question.

  “Why?” Peace asked, suddenly sobering up to the question I had initially asked.

  “’I’m meeting with him tomorrow at two, apparently” I said with a grumble, looking down at the coffee mug faith had just handed me. When the contract was discussed for the blog, there was never a mention of an introduction to the owner of the company as I still remained in control of the blog but came with a range of resources and contacts at my disposal.

  “Holy Shit!” they all said simultaneously. I jerked my head back up, to see their shocked expressions.

  “What?” I exclaimed.

  “Isn’t he in the Caribbean?” Faith asked Justice.

  “Yeah, that’s what the gossip mags have been saying. Vance and his Vice President went together” Justice replied, with an implied tone.

  “Together. Together” I asked, naively.

  “Yep, apparently they grew up together and they’ve been inseparable since. School. University. Business. Home.”

  “Well that’s something” I thought out load. Hoping the others wouldn’t question my comment. If I was honest, he sounded like the sort of man who had it all and I felt kind of jealous, that I still had no clue who I had been before.

  “What do you mean?” Peace enquired. No such fucking luck, I thought silently this time.

  “Just that…he’s gay….They’re gay….so it won’t be awkward” Peace’s scrutinizing gaze softened and she smiled softly at me.

  “It’s ok Erin” Peace confirmed even softer this time and swiftly changed the subject to how much wine we had all consumed the night before and who’s turn was it to restock the fridge.

  Chapter Three.

  Eddie.

  I was sat pensive in front of my head of security. Rafi was pacing the full length of the board room, ever since we arrived back from the Caribbean an hour ago. Rhodes was silent and brooding with his large frame positioned in front of me with his arms crossed. This man had found Maggie and he was still on high alert. Soon after me and Rafi took the company global, we had searched for the best security team we could find. With mine and Rafi’s family pasts, we couldn’t be too careful. Especially where my father was concerned. My family name provided me with enough advantage to get the contacts I needed to climb my way up the entertainment market. It had been one of my Grandfather’s old rookie’s that had recommended Rhodes. He had served in the military before I was born. Rhodes had been a Master Sergeant under Garratt’s command at the time, just about to be retire from American service. He was an Ex-Marine. A damn good one. He had remained a constant in the last five years. His short military cut made his dark brown hair look nearly black and his build would put wrestlers and muscle men to shame. It was his fierce nature to protect that gave me hope that one day I would find Maggie with the help from Rhode’s tracking skills.

  “So….” Growing impatient. I knew he had found her and she was safe, but the tension in Rhodes frame suggested there was more to come, and I definitely wasn’t going to like it.

  “So” He repeated after me, his voice thick. Showing hesitation at what he had found.

  “She doesn’t remember a thing” Rhodes quickly said, as if pulling a plaster off. His tone thick with his accent. I looked at Rhodes expression. It was apprehensive and troubled. The man never worried about anything. He had never been faced with a mission he couldn’t accomplish or bend to his will.

  “There’s one other thing. You have just bought her company from her”

  “Wait. What?” I was taken back by that last part.

  “We bought her company?” I was repeating everything Rhodes was saying like a parrot. When Rhodes had called me in the Caribbean I expected something more elaborate of a scheme for Maggie to have been away from me for over a decade. I never thought it would be possible for her to be only a couple hundred miles away and selling her business to me.

  “Yes Sir”

  “And?”

  “And I have arranged for an introductory meeting between the two of you under the pretence of you buying her company.”

  I nodded, satisfied with his initiative.

  “Exactly what is her company?” I asked, wondering why I hadn’t heard of this purchase before now, unless Rafi had been overseeing this one.

  “She owns and runs ‘Finding Erin, its a Blog’ sir” Rhodes admitted looking uncomfortable at the last bit of information he had just supplied me with.

  Wait. What was that about ‘Finding Erin’?

&
nbsp; “Finding Erin?” I questioned making Rhodes cringe outwardly at my request.

  “Yes Sir. Her identity as changed since her disappearance. Her name is Erin Frost.”

  I had heard that name before. The blog had gained a quick following, for the girl with no past and no future.

  Oh Fuck! That can’t be Maggie. My Maggie.

  Can it?

  “Are you sure it’s her, Rhodes”

  “Yes Sir” giving a curt nod. “I did background checks and ran full clearance on her and her three roommates as well. There is something strange about their records though, Sir” Rhodes questioned out load, as I listened intently at his theory.

  “Strange?” repeating his observation.

  “Yes Sir, the reports suggested interference, but the documentation was not a forgery or altered in any way. This type of structuring would have had to come from the highest ranking possible or an outside contract with some serious contacts.”

  “There was also the fact that these four girls with no identity, no paperwork or records and no traceable documentation were held in the same social service section at the exact same time. They went through both school and college together and now they all live together.” Rhodes thoroughly admitted his suspicions.

  “The meeting will clarify any remaining doubts of her identity, Sir. But as far as I can assess, Erin has no memory or recollection of her life before waking up in a Yorkshire Hospital after being unconscious for two weeks.”

  “I need to know what the hell happened to her Rhodes” My heart slamming into my chest and I couldn’t breathe. Rafi’s concern was rippling through the boardroom along with air conditioning and even Rhodes who was still sat across from me looked uneasy. His grey marl eyes held a fierce protection that I hadn’t seen before. I gained control over my thoughts and tried to concentrate on the upcoming meeting with Maggie. No. Erin. I thought. I can’t call her Maggie. She wasn’t my Maggie anymore. She was someone else. I was going to find out why or who had taken her way from me and then I was going to make them pay.

  “We need to keep this confidential” I told Rhodes and Rafi nodded in agreement from behind me, still pacing the floors in a stringent pattern.

  The rest of the day held nothing significant to register my interest, nothing but the waves of caramel and the hazel of her eyes, of Finding Erin.

  * * *

  The hotel restaurant was quiet with only a few tables taken. The smell of strong coffee and chocolate cake laced the lounge in pure indulgence for an afternoon. I saw her blonde hair before I realised I was searching for Maggie. The intrinsic waves of dirty blonde hair fell down her back, it was fuller and thicker than before. Glimpses of sun streaked hair peaked at the side’s making me crave a better look at an older Maggie. My feet instinctively took strides towards the one thing I thought I would never see again. I stood directly behind her now, taking in all of Maggie. Her hair was lighter now I had closer look, her shoulders held back, strong and fierce. She looked like my Maggie, but I knew that was impossible. According to Rhodes Intel Maggie was different, alive but completely different. The small sigh came from her lips, barely audible to the other guests, but had my body hard at the response. Maggie rubbed the length of her skirt, the sweet scent of ivory soap and lilies wafted around me. The familiar scent sent shivers down my spine and made my nose flare at the delicious fragrance. God, she still smelled like my Maggie. I wonder if she acted like my Maggie too. I looked around the large room once more, taking in all the patrons and nodding to Rhodes in the far corner of the dining room. He nodded back, taking a seat at the table near the kitchen and the entrance.

  “Miss Frost” I asked from behind her, clearing my throat at the same time to gain her full attention. Maggie spun around and gasped at me. Her reaction had heat entering her cheeks. I had made her flustered, this was good. I couldn’t help the little smirk that touched my lips, some things didn’t change and Maggie’s initial reaction to me hadn’t either. She quickly recovered and jumped up out of her chair to introduce herself properly. Her dark jeans clung to her tight ass as she turned and her white tank top made her breast’s perk out of the top. Her golden tanned skin ran along for miles reminding me of miles of silk. Pure, perfect and unblemished.

  “Mr Vance, I presume” Maggie asked, giving me a thorough inspection whilst giving me her hand. Her feather like fingers grasped my hand and I swear to god it was like coming home. The heat from her touch made me feel hot and bewildered, even after ten years a simple touch or smile from her, sent my heart rate rocketing through space and set every nerve inside my body a fire. Time just stood still, I continued to stare at Maggie and her body was tense and alert. I would bet my company that she was thinking the exact same thing as I was. Her eyes were wide with emotion and maybe a little bit of shock entered them but her hand remained inside my grasp and I revelled in the touch and contact I had been craving, for what has seemed like a lifetime. Maggie finally cleared her throat, trying to control her reaction to me. The intrusion made me remove my hand from her warm touch and suddenly my whole body felt the loss.

  She stood there waiting for my confirmation. I lingered there a minute longer, taking in all of Maggie. Her body had changed little apart from the impressive chest she had grown into. The curves of her slender frame were similar to the younger Maggie, but it was the confidence of the woman that stood before me was what had me speechless. She raised her eyebrow and cocked her head side to side trying to figure my reaction out. I had to act professional or I was going to scare her off before I even had a chance to explain what we shared in our pasts.

  “Edward Vance” I pronounced, suddenly offering my hand again, but Maggie’s hesitation confirmed that she wasn’t quite ready for another reaction from either of us.

  “Nice to me you Mr Vance, I’m Erin Frost” she replied, taking her seat across from me.

  “Can I enquire why I am suddenly meeting with you and not continuing my business with Alex? Is there a problem with the arrangement?” Maggie cut to the chase. The doubt in her tone suddenly entered Erin’s body and her shoulders slumped slightly while trying to remain professional in front of me. The thought of her ever doubting herself over me made my chest tighten.

  “I like to finalise all sales within my company” I lied.

  That seemed to appease her for now and her mood shifted back slightly. Enough to stay. The waiter approached the table offering to take our order for drinks, Maggie ordered a coke so I did the same. I was more a whisky drinker these days, but I didn’t want to give Maggie the idea that I drank every day. It wouldn’t be far from the truth, my business reputation I sustained was powered by influence and the knowledge of me being a tyrant came more easily with a couple of Jack Daniels down my throat. The waiter smiled down at Maggie, his eyes lingered on her white tank top and leered at her pretty golden eyes. Anger burst through my veins as if a dam had broken and became unleashed like a wild beast raging on nature. His eyes clashed with mine and his face fell. The colour draining from his face in panic. He obviously knew who I was. Good. The bastard can sniff somewhere else. Maggie was mine. My body was on fire as the need to control and domineer Maggie into submission was riding me hard. I had never felt jealous or possessive over anyone before, but Maggie had always been the one to possess me and time hadn’t changed that either. The waiter scurried off quickly. Maggie looked at me quizzically, but didn’t air her curiosity.

  “Well ok then. What can I do for you then Mr Vance?”

  “Please call me Eddie” I asked making Maggie’s eyes flash amber.

  “Ok” Her voice suddenly turning gruff and shaky.

  “Are you Ok?”

  “Yes, yes of course. The name seems familiar that’s all” The weight of Erin’s simple statement was as heavy as a bomb dropping on my fragile heart. That was Interesting. Very Interesting. Did she remember me?

  “Familiar?”

  “I don’t know” Her eyes were searching, something that was hidden so deep. Maggie had been
the one to shorten my name and it had kind of stuck. Maggie didn’t like Edward, she said it was too formal not like me, Eddie was laid back and carefree. I reached over the table and put my hand over hers to give it a squeeze.

  “It’s ok” I soothed, keeping my hand tightly over hers.

  “Sorry” Maggie added and shook her head.

  “I’m here to finalise our business arrangement and familiarise myself with how my company is going to market and expand your blog but keep you at the reigns to oversee the entries and responses” I admitted and withdrew my hand away from hers.

  “Oh and by the way, I will carrying out the inspection at the end of the week on your equipment and I can introduce any other equipment that may enhance you’re production.” I waited for her reaction to that bit of information, but Maggie remained in full control.

  This Maggie seemed stronger somehow. Guarded. Not surprising with what Rhodes had told me about her losing all her memories.

  “That all seems fine, Mr Vance”

  “Great. So can you run through what your blog is about and your vision for the future and your opinion on what direction you would like marketing and further communications to go”

  “You don’t know what the blog is about, Mr Vance. Isn’t that bad for business” Maggie teased me. I couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh at her comment.

  I sat there for over an hour listening intently to Maggie outline her dream for ‘Finding Erin’. It was surprising how determined and ambitious this Maggie was. She not only successfully owned and developed her site, but she put herself through a psychology degree too. My Maggie had always dreamed of becoming a vet. She had horses at the stables at her home in Kent. It was the Yorkshire accent that had surprised me most though. The shy and quiet presence that I had expected from Maggie was replaced by the strong willed Yorkshire lass that filled the void.