Pulled to the Dark (The Siriena Series)

by Julia P. Lynde

  "We have cameras and motion sensors in all public parts of the building," he said. Then he gestured to the front doors. "Two inch glass and steel doors," he said. "Bullet proof. It will stop all hand gun rounds and most hunting rifle rounds. It won't, however, stop concentrated, military grade fire. Entrance to the building requires the guard's permission."

  "Petra used a card key for the parking garage."

  "That was for identification," he said. "I still had to tell the computers to open the door. I also had to tell the computers to allow the elevator to descend. The front doors work the same way."

  "Thank you, Samuel," Petra said. She held out her hand and I returned to her. She took my arm and we turned back to the elevator. We rode the elevator to the eighteenth floor and got out. Petra pulled me to the right and we walked to an apartment door. She slid a card key through the lock and opened the door.

  "Did that require the guard as well?" I asked.

  "No," she said. "Just the main entrances. Once you're inside and on the first floor or above, everything works the way you would expect." She stepped inside and held the door for me. I followed her into the apartment.

  It was amazing. We entered a small foyer then stepped into a large, furnished and tastefully decorated living room. Everywhere was rich woodwork. They gave me a full tour. It was about twice the size of my apartment and must cost about six times as much to rent.

  "Is this your apartment?" I asked Petra. "Why are you showing me this?"

  "No," she said. "It's not my apartment. I have the top floor, two floors up. This apartment is yours."

  Relocation

  I stared at her.

  "I couldn't possibly afford this apartment," I told her. "You know that."

  "Renea owns this building," Petra told me. "This is a perquisite of working for her. It's not one we normally share with new employees. But as you said to me, you feel you are finally where you belong. Andrea and I agree with you. This apartment's rent is identical to your current rent."

  I looked around, stunned. Then I turned and looked at her suspiciously.

  "You're wondering who you have to sleep with."

  I cracked a smile. "Something like that. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. Is Renea Impressions really a cover for the mob or something?"

  She laughed. "No. We're the good guys."

  Andrea said, "Would you like the pros and cons?" I nodded. "Pros first. It's a stunning apartment."

  "Yes."

  Petra said, "You would be able to ride to and from work with me or Karen when our schedules mesh. She's just down the hall. There are eight other Renea Impressions employees living in the top four floors, so if you make other friends at work, some of them are here, too."

  Andrea said, "The building is wired with a corporate-grade internet. There is a solid firewall for the building and each apartment is heavily wired. This apartment has a wireless network, but you are free to disconnect it and use your own equipment, if you prefer."

  Petra said, "Your monthly rent would remain a constant percentage of your salary before any of the special bonuses. If you get a raise, rent will go up. If you receive sufficient raises, rent will stop when you are paying market rates. That would be some time from now."

  "You may retain any of the furnishings you wish or replace them with your own," said Andrea. "The building allows cats. Limit two, and no dogs."

  Petra said quietly. "And you would be safe. Which is the main reason you're going to accept."

  "Now the cons," said Andrea. She looked at Petra. "I can't think of any."

  "She'd have to move. Some people hate that."

  "And if she quits Renea Impressions, she'd have to move. She couldn't afford the apartment."

  I looked between the two of them. "Does Renea know you're offering a, what? Six-thousand-dollar apartment?"

  "Not quite that much," said Petra.

  "To a secretary?"

  "Assistant," said Petra. "And yes, she does. I would have arrived at your apartment this morning ahead of Andrea, but it took me some time to reach Renea for permission. As soon as I told her the situation, she told me I was stupid to even wonder what the answer would be. But I felt I should ask first."

  "You woke her up?"

  "Yes, and she would have been angry if I hadn't."

  "I have a lease," I said.

  "You won't when I get done with them," Petra said.

  I wandered around the apartment for a minute. There was no carpet. The floors were beautiful hardwood except for tile in the two bathrooms. There were oriental rugs under the living room set, most of the master bedroom, and the dining room table. The master bathroom had a huge shower and a whirlpool tub. The second bedroom was furnished as an office. I wandered into the kitchen and it was fully equipped. The kitchen itself was amazing.

  I wandered back out to the living room where Petra and Andrea were waiting for me.

  "Are you going to make us order you to take it?" Andrea asked.

  "Thank you," I said. "I was so scared. When can I move in?"

  "Immediately after breakfast," Petra said cheerfully. "Breakfast this morning is two floors above us. Shall we?"

  We took the stairs. Petra's apartment was amazing. I received an immediate tour. There were three bedrooms, two with amazing views. One was her master bedroom, one was a guest bedroom, and one was organized as a mini dojo.

  We prepared breakfast together. It was a decadent affair, full of calories, and I loved it. We cleaned up afterwards then discussed logistics. Andrea had suitcases in her car parked outside my apartment. Petra collected two large suitcases and a garment bag of her own.

  We stopped back on the eighteenth floor on our way out. Petra knocked on a door and Karen answered. "Are you free today?"

  "Yes," she said, looking between us. "What's going on?"

  "Felicia is moving in down the hall. Immediately. Do you mind helping?"

  "The one we uses for guests?" she asked. "Oh, I love that apartment." She turned to me. "Who did you sleep with to rate that?"

  "This morning she was attacked in her old apartment," said Petra quietly.

  Karen's expression turned to one of horror. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she said. "My comment was in poor taste."

  "It's okay," I said. "I was wondering who I was going to have to sleep with to get the apartment when they showed it to me." We laughed together then Karen grabbed her shoes.

  We returned to my apartment. Petra and Karen packed my closet. Andrea started on my bathroom. I found the cats and stuffed them into carriers. I wandered through the apartment collecting the things I would want right away. The new apartment had a television, but I collected my own DVD player; Erika and I had a movie date tonight, after all. I grabbed cat food and the food dispensers, then roamed the apartment, picking a few more things and setting them on the dining room table.

  I only had one crying jag. Andrea immediately pulled me into a hug and made soothing sounds at me. Petra and Karen both walked over and I was enveloped in a large group hug. "We will not allow anything to happen to you, Felicia," Petra said. I calmed down and thanked them for looking out for me.

  It took several trips up and down, but we loaded everything into the three cars. Karen rode with me, as I didn't know where we were going.

  * * *

  My things were in by lunchtime.

  "Lunch is on me," said Andrea. "I love the place across the street."

  "Oh, so do I!" said Karen, then paused. "Was I invited?"

  * * *

  Over lunch, Karen asked, "Why the DVD player? There is one there. The movers could have taken care of it."

  So I explained about movie night with Erika. "We often have friends at her place or mine," I said. "But I haven't really had friends here I've wanted to invite. Last week was 'Young Frankenstein'. We both know all the words and recite them. It takes a pretty special person to put up with us. You three are invited any time you want to come, but I understand if you don't want to put up with o
ur craziness."

  "What is the movie tonight?" Petra asked.

  "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," I said. "It's one of our favorites, but we only recite a few of the lines." I paused. "I was inspired by a ghost in my dreams lately."

  Petra grinned. "I love that movie!" Petra said. "I haven't seen it in years." She gave me puppy dog eyes.

  I laughed at her. "You already have an invitation," I said. "Any time. I won't bug you in the future, but it's every Sunday."

  "I can't come tonight," Andrea said. "In fact, I need to leave as soon as we're sure you're properly settled. But maybe in the future."

  "I've never heard of that movie," Karen said. "I make killer Cosmos, though."

  * * *

  Karen loved the movie.

  * * *

  "Thank you," I wrote on Dream Petra's hand with my finger that night.

  She smiled at me and kissed me.

  * * *

  I rode to work with Petra in the morning. On the way I asked her, "The training we do in the dojo. Does it really work?"

  "Yes," she said. "But when you can, hiding or running away is better than fighting. I would have hid. A man is almost always bigger and stronger, and sometimes is just as well trained."

  At the dojo, she showed me one more yoga pose. I wanted her hands to linger when she positioned me, but they didn't.

  Karen arranged everything about my old apartment. We removed the furniture in the second bedroom out and moved my old bedroom furniture in as a guest bedroom. The rest of my things went into storage in the basement. The new furnishings were so much nicer. "Once you're comfortable with the idea," she said, "You can donate everything to charity."

  I rode the train home with Karen that night. Petra wasn't going straight home.

  * * *

  That night, Dream Petra was ecstatic when I reached out to her with my arms. She let me pull her into a weak embrace.

  We cuddled for a long time before she kissed me and I woke up.

  * * *

  The next day was my fourth Tuesday. I rode to work with Petra and she said, "Shopping again today. A new suit," she said. "Nine-thirty."

  I rode home with her.

  * * *

  That night, I felt Dream Petra's hands and heard her voice, just like I had been now for weeks. I opened my eyes, and she was kneeling over me. I reached for her and caressed her cheek.

  "I love you," I said. My first words in these dreams.

  She smiled and clapped her hands again, then lowered her lips and kissed me deeply. I didn't wake up but instead was able to enjoy the kiss.

  She pulled away from me, still humming, still speaking words I didn't know. I didn't want her to leave, but when I opened my mouth to speak, she placed her hand over my lips. Then she crawled down to my legs. She began touching and caressing my feet, first one foot, then the other. I couldn't quite see my feet, but I could watch her eyes, her bright green eyes.

  "Please kiss me," I told her.

  She blew me a kiss.

  And I woke up.

  * * *

  During the drive that morning, Petra told me, "There is an event at my apartment Saturday evening. Andrea is probably going to ask you to attend. If she doesn't, I will." She paused. "Attendance is optional, but you should attend."

  I nodded. "I have a weekly date with Beth, an old high school friend," I said. "But I'll move it." I paused. "I don't know any of the protocols. Should I bring something?"

  "It is classy to bring something any time you attend an event in someone's home," she said. "Flowers and wine are common. Or an especially good treat. It is better to bring something small and expensive for its size than large and cheap."

  "What do I wear?"

  "It is nearly always safe to wear a little black dress," she told me. "Unless you have been specifically told either formal or casual."

  * * *

  I rode home with her that night. As she always did, she held the car door for me, then got in her own side. Before we pulled out of the spot, she said, "Are you busy tonight?"

  "No, nothing," I told her.

  "I suddenly feel like cooking and I hate cooking for just myself. Would you join me?"

  "I would love to, Petra."

  "Excellent. We'll stop by the grocery store and see what looks good."

  We had fun in the grocery store together. She took great delight in selecting foods. We finished and I helped carry things to her car. We set everything in her trunk, and I told her, "Petra, a wise woman once told me never show up to an event at someone's home empty handed and suggested wine was a good choice. Would you care to teach me how to buy an acceptable bottle?" I pointed to a wine shop next to the grocery store.

  She laughed. "I can try. I know a few types I like. Otherwise I typically hit my favorite wine shop and tell them what I'm cooking."

  We walked over to the shop and stepped in. "What do you know about wine?"

  "I know it comes in red and white, bottles, jugs and boxes. I'm pretty sure if I show up at your door with wine in any container other than a bottle, I'll get fired."

  She laughed. "No, but Andrea would assign some really crappy work for a couple of weeks."

  She gave me a brief lesson, then I bought what she told me to buy.

  We got to the apartment building. "Go ahead and change and come up," she said. "The door will be open."

  After changing, I brought the wine up. I knocked and entered. "Petra?"

  "Kitchen," she replied.

  "I know this is a surprise," I said. "I brought wine."

  She smiled and pointed to a wine opener. I had no idea how to use it. I puzzled over it for a moment before she showed me how to use it. She pointed at the proper wine glasses and I poured for us.

  After that she slipped a cutting board and a knife to me. "Do you know how to use a chef's knife?"

  "Sharp side down?"

  I received a fast lesson in not chopping off fingers. Periodically she popped something into my mouth. Ultimately everything went on the stove. "Can you set the table?"

  Dinner was lovely. We cleaned up afterward then sat on the sofa and talked for a while. We hit a lull in the conversation and I said, "I should go before I wear out my welcome."

  She walked me to the door. I turned around to say goodnight, and she was right behind me. I found myself staring up at her only a few inches away. She looked down at me with her green eyes, and I wanted nothing more than her to kiss me.

  She gave me a quick hug.

  "What's the movie Sunday?"

  "Erika hasn't decided," I said. "So she'll have to pick something we both own. Are you coming?"

  "Yes. That was so much fun last week."

  Then the door closed behind me and I leaned against it for a moment before heading back to my own apartment.

  * * *

  That night, Dream Petra was looking playful. As I woke in my dream, she was perched over my feet, watching me. When my eyes opened and I was looking at her, she grinned then began tickling my feet.

  There wasn't a thing I could do about it, and she was really good at tickling.

  Not once did I ask her to stop.

  After a while she changed tactics. She tickled one foot for a little, then watched it. Then she tickled the other and watched it. She had switched back and forth several times when suddenly she stopped. Her grin grew wider and she clapped a few times. My left foot was trying to hide behind the right one. I'd moved a foot.

  Then her look turned predatory, and she slowly began crawling up the length of my body. She kissed my pelvis, then traced lines in my skin with her hair. Finally she was on top of me, staring down into my eyes from inches away.

  Finally she kissed me, a long and slow kiss that set my nerves on fire. We were both breathless when she pulled away.

  "I wish the real you would kiss me like that," I told her.

  She smiled broadly before kissing me again. I woke before the kiss ended.

  * * *

  By now, my daily routine w
as well-established. I loved my job. Andrea treated me very well. I spent a lot of time running mundane errands for her or shadowing her to meetings, but she had begun offloading a lot of other duties, too.

  Her primary job was director of marketing, but she'd worked directly with public relations clients in the past, and she still had several that preferred her direct involvement in their needs. I learned an enormous amount of what Renea Impressions does and met a lot of people.

  For the first time in any job, I felt deeply valued. Everyone in the company treated me with a great deal of respect, even when I did something stupid. We all make mistakes.

  I still didn't understand how I kept having my dreams every night, but I didn't care anymore.

  Thursday afternoon, Andrea pulled me into her office. "There is an event at Petra's on Saturday. I believe Petra told you about it."

  "Briefly," I said.

  "I was going to ask you to escort me," she said. "But Kelly is coming into town specifically for the event."

  "Petra asked me to plan on coming whether or not you needed me."

  "Excellent," she said. "I hope you won't be disappointed if there aren't any jerks to run roughshod over."

  * * *

  Thursday and Friday night, I was able to wriggle my feet some more. I think Dream Petra was hoping for more movement from me. But she hummed and sang her words to me. Friday night after tickling my feet for a while, she curled up with me and hummed into me ear. I woke up with the memory of her biting my earlobe.

  I didn't know what was going on with me, but whatever it was, I didn't want it to stop.

  * * *

  I took the train home with Karen Friday night. "I'm going for a drive tomorrow," I told her. "Would you like to go?"

  "I can't tomorrow," she said. "I am helping Petra prepare for the party. I would love to go another time."

  Beth and I talked for hours on Friday instead of Saturday. I told her about my new apartment and about why I'd moved. She was thrilled to death on one hand and scared to death on the other.