Player

by T. N. King

  “Ah, yes.”

  “I don’t know how I am going to make rent alone.”

  “It’s a difficult task.”

  “Plus I don’t have a job.”

  “I see your dilemma,” he said, smiling.

  “You do?”

  “I do.”

  “So, then… why are you grinning from ear to ear?”

  “I have your solution.” He slowly walked up to her and took her hands, kissing her fingertips. “You see; it is a very simple solution that will make everyone happy.”

  Megan swallowed then held her breath.

  “Stay with me. Not because I hired you to, or because you need a place to stay.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. “Stay with me because you want to. Stay with me because you love me. Be my lover, my girlfriend.”

  Megan looked up at him with wide eyes. She knew it was time but she could barely get the words out. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes.”

  He let out a big breath. “Oh, good. I can fire Black now, save some money on my payroll.”

  “What? No! What? Don’t fire Black because of me.” She backed away from him and looked at him with wide eyes. “Why would you fire him?”

  “Because with you and that mean right hook you have going; I won’t need him anymore.”

  She smacked his arm and smirked when she realized how gullible she sounded.

  Chapter 14

  “Boo.” Megan poked her head into Jensen’s office.

  “Hey, you got away!” He stood up from his desk and met her at the door. “Come here.” He slid his arms around her and squeezed her. “I love it when you visit me during your lunch hour.”

  “I actually have a couple of hours if you want to, oh I don’t know, get a little dessert with your lunch.” She played with his tie and looked up at him with eyes that sparkled.

  “How do you do it? Only a few weeks into your new job and you already have benefits that even I have a hard time getting.”

  “You own the company. Why would you have a problem taking time off when you want to?”

  “Call it dedication. I guess I feel that I should work just as hard if not harder than my employees. But you on the other hand; that bakery must run by itself.” He picked her up and squeezed her again.

  “Joe is a good guy to work for. I can’t complain, especially since it is right down the street from you.” She stretched her body up and kissed him, sliding her hands up his back.

  “Honestly,” He took her wrists and pulled her off him. “I can’t take an extended lunch today.”

  “Why? Boss being a jerk? Won’t let you take time for your lunch?” she teased.

  “I just have some things I need to take care of.” His lips thinned out as he pressed them together.

  “Jensen? What’s wrong?”

  He walked back to his desk and leaned against it. “I got a call from my lawyer this morning.”

  “From the way you are looking, it wasn’t good news.”

  He shook his head. “We can’t report Tristan to the police.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Apparently there isn’t enough evidence that points to him.”

  She recalled the tapes they went through. Even though the hooded man matched Tristan’s description from behind and it showed a car much like Tristan’s that he got int, they still didn’t have a positive identification that it was him.

  “It will be fine,” she said. “Something will surface and we will get him.” She was just as worried as Jensen was but she didn’t want to show it.

  “Have you gotten any other texts from him lately?”

  “Only the ones I showed you.”

  “Harmless and caring.”

  “Yep, and wanting to see me.”

  “Just keep saving them but don’t respond. He’ll slip up, and when he does we will get him."

  “Do you have time for a quick lunch? My treat.”

  “Can I take a rain check? I don’t want to stay late and I have to prepare for a meeting this afternoon.”

  “Of course,” she said, disappointed but understanding. “I’ll see you at home then.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I’ll take you to dinner tonight, then we’ll talk about that dessert.”

  “Sounds perfect,” she cooed.

  “I love you, Megan.”

  She smiled and watched him go back to his desk and absorb himself into his work.

  She grabbed a quick lunch and then finished her afternoon at the bakery, her mind on Jensen and what she could do to help. After work, Black drove her to the penthouse and when she walked in she saw Jensen at the table, his laptop open and paperwork splayed out in front of him.

  “Hey,” she said as she put her things on a chair. “Still working?”

  “I left earlier than anticipated. Just going over everything again. We had to have missed something.”

  She walked around behind him and saw the footage from the parking lot being played again. “You are killing yourself over this.”

  “He has to be stopped. He has done enough to me over the years, but when he jeopardizes someone I love, I won’t rest until I get him.”

  Megan put her hands on his shoulders, feeling solemn and humble. She loved hearing how much he cared about her.

  “I got another text today.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and after pulling her latest text from Tristan, she handed it to him.

  Megan, this is killing me not seeing you. Please at least text me back.

  “Another one, but nothing to stick the bastard with.”

  “Looks like it.” She hesitated then sat down in the chair next to him. “Listen, I have been thinking. I have a plan.”

  “You do?”

  “What if we set him up?”

  “What?” His eyebrows furrowed.

  “Instead of waiting for him to do something wrong or digging for something we missed, why don’t we create another situation that will give him the opportunity to bury himself?”

  “And what exactly did you have in mind?” He was extremely skeptical in asking but was curious enough to find out.

  “I never told him why I quit working for him. The last text I sent him was when I told him I quit. It has been driving him crazy not knowing why. What if I called him and invited him out, maybe to explain myself or perhaps sound interested in getting my job back?”

  “Are you crazy? No. It’s too risky.”

  “I could tell him you and I broke up and I need someone to talk to. He’ll jump at the chance.”

  Jensen got up and went into the kitchen. Megan followed him as she tried to convince him.

  “I can suggest the same club, giving him the perfect opportunity to try to spike my drink again.”

  “No, Megan.”

  “Now that I know where the cameras are I can make him sit so his face is showing.”

  He turned toward her and took her arms. “I’m not involving you in any sort of plan. It’s too dangerous.”

  “How? You will be there.”

  He walked around her and went back to the table.

  “You have to admit that it’s a good plan.”

  “It is, but there are too many variables and too many things that can go wrong.” He looked directly into her eyes. “No.”

  Megan took a deep breath, frustrated that he wouldn’t listen to her. “I’m going to get cleaned up for dinner.” She didn’t move right away, hoping he would have changed his mind and talk about it. When he kept his attention on his computer, she walked away.

  “Where do you want to go?” he called out after she disappeared into the bedroom.

  “How about the Hard Rock Café on Old Park Lane?”

  As they dined together, they enjoyed the music in the American café even though Megan wanted to talk more about her plan to get Tristan. She knew how badly Jensen wanted him. She felt bad that they couldn’t do more.

  “So, when does Lorena leave?”

  “Three days,” she said with a
solemn lilt in her voice.

  “You are going to miss her aren’t you?”

  “Like crazy.”

  “She won’t be gone too long.”

  “Not for the internship, but if it works into a full time job or schooling, I’m sure she won’t be back. She has an amazing opportunity and I don’t blame her for jumping on the opportunity. It’s just that, I haven’t really had a good friend until I met her.”

  “Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?”

  “You know what I mean. A girl friend. Someone I can tell my everything to. Someone who won’t judge me.”

  “Is she still staying at the apartment?”

  “Yes. I helped with the rent, even though I moved in with you last month. I didn’t want her to have to pay the full shot by herself.” Megan sat up straight and smiled as a thought entered her mind. She glanced at Jensen as he cut into his chicken and put a piece of it into his mouth. “I think I want to stay with her one of these nights before she leaves. Maybe take her out one last time.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I bet Stella would like a girls night too. You should call her.”

  “Good idea,” she said, smiling. She finished her dinner as she put the night together in her mind.

  On their way back home, she pulled her phone and texted Lorena and Stella with her idea. They were both excited to get together again and raise a little hell before Lorena left for Paris.

  “It’s a go. Tomorrow night, I’m going to meet them right after work.”

  “Very good,” he smiled and took her hand. “Do you need anything before you go?”

  “Only you,” she flirted.

  “I think I can accommodate that.” He leaned over and kissed her.

  “I figure I can just pack a bag and take it with me to work.” Megan said, smiling at him.

  When he focused back on the road, she turned away and looked out the window, her mind running 100 miles an hour.

  The next day she waited outside the bakery after work for her cab to pick her up. Her stomach was in knots knowing what her next step was. She tried a few times during the day but chickened out every time. She knew that in order to make things happen, she had to make the call. She took a deep breath and pulled her phone out. She went to her contacts and pressed the button. Her stomach flipped when it began to ring.

  “You called.” His voice was intoxicating but frightening.

  “Hello, Tristan.” It was difficult for her to control the waiver in her voice.

  “You sound upset. Are you okay?”

  “No.” She said quietly. She tightened her voice and sniffled.

  “Did Jensen do something to you?” he asked in a stronger tone. He was very convincing and if she were anyone else listening in, she would have believed he was actually worried that Jensen was capable of hurting her.

  “He… dumped me.”

  “Bastard. I knew it. I told you, Megan.”

  “I know! You were right, Tristan. I’m so sorry I doubted you.”

  “Come over to the office. I am just finishing up. I’ll take you someplace. We can talk.”

  “Can you meet me later? Tonight someplace? I could use a drink and….” She cut herself off and got quiet.

  “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

  “I’ll let you know where I end up.”

  “Megan, are you sure you are okay until then?”

  She hung up her phone and slid it back into her purse, taking a shaky breath.

  A taxi cab pulled up as she pocketed her phone and she got into the back. She gave the driver Lorena’s address and sat back, wondering if she was courageous enough to go through with what she was planning. When she got to Lorena’s, she tipped the driver and ran inside, hugging Lorena and not letting go.

  “Hey,” Lorena pulled back and looked at her. “Are you okay? What’s up?”

  “I need your help. Is Stella here yet?”

  “She texted me earlier. She is going to meet us at the club. What’s wrong?”

  She took Lorena’s hand and dragged her to the couch. They sat down and Megan looked at Lorena for a long time.

  “Okay, now you’re scaring me.”

  “Just listen. I need you to help me catch Tristan.”

  “Catch Tristan, where?”

  “In the act. Pin him for what he tried to do before.”

  “What? Are you crazy?”

  “No, I really think we can do this. Jensen said they didn’t have enough to arrest him on. I tried telling him my plan and he won’t listen to me. I know a way we can get Tristan for good and put him away for a long time.”

  Lorena shook her head slowly, looking at Megan with wide eyes. “I don’t like this.”

  “It will be fine. I am supposed to meet him at Elite tonight.”

  “Megan, are you crazy? He tried to….”

  “I know. And I am hoping he tries again, but this time with the right camera angle on him and on the spot drug testing.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Megan pulled a small envelope from her bag. “I did a little shopping earlier today and bought this.” She handed it to Lorena.

  “What is it?” She opened the envelope and pulled out a small test strip.

  “It tests for the presence of different types of drugs, including the date rape drug. When we get there, you stay hidden, I’ll get a drink and give him the opportunity to drug it. All you need to do is stay close enough that I can exchange it with a similar drink from you. Let’s make it a Captain Morgan and Coke. We’ll switch, you’ll go and test it and let me know what you find. It will all be on tape and if he does what I think he will do, we will have him by the balls.”

  “Megan. That’s too dangerous.”

  “You’ll be right there with me. Besides, I’m not going to actually drink it.”

  Lorena stayed quiet as she searched Megan’s face for some reason she should do this.

  “Okay, I’ll help you. But if I think there is any danger beyond a simple slip of a drug, we are out of there. You got me?”

  “Of course. Yes. Agreed.”

  “Do we let Stella in on this?”

  “No. She can’t know. Keep it between you and I. I don’t want any chance of Jensen finding out about this until we have proof that it was Tristan who has been doing this.”

  As they dressed for the night, Lorena convinced Megan that she needed to show as much skin as she dared.

  “How are you going to get him to meet you?”

  “He has been texting me, almost begging me to get a hold of him. I finally called him earlier and made him think Jensen dumped me. He wanted to jump through the phone to see me.”

  “And Stella has no idea what is going on?”

  “No. That’s why you have to keep her away from me until I get Tristan to drug me.”

  “Maybe we should tell her we are canceling.”

  “Then Jensen will question why. No. We can do this. We just have to stick together and stick to the plan. If anything starts to go wrong, we bail and meet out front by the bouncers.”

  “I have no problem with that.”

  They grabbed a quick bite to eat at a local sandwich shop before the cab let them off in front of the night club.

  “I don’t know, Lorena. This dress is not me.” Each time she pulled the short black dress down it would spring back up to show most of her thigh. “I think we should switch outfits.”

  “The only reason I am wearing this God awful thing is to blend in with the crowd. Believe me, I’d switch with you in a heartbeat.”

  “The hat is cute.” Megan reached up and touched the brim of the floppy hat. “Let’s switch. I’d wear that.”

  “You want to be alluring to him don’t you?”

  “Yes, but this is downright slutty. Sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” she smiled. “But men like Tristan get off on slutty looking girls. You look fine. Now go.”

  “I can’t even walk in these heels.”

  “Go!”

&
nbsp; Megan went into the night club and looked around as Lorena followed. It was starting to fill up and the large speakers thumped a continuous beat to the loud music. They went to the bar and sat so Lorena’s face would be directly facing the camera. She pulled her cell out to text Tristan.

  “I missed a call from Jensen.” She hit her voice mail and listened best as she could. She couldn’t hear it very well but she got the gist of it after she heard something about missing her and wanted to say good night.

  “Are you going to call him back?”

  “No. I don’t want him to know where I am. He was completely against this.”

  “He isn’t the only one,” Lorena mumbled.

  Hey. Megan texted Tristan. Only a few moments later, he responded.

  There you are. I was getting worried. Where are you?

  Do you still want to come out?

  I have been looking forward to it.

  I’ll be at the Elite club.

  I’ll be there in 20.

  “Game on.”

  Lorena looked at Megan with worry in her eyes. “Are you sure about this?”

  “It’s the only way we are going to get him. Do you remember the plan?”

  “Yeah,” she said with an exasperated breath.

  “Okay, he will be here in twenty minutes.”

  The bartender approached them and Megan ordered four shots of tequila.

  “Here’s to a successful plan,” she said holding a glass up.

  “Cheers.” Lorena clinked glasses with her and took a breath.

  They both downed the shots and kept their eyes on the door.

  “Hey, there’s Stella.” Lorena yelled, pointing toward the other end of the bar.

  Megan looked at the clock on her phone. Tristan was due in any minute. “Go and keep her company until Tristan gets here!” Lorena nodded and walked off. Megan watched as they hugged and started talking and laughing. She kept watching the door until her phone went off.

  I’m here. Where are you?

  Megan’s heart began to race. At the end of the bar.

  She looked for him and saw him as he approached her with a huge grin on his face and his hands in his pockets. He immediately put his arms around her and pulled her body into his.

  “You look fucking hot tonight,” he said in her ear.