He blushed a little and flicked his wrist. “Oh, you know what I mean.” He pointed to me. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. I had a little accident and fell into something. I’m just a little bruised.”
“So, no one rocked your world last night?”
“Not that way, sweets.”
“I think you can find something to do, Cagney.” Lance stood in the doorway, no doubt checking to see if I’d come in as agreed. “If you don’t have anything to do, then by all means, let me find you something.”
Cagney’s eyes were wide. He didn’t like Lance as much as Lance didn’t like him, but Cagney needed his job. He quickly stood up and walked out without a word. I’d talk to him later.
“I’m here, Hathaway. You don’t need to check up on me.”
The door closed, but not with him on the side of the door that I wanted him on. “We have some unfinished business.”
“I don’t believe we do.” I logged onto the system. “You made yourself pretty clear yesterday.”
“What’s going on between you and Carl?”
“He’s a client.” I started to look through my emails as if the conversation was boring to me.
“Whose client?”
“The agency’s client.”
“You know you’re not allowed to work on your own projects outside of this company. You do remember that is a condition to keeping your reputation.”
“I bill everything I do for him through the agency. There is no side job.”
“What all do you do for him?”
That got my attention. “I take photos for him. That’s all. I resent you asking me that.”
He took the seat Cagney had left. “We both know your reputation with clients. I’m afraid you can’t help yourself around them. I’m thinking about sending you to counseling for your addiction.”
“I’ve only slept with one model and that was the same night I found you fucking your next photographer. Given the circumstances, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I’ve never fucked anyone on the job again.”
“You know what I’ll do to you if I catch you lying about it.” He stood up and walked behind the chair he was just sitting in. “You’re only as good as your reputation in this business. I will destroy you. Something tells me after your stunt yesterday, you’re going to do it all on your own.”
He looked back to the door and turned to me. “Does Cagney know what happened yesterday?”
I shook my head.
“Are you sure?”
“Being accused of prostitution isn’t really a high mark in my life I’d like to broadcast to everyone.” I finally looked him in the eye. “Regardless of the fact I didn’t do it, I don’t want it hitting the gossip mill and having it distorted. Don’t worry. No one will hear it from me.”
“Watch the attitude, Rachael. You get cranky when you don’t have sex.” He looked at my chest. “I would be more than happy to relieve you if you need it.”
“I was taken care of better last night than any night I’ve ever spent with you. I fail to see what I ever saw in you to begin with.”
“That’s easy. You saw me as a catch, but don’t forget—you’re not the marrying kind.”
I closed my eyes as he walked out.
Distraction was a common theme of mine. Thoughts about the day I was arrested and the night that followed were never far from my mind. It was difficult at best to concentrate on anything beyond those two things.
The bruises on my face had gone away and didn’t require the cover up they had before. However, the ribcage was still the ugly yellow that follows deep bruising. It was at that stage when Deb had walked in and saw the bruises as my latest bout with distraction interrupted me picking out a shirt.
The sound of the door shutting startled me and I covered myself with the shirt closest to me. I looked in the mirror I’d been standing in front of and locked eyes with my sister.
“What happened?”
“I fell.” I put the shirt over my head and pulled down. Even though she had already seen it, I didn’t feel comfortable standing with just my bra on.
“I don’t believe you.”
“What did you want?” I finished getting my things together. I had one last place to photograph for Carl, and I was determined to finish the job as quickly as possible. Carl was a distraction I could no longer have in my life, and I avoided this last place long enough. I needed it over.
“I need to find some clothes.” She looked nervous, so I stopped putting things in my bag. “You’re busy, though.”
“Well, not to be rude, but we don’t exactly wear the same style.”
She looked to the floor. “I was hoping you’d like to help me shop for new clothes.”
“Oh.” I’d never been shopping with my sister. I looked at my camera bag and back to her. “Sure.” The photos could wait.
“But if you’re busy . . .” She pointed to the bag.
“Well, you could come with me. Then we could shop after the photos are done.”
Deb didn’t smile too often, but she was beautiful when she did. “I’d like that. I’ve never seen you in action.”
There was an awkward silence as we drove to the last hotel on Carl’s list. I glanced over to her a couple of times, but she was just looking out the window. I wondered if she felt as awkward as I did.
“So, what are we shopping for after I finish up these photos?”
“Joseph thinks I need to get a job.”
Other than the internship that turned into a brief job working for a local news station during one of her many college runs, Deb hadn’t really needed to work. She married her ex-husband soon after she met him, and he didn’t want her to work.
“What do you think about that?”
She seemed stumped by my question and took a second to respond. “Why?”
“You said Joseph thinks you need a job. I was just curious how you felt about it.”
“I guess it would break up my day, but I’m not really sure what I would do.”
I wasn’t sure what she would do, either. “What would you like to do?”
She shrugged.
I pulled into the parking lot and let the topic go. It was nice to have her there to help carry stuff in. Camera equipment was heavy. I had gone overboard on what I needed to bring with me. I guess you could say I wanted to make sure there was no mistake about my intentions only to take photos.
The man behind the desk came out to greet us before we made it across the room. “Hi, there. You must be Rachael.”
“Yes. How did you know that?”
“Mr. Williamson called a few days ago and cleared everything with management. We’ve been expecting you. I can take you exactly where your services are needed.”
Deb leaned in close as we followed the gentleman. “Please don’t tell me this is the man who was involved with Drew.”
“Shh.”
She rolled her eyes and fell a step or two behind. He had taken us to a grand ballroom and not a bar as I had imagined. I was grateful I had brought the extra equipment. The light through the enormous windows was breathtaking.
“The wedding coordinator will be here to set up in an hour for a wedding reception we’re hosting tonight. Do you think it will be enough time?”
I only hoped it would be enough time. I nodded and set my bag down to get started. It was a photographer’s dream, and I knew I needed to get started on the necessary pieces before I took the photos I wanted to capture for myself.
Deb was a great help and we actually had gotten along. She didn’t question when I asked for something or when I suddenly moved to a different section. There was no rhyme or reason to what I was doing. I was lost in the moment, in the beauty, photographing the intricate woodwork, the dancing light shining through the windowpanes; and the elegant way the room flowed from band area, dance floor, and stark white linen covered tables.
“We’ve got to go.” She pointed to her watch. “He only gave you an hour an
d you’re ten minutes beyond that.”
“Damn.” I snapped a couple more photos and put my gear away.
I was still in awe of the place we just left. It was by far the most beautiful of all of the places Carl had me go. I could see why it would be something his company wanted to buy into.
“So, you’re working for Carl now?”
Like a playing record suddenly stopped by the DJ’s hand, my playback of the beautiful ballroom we had just left skidded to a halt. “I’m still working for my company. I’m just doing a job for Carl.”
“He’s probably who you’ve been staying with when you’re away all night.”
She had me there, but it wasn’t what she thought. I also wasn’t going to give her any information about what I had done or hadn’t done on my time. It wasn’t any of her business.
“Fine, don’t talk about it. I just know from Dennis that he’s a real piece of work.”
“Of course Dennis is going to think that. They were fighting over the same woman.”
“And you’re okay to be the runner up?”
I didn’t know what happened between him and Drew. I didn’t ask. The only thing I knew was what I heard from our mother and Dennis. Carl was bad news and had been ordering Drew around. He used his daughter to get Drew to agree to things. I could admit he sounded manipulative, but Drew never seemed to speak ill of him. I kept thinking of the night of the arrest. He took care of me when I needed it the most.
The car behind me honked as I sat through the green light. I waved my apologies and started to go.
“You’re in love with him.”
“I most certainly am not.”
“You’ve been spaced out for days. That last night you spent with him must have been—” She turned in her seat as much as her seat belt would let her. “He didn’t hurt you did he?”
I followed her eyes down to my torso. “No! No, he didn’t hurt me at all.” I shook my head. I needed to get her off this topic. “What store do you want to go to first? It will be where I decide to park.”
Getting Deb to pick anything out was excruciating. She was dragging her feet on every decision and usually her answer was no. It was getting old and on my nerves.
“What exactly are you looking for, Deb?” I looked around the fourth store we had been through so far. “Maybe if you told me what kind of job you were looking for, we would be able to target the wardrobe better.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath when she shrugged. If we weren’t going to look for her clothes, then I was going to start looking at mine. I didn’t need new clothes, but I wasn’t wasting the day, either.
Deb had walked up close and whispered. “I think we’re being followed.” She grabbed my arm when I started to turn to look. “Don’t! Can we just go?”
“Deb?” I looked at her as the security guard came up. The blood drained from her face and she started to wobble. I held her arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m going to have to ask that the two of you come with me.” He didn’t cause a scene or draw attention to us, but he was serious and even though he said he was asking, his tone was demanding. Clearly, he wasn’t asking anything.
“What do you want with us?” I had my arm around Deb at this point, trying to hold her up.
The security guard took note and put her arm around his shoulders. “Come on. I’ve got a nice, comfortable chair for you to relax in.”
Deb’s legs gave out and in one swoop, the security guard had picked her up and started walking. I had no choice but to follow.
I thought he would’ve taken her to an office or interview room, but he took her to the medic station instead. I tried to go in and he stopped me.
“No, you’re coming with me.”
He turned me to the other direction and took me down the hall, shoving me in an interview room I had thought he was originally going to take us to. It wasn’t as big as the police station, of course, but it did make my blood run cold. I hugged my arms.
“Dump your purse.” He pointed to the table.
“I’m sorry?”
“You will be by the time I’m finished.” He pointed to the table again. “Dump it!”
“That’s an invasion of my privacy! You have no right to ask me to do that.” I looked around the empty room. “Where’s your supervisor?”
His breath smelled of the food court fare he no doubt had for lunch. I turned my head when he spoke. “What are you hiding?”
“My face from your breath.”
“That’s enough, Larry.” A tall, well-built man walked in. He looked young, but was clearly in control. Larry left the room.
“I’m not dumping my purse for you, either.” No matter how beautiful his eyes were, or the smile he flashed at my statement.
He looked at the purse I was clutching under my arm and back up to my eyes again. “I haven’t asked you to dump your purse. I will tell you that we had a complaint from one of the stores you and the other woman visited. They thought you had stolen something from them. I’ve looked at the video and I’m not convinced, but you were blocked a little by a sales rack.”
“I didn’t steal anything.”
He flashed the smile again. “I sure hope not because I really want to ask you out.” He sat on the edge of the table, placing his foot on a chair and rested his arm on his knee. “It would help if I could just peek in your purse. Then we could move on to more important things like dinner.”
I walked up to the table and stood next to him. My perusal of his body wasn’t hidden and he stood up, turning around so I could get a really good look at him. I liked what I saw.
When he turned back to face me again, he smiled. “Well? May I please look in your purse?”
I had nothing to hide, but I was considering his proposal for dinner. I slid the purse to him. He smiled and looked through it. It only took him a second to frown, and I got nervous. Maybe I had purchased on a previous trip what they claimed I had stolen.
He pulled out a tube of lipstick. “This is really lipstick.” He tossed it back in the purse and handed it to me. “I was hoping to find one of those fake lipsticks that really is a vibrator.” His smile was back. “You’re clean and free to go.”
I took my purse back and tucked it under my arm. “Wow. Vibrator talk and we aren’t even out to dinner yet.” I smiled back. “And of course I’m clean. Completely.” I looked down his body and back up to his eyes. “Can you say the same?”
The smile turned more sinister, but not in an alarming way. “Squeaky.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You squeak?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.” He took a step forward. “Care to find out?”
The door opened and he backed up. Larry stood there looking pale. “She’s hysterical.” He pointed to the room where Deb was. I ran out.
She was sitting in a chair, rocking herself as tears streamed down her face. I knelt down in front of her. “Deb?”
“Can we go? I just want to go, please.”
I turned to the guy who actually helped me and looked at his nametag. “Marty, are we still free to leave?”
“Of course. I checked her before coming in to see you. Do you want some help?”
As soon as Deb heard we were free to leave, she bolted out the door. I took off after her, but caught a glimpse of someone hanging around, no doubt trying to see what would happen to us.
Cil was pretending to look over a kiosk of dog treats. I was almost positive she didn’t own a dog and probably didn’t realize what she was standing at. The fake handbags would’ve been a much better cover for her. I’d ask Carl later if she had any pets, but I was sure the only dog around was Cil herself.
I could see Deb standing at the car, trying to get in. I clicked the remote to allow her entry, but slowed down and gave her a little time alone. Honestly, I was giving myself time. The reaction to the security guard puzzled me. Even I thought she was guilty of stealing, but she didn’t carry a purse, so she had nothing to hide anything in.
&
nbsp; I made it to the car and got in quietly. Deb and I may not have been close, but she was still my sister and it was still heartbreaking to hear her so upset. I reached over to offer my support and rub her back as she was bent over crying. It startled her and she screamed.
“Deb, it’s just me.” I took my hand back.
“Can we go? Please, can we go home now?”
I started the car, but I wasn’t taking her home in that state. It wasn’t something my mother needed to see. I took her to Dennis’s house. He and Drew told me to keep the key and use it whenever I needed to even though I was expected to work in the office again.
She looked out the window when I pulled up. “I just want to go home.”
“And I don’t want Mom to see you like this. Dennis and Drew are at work. We’ll be fine here.” I got out. It wasn’t up for debate. Our mother had started to come back a little with Drew’s help and I wasn’t about to see it go to shit because Deb had a bad day.
I unlocked the door and Deb was reluctant, but she came in. She hadn’t been back to our brother’s house since the night that changed so many lives. She looked around and sat on the sofa only when she was satisfied no one was home.
To give her privacy again and to allow myself a little time to think, I went to the kitchen to fix us something to drink. I also took the time to text Jimmy that I wouldn’t be back in the office. Fuck Hathaway’s demand I be there every day. He was never going to put me on the road again. I needed to figure out how to get out from under him and his company, but first, I needed to figure out what the hell happened to Deb.
I took the iced tea in the front room where I had left her, but she wasn’t anywhere to be found. I started to panic until I heard the water running in the bathroom. I waited in the chair closest to the sofa.
When she finally came out, it was clear she had calmed down and washed her face. The tear marks were gone, but the puffy eyes were still there. She kept glancing at me, but she wouldn’t make eye contact for long.
“I bet you think I’m pretty crazy now.” She took a drink of her tea.
“Nah, I’ve always known that. No one is sane in our family.” The need to know what happened took over, but I was careful in how I approached it. “I’ll listen if you’d like to talk about it. I mean, I want to help, Deb.”
Striving for Perfection (Striving Series Book 2) Page 13
