by Anya Palvin
Keys narrowed his eyes and looked at his best friend closely. "You're irritated, you turned down the secret gentleman's club, you're more nonchalant and more beastly than usual....you like someone, don't you?" He hits the nail right on the head with his guess and Choker looks up at him for the first time today. "Oh my god man, you do like someone. Fuck! I never thought you'd be capable of feeling anything for anyone...EVER!" He sounds surprised at his own discovery. "What makes you think I like someone?" Choker asks rolling his eyes. "Oh, come on, Choke, I've known you forever, you've never acted this odd before, especially with me. We're like brothers and all of a sudden..." Keys paused as if a beam of light came on in his mind. "Holy shit! It makes perfect fucking sense. I'm so stupid, how could I not see this shit? You like Ciara, don't you?" He finally figures it out but Choker remained still. "Of course...you told me to leave her alone in New York. I thought it was because you were in denial about her being a threat, but now I get it. You fucking liked her. Shit!" He stands and walks about the room with both hands on his head. "Are you done?" Choker asks and Keys smirks, lowering his hands back to his side. "Dude, how did this happen? What's different about her? I've seen you fuck princesses without blinking twice after you're done. She's a doctor yea, but it's not like she's from our world. You used to only like the girls that like blood, war, and tragedy. I don't know if you've noticed but she's incomparable with those girls." he goes on.
Choker hesitated accusing him of dating her but didn't want to seem foolish when it turns out that he got it all wrong, so he avoided any life changing accusations for now.
"It uh, it shocked me too." he somewhat admits he likes Ciara and Keys throws himself back first on the floor. "What the hell are you doing, Keys?" Choke asks watching his friend act like a complete moron. "I'm sorry I had to do something to make sure this isn’t just a dream. This makes so much fucking sense now." Keys still goes on in shock. "Does she know?" Keys asks and Choker rolls his eyes at him. "I'm not sure what she knows. You might know a lot more about her than I do." Choker tiptoes around the accusation to see what his friend's reaction will be. Keys smiles and his smile turns to full blown laughter. "I kept an eye on her, to make sure she's not a rat. I don't sit around and ask her personal questions and shit. I think the longest conversation we've had was when I threatened her in the hospital." he sounds regretful at the end of his sentence. If he knew the real reason Choker wanted him to back off, he would've never interrupted in the first place.
"I hope you don't think anything happened between us, I never touched her just to clear that up. But to be honest, I definitely thought about it in a twisted bondage dominant kind of way." he admits and there's a deadly look in Choker's eye. "But not a single thing happened." Keys repeated just incase there was a punch coming his way.
After a few moments of weird silence, Keys walks over and Choker stands to give him a hug. It's one of those hugs mobsters give when someone proves them self, and earned their respect...heart-warming yet serious.
"So, what are you going to do?" Keys asks grinning from ear to ear. He's enjoying this a little too much.
9.
Ciara went out of the OR with blood everywhere on her gloves and coat. Feeling depressed, defeated and complete devastated. She sinks herself to the floor outside the OR, crying tears of pity and failure.
"Doctor" a nurse she knows very well touches her shoulder. Caitlyn is no more than 38 years old, ten years of experience and a wise woman as well. She's cleverer than she is beautiful, and she's more admired than anyone in this hospital, and she chose to stay close to Ciara.
She has history with Ciara's father. He was her first love, and no man has ever touched her body since. Ciara doesn't know much of their past but a stranger can easily sense her feelings for him whenever he's just around. They hardly speak two words each time they encounter, but it's in the body, and in the eyes. Perhaps he did marry Ciara's mother because she is a woman with an extraordinary birth right, and love can only take you so far.
Some say money is the root of all evil, yet we can't survive without it...unless we find delight in living a miserable life.
"You did all you possibly could, she knew the risks she was taking when she decided to carry the child. We advised her of the chances of hemorrhage during birth but she was very hard-headedand determined to go against everything we advised. Don't you dare think this is your fault, Ciara." Caitlyn dries Ciara's tears and pulls her to her feet.
Caitlyn has anaffectionate voice and warm blue eyes. Her company cheers everyone up, and her advice is valued by almost all of the staff. Those that get to know her, absolutely love her...including Ciara.
"She's just a baby, she has no one. I don't cry for the mother, I weep for the child. What will happen to her now? Who will raise her? Child services are just waiting to hear about this so they can throw her into the nearest foster home, or thrown her off to be adopted by a barren woman and her perverted cunt of a husband." Ciara rants angrily pacing the hallway.
"I see you've picked up the nature of the French and the British. I'm not saying the system is always flawless but not all foster homes are a nightmare, and not all adopted parents are grim. If it means this much to you, I will personally hand pick someone to raise the child myself, and in the meantime, I will arrange to take her home until I find another suitable home for her." Her kind words reached Ciara's ear splendidly well, and she rushed into her arms, finally feeling relieved after what she’d promised, thanking her greatly.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Ciara asks with her eyes filled with tears.
"Why not? I live by myself, temporary guardian slips aren't that difficult to come by and I have one extra room that can be a temporary nursery until something else come up." she agrees and Ciara hugs her again.
They walk hand in hand to the nursery window as they watch the RN's prepare the new born premature orphan for the incubator.
"Why don't you have kids of your own, Caitlyn?" Ciara blurts out, but Caitlyn doesn't seem to mind.
"If I had a dollar for every time somebody asked me that question I'd be $5000 richer than I am today." She tries to avoid the question but Ciara didn't consent to receive such answer. She gaped at her for some time until she gave in.
"Ok ok. If you must know, I was in love once, years ago. His parents didn't approve, so he married someone else, and I guess I've been a masochist ever since." She explains and Ciara turns to face her.
"Masochist? How? Like sexual humiliation?" She asks and Caitlyn takes a deep breath before starting again.
"I never told anyone that story, and you still want me to explain further?" Caitlyn hopes Ciara would yawn or get called in for duty but she wasn't so lucky. She sighs heavily, and begins again.
"Ok fine." Caitlyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, once then twice.
"He married someone else because her family had money and there was so much to gain from being part of that family. I uh, I guess I felt like I wasn't good enough for him…and I still felt that way. Love isn't always sufficient, in some cases, money and chance is everything. Not moving on is my way of punishing myself I guess.
Maybe I deserved the indignity." She finishes and Ciara gently strokes her back.
"I don't believe that for one second. He just wasn't the right guy for you." Ciara advises, not knowing Caitlyn speaks of her own father.
"Well, I should hope so. Especially for your sake. When the time comes, choose a man that will choose you no matter what or who disapproves, choose a man that will love you far more than you could ever imagine. Choose a man that if you cry he will be ready to break off that person’s head. Choose the man that doesn't take orders from anyone, and only seeks your consent and your assurance. Choose the man that will laugh in the face of the people that doubt you, and protect you beyond measure. Choose the man that would rather die than turning his back away from you." As Caitlyn speaks, both women shed tears due to the impact of her moving words.
"If there is such a man on thi
s planet, I promise not to let anything ruin us." Ciara vows in a whisper, but meaning every word profoundly.
"She lives!" Danny with wide-opened eyes mock directly at her when he wakes up to find Ciara in their loft, dressed in pj’s eating ice cream and watching reruns of I Love Lucy. "Hello to you, too." she mumbles, licking the silver spoon.
"This hardly feels like Monday morning, does it? It feels like we’ve never seen each other for centuries. When I'm at work, you're here, and when I'm here, you're at work or gone abroad for medical conferences. I think I now realize how lonely my life would be without you around. I miss you badly, Ci." He complains walking over to hug her tightly.
"I can't tell him I'm being blackmailed to go to JT's welcome home party, so a medical conference in London sounds more convincing. Right?" She silently decides.
He examines her guns and roses pajamas. "New?" He asks touching the fabric and examining it thoroughly.
"Yea I bought it on my trip." She says honestly.
"Tom's gone on a bloody Calvin Klein shoot, my parents are off somewhere trying to save the world, and my best friend never has time to hang out with me anymore." He whines, pouting. "I'm off today, but I do have to join my dad for lunch but I'm all yours after that." She assures him smiling.
Le Bernadin is the Carlyle's favourite seafood restaurant. It's located in the heart of Manhattan, and it seats over 200 people in its private quarters, and 80 in the elegant dining room. Chef Eric Rupert is a food expert and acompletebrilliant when it comes to seafood. He makes the rawest of fish taste extremely beautiful and delicate on a plate, with or without his famous garnishes. Everything he prepares is foremost beautiful, and pleasing to the eyes as it is to the tongue, leaving no human unsatisfied.
The restaurant dining room has a strict dress code. Elegant attire must be worn to dine there unless you wish to have your meal in the lounge, which allows casual clothing on occasion.
The dining room's elegance is a mixture of a Venetian theme and a splash of Britain as well.
The women are encouraged to dress in accordance; dresses, heels, pencil skirts and or designer shirts. Long sleeve shirts, and formal pants for the male customers, jackets are also required but ties are optional.
Ciara's father, Henry Carlyle is seated at his favourite table at Le Bernadin. A few minutes after his arrival, Ciara gracefully enters in. She’s wearing a white cotton flowing dress, black and white polka-dot Christian Louboutin heels, and a red sun bale formal hat. "Sorry I'm late, dad." She kisses his cheek and he smiles proudly.
"I already ordered. I got your favourite seafood platter and the waiter will soon bring your drink. I'm sticking to brandy as usual, but I know you're a champagne and frozen blended drink kind of girl." They both chuckle and like clockwork, the waiter delivers a piña colada to their table and she took away the yellow tiny umbrella and takes the first sip.
"So I spoke to your supervisor and she said you took the weekend off. Isn't it a little too early to be taking vacations?" He asks out of the blue, the question stops her heart for a moment. Unsure of what to say, she stays quiet. She doesn't want to lie to her father, but how could she explain what happened in Venice in a way that he would understand. He knows she tried to save a man while she was there a few weeks ago and failed, but who would've thought being a doctor and having the instincts to rescue would lead to blackmail and nightmares?
…
"Yes, Keys let me go but he was still very clear on keeping this discreet. No matter what excuse I give you, dad I know you will have a fit and might cause a scene if I say anything that you can't swallow...and you definitely can't swallow the truth now, no one can." She resolves in silence.
She digs through her brain while calmly sipping her drink, trying to find an answer that would suit them both.
"Don't bother thinking of a lie to tell me my dear. I stopped by the loft on Saturday night on my way back from Japan, and Danny told me that you left early Friday morning for a medical convention or conference or whatever lies you told him to tell me." He seems angry now. Shit!
"Ciara Carlyle you have exactly 5 seconds to tell me what's going on." He threatens and she swallows hard, staring at him wide eyed.
....Awkward.
10.
"Young lady I'm waiting, don't make me ask you again." Henry scolds and Ciara pushed away her dish, suddenly feeling too sick to eat.
She bites her fingernailsas she nervously tries to come up with a lie.
"Dad I..." She begins, pausing to think of what to say.
"I didn't want anyone to know until I was sure, that's why I lied. Something happened a few weeks ago, and I uh, I needed to do something very important." She danced around the real reason and he narrows his eyes at her.
"Ok ok, I'm seeing someone." She blurts out before she could rehearse the words in her head.
"The boyfriend card got me out of trouble last night, so hopefully it could work again."
"WHAAAT?" He yells in shock.
"I know I know, I should've told you first, but, I didn't want anyone to know until I was 100% sure he's the right one for me." She continued up a really good story, and he feeds into it like termites to wood.
"Wait, he? You, you have a boyfriend?" He cries in a low whisper, just tears flowing. "Oh thank god. Your mother and I really thought you were gay since you've never dated anyone or even introduced anyone to us except your gay best friends." He expressed his refined relief.
"I don't know if I should feel happy I seem to be successfully escaped this crisis or I should feel offended for myself or offended for Danny and Tom."
"What's wrong with being gay?" She asks with a serious look in her eyes. "Did I say anything was wrong with it?"He snaps.
"Dad, I'm not a kid anymore. I don't need a bloody lecture or someone to hold my hand. I will be just fine. I shouldn't have to explain myself to you. You've ruined my appetite." She snaps, easily turning the table onto him.
Who would've thought he'd fall for the oldest scheme in the record.
"Sweetheart, your mom and I just want you to be happy. You've been so engrossed on the school activities and on your goal becoming a doctor for the past 7 years. I’m not saying it’s not a good thing but we surely at fault for forgetting to encourage you to have a life outside of medicine. I just want you to make choices that will help your future and not ruin it, instead. You're a smart girl and I know we may have sheltered you way too much. But it's only because we love you so very much and want the best just for you. If you don't think it's too soon, I'd like to meet this fellow. Maybe you could invite him over for dinner." He asks suggestively, and her frown worsens.
"You're right dad, it's too soon. I have to go, I'm meeting Danny at the race track. I promised him we'd hang out today. Or is it going to destroy my future to ride horses with my gay best friend?" She snaps again, and his face falls.
"Shit. I feel a little guilty for going off on him, but happy I'm in the clear from telling him the truth about missing work."
***
Meanwhile...
Keys and JT plot a scheme to hook up Ciara and Choker.
Oh look at that...C and C...see it's perfect, even their names sound like something straight out of a Bonnie and Clyde movie.2
"Are you sure he's coming?" JT asks impatiently fidgeting in the black SUV parked outside Le Bernadin. "He's coming." Keys answers a bit irritated, JT's been asking the same question every 10 minutes and each time Keys tries to calmly give him the same answer.
They've been parked outside in a Black tinted SUV for 30 minutes. Both men mouth-wateringly dressed in dark Armani suits.
Choker's coincidentally meeting an investor at a nearby hotel just around the corner, and he agreed to meet the guys at Le Bernadin for lunch.
Keys promised to stay away from Ciara, and he kept his promise but hacking into her cellphone to see where she'd be today is strictly his way of helping his best friend indirectly.
"There he is!" JT squeals giddily, Keys rolls his
eyes at him. A grown ass man, who does grimy shit for a living actually just squealed in excitement like a total pussy. He steps out onto the sidewalk to greet Choker, leaving Keys in the vehicle.1
Choker's clothed in Armani too, sexy dark close fitting suit- Light blue shirt, no tie. Hair slicked back with a wide teeth comb, his eyes dark with danger, his lips pink and soft as usual, and his posture's mob-like and sexy.
"Hey, Choke. How was the meeting? Good, that's great. Are you hungry? I know I am. Hahaha..." He laughs awkwardly after running through a bunch of jumbled questions.
Keys stepped out just in time to stop JT from ruining everything with his crazy rambling and suspicious giggling. "Jay, shut up." Keys rolled his eyes at him again for the third time today. "What's up, man?" Choker and Keys greet each other with a familiar handshake.
"What's wrong with him?" Choker asks pointing at JT, he's still giggling ridiculously like a school boy with a secret. "Ignore him. He had like 12 coffees in the last 7 hours. Lesson learned. I'll see to it that he drinks decaf from now on." Keys slaps JT hard with the palm of his hand to the back of JT's head. The thud amuses both Choker and Keys. "Shoot, I forgot to check this fool in. Let's go hyper." Key's pulls JT back to the SUV. "I'll meet you back here in 10, text me if anything changes."Keys says before climbing in beside JT and their driver pulls out into Manhattan's lunch hour traffic.
Choker confidently opened the door and walked in to the restaurant when someone walked right into him, sending him a few steps back outside.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Ciara apologizes extremely loud. He straightens his jacket and smoothed his shirt. "It's you" She says again, and he finally recognized the voice and turns around to face her. His eyes never looked more dangerously sexy, or maybe that's because he's looking at her.
