Page 16

Chapter sixteen

S aturday morning arrived with the embarrassing realization that Paris had once again fallen prey to the charming side of Vic’s personality. He seemed to harbor some power over her that made her forget the reality of their relationship. His passionate kisses and impatient desire to have her had made him even more irresistible. He swept her into a fantasy world where she’d reverted to being the young girl who believed in princes, unicorns, and happy endings.

Pushing his arm off of her, she climbed out from underneath the covers. They’d ended up in her room, which was more suited toward a night of passion with its down comforter and lush pillows. Vic’s room was quite sparse, and felt as if an inmate lived there. He’d chosen to go with the furnishings the condo had come equipped with. To say the least, it was drab with its white and grey color scheme.

As she crept into the kitchen to make some coffee, she noted Vic had not gone back to his own room in the middle of the night. She really didn’t know what casual sex partner etiquette was when living in the same home, but surely it didn’t require an all-night stay. Maybe he hadn’t gotten up in the middle of the night?

Brushing her thoughts of Vic aside, she grabbed two coffee cups from the cupboard and placed them on the counter. Thinking better of her decision to make coffee, she put the cups back and decided to head over to Mya’s instead. She brushed her teeth and her hair, and, still in her pajamas, she headed for Mya’s.

Despite it being eight in the morning, Mya answered the door promptly. She was already dressed for a workout. She had always been an early riser. “Paris,” she acknowledged swinging the door open. “Come on in. What brings you here so early? Did something happen?” she realized her friend was not dressed for the day.

“You could say something happened.” She laughed nervously. “I had a discussion with Vic last night. We ate pizza and drank wine. One thing led to another, and we ended up sleeping together again. And then again,” she added. “Four times, to be exact.” She frowned as she waited for Mya’s response.

Mya’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Wait, what? How? I mean, I’m perplexed by this. Do you hate each other or love each other?” She narrowed her eyes, trying to understand.

“I don’t know that it’s either of those things. I mean, I know we at least like each other enough to sleep together, but I think we might be friends with benefits.”

“But you aren’t sure?” Mya turned away and headed for the couch. “Get in here. This isn’t a conversation suited for the hallway,” she added.

“I don’t know. If I put major thought into it, I’d say it’s possible I care for him and am attracted to him on a cellular level, but the man is a bit of a whore, right?”

“Maybe he isn’t when it comes to you?” she said hopefully.

“I’m not sure he’s capable of more. Have we ever seen him in a long-lasting relationship?”

“Besides the odd dynamics of his relationship with Janel, no, but what if it’s because he didn’t have you?”

“Come on, Mya, he could tell me if that’s how he feels, right?”

“Maybe it’s not that easy,” she said. “A lot of things have happened in the past two years that pushed you two apart. You didn’t think he liked you to begin with, but maybe neither of you allowed the other to get close enough to find out.”

Paris waved her off and headed for Mya’s bedroom.

“Sure,” Mya called after her, “help yourself to some of my clothing.” She laughed.

When Paris returned, she wore a pair of Mya’s yoga pants and a peach-colored workout tank. Most of Mya’s clothing fit her well enough. Mya was shorter than Paris but had a tendency to buy pants that were slightly too long for her, which worked in Paris’s favor. Their body builds, aside from height, were quite similar.

“You look comfortable. Outside of the Vic conundrum, what’s on the docket for today?”

Paris flopped down on the opposite end of the couch. “Not much. I’d love to hang out with you and not think about last night.”

“I still maintain that there could be something between you two. Anyway, let’s go to the nine o’clock yoga session, then grab some brunch. That sounds like a good start to the day, don’t you agree?”

“Yeah, I think that’s a plan I can get on board with.”

“Oh, and look,” said Mya, “your yoga mat is already over here.”

Paris laughed. The only reason her yoga mat was already there was that Paris only did yoga when she was with Mya. Mya had bought a secondary mat for those occasions when Paris might decide to join her.

Back at Paris and Vic’s condo, Vic had been awoken by Paris's nine o’clock alarm. Feeling the bedsheets next to him, he ascertained Paris had left some time ago. Sitting, he stretched himself out, then climbed out of her bed. It surprised him to learn that she’d left the apartment altogether.

The prior night had been such a whirlwind that they hadn’t even put the wine glasses or leftover wine away. He immediately set to tidying up. He couldn’t stand the idea of leaving the living room in such disarray.

Once the condo was back in order, he called Chase, who picked up on the first ring. “Hey, man, I don’t feel like playing tennis today. Want to meet me for a run?”

“What time is it?” asked Chase sleepily.

“Buddy, are you still in bed? It’s almost ten-thirty.”

Clicking his tongue, he said, “I didn’t get to bed until four. When do you want to go?”

“Why were you up so late?”

“I had a date,” he replied, “and before you ask, it went well.”

“Good deal,” replied Vic in amusement. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone. Scratch that. I didn’t know you were back to dating after your breakup with Mitch.”

“It’s been two months. I’m not waiting around for him anymore. He doesn’t deserve this,” Chase replied.

“Too true,” agreed Vic.

“What time?”

“Well, I meant now, but I suppose I can hold off a bit. Eleven works for you?”

“No,” he said with a sigh, “but I’ll be there.”

“Wait, is your date still there?” asked Vic.

“Oh, no, he didn’t stay. It’s all good. I’ll be over at eleven,” he replied and hung up the phone.

Chase arrived as he said he would, at eleven o’clock sharp. Vic was dressed and ready to go. He followed him out of the building, and they set out together at a nice brisk pace. Running was the other thing that helped Vic cope. Chase, luckily, shared a similar view, which is why they’d begun running together on a more regular basis.

Chase knew firsthand what it was like to struggle with life. As a thirty-year-old gay Native American, he was no stranger to prejudice. He’d grown a thick skin and worked hard to maintain his positive demeanor. Running and therapy had been his only saving graces as a young teenager; they helped remove him from the angry path he’d set out on and brought peace and calm back into his life. He hoped Vic would discover the same as he continued through his therapy.

“Hey, I want you to know, I think you and Paris did really well this week. Between you and me, there’s a rumor that you’ll be making a positive move next week. Possibly in more than one area,” he relayed between breaths.

Vic glanced at him as he kept pace. “That sounds great. This situation is exhausting. I can’t wait for it to end.”

“Yeah,” replied Chase, “let’s hope it ends on a positive note.”

After their run, they met Jack at the pool to get some sun and drink a couple of beers. Much to Vic’s surprise, Mya and Paris were sprawled lazily on lounge chairs in their two-piece bathing suits when he and Chase arrived. Luckily, he had dark sunglasses on because he couldn’t stop staring at Paris's nearly naked body. He had no desire to give himself away when she again was acting as if nothing had happened.

“How’s it going?” he asked. Paris was lying on her stomach, her skin glistening in the sun. He noted she smelled like coconut and some exotic fruit he couldn’t place.

Tipping her head back and sheltering her eyes, she looked up at him. “Oh, hey.” Motioning toward Mya, she said, “We thought some sun was in order. Cool weather is going to be here before we know it. Supposedly we’ll be getting some rough winds this fall.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” replied Chase. “We were thinking the same thing.”

“Have you seen Jack?” asked Vic. “He’s supposed to meet us here.”

Chase tapped Vic’s shoulder and pointed across the pool at Jack, who was entering through the gate at that very moment. “It’s uncanny how he materializes anytime someone is looking for him,” laughed Chase.

“Yeah,” agreed Mya. “He really does have that tendency, doesn’t he?”

“So, what’s the plan, boys?” asked Paris.

“We’re going to enjoy some drinks and some splashes in the pool,” replied Chase.

“After we’ve had enough of the pool, we plan to grill and have a fire in the park courtyard. Would you like to join us?” asked Vic.

Mya, nodded and said, “Yes! That sounds great.”

“I guess that settles it,” replied Paris. She felt hesitant due to last night’s extracurriculars, but she was actually kind of excited about sitting around the fire and relaxing outdoors. It would be the perfect continuation of her day.

“Hey guys,” said Jack. Grabbing another lounge chair, he pulled it over to the group and sat down on the edge. “What’s happening?”

“We’re discussing our plans for the day,” replied Chase. “Are you up for grilling and a fire this evening?”

“I’m in! When was the last time we grilled and had a fire?”

“Aside from our little getaway to the cabin, we haven’t had a fire out here once this summer, so, last year,” replied Vic.

Jack smiled back at them. “Well then, that would be why I cannot recall the last time.” Scooting closer to Paris, he tapped her on the shoulder. Tipping her head back, she looked up at him. “You need any sunscreen applied to that beautiful skin of yours?”

“Back off, junior. Mya’s got me covered today.”

“Bummer,” he replied. “I aim to please.”

Vic glared at Jack. It irritated the hell out of him that his little brother wanted to start something with Paris. It fueled an anger he didn’t realize he had. Contemplating the situation further, he realized it wasn’t just Jack. He didn’t want anyone else to touch her. The idea made him see red.

“Hey, are you okay?” asked Mya.

Vic, pulling himself out of his own thoughts, realized he was noticeably balling his fists and clenching his teeth. “Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something,” he replied sheepishly. “Why don’t I get us some drinks. Who wants what?”

The group shouted their orders at Vic, who mentally took them down and wandered off. He was glad to walk away, if even for a moment.

“Is he okay?” asked Mya to whoever was listening.

“I think so,” replied Chase. “He’s going through some stuff, but I think he’s making progress.”

“Aren’t we all,” replied Paris without so much as a glance.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with water games and lounging in the sun while drinking pina coladas, daiquiris, and for Vic and Jack, beers. Paris felt the most relaxed she had in months. There were no other awkward moments between her and Vic. Mya and Jack seemed to be having a great time. Chase always seemed to enjoy himself, so Paris was never concerned about him. All was peaceful and as it should be.

The evening brought further relaxation around the fire. The group reminisced over past trips and how fast time seemed to travel. Vic watched Paris from across the fire. The smile never left her face. Her beautiful black hair shimmered in the firelight. He found himself wishing he was sitting next to her, but he thought it better to keep his distance until they found time to discuss Friday night.

Paris’s time was monopolized by Jack. He had to be next to her at all times. Anytime her drink was empty, he offered to refill it. If she had to use the restroom, he’d offer to walk her there. Vic felt a little sick watching the ridiculous display his brother was putting on, but he told himself to let it go. Paris would never fall for Jack. There was one thing Vic knew to be true, Jack was much too young in Paris’s eyes.

When Monday arrived, Paris found herself wishing it was still the weekend. Saturday had been the most fun she’d experienced in ages. Now it was time to again face their families and see what fate held in store.

“Good morning,” sang Jessamine. “How are the two of you today?” she asked, her icy blue eyes sparkling.

Vic and Paris arrived together with smiles painted on. They discussed over the weekend how they planned to attack their meeting. They didn’t want to give the board any further reasons to question their unity. They vowed to remain intact and work through any issues that presented together.

“They’re great,” chimed Chase as he scooted past Vic and Paris. “They were able to sleep in, so that helps,” he laughed.

“Chase!” scolded Mya. She was already seated at the table. “Let them speak for themselves.”

“We’re feeling good,” stated Vic. “He’s right though, the extra sleep helped.”

“How’d last week go?” asked Dom. “From the look of things, you appear to have mended whatever was in the way of your partnership.” He nodded approvingly.

“We had a long discussion and did some team-building exercises,” replied Vic, to which Paris kicked him under the table. Mya, who was in the know about Paris and Vic’s weekend rendezvous, had to stifle a laugh. Chase was clueless and proceeded to pour himself a cup of coffee.

Mikel slapped his hand on the table. “That’s great to hear!”

“Yes, I concur,” said Cristo. “What type of team-building exercises did you partake in?”

“Mostly the conversational type,” blurted Paris. “We discussed our issues and worked through them. We also agreed on how to handle any differences in the future. That sort of stuff.”

“Well, at least you’re in agreement,” mused Nicola. “There was once a time when your fathers disagreed over business practices, and they refused to speak for a month. If only they could have fixed their issues the way you have.”

Vic grinned. “Yeah, if only.” Paris again kicked him under the table, and Mya, no longer able to hold it in, let out a small laugh.

“What’s so funny, my dear?” asked Jessamine.

Mya straightened in her seat, and her face turned to a neutral look. “I apologize. My mind wandered to a funny cat meme I saw this morning,” she lied.

“I see. I love a good cat meme as much as anyone else. You’ll have to send it my way,” said Jessamine.

“I sure will,” replied Mya. Chase gave her an ‘oh, please,’ sort of look, then refocused on the pastry he’d swiped from the tray in the center of the table.

“I think we’ve fallen off track,” said Dom. “You didn’t answer my question. How’d last week go?”

“Oh,” replied Paris, “I think we both agree that it went well, as long as they kept me away from the bathrooms,” she laughed. “I’m proud to report that there were no mishaps.” Except for Friday night when I slept with Vic , she thought to herself.

“I agree with Paris,” Vic replied. “The week was productive, and there were no mishaps. We’ve come back to the boardroom with a sense of understanding between us, and we’re ready to hit this week hard as well. I also want to take this time to apologize again for my prior indiscretions. I promise it will never happen again.”

“Glad to hear that,” replied Mikel, “because we’re giving you back your upgraded apartments and your original jobs. As you know, there’s little time left for you to prove you want to be a part of the company. We see you making progress, and we hope it continues. We’re now down to the wire—no more mistakes. Like you said, Vic, we want you to hit it hard this week. Here are the keys to your apartments,” he said, sliding them across the table.

“Now,” said Jessamine, “make us proud.” She stood, and the rest of the board stood as well. “Help yourselves to breakfast, and then you can move on with your day.” She waved and followed the other partners out of the room.

“That went well,” Chase commented cheerily.

“Geez, you couldn’t wait to eat until they were done?” asked Mya. “I mean seriously.”

“What? I’m starving. I can’t think when I’m this hungry,” said Chase.

“You two need to keep at this, and like they said, hit it hard this week. You cannot afford any more mistakes,” said Mya.

Back in her office, Paris looked over the scant few files Tom left her. She was once again feeling peeved when the devil himself knocked on her door. “I see you’ve made it back. I dropped those off this morning when I heard you’d be here. Mind if I come in?” he asked.

Glaring, she said, “I don’t know. Are you still ignoring me?”

“Oh, come now, Paris. I haven’t been ignoring you. I had a situation with my sister, which needed attending. I’m all yours now.” He smiled suavely. “Let’s get some dinner Wednesday night, my treat.” He smoothed.

Paris shook her head. She didn’t know what to think. “Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess?” asked Tom. He was now standing next to her. Reaching down, he cupped her chin in his hand and tipped her head up to look at him. “Don’t guess, darling. I only have eyes for you.” Paris could feel her knees weaken. Tom let go of her chin and headed toward the door. Pausing, he said, “Pick a place. Whichever you prefer, and as expensive as you like. You deserve an enjoyable night out.” Shutting the door behind him, Tom disappeared into the hall.

His ability to weasel his way back in amazed Paris. She took a deep breath and released it slowly to calm her racing heart and return to composure. Another knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she called.

“Hey,” said Vic. “To celebrate moving back to normalcy, may I cook dinner for you this evening?”

Paris considered his proposal. “Sure, we can do that,” she replied. “What time?”

“How about my place at six? I’ll whip up some salad and tuna steaks.”

“That sounds great. I could go for a nice salad. I think I ate a little too much junk food this past weekend. Marshmallows are not a part of my regular diet.”

“Yes, but aren’t they wonderful?” asked Vic. “You seemed to enjoy roasting them. I think you offered everyone who approached a marshmallow,” he laughed.

“I did, didn’t I?” she said, laughing.

“Okay, I’ll see you after work,” he said, then left the room.

Paris went back to skimming her client files. Snapping back to the present moment, she glowered at the low client load. Any peon off the street could have handled these files. She really needed to discuss it with Tom, but she wasn’t in the mood to approach him yet. Perhaps she would work through them and ask for more once she had finished? With any luck, she would have them completed by Wednesday afternoon and could nicely bring up the idea of further work while at dinner.

“Hey,” said Paris. She was standing in the doorway to Vic’s apartment as he feverishly chopped and prepared the dinner salads. “I knocked, but you didn’t hear me.”

“It’s all good. You were actually invited this time.” He laughed. “Come on in and pour yourself some wine,” he motioned toward a bottle and some glasses.

“Okay, but I’m not planning on a repeat of Friday night,” she said. “As a matter of fact, we should probably discuss that.”

Vic nodded in agreement. “You found my ulterior motive for the dinner invitation.”

“Oh?”

“We agreed to work through things, and this is one of those things we must face,” he replied.

“Yeah. I’m with you.”

“Let’s wait until after dinner, though. I want to enjoy the food and company before we delve into such a serious matter.”

Paris cocked her head at him. She wasn’t sure why he wanted to wait. Was he planning on upsetting her? Did he think she wanted more? Did she want more? No, she knew she had to let it go. He didn’t want more, and besides, Tom was still interested. She wanted Tom. Tom had always been the one to make her heart flutter. Her mind was spinning out of control. She needed to stop and take a breather.

Walking over to the island, Paris grabbed the bottle of Prosecco and poured them each a glass. “I didn’t realize you like Prosecco,” she mused. “Isn’t it a little too sweet for you?”

“You know I picked it out for you, but it pairs well with fish. This particular Prosecco is less sweet than others.”

“Thoughtful,” she said as she further considered the bottle. “Why would you pick it for me?”

Finished searing the tuna, Vic placed it atop the salads he’d made and added tomatoes and fresh parmesan. As a final touch, he drizzled them with balsamic vinegar. “Here we are,” he said, placing a plate in front of Paris. Walking around the island, he pulled out a chair to seat her at the table. Scooting her chair in, he then took the seat next to her. “To answer your question, it goes well with the meal, but since you’re Italian, I figured it might be a nice gesture.”

“A sweet consideration,” she replied as she lifted her fork to take her first bite. The flavors erupted in her mouth. She closed her eyes and savored. “This is unbelievably good. I don’t recall the last time I actually tasted such a perfect combination.”

Vic smiled. “It’s my job to know how to do that.”

“Did you enjoy culinary school?”

“Very much. Honestly, there have been many days lately where I think maybe I would rather go off and run the restaurants. Food speaks to a person’s soul. I enjoy making others feel good with my culinary creations.”

“Wow, careful, Vic, people might think you have a soft side after all. I’ve never heard you speak like this before.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“With passion and love. With heart,” she replied.

“Well then, hold on to your knickers, cause it’s about to get real in here.”

“Oh, really? What will Vic say next?” she asked with amusement.

“Well, for starters, I want you to know that I have feelings for you.”

“Sexual. I know,” she stated.

“No, you don’t know,” he replied pointedly. “You don’t. This is different, Paris.” Reaching out, he caressed the top of her hand with his pointer finger. “I feel more for you than I’ve felt for anyone. Ever. This isn’t about the sex. I think I’m falling for you.”

Paris set her fork down and took a drink of her Prosecco. She needed a moment to think. She paused briefly. “You’ve never had a committed relationship,” she replied. “Are you sure you know what it is to truly love someone?”

“Wow,” he replied. “That’s kind of harsh, don’t you think?”

Raising her hand in defense, she said, “That may have come out wrong. I don’t mean to offend, but I question the reality of those feelings. Is it because we’ve been through a life-changing ordeal together? Could it be because we’ve known each other forever, and now we feel safe with one another?”

“Why does it have to be any of that?” He could feel his face flushing. She was treating him like a teenager.

“I’m still seeing Tom.”

Vic’s nostrils flared at the sound of his name, but he silently vowed to keep his temper. “He’s using you,” he replied through clenched teeth. “Don’t you see it? He wants to ruin you so he can take over your accounts!”

“Just stop,” she said, jumping up from the table. “Enough. Tom likes me.”

“No, Paris, not enough. I love you. Do you hear me? I tell you I have these deeper feelings for you, and you brush me off like some high school pup. It’s difficult for me to say these things to you, or to see you making such a major mistake.”

“I can’t do this right now,” she whispered. “I can’t.” Turning away, she headed for the door. She heard every word he’d said, and it set her mind to spinning once again.

“Where are you going?” called Vic. “We said we’d work through the tough stuff. This is the tough stuff!” Paris didn’t respond.

Vic, frustrated with the awful turn of events, threw the dinner plates in the sink and headed out to the balcony to get some fresh air. As he stood watching, he saw Paris emerge from the shadows and walk out across the park. All he wanted was a chance with her. Was that too much to ask?

Thirty minutes after the blow-up with Paris, Vic heard a knock at the door. His heart quickened hoping she had returned. Springing up from the couch, he bounded across the living room and swung open the door. There she stood in a low-cut black dress that hung much too short. Angela Martini. Vic’s heart fell.

“Hey, handsome, mind if I come in?”

Vic stared for a moment, unsure of what to say. Her tone, while sweet, was surely laced with venom. Before he composed a response, Paris turned the corner and nearly ran into Angela. Without a word, she shook her head and turned to leave. Angela didn’t notice the near-collision.

“Well? Are you going to let me in?” she asked.

“No,” he growled. “You need to leave. I’m not in the mood for visitors.”

“Oh, come on now,” she coaxed.

“No, Angela. Leave,” he demanded and shut the door in her face. Waiting on the other side, he heard her swear, then walk away. He didn’t know how he would fix things with Paris, but her return had to mean something.

Wednesday evening, Dom again sent Molly to deliver urgent files to Tom. The door was closed, as it was the last time. She approached with caution. Surveying her surroundings, Molly noted only a couple of people were left in the open office, but they were far enough away that they most likely wouldn’t notice her pausing outside Tom’s door. Pulling out her phone, she hit record and listened. She could hear the same voices once again—an unknown woman and Tom.

“He rejected me when I went to his place last night,” pouted the woman. “I don’t know. Maybe we need to let this go? It was so easy at first. He played right into my seduction. I thought for sure he would figure me out when I shut off his alarm, but he didn’t. Honestly, I was shocked I was able to coax him into submission in his office. If that didn’t get him fired, I don’t know what will? Now he's turned cold, and I fear he may know something’s up.”

“Angela, come on. You can’t stop now. Where’s your head? We’re so close to getting what we want!” his voice raised an octave. “You want to run the company, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” replied Angela. “Ever since those two idiots got themselves into trouble, I’ve been dreaming about it nightly.”

“In order to get what we want, we need to continue derailing them in any way possible. You need to go over there after work and try again. I’m meeting Paris for dinner tonight. The deal is as good as done.”

“I’m shocked she hasn’t questioned the number of clients you keep giving her,” said Angela. “Her parents will be pissed when they find out she’s taking on so little.”

“I know,” laughed Tom. “I plan to tell them on Friday that she hasn’t stepped up to the plate, and she’s only doing the bare minimum.”

“I don’t think that’ll be enough to get her ousted,” replied Angela.

“It’s all good. You see this?” he asked. “This is Jessamine’s necklace. She won the bid for it at the charity auction and it was delivered this week. I swiped it from her office before she knew of its arrival. I plan to give it to Paris as a gift. When Jessamine sees it, she’ll accuse Paris of theft, but for everything to come together, I need you to make it appear as though Vic is now sexually harassing you. We should plan a place to meet and I’ll videotape the scene. We can send it straight to his ex, Janel. She’ll be so mad, she’ll take care of the rest for us. The board will have to let him go in order to save face. Our futures are in the bag.”

Molly gasped and pulled away from the door. She prayed her phone recorder was as dedicated as she needed it to be. Clicking it off, she stowed it back in her purse. She didn’t even bother to slide the files under the door. She would deliver them directly to Paris and Vic. They needed to know exactly what they were up against, and time was of the essence.