Читать книгу Those Black Roses - Joyce Zeledonis - Страница 5

Chapter One

The art gallery was crowded tonight for the fundraiser, and Elizabeth Summerton looked around wishing she did not have to stand there with these three men as they talked politics, policies, law and power, and money. She did have the privilege of meeting people with power and money—lots of money that talked and people who walked the walk.

It was all going to end soon. She would be out of this circle of people because she filed divorce from Richard Summerton, the congressman. Her lawyer informed her the divorce would take three to four months to be final. Why she was here tonight was beyond her, but she and Richard did spend money on these tickets.

“I see Lafayette is here.” Richard’s voice broke her out of her train of thought.

“He owns the gallery now. He bought it three years ago,” the judge answered. “He owns lots of buildings in the city, makes crazy money renting them and selling them.”

“Money talks,” Richard said as he took a drink from the waiter as he walked by with a tray of them.

“I heard he has designs on your wife,” the commissioner stated without looking at her, and he was not smiling.

“Oh well, Elizabeth will not be my wife soon. We are getting a divorce.” Richard sounded like he did not care. “She’s only here because I spent money on the tickets last year.”

She had enough of these men, and she shook her head, letting out a loud sigh, and then walked away from them. The nerve of them talking about her. And the commissioner said that Mr. Lafayette had designs on her. He was married to a very beautiful woman named Isabell.

She did not think that Mr. Lafayette was the cheating kind, and if he was, she wasn’t going to cheat. That was so wrong! They should be talking about Richard and his career, or what he did to her. She did nothing to Richard; he did it to himself.

She walked to the table where the food and drinks were placed, and she took a glass of wine and walked around sipping from the glass.

It was a photo in the corner away from the other art that made her stop. It was beautiful and haunting. The ocean waves were pounding the cliffs of a lighthouse, and the light in the tower was searching in the fog and the rain.

“Good evening, Mrs. Summerton.” She heard the smooth voice from behind her; he found like he always did.

She glanced at Simon Lafayette; he was alone tonight. He was dressed in tailored black suit with a light-blue tie, white shirt, and shiny black shoes. His jet-black hair was combed neatly, and his face was smooth. He had piercing blue eyes. They seemed to look right through a person to their soul. Was the commissioner right? Did he have designs on her?

“Good evening, Mr. Lafayette.” She had to look back at the photo. She could not just stare at him. He was a very attractive man.

“Where’s your husband?” he asked, standing next to her.

“My soon-to-be ex-husband is over there.” She let it slip. It must be the wine. “He is over there talking to those men.”

She pointed to the group of men in the middle of the room and asked, looking at him,” Where is your wife?”

“My soon-to-be ex-wife is not here tonight.” He was smiling, showing off his pearly white teeth. “So you’re getting a divorce from Richard.”

“Yes.” She looked back at the photo. Why was he smiling at her like that? She hoped he would go away, but in a way, she wanted him to stay. She was so confused.

“Maybe the next time we meet, we will both be divorced.” His voice was rough, and she looked at him quickly, wondering where this conversation was headed. The commissioner was right; he did have designs on her. He was a smooth operator.

She sipped on the wine, trying not to choke, and looked at the photo again. She felt her face growing hot, and it was cool in the gallery.

He stepped closer to her; she could smell his cologne. He smelled of wood and spice. He was never this close to her before. She could feel the heat coming from his solid body. Why was he close to her?

He took the glass from her hand and placed it on the tray as the waiter walked by, and she let him. She felt like she was under a spell. She didn’t know what to say to him. She wanted to move away; she couldn’t.

“I’d better leave,” she whispered, turning to go, but his hand rested on her arm, stopping her.

Chills danced on her skin from his touch. He had power over her, and she could not free herself. She felt powerless against him.

“I want to kiss you,” he stated roughly. “I have for years.”

“You want to what?” She couldn’t believe it. She must be hearing things; it must be the wine.

“You heard me.” His hands went to her shoulders, pulling her closer to him, lowering his head. His hot breath fanned her face, making her feel weak, and whispered, “I am going kiss you.”

His lips descended toward her, and all she could do was watch as her heart began to pound in her chest. Simon Lafayette wanted to kiss her and hold her so close that she could feel the pounding of his heart.

“Elizabeth,” he whispered her name and kissed her softly, making the world stop.

She closed her eyes and felt the kiss all the way to the pit of her stomach, and she melted against him like butter. She never felt like this before.

His hands were caressing her back as he deepened the kiss with desire, and her hands reached up to his shoulders and held onto him for dear life. She let out a loud sigh of longing, her fingers sliding into his hair as she returns his kiss with her own desire.

Yes, to be kissed by him! She never wanted it to end.

“I wish you were mine,” he whispered roughly against her lips. “Next time we met, it will be my turn, and you will be mine.”

“Simon,” she whispered his name as she grasped for air.

“This is going to end too quickly for me,” he stated roughly as he kissed her again, then stopped as he released her. “Until next time, Elizabeth.”

Then he was walking away from her, and she grew hot and licked her lips. It felt like a dream, but she was kissed by Simon Lafayette, and enjoyed it. She kissed him back, and he was walking away from her.

She wanted to run away after him, and she didn’t move. She didn’t want to cause a scene. She released a huge sigh as she watched him stop to a group of men.

She would never forget that kiss; it was engraved in her mind forever.

*****

A year later…

“Adam.” Elizabeth entered her law partner’s office, and she saw Adam Cane sitting at his desk. He looked up from his paperwork and smiled.

Adam had been her business partner for twelve years, and she only had been married a year to Richard when they started this law practice. Now she was divorced for six months, and she was free from Richard.

“Yes, Elizabeth,” he said loudly, breaking out her line of thought.

“I have a fundraiser tonight,” she informed him as she stopped at his desk, “so I am leaving early.”

“Where is the fundraiser?” he asked, removing his glasses and rubbing his face.

“At the art gallery downtown,” she answered, sighing. “It’s starts at seven. So I have to drive home, take a shower, eat, and stay with my sister or my father overnight so I don’t have to drive myself home. Fur Ball can take care of himself.”

“That’s your kitten?” he asked, laughing. She was a softhearted person, but when it came down to fighting in court, she had no mercy.

“Yes,” she answered, laughing.

“Which gallery?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Simon Lafayette’s.” Just saying the name gave her chills.

“He owns half of New York,” Adam stated seriously. “Just be careful.”

“I will.” She changed the subject; she did not want to think about that man yet. “You know we are in business together for twelve years.”

“Yes, I remember,” he said, smiling. “You and I met in law school. I had just married Corinne. You and I became friends. Then you met Richard and married him two years later. Corinne and I are married fifteen years and three girls later. You were twenty-three, and I was twenty-five,” he stated, putting he glasses back on. “We were not even thinking of this plush office.”

“We were downtown,” she stated. “Now we have this and hundreds of clients.”

“Yes, we are very busy,” he stated, and smiled at the thought. He could support his family on this income. His wife was a second-grade teacher. His three girls ranged from five to two, and they were not planning to have any more. They had their hands full.

Richard and Elizabeth never had any children, and he never asked why.

“I am leaving now,” she said, seeing it was going on to three o’clock. “I’ll see you at eight o’clock on Monday.”

“I am leaving at four today. I am taking Corinne and the kids to the beach for the last time tomorrow,’ he informed her.

“Okay, have a nice trip,” she said as she turned to the door.

“Enjoy your fundraiser,” he stated as she stopped at the door.

“The last one I am going to attend,” she assured him. She could not afford the price of the ticket, but she had bought it last year.

She left his office, went to her own home, grabbed her briefcase, and said goodbye to their secretary.

The drive to her ranch home in the suburbs took an hour, and her thoughts wandered as she drove. She thought about living in the city, but she disliked the city. It was loud and crowded, and the apartments were very expensive. The cost of living in the suburbs was less expensive. There was peace and quiet.

Her father and her sister both owned apartments in the city, but when she stayed, she stayed with her half sister Nichole Svenson; there was an eight-year gap between them. Nichole was twenty-three and a model, and she was designing clothing, which was becoming popular with the young generation.

Nichole and Elizabeth had different fathers. Elizabeth’s father was Dominic Ricc, a designer himself, and he was one of the top 10 designers in New York. Elizabeth saw her father when she could. Nichole’s father, Hass Svenson, was a scientist from Switzerland.

Their mother, Janice, had been married to him for twenty-five years now. Janice, their mother, was a great makeup artist. She did makeup for the movie stars.

Nichole was the social butterfly and their mother’s protégé. Nichole had the ballet, singing, piano, and modeling lessons. Janice entered Nichole in several pageants when she was young and won several of them and then became a model when she was five.

Elizabeth was shipped off to an all-girl school in England, so she was not raised with Nichole. Then when she turned twelve, she was shipped back to New York and placed in a Catholic school. She decided to study law and attend law school. There she met Richard Summerton. He was handsome and swept her off her feet. He was two semesters ahead of her and Adam. She and Richard have a five-year age difference. They got married when she entered her fourth year of college, and then she passed her bar exam before she graduated.

Richard started his own law firm and ran for Congress, and he won with his smooth talking. He was a smooth operator, and he knew it. He knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk and knew what to say to win people over. He was a great public speaker. She was proud to be married to him in the beginning, but in the last five years of the marriage, she began to question herself and blamed herself for his lack of interest in her. He was not coming home at night, and she would sit up and cry herself to sleep. And then there was talk of him having an affair with a stripper named Apple. Then she caught them last year in bed together. He thought that she wasn’t going to come home that early, but she did and found them. She never felt so betrayed in her life. She just walked away without a word and had left. She stayed with her father while she was getting a divorce, and Richard seemed like he did not care if their marriage was ending.

She found herself a house and moved in with her father’s and his friends’ help. She made it official. She was not going to live with him or be seen with him. It had been six months now.

There was nothing left for her, and she let him have the huge house—everything except her car. She wanted nothing from him. She just wiped her hands clean.

“You can ask for half the house,” her lawyer informed her the day Richard signed the final paperwork.

“I don’t want it,” she told him. And that was the end of that.

The ranch house she owned came into view, and she parked her car in the driveway.

Her maid was in the kitchen as she entered. Elizabeth hired her a month ago when her workload increased, and she was glad to have the help.

“Hello, Marie,” she said as she placed her briefcase down. “I am going to eat and go to my fundraiser.”

“Yes, you told me yesterday.” Marie smiled at her. “I marked it on the calendar.”

“Oh, good.” Elizabeth realized she was extremely tired. She needed to call Nichole to ask to stay, but she could ask her father.

She sat in the kitchen alone after she ate what Marie had left for the day, but her small kitten meowed. He purred as he brushed up against her, reminding she was not alone. She picked up the kitten and loved her little kitten. She could never have animals with Richard. After all, the man never wanted children. He told her that in the beginning. He said they were a mess. She would have loved a have a child, but she never talked about it with him because that was the way he was.

She called Nichole, putting the kitten down and breaking herself out of her train of thought.

“Yes, Lizzy,” Nichole answered, calling her by her nickname.

“I’d like to stay overnight.” She hoped she could. Dad had his ways, but she loved him.

“Not a good idea,” Nichole hesitated. “I might have planned to go out after the fundraiser at Simon Lafayette’s art gallery tonight.”

“You are going?” Elizabeth was surprised. Nichole never attended one. There had to be a reason why.

“I need to mingle with the upper class and let them know about my fashion,” Nichole answered and added, “Anyway, Gabriel Lafayette is going to be there. He is drop-dead gorgeous like his older brother, and single.”

“Oh,” Elizabeth said, remembering the last time she saw Simon. She kissed him and enjoyed it. Just the thought of it made her hot.

“You can call your dad,” Nichole suggested quickly. “I have to go, Lizzy. Oh, by the way, Simon is single.”

“Oh.” Did Elizabeth wanted to know that? She changed the subject. “Well then, I will see you later.”

Then she called her father. “Sure, you can stay,” he said happily. “This old man has no plans. You can stay here.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She laughed at his sense of humor. Her father never got involved with anyone after her mother left him, but she never asked him why. Maybe he liked being by himself, or maybe he never got over her mother, Janice.

The drive back down to the city took an hour. Her father owned an apartment in a building owned by Simon. He owned several, and they were very expensive to own, but her father was very well-off and could afford it.

Thank God her father didn’t own a car, but he had a parking spot just for her. She glanced at her watch as she climbed out. It was five minutes to seven.

She hailed a taxi and gave the address to the gallery when she climbed it. It was five after seven when she arrived.

Simon glanced at his watch and did not see Elizabeth Summerton. She was on the guest list, but she was not there. Damn, he though, I am going to have to find her some other way.

Then he saw her come in, and he walked to her quickly before she could get away. She looked beautiful in her pale blue dress and long black hair in a bun. She wore a pearl necklace with pearl earrings. She was holding a small white bag, and she was looking around. He knew she was not looking for him. She was looking for her half sister.

The gallery was crowded when she entered, and she looked around and saw Nichole with a very handsome young man. Nichole was dressed in a long white backless dress with silver shoes; her long blond hair shone. Nicole looked so beautiful. Elizabeth was going to stand with her and the young man.

“Good evening, Mrs. Summerton.” Simon’s smooth voice stopped her from walking.

All that voice. He found her, and she glanced at Simon Lafayette.

He was dressed in a tailored black tuxedo with white ruffled shirt, a black tie, with shiny black shoes. She looked up at him. He must be six foot two; she was five seven. He was so handsome and had charisma. People respected him. No one would dare wear a ruffled shirt, but he wore it well. She grew hot as he stared at her, and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Everyone went crazy for the sharply dressed man.

“Mr. Lafayette.” She had to control herself. The last time, she whispered his name with passion. She was not a silly schoolgirl.

“Join me.” He offered his arm to her, smiling. Oh, that smile—it could set the world on fire.

He wanted her to walk with him, she thought. Should she?

But she took his arm out of politeness. When he offered his arm, anyone would take it. She was honored by the thought.

Her skin tingled with his closeness, and he smelled so good, like wood and spice—like the outdoors, like a real man! She felt weak, but she made herself walk.

“You look lovely tonight,” he stated, glancing at her with those piercing blue eyes. “I am glad you could come.” Or I would have found you, he thought.

“Thank you, Mr. Lafayette.” She smiled and looked away from him. Those eyes could look right through her. “You look very handsome.”

What about using my first name like the last time? he thought, but he did not want to embarrass her.

“Thank you,” he said and added, “I hear you’re divorced from Richard.”

“Yes, it’s been six months,” she answered, and she added, “I heard you are divorced from Isabell.”

“Yes, it’s been six months for me,” he stated as he stopped at the art collection on the wall, and he cleared his voice. “So I am choosing you as my date for tonight.”

He said that the time they would meet, it was his turn. She did not know if she could let this man take a turn. It might drive her crazy to let him have his way with her, but then again, it might feel good to let go. She grew hot at the thought.

“Thank you,” she said. “I am honored.”

She felt hot, and it was cool. She had to controlled herself.

“I thought you didn’t like lawyers,” she added, looking at the art she had seen to take her thoughts off him. She hated herself for thinking about him and where this train of thought would lead her. She was going to try to control her swirling emotions. Her emotions were going get the best of her tonight.

“I have a lawyer. He is great.” He offered her a glass of wine when the waiter walked by with a tray of them. “I am not your client. So I can be seen with you. Anyway, we look good together.”

Oh, boy, she thought as she sipped the wine, trying to find something clever to say to him, but she could not find the words. She felt tongue-tied. Did they look good together, or was he teasing her? Or ruffling her feathers? She glanced at him. He did not look like he was teasing her. He looked serious.

“Simon, Elizabeth.” She heard Richard from behind them. “You two are together tonight.”

Of course, he had to be here tonight. He had to be seen and look good for the public eye. He needed to mingle with the upper class.

“Yes, she is my date for tonight.” Simon turned toward Richard. “Right, Elizabeth?” Simon was smiling; that smile could melt her. Oh, it was his turn.

“Yes.” That was all she could say as she smiled, hoping her lips were not trembling.

“Well, good choice.” Richard cleared his voice. And he walked away quickly.

“He was rude,” Simon stated as he turned themselves to the art and added, changing the subject, “I don’t have the lighthouse here. It’s in my apartment now.”

“Oh.” She was at a loss for words. Oh yes, that was the photo she was looking at last year. She was not going to his apartment to see, if that was what he was implying.

“Richard never liked you,” she stated, quickly changing the subject. “You’re lucky he didn’t call you Layfette. That’s what he called you when you were with Isabell.”

“I am not with Isabell, and you’re not with him. I don’t care what he calls me. He is jealous of me,” Simon stated seriously. “I am here with you.”

“I am honored,” she said out politely. She could not be rude to him; she was not taught to be rude.

“I never voted for him anyway,” he said to her, making her look at him, and he offered, “Let’s mingle. The night is young, and there are a lot of people to talk to.”

I want to show you off. Let people know I am interested in you, and you are going to be mine, he thought as he led her through the crowd, stopping to talk to several people, and he introduced her to them.

It was so different being with him than with Richard. He was not trying to win them over. Simon was smooth, almost elegant. He had authority about him. He was a gentleman, not letting her out of the conversion. She enjoyed being with him.

He led the way to Nichole, and Nichole was standing next to a younger version of himself but a tad shorter, and he was dressed in a tuxedo like Simon.

“Gabriel, this is Elizabeth Summerton,” Simon introduced them as he stopped at them.

“I am honored to meet you.” Gabriel took her hand. “I heard so much about you.” Then he kissed it softly.

“Elizabeth, you look beautiful.” Nichole broke her and Simon apart as she hugged her.

“Thanks.” Elizabeth hugged her back tightly, and she grew hot. She had never been put it in limelight before and felt different.

Simon offered her his arm again and took ahold of it like it was natural.

“Nichole and I are going out after this.” Gabriel was smiling, showing off his teeth. He was in his glory.

“Oh, well, that’s good,” Simon stated. “I am going to bed after this, and I’m sure Elizabeth is not going anywhere either. We are not young anymore. Like you two.”

“Are you staying with your father?” Nichole asked, winking at her.

“Yes, I am staying with my father.” Elizabeth wished she would stop winking at her. She was not planning anything after this. She was ready to sleep, nothing else.

“I sold him that unit, I take you back.” Simon smiled as she looked at him. “I live there myself.”

He wanted to take her back. It was getting hot tonight, she thought. She suddenly needed air and had to take a deep breath. This night was going to be interesting, and she had to fight off this crazy feeling for him. She didn’t want to end up in bed with him yet. Oh, why was she thinking like that? She suddenly stopped drinking the wine.

She had to stop this craziness before it got the best of her.

Then Gabriel was talking to Nichole, and Nichole was smiling at him. Young love. It was nice to see that Nichole was interested in a man with his head on his shoulders.

“My brother sure likes your half sister,” he stated as they walked to the table where the food was laid out.

“Nichole sure likes him.” She was not hungry. Her stomach was in a knot, but she released him arm to take some carrots. She needed to eat something, with the wine.

“Yes.” He did not seem interested in the food; he was just staring at her. “Him and her. You and I.”

Oh, she thought, looking away from him. She did not know what to say to him. She was so tongue-tied, and she was so sharp in court when it mattered.

“What would you say if I asked you out on a date?” he asked, making her look at him in surprise.

“I thought I was not your type of woman.” She had to say it. She kissed him last time. Did she want to get involved with him? She was so confused about this. Isabell was a model, blond, with blue eyes.

“Elizabeth, what is my type of woman?” he asked, smiling, showing off his dimples.

She was digging herself in a hole, and it was getting too deep.

“You don’t know, do you?” He offered his arm. “I know what you look like. You look pretty damn sexy in that dress.”

“Oh, I know what I look like.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t know if she wanted to take his arm again. “You just surprised me.”

“Well.” He wanted an answer, but he added, “You can take my arm, Elizabeth. I am not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know you.”

“I don’t know.” She had to say it. “I have been divorced from Richard only six months.”

“So.” He turned to her. She was not following him, and she looked worried. What did Richard do to her to make her doubt herself?

“I am not Richard,” he said loudly and clearly, and he was angry. But not at her. He wanted to find Richard and rip his head off.

He was frowning, and she suddenly wanted to leave. Walk away from this. She was scared to love; there was fear in her soul. This man made her feel alive and beautiful.

“I don’t want to be rude to you,” she said, quickly licking her dry lips. Her heart was racing; her blood was on fire.

“I will be rude and just kiss you in front everyone,” he stated loudly. “I kissed you the last time. You enjoyed it, or did you forget?”

“I did not forget,” she whispered, glancing around slowly, but no one was paying any attention. The crowd was enjoying the food and the wine.

“I admired from you afar,” he stated, softly calming himself down. He could not let her walk away this time. “We were both married, and they cheated on us, but I would not dare cheat on anyone.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” She was walking backward slowly. She almost bumped into someone as Simon took ahold of her arms, stopping her from moving.

Chills danced on her skin from his touch, and his scent was intoxicating.

“Simon, I…I can’t go out with you.” Her voice was trembling, and she was having trouble concentrating.

“Elizabeth, you are a very beautiful woman with your head on your shoulders,” he whispered, pulling her closer to him. He wanted to assure her, not make her walk away from him. “I want that out of a woman. I want you. No actress, no model.”

Her head snapped back to look at him, and her mouth dropped open and closed quickly.

“You don’t know what to say, do you?” he asked as his hand went to her face, caressing it softly. Then he slid his fingers behind her ears, holding her head as he lowered his head. His hot breath was fanning her face, and she melted against him. Wanting to be kissed by him, she closed her eyes as she let out a long sigh.

His lips touched her lips, and the kiss was soft, almost like a feather. But she felt it all the way down to her toes. There were oohs and aahs in the crowd, but it did not matter. All she wanted to do was kiss him.

She returned the kiss and lost herself in the need. Longing built up inside of her, and she had been longing to be needed, wanted.

“Simon,” she whispered against his lips, “I will go out with you.”

What the heck, dating him might be fun, and would they just be making love?

“There is going to be more kissing,” he assured her against her lips. “We seemed to enjoy kissing each other.”

“This is happening so fast,” she said, feeling light-headed from the kiss and the wine. “I’d like to go home.”

“I could take you there,” he said seriously, watching her. She looked exhausted. What does this woman do to herself?

“I am exhausted, Simon. The drive here was an hour from my house.” She let a huge sigh. “This is your party. Don’t you want to stay?”

“It’s a fundraiser,” he stated as he led her to the entrance. “I have them every year. No one will miss me.”

“People will talk, Simon,” she said, almost in whisper. She did not want to be a rumor.

“Let them talk.” He laughed and added seriously, “I want them to know about us. I am not hiding this time. It’s my turn. And believe me, Elizabeth, you are going to be mine.”

“I am not a one-night stand or a plaything.” She had to say that. She wanted him to know, but she knew that this man was not that type.

“I didn’t think you were, and I would not treat you like that.” He let a heavy sigh as they walked outside, and he hailed a taxi. ‘So just get that out of your head. I would not hurt you. You’re the last person I would hurt.”

A taxi pulled in front of them and waited as he opened the door for her.

“I am going to let you go this time, Elizabeth,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. She felt the kiss all the way to her toes.

“Good night. I will call you.” He released her, and she climbed into the taxi.

She watched him as the taxi was driving away and let out a heavy breath. She rubbed her face and turned to watch the taxi leave. Was she out of league with him? She felt her stomach twisting inside of her. She felt like this was a dream, but she could feel the kiss on her lips.

He watched the taxi drive away and shook his head slowly. He knew had to win her over, and he was planning to do just that.

The apartment came into view, and she released a heavy sigh. She was very exhausted, and she did not feel like doing anything except going to bed.

Her father was not awake when she entered the apartment, but he left the light on. She let out a heavy sigh. What a night!

A black car was sitting outside of Nichole’s apartment as she climbed out the taxi, and Gabriel Lafayette climbed out with her. They kissed passionately, but they did not notice the car. The young lover broke apart, and Gabriel climbed back into the taxi. The black car drove away quickly. Nichole watched the taxi drive away, and she knew she was going to have Gabriel eating out of her hand. This was the best thing she could do with her life; she wanted to turn it around and live life like Elizabeth. She knew she had to cut ties with her past. She walked into her apartment and into her bathroom. She glanced at the razor and the small mirror sitting on her vanity. There was small amount of cocaine left, and she closed her eyes. She did take some before the fundraiser, and she knew she had to give that up. She wanted a future, not a problem. Her stomach twisted inside of her as the urge grew, and she wanted more of the drug. It had a grip on her, and she had to free herself from her monkey before it controlled her. She threw it in the trash and hoped the urge would go away. But it did not. She was digging in her trash for the powder, crying, her hands shacking. She needed the drug, and fast. She was addicted and took the drug, not caring. All she cared about was the high and how it made her feel. No one knew about this, and she looked at her phone as she wiped her face. Her drug dealer was on speed dial, just in case. She needed more. Yes, more! That was what she cared about now. She would deal with Gabriel later and her goody-two-shoes life. She dialed her drug dealer, her heart pounding in her chest, and she began to sweat.

He answered on the third ring. “What do you need, babe?”

“More.” Nichole sniffed; her hands were shaking.

“Do you want to party?” he asked and laughed. His voice was gruff. “Come down. We will party together.”

“All right.” Nichole was willing to go to him. She had done that in the past. She always met him at his nightclub.

“Then come.” He laughed as he hung up the phone.

Yes! She was hurrying around, making sure she had everything, and left her apartment feeling like she could fly. She was going to stay up all night. She could sleep in.

Nichole woke up feeling like her head was on fire, and her stomach was being ripped into pieces. She found herself beside the drug dealer, and her eyes grew wide, and she was naked. She jumped out of bed, her heart racing. This was the first time she did something like this.

“You know where to come when you need more.” He laughed as she hurried around his apartment, getting dressed.

She was appalled and swallowed the gall that built up inside her throat. What the hell she was doing! Her life was spiraling out of control.

*****

The next morning, Elizabeth’s father was in the kitchen already making coffee and some croissants.

“Good morning, Dad.” She kissed him on the cheek and took some coffee and croissant.

“Good morning, my dear.” He kissed her on the cheek, and they both sat at the small table together. He was still dressed in his nightclothes. He looked good for his age—salt-and-pepper hair, and fit. He was still going strong at fifty-five.

“How was the fundraiser?” Dominic asked his daughter, glancing at her.

“Interesting,” Elizabeth said. “Nichole was with Gabriel, and I was with Simon Lafayette. He kissed me and asked me out on a date.”

She couldn’t lie to her father; he would know. And he would find out in the paper in the social column—reporters love the gossip—and the dirty laundry.

“Yeah, he asked me about you.” Dominic did not like where this conservation was going, but he knew his only child had a head on her shoulders. But she got out of a meaningless marriage. And he added, “Simon told me he was going to date you. He better not hurt you, or he has me to deal with.”

Elizabeth looked at her father; he looked like he was ready to fight. He looked furious. She had seen him give Richard a piece of his mind, and it was not a pretty sight. When he grew angry, there was hell to pay. He was very protective of her, and she loved her father for that.

“Oh, Dad.” She sighed loudly, rolling her eyes. “The world’s craziest dad, and I don’t think you have to worry about Simon. He doesn’t want to deal with you.”

“He better not,” he said loudly and changed the subject. “I’d like to retire next year and travel the world. But I want to design a dress for you.”

“That’s great.” She was surprised but thrilled at the same time. He was always working in his studio. “A dress would be nice.”

“Good, come to the studio. George will measure you.” He was sipping his coffee.

George was her dad’s longtime couturier. Their designs were elegant and very expensive. Elizabeth could never afford the dresses her father designed.

“Nichole’s fashion is ranked pretty high. She is catching up to us, and it is our time to step down,” he stated, and she did not know how popular Nichole’s fashion was. She was out of the loop.

“You know that Nikki is no good. She is involved with too crazy people—people who like to party and do drugs. You stay here from now on,” he informed her as he looked at her seriously.

Her father never warned her about Nikki before. He never told her to stay away from Nikki. But if Nikki was on drugs, what kind of drugs? And what kind of people? Elizabeth was too busy to pay attention to Nikki’s life.

“What’s going on with Nikki, Dad?” She wanted to know. Was Nikki in trouble? Or was Nikki causing waves?

“I don’t like her lifestyle,” he informed her. “You on the other hand live a clean lifestyle.”

“Maybe Gabriel will change her lifestyle,” she said honestly. “Or Simon will not stand for it. He has a reputation to uphold.”

“He doesn’t want a reputation with me.” He pointed to himself. “I will tell him when I see him.”

“Okay, Dad, settle down.” She rolled her eyes. She was thirty-five; she could handle herself, or could she?

“Just don’t beat him up.” She had to laugh at him. He was all worked up over Simon.

“Hum.” He flipped his head and walked to her and kissed her on the forehead. “You are my only child. I love you.”

“I know.” She stood up, hugging him. “And I love you, Dad.”

“I need to run some errands. So make yourself at home.” He hugged her back and released her.

He dressed and left to do his errands. He walked into the elevator and saw Simon Lafayette in the car.

“Just the man I want to see,” Dominic said as he entered the elevator. He was frowning.

“Good morning, Mr. Ricc.” Simon looked at the large man. Elizabeth’s father towered over him, and the man was built like an oak tree.

“My daughter told me you kissed her. You hurt my daughter, you will have me to deal with,” Dominic stated loudly, staring Simon down. “You can date her, but if you want more, you give her a ring. I like you, Simon, so do not make me hate you. Like my Italian father would say, ‘Capeesh.’”

This man was angry at Simon. He did not want this rather large man to be angry at him.

“I understand, sir,” Simon said, holding his breath. If Elizabeth were to talk to her father, father and daughter were close. “I will send her flowers, sir.”

“Like I said, work on that ring, Simon. Because I like you,” Dominic said, smiling as the elevator stopped, and he stepped out.

“Yes, sir.” Simon smiled at the idea, and he was planning to do that, but what about Elizabeth? He had to win her over first, and he was going to charm the pants off her. All he had to do was kiss her, and she was butter in his hands. Yes, she had feelings for him like he had for her. He just had to show her, and he was planning to do just that.

“Good. That is settled. Have a nice day, Mr. Lafayette.” Dominic walked out when the elevator door opened; the large man poised himself. He had a reputation to uphold like Simon.

Simon walked out of the elevator knowing what he had to do to win Elizabeth over—give her lots of flowers, and in all colors. He called his secretary, knowing it was Saturday. He would pay her extra for this. She answered, “Yes, Mr. Lafayette.”

“Order four dozens of roses, different colors,” Simon told her as he walked outside. “Black, red, white, yellow. Send them to Mrs. Summerton’s office on Monday with a note that I enjoyed her company, and I will call her. Write my cell phone number on the card.”

“The flower shop is going to love you.” His secretary laughed, and added seriously, “I will call after you hang up. And charge to your personal account.”

“Yes, thank you,” Simon said as he hailed a taxi. He had a car but hated driving in New York. “Have a nice weekend.”

“You do the same, sir.” She hung up.

Simon planned to see Gabriel and talk about this someone else.

*****

The phone ringing woke Nichole up, and she looked at her clock to see it was eleven. Where did the time go? She felt half-stoned when she answered the phone. She heard Gabriel’s voice, and she sat up in a hurry. Oh my god, he was calling her back?

“Hello.” She wished she could get the fog out of her brain so she could talk to him.

“I’d like to go out with you again,” he said loudly. She could hear the street traffic.

If he only knew, but she was not going to tell him what she did last night.

“Oh, yes.” Nichole smiled, making her feel better.

“Good, I will call you,” he said, laughing. “I will see you later.”

“Yes,” Nichole stated happily. Yes! She just landed herself a real man!

*****

Elizabeth was about to leave when Nikki called her.

“Yes, Nikki.” She was wondering what her half sister wanted.

“Gabriel wants to date me!” Nikki sounded happy and excited.

“That’s great news, Nikki,” Elizabeth said with relief, and she was hoping for that. If what her father told her was the truth, Nichole was going to need a strong man in her life.

“What about you?” Nichole asked, laughing, “Simon and you.”

“Oh, the kiss.” Elizabeth knew everyone saw them kissing; there were oohs and aahs from the crowd.

“Gabriel was not surprised. He knew that Simon wants you,” Nikki said boldly, and she was happy about it.

“It’s too soon for me to date or think about having sex with Simon,” Elizabeth admitted, feeling hot at the thought. Of course, people would think that, and it was going to get around. Talk was creepy, but people loved it, feasted on it because life was boring without it.

“Oh, come on, Elizabeth.” Nikki sighed loudly. “Don’t put yourself on a shelf. Richard is not the end of the world. Simon likes you, Lizzy. Go for it. You might have some fun for once!”

“Yes, Nikki.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. That did not sound like a bad idea. Have fun! Grab life by the horns and ride it.

Then the door opened, and Elizabeth’s father walked, humming.

“Well, Dad is here. I will talk to you later,” Elizabeth said loudly. She did not want her father to hear about her so-called love life. He knew enough, and he wanted to talk to Simon.

“See you.” Nikki hung up the phone.

Her father was carrying groceries, and he was smiling. What did he do? He looked so happy. She was not going to ask, and she just shook her head.

“Nikki called me.” Elizabeth put her cell phone down and helped him.

“Yeah,” he said as he entered the kitchen, “what’s going on with her?”

“Gabriel asked her on another date,” she stated, watching him and helping him.

“I talked to Simon on the elevator.” He stopped looking at her. “I told him to buy you a ring.”

No wonder he was smiling, oh my god, she thought, rolling her eyes.

“No!” She was flabbergasted, and her mouth fell open and closed. “Oh my god, Dad! I am only divorced for six months, and so is he.” She had to say it. He couldn’t play Cupid with her and Simon! But he did!

“I know,” he said nonchalantly, and added, “You’re beautiful, Elizabeth. Don’t lock yourself away and throw the key away. Live life to the fullest. Richard is not the end of the world, and Isabell is not the end for him. Anyway, Isabell is on drugs and cheated on him. Richard is on his power trip, and he thinks he doesn’t need you to win people over. You know he used you because you are beautiful. He did not want children because they were messy.”

“I like Simon,” her father added, smiling ear to ear.

“I didn’t know Isabell used drugs.” She changed the subject. Her feelings were too raw. Her father knew a lot because of the business and social circle. She did not have time for that. The law firm took most her time and her energy.

“Yes, they say it’s cocaine and other social drugs.” He was frowning, “That’s why they were living apart for the last two years. He brought the whole ninth and eight floors in this building. She wanted him for the money.”

“Coke and other social drugs?” She was appalled at the thought. Don’t these people know what it could do to the brain or the body? And the waste of money and talent.

“They say Nichole uses.” He was dead serious. “I know you’re old enough to make your decisions, but I’d like you to stay away from her.”

She had to sit down because she suddenly felt ill and rubbed her face. Did their mother know, but Nichole would not talk about it? How serious was the drug use? Could she help Nikki, or did Nikki want help? Nikki never asked for help before. Was Elizabeth caught in her little world, not noticing what was going on? Her thoughts swirled in her head and caused a headache.

What a hot mess! And she had a strong feeling it was getting a lot hotter!

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said to her and hugged her tightly. “I know too much. It makes me sick. That’s why I want to retire.”

“Oh, Dad.” She felt like crying as she hugged him back tightly. “I understand.”

“I want you to live here with me.” He released her, looking at her seriously, “There is twenty-four seven security.”

“Are you serious?” She felt the tears falling from her eyes. She could not help it. Live in the same building as Simon? She ran her finger through her hair and rubbed her face again.

“I just bought the house!” She wiped her tears away when her father handed her a tissue. “I have Fur Ball.”

“I know,” he stated. “You will be safe here, and Fur Ball could come, whatever Fur Ball is, as long as it’s not huge.”

“The kitten is not huge, Dad.” She had to laugh at him, and she needed something to laugh about because there was so much to think about. Her head was spinning with thoughts.

She folded her hands and closed her eyes. Live in the city! Was she safe? Was the world that crazy and out of control?

“All right, Dad. I will come to live with you.” She let out a huge sigh. And just to think how she hated the city, but life would be easy if she lived here with her father. And he was right; he always was.