Betrayal (23 page)
Authors: Aubrey St. Clair
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"It's a pretty crappy night to be out on the road."
"I know, it sucks. I'm only doing it for work. Have to pick someone up at the airport." I smile tightly as I take my coffee from the drive through attendant. I know he's just being friendly, but I'm already annoyed that I'm out here at all in this weather, and I don't really need him rubbing salt in my wounds. That's the one thing I hate about living here in Chicago. The winters are even worse than they were back in Toronto.
Sometimes I wonder if leaving my life behind eight months ago was such a good idea. I’ve barely had time to unpack since I got here, much less meet any friends. I might feel less isolated if Edward had more time to spend with me, but as it is I spend too many nights in my apartment alone. It’s just another reason why he knows I can’t really object to making a Friday night airport run during a blizzard.
"You better check that flight," he says, his face growing a bit more serious. "I just heard on the radio that they closed a couple of runways at O'Hare. Not a lot is getting in or out today. Planes are being re-directed."
"Crap. I just checked before I left 15 minutes ago, but thanks. I'll check again." This time my smile is more genuine. If he's right, as annoying as it is that I'm already out here, at least it means I can skip going all the way to the airport and just head home instead.
I pull into the parking lot and pull out my phone to check the flights. Sure enough, he's right. The flight from Tokyo to O'Hare has been diverted to Detroit. That means our client will be stranded and need a hotel room. If he tries to book it himself when he lands, he might be out of luck since so many flights are being diverted. I better book him something now so it's ready for when he gets there, and find him a driver as well. Guess it's back to the office after all. I'm not doing all of that from my iPhone.
I head back onto the freeway, annoyed that traffic is moving even slower than before. I get Edward's insistence that I pick up Mr. Himura myself, not trusting a service driver in this weather with such an important client, but it still sucks. It's not that I want special treatment just because I'm the girlfriend of the CEO of a billion dollar company, but sometimes it feels like I get the short end of the stick for that same reason. You're the one I trust most, he said as he was walking me to my car before kissing me. I'd go myself, but I have to get on a conference call with Sydney before trading there starts for the day.
No one ever said being in a serious relationship with a guy like Edward Stonewall would be easy. Our lives were constantly dictated by the various timezones of the world. It was frustrating, to say the least. Still, the times where we actually do get to spend alone time together are pretty good. When I have his focus, Edward treats me like I'm his princess. It's just that most princesses can command more than a few minutes a day from their Prince Charmings.
It takes almost 25 minutes to make it back to the office and it's already dark. The parking lot is fairly empty, although there are still cars here and there. At a company like Visions International, you don't get ahead by leaving at dinner time. It's only because of the weather that there aren't more cars tonight.
"Evening Miss Silver. I thought you were done for the day."
"I thought so too, Ted. But the weather forced a change of plans. I won't be long though. I'm hoping to get out of here for the night in about 10 minutes."
The security guard buzzes me through with a laugh. "Famous last words. Does anyone ever only come back into this office for 10 minutes?"
“Okay, so I'll take that as a challenge. All I'm doing is booking a hotel and driver. But give me 15 just to be safe. Start your timer." We both laugh and I head to the elevator, punching the 40th button to head on up to my office at the top. The way this tower is designed, in a sort of reverse cone, the top floor is the smallest. Edward's office is there, with a beautiful view of the city, and then I have an office next door so that I'm available whenever needed. All of the offices on that floor are window offices, forming a ring around the top floor with the only other room being the kitchen. The offices are all for the company executives and their assistants, and the middle of the floor is open and has a number of desks in front of the offices where the secretaries sit. Why all these guys need secretaries as well as assistants is beyond me. I think most of them are just lazy and use their EA's to run personal errands while using their secretaries to screen calls and set up appointments. Edward doesn't need a secretary, and hasn't had one since I started, and he's a lot busier than his executives, so I'm surprised he allows it, given how strict he is about most things. A lot of people at the company are afraid of him, and for good reason. He can be a total ass to them if he's in a mood. But he pays well, and the feeling around here is that it's better to work for him than against him. Buying and selling companies for a profit is his specialty, but the rumor is that he will happily take a loss just to destroy a company of a competitor, or even someone who has pissed him off.
Personally, I think those are just rumors born out of fear, but Edward is happy to let them fester. He thinks it keeps people in line if they think crossing him will eventually destroy them. Honestly, I think his approach is a bit heavy handed and I'm constantly trying to get him to try a softer touch. But at least he doesn't act like an ass to me. Makes me think it's just an act that he uses at work, but inside he's just a big softie.
The elevator doors slide open and I rush out, anxious to prove to Ted that I'm not a workaholic like everyone else around here. Edward is probably still on his conference call, and I don't even want to peek in to see at the risk of him finding something else for me to do now that I'm back. I'd rather just get in, book the hotel and driver for Mr. Himura, and get on my way home. No one should be out in weather like this, but I know I won't be able to convince Edward to leave this early. Now he is a workaholic. I imagine most billionaires are, though. No one makes that much money by going home at five o'clock.
I rush through the open concept foyer, not surprised that it's deserted. Most of the secretaries don't work late. They leave the after-hours work for the higher paid EAs. But it seems like the weather has also made most of the executives and their assistants desert as well. All of the offices I pass have closed doors, but I can tell by the frosted glass that their lights are off.
The only one I pass with a light on is of our VP of Sales, Charles Carmichael. The door is closed, but not all the way and, as I pass it, I hear a strange sound that causes me to pause. It sounded like groaning.
I scan the foyer around me again, but no one else is here. Edward's office is on the other side of the building and I can see from here that his light is on as well, but he's far enough away that he wouldn't have heard that sound. Not to mention that his door is closed as he's probably on his conference call anyway.
There it was again. It was a female, and it was actually more of a moan than a groan.
I know Charles is married. I've met his wife on many an occasion. But she doesn't strike me as the type to stop in for a quickie with her husband. They have 3 kids and every time I've seen her she looked tired and haggard at having to deal with them on her own all the time.
"Fuck yes, give it to me," yells a female voice who sounds familiar, and my eyes flick over to the desk in front of the office. Lindsey Spears. Charles' secretary. Oh my god, he's having an affair!
My heart starts to pound as I consider the implications. It's not surprising of course. I've never had a very high opinion of Chuck. And Lindsey has always seemed a bit on the slutty, happily sleep-her-way-to-the-top side, but to do it here in the office with Edward on a conference call across the floor seemed very dangerous. He would be furious, I'm sure. The question is, do I tell him.
"Oh god, yes," she yells again. I hear Chuck grunting now as well. He must be getting close to coming.
I realize that my fists are clenched as I listen. I'm really angry at him. Fucking his secretary while his wife is at home taking care of his three kids? I'm definitely going to tell Edward. I'll let him deal with it. But I can't interrupt his call for this, and if I wait, they'll likely be done and then it'll just be my word against theirs. They'll probably claim I misheard things or something. He's in sales. He'll find a way to talk his way out of it.
"Oh my god, holy shit, slam me with your hard cock you animal!"
I roll my eyes at her over-the-top dirty talk. She's probably faking her orgasm anyway. I can't imagine Chuck is THAT good.
Making a quick decision, I put my hand on the door. It's now or never. Catch him right in the act and, if I'm lucky, I'll get him right before he finishes and totally cock block the asshole.
Taking a deep breath, I push the door hard. As soon as it opens, I catch a glimpse of Lindsey. She's completely naked and leaning over Chuck's desk. The puddle her long blond hair is forming around her is a sharp contrast to the ebony wood of the desk it's laying upon, but it quickly disappears as she lifts her head and looks at me in shock. Her big green eyes are wide and her mouth is open even wider, although in fairness it might have been like that before I even came in.
The door slams against the wall as I lift my eyes to look at the man holding onto her hips, buried deep into her from behind, and just as naked. His eyes are wide as well, but the look of shock on his face is even greater. I only make eye contact with him for a second before the door rebounds off the wall to close the couple back inside the office. But it was enough time to weaken my knees and take my breath away.
The man fucking Lindsey isn't Charles after all. It's Edward.
Joel
I've been living on my own for years and the only thing I need to rely on are my fists. I can trust them more than I can trust anyone else. People just let you down. It's inevitable. Especially some pretty little thing that thinks she can help me like I'm some wounded fucking bird.
Amber
I'm in a dead end job, watching my dreams of becoming a nurse slip away as I work paycheck to paycheck just to pay for a shitty apartment that has a friggin' fight club going on in the alley next to it. My life is tough enough. I didn't ask to be forced into cleaning up one of the young punks that got his ass handed to him, but what was I supposed to do? Let him lie there and bleed to death?