Chosen Heart (30 page)

Knowing exactly where he’s taking
me, I try to pull away and distract him.  “Cole, stop.  Where are you
taking me?  I need to be at the kissing booth in ten minutes.”

Not breaking his stride, he
answers, “I can’t pass up a chance to take a shot at your dickhead boss.” 
What’s that supposed to mean?

Trying for another attempt to
avert his attention, I dig my heels in and stop at a booth of people setting up
for a game of Bingo.  Automatically my efforts are dismissed as he tugs at
my arm.  “Please Cole, let’s just stay here.  We can play at least
one game before I have to start my shift.”

“No way!  Let me see: Bingo
or a chance to dunk your V.P.?”  He looks ridiculous, as he contemplates
his choices, using both hands to weigh out his options.  “I think you know
me better than that, Ely.”

He continues to drag me over
towards the dunk tank where Alex sits high up on his perch, feet dangling in
the water.  He looks nothing like the calm and carefree man he should be
right now.  Instead, his enraged face looks like he’s ready to pound Cole
into the pavement.  As soon as Cole is preoccupied with the volunteer
collecting money, I remove my hand from his slimy grip.  Alex’s stare is
menacing as he repeatedly looks from me to Cole. 

“Three balls,” Cole
demands.  As the volunteer hands over his three chances to piss off Alex,
he yells, “Aren’t you supposed to heckle me?”

“No need when we both know you
have no chance at hitting the target.  You have a tendency not to hit the
target, don’t you Cole?” Alex belts, with an heir of cockiness.

Cole throws the first ball and it
ricochets off the side of the tank.  “Must be easy for someone like you to
constantly put people down.  Big corporate V.P. sitting high on his
horse…always thinking he’s above everyone else!”  He throws the second
ball and once again it bounces off the side of the tank. 

At this exact moment, my past and
future are literally colliding.  A feeling of nausea sends a shiver up my
spine as I wrap my arms around myself, searching for relief to my discomfort. 
With the back and forth commentary drawing a crowd, Alex really needs to
consider his choice of words and how they may affect his public
reputation.  Arianna will not be pleased with any negative publicity,
especially at a fundraiser.

“Like usual, you’re such a
disappointment!”  I’m all for heckling, but this is going a little too
far.

Cole tenses, letting himself feel
the anger.  Taking his stance, he hurls his last ball at the target. 
Third time’s a charm.  The ball lands perfectly in the middle of the
bull’s-eye and Alex plummets down into the pool of tepid water beneath
him.  I hold my breath waiting for Alex to emerge.  Dripping wet, he
surfaces for air, shocked.  Noticing the crowd, he playfully smiles and
coerces his unruly hair back with the palm of his hand. 
Even bat shit
angry, he’s sexy.

“I hope the water was cold. 
From the looks of things last night, you needed to cool off,” disdain etched in
every word as Cole stares Alex down. 
Oh shit!

Alex is at a loss for words and
I’m not sure if the sudden silence is out of frustration or anger.  Or,
could it be regret that he was so careless when he came to me last night. 
In a panic, I pull Cole out of Alex’s sight, desperately needing to learn about
his new found knowledge.  Dragging him to the far right of the event
center, we’re out of hearing distance, as I raise my voice.  “Cole, what
the hell are you talking about?!” 

“I saw you last night, Ely. 
With
him
!” 
Shit…Shit…Shit!

“Saw me what?” I try to ask
innocently.  Not working; he can see right through me.

“Leave with that asshole.  I
went to your place because I needed you.  I needed my best friend.”

“Best friend?  Are you
fucking kidding me, right now?  If you were my friend, you wouldn’t have
said any of that shit last night.”  Who does he think he’s talking
to?  Does he think that I’ll just magically forget all of his crude
words?  Even if Alex wasn’t there, I would still feel the same way. 
His words were highly inappropriate; I won’t feel comfortable around him ever
again.

Cole continues, oblivious to my
remarks.  “I poured my heart out to you.  When I saw you leave your
apartment with him, it broke me.” 
Since when is telling me how tight I
am, pouring your heart out to me, asshole!
  “I can’t believe you let
that dickhead listen to everything.  How could you?”  With his arms
raised I stand, silently staring at him.  He really knows how to lay it on
thick.  Cole grins, “Well at least he knows about us now.”

“Cole…I meant what I said last
night,” my voice is barely audible.  I don’t want to hurt him, but I can’t
have him coming on to me, hurting me or using me, anymore.

“Come on Ely….don’t be that
way.”  Stepping closer, Cole reaches out, trying to bring me into an
embrace. 
This can’t be happening!  Not here.
  Stepping
back, out of his reach, I see Arianna out of my peripheral, striding in our
direction.  Rolling my eyes, I tilt my head back out of frustration. 
Oh great!  All I need is for my drunken ex to meet my boss’s, boss’s,
boss.

“Well, well, Elyssa, I didn’t
know you brought a date,” she smirks as she reaches the two of us. 
“Arianna Salerno,” she extends her hand.  “Cole, right?”

“Oh, Ely
has
been talking
about me, huh?” he reaches out and shakes her hand.  “You’re the CEO,
right?”

Arianna doesn’t look impressed, but
is making an effort.  “I am…”  She takes him in, looking him up and
down, then over to me.  “Elyssa, I hope we are all enjoying
ourselves.”  Her eyes shoot towards the dunk booth.  “There was no
trouble over there right?” 

Crap!  She sees everything!
  “No, no trouble. 
Cole was just having some fun with Mr. James.”  Cole looks over at me with
a scrunched face. 
Please Cole, if you ever loved me…Please don’t say a
word!
  

“Good, good.  This is a
family affair.  We have this fundraiser every year and I would hate for
something…anything…to ruin it.”  I nod in agreement, but Arianna
continues, not letting us leave.  “Cole, I hear you’re attending UNLV?”

Cole brightens as he finally has
a chance to discuss something he’s so passionate about, with someone other than
me.  “Why yes I am; I’m majoring in Journalism.  Right now, I’m
working on Pop Culture, but I can pretty much write about any topic.  You
should let me interview you sometime.”  I can’t believe his
audacity.  I nudge him, showing my unease.  He of course, just shrugs
me off and continues the conversation.  “I would love to get to know how
someone so young and beautiful has amassed a fortune running a multi-million
dollar company, such as yours.” 
CRAP!!!

Arianna shakes her head in
annoyance.  But, after a moment of internal thought, with external
silence, her eyes grow vacant, a wide smile spreading across her lips. 
She’s mulling something, plotting.  Something about her response scares
the shit out of me.  “Cole, I would be delighted to give you an
interview.”  She reaches into her purse and pulls out a business
card.  “Why don’t you call my office next week and we’ll set up an
appointment.” 

“Will do, and hey…thanks!” 
Cole looks very proud of himself, almost gloating.  I can’t believe
that
just happened.  Why on Earth would Arianna invite him for an
interview?  Something about this doesn’t sit well. 

Just as I catch Alex looking
intently at our little group in full discussion, he’s dropped into the waiting
water below.  I’m pretty sure this situation couldn’t get any worse. 
Unable to suppress the panic growing inside, a giggle passes my lips. 
Quickly, I pull my hand up to my mouth to mask the noise.  Barely
acknowledging my moment of insanity, Arianna and Cole continue their conversation
about their upcoming meeting.

“Elyssa!” Janice yells from the
double-doors of the event center, startling me out of my madness.  The
three of us look in her direction; pointing to her watch and then to the
kissing booth, effectively letting me know it’s my time.

Knowing what he knows about me
and Alex, leaving Cole alone with Arianna is risky.  But, with no other
alternative, what choice do I have?  “I guess that’s my cue.”  Giving
him the look of death, without Arianna seeing, was challenging.  But, I
think he got the hint when I could no longer see his dark blue eyes.

Taking another peek over at Alex,
I see irritation ripple across his body.  My face drops, knowing I’m the
cause of his anger. 
Please don’t be mad at me.
  But, even
seething, he’s still absolutely perfect, and he knows it.  Dripping wet,
he climbs back onto the seat and shakes his head from side-to-side, dispersing
droplets of water on the surrounding crowd; playfully smiling and mocking the
throwers, but always keeping an eye in my general direction. 

I really am sorry, Alex.
 

“Thank God you’re here!” Autumn
lets out a breath of relief.  “If I have to kiss one more pervert, I think
I’m going to gag.”  I eye the line of five people waiting for their turn
and cringe with anxiety. 
Why did I volunteer again?  Oh right,
cause it’s for a good cause.  That and your boyfriend pissed you
off.  See how much good that did you, Ely?

“I was hoping that a certain
someone would come over for a quick peck, but just my luck he was scheduled at
the dunk booth.  Oh well, next time.”  Bile rises in my throat. 
I fight the urge to reach up and wrap both of my hands around her neck, but
know she isn’t worth it.  If she only knew that her sexual fantasies were
my reality.  “Have fun, Elyssa,” Autumn mocks as she smiles, exiting the
booth.

I’m already counting down the
time until my turn is over, and it’s only been ten minutes.  Fortunately
though, it hasn’t been that bad; no perverts for me.  It’s just that I
don’t want to kiss or touch anyone besides Alex.  It feels wrong to share
such an intimate gesture, but, I made the commitment and it is for a good
cause. 
Suck it up!

“Next!” the volunteer yells,
signaling the next customer.  The gentleman is slightly older and his back
is bent over in a hunch.  Although age has taken its toll on his body,
youth still exists in his face.  He beams as he approaches, placing his
left hand on the counter.  I can’t help but notice a simple gold band
encircles his ring finger.  How remarkable; he’s still married. 

“I hope your wife doesn’t mind me
giving you a kiss,” I joke.  A small smirk sweeps across his lips as he
glances in the direction of the dunk tank.  A petite woman with silver
hair is standing, watching Alex with such excitement.  “Is that your
wife?”  I point with my chin at the woman, her tiny hands now clasped to
her mouth as Alex takes another plunge into the water below.

He nods with love in his eyes and
hands me his ticket.  “Married fifty years today; she’s the love of my
life.”

“Any secrets you’d care to
share?”

“Besides kissing beautiful women
at fundraisers?”  I blush, nodding for him to continue.  “Be willing
to always listen no matter what, even if it’s not what you want to hear, and
know there will moments where forgiveness is needed.  You’re young, and as
you grow, you’re bound to make mistakes.”  Delighted with himself, he
beams at me with pride. 

“Just remember that perfection
doesn’t exist.  Marriage is about growing and making each other the best
you can be.  I’m a better man because of that woman over there; she’s had
fifty years to sculpt and mold me into the man I am today.”

“So, I’d guess you’d say that
your marriage is a work of art then,” I jest.  “Well,
congratulations.  For that you get two kisses.”  I lean in and place a
soft kiss on both sides of his face.  “And, thanks for the advice. 
We all need it now and then.”

He blushes.  “Thank you,
Miss.  You have made my day.”  Taking my hand into his, he places a
swift kiss on my knuckles before turning to leave. 

“Happy Anniversary,” I yell as he
retreats from the booth. 

This little old couple proves
that if they can make it work for them, for the past fifty years, maybe love
is
possible.  As long as we communicate, Alex and I might just have a
chance.  But, how do you communicate that your secret relationship is
driving you mad? 

With a pain in my heart, I turn
to look in Alex’s direction and notice his shift has ended.  One of the
guys from marketing is getting ready to climb the ladder as Janice hands Alex a
towel.  Leisurely drying off the excess water from his hair and chest, I
can’t help but stare, eyes wandering down...“Next!” the volunteer yells,
bringing me out of my daydream.  Turning back to the line that’s formed in
front of me, my breath hitches. 
Shit!
 

Cole moves forward with a dark,
sinister smirk on his face.  This is not going to be good.  
He’s approaching me with the same look in his eyes that he had last
night.  I don’t know why he thinks he can do whatever he wants; it never
ends well.  Handing the volunteer the ticket, his attention is still
focused on me.  “Even if I have to pay for a kiss, Ely…”

I whisper so only Cole can hear
me.  “You need to stop this shit!”