Deceived - The Complete Series (27 page)

She took a couple of deep breaths and pulled open the door. He looked so worried...and even at that, he was still freaking gorgeous. “Hey,” she said, doing her best to sound normal. “What are you doing here?”

“I called the office because you’re not answering your cell. Marg told me you didn’t come back after your doctor’s appointment...that you’d taken the rest of the day off. I was worried.”

She was touched once again by what a caring man he was. She laid her hand on the side of his face and when she looked into his green eyes she couldn’t help but think about the baby. It was the first time she’d let herself think about it since she left the office. Would Steve be happy about that? Wasn’t it just way too soon? She didn’t even know how it happened, she takes her pills religiously.

“Angela?” She realized that she’d been staring at him silently way too long.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “That was so sweet of you to worry and come all the way over here. I’m fine though, really. The doctor didn’t find anything,” she lied. “He thinks maybe I’m just overdoing things and not getting enough rest.”

He looked like he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t argue with her. Instead he said, “Then why aren’t you resting?”

“I did, for a bit. I’m feeling a lot better now and if I sleep too long, I won’t sleep tonight. Why don’t we go get some lunch?”

“Are you sure? Baby if you’re sick...”

“I’m not sick, I promise.” At least that much wasn’t a lie. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was, but sick wasn’t it. “I am hungry. Are you going to let me starve, or buy me some lunch?”

He smiled at her and in spite of all the crap she’d been dealing with, it still turned her insides to Jell-O. “Of course I won’t let you starve. What do you want for lunch?”

“I want a French dip with au jus, and steak fries,” she said with a grin. She grabbed her purse and steered him out of the loft, locking the door behind them.

“Phillippe’s?” he said. It’s the oldest sandwich shop in Los Angeles. Steve took her there for lunch one day and she fell in love with the French dip sandwich.

“How did you guess?” she said with a smile. As they walked towards the elevator she made herself a promise to put Thomas, the escort card and the secret room out of her mind for now. She couldn’t do anything about any of it at the moment, so what she was going to do was choose to enjoy her day with Steve.

They went to Phillippe’s and Angela got her sandwich and fries. She was surprised at how hungry she was, considering the day she’d had. She ate every bite and even a few of Steve’s fries. He seemed to feel a little better once they were out and he saw she was eating and seemed to be feeling okay. After they finished lunch, they walked over to Olvera Street hand in hand and went from kiosk to kiosk, looking at all of the beautiful, handmade goods, clothing and jewelry and everything in between. Steve kept trying to buy her things, but Angela insisted that all she needed was him. She meant it too. Just being with him calmed her down. Whatever was going on with Thomas was not good...she was ready to accept that now, but the more she obsessed over what it was, the more out of proportion things were going to get blown. Towards the end of the street they came to a kiosk that had bikes lined up all alongside of it. People were strapping on bike helmets and pads. Angela stopped to watch them and Steve asked her,

“Have you ever done this tour?”

“No, what is it?” she asked.

“It’s a bike tour...obviously,” he said with a smile. “They take you to the “undiscovered areas” of Los Angeles. It actually starts from Long Beach. The metro will take us there and then through the streets of Long Beach and back in this direction. It’s kind of fun...but only if you’re up for it. I know you’re supposed to be resting.”

“Actually, the fresh air is helping a lot. Maybe I’ve been spending too much time indoors. In Miami I ran every morning and walked every evening. I’ve gotten out of that habit here.”

“So what do you say? It takes a couple of hours.”

“I have a couple,” she said with a grin. Steve went up to the kiosk and took care of their registration. Half an hour later they were in helmets and pads and on their bikes following the tour guide. The air was pleasantly cool and Angela felt better than she had in a long time. It was also fun to see Steve on a bike. He was usually the epitome of the businessman. It was great to see a different side of him.

They stored their bikes on the train and sat down for the fifteen minute ride to Long Beach. From there, their guide Mark began the tour by leading them through some of the residential streets of Long Beach and pointing out where some of the more notable and “affluent” citizens lived. Angela looked over at Steve as the rode by the McAllister Mansion. He was listening attentively to Mark as if he’d never heard of the family before. She grinned...he’s so damned cute.

They went through an oil field which surprised Angela. She had no idea there were working fields in L.A. From there they found the L.A. River Bike path. Steve looked over when they stopped to wait for a light and said, “This will take us through a few of the more “questionable” neighborhoods in L.A. It’s safe, I’m sure the guide knows what he’s doing, but stick tight.”

He didn’t have to tell her twice. She kept her bike right next to his the whole time. The trail was pretty and looked more like they were deep in the woods than in the middle of the city for the most part. It smelled like pine and the squirrels chittered from tree to tree as the birds squawked above them. It was enough to soothe Angela’s soul, at least temporarily.

When they came out of the trees, they were in fact in a “sketchy” neighborhood. Angela looked at Steve with wide eyes and he said, “Are you scared?”

She grinned, “Nah, I was worried about you...poor little rich boy.”

He laughed. “I am a little nervous. Will you look out for me?”

“I’ll do my best. Just don’t raise that fine ass too high up off the seat in the wrong neighborhood. There may be little I can do.”

He laughed again and said, “I’ll do my best.”

Not long after that, they entered a long, dark tunnel. The bikes all had reflectors and Mark had a light, but it was still a little spooky. Angela wondered what they were doing there until Mark stopped and shone his light against one long wall. It was painted with a mural. Everyone got off their bikes to take a look. Steve immediately grabbed Angela’s hand and held onto her. He made her feel safer than anyone ever had and she was falling for him more every day. He led her further into the tunnel, away from Mark’s light. She wondered what he was doing, but she wasn’t frightened, only curious. Once they were a ways out he took a small flashlight from his pocket that was attached to his keychain and shone it on a spot on the wall. 

“What is it supposed to say?” she asked him. There was a serious of crudely painted letters that didn’t spell anything at all.

“Look really closely,” he said, holding the light closer. When she saw it, she smiled.

“That is so cool!” Inside the letters were tiny little messages...all positive and inspiring as far as she could see. Each letter only had messages in one color. The first one was an “L” and all of the messages inside were red so at a distance it just looked like a giant red “L.” When you looked at it closely, it was a different story altogether. She was in awe.

“This one says,
“Laugh every day, it’s like exercise for the soul.”
I like that.” Angela was smiling as Steve moved the light to the next letter which was a big, blue “S.” She found a message and read it:

“Seek advice but never choose it over common sense.”
He was moving the light onto the green “W” when they heard a sound on the ground. He grabbed her and gripped her tightly as he asked,

“Did you hear that?”

“Yeah,” she said, “It kind of sounded like a rat.”

She could barely make out his face in the dim light coming from his hand...but she could see that he looked distressed. “A rat?”

She giggled. He raised the light and shined it on her face. She giggled again. “Big, strong guy afraid of a little furry critter?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not afraid...I’m...disgusted. They’re dirty.”

She laughed again. “You’re afraid.”

“Did you make that noise?” Angela laughed and he knew then she had done it. He tickled her up against the wall. “You punk! I wasn’t scared.” He was still holding onto her when they heard the sound again. His body jerked and he clutched her tighter. “Damn it!” he shone the light on the floor. There was nothing there but some trash. “What the hell is that?”

She put her mouth close to his ear and with another giggle she said, “Listen,” he heard the noise again and she said, “It was my shoe...tough guy.”

She got tickle tortured again until they heard Mark calling for them to join the group. He had her against the wall, so he found her chin in the dark and tipped her face up towards his.

“You think you’re so funny.” She giggled again like a mischievous child.

She finally said, “You’re the funny one. You’re built like a tank, and scared of a little mouse.”

He put his mouth down close to hers and said, “I’m not afraid...I just didn’t want it running up your pant leg or something.”

She laughed and said, “You were scared like a little girl.”

He sucked in a breath like he was going to say something but instead, he pressed his lips down against hers and against her mouth he said, “I give, I’m a girl.” Then he slid his tongue into her mouth and began to explore the deep, wet, warm caverns there. Nothing about it felt like she was being kissed by a girl. She was angry with Mark when she heard him just behind Steve saying,

“Um...sorry guys, but we have to get going.” Steve pulled back and grinned at her. She’d like very much to make love to him right now...against the graffiti wall and in the presence of varmints. They settled for another quick peck and followed Mark out of the tunnel. 

Chapter 2

Thomas unlocked the door to the loft when he got home from work, tossed the keys on the entryway table and headed down the hall towards Angela’s room with the container of soup he’d stopped and bought for her on the way home. He knocked on the door lightly, in case she was sleeping. When she didn’t answer it, he turned the knob and cautiously stuck his head in the door. “Ang?” He could see clearly that she wasn’t on the bed and it didn’t look like it had been lain down on at all. He stepped further into the room and towards the bathroom. The door was ajar. “Angela?” He went over and knocked on the door, pushing it open at the same time. She wasn’t there either.
“What the fuck?”

He went back out into the living room and then into the kitchen. There was no note and no sign of her. He threw the container of soup across the kitchen. It hit the refrigerator and the lid flew off sending broth and noodles everywhere as he yelled, “Fuck!” at the top of his lungs. After taking a few deep breaths and trying to calm himself back down, he went and got his phone and called her. As he listened to it ring and waited for her to pick up, he realized he could hear it ringing inside the loft, but also from down the hall.
How the hell did he not see her if she was here?
He made his way back down the hall with his phone still to his ear and followed the sound...to his room.
What the fuck?

Thomas stopped outside his door and listened. The door was about half-way open and there was no mistaking where the ring was coming from. He pushed the door in with his hand and it bumped something and swung back forward. He stepped inside and looked down. Angela’s phone was lying behind the door...where it only could have ended up if she was inside his room, with the door closed.
Fuck!

Thomas picked up the phone and looked around the room. His heart was racing in his chest and he could feel sweat beginning to form across his brow.
What did she find? What could she find? Deep breaths, Thomas. Don’t fucking lose it. Think....
He went to his nightstand where the drawer was slightly askew. That didn’t mean much since it never really completely closed anyways. With another deep breath he pulled it open. “Son of a bitch!” That was said aloud to the room. The escort cards were gone. She didn’t just find them, she took them.
What the fuck did she plan on doing with them?
He glanced around the rest of the room. There would have been nothing else for her to find there. He had been so careful...the escort cards didn’t mean shit.
He’s a man, right? If she didn’t like knowing he was having sex that was her fucking problem
...at least that was what he would tell her if she asked him about the cards. She had no right to go through his things and he was going to make sure she felt damned guilty about it.

Thomas looked over at his closet. He was stalling. He knew that if she’d found what was in there, she wouldn’t be back...unless it was with the police. He forced himself to go over and open the closet door. He stood there for several seconds looking around. Nothing looked out of place...so far. He took three steps back and reached up for the cord. It was there, where it should be. He pulled on it and the door fell open. He pulled himself up into his private room and once again, looked around. This room gave him peace. It was the one place where he truly felt like he could be himself and express his opinions. He closed his eyes and breathed it in. This was his haven...only his. It wasn’t meant for anyone else’s eyes. Opening them again, he could see that even the fresh coat of dust that came from the sun streaming through a skylight window was untouched. Angela hadn’t found his room...this time. He went back down through the closet and found his phone in his room. He pushed in a number and the voice on the other end said,

“Maintenance, this is Tim.”

“Hey Tim, this is Thomas. I need a favor...”

*****

W
hen Angela and Steve got back to the loft it was after seven o’clock. He got out of the car and prepared to walk her up. She pulled him in for a sweet kiss and said,

“Thank you so much for today. I feel so much better.”

He smiled and kissed her again. This kiss was more than sweet, it bordered on passionate. “You could always come home with me and we could wrap this night up right,” he said with a grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows. Angela would love nothing more than that. But, she had to deal with what she’d found out today sooner or later, and the longer she put it off, the worse it would get. She looked at Steve and said,