If I Break (18 page)

“Is everything okay in there?” Raven asks urgently on the other side of the door.

“Is it, Lauren?” His tone sounds dangerously like an ultimatum, but today is the wrong day for him to go there with me.

“It will be when you leave,” I say looking him straight in the eye.

“Lauren, Cal, open the door please!” her knocks turning into pounds. I step back as Cal walks toward me, stopping only inches away.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you need to fix it because next time you tell me to leave, I’m not coming back,” he whispers coldly in my ear.

“If it’s that simple for you, maybe you shouldn’t.” I hold the keys out and drop them. He’s quick, though—he neatly snags them out of the air before they hit the ground. He licks his lips and smiles, then grabs his jacket and opens the door. Raven walks in, glancing back and forth between both of us. Cal stares back at me with a smirk on his face. I can’t look at either one of them. I wrap my arms around myself and stare out the window.

“See you, Raven,” I hear him say quietly.

“Goodbye, Cal,” I hear her say, and she walks toward me slowly.

“Lauren?” she says quietly.

“Raven, I don’t want to talk right now,” I say in the most polite tone I can muster.

“Lauren, you can t—” she tries to urge before I cut her off.

“Not now,” I plead with her, heading to the bed.

“O-okay, sweetie. When you’re ready to talk, you know where I am.”

I nod, watching through the window as the Porsche pulls away.

October 2nd 2008

I play with my fingertips as I feel the elevator take off. It’s a nervous habit, and I haven’t been this nervous since I was in high school.

“Don’t be nervous,” Cal says wrapping his arms around me.

“That’s easy for you to say. Here I am about to meet two of the most important people in your life, and oh—by the way—they own most of everything in Chicago,” I whine, resting my head on his chest. It’s been almost six months since my whirlwind romance with Cal began, and he’s still a mystery to me. I think this is a pretty big step in unraveling that mystery .

“Just pretend they couldn’t buy and sell your soul if they wanted,” he jokes.

“Oh, that makes me feel much more comfortable.”

“Don’t worry; they’ll love you. Just be yourself,” Cal nibbles on my ear, making me forget about my problem for a micro-second. I pull away from him as the doors of the elevator open.

“Come on.” He takes my hand, leading the way out. I inhale deeply and follow him. Then my jaw drops as I see the huge hall that stretches before us.

“See? It’s just like a museum,” he winks, leading me down the empty corridor. In amazement, my eyes follow the paintings that line the walls. Each one is framed in what, I assume, is gold. I mean, why skimp on the frame when you can afford the masterpiece? I’m pulled out of my trance as I hear Mozart’s Symphony #40, coming from the grand piano in the middle of the room, being played as easy as if it’s a game of cards. Large, ornate double doors are partly open on the left, and we walk into an impressive parlor.

“Trying to show off again, Dex?” Cal interrupts the musician, announcing our arrival.

“You actually showed up on time? What’s the occasion?” the man says, getting up from the piano. His eyes skim past Cal and land on me.

“Miss Brooks, I presume,” he smiles knowingly. I swallow my nerves. He’s a smaller man—maybe 5”6, a little taller than me with brown, almond-shaped eyes and brown hair; but for some reason, his presence intimidates me.

“Yes, I’m Lauren,” I say awkwardly. I have no idea what’s appropriate, so I just hold out my hand.

“I’m Dexter Crest Field,” he replies, taking my hand, and to my surprise he brings it to his lips for a kiss. I can’t help but giggle.

“Nice to meet you,” I finally get out. Dexter Crest Field Jr., the man whose father is the richest man in the Midwest. I just read an article in the paper about him, for God’s sake for a class.

“Your home is beautiful. As if you don’t know that,” I say, like an idiot, and step closer to Cal.

“I’ll give my decorator your compliments.” He walks over to the bar area and pulls down a couple of rocks glasses. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you.” I feel like I need to let my nerves settle before I try to hold something breakable in my hands.

“Where’s Helen?” Cal asks, taking off his jacket and tossing it onto a chair beside him as if he’s at home. He gestures for me to sit next to him on the massive sectional sofa.

“She’s around somewhere,” Dexter replies, pouring what I assume is scotch into a glass.

“So, Lauren, Cal tells me you’re an artist,” Dexter says, taking a seat next to us.

“I wouldn’t say that. I’m an art student,” I say modestly.

“She’s an artist; I’ve seen her work.” Cal gets back up, walks over to an oddly placed pool table, and begins racking the balls.

“I’d always wanted to be an artist until I found out I lacked the patience,” Dexter says. I see him look over, irritated at the noise Cal is making. “So, in one word, how would you describe Cal?” Dexter asks suddenly.

I’m a little caught off guard. “Umm. Cal is unique.” Unique? Where did that come from?

“I’ve never been called unique before,” Cal laughs, resting on the pool table.

“I think that’s the most honest
flattering
description I’ve heard about him,” Dexter laughs. “I like you already.” His expression softens for the first time since I’ve met him. My nerves start to subside Dexter seems pretty cool. I should have known Cal wouldn’t hang out with people with sticks in their asses, even if he is his boss.

“Too bad; she’s mine.” Cal walks back over behind me on the couch and leans over to wrap his arms around me. His lips touch my neck, and I feel my cheeks heat up.

“Yes, you’ll have to settle for me,” A beautiful tall brunette woman comes in with a bag that distinctively says Harry Winston, and she tosses it to Dexter as if it was from Wal-Mart.

“How much is this going to cost me?” He looks up at the woman curiously.

“Nothing you can’t afford,” she retorts, then casually sits across his lap and pecks him on the lips. Her attention turns to Cal and me for the first time.

“You’re on time,” she tells Cal sarcastically.

“I’m not late that much,” he defends himself.

“No, you just never show up when you say you are,” she retorts with a smile.

She turns her attention to me. “You must be Lauren,” she says. Her eyes survey me as women usually do. She leaves Dexter’s lap and offers her hand.

“I’m Helen, Dexter’s wife,” she explains as we shake hands.

“Very nice to meet you,” I reply.

“So, has Cal been behaving himself?” she asks, giving Cal a faux warning look.

“I’m always on my best behavior.”

“Of course you are.”

“So, what’s the plan for the evening?” Dexter breaks into the exchange.

“Well, I made a reservation for Luc to come and serve dinner at 8,” Helen says with a toss of her hair. “Which is perfect since you and Cal should be back by then.”

I see Cal shoot her a warning look.

“You’re leaving?” I ask him tightly. He has said nothing about leaving me here alone. Helen seems nice and all, but the whole reason I did this was to finally meet the people closest to him beside clients for his job. I didn’t want to just be dumped on his best friends wife. I look behind me to see him standing there with his hands in his pockets. The tension in the room goes up a notch.

“Helen, how about you come show me what else you bought because I know this isn’t all of it,” Dexter says, excusing him and Helen. When they’ve disappeared from the room, I stand up to face Cal. He walks over toward me but I look away from him. This was not part of
my
plan for the evening. His arms wrap tightly around my waist pulling me against him

“I won’t be gone that long,” he promises caressing my back which always distracts me from what he’s saying. “It’ll give you and Helen some time to get to know each other,” he says slipping his hand under my blouse. I step away from him. I’m can feel my temperature rising, and by that sly grin on his face, I see that he can too. He puts his fingers through belt loop on my pants and pulls me back toward him our chests collide.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he whispers before covering my mouth with his biting my lower lip gently. I feel his hands slide down my back, his warmth sending sensations through my body that are completely uncalled for at this moment . I wrap my arms around his neck when he deepens the kiss. He always does this. I can be completely focused on what he’s saying or what I’m saying, and then he goes and kisses me like this and everything just seems unimportant. He pulls away with a satisfied smile resting on this face.

“You’re good?” he says quietly, knowing I’m okay. I nod and lick my lips.

“Dex says he’ll meet you downstairs.” Helen’s voice interrupts us and I remember we’re in someone else’s house. Helen is walking back into the room. An amused look spreads over Cal’s face at my reaction and he lets me go. I glance at Helen in total embarrassment, but she just smiles as she flops on the couch and crosses her legs.

“I’ll see you later, okay?” he says and steals a kiss from my neck.

“Stay out of trouble,” Helen says in a motherly tone as he grabs his jacket.

“Don’t I always?” He winks at us both before leaving the room. I fold my arms around myself. Here I am in a strange house with a woman I don’t know at all. What’s to be nervous about? I expect for awkwardness to fill the room, but before it does, she begins to speak.

“You’ll get used to that,” she says, lighting a cigarette.

I look at her curiously. “Used to what?” I ask, hoping she’s not a chain smoker. I have to deal with enough of them at work.

“Oh, sweetie,” she smiles and walks toward me. I hold my breath from the smoke. “We have a lot to talk about,” she smiles deviously before linking arms with me. “Let’s go on the terrace,” she says, leading the way. I can already see this night is going to be interesting.

***

When we reach the terrace, my jaw drops to the floor. I thought Cal’s view from the penthouse was amazing.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” she says, making herself comfortable at a beautifully set table to the right of us. “I was the same way when I first saw it.”

There’s all white furniture on the terrace that stretches for miles and candles alight it drowning out the smell of her cigarette before we reach the door.

“Of course it wasn’t like this,” she says, waving her hand at the impeccable outdoor furniture and luscious greenery that lines the balcony wall, “but I saw the potential.”

“You did this?” I ask in shock as I sit down in a seat next to her. It’s in a completely different tone from the Gothic rooms that I walked through.

“Well, the design and such. I told the decorator exactly what I wanted and she did it,” she says, putting out her cigarette.

“This is beautiful,” I admit, still taking in my surroundings.

“Thank you. I wish Dexter would let me have my way with the rest of the house, but he says a man’s house is his kingdom, or something to that effect,” she explains with another toss of her hair. This seems to be her signature move, and she uses it to a very good effect.

“So, give me the story of you and Cal. I know the watered down version Dex passed on to me. Men are so vague about things like that.” She rests her chin in her palm as if she’s ready to hear a good tale.

I exhale. I don’t really like getting into details, either. I never feel comfortable talking to people about things like that. “Well, we met at the place I work. I ran in to him, literally, and he spilled a drink on me,” I tell her, remembering the night that shaped the past few months of my life.

“And how long have you been seeing each other?”

“About five months.” Actually, it’s been five months and fourteen days, but who’s counting?

“And now I’m here to get you guys’ approval, I suppose,” I laugh, feeling a bit more comfortable with her.

“Oh no, Lauren, don’t worry about us. Cal does what he wants. He’s here to show you off,” she states in a matter of fact tone. “In fact, just between you and me?” she leans in as if she’s giving away a top secret. “You’re the first girl he’s brought to meet us, or at least me,” she winks at me. I can’t help but smile, but for some reason, knowing that makes me feel nervous all over again.

“So, there must be something to you other than being stunning,” Helen giggles. I blush at the compliment. “Dex and Cal have a thing for beautiful women and beautiful women have a thing for them,” she sighs, shifting in her seat. I swallow my nerves, but she notices my expression. “Don’t worry; it takes more than a pretty face to sway them. They aren’t idiots like the average male,” she chuckles.

“How long have you known Cal?” I ask, still feeling a little uneasy.

“Let’s see, I think this year, about six years. Yeah, that’s about right.”

“So Dexter and Cal are really close?”

“Like brothers. It’s good for them, especially since Dex is an only child, and Cal doesn’t really have anyone.” I can’t help but feeling sad at the last part of what she says. I knew Cal was adopted but I never really thought about him not having anyone. I know his parents have always been a sore subject. After my parents death I felt alone but really I always had a great relationship with Raven. I just assumed that he and his adopted parents were cordial if not close.

“How did you and Dexter meet?” I ask changing the subject. She smiles softly.

“He was at a benefit for Chicago General, where I used to work. I didn’t know who the hell he was, but he walks up to me and says, ‘I’ll donate a million dollars tonight if you go out with me.’ Now here I am, disgusted by this audacious man, who, I assume, is a liar. So I told him, ‘If you donate a million dollars, I’ll run around this hotel naked,’ so he laughs and walks away. I didn’t think anything else of it. Ten minutes later, the superintendent of the hospital announces that Dexter Crest Field Jr., has just donated ten million dollars to the hospital, and when I see him walk up there, my heart just stops,” she starts to laugh and I join in with her.