Like a Bird (13 page)

Sky smiled a little and shook her head.

“Ah, you’re a shy one, aren’t you? Don’t worry,” he patted her on the shoulder, “we’ll fix that.”

Gareth asked Takao to set another place in the dining room. Gareth took his seat and Louis offered his to Sky, who slid into the chair opposite Gareth, her arm gripping her stump. Takao arranged a place for Louis.

“It’s OK, you can relax,” Gareth said quietly to Sky.

She let go of her arm and gripped her jeans instead.

“So, Sky, what have you been up to?” Louis asked as he dropped into the chair next to her.

Sky shrugged. “Not much,” she said and glanced at Louis who tossed a hot roll from the basket between his hands. Sky caught the one he tossed her way and dropped it on her plate. He tossed one to Gareth, who caught it like a football and picked off a chunk to pop in his mouth, completely immune to the heat.

“What do you do for fun?” Louis persisted.

“Read, go for walks. Gareth is teaching me how to swim.” Her voice perked up and she lifted her head to look at Louis.

He appeared both delighted and impressed when he looked over at Gareth, who seemed to be sitting at a different table. “Isn’t that nice.” He pointed his thumb at Gareth. “That guy used to be the national freestyle champion in high school.”

“Really?” Sky said, now looking at Gareth who glanced her way and then back at Louis. “So, you went to school together?”

“Oh yeah, I’ve know this guy for decades. We’ve been friends since grade school. I remember when he was the quiet new kid with his face permanently glued to a book. I pulled his ass out of the dirt and dusted him off after that prick, what was his name . . . Dylan, gave him a good pounding. Remember that?” Louis looked at Gareth.

Gareth sipped his water.

“Of course you remember. You’ve got a photographic memory.” Louis turned to Sky. “This guy doesn’t forget anything.”

Sky leaned back as Takao placed a salad in front of her.

Louis continued, “I know it’s hard to imagine a beast like him being bullied, but it’s true. He started helping me with my schoolwork, and then he came up with this brilliant strategy to set me up with the cutest girl in grade 7. It worked like magic, it was crazy, and that’s when I knew we were going to be a great team. We’ve been friends ever since.” Louis reached for a glass to raise. “Where the hell is the wine?”

Gareth shook his head. “Sky and I aren’t having a drink. You’re welcome to have whatever you want though.”

Sky slumped a little in her chair, and Louis called for Takao to bring him a glass of Riesling. Louis turned to Sky. “How come you’re not drinking — is that his idea?” He pointed at Gareth. Sky looked at Gareth for an answer. Louis suddenly clued in.

“Oh, oops. Scratch that last comment,” he blundered and sipped his wine. “You’ll quickly learn I have a foot-in-mouth habit,” Louis sighed. “Well, now I feel shitty drinking wine in front of you both. But damn, does it taste good. This is nice, where’s it from?”

“I’ll have Takao set you up with a few bottles to take home,” Gareth said.

Sky picked at her salad without eating any of it.

“Well, this is turning out to be an incredibly awkward meal. I mean, I’m doing all the heavy lifting here, conversation-wise,” Louis said.

“This was your idea,” Gareth said.

Louis nodded. “True, and thank you for that, Mr. Obvious.”

“I should probably go.” Sky motioned to leave.

“No, no! Don’t go. You’re far more interesting than him.”

Sky froze and looked to Gareth for direction.

“It’s OK, stay for a bit,” Gareth said.

Sky replaced the napkin on her lap.

“So . . . this might be rude,” Louis started, “I don’t know if this is rude, but just tell me, OK? Can I ask about your arm, what happened there? Was it a birth thing? An accident?”

Sky smiled. “It’s OK to ask,” she said. “I was in a car accident when I was fifteen. My boyfriend was driving and he was killed.”

“Ouch. That’s a lot for someone to deal with, let alone a kid.” Louis shook his head.

“It was hard at first. I was pretty lonely.”

“Really? A cute little thing like you? I’m not buying it.”

Sky nodded. “I was shy and kids made fun of me, especially the boys. The girls hated me.”

“Ah, women!” Louis rolled his eyes. “I mean . . . not you, of course,” Louis said, backtracking, “you don’t seem like other women.”

Sky started to eat her salad as Takao entered the room with the main course balanced on his palm.

“So what happened next, did you deliver the eulogy at your boyfriend’s funeral?” Louis asked.

Gareth glared at him, incredulous.

Louis shrugged, and Gareth shook his head.

Sky wasn’t fazed. “No. His
real
girlfriend delivered the eulogy. That’s how I found out I was the ‘other woman.’”

Louis almost choked on his wine. “Are you kidding? That’s crazy. How does a fifteen-year-old kid play the field like that? Why doesn’t that happen to me?”

“He was older than me,” Sky admitted.

“Why, if he wasn’t dead already I’d . . .” Louis smashed his fist into his other palm and growled. “You should write about all this stuff, it’d be a bestseller.”

Sky just smiled in reply and started picking at the steak Takao had cut in advance for her.

After lunch, Sky retreated to the library, and Louis followed Gareth into his office. Gareth shut the door and poured each of them a drink at the bar.

“Are we ready?” Louis asked.

Gareth handed Louis a thick glass and they clinked the rims together.

“Let’s get this meeting started,” Louis said as Gareth took the leather chair opposite him. “The security team wants to meet you, they insist. I know you don’t want to fly out there and show your face, but they want to know who they’redoing business with. And I do
n’
t blame them.”

“What was wrong with a phone conference?” Gareth asked.

“They want you in person. They said they’ll fly you out at their expense. They’re obviously motivated. Let’s just do this.”

Gareth appeared unmoved. “No. I don’t need to go anywhere . . . and they can’t afford a private jet.”

“Gareth, for Christ’s sake! Get over this bullshit. We’ve already dragged this out and we’re at risk of losing this deal. Stop playing games and fucking go.”

Gareth leaned back and brought his hand to his chin. He stared intently out the window. “I think it’s in our best interests to walk away.”

“What? Did I hear you? Are you insane!”

“It’s not a good deal.”

“Just because you have some phobia? We’re so deep into this . . . I’m not going to back out now!”

“They’re in no position to make demands. They’re just trying to manipulate us. It’s only going to get worse.”

“What?”

“Lou, you know how things are done.
We
have the money,
we
make the rules. They know who I am, they know how I do business. They’re arrogant. They’re trying to push us around. Plus, they don’t have the funds to fly people around for no good reason. If they’re already wasting money, they’ll likely mismanage whatever we give them, too. And, they wanted too many ridiculous changes to the contract. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

“This is insane. We can’t back out now. I . . . we need this deal to close!”

“Then go in without me. Put your own money on the table.” Gareth moved to sit on the edge of his desk. “Why do you need this to close? You’re not usually
this
desperate.” Gareth paused. “You have an ulterior motive.”

Louis straightened and looked at Gareth, stunned. “No. . . . Nothing. Why would you say that?"

“Because it’s true.”

Louis shook his head as if to order his thoughts. “My brain is struggling to process what has just transpired. This is absurd.”

“That’s because you’re not actually thinking. Which makes me suspect your dick is involved.”

Louis looked away from Gareth and covered his red face with his hand.

“I’m right, aren’t I? You were going to drag me into your mess because you were getting laid. What's wrong with you?”

Louis sunk into the leather armchair. “What are you, clairvoyant? You creep me out sometimes. Do you have someone spying on me?”

Gareth snickered, “I’ve known you for too long, I don’t need to spy on you. Lou, I can read you like a children’s book.” Gareth rubbed his brow and sat back down opposite Louis. “You need to clean this up, tell me what the fuck is going on.”

Louis groaned and sunk lower into the chair. “She’s one of their developers, this cute little Asian girl. Her name is Claire.”

Gareth released a hearty laugh and then swept the disappointment from his face. “She’s probably using you.”

Louis sighed deeply. “I know, I know. It’s too good to be true.” He stared at the ceiling as if redemption might be waiting there.

Gareth leaned forward and swirled the ice in his glass. “You need to get your lifestyle under control. I’m not your sugar daddy.”

“Oh gawd! That is a revolting thought. I can’t believe you just said that!” Lois wrinkled his face in disgust.

“Stop deflecting, Lou, and focus,” Gareth said. “You’re in trouble and I’m trying to help you, but you’re acting like a spoiled little fuck.”

Louis perked up and leaned forward, too. “I’m really trying my best here, I don’t know what else to do. Yes, I feel stupid and useless next to you. Yes, I have fucked everything up. I’ve fucked everything up royally, because that is the only real skill I have.”

Louis stood and waved his hands more wildly as he spat out the words. “I’ve got an expensive ex-wife who is going to bankrupt me next week, and I lie awake at night soaking my two thousand–thread count, silk sheets with sweat because I’m going to be pushing a rusted shopping cart around hunting for beer bottles in about a month.” He stopped for a breath. “Yeah, I’m sorry that you have to save my ass. Again. I don’t exactly feel good about it!”

“You don’t have to shout.” Gareth’s tone was even and calm. “We can sort this out. I think we need to step back and simplify our approach.”

Louis looked out at the valley through the wide window.

“Are you willing to do what it takes to get back in the game, because it’s not going to be the joyride you’re accustomed to” Gareth cautioned.

Louis nodded his head in the first sincere gesture he’d given since his arrival.

“OK.” Gareth let silence hang in the air between them before he continued. “You need to spend the next month reducing your expenses. Get rid of the gigantic house that you never even spend time in and the three or four, or however many, cars you have. Sell most of your furniture. In fact, sell all of it. I think you should relocate to your cottage.”

“Wait, wait, whoa . . . let’s slow this down. First of all, this is going to raise some red flags if I’m getting rid of everything like it’s a fire sale. And what the hell am I supposed to drive to get to the cottage if I don’t have a car? You want me ride a bike in exile?” Louis said.

He watched Gareth perform another mental calculation.“You’re right, we need to be discreet,” Gareth agreed. When an idea hit him he smiled and waved his finger at Louis. “Here’s what we’ll do. I’m going to send you on a retreat. One of those meditation places or whatever, with monks or something. We’ll make it look like you had an epiphany, or a Zen moment, and now you’re simplifying your life.”

Louis scowled. “Are you serious? It better not be one of those things where you can’t talk or drink for a week and they make you eat plants every day and shit like that. I can’t do that!”

Gareth fixed a loving but determined glare on his friend.

Louis went limp with defeat. “OK, fine I’ll go. But only for a week.” He pointed a stern finger at Gareth.

Gareth smirked and nodded. “You can keep the BMW,” Gareth added and finished off his Scotch.

CHAPTER 12

“Hi,” Kitty said, approaching a pretty redhead behind a nearly empty reception desk. “I’m here to see Kris at two-o’clock.”

The young woman looked up from the riveting game she was playing on her phone. “Have a seat, and I’ll let her know you’re here.”

“Thank you,” Kitty replied.

As Kitty sat down, she caught the receptionist looking with contempt at her tight skirt. She flashed the redhead a cocky grin and crossed her shapely legs as the receptionist picked up the phone to notify Kris her
two-o’clock
had arrived.

Inside the office, Kitty eased herself into a simple chair across from Kris. A tidy desk separated the two women. Kris was middle-aged but polished, and her skin clung to her youth with the help of expensive serums. A tailored suit fit neatly on her lean frame.

“Katherine, welcome. I’ve had a look at the materials you submitted and you’ve passed the first round, so now we find ourselves here. This is the final stage of the application process, and from here I’ll determine if you’re a good fit for this agency.” Kris smiled and Kitty nodded in acknowledgement.

“I want to start by asking what inspired you to consider becoming a Dream Date. What drew you to want to play that role?” Kris asked.

“Well . . . I find I prefer spending time with men who are a little more experienced and who are able to match my level of ambition. Men my age are just . . . fun, and I want more than fun. I want to be stimulated,” Kitty said.

“Hmm,” Kris muttered, nodding. “So tell me what you think you have to offer our clients in return.”

“He certainly won’t be bored. I’m intelligent, adventurous, and open-minded. If any of your clients are looking for some extra attention, I can definitely provide that.”

Kris grinned and continued with her well-rehearsed script. “How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?”

“I’d smile and say, ‘Hi, I’m Kitty.’ I think the rest of the package pretty much speaks for itself,” Kitty replied and played with her necklace. “I don’t have anything to hide. What you see is what you get.”

“I see that,” Kris remarked and shifted in her chair. “What do think is your best asset?”

“I’m honest and straightforward.”

Kris waited for more. After a painful silence, she finally asked, “And what is the most important quality you look for in others?”

“I just what to be around other people who are completely themselves, whatever that looks like. People who aren’t pretending to be someone or something they’re not.” Kitty thought for a moment. “I guess the word is
authentic
,” she said with her index finger perched on her bottom lip.

Kris scribbled a few notes, and Kitty held her breath, until the domineering woman finally looked up from her paper.

“Well, that’s all for now. Thank you, Katherine. We’ll review your file and contact you in about a week to let you know our decision.” Kris’s hands were folded in a tight knot on her desk. She didn’t get up, so Kitty stood and brushed off the front of her skirt.

“Uh, thank you very much for the opportunity,” Kitty said. In the absence of a hand to shake she could only think to give the woman a slight curtsy before she left. She marched straight for the exit, not even glancing at the receptionist, who flashed a scathing look at Kitty’s pink hair disappearing out the door.

In the relative privacy of the hallway, Kitty finally released her breath. The complex street air seemed refreshing compared to the lack of oxygen in Kris’s office. Kitty took a deep breath as the sun bounced off the office windows and warmed her face. She used a tissue from her bag to wipe the sweat from her armpits then called Daniella.

“Hey, what’s up?” Daniella asked.

“I just got out of this really stressful interview and I need to vent.”

“Interview? For what?”

“Oh, just this agency called Dream Date.”

“What? You sneaky little ho, I didn’t know you were looking for a sugar daddy.”

“Uh, well it’s not what it seems . . .”

“I can’t believe you went there! No, wait, what am I saying? I
can
believe you went there. You, of all girls, would be total Dream Date material.”

Kitty rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”

“No seriously, I think that’s amazing! I used to work with this girl who got in there and she made off like a little thief. It was awesome. I think she married this old guy and then they got divorced and he had to pay her some obscene amount of money and his kids took her to court but she was totally set. Holy shit . . . that could be you!”

“Ew, I don’t want to marry some wrinkly old weasel. I want a sugar daddy, not a sugar granddaddy.”

“Well, I’m not saying you have to marry anyone. You know what I mean.”

“Considering how the interview went, I wouldn’t start counting my gold bars just yet.”

“Ooh, that bad?”

“It wasn’t
that
bad. I don’t think I blew her away or anything.”

“Oh, it was a chick? Huh. Oh, shit. My pot’s boiling over. Gotta go!”

“Are you cooking . . .?” Daniella had hung up. She dropped her phone into her bag and adjusted her sunglasses.

In the thick blind spot of her plastic frames a hunched figure in a black hood trudged up the sidewalk, hanging close to the brick wall. Hands shoved in his pockets, his long, dark hair poked out of the hood that concealed his face. Kitty slowed and pulled her sunglasses down to peer over the top as her painted lips parted.

Kitty caught his eye and smiled. He looked a little stunned and walked past her. The boy with the brown eyes stopped and looked around him, his silver piercings blinding Kitty in the sunlight, but there was no one else nearby. Kitty slid her sunglasses on top of her head. The boy, still confused, pointed to himself.

She nodded.

Daniella was singing in the shower when the apartment door flew open and Kitty walked in dragging the brown-eyed boy straight to her room. She left him standing by the door with his hands hidden in his pockets as she set the mood. She closed her computer, just to be sure, and shut the thick curtains to darken the room. The boy eased a little as the room grew darker. The bed had been cleared of its clutter and Kitty sat down on it to remove her shoes. The boy remained stationed at the door until Kitty tiptoed over to him and took his hands to pull him toward the bed.

“Umm…,” he cleared his throat.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” Kitty said and plucked a condom out of her bedside table. The boy arched his eyebrows and Kitty pulled his mouth toward hers.

His lips were soft and fearful but as the kissing progressed he ramped up like a power station. The buzz from his energy was almost audible. He removed Kitty’s dress with clumsy fingers and she pulled off his shirt to reveal his lean, youthful frame. They fumbled onto the bed and the boy squeezed her breasts before he changed course and went down on her, thrusting his tongue into her delicate areas.

“Ow! What the hell?” Kitty sat up.

The boy lifted his head and stared at her as if he’d just woken up. He opened his mouth to reveal some silver hardware. “Tongue ring.”

Kitty grimaced. “Ugh, it’s awful. It’s like being attacked with a club.”

“Oh. Um, sorry. I won’t use it then?”

Kitty nodded and dropped back onto the bed.

The boy continued, gently this time, while Kitty stared at the ceiling and made a mental grocery list. She moaned here and there but mostly she winced and grunted as he fumbled his way around her hot spots. His breathing was heavier now and he reached for the condom, carefully opening the package and rolling it on, while Kitty took the matter of pleasure into her own hands.

Now wet and mildly entertained, the boy was able to easily slide inside. As he thrust in a predictable rhythm, Kitty stared at the wall and traced the pathway of cracks that led to the ceiling. He shuddered to completion and rested his damp chest on top of her. He avoided her gaze and rolled over onto his back. Kitty looked at him with a smirk, and he turned toward her, panting.

“I’m going to take a shower.” She grabbed her robe from the bedpost. She walked out without looking back.

The boy dressed and poked his head from the bedroom when he heard someone in the kitchen. He flipped up his hood and walked toward the sink where an auburn-haired woman in a curvy pair of jeans was filling a glass of water.

Daniella turned around to see the hooded figure looming behind her. “Oh, hi there.” She smiled. Their eyes locked.

The boy smiled back. “Hi.”

“And who are you?” Daniella asked.

“I’m Johnathan,” he said and pulled a hand from his pocket to extend to her.

“Hi Johnathan, I’m Daniella.” She shook his hand.

He eyed her glass of water and she offered it to him without a word. He took the glass and pounded back the water like he’d just run a marathon.

- -

Gareth stood alone in his office staring at his phone. He typed a message to Kitty.

Just checking in to see how you’re doing.

Kitty’s purple phone lay unattended on the coffee table, while Daniella and Johnathan sat on the sofa and listened to the muffled sounds of the pink-haired diva singing in the shower. Daniella picked up the phone and sent a reply.

Go the fuck away.

- -

The garden had exploded with color. Clusters of tulips and daffodils dotted the landscape and a dogwood displayed flowers of pink and white. The air was warm and fragrant. Louis took in a deep breath as he stepped outside and spotted Sky in the distance, sitting on a bench with a magazine in her lap and Wisdom on guard nearby. He approached until he could hear a low growl from Wisdom that prompted him to freeze and raise his hands like a captured convict. Sky hushed the wolf and stroked her head while Louis sidled up to the bench and sat down.

“So, how do you like it out here?” he asked. “You must get bloody bored.”

Sky shrugged. “It’s beautiful . . . and quiet.”

Louis nodded. “That it is.” He leaned back on the bench and stretched his legs out in front of him. “You must have friends or family or something that you miss, no?”

Sky shook her head.

“Oh. Right, you’re an orphan. But still, you must have friends or something. Don’t you ever want to go shopping or get your nails done or do . . . girl stuff?” He glanced at her hand with nails chewed to the quick.

Sky only smirked.

“OK, fair enough. I just want to make sure you’re happy here. You know, that you’re being treated well and all that.”

Sky straightened and looked at Louis. “Why would you say that?”

“Well, I . . . you know, just want you to be happy and Gareth to be happy and the dog to be happy. That’s all.”

“She’s a wolf.”

“Yes, right.” Louis nodded.

The two sat in awkward silence and Louis began to hum a made-up tune.

Sky sized him up out of the corner of her eye while pretending to flip through her magazine. “What do you know about Robyn?”

Louis stopped suddenly and raised his eyebrows. “How do you know about Robyn?”

“Long story.”

“Ah-ha, well. Robyn is a long story, too. And the dog might be bugged, or this bench.” Louis bent over to look underneath the seat.

“I don’t think so,” Sky said. “There’s a camera over there, but I don’t think he can hear us.” She pointed to a small, shiny object attached to a gazebo near the solarium.

“Oh, we’re on camera? Are there other cameras? I hope there isn’t one in the guest room. Whoo boy! That would make for a horror show.”

“Don’t worry, there isn’t one in the guest room. So, did you know Robyn?”

“OK, OK. Here’s the condensed version: boy meets beautiful girl, love of his life, yada yada. Anyway, they get engaged. Boy gets fucked up in an accident, girl ditches . . .” His voice trailed off as Gareth ambled down the stone path toward them. “So, Sky,” Louis said loudly, “read any good books lately?”

Sky laughed lightly and turned back to her magazine.

“Hey, there he is,” Louis said to Gareth as he neared the bench. Wisdom went to Gareth for some affection. He rubbed her head and neck. She leaned into his leg and closed her eyes.

“I’m going for a walk,” Gareth announced and headed off with Wisdom following close behind him.

“Uh, OK. Have a nice time. Watch out for wild dogs!” he called after Gareth, who continued down the stone path and disappeared over the rocky edge.

“I think I’m going to sit in the hot tub for a bit. All this lounging around has made me stiff.” Louis stood and stretched.

“I think I’m going to have a nap,” Sky said.

“That’s always a good idea,” Louis said, and they returned to the house together.

“How’d you find out about Robyn?” Louis whispered to Sky once they were inside.

“I have a lot of spare time,” Sky whispered back and grinned.