Louisa Neil (5 page)

The room was lit with candles. It was a cavern, she decided. Ahead was a dead end. At the center of the room was a large man standing with his back to her. He was huge in all ways with well-defined muscles. From her estimate, he stood seven foot tall and was wearing some kind of hood or mask.

“Welcome, Diana,” the man said. His voice was muted, but she understood his words.

“Where am I?”

“In my labyrinth,” he replied.

“How did I get here? Why am I here?”

“You’re here because I saw you and wanted you.”

“What?” She couldn’t believe what he was saying. “I want to leave.”

“You can leave, but you’ll be back. You’re mine now.”

The man turned, and his face was illuminated. What she saw made her scream. While he had the body of a well-built man, his head and face were that of an animal. Diana screamed at the sight of him, turned, and stumbled from the room.

She woke with a start back on her sofa, her heart pounding.

“What the hell was that?” Pulling the cotton throw from the sofa back over herself, she hoped it would end her chills. “This is crazy,” she said but stood on shaking legs.

She forced herself to check every room and to turn on every light until she was satisfied she was alone. For a second night, she made a cup of tea and took it to the living room, forcing herself to watch the television for company. She knew she had slept, for when she became aware, it was early morning.

“At least I didn’t go back to that stupid, frightening dream.”

She didn’t try to go back to sleep. Instead, she put in a load of laundry and made herself a full breakfast. While she only picked at it, it passed the time.

She was dressed and ready to leave for work when the dread hit her. After her self-satisfaction in the bath last night, she was embarrassed even though she knew nobody would know. All the way there, she was tempted to turn around and call in sick, but she didn’t want to let Dane Bowie win. Just because she masturbated to his image last night didn’t mean he’d know. And just because she’d had a stupid nightmare, she couldn’t skip work, especially now under the circumstances. Dread was a feeling she was beginning hate. She’d only experienced it occasionally, usually associated with important tests in school. Well, she was out of school and a working adult. She’d go to the office and do her job. It was job security, she reminded herself. Hopefully, Dane would leave her alone now that he’d made his point that he was in charge. After his strutting through her office yesterday and then singling her out in front of the other employees during the cake celebration, she hoped he’d back off and let her get on with her job as he got on with running the paper.

She stopped a block away and bought a copy of the local newspaper, a weekly. At lunch she could scan it and see if there were any positions that might suit her. Feeling better because she had a plan, she tucked it carefully away in her tote under her lunch.

“I have a plan,” she said aloud, just before entering the office, reinforcing the positive thoughts. She forced a smile on her lips as she opened the door and lost it immediately.

* * * *

The silence was deafening. Usually, this early, the staff was rummaging around, pouring coffee and getting settled at their desks. Today, she glanced ahead and saw all the employees at their desks, their faces stern. Nobody would meet her gaze. While she was always private, she used to wave or smile and get the same in return. Today, they seemed to sit frozen in front of their computers. While she wanted to stop by Walter’s desk and say hello, she remembered he wouldn’t be there. The door to his office was shut, and his blinds were drawn. Then she remembered it wasn’t his office any longer. Passing by, she descended the stairs to her private workspace. Diana didn’t hold back her gasp as she hit the landing and opened the door.

Downstairs was a crew of men cleaning her space. Anger hit her first. Hadn’t Dane promised her just yesterday that he wouldn’t make any changes without her input? Upon further inspection, she noted that the men were merely vacuuming. The walls and the floors, even the ceiling and the light fixtures. One side of her wanted to turn on her heel and leave. The other side, the practical side, made her stay. Knowing there was no space for her at the moment, she simply sat on the top step and watched with a careful eye. She thought to take out the weekly newspaper she had picked up on the way in and scan the want ads but figured that would be pushing her luck.

The noise continued, and she wanted to scream. She didn’t. It would be foolish to leave her job, even if Mr. Bowie paid out her contract, and if she left, he didn’t have to. She felt his presence before she actually saw him or heard his greeting.

“Okay, you’re pissed that I didn’t wait for you. They’re only dusting. They have strict orders not to touch a file.”

“Why bother asking me, if you were going to do this anyway?”

“I have allergies.”

“Yeah,” she said, adding under her breath, “and I’ve got a large pain in my ass.” Diana didn’t expect him to burst out laughing. She cringed and thought that if he was having her space cleaned, that meant he intended to spend time down there—with her. She didn’t want to turn around but finally glanced over her shoulder. That was her downfall. When he was relaxed and smiling, it was hard to be mad at him. His expression was exactly the same as she’d used last night during her bath. Even in the dim light, she saw a glimpse of the man he probably was in reality, relaxed and smiling. Now she was pissed at him for sending in a cleaning crew, and at herself for having thoughts of how they might be together.

Diana was a focused woman who, until yesterday, had a very calm, satisfying life. Now she met this man and had turned into a sex-starved version of herself she didn’t recognize.

“They’ll be done in a little while. Then I promise not to make any more changes until we discuss them.”

“Thank you.” She refused to look directly at him, afraid she’d lose her professional composure and start to flirt with him. It wasn’t something she did often. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she actually did flirt with a man. Yet it was getting harder and harder to resent this man simply because of a business deal. It struck her that she was letting herself see the situation from his perspective. Keeping her hard edge was essential, especially since she was getting those warm, sex-starved feelings again.

“While I wait, is Walter busy? I’d like to talk to him.”

“Walter’s gone.” It was a flat statement of fact.

“Gone? But yesterday you made it seem he was going to stay on for a while.”

“I never said that. He felt it was best to make a clean break and let me run my newspaper. I didn’t disagree with him. Having two bosses is only confusing to the employees.”

She was stunned. Last night she figured Walter wanted some privacy after dropping this bomb on all of them. But she never considered he wouldn’t stay on for a bit. Now she was angry with Walter and annoyed with Dane. The vacuums droned on, and she wanted to scream. She didn’t. Instead, she decided to use this time alone with Dane to pick his brain about the future of the paper.

“Have you started your interviews to decide who will stay?”

“Not yet.” He moved forward and down a few steps, coming to sit beside her. Diana had to shift to the side to give him room. While she wanted him to leave, just his body heat was pleasing. “I think they’re all shell-shocked.” Dane nodded to the upper floor. “I’ll wait until the next issue is out and just observe.”

“Oh, that will elevate the stress for them.” The sarcasm in her voice wasn’t lost on him. He gave her a slight grimacing look.

“Life moves forward, Diana, and you know that. Most of the people in this company have been stuck in a rut. I want to shake them up a bit, make them come into this day and time to see the city and world around them as they truly are. We’re not going to remain a fluff paper. We’re going to do hard news again.”

“That’s your call.”

“But?” he asked.

“I didn’t appreciate you singling me out by name yesterday. You made it seem like I had inside information I hadn’t shared with them. Like I was in on the deal and kept it to myself.”

“Is that how you read that? I simply wanted a face near me that wasn’t scowling.”

“Wasn’t I? Then I guess you read my expression wrong.” Again, he let out a hearty laugh, and she wanted to hit him. But holding back her smile was more important. She didn’t know why she felt this sudden attraction to him, but she did. If she’d been alone, she would have rubbed her crotch. She had a passing vision of herself in the tub last night and groaned. Her only defense was to change the subject. “So, tell me something about yourself. Where are you from? Are you married? Any children?” It dawned on her she should have looked him up last night online and found out his history, but she was still absorbing the shock of his appearance and the unwanted changes to her future.

“Still single, no children. I’ve spent my life until now making my mark in the business world.”

“And what marks did you leave?” Diana wanted to turn and watch him as they spoke, but they were sitting so close his shoulder was leaning against hers. Churning inside her was a lust she’d never experienced.
Damn this man
.
I can’t keep thinking we’re going to have some grand
love affair or possibly more
. The noise was starting to lessen, and she looked through the banister, noting some of the cleaning crew were winding up their power cords. “It looks like they’re done. I guess it’s time for me to get to work.”

“Someday we’ll discuss my accomplishments. Maybe over supper one night.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to date the boss under any circumstances.”

“You’ll change your mind,” he said, easily rising from her side. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’d like to know where Walter is. Do you have a phone number for him? The cell and home numbers I had aren’t picking up.”

“I believe he’s left for a much-earned vacation. I’ll let you know if I hear from him.”

“Maybe the lawyers who handled the sale of the paper will know how to get in touch with him.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t offer any of their names. Instantly, she wanted to slug him and held back. This truly wasn’t like her. One minute she was wondering how he’d be as a lover, and the next she hated him again. She decided any time she started to fantasize about them, she’d remember this instance of how elusive he truly was.

Diana stood and grabbed her tote, having to retreat back into the main office to let the cleaning crew pass. While she waited, she again noted not a single person shifted their gaze toward her. She was never so thankful to get downstairs. She had to admit it was cleaner, and from a quick glance, she didn’t see anything out of place. Even her tiny bathroom seemed to sparkle.

Putting aside her angst, she turned on her machines and tried to focus on her job. When lunchtime came, she ate at her desk, not bothering to open the paper she’d bought. She decided she’d bide her time a bit and see what happened. Leaving the office that night, she noted everyone was still at their desk and still wearing stone-cold expressions. All she could do was hope tomorrow would be better. Deep down, she knew it wouldn’t. She also knew she truly wanted to talk to Walter. She tried both his phones again and wasn’t able to leave a message on either. Changing her route, she walked the extra blocks in the opposite direction of her home to stop by his. Once there, she got no answer at the door. The place was locked up tight.

She stood looking at the old home, remembering how it had looked decorated for the holidays. Every year, Walter opened his home to employees and friends for a Christmas party. They had been festive times, with laughter and singing, Walter banging out tunes on the baby grand piano. Nobody cared if he missed a note occasionally. She’d also miss his summer party, usually an oyster feast where everyone was relaxed in shorts and T-shirts, drinking beer.

While they obviously weren’t confidants, she knew she’d miss his presence in her life. He knew New Orleans better than anyone else she’d met so far, and she liked how expressively he talked about her adopted home. How could he leave the only home he’d ever known without a word? It struck her again that he must have known for some time things were going to change and made his plans accordingly. She felt regret that this year there’d be no festivities in this grand old home with Walter, his friends, and employees.

The walk home was longer than she’d imagined, mostly because she couldn’t find the enthusiasm to get moving. By the time she got to her own home, Diana was exhausted. Dropping on the sofa, she fell asleep.

Unfortunately for her, when she woke, it was from the same dream she’d had last night, lost in the labyrinth of cold stone. The only light led to the same chamber with the same horribly disfigured man. Tonight the monster didn’t talk to her. Rather, it stood watching her. She understood it was because she refused to enter the chamber and, instead, stood in the dark hallway watching the monster, trying to get a better look at his environment. It was a stone room, roughly carved out, the space dank and cold.

She woke to darkness and almost fell off the sofa. After a quick shower, she went to her laptop. Something had changed in the dream, something she remembered. The mask the man wore reminded her of a bull. Years of school ran though her head, and she typed in her search.