Nice Girl (10 page)

“Well, talk about pressure.”  I muttered.

“Don’t look at it that way Grace.  You don’t have to change around Vinnie.  It’s your sweet demeanor and cuteness that makes us all smile.  I think it’s actually disarming Vinnie.”

“Oh please.  Now you’re being ridiculous.”

Then Luke chimes in “No, he’s not Grace.  You do have a way about you that makes people comfortable.  I’m surprised we’re the first to point it out.”

“No, you’re not the first.  In my group of girlfriends, I was always known as the nice one.  Actually, I’m getting kind of sick of it.”

“You can’t change who you are.”  Jamie smiled that devilish smile and it was hard not to smile back.

That night I had the most vivid dream.  I dreamt of a little boy who craved attention from his mother.  I replayed that horrid scene in the grocery store parking lot.  Who could subject their child to this?  I woke up with tears in my eyes.  Jamie was right.  I did want to be a friend to Vinnie.  I did want to help him have a positive relationship with a woman.  In a strange ironic way, I felt Vinnie and I had something in common.  I, too, was scared to be in an intimate relationship.   What did I proclaim to Eve?  I said I was going to avoid all sexual relations with men until I got my head on straight.  Vinnie, too, was avoiding relationships.   I realize my fear didn’t even compare to Vinnie’s history.   I just had shitty sex and couldn’t bring myself to try it again.   Vinnie’s hurt and his anger were for far greater reasons.  The goal though was the same – avoid intimacy.   Maybe by a comforting platonic friendship, I could help Vinnie erase his demons. 

I wondered if I’d ever be able to erase mine.

Chapter 9

Jamie’s soothing words were what I needed to face Vinnie the next day.  I kept telling myself I shouldn’t be nervous.  After all, he DID apologize to me.  There should be no hard feelings.  Things get tense between co-workers.  You forget it and move on.  I wondered if what Jamie said was true.  Was I different?   

As usual, no one was there when I opened the office in the morning.  I kept watching the clock.  I couldn’t wait to get that first tense moment over with.  Surprisingly, Jamie came in first. 

With his darling smile, he proclaimed, “I felt you might need me to come in early this morning.” 

I truly loved that gay man. 

He plopped down in the chair by my desk and proceeded to tell me about a vacation he and Luke were planning. 

Anthony came in next looking a little nervous “How are things this morning, Grace?”

“No worries, Anthony.”

He and Jamie exchanged what I perceive was a knowing look.  I didn’t like it.  It was almost as if everyone was on edge.  I kept willing Vinnie to come in and get it over with. 

My mind power was obviously not working as Jamal and Ivy came in next.  Ivy came in every Thursday morning with Jamal.  She had class at 1pm and they liked to do an early lunch out together.  Jamie graciously gave up his chair to go meet with Anthony and Jamal.  I liked having that time on Thursdays to get to chat with Ivy.  We had a connection being that we were both in graduate school.  I admired Ivy.  She seemed to easily portray that strong confident woman perception.  She was always dressed fashionably and she carried herself with class.  In conversation she was a true intellectual.  She kept me on my toes with her views on diversity and society.  She was telling me about a documentary she was working on about what life is like when you are black, gay, and raised in a Baptist family.  I was so engrossed in our conversation that I didn’t notice when the door opened. 

Vinnie finally came in. 

I immediately tensed up.   My body was behaving the exact opposite of a strong confident woman.   Ivy paused in her conversation when she saw my obviously telling face.  I’m sure Jamal told her of my blow up with Vinnie.  She quickly tried to ease the tension.

“Hello Vinnie. Nice to see you again.”  Said Ivy.

Why couldn’t my voice be that calm?

Vinnie nodded at her “Ivy” was all he said.  Then he stopped right in front of my desk.  “Hi Grace.  I’m glad to see you came back.”

Whoa!

That gave him a big relieved smile from me.  He then smiled back.  Wow, a smile from Vinnie.  That’s when I noticed.  He was actually quite handsome when he smiled.  The scowl he always carries on his face along with that deep scar make him so fearsome looking.  When he smiled, I became aware of his eyes more.  They are a dusty gray which makes me wonder even more about his mixed heritage.  He also has nice straight teeth.  I can’t think that his prostitute mother would’ve paid for braces.  He must have good genes.  Those perfect white teeth caused me to linger just a little too long on his mouth. 

Snap out of it girl!

Later that afternoon, Anthony called us all into the conference room to hear about a very important update. 

As we all sat around the conference table, Jamie exclaimed “This is so cute.  It is our first staff meeting.”

“Yes, we’re just darling.”  Jamal answered dryly.   

The big news from Anthony was that three insurance companies were now looking at A and V as their main contact for investigations.  Anthony thanked Jamal for all his hard work in setting up the proposals. 

I was impressed with Jamal.  He sure knew how to turn his life around.  I found his fresh start quite inspirational. 

Anthony had this extravagant idea to showcase A and V to these three companies at a catered party.  He already put a deposit down at a local hall.  He asked Jamie if Luke would be interested in heading up the food.  Jamie shouted yes which caused Jamal to jump.  I think Jamal needed to get used to Jamie’s dramatics a little better. 

Then, Anthony turned to me.  “Grace, since you are so good at organizing, do you mind meeting with Luke to help plan the event?  Jamie, don’t worry, I will make sure Luke is well compensated for his time.”

Anthony really thought too highly of me.  I was just a college student who knew how to methodize files.  Now I was being asked to plan a major event that had the potential of profitable contracts.  I was definitely not up for this.  But, strong confident woman was!

“I’d love to Anthony.  It sounds like fun.”

Things were definitely looking up.

Chapter 10

Luke and I had three weeks to plan a very important event.  No pressure there.  The magic date was February 24
.  That was when representatives from three insurance companies would decide if they were going to give all their investigation business to A and V.  This occasion was not going to be limited to just the insurance executives.  Anthony decided since they were throwing a party, they might as well invite their client list.  We were looking at a guest list of almost 200. 

Luke was planning this event with me as a side job.  This meant he still was working long chef hours in addition to meeting with me.  I think we both were getting a little overwhelmed.  Jamie was becoming the annoying cheerleader always professing his complete faith that we could pull it off.  Sometimes he was just too happy. 

Every day when Vinnie came in, he exchanged pleasantries with me.  It was almost as if he was a different person than when I first started.  I began to look forward to our short conversations when he walked in.  I could tell he was a man of few words.  It was comforting that he was trying so hard.  He must have known how nervous he made me in the beginning.  The first month I worked, I felt my body tense up every time he walked through the door.  I wondered if he noticed how much more at ease I was with him.

One day both he and Anthony came in early together.  I was surprised to see them both. 

“The bosses need to do some planning, Grace” Anthony quickly explained. 

“Have fun!”  I joked.

The office was then quiet.  At one point, I looked at the clock.  11am.    Anthony and Vinnie were still in a closed door meeting.  They had been in Anthony’s office for two hours now.  With the rate their business was growing, I shouldn’t have been surprised.  

They saw me hard at work at a very large pile of new cases that recently came in.   I’m sure they wouldn’t care if I took a quick break to call Eve.  I looked at the calendar and there were no clients scheduled to come in.  I wanted to call Eve desperately.  She was so depressed last night when we web chatted.  Our little group had been so excited when Eve first told us about her new job that would take place on a reservation in South Dakota.   We thought she’d be full of exhilarating stories to entertain us. 

Instead, I was the one with the wild and crazy adventure.  I was having the time of my life and she was miserable.  I felt totally guilty.  I knew she had her break at 11:10 and I was dying to call her to check in.  I grabbed my cell phone and went into the conference room.  I made sure I also took the office cordless phone so I wouldn’t be neglecting my very important duty of answering the phone.

When I walked into the conference room the first thing I noticed was pictures displayed all over the table.  I had heard that Vinnie was actually stumped on a case.  He was trying to find a missing person.  It was a 19 year old boy whose rich family wanted to track him down.  The family knew their son was heavily into drugs and they were worried sick about it.  They were lucky they had the money to pay someone to find him.  It was easy to get lost in New York City. 

I remember when the father met with Anthony and Vinnie last week.  He was dressed in his $1000 suit and looked like he could command the world.  When he walked out of the office, his eyes were bloodshot red.  Anthony told me later how the father broke down in his office.  This rich successful man was now helpless and scared to death about his son.  It was a sad story.  I hated when those types of cases came in the office.

Vinnie had taken pictures of all the places the young man was sighted.  He was trying to see a pattern. 

I sat down at the end of the table making sure I did not disturb the pictures.      

Eve answered on the first ring.  “Gracie baby, what are you doing calling me when you should be hard at work pleasing those mob bosses!”

“I was thinking of you Eve.  Especially after last night.”

“Oh I was just emotional.  Really Grace, you take everything to heart.  I’ll be okay.  I just needed to dump on my best friends.”

Then, in the background, I heard a man’s voice.  It was hard to decipher but he said something like “cell phone in school.  I should arrest you.”

“Eve, who is that?”

“THAT is the annoying police officer that works on the rez.  He is doing a DARE presentation in the library.  I have to go.  He, OBVIOUSLY, won’t leave until I get off the phone.”  Then Eve paused and said to him in quite the nasty tone.  “Don’t you have anything better to do than harass me?”

YIKES.   I could tell that Eve was mad.

“You know what.  I just decided you’re not going to force me off the phone with my girlfriend.  I don’t care if you carry a gun.  Go away.  I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I heard his laughter as he walked away.

“My God, Eve.  What was that all about?”

“That guy is trying to get under my skin.”

“Well is he?”

“No, I hate him.  I don’t care how gorgeous or buff he is.”

“Uh huh”

“Don’t UH HUH me Grace.  I truly hate him.  He and his chauvinistic asshole friends are totally rude.  Whose side are you on?”

“Always yours.   You know that.”

“Grace, I have to go.  I can see him standing in the hall waiting for me.  I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.  I love you.  Bye.”

Hmmm?  A gorgeous American Indian police officer.  I had a feeling Eve was going to have a story to share soon.

I was chuckling to myself as I opened the conference door. Then right in front of me was a scene from a porn movie.

Carmella.  Damn!  How did I not hear her come in?

The conference room was directly across from Anthony’s office.  I was trapped.  To add to my shock, they were doing it in one of Anthony’s chairs that faced his desk.  Ewww.  I sat in one of those chairs. 

Anthony and Carmella were basically right in front of me.  All they had to do was turn their heads slightly to the right and they would’ve seen me gawking.  I quickly stepped behind the half open door.  I knew I couldn’t close it because it squeaked loudly.  I’m shocked they didn’t hear it when I first opened the door.  I stood behind the door noticing that I still could see them.  There actually was a space at the back of the door that offered a conspicuous view. 

I watched.

I didn’t want to.  I felt like a dirty peeping Tom.  But they were going at it.  I never saw such a position before.  I was mesmerized.

Anthony was sitting in the chair fully clothed except for his pants undone around his ankles.  Carmella was straddling him but she was facing away from him.  She was twirling her ass in a circular motion slowly.  You could tell they were fucking yet it was an unhurried pace.  Carmella’s skirt was hiked up but her blouse was open.  Either she wasn’t wearing a bra or she had one that unhooked in front because her breasts were in full view.  I know it was a little ridiculous but I couldn’t help but gloat at how small chested she was.  Anthony then put both his hands on her breasts and started squeezing them.  Whether it was the sensation of slow fucking in what looked like a tight position or Anthony’s tugging on her breasts, but Carmella was moaning like she was in heaven. 

Holy Shit!  It looked totally hot!

Then, as if Carmella couldn’t take it anymore, she moved one of Anthony’s hands between her legs.  He jerked his hand away and put it back on her breast.

Carmella whimpered “Anthony, please make me come.”

Anthony angrily replied “You will come when I say you can.”  Then, he grabbed her hips and forcefully moved her up and down.   He was moving her on top of him in a manner that looked fierce and vicious.  The strain caused sweat to run down his face as his grunts became more labored.  Carmella’s murmurs were fast becoming high pitched.  I knew it wouldn’t be long before she screamed.  She always screamed.  Now I know why.