The Charade (27 page)

“You mean the yoke?”

“Yes. What ever it’s called, you handled it with ease. Do you know how to fly?”

I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear and then fidgeted with the straw in my empty milkshake glass. “I love planes.” My voice quavered. “But I never really learned how to fly.”

An odd expression colored his face. “I never knew that about you. You’ve never mentioned it. It makes sense now because you have those miniature airplanes on your bookshelf.” He nodded towards my car keys on the table. “That fighter jet key chain, too. You seem enamored with them.”

“There used to be an air show over at the base over there off of High Road. In the summertime my dad used to take us. I’d look up in the sky and see those planes and jets rip through the sky.” I smiled. “The feeling it gave me…nothing made me feel like that before. My dad said my eyes used to light up.”

“Except Tiny Dancer.” I slapped his arm.

“I was hooked. I said one day I’m going to learn to do that. While most girls played with doll houses and easy-bake ovens, I played with toy jets. I mean, I played with baby dolls, but none of them gave me the joy of planes. I’d fall asleep dreaming about them. Holding my red jet in my arms at night. Dreaming of becoming a top female aviator.” I sighed deeply. The look on Victor’s face said he tasted the regret in the air. “My uncle knew how to fly. He flew in the service. He retired to an old farm and spent his days fixing single engine planes. He flew all the time. Once in awhile we’d visit and he’d take me up with him. I never felt freer in life than when I was in the sky. It’s a high that you can’t get from anything else in the world. He’d let me sit on his lap and steer. It was incredible. Being up thousands of feet in the air, away from everything. Just and this metal capsule among the clouds. My uncle always said he’d teach me, but he passed away before he ever got the chance to. And after my Matt left, my mom didn’t visit his side of the family. I kinda buried the dream after that.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Why don’t you take it up again?”

I brushed it off. “Oh, that was just little girl stuff. I’ve moved on.”

His nose crinkled in confusion. “Moved on? I bet you think about it all the time.”

Again, I brushed it off. “Just little girl obsession. Not a big deal.”

“Seriously? The way your face looked when you talked about it, I’ve never seen you look like that before. Natasha, if you’re passionate about something, you should never suppress it. You should really embrace it.”

“I’m an adult. I can’t chase a crazy, ridiculous dreams like that.” I laughed to myself. “Me? A pilot? Flying all over the sky? That’s crazy.” Victor’s face was stern and hard as granite. That crease formed between his eyes again.

“It doesn’t sound crazy to me.”

“Look…life…it just gets in the way sometimes.” He looked confused and then leaned forward.

“You never went to flight school or signed up or lessons or joined the air force?”

I shook my head. A pit formed in my throat. “A pilot wasn’t something realistic for me.”

He stroked the stubble on his chin. “Sounds like you’re afraid.”

My shoulders hunched forward. It was true. I just didn’t like hearing it.

“Nothing is impossible if you apply yourself. Even if it does sound ridiculous to people.

“It’s not that simple.”

He looked at me. He tilted my chin up with his index finger. His touch was soothing. “But it
is
simple. Don’t ever feel like you
 can’t 
do something.” He sighed deeply. I just don’t like when people quit.”

“It’s not that I can’t do it. I just don’t think about it anymore. It’s just stupid to me now.” Even though we were in arcade where the decibels were to the max, the silence between us was thick as molasses.

The server came back over to the table, breaking the tension, sliding the bill between the cups. Victor smiled and nodded thank you.

I shifted my gaze towards the glass boxed-game in the corner. It temporarily took my mind off the fact that lied about flying.

Victor looked at me and saw what I looked at and he turned around and looked too. I always played the game growing up. It was the kind that was filled with prizes and you had to move the lever to guide the prongs to pick up the treasure inside. My eyes were stuck on it. “No one ever gets the prize out of that thing.”

“I bet I can.”

“Yeah, right. I’ve never met anyone actually grab something and pull it out. They usually get right towards the top and it drops. Psft. It’s probably rigged.”

Victor stood up and puffed his chest out. “Watch a master at work.” His smile spread to his ears. His teeth were extra white from the blacklight.

I joined him at the enclosed glass case. It was filled with an assortment of stuffed furry bears, cuddly dragons, and colorful kittens. “Prepare to witness greatness.” I rolled my eyes at him as he slid a dollar bill into the slot. The slot rejected the bill.

I folded my arms and shook my head. “Master at work, huh?”

He smiled and paid me no mind. He took the dollar and rubbed it against the corner of the box. He slid it in again and it took. The lights in the box flashed and the music played. The mechanical claw jolted back and forth. “Which one do you want?” His voice sprayed confidence.

“Oh you’re calling your shot?” He laughed. “I want that one.” I pointed to the blue dinosaur, with a red nose and yellow paws.

“Your wish is my command, my dear.” Victor grabbed the lever and slowly moved it left and right. He maneuvered the black lever with the precision of a surgeon. He inched down to the doll and pressed the red button marked
grab
. The claws contracted and it pinched the dinosaur’s nose.

“I don’t think it’s gonna make it.”

“Just be patient and watch the magic unfold.” The claws slowly dangled the doll back and forth, nearly slipping from the clutches.

To my surprise it made its way up towards the chute. It paused. “It’s not close enough.” The tension mounted. The claws released and the dragon fell on the side of the chute, bounced back and fell to victory. The alarm on top of the game rang and the red siren flashed.

Victor raised his hands up. “You did it!” I said hugging him. He reached down to grab my new velvet friend.

“What shall we name our child?”

“His name will be Oliver.” I said hugging him tightly.

“I told you I could do it.” Pride spilled from his face.

I rocked my new animal back and forth and looked starry-eyed at Victor. “Victor St. James, you’re sooooo dreamy.”

“Indeed I am,” he said snorting.

***

“I don’t know what made you think of taking me to an arcade, but it was a great idea,” he said as I drove back to his place.

“You needed it.”

“
We
needed it.” I looked over at him and smiled. I liked the sound of him saying we. I didn’t care if the circumstances caused him to realize it; just to hear him say the word brought me joy.

He placed his hand on my thigh. I still shuddered from his touch. Just like the first time we met. I concentrated keeping my eyes on the road, diverting my attention to his strong hands would get us in a wreck. And getting into an accident was surely the last thing he…we needed. Because I’m sure the paparazzi were following us.

“I haven’t been to an arcade in ages. I felt…”

“Like a teenager again?”

“Exactly. That’s what life should be about. That’s what success should really be about. I never thought creating software or advertising would make me rich. I just loved to write code and be creative.”

“But somewhere along the line, you forgot what made you start in the first place, right?”

“That’s exactly what happened.”

I took the entrance ramp to the freeway and stepped on the gas.

I tried my best to not think about Gabby.

“These little escapes are good to have,” he said. “I do them every now and then. You go away for a week or two. Somewhere exotic. Somewhere warm. And then back to gray Mondays again. Sometimes two weeks isn’t enough.” His phone rang and he answered it. He sighed hard. He said okay four times and then said goodbye. He threw his phone in his back seat. I heard it bounce off the seat and then fall to the floor mat cracking open.

He was blatantly disgusted. Anger colored his face. Just like that. A fun, enjoyable afternoon ripped away in a flash. “What was that about?” I said.

“Another girl has come forward.” We exited the expressway and stopped at a red light. He massaged both of his temples. “After this is over with, I’m leaving.”

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” I looked over at him searching for answers. The entire ordeal was breaking him.

“I’m going to sell my house. Divest in most of my portfolios. Give a lot of money away to my foundation and charities and then disappear.”

“What?” I was totally confused. “But you love creating things. You love business.”

“But I don’t like what I’ve become. It’s nearly destroyed me. I just need to leave it all behind before it destroys the people closest to me, too. I told you about the island, right?”

“Yes.”

“I was going to go there after Ben died. Just for a few weeks. To clear my head.” He smoothed the front of his jeans. “I need to make it permanent.” My lungs tightened.

Just like that. Just when we were becoming closer, he pulls this. Just like he always did. He leaves. He leaves me behind.

The car behind us banged on his horn. The light was green. I turned right and pulled onto an isolated side street and parked the car behind an armored truck.

“Why did you pull over?”

The cold feeling of regret stifled me.

“You always do this. You always leave me.” My voice rose as the disappointment spilled through me.

“No, no. Natasha.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and put his arms on my shoulders. “I want you with me.”

“What?”

“Yes. I want you to come with me.” His voice soothed me, bringing me down from the ledge of panic. My heart couldn’t take another letdown. His eyes bled with sincerity. “The way you’ve stood by me through all of this…it’s…showed me a lot. I haven’t trusted many people, but I know I can trust you.” My hand shivered. He grabbed it and caressed it. The tension subsided. “Baby. I need you in my life. I want you in my future. Come with me.”

He clenched my hand tighter and pressed his lips against the top of my fingers. The tears flooded my face. “I’ll catch you fresh fish and feed you coconuts and we’ll make love on the beach under the moonlight.”

“What about my friends, my family? Victor this crazy.”

“I know it’s crazy. That’s why we have to do it. You and me. No more distractions. No one sticking their nose in your business. If you miss your family, we can fly them out to visit. They’ll love it down there.” He grabbed my hand tighter. “Let’s
live
Natasha. Let’s live a full life. Look outside. It’s gray and dreary. It’s miserable here.”

I nodded through the tears, I couldn’t fight them any more. I didn’t want to. There was no reason to. “I’ll do it. Yes. I’ll come with you. I’ll come with you.”

His eyes lit up. “Let’s do it. Let’s begin our lives.”

Anybody I knew would have said it was a dumb decision. Maybe they were right. I didn’t care. I wanted to be with him.

We sat silent in the car for minutes, his arms wrapped around me. Nothing but the humming of the engine was heard as he held me tightly.

Chapter 21

I dropped Victor off at his place so he could exercise and burn off the pepperoni pizza we ate and 
I went home to grab my blow dryer, my favorite sweatpants, and a few pairs of shoes to bring back to Victor’s. I didn’t see any men staked out with photographers hiding in the bushes, so I took off my sunglasses. Thank God I didn’t have to deal with any flashbulbs. I’d have to swallow an entire bottle of aspirin to cure the headache all the flashes gave me.

I pulled up in my parking space only to see a car I didn’t expect.

It was Tyson. I rushed out of my car to try to evade him, but it didn’t work.

“Natasha, please,” he said. He looked like he hadn’t eaten in days.

I rushed up the sidewalk past him, looking forward. He walked aside me. “Please talk to me.” I said nothing. He grabbed my arm before my feet hit the first stair step. I looked down at his hand with a threatening grimace and he instantly let go. “I’m sorry. I just need to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say you,” I said. I continued up the stairs.

“It’s about Victor.” I stopped dead in my tracks.

***

“First, I just want to say I’m sorry…” he said as he sat on the couch. I paced back and forth with my coat still on.

“Just say what you have to say,” I said. My voice was cold.

He exhaled deeply. “Okay.” I was getting impatient. I wrung my hands together.

“Just say it.”

“Victor’s being set up.” He fell back on the couch and rubbed his face with his hands.

“How? How do you know this?”

“Michael Holden.” I remembered the name, but I couldn’t remember where I heard it from.

“He’s the founder of Stellar. A silent partner.” He paused for a moment and I recalled meeting him the other night at the jazz club.

“Go on.” I was getting antsy.

“Last year I got a call from him asking me to meet him. He offered me a proposition.”

“What did he say?”

“He said if I could find dirt on Victor, he’d make me CEO of the company.”

“But why? Why is he doing all of this? You said he already owns the company, right?”

“Michael’s very envious of him. He knew Victor could take Stellar to the stratosphere. But his plan was to wait in the shadows, let Victor grow the company and eventually come to the forefront and take it over at the pinnacle. The thing is, Victor wouldn’t go with out a fight. The only way he would leave was if he resigned.”

“He forced out.”

“Right. Victor is a very guarded man. Very mysterious. He doesn’t let people get close to him. He has no family. Very few friends – if you want to call them that. He doesn’t let people…in.”

“I know that very well,” I said under my breath.

“Michael Holden had one job for me. Get. In. I worked my way up the company and to my surprise I didn’t have to. Victor took a liking to me. We were around the same age, liked the same things. He kind of took me under his wing.”

“So you spied on him.”

“I had no choice. He told me what he wanted to do and I didn’t if I didn’t, he’d make sure I’d lose my home and I’d never work at any major corporation again. I knew he meant it.” My jaw dropped and I couldn’t find the words to speak.

“My job was to coerce women, former employees to come forward and say that Victor sexually harassed them, to perform sexual favors and if they didn’t they’d be fired.”

“Coerce them?”

“Give them an ultimatum. If they came forward they received a sum of money. A large sum. It wasn’t difficult. I didn’t have to make any threats. Most of them didn’t need much of an influence besides the money.”

“Why didn’t you fight him on this? You just…took it. He didn’t have a gun to your head.”

“I couldn’t go to the authorities. He threatened my family. He showed me pictures that were taken of my father going to the gym and my mom walking her dogs. I had no way out.”

“Tyson…” My face filled with concern.

“My job was to learn everything about him. Learn what he feared. Learn what was his thumbscrew. His vice. His…downfall.”

“This is crazy.”

“I know it sounds like a movie, but it’s the truth.” He smoothed his hands down his pants. He looked like he was still processing everything. “It took a while, but I found it. Victor doesn’t use drugs, he’s not a partier, he rarely drinks. He’s not a gambler.”

“But he loves…”

“Women.”

“He loves women. That was it. Classic downfall of man.”

“Dear God.”

“He finds a woman and is a bit…he has an aggressive sexual appetite.”

“He’s not like that.”

“He toes the line, but would never cross it. He could never do that to a woman. He loves women too much to ever hurt them.” He shook his head in shame. The hot stench of guilt poured from him. “I feel terrible about this. Victor’s a good guy. All of this, the lawyers know this won’t stick. And in a few months, nobody will even talk about this anymore. This was just a smear campaign, to get him to resign, so he could give up control of the company.”

I thought back to when Tyson and I were together. “So it was all a charade? The argument. The promotion.”

“All fake – at least on my part. Victor’s response was real.”

“What about…me?”

“You know how I feel about you. Me and you go back years before this. You know that.”

“That stuff about meeting with clients and work on the weekends…”

“It was partly true.” I slapped his cheek.

“You turned my cousin against me!”

“I’m sorry. I know all the pain I’ve caused. And it’s killing me.”

“You could’ve come to me. I’m not just some girl that you just met. We were best friends. And even more than that. You could’ve said something to me. You could’ve come to me.”

“These people don’t operate like that.” He peered outside my window. “They probably already know I’m here.”

“We have to do something.”
“Like what?”

“We have to go to the police.”

“No.” He shot back. It startled me how he sounded. “The police is not an option. Listen. I’m going to Europe for a few months. Until this blows over. I can’t be here.”

“Listen. A man’s life and reputation is at stake. You helped start this and you’re going to help finish it.”