Cultivated box set, p.37
Cultivated Box Set, page 37
part #1 of Cultivated Series
He crossed his arms and pushed back against the leather bench. “And now you wonder why I didn’t graduate from college.”
“Yes.”
“You’re a smart woman, Jolene. You can figure it out.” His words were challenging and confrontational.
“You didn’t need a degree to work at the family company. You couldn’t be bothered.”
He snorted. "That’s what you think? What if I told you that I was protecting myself? If I had a degree in law or mathematics, it would be fine. But my focus has been on the study of mind control, deceit, and manipulation throughout history. I'm aware of how that could be misunderstood and turned against me. I'm the son of a crazy man, and therefore everything I do will be judged accordingly. I'm not interested in drawing attention to myself with headlines saying that I'm fascinated by my father's crimes. I'm not! I'm disgusted by it, and my mind won't stop obsessing about why no one stood up to him. Why my mother allowed him to treat her the way he did, and why she didn't try and protect me when he pulled out the guns. But most of all, I'm trying to understand why I didn't stand up to him or say something when it all went down.”
"But weren't you drugged? The article said that members of the cult were drugged before they committed suicide."
“That's true, but we weren't in a coma, just confused and hyped up. I should still have reacted. I should have stopped my father.”
“You were a child.”
“No. I was sixteen.”
“Sixteen and drugged. It wasn’t your fault, and blaming yourself will only drive you crazy.” I tilted my head and leaned across the table to touch his wrist.
When he didn’t respond or move, I added. “I’m happy you told me, Atlas. What happened back then shouldn’t be something you carry around with you as a heavy burden on your soul.”
Atlas pulled free of my touch and rubbed his face. “I’m tired. Can we go now?”
“Yes, of course.” I nodded and emptied my orange juice in one slurp. “Give me a second to use the restroom and pay the bill.”
“You don’t have to pay.”
I pushed out from the booth and stood up. “I insist on it, so don’t try to slip the waitress your credit card while I’m in the ladies’ room. I’ll be upset if you do.”
He raised both palms. “I wouldn’t want to upset a woman at 3 a.m.”
“Good. I knew you were a smart cookie.”
While in the bathroom, I took time to check my phone, and what I saw sent chills running down my spine.
Hi, my name is Velna Zakis. You know my son Benjamin. I feel that I need to warn you. Ever since you opened that abuse case against my husband, all he talks about is getting back at you. He found your new address and tonight he left the house and wouldn’t say where he was going. I fear that he’s coming for you.
I tried to play it cool when I returned, but after I paid the bill and we were back in the car, Atlas asked,
“What’s wrong? You seem tense all of a sudden. Is it because of what I told you? You know, about the cult.”
“No.” I didn’t want to burden Atlas with my problems, but being a firm believer in honesty, I sighed and admitted, “It’s not that.” I pulled up my phone. “It’s this text message that I got.”
He read it. “Jesus Christ, Jolene. You have to tell the police about this. If this woman is right, her husband is on his way to Chicago to hurt you, and she thinks he has your address.”
“Yes.” I let my head fall into my hands because I didn’t want him to see the tears forming. “I thought coming here would finally give me peace. I’ve been so careful, so I don’t understand how he would have found me. How does she even have my new phone number?”
“At least she’s using it to warn you.” Atlas had sobered up too. “You’re not going home until we know where that nutter is at.”
“But all my things are there.”
“Screw your things. I’m not letting you near that place if you’re in danger.” He rubbed his forehead. “Tell you what. You’re sleeping at my place tonight, and then we’ll come up with a plan tomorrow when you can talk to the police and get more information.
“I don’t want to be any trouble.”
His eyes grew dark, and he spoke in a stern tone. “I once saw a psychopath kill people. There is no way that I’m taking this threat against you lightly. You’re staying at my place until we know what’s going on. In fact…” Looking thoughtful, he continued, “You could go to Europe. That will give the police time to find the guy.”
“Europe?”
“Yes, you wanted to interview my siblings, and they’re in Europe.”
“But…” I raised my brow, not sure what to say.
“Do you have a passport?”
“Yes. Friends of mine got married in Cabo last year.”
“It’s perfect when you think about it. You want to interview my siblings, and with our little sister’s birthday coming up in a few days, we’ll be in one place, celebrating her next weekend.”
“How old is your little sister?”
“Five, turning six.”
My face softened a little. I couldn’t help it. I was such a sucker for kids.
“Tomorrow, you report the text message to the police, and while they investigate, you’re coming with me to Dublin.”
“Dublin.” I suddenly felt very sober. “I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Reaching over, I squeezed his hand with a brittle, “Thank you.”
To my surprise, Atlas pulled me in and placed his arm around my shoulder.
It was so lovely to sink into his broad chest and feel his body heat. In that moment, he wasn’t my boss, but the only friend I had in Chicago.
“I won’t let him hurt you.” His quiet promise sounded muffled against my hair, and when he placed a soft and unexpected kiss on top of my head, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
“Don’t cry.” He stroked my shoulder up and down, making soothing sounds.
I was a strong and independent woman, but I still wanted to crawl up on his lap and hide in his strong arms. Atlas’ decisive way of taking charge of the situation and telling me not to worry was like a cold cloth to a fever-burning forehead, soothing and calming, just like his intoxicating masculine scent.
If only Atlas weren’t my boss holding me in his arms out of pity. The first time I met him, I’d found him attractive, and now I could feel myself falling for him.
Don’t! My mind warned me. The last thing you need on top of a psychopath chasing you is to suffer in silence from unrequited love. Don’t confuse his kindness with sexual attraction. You would be fooling yourself.
“You’re going to be all right,” Atlas whispered and pushed a tissue into my hand. “Here.”
I sat up, dried my eyes, and blew my nose.
“You all right?”
“Yes. I’m sorry that I smeared face paint all over your jacket.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll wash off.”
“Maybe if you rub an alcohol-based cleaner on it and rinse it with cold water.” I stopped talking and looked at him. “Wait, what am I saying? You probably have a team of little elves to do your laundry, don’t you?”
“Not a whole team. Just one called Fiona, but she does work some magic now and then.”
We smiled at each other and sank back in our seats as the car took us to an upscale part of Chicago where people on my salary could never afford to live.
CHAPTER 9
Warning
Atlas
My mouth felt dry, as if I’d swallowed a handful of sand before going to bed. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I stretched my body and let yesterday come back to me. The Super Bowl, eating waffles with Jolene, the text-message that warned her she was in danger, and her crying in my arms.
I couldn’t stand that someone was trying to hurt Jolene. Just thinking about her reaction in the car, when she’d been scared and pressed her face to my chest, made me hate the loser who caused her to cry.
Last night when we’d arrived back here, I had been tempted to invite her into my bed so that I could wrap my arms around her all night and keep her safe. I’d given her a fresh toothbrush, one of my t-shirts to sleep in, and showed her to the guest bedroom with the comment that my door was open if she needed a hug.
She hadn’t come.
After a quick shower, I walked out to my kitchen to find Jolene sitting wearing my t-shirt.
“Good morning.”
She looked up. “Morning. I wanted to make you coffee, but that machine looks intimidating.” She nodded at the chrome barista machine in the corner.
“It’s fine. Do you want coffee?”
“No, thank you. I’m more of a tea person, which is funny when you think about it because most Americans love coffee, and most British people love tea, but we’re the opposite.” She pulled her hair behind her ears and gave a nervous laugh.
“Hmm… I’m afraid I don’t have any tea. Did you sleep all right?”
“Yes. Your guest bed is very comfortable. It’s pretty fancy how your guests have a whole suite. Do you have many guests?”
“When I bought this place, I figured that I wanted extra room for when my family is visiting from Europe.”
“And do they? Visit, I mean.”
“Not as often as I’d like. Charles flies over more than the others, but that’s because of work, and he has a nice apartment here in Chicago.” I shrugged. “I think he enjoys the alone time. He has a condition and can be a little socially overwhelmed at times.”
“What kind of condition?”
“Asperger’s and Tourette’s. He has these tics, and sometimes his timing is a bit off in social settings. He tends to take things literally and has trouble reading other people.”
“I see.”
After firing up the coffee machine, I found my favorite blend and turned back to Jolene. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of him. Despite his quirkiness, Charles is one of the coolest people I know. Not just because he and Liv adopted my siblings and me, but because of the way he conducts himself. You should see him in a board-room. He’s so quiet and sits there while the others discuss back and forth. And then when he has heard enough, he gives the most well-thought-out and concise summation of the problem and his solution to it. I was lucky enough to be present a few times, and I get goosebumps from his humble attitude in a roomful of sharks. It’s so different than most in his position.”
“That’s nice.” Jolene’s hands played with the glass of water in front of her. “Atlas, thank you for letting me stay here last night. About that thing, we spoke about last night, ehh, you know, the trip to Dublin…”
I watched her waiting for her to finish her sentence.
“Did you mean it?”
Yesterday at the Super Bowl, Jolene had been confident and making new friends left and right. Now, she sat in my kitchen with her hair a little messy, a smirch of orange paint by her hairline, and her shoulders turning forward, making her look small and fragile.
“I mean, we were both a little drunk last night, and bringing me to meet your family is a lot.” Her eyes widened, and she hurried to clear that up. “Not that it’s comparable to introducing someone you’re dating, but still, they might think that something is going on between us. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position like that.”
My coffee machine brewed tasty coffee, but it was loud as hell and forced Jolene to stop talking for a moment. I took in the aroma that spread around me, and it soothed my senses.
“Why do you keep saying it that way?” I asked.
“Say what?”
“When you wanted me to agree to go with you to the Super Bowl, you told me that you’d turn away if anyone pointed a camera at me so that no one would get the idea that we might be together. And now you’re worried that I wouldn’t want to introduce you to my family. Why?”
Jolene’s eyebrows drew together, and she pulled a leg up on the chair and hooked her arm around it. “You misunderstand. It’s not that I think you wouldn’t introduce me to your family. After all, how would I interview your siblings if you didn’t? What I was trying to say is that I’m aware that it would be uncomfortable to you if people assumed that we’re together.”
“Because I’m your boss?” I had a hard time keeping my eyes on her face. With the way she had pulled her right foot up upon the chair and sat with her arm wrapped around her knee, a lot of soft and inviting skin was visible to me. Her entire back thigh looked smooth and delicious, and I could see no visible panty line. For a second, I indulged in the fantasy that she might be naked under my t-shirt.
“Yes, because you’re my boss and because I’m not in the same category as the women you’ve dated before.”
“Interesting. And what category would that be?”
She gave a small laugh. “From the pictures I’ve seen, I’d say you’re attracted to genetically modified superhumans.”
I laughed over the rim of my coffee cup, and it made her relax a little.
“Anyway, I called and left a message for my contact at the police station back home before I went to bed.”
“Good.”
“It’s nine here, and they’re two hours behind, so I figure he’ll call me back within an hour or two.”
I nodded to signal that I’d heard her and opened my fridge to find something to eat. “Eh, do you want to go out for breakfast?”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m gonna grab something on my way to work.”
Closing the fridge, I spun to face her. “You’re not going to work today.” My tone was a bit harder than intended.
“Of course, I am. Atlas, I can’t stop my life because of this man.”
My throat and chest tightened. “He can stop your life in a second, Jolene. You can’t take this lightly.”
“I’m not, but a life lived in fear is no life at all.”
“You can tell yourself that, but fear serves a purpose, and that purpose is to stay alive. Right now, you’re in danger.”
“But…” She looked down and frowned when she noticed how much skin she had shown without thinking about it. Her foot came down to the floor in a quick movement, and her face flew back up as to see if I had noticed.
I pretended that I hadn’t by continuing my argument, “You can work from here. Make a list of what you need from your apartment and the office. I’ll bring it to you.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Are you this nice to all your employees?”
I raised an eyebrow with a silent expression saying, What do you think?
“Well, for what it’s worth, you’re the nicest boss I’ve ever had.” She stood up from the chair, and my large t-shirt covered halfway down her thighs. A disturbing image of pulling it off her, turning her around, and pushing her down over the table to fuck her, made me take a step back with a frown.
“Sorry, you must think I’m a brown-nose, but I’m just very grateful to you for yesterday, and for giving me a place to hide for a while.”
“It’s fine. Make the list of what you need from your house. There’s paper in the drawer under the coffee machine.”
Walking into my bathroom, I closed the door and exhaled with a loud “whoosh” sound before looking into the mirror.
Get yourself under fucking control.
What the hell is it about Jolene that brings out this monstrous side in you?
Another round of images of my dominating her and pushing her down on her knees in front of me made me stagger to the sink and splash water on my face.
I’m nothing like him. I treat women with kindness and dignity.
In a rough movement, I pulled a hand towel from its holder and rubbed my face as if I could peel away the layers of hereditary ugliness inside me.
It’s okay. As long as she can’t read your thoughts, she won’t know about the wolf.
Usually, I could suppress the dark part that lived inside me. The wolf was like a separate entity driven by basic sexual needs and a predatory lust to control and inflict pain on women.
I pressed the towel harder against my eyes, but the images of all the things he wanted me to do to Jolene wouldn’t disappear. He wanted me to see if she had panties on. To let my hands slide up her thighs and feel for myself. To dry away the smudge of orange face paint from her face and suck on her lips a little. But most of all, he wanted her to surrender to me and let me fuck her every way I pleased.
Disturbed by my dark psyche, I stayed on my bed, working on my tablet until I heard a knock on my door.
“Yes?”
The door opened, and Jolene stood in her clothes from yesterday with a piece of paper in her hand.
“I wrote a list.” When she stepped inside my bedroom and stopped by my bed, I closed down my tablet and kept my distance by moving to the other side.
She shouldn’t be in my bedroom when I was still struggling to suppress the urges of the wolf inside me.
“Ehm, great. Let me see it.”
We stood on opposite sides of the bed when I reached my hand out to take the list.
“I thought that maybe I could go out grocery shopping while you pick up my things. I’m not a great cook by any means, but I make a great chicken pot-pie.”
“That sounds wonderful, but I might have to work late tonight.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Then there will be pie left-overs when you get back.” She scratched her underarm a little. “Unless…”
“Yes?”
“I’m sensing that you’re uncomfortable and want distance from me. Maybe you thought about it and changed your mind?” The way she ended her sentence by raising her tone made it sound like it was a question. If Lumi had been here, she would have pointed out that technically, it wasn’t, but I was too busy for that with my mind racing. Even with Jolene standing in her clothes from yesterday with her mascara a little smeared, I wanted her.
It made no sense, and I couldn’t act on it, or tell her. Maybe it was better if I took her to a hotel or Charles’ place. His apartment had doormen, and she would be safe there. I’m sure if I explained the situation, he would be happy to let her stay in his apartment.
