10. Trying
ten
Chad
As I twirled her in the middle of the crowded dance floor, I let the flashing-colored lights, dancing laser beams, and overwhelming bass of the music saturate my senses. Leaning forward so that my hands could descend her back, she asked in my ear, “Are you sure you want to do this?” Although she had to shout over the noise, I was the only one to hear her.
“We”ll get back to reality soon enough, because we have to,” I said, sliding my hands to the small of her back and gently pressing. “But for now, how about you escape with me?”
Her eyes lit up before she grabbed my hand and took a step away, pulling me with her. One step became a dozen as we dove into the crowd—the only way out was through. In random turns to the right, left, then another curved left, we bumped shoulders with writhing strangers in a trance while I tried to picture this gorgeous stranger naked.
She wasn’t leading me toward the exit, but to one of the private VIP rooms situated up in the secluded corners. Inside one of them, the glass was one-sided. We could see everything happening around us, but nobody in the club could peek in. The blasting beats shook our surroundings, while the red-haired vixen approached with a seductive look that promised to shake my core.
I sat down in the corner of the L-shaped sofa, leisurely spreading my arms over the backrests and relishing the feeling of the smooth fabric against my skin. Towering over me, she parted her legs and lowered herself onto my knees, facing me and slowly scooting closer. Her hands on my thighs, crawling inward, left a trail of electricity in their wake, sending a wave of delicious anticipation through me.
“I like to take my time,” she said, casting a coquettish and alluring spell.
“I have all the time in the world.” My eyes couldn’t help but move downward to appreciate the deep cleavage she so proudly flaunted under her loose, draping top with the thin straps.
“Like what you see?” She lifted up her finger, tracing a line along her collarbone with her long fingernail.
“What’s not to like?” I paused. Deciding to add to the conversation, I asked, “What would you like me to call you?”
“Sierra,” she said smoothly, her name sounding like molten butter dripping from her glossy lips.
“That’s a pretty name.”
Leaning further down, she let her hands caress the zipper of my pants. “I can’t take credit for it. What I can take credit for is how I’m gonna blow… your fucking… mind.” The last word radiated from her lips and landed on mine, as she was just about to kiss me.
Suddenly, I felt a vibration against my leg and remembered that I had left my phone on ‘vibrate mode’ the entire time. Swiftly placing one finger between our mouths, I smiled and reached into my pocket, pulling out the device. It was the last name I had expected to see: Kaira Bradley. “I’m sorry, this is important.” The childish look of disappointment instantly appearing on my companion’s face somewhat annoyed me. Couldn’t she wait a minute? “Hello?” I answered.
“Uh—Hi, Chadwick? It’s Kaira.”
I chuckled, standing up and walking toward the glass wall, dipping my hand into my pocket. “I know.”
“Right. Um, you’ve been trying to reach me, I was told.”
“I have.”
“What’s it about?”
“Our partnership. What else?”
“Of course. Well, my evening just cleared up, and I was wondering if you’re free to talk.”
“Over the phone?”
“N—No. Of course not. Would you like to meet somewhere?”
“How about your place?”
“Sure. What time should I be expecting you?”
“I can be on the way right now if you’re ready.”
“Perfect.”
Turning around, I saw Sierra’s parted lips; her jaw had dropped as she dipped her head in disbelief of what she was hearing. “Perfect. See you in a bit.”
“Take care.”
Lowering my hand with the phone, I tried to forge an apologetic expression as I approached Sierra. “I’m really sorry. It’s a work thing, and this person’s almost impossible to catch.”
Her face now reflected the epitome of teenage angst, although I was certain she was in her twenties. “You’re Chad fucking Niles,” she said, as if she couldn’t believe me. “Who gives you a hard time?”
I shrugged, walking toward her and bending down slightly, grabbing her hand and holding it up. “Someone better,” I whispered with a smile before kissing the back of her hand. “Do you need a ride home?”
Practically yanking her hand out of mine, she shot up, furious. “Home?” She scoffed, heading for the door. “You’ve got the wrong idea, hon. Ten minutes out there, and another man’s world will wind up in here with me… absolutely rocked.” And she walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Honestly, I couldn’t be bothered. If anything, I was glad that she left as quickly as she did without demanding explanations as to how I could ‘leave all this and go to work,’ or whatever new statement was trending with these women this week.
All I could think about was that Kaira didn’t really have anything to discuss with me regarding the foundation. She wanted to see me, and my curious mind couldn’t wait to find out why.
On the way to Kaira’s house, I kept thinking of all the possible scenarios. She could want more of the same that had happened the other night, or she might have been planning to inform me that a collaboration between us was now impossible. Her entire existence in my world hung upon one of those two possibilities, and the cat had to be let out of the box either way.
When I arrived, Kaira came to open the door for me. She was wearing another dress—clearly her signature style. Another long drape of smooth, flowing fabric. Another pair of wide sleeves. This time, however, she gathered her hair in a simple ponytail with a black hairband. She had no makeup on, and her lips looked naturally plump. “Thank you for coming at such short notice,” she said as I stepped in. “Where would you like to sit?”
“The weather’s nice. How about the pool?” I said with a meaningful look that I made sure she caught.
Her expression didn’t change. If anything, I believed she worked hard to maintain a straight face. “Of course.” She gestured for me to head over to the back exit. “I’ll be right with you.” I watched her walk toward the kitchen. “Wine? Whiskey? Something else?”
“Whiskey’s fine.”
“On the rocks, no twist. Right?”
“You remembered.”
“It wasn’t that long ago.”
Without regarding me with a glance, she busied herself with preparing the drinks. I didn’t want to linger and watch her, so instead, I walked out toward the pool area and pulled a beanbag chair to lounge on. Without thinking, I took off my shoes and socks, letting my feet revel in the coolness of the tile. I was feeling exceptionally relaxed, like I was about to hang out with my oldest and dearest friend.
Soon, Kaira came with a tray that carried our drinks, the bottle, and a couple of snack bowls. For a moment, it felt as though she were far older than me—than her age. Like a friend’s mom taking care of game night for the boys. I didn’t like the thought, so I quickly brushed it off, shooting her a thankful glance as I took my drink.
“So,” she said as she sat on one of the chaise lounges, gracefully pulling up her legs while picking up her glass from off the table between us. “Why were you relentlessly trying to reach me?”
I didn’t see that question being posed so seriously. I had to give her that. For a second, I wondered if she was insane, or suffered some sort of amnesia. On a more conscious level, I knew neither was true. She was playing a game, and I didn’t have the capacity to beat around the bush. “Well, where do I begin? Primarily, I wanted to make sure that you were okay—that we were okay.”
“We?”
“Yes. Chad and Kaira. Looking at the threshold of a new partnership, while going through the aftermath of a beautiful experience together. Excuse me for not wanting to treat you like a one-night stand.”
“And how do you treat those?”
“What does it matter?”
“I’d like to understand more about the man with whom I shared—in your own words— a beautiful experience. If I wasn’t a one-night stand, then what? And if I was, how would you have treated me? Because we’ve already established that you’re on the board at the foundation. There’s no need for you to do me any favors.”
“Favors?”
“Whatever you want to call it, Chad. Please don’t try to flatter me, it doesn’t add anything to the equation. I know my worth, and my perception of myself has nothing to do with what you see, think, or do.”
Scratching the back of my head, I let a boyish smile draw itself up on my lips. “Right, but put yourself in my shoes for a second, will you? One minute, you’re making someone climax and the next? They’re pulling away from you like you’ve just killed their puppy. I don’t do well with mixed messages, Kaira. I’m a pretty straightforward guy.” I paused, pushing myself up a little in the beanbag chair that was growing uncomfortable by the second. “When I came to your foundation, I didn’t claim to be a saint. I was honest about why I was doing it, wasn’t I? That’s just how it is with me.”
“Well, if you claim to be so honest, then tell me this: When you came over the other night, was sleeping with me your intention?”
“It was,” I quickly said, my eyes unwavering.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“And what if I hadn’t responded the way I did?”
“Are you insinuating that I would have… forced you?”
“How much longer would you have tried?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m confused. What did I do wrong?”
“I didn’t say you did something wrong.”
“Then, what’s this?” I gestured with my hand in the air. “What are we doing?”
“I’m trying to analyze what happened.”
“Why? And… isn’t it clear? Two consenting adults felt an attraction, and they enjoyed what it entailed.”
“But that’s the thing.” She raised her eyebrows. “I’m never attracted to men like you.”
Chuckling, I tried to conceal an offense that I felt and couldn’t quite measure or justify. What did she mean by ‘men like me’? Celebrities? Unaffiliated with churches and charities? Womanizers? I was used to being attacked by the public for my lifestyle, but I couldn’t remember an incident where it happened face-to-face. “Men like me,” I repeated.
When she extended her arm toward the tray, I realized that her slender, manicured fingers were reaching for a silver cigarette case that I hadn’t noticed earlier. She opened it and pulled one out—a slim—and lit it up. The manner with which her fingers held the cigarette told of how rarely it happened, and the way her lips met the filter confirmed it. “Chad, I’m trying to be honest with you—”
“Did you block me?” I challenged her. “After our night here?” When she wouldn’t answer, her eyes frozen on mine, I reminded her, “You are trying to be honest.”
“I did. I did block you, because I didn’t know what to expect from you or myself. You have to understand that I’m not in the habit of sleeping with men I don’t know.”
“Noted.”
“And you didn’t hold a gun to my head—I’m aware of that.”
My voice grew lower. “Alright.”
“The other night—as good as it was—opened some—something for me. Something I’m still trying to understand.” Taking a long drag, she paused before adding, “And no, I don’t mean the world of one-night stands.”
And I knew I wouldn’t have dared accuse her of such interests.