Chapter 31 Elijah
ELIJAH
If being arrested wasn’t humiliating enough, losing an entire day to being questioned for whatever lies Imogen spouted was the sour cherry on top.
Time and time again, I had to confirm who I was, repeat that I never laid a hand on her, and demand that they get the CCTV from the lobby to prove my innocence.
Being denied my one phone call for hours kept me on edge as I faced down a cop who barely hid his excitement at getting to question someone like me.
Time and time again, he made snarky comments about how the Elite could get away with anything with enough money.
I’d have agreed with him if I weren’t so incredibly pissed off.
By the time I was allowed my phone call, I only needed to tell Buster where I was before he was on the phone with the commissioner, threatening to rain down hell from NYC.
Suddenly, the CCTV from the hotel lobby magically turned up and an hour later, I was turfed out into the parking lot with my personal items in a bag and a warning not to show my face here again.
I should call a cab. But Calliope’s number was the one I immediately scrolled to, and thankfully ,she agreed to pick me up.
Seeing her will be the perfect Band-Aid to this really fucking terrible day.
I perch up on a stone step near the entrance, huddle into my coat, and scroll through the countless emails and missed calls from Buster and more.
Each time the door squeaks open behind me, I brace for Imogen’s shitty voice until Buster texts with the assurance that Imogen was released hours ago and has been blowing up social media about her catatonic love life.
I hate her.
Or maybe I pity her.
The feelings collide with exhaustion in my chest and my head hangs low until ice crunches under the soft roll of tires and a car pulls up in front of me.
Calliope.
Seeing her is like seeing the first rays of sun in the morning and I immediately smile when we lock eyes. “Calliope.”
She rolls down the window and scans me from head to toe. “You look like shit. What happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time.”
I climb into the car and settle back in the seat with a pleased sigh as the cushioning is the first soft thing I’ve sat on since leaving Calliope’s house yesterday. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yeah, duh. I’ve never picked someone up from jail before.”
“Never?”
Calliope’s attention remains on the road but she rolls her eyes. “Do I look like someone who spends a lot of time here? Being near the cops makes me so nervous. I always feel like I’m doing something wrong and don't know it and they’ll immediately target me.”
“I get that.”
“Do you?” There’s a slight edge to her voice that immediately makes me uncomfortable, but I quickly put it down to how tired I am.
“Maybe not. I have good lawyers.”
“Exactly. Is that why you’re free?”
I frown. “You think I did something?”
“I dunno.” She glances at me and our eyes meet. “Did you?”
Okay, it’s not just me. Something is definitely wrong. I’ve never known Calliope to be this prickly before. “No. I didn’t.”
“Then tell me.”
“My ex turned up. Imogen. She was waiting for me in my hotel lobby. She… honestly, I’m not sure what she’s thinking, but she’s trying to muscle in on a business deal and claiming I owe her because she used the company once when we were together.
It’s a whole messy thing. Anyway, she was getting pissed at me for telling her no, and to leave me alone, and she flew into one of her rages.
The next thing I know, she’s shoving me and hitting me.
I trip over a table, hit a vase, grab her for balance and we both go down.
Then I’m in cuffs because she’s screaming I attacked her, and hotel security want me out of the public eye as quickly as they can. ”
“Damn.” Calliope lets out a soft, low whistle as she drives. “And they arrested you for that?”
“Originally for the disturbance, yeah. Then they started throwing a whole bunch of other shit at me because Imogen was telling them I attacked her, that I was stalking her, that I’d threatened her.”
“Jesus.” Her eyes widen and she glances at me again. “And you dated this woman?”
“I want to say she wasn’t always like this but…
she was. She loves a good performance. I think that’s why my mom liked her so much.
Imogen knew exactly how to play her and mom was happy, so I didn’t fight it.
She didn’t have enough life left to be dealing with me and some crazy woman, so I just let it be.
But everything is a performance with her.
She loves the attention, and she comes from a family that happily gives in to her. ”
I lift my hands and rub at my cheeks, chasing away the tired ache that draws them down. The thought of sinking into a hot bath and then bed is absolutely heaven, but I know I won’t settle knowing that Imogen knows where I am.
“She sounds… intense.”
“She is. She spewed a few lies and they kept questioning me over and over, denying me my phone call.”
“Can they do that?” Calliope’s hands tighten on the wheel. “I thought that was a right.”
“It is. They were just being dicks. I eventually got through to Buster and he cleared it up in seconds. CCTV proves my innocence. They then just delayed my processing due to short staffing.” I snort and shake my head. “Bunch of bullshit, but whatever.”
For a brief moment, I close my eyes and soak in the gentle sway of the car as Calliope weaves through the streets and follows the GPS back to my hotel.
That coupled with the familiar, calming scent of her is enough to bring a bloom of peacefulness to my chest even as Calliope’s prickliness keeps me alert.
“You had a rough day,” Calliope murmurs.
“It’s fine. It’s over now. Tell me about your day.” Cracking open one eye, I roll my head to the side and watch her.
“You don’t want me to do that.” Her grip tightens on the steering wheel and I open my other eye.
“Why not?”
“Because your day will get worse.”
A sudden coldness beads in my gut and I sit up a little straighter. “Calliope?”
“Mmhmm?”
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” She glances at me and this time, there isn’t a single drop of warmth in her eyes.
“What’s wrong… well, let me see. I spent all day twisted up because you spent the weekend with me, fucked me, and then didn’t even call or text.
Now I know you were in jail, and as excuses go, that’s a damn good one. ”
Her voice is so tight, it’s like she’s winding up to snap at me, and my heart skips up into my throat. A few missed calls and texts aren’t all that she’s pissed about. I can tell by the death grip she has on the wheel.
“What else?” I ask cautiously.
“After getting berated by my boss once again for mistakes that are his fault, not that he ever takes any damn responsibility, I was then dragged into an office and questioned for over an hour by an Amber Limited lawyer. Can you guess why? Your lawyers. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you? ”
She continues before I can answer.
“But you do! Because you’re the one who gave them my name as a suspect for some kind of fraud investigation within the company.
Me! Is that why you were spending time with me?
I was just a target for whatever shit you’ve found out?
I can’t believe this. I invited you into my home, I let you meet my son and spend time with us, I had you in my bed and the whole time, the whole time you were suspecting me of stealing!
What did I do that made you think that, huh?
Is that why you think I’d know about picking people up from jail? Is it?”
Despite the question as she screeches to a stop outside the hotel, I get the impression that she isn’t looking for an answer.
But this is terrible. This is so, so terrible. It had slipped my mind that my lawyers were going to start questioning people now that I’d signed on the deal to see who was a liability and who wasn’t.
Shit.
“Calliope—”
“Don’t!” She snatches her arm away when I reach for her. “I’m beyond pissed at you right now. I can’t even look at you!”
“It’s really not what you think.”
“Really? Because it feels pretty damn targeted. What kind of twisted man are you, huh? Is that why you spent all that time telling me Imogen is crazy? You trying to discredit her, too?”
For a moment, I can’t speak. I’m caught between anger and shock at the heat pouring from Calliope, and everything about this situation tells me to leave. I should leave, let her cool down, and then come back. But I can’t move.
I can’t let another misunderstanding get between us again. Not after all these years.
“Calliope, listen to me. I swear it’s not what you think. Please, come up to my room and we can talk properly. I’ll tell you everything, I swear. If there’s any part of you that still trusts me, even just a little, please come up with me.”