Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
LUKE
I wanted to hug Dei and tell her that everything was going to be okay. I wanted to kiss her, but I knew that this was not a good time. That fucker at the party put a wedge between Dei and me. I hate him for it.
Desire for her floods my body, but the memory of that guy over her, hurting her, blocks it.
Even with the things that Mandy shared, I can’t believe that Dei would want me after almost being raped.
I almost cracked, telling Mandy what happened, but I had to respect Dei’s wishes.
I know that Mandy would be able to help Dei move past it, but it’s not my secret to tell.
I just hope that Dei comes clean with Mandy so she can heal.
Once I’m on the plane, I ask the stewardess for a rum and Coke to soothe my nerves. You’d think the beer I had at the restaurant by the gate would have helped.
Dei suddenly texts, letting me know that the company car is en route to the apartment. At first, I think that she and Tony moved pretty fast in LA traffic, but then I remembered that my flight was delayed by forty-five minutes.
Thanks
You’re welcome
I’ll be back soon to make sure there aren’t any marks
What happens if there’s a scratch?
You’re in big trouble.
Promise?
Fuck! Is she flirting with me?
Yes
I better go back and make sure that scratch is extra long then.
It’s plenty long.
Shit! I just went there. I’m fucking stupid. I shouldn’t have made any kind of sexual reference.
Are you drunk?
No…okay…maybe a little.
Have trouble flying?
No
My palms become sweaty when she doesn’t write back. What am I supposed to say?
Thanks for not saying anything to Mandy or Tony.
You're safe with me.
Don’t you mean my secret is safe with you?
That too
She doesn’t reply which drives me crazy. I’m going more insane not knowing what to write before I have to shut off my phone. I’ve been warned twice now that we’re about to leave. I send one final message saying See you soon, Tyson before switching my phone to plane mode.
When will I see her again? As of right now, there aren’t any other business meetings or clients to schmooze. I know I’ll be back down for another meeting with Mr. Anderson, but that could take weeks. Fuck! I need to see Dei. My desire for her aside, I need to know she’s alright.
I take out the book I secretly took from her bookshelf in her room while I got dressed this morning.
Once the plane hits altitude, I crack it open, hoping to distract myself from thinking about everything.
The book is a little interesting as I get to the end of chapter one.
I keep reading, needing to pass the time on the flight.
Holy fuck! The book just went somewhere I did not expect it to at all by chapter four.
Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or did I read what is written correctly?
It can’t be. Dei reads dirty books? Holy shit!
Unable to look away, my eyes re-read the beginning of the sex scene again to make sure I’m not delusional:
“Liam’s hand gradually inches up my thigh under the table until the tips of his fingers brush against the edges of my panties where my swollen clit aches to be touched.
I do my best to pretend to pay attention to the people who are talking around the table as he starts to rub circles around my nub.
Wetness seeps past my lips and Liam gives me a pleased grin when he feels it.
I’m not sure how much longer I can control myself.
My nipples tighten against my bra as goosebumps gather along my body.
If he doesn’t stop, I’m going to come in front of his ? —”
I snap the book shut because I’m enjoying it more than I should.
Scanning the plane, I notice that there aren't many other first-class passengers. I shift in my seat to become more comfortable while also trying to relieve my raging hard-on. Now I know what Dei meant when she told Mike to read some of the books on Claire’s bookshelf.
Do all women read these books? How do men not know about this secret stash of porn?
They’re fucking smart to hide it in a book.
I feel as if I’m going to fucking come in my pants. Out of desperation, I grab the notes from my recent meeting and begin reading. My dick settles, but I’ve developed a massive case of blue balls.
Once home, I take a cold shower that includes me jerking off twice. I pace my bedroom as I debate whether or not to call or text Dei. I’m half tempted to use her app, but I think that might be a bit forward with everything that’s happened.
Made it home.
Deidre responds quickly.
Good to know you’re safe.
Are you?
Am I what?
Home and safe?
Dei: Yes
Mandy still giving you a hard time?
No. She’s avoiding me now.
Why?
Gave her a good ass whooping.
I hope you went easy on her, Tyson.
Are you my friend or hers?
I’m back in the fucking friend zone thanks to that asshole from the party.
Yours
Good. Looks like she’s the only one getting an ass whooping then.
If I say no, will I get an ass whooping?
Are you hoping for one?
Maybe
I can’t be forward with her. I’ve got to stop and ease up on the jokes. I can’t scare her off. I’ve got to do whatever it takes to keep her close.
Glad to know you’re in good spirits.
I usually am.
Good
How’s the hand?
Good. I had an excellent nurse. It’s practically healed.
Good
How about you?
Don’t feel them now.
Now?
Wine makes it all go away.
I hope she’s not trying to drink the pain away.
Where are you drinking?
Home
Good. You alone?
Why…want me to do something?
How much have you had to drink?
Enough
Dei
Don’t be such a tight ass.
Should I flirt with her or not?
You would know if it’s tight from how many times you checked it out.
I can’t keep it away from something sexual. What the fuck is wrong with me?
It is nice.
Fuck! She’s definitely drunk, but at least she’s being really friendly.
Isn’t it a little early to drink?
It’s happy hour somewhere and I’m very happy.
Do you have a drinking buddy?
Mandy
Good
We’re planning on some girl on girl action
Now I know you’re drunk.
You should have stayed.
Does she honestly wish I had canceled my flight?
I’ll be back soon.
Promise?
Yes
When neither of us texts back after a few minutes, I toss my phone onto my bed and pace the room.
I’m so fucking jacked. It’s as if I hadn’t just masturbated in the shower.
I need to figure out how to see her sooner rather than later.
I don’t care if we don’t hook up. It would be nice, but I just need to see her, be near her, touch her, and smell her as much as possible.
Okay, that’s partially a lie. I want to hook up, but I know that will take a little while. I’m fine with that.
Deciding to stay home for the night, I order pizza to be delivered and turn on the television to watch a movie.
Once the food arrives, I devour three-quarters of it and two beers.
I keep checking my phone, hoping that Deidre may call or text, but there’s nothing.
Either she’s too drunk to text, too drunk to think about me to text, or who knows what.
I go to bed early, feeling jet lagged and tired from the past few days, but I can’t sleep. I remember the book, so I take it out and start reading it. After reading two more sex scenes, I masturbate and then turn off the lights.
By ten in the morning, I’m sitting with my father and a few of his associates in the board room.
Though I started working for him when I was in high school, it’s still a little unnerving being in a business meeting with him.
Dad knows how to command a room and his employees, all while maintaining a pleasant disposition even when things get stressful.
I still have a lot to learn from him, which is why I’m not so quick to be in charge of my own department or to take over the company as a whole.
“Congratulations, my boy,” Dad praises once everyone is seated and waiting for him to start.
I smile and nod, nervous about boasting about my recent success.
“I had my doubts that we would get that deal,” Dad states. “But it wasn’t because I didn’t believe in you. I would have doubted even myself had I gone down to meet with the Andersons.”
“Thanks,” I accept sheepishly.
Dad’s got a natural knack with people in any situation. That makes it a little hard for me to believe that he wouldn’t have landed any of the deals in Los Angeles, or anywhere, for that matter.
“Don’t be so modest,” Dad says. “I wasn’t as skilled as you are at your age, Son. Am I right, Charles?”
“Neither of us was, David. Luke is a natural.”
“I still have a lot to learn, but thank you,” I reply.
“Everyone always has something to learn,” Dad declares. “That’s the beauty of life and business. Yet everyone needs to know when to stop learning and when to take action, realizing that action is the best teacher…especially when you fail.”
“I hope to not ever fail and disappoint you,” I say.
“The only way you could do that is by giving up after failing…we learn from our mistakes more than from our successes,” Dad replies. “Now…the reason why we’re all here is to talk to you about something very important.”
My brow lifts, not sure where he’s going with his last statement.
“I know you think you’re not ready…but sometimes baptism by fire is the only way to go,” he says. “So, Charles and I are creating a secondary merger and acquisitions department. You’ll be in charge.”
“What?” I gasp.
“Don’t look so shocked,” Charles says with a smile. “You’ve had to know something like this was coming.”
“I don’t want Mr. Casady to be fired.”
“He’s not fired,” Dad assures. “We’re looking to expand our reach and assets. With the profit we’ll be making with the two deals you’ve acquired in LA, we can budget for a secondary division within the department. You’ll be working with Casady, but have your own team.”
I scratch my head. “I….”
“Don’t turn me down, Son,” Dad requests. “I think it’s the perfect next challenge for you and the company.”
“I’m not sure if I can handle that kind of responsibility,” I admit sheepishly.
“As Hemingway put it, Courage is grace under pressure ,” Dad states.
“I know you’ve got courage. You had it to just meet with the Andersons and Baxters all by yourself.
No one learns from sitting in an office.
I don’t expect everything to go smoothly all the time, but if you want to know and learn this business to eventually take over it like I want you to, you need to learn to succeed as well as fail. Sometimes that includes losing money.”
“I don’t like the idea of losing your money,” I say.
“Well…then see it as your money. Either you’ll have more or less when you take over the company and I eventually retire,” Dad suggests with a chuckle.
“Thanks,” I reply apprehensively.
It’s not that I’m not grateful for all of the support and confidence of my father and his associate, Charles.
It’s just that I don’t want to let him down.
He hasn’t always been easy on me, making some of my childhood mistakes challenges for me to overcome.
He never made me feel bad for failing, so long as I got back up and tried.
Dad’s always told me that you don’t have to be right all the time to be successful and make money.
He’d say that I only need to be right once, and from there, everything else just falls into place.
I know there’s truth to his statement when he and Charles talk about their past ventures.
Some were complete failures, while others were successful to a degree.
I wonder if his lessons extend beyond that of business—maybe relationships, too.