As I walked back to the Orion Building, I
found that it wasn
’t
quite so easy. By the time I reached the lobby, I had a splitting
headache. Not wanting to disturb Lucas and Carter if they were
still ensconced in Lucas’ office, I took the public elevator and
emerged in the reception lobby of Lucas’ company. Daniel was just
coming out of his office and I asked him whether Lucas and Carter
had finished. Daniel told me they’d both left the office together
some time ago.
Relieved, I let myself into
Lucas
’ office and, using
his spare elevator key, ascended to his apartment. I walked down to
Lucas’ bedroom, dropped my purse on the bed and removed my heels.
My headache was getting to the point that I could barely
concentrate so I found my Tylenol in my purse and wandered down to
the kitchen to get a glass of water.
I usually smiled when I passed the door to
our playroom, but no memories were forthcoming as I passed—probably
because of my dreadful headache. As I continued further down the
hallway, I suddenly felt that something was wrong. I froze
instinctively. All I could hear at first was the thumping in my
head but then I became aware of muted voices, as if someone had
left a TV or radio on quietly in the background.
I was torn
—unsure whether I should retreat or investigate.
My curiosity won and I crept forward, grateful that I’d removed my
heels so I made no noise. I soon realized that the voices were
coming from the door that was two doors down from the playroom. The
door that had been locked when I’d inquisitively explored my
surroundings. I tiptoed as close as I dared to the door and
listened hard. At first the beating of my heart was so loud that I
couldn’t make out anything except that it was men’s voices that I
could hear. Gradually, my heartbeat quietened and I was relieved to
note that one voice belonged to Lucas. The other may well have been
Carter, but I couldn’t be sure.
I leaned right in and placed my ear
against the door. I didn’t have time to hear anything because the
voices grew louder and I knew they were heading towards the door. I
raced down the hallway and ducked into the dining room. I stopped
just inside and peered down the hallway. I saw Lucas step out,
followed by Carter. Lucas immediately locked the door and again, I
wondered what was inside that warranted the door being locked at
all times. No other door in the apartment was locked.
I was relieved when they walked down the
hallway, away from me. Suddenly, a cellphone rang. Carter answered
immediately and I could tell from his curt tone and barked orders
that it was important. He ended the call and turned to Lucas. His
words made my stomach flip over. “I need to head to my office. Are
you going over to Odyssey this evening?”
Lucas nodded and then replied, “Yeah. Ava
called, I have to see her.”
I barely registered them continuing
to walk away from me. I felt as
though all of my breath had left my body and I couldn’t inhale. I
tried to force my legs to move, to walk into the kitchen, but they
wouldn’t. The only part of my body that was functioning was my
brain.
Lucas
is going to Odyssey tonight. He’s seeing Ava.
Then
Scott’s words swam around my head:
He frequents Odyssey, the same club I
took you to, and he’s . . . let’s just say he’s very close to the
manageress . . . and I do mean very close.
I felt lightheaded, my legs buckled, and I
slid down the wall onto the floor. Images of the beautiful woman
I’d seen at Odyssey filled my mind. I wondered whether she was Ava,
but even as I did so, I knew she would be. I put my head between my
knees and forced myself to suck in deep breaths.
Once my breathing was even and the
dizziness had passed, I stood up on shaky legs and made my way back
to the living room. I don’t know how long I sat there but, as time
passed, I realized I needed to know exactly why Lucas needed to go
to Odyssey—and what he did when he was there. With shaking hands, I
took my cell from my purse and managed to call Scott’s number. It
rang and rang until I hung up in frustration. Just as I was about
to toss it on to the couch, it rang. I answered without checking
who it was, or registering whose ringtone it was. I just assumed it
was Scott calling me back.
“
Scott, what’s the name of the manageress
at Odyssey?” I demanded, my words coming out in a rush.
“
Issy, what are you talking about?
It
’s Angel, not Scott,”
she exclaimed before continuing in a concerned tone. “Is everything
okay?”
I groaned in frustration.
“Angel, can I call you back? I
really need to get hold of Scott.”
“
Of course. But I
’ve just seen Scott, looking like crap. He was in
a foul mood.”
“
I know. Where was he? I need to get hold
of him like now!” I cried.
“
He was here, at his apartment, but he went
out, muttering something about wishing he’d kept his mouth shut,”
she said. “Chad asked him what he was talking about and where he
was going but he just mumbled something about a club then walked
out and drove off. Why don’t you just call him? Have you two
argued?”
I tried to keep a lid on the exasperation
welling up inside me. “I have, just before you called. He didn’t
pick up. I thought it was him calling back. And yes, we’ve had a
disagreement which is why I want to speak with him to clear it up.”
Then I realized what Angel had said. “He mumbled something about a
club? Did he say which club?”
She paused. Then I heard her ask
Chad
followed by his
muffled response. “Chad says it’ll be the one he goes to sometimes.
It’s called Ecstasy, he thinks.”
“Odyssey,” I corrected automatically.
“
Oh right. Hey, you mentioned Odyssey when
you answered. Something about the manageress . . .
“
It’s kind of—it’s complicated. Listen,
Angel, I’ve got to go. I need to find Scott urgently. I’ll try his
cell again but if he doesn’t pick up, I’m going to Odyssey. If he
comes back in the meantime, can you call me please?” Even as I said
the words, I didn’t know whether I’d actually be able to go to
Odyssey.
What if Lucas is there? What if he’s with that drop-dead
gorgeous woman? What if Scott’s right?
I was distracted by
Angel
’s insistent tone
and rising volume. “Issy! Issy! Are you still there? Did you hear
that? You are not going alone.”
“
Hmm? Sorry? No, I didn’t and of course I
can go alone,” I scoffed.
“
Chad says he doesn
’t think the club is the type of place you
should visit alone. He says it’s probably unsafe for a lone female.
He says he thinks it’s an underworld den of disrepute,” she said,
sounding almost frantic.
I took a deep breath then said quietly,
“I’ve been there before with Scott. I think I’ll be
fine.”
I heard a muffled exchange and then Angel,
in a voice that must have been an octave higher than usual, said,
“Chad says he thinks it’s a sex club . . . where people who have .
. . um, specific tastes go to do disgusting sex acts. I doubt very
much it’s the club you went to, Issy.”
Ordinarily,
I would probably have teased her about her
prudishness but I really wasn’t in the mood. “It’s a BDSM club, not
some freak show. It’s where people who enjoy a particular type of
sexual lifestyle go. It
is
the
same club that Scott took me to. I agree that it’s a little
shocking to the uninitiated and that I didn’t venture into the
dungeon because I—”
“
Dungeon
?” she shrieked. “BDSM? That’s like bondage . . . gimp
masks . . . handcuffs . . . and inflicting pain on someone during
sex, isn’t it? So, you and Scott . . . I mean,
you two
. . . oh my God!”
I laughed at her ignorance and
stereotyping. “Gimp masks, handcuffs and pain can be part of BDSM
but it’s a huge spectrum, Angel. You really should learn about
things before you judge and condemn others.”
“
I’m not condemning anyone. I never said I
was an expert and I obviously know nothing so let me and Chad come
with you. That way, Chad will be happy that you’re safe and I might
learn something,” she countered. I knew it was false bravado and
wished I was a member of the club so I could take her to the
dungeons—just to see her reaction. Then it occurred to me that none
of us were members. We wouldn’t even be able to get into the
club.
“
Angel, it
’s a members only club. There’s strict security
and CCTV so no way to get in. Although, I suppose we could see if
Scott’s van’s there.”
And Lucas’ car!
“
Well, maybe they
’ll let us become members. It might be best if
Chad and I are there as a couple, rather than just a woman on her
own,” she said, a little fiercely. “And even if they don’t, they
might at least pass a message on to Scott to come out and see you.
He might not come out for you if you’ve had words but he would for
Chad.”
I could
just picture her huge blue eyes in her defiant
little face and it made me smile. I had to admit that it was better
than anything I could come up with so I agreed to let them pick me
up in a cab as soon as they were able. I quickly changed into
skinny black jeans and top, then threw on a pair of black
knee-length heeled boots. Then I freshened up my hair and makeup
and made my way down to the lobby.
As I passed the reception desk, Clark
called out a cheery greeting.
I wasn’t really in the mood for a friendly chat but I
didn’t want to hurt his feelings so I wandered over. I politely
asked about his family and was just about to head outside when a
thought occurred to me. I knew that Clarke had worked for Lucas
since before he’d bought the Orion Building—several years before.
With the exception of Carter and Daniel, he probably knew Lucas
better than anyone. An idea formed. It was risky but I calculated
it was worth the gamble, given the circumstances.
“
Clark, I
’m meant to be meeting Lucas shortly but I’ve
forgotten where. I’ve tried calling him but I think he’s in a
meeting with Carter. We’re meeting with Ava. You know her, right?”
I fixed an innocent smile on my face and watched as his eyes
narrowed for just a second.
“
Yeah, I remember Ava. You’re meeting with
her?” He looked surprised, but before I could reply, he continued.
“I’m sorry, Miss Prince. It’s none of my business. Forgive
me.”
I shook my head. “Don’t be silly, Clark,”
I purred. “There’s nothing to forgive. To tell you the truth, I
feel a little awkward about meeting with her.”
I gave him my best puppy dog eyes and
waited.
I could see he
was wary of speaking out of turn. I decided to push my luck a
little further.
“
I hear she’s very beautiful and that she
and Lucas are very close,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. I
didn’t have to act. Just the thought of Lucas being close to
another woman hurt.
Immediately, Clark smiled reassuringly and
said, “She is beautiful but so are you. And I’ve never seen Lucas
looking as happy as he does when he’s with you. Or as miserable
when he’s not. When he was with her, it was very
different.”
“
How so?
How was it different?” I blurted.
Ava’s Lucas’
ex!
I realized my mistake as a guarded
expression crossed his face.
“I’ve said too much already, Miss Prince. Mr. Hunter is a
fabulous employer and he values loyalty and professionalism above
anything else.”
“
Oh, Clark, don’t be silly, this is me
you’re talking to. You’re hardly being disloyal. You’ve made me
feel much better.” I smiled as I patted his arm. “I’m sorry. I can
be incredibly insecure sometimes and I was worried that there may
be something between them still.”
A look of understanding passed across his
face. “Ah, well you’ve no need to go thinking that. I know they’re
close but it’s strictly a business relationship nowadays. Their
relationship ended several years ago. And you have no need to be
insecure; he only has eyes for you. I’ve never seen him light up
the way he does when he’s with you. And I’ll tell you something,
it’s a joy to see. He deserves to be happy with someone. Someone as
lovely as you. He’s spent too long alone.”
Without thinking, I leaned over the desk
and kissed him on the cheek, just as I heard my name being called.
I spun around to see Angel coming towards me, her eyes wide with
intrigue.
I said goodbye to Clark and turned to meet
Angel.
“Oh, Miss Prince,
I can’t be sure but you may be meeting Ava at a club called
Odyssey, she’s the manageress. I don’t know where it is, I’m
afraid. I’ve never seen it so I don’t think it’s local.
As I thanked him, I saw the confusion on
Angel
’s face. “I’ll tell
you in the cab,” I hissed as we headed for the exit and before she
could say anything.
Thankfully the cab driver knew where
Odyssey was.
On the way,
Angel was full of questions but I needed time to think. I’d been
relieved when Clark had said there was nothing between Ava and
Lucas. But then Scott’s words resurfaced from my memory and I
simply couldn’t understand why he would insinuate there was
something going on between them. I had to deflect Angel’s questions
as we made our way to the club until Chad intervened and distracted
Angel by asking her about her father’s continued progress since his
heart attack.