PERSONAL: A Stepbrother Sports Romance (22 page)

At least I had my cute Ugg boots and BeBe winter jacket trimmed in faux fur to cover up all that spandex my mother insisted women with a figure should wear. I could hear her
Housewives
tagline in my mind: “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” But she knew my rule of all rules. No real fur. I didn’t care if the Pope would be in attendance or of the Queen of England herself requested me to wearit. I didn’t wear fur.

“Girlfriend, are you afraid of heights?”

Any other question from any other well-dressed man would solicit a smile on my face at the familiar gay-friendly lingo. But this man, Peters, was anything but happy or gay. He acted like he had a gigantic broomstick stuck up his rear.

“You know, I have a name.”

“Well, what is it?”

Right. Well, about that. I bit my lip, a habit I never knew I had until I saw Bradley again this past week. Crap. I didn’t want him to put the pieces together. After all, he did say I looked like Mrs. Rainshaw’s daughter. Of course I sort of looked like her. I
was
her! But today, I had no make-up on; my trademark long locks were pulled up in a high bun. I had my glasses on for reading. I didn’t have the Rainshaw look going on that mother always insisted I sport. I could get away with it.

“Emily. It’s Emily.” I let out a worried breath.

“Well, Emily, do you possess any of those high-end ear speakers that your generation insists on wearing everywhere that you can listen to on our little journey back to the city?” His voice was as dry and monotone as burnt toast in the desert.

“You mean Beats by Dre?”

“Whatever. You’ll need to put them on as soon as we leave this room. Actually, I prefer you do that as soon as possible. And I need to hear the decibel of your jamming music so loud that your entire Soul Cycle class could sweat to it. Capisce? Comprende?”

I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t work out there. That’s so cliché.”

He made me feel so nervous, so scared. He was as intense as that guy on ABC’s
Shark Tank
, the mean one.
Mr. Wonderful
they called him. On that note, “Whatever you say, Mr. Wonderful,” I mumbled, reaching for my earphones to set them on, not caring about any aftermath from his tight lips. I pulled up my playlist and set Kanye West’s
All Day
. I instantly felt the endorphins surge through me. This song helped me get amped to run for miles.

Mr. Wonderful’s lips moved as if speaking to me, but I shrugged my shoulders and pointed to the beats,
I can’t hear you, asshole!
Meanwhile, I gathered my books, my laptop, and files and piled them up in my book bag. I slid my Ugg boots on and wrapped my coat around me.

The bathroom door swung open and I nearly dropped my bag. I went weak in the knees at the sight of him in a suit.

It was such a James Bond moment. That instant transformation of a classic gentleman. Stop everything and stare because honey, he sizzled in a suit. Dang, he sizzled. I was a sucker for suits. I wanted to take him right here right now. The way he ran his hands through his hair. That navy blue pin striped suit that hugged his body so perfectly was about to push me over the edge. No guy had ever made me feel this all worked up before. The white crisp shirt. The red pocket square that commanded a presence, my eyes dropped down to his shiny loafers, and hot damn he was a sight for sore eyes.

He smirked at me as looked at my earphones. He started to walk toward me but Peters put his hands on his shoulders and spun him around to start walking. Mr. Wonderful frantically waved his hands around signifying, “Let’s go! Let’s go! We don’t even have a New York minute.”

Bradley

“Yes. I broke into the library on Lincoln street on February 22
nd
to retrieve a few volumes of books that my family needed for a very important matter. It was never my intention to offend anyone. I was going to bring the books back and pay for the window to be fixed.”

“What my client means to say is, as many of you know, the Rainshaws are benefactors to many of the art programs in the Hamptons as well as this library.” He cleared his throat. “He was treated as a barbarian in the 1800s. In the middle of a winter storm, with no heater, he was left without a blanket or any way to keep himself warm, stark naked, and Officer Watson decided to pour a bucket of ice water over my client to taunt him. Oh yes, and it’s on video. Furthermore, he was tripped on the way to his cell, on purpose, where he busted his lip as you can clearly see on his swollen face the abuse he endured. He bled for hours. He laid in a cell for over twelve hours nearly freezing to death. He would have died had Kate Meadows not helped him out of his cell, and if Officer Watson with his courageous help had not driven my client for much-needed care at the hospital. This is not America’s way of doing justice.”

Shutters from dozens of cameras went off in the lull moment.

“Thank you.” I held up my hand wanting to get my point across and not have any more interruptions or political guidance from someone else. I was feeling like a pussy with his words. But he was right, I was treated unfairly, I just didn’t want to look like a wimp, even though technically I could have died no matter how much of a bad ass I tried to be. You can’t fight nature.

Nervous flutters filled my chest at what I would say next, what I really needed to say next.

It’s time, Bradley. Now or never. The whole world is watching. You
know that whole, “my life flashed before my eyes” type of saying? In one very second, I was brought back to my mother passing away and the wish she gave to me.
Remember the Rainshaw value. Remember our integrity. Do what’s right when the time is right.

The words and tender touch of her hand across my forehead, flashed through my memory. I was only ten. But I was wise enough to understand my mothers’ words.

My father had passed and I was the new Rainshaw in charge. And the world was listening right this very second.

“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “My attorney is correct. How I was treated was barbaric. However, I had a lot to think about alone in that cold cell. I had thoughts about the way things have been run in the past and the recent practices that have transpired in the last decade since my grandfather’s death. With the transferring of the estate into my father’s hands, well, it’s no secret that a few practices that were not so friendly to the environment but also ethically questionable happened. But if it’s what I deserve as a small fraction to compensate the injustices this company has partaken of, then I bear it.” The seas of faces were dumbfounded. It was the last thing they expected to hear from me. I could tell by the looks on their faces. Hell, I even surprised myself but it was needed. It was a way to not only show my true colors to the world, but also to her. To Kate. I wanted her to feel secure and safe about the money she would partake of if she chose to be with me. To have me. She was the perfect woman for me to be by my side with her empathy, integrity, and passion. She was the final push to do the right thing. Kate made me want to be the best version of myself that I could be. In fact, I wished she were already here with her arm through my own arm, with her supportive hand on the small of my back. Instead, Larry’s grip was firm on my arm, as tight as the claws of death. “Kid, what are you doing?” He hissed as softly as he could in my ear. Yet the anger was so intense I’m sure the newsroom caught wind of his words.

“I’m not a kid anymore. And my father isn’t alive anymore. We are turning a new leaf with our company and starting now, today, we will end all of our overseas operations and bring every single manufacturing job back here to America. Those businesses that we cannot manufacture, well, we will just have to shut them down. We will no longer waste means and rob children of their youth, such practices that our company has been known to do behind close doors. Moving forward, I will not allow some third party consulting firm to check in and monitor my company that my grandfather built with his own bare hands. Such companies that were known to cut a few corners for greedy stock holders to earn larger Christmas bonuses. Well that ends now. Now.” I felt passion rising in my chest. I felt resilient, strong, like I was making the right decision. “I personally will oversee every operation here in the states and will personally visit each and every operation unannounced whenever I see fit to ensure our company is at the standards of not only morality, but of the highest integrity. You can count on my visit any day or night. There will be no corners cut and we will return to the business ethics and American values that my Grandfather humbly started.”

I held my breath. I knew the media fury was coming. Any second now. There was an excited rumble ranging from eager chatter to whispers and gasps.  Multiple reporters eagerly sought for their voice to be heard by me. There was just one question that sounded like the loudest drum to me.

“Mr. Rainshaw! Are you openly admitting your father was involved in ill practices?” The crowd died down. No doubt they wanted full access to this answer.

“What I am admitting is I have now full access to my company and will oversee everything. Nothing will be hidden and there will no longer be blind eyes turned. Every wrong I’m making right.”

A cocky reported rolled his eyes and sarcastically laughed. “You’re then aware that by the end of this day, your net worth will drop in half? Probably tank. Like you have any idea what to do with a billion-dollar company.” He snickered. “A playboy model who just looks and acts the part,” he murmured under his breath. But I heard it.

It made my blood want to boil at not being taken seriously. But suddenly a fond memory of making shoes with my grandfather as a little boy by working with a leather strap and thread came to my memory like a warm blanket on a cold day. I took a deeper breath and swear I could still smell that fresh leather almost if he were there right now by my side, giving me strength. I’d ignore the haters. Haters always hate. Action is louder than words. I’d just have to show them I meant business. And they hadn’t and wouldn’t see the last of me.

“It’s time to return to honest manufacturing, getting back to the root of things. And frankly, I don’t give a damn if stock plummets. It’s time to build a new foundation in Rainshaw enterprises. That will be all.”

“Mr Rainshaw!”

“Bradley!”

Kate

“I’m telling you, Kate. Ever since you’ve landed early this morning, you’ve had this glow about you. And I know this glow. What are you not telling me?”

“Hmmmm?” I tilted my chin and made eye contact with her giving her my best poker face. “There’s no glow. I already told you, I went shopping with my mom in New York is all. You know she obsesses over skincare and cosmetics. She may have gone overboard. But my skin is thanking her.”

It had been torture having to come back to Capetown but I had to. My defense required me in two days. I had just sent my paper off and felt like the weight of the world lifted off of my shoulders. Now I was ever aware of missing him and that giant hole in my heart reminded me every waking second. That awful tease of almost having him completely and then not.

From the moment we made it back to the city, my mother was waiting for me and Bradley, and I had to attend meeting after meeting after meeting. And just like that, two days had passed. He texted messages ranging from the sweet range to the spicy range.

Promise I’m going to make you come real soon. Just you wait. Your pussy hasn’t seen anything yet.

Get ready. You’ll be coming before you know it.

Send me a pic of you naked.

I want to taste you again. It’s all I want to eat
.

I can’t stop thinking about you, baby. Promise I’m coming for you.

I looked over his dirty texts a thousand times while on the airplane. These little fantasies kept my light lit. I didn’t know when we’d see each other again, but I trusted him that we would.

“Tell me again, like, this whole process thing?” Emily twirled her sunkissed locks around her finger.

“Huh?”

Her eyes went wide. She shook her head frantically and stood up pointing behind me at the television. It was such an urgent look. Was a tsunami or something coming our way or something? I spun around and knocked my coffee to the ground.

Bradley Rainshaw, billionaire heir, new CEO of Rainshaw enterprise amid police scandal.

“Oh my word.” I reached for the remote and flipped it on.

“But will you press charges against Officer Watson?”

“Hell yeah, I will. I’m not a pushover or a coward. I just want to make things right. Justice is about doing the right thing. Integrity is who you are when no one is looking. Officer Watson is a coward, bully, and ought to be held accountable for his actions. He not only detained me and refused me a phone call, but cameras will indicate his ridiculous power trip. Why, he imprisoned an innocent young woman in the middle of a blizzard without even a blanket. For no reason! A kind woman, who I might add is as good of a citizen as a nun!”

“Her name? Bradley?”

“Kate Meadows.”

Oh my god. The world just heard my name.

“And how about you? Will you be held accountable for your father’s actions? For the sins of your father?”

“We will just have to wait and see.” Sometimes God is merciful.

              I pressed the rewind button to listen to the entire interview.

             
Earlier today.
The words were in red in the top right corner.

As I scrolled the news segment back with the replay option on the remote in stunned silence of what I just heard Bradley admit, I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of those cold cuffs on my wrists. It fell over me like a hushed dazed. I felt hopeless, helpless, cold and alone.  I’d never experienced anything like that before. I hated the way that moment made me feel. I shivered and released the creepy feeling that traveled down my spine. Lost in thought, I jumped in fright from Emily’s hand on my shoulder. I still was a bit jumpy from the traumatic moment and being locked in a jail cell, even if it was just for a few hours. It was torturous seeing someone you care about look frozen over and dead. It was cold, freezing, dark.

“Um, Kate?”

“Yeah?”

“Someone’s here to see you.”

“Huh?” I asked, still dazed.

“Bradley’s, um, here.”

“What? How?”

I spun around and there he stood in the doorway dressed in form-fitting jeans and a fitted gray shirt. Damn, he looked hot.

“Oh my gosh, I knew it. You are a secret agent,” Emily cooed at him.

“I’m no CIA special ops I can assure you. But one thing I cannot assure you is my safety. I have to close down a few camps and operations and well, a few people aren’t happy about it. I have about oh, uh, four minutes and thirty-three seconds to grab you and jet. That’s about it”

“Are…are you serious? Is it that dire? Here?” When would this never ending panic end?

“Oh, yes. One word. Militia. Next word: rebels. Third word: diamonds.” He walked into the living room and pulled me in his arms. He smelled so fresh, like a manly version of verbena. I wanted to breathe him in deeply.

“Fourth word: four minutes left. Go, go, go, go! The two of you now!” Emily sang.

“Seriously? This is happening? For real?”

His look was panicked. “I came for you. Just like I said.”

“Yeah, but you were just on the—”

“Kate! You heard him! Just grab your laptop and grab—”

“Nothing.” His hands were on my shoulders and he was leading me out of the living room. “I have everything taken care of for you, just take your holy grail right there.” He pointed to my computer and charger. “And put these on and lift this over your head.” Flats and light jacket.

And just like that I was out of my apartment, feeling endangered, adrenaline, wonder, fright, and doom all at once. But the most prevalent feeling of them all was elation. We were together again and his hand was in mine.

Suddenly, the adrenaline wore off and I snapped back into reality and out of the James Bond film that was running through my head once the driver had us a few blocks from my apartment.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I looked out the window to see if anyone was following us.

“What?”

“Can you really be killed right now? I mean, can someone be angry enough with you right now that we are in that grave of danger?”

“My life has always been in danger. People always want to kill me.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes.”

“Am I safe?”

“Of course.”

And then I saw the look in his eyes. Something wasn’t right. “Are you…?”

“Stealing you away for some fun and games? Yes. Do I have to make a few business decisions and make a few meetings to personally close down a few misunderstandings in person, yes. And do I have a gala in Paris at the end of all of this to attend, which your mother and my sister are attending as well? Yes. But do I want you to be there with me by my side, dressed in a gorgeous gold Givenchy gown? Well, yes.”

By my side. I’d have to revisit that but right now, a more important life and death situation was thrown my way. Panic surged through me about his life in danger,
again
.

“So, you’re not about to have a bomb thrown behind you in like one minute if we had waited at my apartment for ten minutes longer?”

“No. But it was the only way to get you to come with me.”

“This isn’t a game to me, Bradley! School means everything to me.” His soft, easy-breezy face glazed over and stiffened a bit. God, those eyes. I couldn’t resist him. His lips were on my neck, trailing down to my collarbone and I could barely breathe.

“I can’t. I have this really important oral defense. I thought you knew that?”

“I can let you have an oral defense all you want.”

Oh god I couldn’t breathe when he talked like that while his tongue trailed up my neck and along my collar bone with his sweet kisses. “I thought you just had to turn in your paper.”

“That’s step one. Step two is the defending it in front of the panel.” I whined.

His warm touch trailed up my arm. “Can’t you please just see if you can Skype your session? You’ve been through a lot this past week. You’ve been imprisoned. Surely they’ll understand if you tell them you need to go somewhere special to get checked in for anxiety or something.”

I retracted my hand like a child touching a hot stove. “I…I can’t lie.”

“Oh, come on, Kate. Live a little. I promise I’ll make the time worthwhile. And didn’t I promise you one thing?”

“What?”

“That I would be inside of you very soon?”

I blushed and hushed him. “The driver!”

“I love how tightly wad your panties are. He can’t hear anything. Come on, aren’t you just a wee tad bit curious as to where I am whisking you away to? A little?”

The little princess in me wanted to know. She jumped up and down with the patience of a three year old.

“To Maldives. Private charter. You. Me. Aqua waters. Days. You. Me. In you. For days.” His hot kisses trailed down my neck again and I couldn’t breathe when he did that, more or less think! “Where we can get to know each other and make up for lost time. Endless pleasure. The best wine.The most beautiful beaches. Our naked bodies, contorted in every which way position possibly imagined.”

The tempting scenes flashed through my mind like the sweetest bait. There was one thing I needed to do. Call my advising professor. It was time to fake an anxiety crisis.

I bit my lip in worry as he bit my ear in teasing. God help me. Mary, Joseph, and all the saints. I’m in deep boiling waters. But I can’t wait to dive in deeper.