Beautifully Broken (21 page)

Cali stood in the door way looking around the place. It
was so amazing. Where she grew up her father was
considered wealthy and she always thought the house she
lived in was nice, but it didn’t even compare to how
amazing James’ place was. There was a knock at the door
and James let a man inside with their luggage. James
showed Cali around and then they went outside to the
balcony.

“This is an incredible view,” Cali said as she was looking
over the city.

“I know, I love the balcony that’s why I bought this place
because of the view,” James said, as he came up behind
her, gave her a hug and he kissed her neck. His touch sent
shivers up her spine.

“I think I can see Envy from here,” Cali said pointing to a
small cluster of lights far off in the distance.

 

“That’s where you’re from?”

 

“Yes,” Cali said in a sad faint voice.

 

James turned her around and lifted her head so he could
look into her eyes.

“I am going to be here with you the whole time, no matter
what we find out I will be here for you,” he said as he
hugged her. “I love you and that’s not going to change.”

Chapter 22

Cali woke up screaming and crying, when she opened her
eyes James was there to comfort her, she felt so safe in his
arms nothing bad could get to her there.

“Bad dream again?” he asked looking at her.

“Yes,” Cali said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “I am
sorry you have to get woken up to me screaming all the
time.”

“I’m sorry he still hurts you in your dreams,” James said
touching her face and looking into her eyes.

They lay in bed just looking at each other for a little while.
Cali got up and had a shower well James made breakfast.
She came out of the bathroom wearing his house coat and
he looked at her and smiled.

“I am sorry I hope its ok I borrowed your house coat, I
have no clean clothes to put on, could I do some
laundry?” Cali asked. James just looked at her smiling as
he was thinking about her being naked under his house
coat and he longed her have her naked body against his.
Just then there was a knock at the door and a short middle
aged red headed woman in a uniform entered into the
apartment with a rack of ladies clothes.

“Mr. Vex, where would you like these,” she asked looking
at him for instructions.

“Thank you Val, you can leave them right by the front
door,” James said as he walked over to the lady and
handed her money.

“Is there anything else I can do for you today sir?” The
lady asked.

“Yes we have some laundry that needs to be washed,
could you send it out for me?” James responded and then
he looked over at Cali. “If you want to get your clothes,
Val will make sure they are laundered.”

“Are you serious? You don’t do your own laundry?” Cali
asked shocked.

 

“No I don’t even have a washing machine in the
apartment,” he said looking at her like it was no big deal.

 

“Well is there a washing machine in the building? I can do
my own laundry.”

“Cali just give Val your clothes to wash, we have things to
do today. Everyone sends their clothes out; it’s not a big
deal.”
Cali and James both went in to the bedroom to get their
laundry.

“Thank you so much for taking my laundry, I really
appreciate it,” Cali said thanking the lady.
“Yes mam, it’s my pleasure,” The lady responded as she
left the apartment with their laundry.

“It really bothers you when someone does something for
you, doesn’t it?” He asked as he sat down on a stool in the
kitchen.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be ungrateful to you for all that
you have done for me, but I can do my own laundry and
clean up after myself,” Cali said looking at him. “I’m just
used to doing everything, it’s weird having people do
things for me.”

“Well that makes sense,” James said. “Are you hungry, I
didn’t have a lot in the house as I wasn’t expecting to be
home so soon so I just made pancakes?”

“Yes pancakes sound great,” Cali responded as she sat
down on a stool beside him, “I haven’t had pancakes in a
long time!”

James served Cali a stack of golden pancakes, drizzled
with pure maple syrup. “Yum, these look amazing,” Cali
said.
James and Cali talked about how they ate their pancakes
when they were kids. “I used to put chocolate chips and
peanut butter on mine,” James said laughing.

“My favorite was strawberries and whip cream” Cali
replied.

 

When they were finished Cali began clearing the dishes
from the counter.

 

“I’m going to go take a shower and get ready to go,” James
said.

“I have to wait until she brings my clothes back,” Cali
muttered. “I have nothing to wear. I don’t even have clean
underwear.”

“See that rack of clothing, it’s for you. I guessed your size
so hopefully everything fits,” James said gesturing over to
the rack by the door, “There should be everything you
need here; shoes, hand bags, pants, skirts, blouses,
jackets, belts, even undergarments. I hope I didn’t forget
anything,” James smiled and winked at her as he walked
into his bedroom.

James went to go have a shower and Cali looked through
the clothing. It was so incredible. There must have been
thousands of dollars of clothing there just for her.
Everything was so professional looking. Cali didn’t think
she could pull that look off.
Cali got dressed in her new clothes and she looked in the
mirror in James bedroom. She didn’t even recognize
herself, she looked so grown up. Cali was wearing dark
blue skinny jeans with a black lace blouse she had a taupe
colored business jacket on and she pared it with matching
taupe leather boots and a black and taupe hand bag. Cali
was all ready to face the day but James was still in the
shower so she went out on the balcony and looked over
the big city and relaxed. She was so nervous to open this
door to find out who she was and why she was wanted by
FBI. But she needed answers so she could move on with
her life. Even if she ended up in jail she still had the right
to know where she came from.

James walked out on to the balcony wearing black dress
pants, a white collared shirt and a black suit jacket. He
looked so handsome.

“Wow Cali you look great,” James said looking at her, “So
mature.”

 

“Well thanks, you look great too. Is there a look you can’t
pull off?” Cali asked laughing.

“Shall we go?” James asked holding out his hand to her.
Cali took James hand and they left his apartment building.
When they got outside there was a black car and a driver
waiting for them.

“Where to sir?” asked the man holding the car door open
for them.
“To the office,” James replied as he assisted Cali into the
car.

They drove all around the city. Cali was amazed with how
beautiful the city was. She was never allowed to go to the
city so she didn’t know what to expect.

They pulled up to a very large high rise building that had
the name Vex on it and Cali knew where they were. Cali
was amazed with how beautiful the building was. The front
entrance had marble floors and there was a water fountain
in the main lobby with glass windows all around.

Cali followed James up to the front desk. There was a
security guard and a young pretty girl with blond hair and
blue eyes answering the phones.

“Good Afternoon Mr. Vex, back from you holiday so
soon?” asked the pretty girl at the front desk.

“Yes I’m back, but not back to work just yet, just stopping
in. I wanted to show my girlfriend, Cali the office,” James
said to the girl as he held Cali’s hand. “Cali this is our
receptionist Amber.”

“Hello nice to meet you,” Cali said. In the back of her mind
she was wondering if James had slept with that girl.

 

“Hello,” said the girl, looking Cali up and down.

“Amber do you know if Henderson is in today?” James
asked. “I know he likes to come in on weekends because
it’s not busy and he can get more work done.”
“Let me look and see,” Amber said looking down at her
desk. “Yes Henderson signed in about an hour ago so he
should be in the lab.” She smiled and handed a form on a
clip board to James and he signed in. Amber handed Cali a
pin that said visitor on it.

“This is for you to wear, it’s just a security thing,” Amber
said in a snobby voice.

 

“I’m taking Cali on a tour. Have a nice day Amber,” James
said as they walked away.

 

Cali followed James down the hall to a set of elevators.
They got inside and went up to the 21st floor.

“I want to show you my office,” James said as they turned
the corner. Cali was fascinated with how magnificent the
building was. There were windows everywhere, allowing
natural light to shine in.

James took her on a tour of all the different departments
and told her what they did on each level and why each
department was important to the company. She watched
him talk about the company, she could tell how much he
really loved it but he had told her before he wanted out of
the business.

As they were walking out of James’ office Cali noticed a
short, chubby, dark haired lady at a desk going through
some paper work.
“Oh James I didn’t expect to see you here,” the lady said
with a Spanish accent, as she looked up from the stack of
papers.

“Well I wasn’t supposed to be back so soon, but I am
surprised to see you in today as well, I thought you were
taking the week off?” James said looking her with a
disappointed look on his face as he crossed his arms.

“Well I was planning on taking time off but Mr. Lane asked
me to do some work for him and if you are leaving the
company soon I want to stay in good with everyone so
hopefully I will still have a job,” said the lady looking a
little sad.

“Miss Connie I told you I will make sure you are taken
care of before I leave. Besides I don’t want you to have to
work for that jerk Derrick Lane, I can’t stand that guy.
James said smiling. “Connie go home, don’t worry about
your job or Mr. Lane. Relax; it’s your week off.”

“Oh James you’re so good to me,” she said smiling. “Now
are you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“Oh yes Connie this is my girlfriend Cali,” James said
putting his arm around Cali. “This is a good friend of my
family, Connie Garcia. Connie used to be my nanny when I
was a young boy and then she went back to school and
became a secretary so I hired her.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Cali said shaking Connie’s hand.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet one of James’ girls,” Connie
said watching Cali’s reaction.

“I would imagine there have been a lot,” Cali breathed in
with a disappointed look on her face.

 

“Yes well he is James Edwin Vex, multi-millionaire,” Connie
replied.

“This is all so new to me. When we first met he was just a
handsome stranger that wouldn’t take no for an answer
and now he is my best friend,” Cali said talking to Connie
but looking at James. “Then he tells me he is James Vex of
Vex international.”

“Well it’s nice to hear this girl fell for your good looks and
charm and not for your name and money,” Connie said
looking at James smiling.

“Yes well Cali is not like most girls, she is special,” James
said.

“Wow, Mr. Heartbreaker is falling for a girl, I am so happy
to see this,” Connie said. “Cali you take care of my boy
here and don’t break his heart. He may act tough but he
really is fragile. James this is a nice girl you have here,
you treat her with respect and don’t break her heart or
you’ll have to deal with me,” Connie smiled and gave
James a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you Connie that wasn’t embarrassing at all,” James
said smiling. “Well I am going to show Cali around some
more, enjoy your time off and don’t worry about your
job.”

“Have a nice day, Cali it’s nice to see James with such a
nice girl.” Connie said. Cali smiled and waved good bye to
Connie.

James and Cali walked down the hall to the elevators.

 

“Connie is a sweet lady, it’s nice that your old nanny is
your secretary,” Cali said smiling.

“Yes I love Connie; she is like family to me. She doesn’t
know but if and when I leave the company I am setting her
up a great retirement package. I don’t want her working so
hard anymore,” James said.

“Well I think I like you even more,” Cali said smiling. “I am
pleasantly surprised that your secretary wasn’t some
young, sexy thing,” the words came out of Cali’s mouth so
fast she didn’t even think about it until it was too late. Then
she felt embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t really mean
that.”

“Yes you did,” James said looking into her eyes as the
elevator was going down. “It’s ok I am not offended, I use
to be that guy that had a sexy new secretary all the time,
but it wasn’t good mixing business with pleasure. I’m the
boss and I have to maintain a level of professionalism. I
got into some trouble with the board so I hired Connie and
we make a great team. It’s one thing to pick a girl up at a
club but when I work with them they knew too much
information about me, I had a stalker once and it was not
fun.”

Cali didn’t say anything else she just stood there in the
elevator looking at James. He was so incredible, he was
smart and sexy and ran this amazing company and he was
so nice to her, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to
help her. Cali felt overwhelmed by his love for her and by
the thought that when this is over they were going to have
to say good bye. They couldn’t be together, she was a
wanted fugitive and she would end up in jail one day.

The elevator came to a stop and they got off in the
basement. They walked down the hall to an office that had
computers everywhere.

Chapter 23

“Cali this guy is the most amazing computer guy I have
ever met in my life, he can find anything,” James said
holding her hand and she squeezed tightly. This was it.
There was no turning back now. She was going to find out
who she was and why the FBI wanted her. “This guy is a
little bit weird and he doesn’t really talk to pretty girls so I
apologize if he says anything that offends you. His name
is Oscar Henderson we call him the wiz kid.”