Conflict Of Interest (9 page)

Evan’s POV

Chapter 15

My elbows are on top of my desk and my hands directly in front of my mouth with my fingers intertwined together. My desk is full of paperwork and I’m thinking about everything that is going on. I loosen my hands to unbutton the first button on my shirt. It is getting a bit warm in my office.

In a matter of hours, I have to get ready to deal with the biggest case going on in town. My team and I have been observing this case for nine months and it is finally coming to its end. I’m stressed and I know I will hurt some people in the process, but it is my job and that's what I do.

I watch people do bad things and sometimes I’m the one doing bad things all to build a case before I put a full stop to it. I have a job that needs to be done now. I leave my office to head to Frederic’s Lounge for what will, hopefully
,
be the last time. This time is not for a drink, but to meet the owner. I need to make this meet before the big jump.

I make it to the club to find out that Frederic hasn't arrived yet. It took hard work to set up a meeting with him, but finally, I did, thanks to Marissa. I cannot let anything distract me from this big deal. I look at my watch and it's almost 3am. He has to be here already.

I look behind me and I nod to Marissa, letting her know it was that time. I walk back further into the club toward the back where there's an entrance. The only way to get through this way is to go through Frederic first. I walk closer to finally see a guy standing in front by the door. He is tall, big, and bald-headed with dark sunglasses on. He has his hands crossed right over across his chest.

I walk toward him and I call him with my right hand, waving two fingers so he can lower himself a bit. Although I am six feet tall, I think he was a good seven feet.

“I have a meeting with the boss, he's expecting me.”

“Name?” he asks with a deep voice.

“Jon Cross.” I gave him another name for my disguise protection.

He talks into his microphone that is placed in his ear. I can't hear what he's saying over this loud music, but he nods his head to me before he opens the door to go in. I walk straight back a long alley toward another door. The air had a musky odor to it. I knock twice.

The door is opened by a medium sized, muscular man with a missing front tooth. I see the owner sitting behind a desk with four other men in his office, eyeing me up and down. There is a cloud of cigar smoke hanging around all of them. I look to see Frederic is the one causing it. He's heavy set, bald, and wearing a thick mustache and sunglasses on.

What's the deal with everyone wearing sunglasses in this dark place? I think to myself.

“Are you armed?”

“Of course not,” I say. “But I see your friends are.” We all laugh sarcastically as he invites me to sit down, but before I do, I’m stopped by one of the men who start to search my body. He finds nothing so I sit down and he offers his hand to me.

“Why are you here today? What are you looking for?” he asks, looking at me with menacing eyes.

“I need your assistance in buying what you sell.”

“What do I sell?” He grabs the cigar from his mouth and places it on the ashtray on his desk as he folds his hands.

“I was referred to you on the streets; I was told you sell guns and coke. I may also need to get one of them girls in the back.”

“Why would a professional, good-looking guy like you need this, if I may ask?”

“I need the guns to do a job, and then I want some fun. Is this in any way possible? I ask

“Maybe.”

He stares at me like he is studying me. I am trying to look the part. I hope it is working.

“Who are you again?”

I think he doubts me I can see the way he is staring at me so intensely. “I am Mr. Cross, the CEO of Cross Enterprises. I do very important things that need some protection involved. I’m a wealthy man and can pay what you ask, but I must keep this a secret. So is what I want possible?” I ask again.

“Who are you here with?” he laughs a little.

Has he been watching me all along?

“I’m here alone. Sometimes I come in with a female; depends what bitch is available that day.”

“I’ll tell you what, come back in two days and I can show you my inventory. Make sure you come with lots of money and we'll take it from there.”

“Okay, sounds like a deal,” I say. I shake the man’s hand and the other guys open the door. I leave as fast as I can, all the while still trying to keep my calm. Making sure they don't get suspicious of me.

I join the crowd again and I couldn't wait for a shot of liquor. I head out, taking Marissa’s hand, wanting to get out of there.

“What happened, Evan?” Marissa asks, out of breath.

“Well, he agreed to show me his inventory.”

“Good,” she says. ”When?”

“In two days.”

We climb into my car, making our way out of the club parking lot. We pull up to her house and she leans over to me, grabbing my face and then kisses me. I almost kissed her back until Natalia comes to my head. I push her away and she smiles. “Goodnight, Evan.”

She jumps out of the car and is gone. I sit there for a minute, trying to pull my head together. Why the hell did I let her do that? Fuck. I pull off to go home.

Once I’m home, I want to call Natalia, but I won't since it's late. I’ll send her a text instead.

Evan: I’ll pick you up tomorrow after class before work so be ready.

I went to bed without a reply, but I knew she had to be sleeping.

My phone buzzes, waking me up. I pick it up to see Natalia sent a reply to my text.

Nat: Pick me up at 1pm and where are we going?

Evan: If I tell you it wouldn't be a surprise.

Nat: Please with sugar on top?????

Evan: No

Nat: With a cherry too???

Evan: I can think of other things to do with cherries. And again No.

Nat: Fine. I will be distracted all day trying to figure it out. You wouldn’t want that would you?

Evan: The only thing you should be distracted by is thinking of me and how I make you feel when I am inside you.

Nat: You are stirring me up again.

Evan: Good. Keep it wet. I will talk to you later baby
.

I’m on the way to my office to do some paperwork and plan a little surprise date with Natalia. I can’t wait to pick her up. First, I have to go to my meeting to get things in order for our next move.

Natalia’s POV

Chapter 16

It is a warm day; the birds are chirping and the sun is shining bright. Nothing that my big, dark sunglasses can’t handle. I haven’t felt this alive in a long time.

I was out in front five minutes early to not make Evan wait. To my surprise, Evan and his Mercedes are already waiting for me. I jump in and grin. I stare at his eyes while putting my own seat belt this time. He chuckles and I know it’s because of the last time I was in his car and he buckled me in. I think he has the sexiest smile. I just love making him laugh.

He pulls away from the curb and into traffic before I say, “What have you been up to since this morning?”

“I went to the office, made a few calls and now I am here where I belong.”

I love that way he talks to me. I love everything about him and I can’t wait to see what his surprise for me is.

“Where are we going, by the way?” I ask nonchalantly.

“I thought I told not to ask?”

“Oh, you did, but I still wanted to ask.”

“I am a very protective man and I will take care of you, so don’t worry.”

“I think you should slow down the driving,” I as I glance over at him. I see irritation in his eyes.

“I drive fine!”

What the hell? I look at the window, deciding I better shut up before he jumps down my throat again.

After all that speeding, sharp turns, and bumpy roads, we finally arrive in front of a park. I get out of the car without asking him anything when he turned his car off. I see a few moms with their toddlers playing on the swings and some other people jogging around the path around the park.

I look back at Evan and he is at the back of the car with the trunk opened. I walk over and he is taking out a small, brown, picnic basket. I look at him and he smiles back. He turns back to grab a quilt that looked like my grandmother had sewn together with little different pieces of fabric.

“I hope you like picnics?” he asks while he closes the trunk.

Nodding my head yes, I say, “I do.” I look around. “This is nice; I didn't expect this.”

“Follow me,” he commands.

He walks over, looking everywhere in the grassy area in the back of the park until he finds the right spot. He lays the blanket down and setting his basket on top of it. He grasps my hand to guide me while I sit down.

I cross my legs Indian style and he gets on his knees to start unpacking the basket. He takes out a bowl, but I couldn't see what was in it.

I am speechless. I think this is the sweetest thing. I have never been taken to a park for a surprise picnic date before. He sits down with his legs stretched out and arms out behind his back with palms on the grass.

“Tell me about your past relationships?”

Whoa, wait, what? There he goes asking me random, surprise questions that throw me off.

“Okay,” I said, thinking of what I am going to say. “I had a boyfriend in high school for a few months and another in college for a year.”

“Do you still keep in contact with them?”

“No, Evan, I don't.” I know I sound annoyed but where is he going with these questions? I thought we were about to have a nice picnic lunch.

“How about you? When was your last relationship?” I wanted to throw him off, too.

“My last was about two years ago. I have had too many to count. They were never anything serious.”

“Why?”

“I work too much and so some of those women were just for fun while some of them wanted to be more serious when I just couldn’t do that then.” He looks at my face before he says, “Do you like NY?”

I get that he is trying to change the subject. For the sake of not starting an argument, I oblige. “Yes, I do.” I proceed to tell him I was born and raised here.

“So, Evan, where are you from?”

“I’m from here,” he says with a firm tone.

He leans over a little and turns his head toward me with his chin on his shoulder. He licks his lips and I took it as a clue that he wanted me to lean over toward him. Our soft lips tapped each other’s slightly.

His glossy eyes beamed out at me. “Do you trust me?” he asks with a domineering voice.

I look at him with a surprised look. “Yes. Why?” I ask without giving it any thought.

“Good girl!” He sits up and he got on his knees. He goes in the basket and pulls a black, silky cloth out. I look at him with fear written all over my face. He places it in front of my eyes to cover them. I let him do it. I lose my sense of sight, but my sense of hearing has gotten sharper. I can hear the kids playing, laughing, and the birds singing. I hear the traffic so clear like they’re on a surround system like in the movies.

I stay quiet, not knowing what to say. I hear Evan’s movements as he gets closer to me. I felt something touch my lip gently and I back up a little.

“Don’t be scared. It’s just my finger feeling your lips.”

He does it again, rubbing his finger sensually on my lips and taps a kiss on my lips. I wait with anticipation. He then feeds me something that feels wet and cold to my lips, he reaches over and whispers “Open your mouth and taste!”

I do as I am told although I am scared to death. Opening my mouth, he slides this thing in. I close my lips to taste the freshness and the sweetness of a strawberry. I savor it, swallowing it when he taps my mouth for it to open again. He does it again and this time I taste grapes, then pineapples, and then he kisses me in between feeding me.

He finally takes the blindfold off so we can look at each other and talk. The rest of the picnic, we flirt, tease each other, and eat the rest of the fruits. We talk about our childhoods, teenage years, and college. I love that he trying to get to know me more.

His cell rang and for once, he doesn’t answer it. Looking at the time, I realize I have to get back to work. We pack up the little picnic and fold the blanket. We walk back to the car hand in hand. This has been an exceptionally good lunch.

He drives me back to work, telling me that he will see me tonight and kisses me sweetly.

I walk to work after Evan drops me off. I finally make it to the door of the building I work at. It is a tall, glass building, with three stairs up. The Silver Law Co is written across the building. I go through the shiny silver doors, showing my ID as I walk along the front desk. Straight ahead are two elevators and it takes me right up to the second floor in front of the front desk.

I greet Nora, she is the daytime front desk person until I get there to cover the second shift. She looks up at me. “The phones are crazy today. I hope you can keep up. The lawyers are busy and the assistants are grouchy,” she warns me as she is almost running to the elevators. I never have a chance to say goodbye. I think she maybe hates her job.

After what was a crazy day at work, I make it home preparing myself for Evan to come over. He had text me right before I got off work to tell me he was coming over at eight.

I freshen up and pour some wine when I hear the doorbell. I go to the door to let him. He kisses my cheek and walks into the kitchen to retrieve his glass of wine. He hands me mine and I smile, taking a long swig of it. I still feel like my mind is dancing around in another world tonight.

That is when I hear a cell ringing and I snap out of my zone. I am mad he can see it in my face. I back up and cross my hands over my chest.

“You are not going to answer your phone?”

“What?” I ask, realizing what he said.

“Natalia, that’s your phone ringing!”

Oh no, it is ringing and I start laughing because it is mine and not his for a change. I was so lost in my own world I didn't even hear it ring. I went to answer it, but he held me tightly.

“Don't answer it. Tonight, I am not leaving you. I want you, all of you again, your hands your body and most of all your mouth.”

My hands went to the back of his hair, my fingers wrapped in it and gently tugging. Then he wraps his arms around me, molding our bodies together like it was made to naturally form that way. I feel at ease right now and comfortable. I love this feeling he gives me.

“Do you want me to stay the night?” he asks me, looking straight into my eyes.

“Yes, I do?” He smiles

I unwrap my arms from his body and fold my arms across my chest.

He grabs my arms and pulls me close to him. “There’s no secret here, my love.”

I want to believe him and I hope he is being honest. I am scared for heartbreak, but I will see where this will take me. He backs up a little and looks at the ceiling like he wants to say something.

“Evan, any kind of relationships is built on honesty. If someone starts lying at the beginning of any kind of friendship then there won't be any trust. If there’s no trust, then there’s nothing,” I said knowingly.

“So are you saying you have been thinking of us building something here, Miss Natalia?”

“I actually have. But with lies I don't start anywhere. Don’t get ahead of yourself, sir.”