Unsuitable Obsession - Part One (18 page)

Amber beamed, “Yes.”
And thanks for rescuing
me...

Desire Is All Relative

“Mr. Sanchez you’re in contempt!” Judge Monroe
exclaimed, pounding his mallet firmly on the mahogany counter.

Eduardo stared down the judge, unreal. Does he know
how comical he looks in that toupee? Maybe now is a good time to
tell him. Eduardo threw a couple of files callously across the
tabletop, making sure everyone in the courtroom knew exactly how
much in contempt he really was. With smoke coming out of his ears,
he stormed out of the courtroom after that unfavorable ruling.

“My God man, will you calm down!” Gordon Dagget
exclaimed, trying to catch up to Eduardo who was hurriedly marching
down the corridor towards the elevator. Gordon Dagget was Eduardo’s
equal sidekick who also graduated from Harvard. A fellow associate
in Aldridge & Watson, Gordon generated his fair share of second
glances. Gordon’s followed Eduardo all through Harvard, he not only
admired Eduardo’s accomplishments—he idolized him.

“That fucking asshole doesn’t belong on that bench,”
Eduardo shouted angry. “He knows it, the bailiff knows it—even the
goddamn opposing counsel knows it. That’s why they took the chance
to suppress the new evidence and won!”

“I know—I know Eduardo, but you almost got
sanctioned in there, you need to calm the hell down. This is only a
minor setback, right? We’ll come back tomorrow and hit’em with our
dexterity. We always win, right?”

“I hate that fucking judge and the opposing counsel
are all idiots! A first year law student could beat them senseless,
what the hell’s wrong with me?”

“What
is
wrong with you?” Gordon asked
delicately, “You’re usually cool as ice in the courtroom, now
you’re just a ball of fire.”

Gordon finally maneuvered Eduardo over to a nearby
corner, he knew Eduardo was headed towards the parking garage and
he wanted to remain with him.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” Eduardo stated, still
holding onto his briefcase with both hands. He was supposed to meet
Amber for lunch that afternoon. After months of finding the
opportunity to ask her out to lunch, Victor called out of the blue
to let him know that he’d be down the street at noon and asked if
they could meet. Eduardo had no other choice but to lie to his
brother and said he was free. Needless to say, Eduardo had been on
edge ever since the phone call, he was looking forward to spending
some time with Amber. The past few nights he could hardly sleep.
Just couldn’t get those never-ending questions out of his mind. She
yielded. He felt her embrace him back, there was even a level of
necessity behind her kiss.
But why!?
The awareness sent his
thoughts packing. Did she desire him as well? Or was she just
curious? He’s never known a woman to be simply
curious,
it
was all or nothing where he was concerned. Women were impatient not
investigative, and now—Good God—was she just probing? Or did it go
deeper than that? Did she think about him? Did she
ever
think about him? Good God, this could all be in his head. What a
puffed up peacock he was! She probably didn’t even consider that
kiss anymore.
Out of her system,
she said. Out of her
system? When was he ever
in her
to begin with?

“Personal shit?” Gordon asked openly.

Eduardo gazed around them; other attorneys like
themselves congregated and descended down the hallways of the
downtown Los Angeles courthouse. “Something like that.”

“Hey Eduardo, if you ever wanna talk I’m here for
ya,” Gordon voiced, patting Eduardo on his shoulder.

Eduardo wasn’t about to confide in another
complacent bastard like himself. Talk, huh? Not where Amber was
concerned. Piss off. “Maybe another time. I’ve gotta head out and
meet my brother.”

“OK...sure, then I’ll see you back at the office
then?”

Eduardo began walking away and didn’t turn to face
Gordon as he did. Eduardo waved his hand in the air to let Gordon
know he’d see him later and disappeared through the revolving glass
doors.

Fortunately, Victor was in the area and the two
brothers decided to meet at a nearby restaurant. It was within
walking distance and Eduardo welcomed any fresh air. It was
springtime in California and the leaves on the sidewalk trees
turned a spectacular orange and began to slowly fall off.

Eduardo was unruffled when he finally reached the
restaurant, so far the day’s events were not favorable, and meeting
Victor was no exception. He was suddenly nervous as hell and felt
guilt running through his veins. Even though Amber returned his
passion, Eduardo still felt to blame for initiating the contact and
truly felt ill at the thought of betraying his brother’s
confidence.

A beautiful blonde waitress (obviously an out of
work actress) approached Eduardo for his order. “Are you ready?”
She asked, flashing him an ultra-pearly white smile.

Eduardo’s salacious nature peeked; the girl was a
prime piece to look at and he freely gave her one of his ardent
grins. “I will be in a few moments.”

The waitress took hold of the rouse and temporary
interest from Eduardo. “If in fact you truly are,” the waitress
matter-of-factly expressed, jotting down information on the back of
an order slip. “I’m off at five, here’s my number.”

Eduardo remained relaxed, he was used to the
directness of women; their boldness for him was a natural
occurrence and he took the piece of paper but didn’t look at it.
“Thanks for the offer.”

Victor walked through the door a moment later and
waved at Eduardo already seated. “Hey bro...How’s it goin’? Day’am
you look good.”

Eduardo let go a laugh. Good God how he treasured
his little brother. Growing up in Burbank (a little suburb in Los
Angeles) practically being the only Mexican kids on the block, they
constantly got into fights over ignorance and stupidity. Eduardo
was always in charge of Victor when they were younger and Victor
was constantly getting picked on at school, the only thing that
saved him was sports. Being able to play baseball and basketball
helped with the neighborhood boys and they would oftentimes seek
Victor out to complete their teams. Victor didn’t mind, he was just
a kid and simply wanted to be included. Eduardo would wait on the
sidelines, or would offer to be the referee just so that he could
keep watch over Victor. The one and only time Victor ever got
beaten up was the one and only time Eduardo decided to throw
caution to the wind to give his valuable time to a girl he was
dating. She was constantly coming over and had been sent away, but
on that terrible day Eduardo decided that it was more important to
get to
second base
than to watch his little brother slide
into second.

They were at the nearby junior high school and a
group of boys included Victor in their baseball game. Victor was
really excited and Eduardo took the opportunity to go make out with
Arleen Moreno in between the handball courts nearby.

“I’ll be over there,” Eduardo pointed out towards
the large concrete area.

“OK,” Victor expressed anxiously, “I hope I get to
bat this time.”

Eduardo escorted Arleen over to the large pillars
and instantly dove in towards her mouth. Grabbing the girl fierce,
Arleen surrendered and gave as well as she got. Eduardo shoved his
tongue down her mouth and directed hers into motion. Dancing this
wondrous ballet of sexual awareness, he had her up against the
wall; her arms around his neck, holding tightly onto his back.
Eduardo knew she’d drop her panties if he’d ask her to, but on the
slight risk of getting caught by a roaming teacher—asked Arleen to
unhook her bra instead. The girl was all too obliging being brought
to a blistering temperature and Eduardo was in the midst of
kneading her small breasts when he heard in the distance a small
cry for help. Eduardo’s arousal was instantly doused when he
realized that the shriek for aid was a familiar voice. His hands
pulled away from under Arleen’s top and Eduardo ran around the
structure. To his utter amazement, the team was surrounding Victor,
taking turns kicking him in his abdomen, legs and sides.

Eduardo ran towards the brawling and yanked a couple
of boys up off their feet and away from his brother. “Leave him
alone!” He shouted off the top of his lungs, throwing a few more
punches and managing to get two more boys away. “What the hell is
going on here?”

“It’s his fault!” The boys seemed to say in unison
pointing at Victor still on the ground.

“It was an accident Eduardo, I swear,” Victor
pleaded, trying to get up to his feet. Eduardo leaned over to give
him a hand and pulled his body up from the ground; Victor’s groan
of pain was apparent.

“You all right?”

“No,” Victor cried, suddenly feeling a burning
sensation in his lungs.

Eduardo pointed to one of the boys, “You!” Eduardo
crooked his finger and demanded his attention. “Come here!”

The boy was suddenly panicked and scared.

Another boy came to his defense. “It wasn’t him! It
was the squirt’s fault!”

“Shut up! Did I say you could talk?” Eduardo
questioned, staring him down. The boy backed away. Eduardo was
several inches taller than all the other kids and his stance had
been intimidating. “Now you tell me what happened, and so help me
if you lie, and I find out later that you did, I won’t hesitate to
break your skull.” He wasn’t really, but he was infuriated enough
to at least make the kid believe so.

The boy believed him and was terrified. “I did it,
I’m sorry, I did it and I blamed it on the squirt.”

The boys all looked at the coward confessing and
shook their heads in distaste.

“What’d you go and do that for, you moron!”

“He didn’t need to know nothin’ you idiot!”

Eduardo was exasperated now. “Who’s going to tell me
what happened now? Who’s man enough to face the consequences?”

A boy, no taller than the others spoke up, “I
am.”

Eduardo shoved his chest into his. “A moron for a
leader huh? Thought it funny to blame my little brother for
something you’re stupid friend did, huh?”

The boy didn’t seem to be intimidated and Eduardo
took note of it. “You don’t scare me. The squirt cracked our bat,
now we can’t play!”

Eduardo fumed. Pushed the boy slightly, sending the
wretched youngster downward on his ass. “Liar! That boy over there
just confessed that it was his fault.”

“Get’em guys!” The contemptible boy on the floor
commanded. Simultaneously, the remaining group all jumped on
Eduardo and tried to tackle him to the ground. Unsuccessful, boys
flew off of Eduardo’s tall frame one by one. Eduardo got in a few
more punches here and there and the boys all cowered away.

Eduardo waited till the last boy was visible when he
finally unclenched his fist. Eduardo wiped dirt and shoe prints
away from his corduroys and eyed his girlfriend in the distance.
“Catch’ ya later Arleen—gotta take my little brother to the
doctor.” Eduardo then wrapped his arms around Victor and gingerly
guided him towards their way home. “Does it hurt?”

Victor winced in pain, “Yah.”

“Does it hurt when you breathe?”

“Yah.”

“Then try not to breathe,” he joked, trying to get a
smile out of him. “I’m sorry for leaving like that.”

Victor looked up at Eduardo. “It’s OK Eduardo, they
finally let me bat. I hit a line drive out past second base! Then
they got mad at me because the stupid bat broke. I didn’t break it
Eduardo, I swear I didn’t! The bat was already busted.”

“I know Victor, I know. They’re just jealous of you
‘cause you hit the ball so far.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Now, what are we gonna tell Mama? She’s
going to be real upset.”

“Do you want me to cover for you?”

Eduardo smiled. Brotherly love, there was nothing
like it. “Will you? Tell Mama I was there, but didn’t get to you
fast enough?”

“Sure Eduardo, I’ll do anything for you.”

“Thanks squirt...and I’ll do anything for you
too.”

Victor and Eduardo lived in that house for several
more years after the incident. Rosalba believed their story and
took Victor to the hospital without ever knowing the truth. Victor
was sent home with only bruised ribs, which could have been worse
if Eduardo continued to be selfish with his aroused girlfriend.
Those boys never did bother Victor again. In fact, one of the boys
befriended Victor and they’ve been buddies ever since.

“I need to take a vacation.”

Eduardo blinked back from the daydream.
“Vacation?”

The waitress approached the two men again and set
down their food. “Will there be anything else?” She asked in a
seductive timbre staring at Eduardo.

Victor cast up at the girl, rested his eyes back on
Eduardo then shook his head.

“I think we’re good,” Eduardo gave back to her. He
doesn’t give her a second glance as she walked away and rested his
eyes back on Victor who was grinning from ear to ear. “What?”

“What?” Victor said, hushing his voice down so that
nearby patrons couldn’t hear him. “Eduardo that chick
wants
you.”

Eduardo shook it off. “...And?”

“...And Eduardo, you’re married now, remember?
You’ve got to keep your
palo
in your pants now.”

Eduardo choked on his food.
No shit.
Instantly brought to mind that burning kiss he had with Victor’s
wife. “Relax Victor, she’s not my type.”

“Not your type? That chick was hot and she’s a
blonde; I thought blondes were your type.”

Eduardo eyed his little brother shoving a mouthful
of hamburger down his throat. Remembered the last time he’d seen
Amber wrapped around Victor in embrace. “Yah well, amazing how you
grow up.”

Victor started to laugh. “I never thought you’d grow
up Eduardo. But here you are...this macho attorney, making all this
money and
monogamous.”