Happy New Year. Enjoy.
-Chapter 26: Vegas Baby Part 3-
Gideon
When I wake up I can't help but still feel like shit. I told myself that fucking Eva before her wedding would be payback for her leaving me. When we were together last night all the other shit didn't matter. I don't care that she is with Brett. I just wanted her. I can convince myself all I want that we are through but that's not true. I don't know what else to do. I can't force her to be with me. She told me if I love her to move on so for now I will just have to move on. I will have to focus on Ana. She is the next best thing to Eva and I can love her like she deserves.
After two grueling hours in the gym I take a shower and head off to sort some business that has come up with two of my Casinos. Two of my best investors are in town and I want to make sure they are taking care of properly.
Ana
I hear the front door close and I walk into the main room. I smell Gideon's body wash still lingering in the air so I guess he has left already. I walk out onto the balcony and Kate comes out behind me.
"Morning missy. And what did you do last night." Kate glares at me. She is looking for info to see if I spent the night with Gideon. She is probably getting her paperwork ready to report to Christian.
"Well, after our dinner was cut short with urgent business, I took a swim, then had phone sex with Christian until I fell asleep." Take that Kavanagh.
Kate stares at me with her mouth open. Shocking Kate has become my new favorite hobby.
"Way to go. Didn't think you had it in you little lady." I turn around and see Elliot standing in the doorway smiling at us. My face turns red and I giggle at Kate.
"Mia and Sawyer are on their way up. We should order breakfast." Kate walks back into the main room and picks up the phone to order everything on the menu.
When she's done I ask her why Mia and Sawyer are coming up but they are at the door before she can answer. Elliot is standing tense and I am at a loss as to what is happening.
"Ana!" Mia rushes to me and gives me a big hug. Sawyer nods to me and I look at him puzzled.
Kate urges us to all come out on the balcony for coffee so we can catch up. Kate explains the story of the wedding encounter last night and I am completely shocked.
"My parents are going to freak." Elliot hisses.
"Our parents will get over it." Mia retorts.
"I wouldn't be worried about your parents, I would be more concerned that Christian is going to lose his shit." I reply.
Luke looks worried. I know he is a good man and I am sure that once the initial shock goes away everyone will see that.
"Look Luke, I like you. I do, but my parents aren't going to like it that their only daughter went off to got married without getting my father's permission first. I am sure he envisioned giving her away and all that bullshit."
"So don't tell them." Kate interjects. "Hear me out. Mia, you said you had the wedding you wanted. So just to give your parents peace of mind don't tell them you got married. When you get back, Luke can ask permission then get engaged and take it from there."
"What do we tell Christian?" Mia asks and looks at me. Everyone else is staring at me because they know I am the only one that can calm him down.
"Me. You are all going to put this on me." Everyone shakes their heads. "Fine. I will calm the beast. I am not lying to him though. I will tell him you are married but I will explain why we have to keep it quiet. You all owe me big. He is going to go ballistic."
"So next up, let's go buy a ring." Kate claps her hands and rubs her palms together.
Mia nervously looks at Luke then Kate. "Uh…I don't need a ring…I mean."
"Why would you not need a ring? Of course I will buy you a ring."
I think I get Mia's trepidation. She thinks that Sawyer can't afford a ring for her. I can see the rationalization that flashes on Kate's face and I feel bad for Luke to have to be put in this position in front of all of us. Sawyer is yet to get why Mia is uncomfortable.
"Well I don't need one right now. I mean we can save up for one." Mia is trying to explain so she doesn't hurt his feelings. Sawyer starts to laugh and he suddenly looks embarrassed.
"Well since we are all family now I guess I should explain something to you all. Does anyone know who Dustin Drake is?" We all shake our heads in the negative. " Back in the early forties Dustin Drake struck gold. Black gold. He went on to be the biggest oil tycoon in Texas. In the eighties when the stock market was drying up Dustin Drake bought every piece of dirt cheep stock he could. Telecommunications, computer engineering, gold, silver, you name it. Once the market rebounded he sold off every piece and made more money then one could spend in a lifetime. In March of 2000 Dustin Drake passed away leaving his only living heir his entire fortune." All of our faces dropped. Is he talking about himself?
"You?" I asked him.
"No. His daughter. My mother. When my parents died in a car accident a few years back I got it all. I took my parents death pretty hard and joined the military. I had no desire to sit on my ass for the rest of my life living it up. I have people who handle my money." He is sitting there cool as a cucumber scanning the reactions of everyone.
I am the first to pipe up. "So Mr. Sawyer, how did you manage to keep this info from your lunatic boss. "
"Simple. My background check only reveals what I want it to. My bank account has no bearing on my ability to protect him. Or Mia." With that Mia jumps on him and showers kisses all over him.
Eva
Sitting at breakfast with my parents and Cary is beyond uncomfortable. No one is speaking and I am trying to fight back the tears because my head is spinning.
"Eva, what's the matter? This is a happy day baby. You look like someone ran over your puppy." My father tries to joke but I don't feel like laughing. Perhaps I turn the tables a bit.
"So daddy, what did you do after dinner last night. I hope you didn't get lonely." My mother chokes on her fruit.
My father is glaring at me and I smirk at him. My father and I have this bond that we can read each other's minds. He is an amazing and protective man and after all the years of him and my mother living on separate ends of the country I feel that I am do a bit of fun.
"Your mother." My father says.
Cary spits out his juice across the table.
"Daddy!"
"You know the answer. If you didn't want me to tell you then you shouldn't have asked.
"Victor!" My mother scolds him.
"Oh please, Monica. She is a grown woman. What we do behind closed doors is none of her business but since she caught you doing the walk of shame I guess the cat is out of the bag."
I am fully belly busting laughing as is Cary.
"And what pray tell is so funny."
"I never thought I would hear anyone accuse you of doing the walk of shame." I am doubled over with laughter.
"Well I am glad you all think this is funny. Are we going to be getting ready for a wedding this morning or not." The double meaning of her statement is not lost on me.
I stop laughing and the room goes silent. I don't think my father knows what she is alluding to but he knows something is off. I nod and head out leaving my mother behind.
Cary and I walk into my room and there is a single white rose on my already made bed. I recognize Gideon's handwriting anywhere.
I am letting you go… I will always love you angel. –Gideon
I fall to my knees and cry full-blown sobs. Cary is right there to catch me.
"It's over Cary. It's over." My body shakes and I let all of my emotions out that have built up in me for the past few months.
Gideon
I did the right thing. I love her so I gave her the freedom she asked for. I will put all of my focus on Ana now. Making her happy is my new goal. I won't make the same mistakes I did with Eva. This will not be about sex. This will be about love and trust. She won't leave me. She can't leave me.
When I get back to the suite Ana is laying on the balcony lounger on her stomach wearing her bikini. Hummm she looks yummy. No sex Cross. Turning a new leaf and all that bullshit. She doesn't know I am watching her. I head off to my room to change in my swim shorts. When I come back out she doesn't flinch when I open the door. She may be sleeping but she has sunglasses on so I can't tell. I throw my leg over her lounger and stand over her. My shadow casts over he almost naked body but she still doesn't move. I place my hands on either side of the chair near her shoulders and put small feather kisses on her neck and back. She starts to stir and instinctively turns over startled.
"Good morning, Gideon. Can I help you?"
"You can." I scan her body with my eyes.
"Judging from your playful mode I can tell business went well." My face falls. Business. That's what last night was. Unfinished business.
I don't move away from her. My face is inches from her body and her chest is heaving up and down.
"It did. What did you do last night? You were asleep when I got back."
"Oh just went for a swim then went to bed."
No sex Cross. Cool off.
"A swim huh. Sorry I missed it." I grab her by the waist and throw her over my shoulder. She tries to wiggle free but she is unsuccessful. I walk into the pool then throw her into the water. She comes up spitting water out. She is so damn sexy. She gets her wits about her and crosses her arms over her chest to pretend she is angry. She can take a joke better than anyone so I know she is not mad.
"What the hell was that?" Ana says while splashing me.
"Me. Being friendly." I respond. She laughs and sits on the bench inside the pool. "Where is Kate? At Eva's wedding?"
Ana
Oh no. He knows. I hope he doesn't try anything. I will have to keep him busy as I promised.
"How do you know about that?"
"Why didn't you tell me you saw her?"
"I didn't want to upset you. I thought that if you ran into her it would be hard for you. "
"Well, she made her choice. There is nothing I can do now. You on the other hand." He scoops me up and puts me on his lap. "I am not letting you out of my sight."
Oh, this is tough. I can't tell him about Christian and I but me sitting on his lap is wrong. I would be furious if roles were reversed. Distract Ana. Think.
"Can we go sightseeing? You can show me that view you were telling me about."
"Sure. I really wanted to show you at night but I guess that's not going to happen. Our plane leaves at seven."
"No worries give me fifteen minutes and I will be right out." I climb off his lap and he pulls me back so I am looking away from him. I can feel how hard he is beneath me. He is holding my wrists in place and I can't move. He kisses my neck and tells me I have fifteen minutes to get ready or he is coming in after me. This is going to be a long day.
Eva
Standing in front of a full-length mirror I feel like this day is one big lie. Wearing white like I am as pure as snow is screwed up in so many ways. There is nothing pure and virginal about me. I have been used and abused and used again. I should have opted for harlot red.
"Show time baby girl." Cary announces from behind the door.
"Cary, come in here." He enters. "I don't know if I can do this."
"It is just cold feet. You will be fine. This is what you want Eva. This is what last night was all about. You did this all so you can find your happily ever after. Think of today as a new beginning. Whatever happened before this day doesn't exist."
Taking a deep breath I let Cary's lies seep in. "Ok. I can do this let's go."
We head out to the waiting area. I see my mother wearing a baby pink chiffon dress that is longer in the back then the front. My father is stunning in his tuxedo that he keeps pulling on while my mother scolds him. Kate and Elliot are here and I see about fifty other people from where I am standing.
I am wearing a plain fitted white dress with lace flowers on the lower part of the bodice that progressively get fuller as the dress gets longer. The bottom is a mass of lace and crystals all the way down to the slight train that trails behind. My hair is in loose curls framing my face and one side is pulled up with a small clip in the back of my head. The look is finished off with a slight veil that barely covers my face. It is very plain and elegant.
The music starts just as Cary walks down with Brett's sister first. Now it is my turn and my feet won't move. I freeze.
"You okay Eva." My father asks. I nod 'yes'.
My father looks to me and tells me that if I am not ready to do this I don't have to. I put on a fake smile and put one foot in front of the other.
I see Brett at the end standing next to Cary and I start to cry. This is it. The lump in my throat is choking me.
I am staring at Brett and he looks as happy as one man can be on his wedding day. I have no idea what the pastor is saying. All I can see is the man who I have betrayed. The man who loves me and wants to marry me. I should be happy but I'm not. I have done something unforgivable.
Now is the moment of truth.
"Do you Brett Kline take Eva Lauren Tramell to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, until death do you part."
"I do."
"Do you Eva Lauren Tramell take Brett Kline to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, until death do you part."
Silence.
Long silence.
"No. I am sorry Brett I can't do this." I run off back down the aisle and into the bridal suite where I got ready. I lock the door behind me and fall to my knees crying.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Eva let me in." Brett's voice is a mere whisper. "Come on baby, talk to me."
"No. Go away."
BANG, BANG, BANK…
"Eva God damn it, let me in." Brett is now shouting.
I open the door but I don't get off the floor. Brett falls in front of me and holds me while I cry.
"Shhh…Eva if this is too soon we can wait. We don't have to get married today."
"I am a terrible person. I ruined your career-"
"Eva don't worry about that. I told you it will all work out. I was going to tell you after the ceremony but now is a good a time as any." Brett is smiling and his eyes are bright and happy." Christopher called me yesterday. I don't have all the specifics but someone bought out Vidal Records. Someone bought all the stock in the company and now Gideon isn't the majority shareholder anymore. We are finally done with him."
I get my bearings and sit up straight on my knees. I can see the fear in Brett's eyes. Gideon lied to me. How could he have done that to me? He was so sincere last night but he never had the leverage to offer. Oh my god, what did I do. I didn't have to sleep with him. I could be getting married right now and Brett would have still been fine.
"Brett, I am sorry. I am sooo sorry." I plead.
"Sorry? Why are you sorry?"
"I did it for you. For us."
"What did you do Eva?" Brett stand up and his eyes go wide. "What the fuck did you do?"
I stand to meet him face to face. Tears are streaming down my face and I probably look like the bride of Frankenstein. I take a tissue and wipe my face and take a sip of water before I tell him. He is watching me and anger is building the more I procrastinate.
"Last night after dinner Gideon was waiting for me. He told me that if I slept with him he would release you from your contract." I step toward him and try to grab his hand. He shakes his head in disgust.
"You did it. You had sex with him. DIDN'T YOU! "
"Yes."
"Why didn't you leave? Why didn't you come to me and tell me?" Brett is running is hands through his hair and he suddenly stops and looks back at me with narrow eyes. "You went to him the night before our wedding. You let him fuck you the night before our wedding. Then you put on this dress and even walked down the aisle and stood there in front of everyone. Why. Why wouldn't you tell me before you put that dress on." He is yelling and I deserve every bit of this. I betrayed him and if this is what he needs then so be it.
"I didn't know. He lied to me too. I didn't know he didn't own the company anymore."
"Don't try to rationalize your actions. Don't you dare try and downplay what you did."
"I am just trying to explain why. He told me we would be free, no strings attached."
"Yea well, I doubt it took much convincing for you to open your legs for him. Urgh…I'm out of here. This is bullshit." Brett heads for the door and I run after him.
"Brett please, don't go. I'm sorry." I beg as I grab his arm and fall again to my knees.
Christian
I leave my last meeting for the day when I get a phone call. I see from the ID that it is Kate.
"Kate."
"Christian we have a problem."
"What is the problem? Is Ana okay?"
"Yes she is fine. As it seems Eva was here in Vegas getting married today. I don't exactly know what happened yet but I do know that Cross somehow fucked up the wedding so I am going to stay here for another day. Elliot has agreed to go back to New York with Ana so she isn't alone on the plane with Gideon but whatever he did is bad."
"Get her on the plane and tell Elliot to not let her out of his sight. I would send Sawyer but there is no way Cross would let him on the plane. Taylor will pick them up when they land. Tell Elliot he is to keep him with her at all times no fuckups."
Ana
Gideon has been a perfect gentleman all day. He showed me all his casinos and we even went to the roof as promised. The view was amazing. I can't help but wish Christian were here instead of Gideon. This is the first time I have been here and I would much rather Christian be the one to experience this with me.
We are headed back to the hotel to finish packing when Kate texts me.
*Change of plans. I am going to stay here one more day, Elliot is leaving with you tonight. Make sure Cross gets on the plane! I will explain later.*
I wonder what could have happened. Maybe she just wants to spend more time with Eva.
"Change of plans, Elliot and I are coming back to New York but Kate is sticking around for another day." I tell Gideon.
Gideon shrugs but he is deep in thought.
Gideon
I turn off my phone while we are sitting on the plane waiting for takeoff. If Eva was going to come back to me she would be here by now. It is time to go back to New York. Time to move forward. This chapter is closed.
I see a Mercedes pull up to the terminal and I instruct the pilot to kill the engines. It's her I know it is her. They bring back the staircase and I see Eva jump out of the car running toward the plane. She is here. I knew she loves me. I knew she would come.
I exit the plane and I run toward her at full speed across the tarmac. She stops in her place as I continue toward her. When I get to her and I nearly knock her over from the momentum. As our bodies collide I pick her up and swirl her around. When I pull away she slaps me. Hard. I step back further and she is pounding her fists on my chest at taking full-blown swings at me. I hold my hands up to block her blows and try to calm her down but she is like a feral animal. She is cursing and finally one of her fists contacts my face.
"Fuck Eva, what the hell are you doing." I hold my jaw. For a little girl she fights pretty hard. All those Crav Mega classes paid off.
"You son of a bitch. You sought out to destroy my life because I choose someone else. You lied to me. You went too far this time Gideon. Too fucking far." She starts to go crazy again.
"Stop fucking hitting me Eva. What the hell are you talking about? I ever lied to you."
"Don't give me that shit Gideon. You promised you would let me go if I slept with you. You said no strings."
"I did. I sent you a note. You are free. Brett's contract-"
"Wasn't yours to bargain with. This is my life Gideon. MY LIFE."
"I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
"Don't play stupid with me Gideon. I know. I know you don't control Vidal Records anymore. You lied to me so I would sleep with you. It was the ultimate revenge on me to know I didn't even have to. You win Gideon. You destroyed me. I hope you're happy."
Eva runs back toward the car and I chase after her. I have no idea what the hell she is talking about. Why would she thing I didn't control the company?
"Eva. Talk to me. I don't know what you are talking about. I don't want to destroy you. Please just talk to me."
"No. Leave me alone." She speeds off in her car.
What the hell is going on?
Ana
I see Eva and Gideon arguing and Eva punches Gideon in the face. I walk out of the plane and down the stairs. Elliot urges me to stop before I get to close but they are shouting so I can hear everything. She is wearing her dress and judging from the time I can assume the wedding didn't happen.
"Elliot what happened at the wedding."
"I don't know. Eva ran off before they finished the ceremony and then Brett called off the wedding. Guess now we know why."
"He wouldn't force her to sleep with him. He loves her."
"I don't know Ana. Lets get back inside."
"You go ahead. I will be right behind you." Elliot takes a few steps back but I know he is not far behind me.
Gideon is walking toward me and his face is distraught. He looks confused and hurt. He needs a friend.
"Gideon are you okay?" I reach out for him but he shrugs me off and walks past me.
I turn around and Elliot and I walk back toward the plane. We take our seats and Gideon retreats directly into his study. I wish I knew what happened. After two hours of letting my mind get the best of me, I grab some ice from the freezer and knock on the door to Gideon's study. Before he can answer I open the door.
"Go away Ana. I am not in the mood." Gideon is holding his head in his hands with his elbows propped up on the desk. I walk around his desk and touch his shoulder. He doesn't move.
"Gideon, let me see your face." I pull his hands away and Gideon slumps back into his chair. There is a bruise in his jaw and a small cut on his cheek probably from Eva's ring when she slapped him. I hold the ice to his face and sit on his desk.
"Do you know?" His face his impassive.
"Know what?"
"Do you know what is going on?"
"No. Do you want to tell me?"
"I would but I honestly don't know myself."
"Did you make Eva sleep with you?"
"I didn't make Eva do anything. You think I raped her or something." Gideon's face twists with disgust. "I gave her an opportunity to free her fiancé and she took it."
"If she slept with you."
"It sounds worse than it was."
"Explain it to me because right now it sounds pretty bad Gideon."
"She loves me. I know she does. I told her that if she slept with me I would free Brett from his contract with Vidal Records and he would be free. She did. I didn't have to try to hard to convince her. She wanted to. She even took over at one point." A ghost of a smile plays on his face. "Look I don't owe you and explanation. I don't owe you anything. Once we touch down I am going to figure out what is going on. Until then leave me alone Ana. This has nothing to do with you." His voice is now raised and he is standing over me.
I hop off the desk. "Fine. I was just trying to be your friend Gideon. If you want to be an ass that's fine with me. This is seriously fucked up anyway. I don't need this shit." I open the door and Gideon's hand comes from behind me and slams it shut.
Gideon is pressed against me from behind. My body is flush with the door and I can feel him breathing against my neck. His erection is in my back. He sweeps my hair off my shoulder.
Knock…knock…knock…"Ana. Are you in there?" I am grateful at this moment that Kate sent Elliot with me. This is a darker Gideon Cross that is hot and dangerous all at the same time.
Gideon places a small kiss on the back of my neck and opens the door just enough that I can slip out.
"Ana are you okay." Elliot eyes me concerned.
"I'm fine. I think Gideon is just being pushed to far. He is ready to snap."
"Well lets make sure we are firmly on the ground before he does."
"Elliot do you know what is going on."
"No, but I am sure Kate does. She can tell us when we land."