I made love to her the whole night, whispering "It has to be this way"; "Need your love"; "I need you": "Trust me" against her skin, needing her touch, wanting her too much, it hurt.
The whole night she punished me with her nails and fingers, scratching my back like a cat, bringing me to the brink of my orgasm with her tears and pleasured pain.
I cried along with her, our tears falling together on her already wet pillow, none of us getting enough of each other. Our sweaty bodies moved together without friction, both of us needing each other like air. We breathed each other like an aphrodisiac drink.
I touched her everywhere with my tongue and fingers. I sucked on her breasts like an infant. I drove inside her with a desperation to be with her. I was constantly inside her, with my tongue or my fingers or my dick. She too licked my throat and bit my shoulder, moaning and shuddering in delight. She dragged her nails on my whole body, touching my face with impatient fingers, sucking my dick in desperation, taking me in with an unclenching thirst.
I made love to her in every way possible. From behind, by laying upon her, by spooning her, by bracketing her, upside down. I took her in every way I could get her, in every way she gave herself to me.
My jaw ached by constantly working on her, licking and sucking her, my lips felt swollen, my whole body was on fire. It ached by my constant moving inside her, by the constant flexing of my muscles, my knees were very weak.
We both didn't want this night to ever end.
She slept with me still inside her from behind, both of us spooning. We both were restless, soar and exhausted, but none of us was able to stop.
"I won't let go. Ever." She had promised as she came down from the high of her orgasm. "You too. Don't let go."
I didn't say anything. I couldn't. Because I knew I was going to break the promise.
She finally fell asleep in my arms, still holding me deep inside her, her cleft sucking me dry of my last orgasm, milking me, making me come again. Both of us were sweaty, smelled of each other and sex.
Outside the night was at its brink, giving way to the new day. The sky had turned into colours of dawn, painting it.
Tears leaked out of my eyes as I separated myself from her. It was painful to detach myself from her after the most raw night we had spent. I kissed her hair before I slipped out of her bed. It was torture to wear my sweats and tip-toe out of her apartment to mine. It felt wrong. It felt like the start of the end.
I didn't reach the bed. I simply crumbled on the floor of the living room, crying myself to sleep, afraid I take any more step toward the room and that step would lead me to my own destruction, as she would not be with me, would not stay with me.
·
·
·
"I love you." My mom whispers as she take me to the beach, where my dad is standing. I look up at her, grinning, as I say "I love you too, mom" and run up the beach to my father. He is standing in the water till he ankles are drenched. His handsome face smiles as he sees me, catching me in his arms as I jump at him.
We make sandcastles together, my mom looking at me and smiling. She takes a picture of us and I run up to her to see that.
We go home then. Everything is good, perfect. The way I always wanted it to be.
When we reach there, they start fighting again, yelling at each other.
I hate that they fight, not liking it at all. They both say bad things to each other, and then they both cry.
Dad comes out, his eyes red and swollen. He looks very bad. He isn't smiling. He sniffs and look at me, trying to smile. He kissed my forehead and says "I love you". He goes out, shutting the door loudly.
Mom comes out, her eyes are also red, but she is not crying. I don't like my mom then, because she makes my dad cry. She doesn't ask me where dad has gone. She simply takes my hand and we go outside the house. She takes me far away, away from home. Dad is not there with us.
I wait for dad to come, but he never does. She doesn't cry any more. She is happy again. And I get angry at her.
"Where is dad?" I ask, but she never answers.
I get fed up of waiting.
I am yelling at her and she says she hates me. "You are just like your father." She says. She is mad at me. "Arrogant and, violent. I hate you."
I cry. I shut myself in my room. I hate myself.
My mom never comes to look at me. She still hates me.
I lie on the bed, crying.
Many people knock on the door, calling me, but I don't answer any. I don't want to meet anyone. I want my dad back. But he doesn't come.
My chest is heaving with my sobs, my breath still not normal, and I hear a different voice. I like that voice. It tells me to open the gate and I can't resist her. I open the gate.
It is a beautiful girl waiting for me at the door. She is blond, voluptuous, petite. I like her. No, I love her. She has a hand outstretched, palm out. She waits for me to put my hand in her. I put my hand there. I feel safe, happy, at home with her.
Eva smiles at me and I run behind her. She stops a few steps later, turning. I see her and fall on my knees. She smiles and come near me. When I look up again, she is upset with me. She is crying. I try to understand why but I don't have any answers.
She pushes me back that I fall on my ass. She sits beside me, telling me that she doesn't love me, because I am not enough for her.
I hear a different voice in my head. It is an ugly voice. I hate it. But I cannot shut it out. The voice is shrieking in my head, laughing a very loud, cruel laugh that makes me cringe.
"Did you really think people will ever love you?" he laughs again. "Even your dad left you. Your mom hates you. Did you really think that girl will like you, love you?"
"Shut up!" I yell, standing up, fighting the voice.
"You are not worthy of anyone's love."
"Fucking stop, please!" I am crying.
The man who is standing in front of me finds pleasure in seeing me so terrified. "You will never be enough for anyone."
"Shut the hell up!"
Beside me, Eva is standing up. "You are no good for me."
I cry, I beg her to not leave me, but she goes anyway, never looking back again.
She disappears.
My eyes opened and I literally crawled on all my floors to the kitchen sink where I threw up.
I looked at my watch to find it was barely past seven.
The worst part of nightmare was that it still lingered behind the eyes, even when we were awake. The same happened to me. The face of Eva was imprinted behind my eyes. Not the laughing one, but the one I had forced her to put on. It was the face that I had seen in my dream—upset, unsettling, dead.
I felt feverish with the lingering nightmare, so I went for a shower. Spraying hot water on myself till I could bear the nightmare, washing it away seemed a good remedy.
There I looked at myself properly. My hair had grown little longer than its normal shoulder length, my lips were swollen, engorged with blood. There was no five o'clock shadow on my face anymore. It was more profound now. More sharp. I had never gotten that worse in my life. I had always took care of my face, of my body, maintaining it. But this time it looked worse. What made it worst was my eyes. Big black shadows formed my eyes which I could not hide, showcasing the hurt in the eyes.
I worked on my face, grooming my stubble, the hair at my chest. I made myself appear good for the day, presentable. Showing no sign that I was almost dead inside as the person who mattered the most was hurting, worse that I was hurting her.
I was grooming my not so subtle stubble, when the last night came rushing to me.
I knew that last night was a mistake. I didn't want to give her any more promises or false hopes when I was ready to take our relationship to the stake. I was compromising everything that mattered the most—Eva—just to keep her safe, to keep her away from the people who were waiting to hurt her.
And last night just gave her false hopes. She may now believe that I was still with her.
Or maybe not.
She may take my desperation for another purpose. Maybe she took my yesterdays impromptu visit like a goodbye, a last memory for the many days and night we had spent together.
She was the core of my life, the very centre of my whole world. The only one who made me believe there was someone for me too, someone whom I could call home. I belonged with her.
How would I survive if she decided to cut me off from her life?
I couldn't.
I nicked myself. I realized my hands were shaking.
I ordered myself to stay focused while I worked on presenting myself as the ruler of my empire. I had to work harder to make the plan work. I have to keep my shit together. There can't be any problem today. My future, Eva's future, our future as a couple depended on how I executed today.
I quickly showered and caffeinated myself to start the day. I also took the stuff I will need for the day in a black duffle bag.
Raúl was waiting for me in the parking when I went down. He smiled, tapping his chauffeur's hat. I smiled, sliding in the car.
It was early, barely eight when I entered my office.
I did the first things first.
I called Nathan. He was a rat who needed to be attended every few days else he would start acting on his own. I needed to assure him that I was going to pay him whatever he demands as soon as possible to cut him off from my life, from Eva's.
He answered the phone in a few rings, his voice smug. "Look if it's not Gideon Cross calling for me for the money." His every word was being recorded, as a further alliance if needed.
I loathed him, hated his voice, hated his every thing, even the single fact that he breathed the same air we did. Hated that after screwing with Eva's life, he still wanted to make her life a mess, control her, invade her privacy she had tried so hard to build.
"You guess correct." It took so much effort to keep my voice normal, devoid of any emotion.
"So, you will be transferring it in my bank account directly or should I come over there to pick up?" he sounded amused.
Did he really think I was a big fool? How can he even lay these options in front of me? Did he really think I will do that to Eva? Bring the person who stole her innocence from her come any near of her, or risk myself by making a personal transaction via bank.
"How about I come and give you directly? I don't want to take any risk."
"Of course not, else you will be fucked up hard. Don't you think?"
"I think correctly. Give me your hotel name and number and I will come to give you the money directly at near to midnight by tomorrow."
"So late, Cross? Don't you still care for Eva at all?"
He had fallen for the bait. Media was frenzy about anything related to me. And the meeting I had arranged on Monday did the wonders I had wanted. Media was thinking, and making everybody else think, that I and Eva are no more an item, that I was getting back with Corinne. If Nathan was keeping tabs on me and Eva, he too would have noticed the same. He would have now really undertook the thinking that I and Eva had broken up. That she was just a bait to bring Corinne back to me.
"Of course I do, and that's why I'll be paying you five million dollars by tomorrow midnight, and also make sure you are out of the country as you plan to be. You will find the plane ticket to Mexico city. The flight will take off at five in the morning, and you will take the flight. From there I don't care where you go or where you stay, but you are not allowed in New York."
"I'll miss you, Cross."
"I have already talked to the hotel. A taxi will be waiting for you at the door by two. The manager will make sure you reach the airport and there my team will make sure you attend the flight. You are leaving as soon as I pay you, Barker."
"Seems like you are going dirty with all the media attention. I never thought you would use Eva? Well, what can I say. She has always been a good fuck. Hope you enjoyed yourself. Just like you are enjoying the media —"
"You may like all the frenzy of media attention, but I don't want any. And remember, if I see any reporter or media person near your hotel, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
"I don't think you are in position to order." He said with disgust.
"Then you should be very much aware, Barker. Good day." I ended the call, pushing the phone aside with force on the desk.
I needed Eva right now. Just her. Only her. But I couldn't have her right now. I couldn't go to her, couldn't hold her.
It was just a few minutes to nine. I was waiting for her, only if I could see her.
Angus pulled over at Crossfire and my eyes were transfixed at the monitor, looking for her. She came, wearing a blue blouse tucked in a peach coloured skirt. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. I couldn't take my eyes off her. My dick was achingly aware of her, painfully aroused, knowing the person in whom it had been whole night.
She looked extremely fuckable in her light coloured skirt, her blouse fitting her perfectly, showing off her breasts.
She entered the elevator with a few other people. One of them, standing just behind her, checked her out, taking a firm look at her butt. How dare he check her! My fingers fisted, eager to claim Eva again, announce the whole world she was mine.
For a second Eva's eyes looked at the camera, like she knew I was watching her. My fingers traced her face in the monitor, itching to caress her skin. She shook her head with a hurt look and exited the elevator at the twentieth floor. I sighed with longing.
I called Scott, telling him I was ready to start the day.
·
·
·
I had a Kingsman Vodka meeting at eleven. But I wasn't prepared for Eva to be present in that meeting. She wasn't present in the last one, and stupidly I had thought she won't come this time too.
It was very difficult to shake her hand, my body instinctively reacting to her touch, knowing she was the one whom I wanted to be with. It was hard enough to look over her head and greet her by her last name, acting like she wasn't present.
It was very hard to not look at her, pay attention to the meeting when I was acutely aware of her presence. It felt like there was no air in the room. I couldn't breathe properly. Every few seconds she would look at me, her face pleading me to look just once at her. I was constantly aroused during the whole meeting, my whole body aware of the tension between us.
While Mr. Waters and Mark Garrity pointed out the fine points, I was thinking about the previous time when we were here in this room. That time she had my whole attention. And that was the time I had asked her if she was sleeping with someone else. That was the day we actually started our journey. And today we were sitting in the same room, but the circumstances, the actions, all were very much different. I was purposely avoiding her, not even looking at her.
The nightmare I had seen today seemed to be happening in real. I was living it, and worse, I couldn't escape it.
The way her face had been the whole meeting was cutting my heart, piercing it slowly.
Once the meeting was over, I stood without savouring a moment, thanked them and was out in a few quick strides without even looking at her. The board members of Kingsman, Suzanne and Melissa followed me. They tried to follow me on my office, to discuss the meeting, but I wasn't in any mood.
"I need some time. We will discuss it later. As of today, I liked their ideas." And closed myself in my office, frosting the glass, moving to the glass wall, looking outside at the city.
I needed to be alone for sometime.
Someone knocked on the glass. I didn't answer, knowing already it was Scott. He entered anyway, looking at me. "Mr. Cross, your next meeting is due in two minutes. Do you want me to pass the documents of the meeting to them?"
I didn't answer, not wanting to talk to anyone. He called me again.
"For fuck's sake, Scott," I yelled, losing my temper, turning around to glare at him. "can't I have five minutes to myself in a goddamn day?"
He stepped back involuntarily, shocked. He gathered himself quickly. "I'll tell them that you are running a little late today."
"Uhhh!" I groaned, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Scott. I'm having a headache."
"I'll bring you a medicine."
"Okay. And as of meeting, tell them I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
"As you say." And he left the office.
I sat on my chair, picking up the photo of Eva. I traced her photo with my fingers, looking at her happy face, the way her eyes were shining with happiness, the way her lips were turned up in a smile as she blew me kisses.
I took a deep breath and resumed my day.
·
·
·
During lunch I called the board members of Kingsman, the two brunettes who were working with me on it.
"I was thinking," I started when we were seated for the meeting after discussing all the merits and demerits in the pointers Mark Garrity had shown us, "that now that we are almost all set on launching the product, how about we have a small gathering today, where we not only serve the vodka but also get people to taste it so we can know about the reviews and then proceed accordingly. If all goes well then the grapevine would be enough, but if not, well then, we will know."
Suzanne looked intrigued. "Like a pre-launch. A publicity event."
"Exactly. The media will be present, so it will be like a cherry on the tape. Not only we will get to introduce the product, but also they will make sure that it goes noticed. Almost free advertisements."
They both considered it, and then Melissa pointed out, "It is a nice idea but it will be very hard to arrange that in such a short time."
"That wouldn't be a problem if we do it in my hotel Crossling."
"And that you can pull it off in a few hours?"
"Yes."
"And what about the guest list?" Suzanne pointed out. "We can't just invite them to a party which has been planned just now."
"We already have a ready guest list for such spontaneous parties and gatherings. It could be handled easily within a couple of hours. My communication team just needs my signal and they are good to make the calls."
"Okay." She nodded, smiling, impressed. "Looks like we are having a party tonight."
I thanked them and told Scott to do the arrangements. I called Crossling then, to tell them myself about the requirements and to pull a perfect campaign.
Then I called the one whom I knew would be a great alibi to me.
She picked the phone in a few rings, sounding ridiculously impatient and relieved. "Hello, Gideon. You took so long to call me."
I took a breath and tried to bring warmth in my voice. "I was busy. How have you been?"
"I am fine. Tell me about you."
"Nothing. I needed another favour from you. There is a product launch party tonight, a sort of publicity campaign, and I don't have a date to go with."
"I'll be there."
I hated that I was giving her those signals. But I grasped at the opportunity like a lifeline. If I wanted Eva and I to be safe and out of any interrogation, I have to play the part well.
"Thanks. I'll have my driver pick you up at half past six. The party starts at seven."
"Won't you come to pick me up?"
"I have to be at the hotel to look at the preparations. But I'll see you there."
"Okay. I'll see you then."
The words pierced my heart, because I won't fulfil the promise I have given someone.
·
·
·
It was three when I got the call. I was in a meeting when Scott came in, telling me that Eva was on the other line. I got worried—she never called me at that time, then why? Was she in a trouble?
It was struggle to act in a cordial manner, apologize them for the delay and move to my office where she was waiting for me. "Yes, Eva?" I asked, trying to sound indifferent.
"I'm sorry to bother you. This is probably a stupid question, considering, but... are you coming to dinner tomorrow to meet my father?"
She still hoped, she still wanted me. She haven't given up on me. Did she have any idea what her simple question did to me? Did she have any idea how anxious I was to meet her father, how important that was for me? I wouldn't give away that chance for the world.
Relief flooded me. "I'll be there." I had tried so hard to be casual but my voice gave away.
She breathed deeply. "Are you bringing Ireland?"
Was I bringing Ireland? I haven't asked her yet, but she liked Eva. She may say yes. And Eva wanted me to bring her. Surely I could do that. "Yes."
"Okay."
"I have a late meeting tonight, so I'll have to meet you at Dr. Petersen's. Angus will drive you over. I'll grab a cab."
I hated lying to her, after she was giving herself completely to me. But there was a more important thing to do.
"All right." Did I really hear the relief in her voice or was I imagining it? None of us said something then, just enjoying the silence for a few seconds. Then, she finally said, "I'll see you then."
I felt sick, because I knew I was going to hurt her more. She wouldn't see me. Instead she would see her worst nightmare come true when the media will capture me with Corinne.
I ended the call and went back to the conference room to attend the meeting.
·
·
·
I called Ireland from the car, looking at the city, thinking how Eva saw each thing with a new eye, seeing everything like she was seeing was a whole another world. I tried to see that way.
The sky was painted in many different hues of sunset while the whole city was vibrating with the need to end the day, to spend some time with friends and family. People were walking fast on the sidewalk, eager to escape the heat of the month.
Ireland took a long time to answer it, but when she did, she sounded surprised when she greeted me with "Hello, Gideon."
"Hey, Ireland." I greeted her, mentally kicking myself. Of course she would sound surprised. I had never called her directly unless she had a problem. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing much. It's summer vacay, so I was planning on taking a few classes before I start my schooling at Columbia University. I would be a Freshman there and I don't want to look dumb."
I never realised how mature she was. So like me. Even I had been too focused for my time at Columbia university, making sure I don't look like an idiot who knows nothing. My father's name was enough of a backload that time.
"It seems you are busy."
"I can make amends." She proposed.
I smiled at that. It was so easy to get it that we were both our mother's children. Not only our looks matched along with our eyes, but we also shared the same need of being discreet.
"What do you feel about dinner with Eva?"
She squealed. "Oh, my god, I can't believe it. I mean, Christopher told me that you were getting serious, but I never thought you would get there so soon. I am so happy for you."
I found myself smiling. "Thank you. But you didn't answer me yet."
"Who would be there?"
"Eva, her dad, and Cary."
"Hmm." She murmured in a mature voice. Her next question made me anxious. "You nervous to meet her dad?"
Was I? "Not nervous, but I don't want him to dislike me."
"Ha! You are sooo nervous." She laughed. "I don't want to miss that. Consider it done."
"Its tomorrow. I'll call you."
"I'll be waiting."
I smiled. I never realised she was easy to talk with. "Me too. Be ready by six."
"Bye, Gideon. See you tomorrow."
"See you." I promised, ending the call.
·
·
·
The manager, Dustin, greeted me at the hotel, wearing a black suit with a light blue shirt and a grey tie. He was radiant to be known by his name to me. He assured me he would plan it properly without any glitch.
What he didn't know was that I needed a glitch.
"I would like to look in the kitchen," I told him as I saw the arrangements of the tables and chairs, of the arrangements and the photos of Kingsman. "make sure of the food."
"It is, as usual, delicious. But as you wish. This way, please."
He guided the way to the kitchen, where there was so much noise and yelling. The temperature was, as to be expected, hot in there, but the aroma of all the food was scrumptious.
I tasted each and every thing, appreciating it as it tasted heavenly. Then I asked to show me the stock of Kingsman they had stored. Dustin took me to the refrigerator, showing me all the bottles they had stored in the two refrigerators. I nodded, liking it.
He excused himself for a moment, and I took the opportunity to slip in a salty-water drenched cloth between the switch board and the plug, making sure that it didn't slip out. Did the same at the microwave, taking no chances.
There was no place for mistake. It was a now or never opportunity and I wanted it to happen today itself, end the whole mess with my terms.
At ten minutes to seven Raúl called me to let me know they were here. I stepped outside to welcome Corinne. As I had expected, media person were everywhere on the sidewalk, taking pictures of us. Corinne stepped out of the car, wearing a backless pink coloured gown. Her hair was completely parted, showing off her back, while her face looked beautiful with her blue eyes and red lipstick.
She moved closer to me when she saw me, smiling in the flirty manner she always did. She pushed herself against me, closing the distance between us. I stepped back. She pressed her hand to my cheek, her aqua-marine eyes looking hurt. I didn't want to upset her, so I smiled and kissed the back of her hand in a rather charmingly way.
The small moment was captured by cameras. I placed my hand on the small of her back, touching the skin. I recalled the moment when Eva had wore the red gown, when I touched her the same way but a little more intimately. Corinne looked up at me and smiled. I have her a quick nod and guided her in.
All the people who were listed on the guest list made appearances, greeting me. Corinne stayed with me the whole time, moving along with me, meeting all the guests with warmth and laughing when required, saying things when needed.
She was experienced of such events, have been at many. But Eva still didn't have this skill. She usually gets bored or feel like an outsider and tries to runaway. I'll teach her this when we meet again. Hopefully we will be back on the track then.
Corinne took advantage of being with me, turning to me whenever I said something or whenever she was about to. She was clearly trying to show how compatible we were. So I humoured her every now and then, participating when she said something, smiling when she laughed at me. There was a moment when she tried to put her head on my shoulder as if we were a couple. I deterred her in a very gentle way that she was hurt.
It was near to eight in no time. Outside, the sky had turned complete dark, the streets were not so crowded and it was a busy street. Just the set-up I needed.
I was just waiting for the disturbance I needed.
The fire system was alarmed within minutes when I was doubting myself. A quick relief. Everyone panicked. The manager barged in towards me, looking all calm.
"Gideon, there was a small fire incident in the kitchen and it is spreading. We need the guests to evacuate."
"On it." I told him without asking any questions, and made an announcement. "My dear ladies and gentlemen, please don't panic. A fire has been caught in the hotel, so we need you to evacuate from the building. But please don't go far away, I would like to end the part with a good note and see you bye. Hope you find the night pleasant to walk a little on the sidewalk. Now, if you may, please follow Dustin."
They all went out, and as I had expected, a chaos was created by the all the frenzy of frenzy and guests and the people staying in the hotel.
Corinne too left. If it had been Eva, she would have given me a hard time for asking her to go outside, and insisted on being with me. But not Corinne. She never understood me the way Eva did, never looked at me the way she did. Eva was a miracle for me in herself.
I went to the kitchen, checking on the fire. Dustin had already called the FDNY, so all we did was to wait. Till then I told Dustin I would be out, meeting the guests.
I found them just as I had expected them to. Walking on the sidewalk, sitting at the benches, on phones. But they all were still here. I met all of them, apologizing for the inconvenience.
I went in and out a few times, meeting the manager a couple times, other times looking at my Rolex. FDNY reached within ten minutes, getting to work as soon as possible. I met them, standing beside them for a minute, and again went out. But this time downstairs to the garage.
Raúl was waiting for me downstairs. I told him to go up and try to make some calm in the chaos. When left alone, I pulled the duffle bag I had kept in the car, replacing my jacket for a hoodie. I pulled a baseball cap on my head, covering it with the cap of the hoodie.
I used the back gate of the garage to get myself on the backstreet, walking towards the hotel Nathan was staying in. It was a few blocks away. Usually it would take fifteen minutes to reach there but I knew a few shortcuts known by just a few, and I had checked this route before. I knew it would take me three less minutes to reach there.
I went through the street, making sure no one sees me or notices me. When I reached the hotel, I went in through the back door, making sure I meet no one there. It was the most tricky thing, as anyone could come in and see me or notice me. It was a little relief that I had already cleared the route free of camera surveillance for the day, saying the system needs a few ramifications and advanced features.
I used the stairs to reach the third floor where that beast was staying. I knew through my sources that he was still in his room, partying himself in the assumption he was going to get the money.
I knocked on the door thrice, the way done by any practiced waiter or room-service.
From my recent encounters with him, in personal or on the phone, I knew one thing about him. He was too-overconfident. He usually got everything he demanded, and so he got more and more sure-footed. I knew that already he will not ask who is on the door. As he knew there won't be any police—he made sure with the threat of leaking Eva's videos and pictures on the internet—and he knew there would be no one else to harm him.
No sooner I heard the unlocking of the door, I prepared myself. I was already ready with the knife in my hand. It was something I had fetched from my home. It had a long blade, enough to move into and out the body without spoiling my hand.
The door finally opened. Before he could comprehend who was at the door, before who could get what was being done to him, I shoved the knife in his chest, twisting it a little, making sure it pierces his heart. Without making a sound he fell on the floor, not moving.
My breathing was slightly hard when I checked him. He wasn't breathing. I checked his pulse with my other hand, making sure I touch nothing with the knife. I had already wore gloves on my way up. His pulse was dead. He no more lived. He wasn't a threat to Eva anymore. He wouldn't trouble her ever again.
I moved away, making sure I left no proof on the scene. I closed the door, hid the knife in my hoodie for the time being, and headed down, again making sure no one saw me. Luck was with me. I moved through the back door again, checking no one was there to spot me, and walked through the way I came in.
I walked the twelve minutes way, looking down, making no sudden move that anyone notice me. On the way, I took the knife with me to Crossling, finding it hard to throw it somewhere where it would become a evidence against me. I had got this idea from Nathan himself, when he hid the baseball bat rather than throwing the blood slicked bat away in the garage. I would dump the knife, but during the night when there will be less people to see, and somewhere I knew where it would never turn out to be a evidence against me.
I reached the hotel back in record time, thirty minutes as I had hoped for. I changed in my jacket again, putting the hoodie back in the duffle bag along with the knife and shoving the bag deep beneath the seat, where no one would look for.
When I reached up, the FDNY was just cleaning up. I greeted the guests again, apologizing them again for how the evening turned out, and thanked the FDNY on their way out after they did all the documenting. Meanwhile I called Arnoldo, telling him about the fire incident and asking him to arrange food. The launch party resumed again, where the already prepared food was served, and other freshly made food by Arnoldo and his team was on the way.
I was constantly walking then, asking in the kitchen if they need anything, looking for the guests if everything was right, asking the manager if he needed any help with. I also managed to remove the cloth I had fitted at the microwave plug, glad that the fire unit hadn't noticed it.
If was after half past ten when everybody was leaving, I thanked them again for coming. They all assured me that it all turned out to be fine and finally the party was over.
Corinne stayed behind, hoping to stay with me but I didn't pay attention to her then. I talked to Dustin, asking him about the damage. He told me that the refrigerator was almost burnt and that new one would be required. Then he also mentioned about the slight blackening of the kitchen ceiling and the walls, of the slight damage to the microwave.
I was making a few calls to the hospital then, to ask them to come by and check on the chefs who were still panic-stricken with the fire. I was talking on the phone when Corinne came to me. I showed her a finger to tell her I would require another minute. Then, "Yes doctor, nobody was harmed, but still I want to assure the health of every personnel in there. Okay, yes, I'm here for another couple of hour or so anyway. Thank you doctor, I'll be waiting for your unit."
"How can I help you, Corinne?" I asked, still in my business mode. There was no more of affection in my voice.
Her mouth turned into a grimace. "You seem tired. Want to sit down for a minute?"
"Thanks, but I've got some work left to manage."
She sighed, looking down. "Okay then, guess I won't see you for the night."
"You guess right." I said, looking at the phone for the insurance company number.
"I am leaving."
"Okay." I said, and called Raúl. "Mrs. Giroux wishes to go home. See that she reaches there properly."
She winced as I called her with the title of Mrs. rather than her name.
"Okay. I'll be at the gate. And as of the flight details you asked me, Victor Reyes will land in La Guardia by quarter to six in the morning."
"Thank you." I turned to Corinne then, "Raúl will see you home."
"What happened to Angus? I haven't seen him in this week."
I smiled, knowing where he was. Keeping a perfect eagle's eye on Eva to make sure she isn't threatened or followed by anyone else. Making sure she is safe.
"He has some other work to attend to."
"Ah."
She was silent then, looking at me with a hurt look. She shifted on her feet, then stepped closer to me. She put her hands on my chest, seductively.
"Would I see you later?" She murmured, moving closer to me for a kiss.
I stepped back, moving her hands away from my chest. I breathed deeply. "I already told you, Corinne, I don't want to get involve with you. I had asked you as a friend, and you helped me as a friend. Please don't expect anything else and don't ruin our friendship by thinking of us in any way. Please?"
She didn't answer, just scowled and left the hotel.
When almost the whole banquet hall was empty, I sat on a chair with my jacket already out and talked with Dustin while we ate our food.
"You managed everything well, Gideon. Constantly in and out, making sure everything was going well. I was going frenzy with the fire but you were very calm." He appraised.
I smiled as I stabbed a salad piece with my fork. He looked up at me from his own plate with bright eyes, which were very happy to be asked to eat along with me.
"I try. And you managed almost everything. I just had to talk to the guests and FDNY."
"Thank you. It means so much being appreciated."
"No thanks. I just have the credit where it was required." He smiled as we ate the dinner.
Later I called the insurance company, informing them about the incident. They all assured me they'll see what can we do. Then I called Arash.
"Seriously Cross, everybody else has a life."
"Sorry to disturb you, Madani, but I wanted your assistance. Not now, but surely tomorrow. There was a small incident of fire at Crossling. I've already talked to the insurance company but tomorrow I want you here at ten when they come here."
"Was anyone hurt?"
"No. There was no accident, thank god for that, but the insurance people will need a medicine of their own in case they try to margin down the loss."
"I hate when you get all business and are always right then. I'll be there by ten."
I ended the call with him and called the other people whom I needed their help from. An electrical agency for the refrigerator and other things we were a loss at. It took a whole hour to convince them to deliver by seven in the morning. Then there was the colour. I called Blaire Ash and told him about the incident and the need to get colour done as soon as possible. He agreed to come tomorrow and have a look, and start the work as soon as possible. I called a few more people then, asking them favours.
It was almost three in the morning when everything was sorted out, finally. Raul had already left, leaving me the car. Dustin asked if I were to sleep at the hotel itself, but I shook my head. I had already cleared my fuck-pad as Eva had called it, but I didn't want to make her any more gruesome then she already was about that. If she came to know I stayed in the hotel, she would go wild with her imagination.
I had already asked Raúl to be there when Eva gets out to get her father. He was going to drive the Bentley that Angus had left at Fifth Avenue.
I drove the car to Fifth Avenue. I wanted to be near Eva, as near as I could possibly be now, but I knew I needed strong alibis to get free of the crime I actually did.
On the way, I stopped at Central Park, dumping the knife in The Lake, throwing the evidence in case anyone comes to get it.
I registered at the desk, making sure they note the time I was back. Once up, I burnt the hoodie and the cap, getting rid of all things that would ever remind of this day.
The worst part of nightmare is that we don't have to be asleep to experience it. We can even live one. Today was that day for me. I had lived a whole fucking nightmare that would haunt me for the rest of my life. But at last, I knew it was worth it, worth everything.
If I had to do it again, murder Nathan, plan the damn fire in my own vicinity just to make Eva safe, secured, there was no doubt I would do that again. Without a second thought.
I showered and settled on the bed, sleeping myself to the photo of her.
