The Proposition (A Geek, An Angel) Page 15

  At nine thirty that night, Janeshia sat quietly in the lounge area of the Fairmont Hotel looking around the room. Ramsey was over an hour and a half late. She’d called her cell phone for the past half hour with no answer.

  Clank, clank! The hard clanking noise of a man’s shoe hitting the marble floor came from the corridor. A pair of black men’s shoes came into view. She glanced up.

  The man wearing the shoes glanced at her as he walked quietly by. He smiled softly. Quickly Janeshia turned her attention away.

  All at once a familiar voice sliced the air.

  “Janeshia! Is that you?” Adam asked smugly as he closed the gap between them.

  Stunned, Janeshia looked up suddenly.

  With a wise guy expression he said. “Don’t tell me you’re waiting on your date?”

  The corner of Janeshia’s mouth twitched nervously. “I am,” she announced rudely. “Or I was.” She stood up. “I was just leaving.”

  Instantly Adam stood beside her motionless. A terrible sadness came over him. He looked back at her with a lost expression. As if someone had knocked the wind out of his sail. His shoulders slumped. He took a deep breath. His voice shook, as he turned to walk away. “I’m sorry if I’m brothering you.”

  Janeshia’s heart went out to him. Her hand reached out and touched his shoulder. “No, I’m sorry Adam. I didn’t mean to be rude. Is everything okay Adam? You look a little down.”

  The two stood in silence several seconds.

  Adam glanced back at her. A deep sadness creased his brow.

  Janeshia thought Adam was about to cry. She tugged at his sleeve. “Here Adam, let’s sit down.”

  “Thanks,” he choked out in a low sob.

  Janeshia quickly glanced at her watch. She wondered how long she should stay and try to console Adam. If she left now she could stop off and grab a burrito before the taco shack closed.

  Adam glanced back at her with a look of gratitude.

  She felt guilty for wanting to ditch Adam while he was feeling so down.

  A few minutes later Adam faintly smiled and said, “Thanks for being so nice, Janeshia. I guess you can tell I was kind of at a loss. I’ve never been any good at the dating thing,” he whispered in a sad voice.

  “Oh Adam,” she said softly patting his hand.

  “Ah Janeshia, do you think I could tell you what happened?”

  She nodded with a deep concern.

  He stared into the distance and spoke slowly. “When I was thirteen, I liked this girl named Annabel Dawson. I asked her to go out with me and she agreed,” he shook his head admiringly remembering. “It was the best Saturday of my life. I took her to see a movie. We did the corny kids stuff and shared popcorn together. I took her to the movies every Saturday for the rest of that summer too,” he paused. His eyes glazed over. “Then school started back. And I thought everything was fine. I thought that she was just busy all the time, because we were back doing the school thing. I had a best friend named Danny Webber. He was the coolest kid I ever knew,” he choked out. “One day I stopped by to visit Danny because he’d stayed home sick from school. His sister let me in. I went up to his room and caught him screwing Annabel’s brains out. Then later I found out Annabel was only going out with me hoping she could be close to my best friend Danny Webber. I guess I haven’t had any luck with girls since.”

  She reached out and touched his hand.

  He sighed heavily and kept his eyes on the table. “I’m sorry Janeshia for letting my emotions show like that. I guess I was just fooling myself about my date. I was attracted to her and thought she was attracted to me. But as you can see I was wrong.”

  Janeshia glanced up with a caringly expression. She patted his hand comfortingly. “We’ve all picked the wrong people at times. Look at me. I’ve just been stood up tonight too.”

  Adam’s lips slowly bent into a faint smile. “I guess we both have something in common,” his eyes slightly glazed over with a pleading expression. He leaned over and took her hand. “Janeshia if you don’t mind,” he hesitated. “Could I ask you to please have dinner with me?”

  Janeshia pulled her hand away from his. She waived her hand so that he wouldn’t feel slighted. “I’m not sure if the main restaurant is still serving. Its ten o’clock.”

  Adam said with a smile in his voice. “But you’ll have dinner with me, right?”

  “Sure, I’ve got to eat too….”

  He interrupted. “Good and I know an even better restaurant than this one.” He said not waiting for her response. His hand motioned for the waitress, “Here let me pick up your check.”

  Adam’s eyes gleamed as he paid the waitress and took Janeshia’s arm. “Ready? Let’s get going.”

  They strolled through the lobby of the hotel.

  An hour later, they ate angel hair pasta with chicken breast, in a white sauce with mushrooms.

  Adam was opening another bottle of Chardonnay. “I guess you really were hungry,” he smiled. “I’m so glad you took me up on my offer for dinner.”

  “Wow Adam, I didn’t know you could cook so well. What you did with that frozen chicken breast was amazing.” She took a sip of her wine. “By the way your home is absolutely wonderful.”

  “Well, you’ve only seen the kitchen and the garage, please let me show you around. I insist,” he insisted.

  She hesitated and smiled softly.

  Adam refilled their glasses. “We’re friends now. Now that we’ve spent this time together you can see that I’m human just like everyone else.”

  “Yes of course we’re friends Adam. But it’s getting late. You need to take me back to my car,” she said abruptly. She reached for her jacket and remembered she took it off. She hugged her shoulders.

  “Janeshia, you’re not getting cold. I have the thermostat on 79,” he smiled somberly. “You’re not thinking of leaving without seeing my place. I know what you’re thinking. You’re a woman alone and we work together. So I promise I’ll only show you the first level, it’s my living space. No bedrooms. Look I would feel hurt if you didn’t. But I would feel honored if you’d let me show you around.”

  “Okay but then I have to leave. You must take me back to my car,” she insisted.

  A few minutes later, Janeshia followed Adam from room to room and drank in the furnishing.

  Adam led her into a huge room with a high ceiling. The room could only be described as a great room. Walking through Janeshia was in awe of two huge windows, covered completely with plantation shudders. Hardwood floors gleamed lending a masterful entertainment flow to the room. An extra large fireplace was flanked by two large lion statues. Hanging above the fireplace was a huge modern art painting. A plush long dark brown leather sofa sat away from the fireplace.

  Janeshia walked over and stood in front of the fireplace marveling at the lion statues. She glanced up. Her eyes caught sight of a darkened wall. Once her eyes focused, she shuddered with a cold shiver. A vast array of hand guns and knives meet her gaze.

  Adam’s eyes caught her gaze. He cleared his throat. “I see you noticed my collection. Don’t worry none of the guns are loaded. They are only for display,” he assured her. “They are only to add to the feel of the room and make it a true man cave décor.”

  Nervously she paused. “Yes, it is a man cave,” she agreed. She thought quickly about something nice to say.

  Adam walked over by the fireplace and pressed a button. The modern art painting gave way to a seventy inch flat screen television.

  A thought struck her. “Wow Adam, this room show’s you’ve obviously been busy decorating. Did you pick the colors yourself?”

  “Yeah, the walls are the best features. I love rich neutral browns. You can tell this is where all my extra money goes.”

  Thinking quickly Janeshia turned and faced Adam. She chose her words carefully. “Your home is exquisite and exceptional.” She paused. “I love your use of colors. I can’t say enough. And now that I’ve seen your beautiful home I really sho
uld be going.”

  “Have a drink with me,” he said walking to the bar. “We must toast your liking my home. You know I value a great compliment.”

  Quickly Adam poured two brandies and walked back and handed her a glass.

  Janeshia lifted the drink. She eyed him over the rim of her glass.

  “Thank you Janeshia for having dinner with me. And allowing me to show you my exquisite home”

  Janeshia drank from her glass. The Brandy tasted good.

  Adam studied her. “Janeshia…….Janeshia….I…I want to….” His hands gripped his drink awkwardly. He quickly gulped down his brandy.

  He closed the distance between them and reached out his hand to touch her shoulder. He paused a moment and looked into her deep green eyes.

  “Janeshia, this isn’t easy for me,” he said his voice low. “I have wanted to talk to you privately like this for a long time. I need for you to know something…..Our working together,” he hesitated.

  She interrupted holding her glass tight like a shield. She glared up at him. “It’s getting late Adam, I really must get going.”

  Adam’s hand traveled lowered. He touched her hand. “Please let me say what I have to say.”

  Janeshia could sense the change in the atmosphere. The air was warm and tense.

  “We spend a lot of time together. I ……..”

  The doorbell rang out loudly.

  A nervous twitch moved in Adam’s left eye. “Who the hell is that at this time of night?”

  Abruptly Janeshia put down her drink. She was glad for the interruption. She tossed Adam a cautious smile. “You have company Adam. And I really must be going. I’ll call a taxi to take me to my car.”

  Adam’s left eye twitched again. It made his expression look sinister.

  Janeshia’s eyes caught his expression at that precise moment.

  He caught her staring and lowered his head embarrassed.

  The doorbell rang again followed by a sharp knocking.

  Janeshia pushed past Adam and strutted to the door. “I’ll call a taxi and wait for it on your front porch,” she repeated, this time with a determined sternness.

  Adam quickly followed her.

  Amazingly he beat her opening the door.

  “Adam! Adam my old friend I know I didn’t call. But you said I could impose on your good nature anytime.” Walker Perrault said sternly strolling into the room.

  Adam shifted uneasily and cleared his throat loudly. “Walker I wasn’t expecting you. But as always it’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too Adam,” Walker replied.

  Janeshia staggered nervously back at the sound of his voice.

  Walker reached out and steadied her. “Janeshia, I hadn’t expected to see you here.”

  “I…I..,” she whispered.

  Walker’s eyes sought hers. He looked down on her with an inscrutable look as his arms securely locked around her.

  A film of confusion over-took Janeshia as she looked up at Walker. Something called out to her in the primitive. Seeing him stirred her emotions. That old mysterious attraction she had for him grew fierce within her and made her heart beat wildly. “I was just leaving. In fact I was just calling a taxi,” she uttered nervous and embarrassed.

  Janeshia didn’t know why but all of a sudden she felt the need to explain. “Walker, I was stood up by my dinner date tonight. And Adam rescued me from sitting alone at the Fairmont. He graciously invited me over and prepared a wonderful dinner,” she said in one breath. “I don’t know why I’m explaining. But anyway I really need to be getting home. Look, I’m going to wait out front until my taxi comes.”

  “Well of course you will do no such thing. Look Adam and I can talk later,” he said attentively.

  All at once Walker turned his head and looked back at Adam. Janeshia thought she had imagined it. Walker was deliberately pretending to be pleasant. But a rage was boiling behind his eyes.

  Adam walked closer. “Of course Walker and I can talk later,” he cleared his throat loudly.

  Janeshia glared back at Walker’s face. Finally she realized Walker was still holding her. She pulled out of his arms and looked away nervously. “I don’t want to interrupt whatever important thing you came over to talk to Adam about,” she said apprehensively.

  “Oh, it wasn’t important,” Walker’s expression was so convincing.

  Adam glanced at Janeshia unsuspectingly. “Walker is right Janeshia.” He swallowed hard knowing he might be in a precarious situation. He still had his wits about him. He realized Janeshia hadn’t been aware he had been in the process of seducing her. He studied them. His stomach churned knowing he’d been so close to having her. He couldn’t understand it. He was twice the man Walker was. With a calm expression he said, “Janeshia it is too cold outside for you to wait for a taxi. We don’t want you to catch a cold. You must take Walker up on his offer to drive you to pick up your car.”

  Janeshia heard the care and concern in Adam’s voice. It made it easy for her to nod her head yes.

  A few minutes later, Adam watched them leave and closed the door. He was seething with rage. He was angry at himself. Just a few more minutes and she was supposed to be naked on the leather sofa panting for him. Walker would have came in and found him fucking her brains out. Now he was standing there with a hard on. His plans went wrong. He quickly walked over to the phone and dialed the number.

  The telephone line clicked rapidly in his ear. After two rings, he heard a little static and then her voice echo over the telephone line.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello Phoebe, it’s me Adam. What the hell happened? You were supposed to keep Walker busy until I made the call.”

  Phoebe cleared her throat. “I’m sorry Adam. I know that was the plan. But there was nothing I could do to change Walker’s mind. I told you before the man is trust worthy and has an innocent streak a mile long. Innocent is hard to beat. And Walker is one the most innocent and trusting men I’ve ever known,” her voice shook nervously.

  “Don’t lie to me Phoebe!” Adam screamed into the phone.

  “Look Adam I swear to you. In fact, you can check the caller ID on my cell phone. Walker has not picked up a single one of my calls today.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m almost at your door. I knew you’d be mad. So I’m hurrying over,” she hesitated. “As a matter of fact, I am about to ring your door bell right now.”

  “Good,” his tone was brisk as he opened the door. “Get in here; I need you to earn the money I’ve been paying you.”

  As quickly as he could Adam put his arm around Phoebe’s waist and pulled her toward the great room.

  Phoebe made no protest and started unfastening her coat as they walked.

  She hurriedly took off her coat.

  Adam walked over and sat down on the sofa. “Take off your sweater.

  Phoebe did as she was told. She then released her bra. Her soft full round breast burst into view. She nudged closer to Adam.

  Quickly Adam’s hands threaded his hands through her hair and pulled her close. His mouth captured one of her breast. He sucked gently.

  Phoebe moaned.

  Adam pulled away. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “Do you need me?”

  “You know I need you Adam,” she moaned.

  “Then show me how much you need me Phoebe,” he said reaching down and unzipping his pants.

  Phoebe lowered her head.

  “That’s my girl,” Adam growled.

  She worked her lips and then her magic fingers stroked him, as she performed the magic that Adam loved.

  Adam moaned and growled loudly as he felt her tongue slick and hot slid across his groin.

  Suddenly Phoebe abruptly stopped and looked up at him.

  “What?”

  “Adam if you scream out Janeshia’s name again. I want my money, all of it now,” she paused. “And if you don’t give it to me. I’m not coming back. You understand?”
>
  He looked back at his erection and knew he would have promised her anything. “I won’t…..I won’t. I promise,” he murmured.

  Phoebe started back at him for just a moment longer. “You’d better not, you asshole,” she whispered under her breath, before she resumed what she had been doing.

  Deep in her heart, she didn’t believe him.

  Chapter 25

  Larissa, Mrs. Olsten & the perfect one for you

  A week passed, Larissa London expressed her concern. “Janeshia you look so tired. And you sounded so strange over the telephone. I had to come over and check on you. Goodness, we’ve both been so busy lately we never get to see each other,” she said reaching to help herself to a second serving of orange chicken.

  “Don’t you think this Garlic Shrimp tastes funny?” Janeshia asked spitting it out of her mouth into a napkin.

  Larissa grabbed the box of Garlic Shrimp. “I’ll eat that too if you don’t like it,” she said. “Goodness Janeshia, if I knew you’d lost your appetite, I would have stopped off and picked up some Thai food too. I’ve never seen you eat less food. Besides, I don’t have a date tonight, my having garlic breath won’t matter.”

  Janeshia ran her hands through her hair as she walked over and purposely sat down by her best friend. “Larissa, I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I think my blood pressure is high,” she sighed feeling her forehead.

  Larissa shrugged. “Do you want me to call an ambulance, or a shrink or would you just like to talk to me?”

  Janeshia sighed. “First I’ve got to know what you have been up too.”

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  “I mean that when I talked to my cousin Greystone, he mentioned that he thought you were back to believing you still had a knack for doing investigation work.”

  Larissa shrugged. “I don’t just have a knack, I’m gifted. I can spot a fraud a mile away,” she sighed. “Well, I’m good at doing the investigation thing. In fact I have a client.”