Frozen Over Read online

  “How long is the flight to San Diego?” I ask, running my hand along his lapels.

  “Long enough. But I have to review stuff before we touch down. But on the flight back, I promise.” He winks as he takes his seat and pulls out his laptop and sets it up on a side table. I sit across from him and get comfortable in my seat. I remove my shoes and put one leg up so it’s between his on his seat. With the tips of my toes, I massage him with my toes. He looks over his screen with a quirked eyebrow.

  “Playing with fire babe. I swear. I promise to take care of you soon.” He says softly.

  Resigned, I give up and pull out my tablet and start reading the first book that pops up in my library. It was about a mathematician who falls for his student. I snickered silently to myself reminded of a drunken Mel in the bar during that study group night.

  In no time, we’ve landed in San Diego. It’s bright and sunny here, compared to the grey of the city. Everyone is so casually dressed that I’m almost jealous. There’s a private car waiting for us at the curb that Tyson ushers me into and soon we’re driving along the streets of downtown San Diego towards the Andaz Hotel, where we have a loft room that is just as big as my old apartment. Tyson instructs me to change into something that I will be comfortable in as we’ll be joining some of his associates at the rooftop bar for dinner and drinks.

  I dress in a maxi skirt with a spaghetti strap tank top, very San Diegan as Tyson puts on jeans that sculpt to his ass and a polo shirt. Before leaving the room, he pulls me into his arms.

  “Thank you for coming with me.”

  “I’d go anywhere with you, for you.” I smile leaning up to kiss him softly.

  “I promise tonight won’t be too much work. The guys I’m working with are bringing their girlfriends and wives, it’s more of a social dinner rather than work.” He smiles.

  “I may hold you to that.”

  “I’ll hold you to something.” He nips at my bottom lip as he pushes his erection into me. “On second thought, I’m sure they won’t mind if we’re late. We have to make sure the accommodations suit us in every way.” He winks dragging me over to the bed.

  Before I can push him away, he’s pulled the straps down on my tank top and has my nipple in his mouth. I hold his head to me and I’m powerless.

  ***

  We were only twenty minutes late in meeting the guys he would be having renovate a new building for Mad Designs. Three extremely attractive males were seated at a circular table with three stunning counterparts by their sides. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so up to par. The people here in San Diego are beautiful, they even date beautiful people. I look to Tyson, he’s one of the beautiful people, I could be considered just okay. As if Tyson was sensing my observation and inner thoughts, he squeezed my hand and smiled when I looked his way.

  Introductions went around the table and soon, the girls and I were discussing everything from fashion, which was my thing to babies, which apparently was their thing as one of them was currently pregnant and another had a daughter already. Conversation was easy and constant even as the evening dwindled down to just the main person that Tyson was working with, Lukas and his girlfriend, Melissa. After Tyson and Lukas did a small bit of planning for the following day, we enjoyed another drink and then called it a night.

  “I’m pretty sure, that I’m drunk.” I smile, leaning into him and smelling his shirt.

  “I’m thinking that I would have to agree with you. Did you have a good time?” He asks.

  “I did. San Diego people must have delicious water.” I slur.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Their water must be heavenly. They drink it so much, makes them all beautiful and shit.”

  He laughs, a full belly laugh with his head leaned back and everything.

  “I think you’re beautiful and shit.” He says as the elevator doors open to out floor.

  “I think you drink the water too. You’re all schmexy.”

  His arms tighten around my waist as he leads me to our loft door.

  “You have to admit, the water is good here.” I say as he chuckles letting us into the room.

  “If I can just take a disco nap, I’ll be good to go in like an hour. Mmmmkay?”

  “Where do you plan to go?” He asks.

  “We’re going to go find this San Diego water, and then we’re gonna party all night like the beautiful people. You’re beautiful.” I say and I plant myself on the bed. I remove my shoes and lay my head on the pillow.

  “Baby, we don’t need to go out and party all night. Rest, if you wake up party fresh, then we’ll plan something.” He kisses my temple and then silence engulfs me.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  TYSON

  I managed to get out to the new building site in the central part of San Diego while I was in town. I was impressed with the size of the plot and gave the thumbs up for Lukas and his team to begin. The foundation is already there, they’re just restructuring and then revamping. I wouldn’t have to be back in San Diego for a few months and even then, it wouldn’t need to be that long of a trip. The total project will be finished mid-summer, if they stay on schedule so my next order of business after this trip will focus on the official summer line launch.

  Allison was still nursing her hangover when I came back to the loft later that day, so I ordered up room service and we watched television from the comfy bed together. Not how I would have spent my time previous to her, but I’m surprisingly content with it.

  We woke early on Sunday and rented a few bikes and rode down by the embarcadero. We went to Seaport Village for lunch and pretended to be tourists since Allison hadn’t been down to San Diego. Being away from the city and the fog has made me feel lighter than I’ve felt since Christmas; it’s been a breath of fresh air. I was dreading heading back home, but I also missed the comforts of my own home. Our flight home wasn’t scheduled until the evening time, so after lunch we ventured to Balboa Park and walked around the grounds. We watched street performers perform magic, hula hoop and sing. We walked hand and hand across a bridge by the big fountain and smelled the roses in the rose garden. Soon, dusk was approaching and we had a car taking us to the airport.

  With Allison snuggled into my side, I read the Sunday newspaper for the first twenty minutes of our flight. Allison began to squirm as we were flying above Los Angeles.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  “You promised.” She says, her eyes conveying desire as she licked her lips.

  I smiled and unbuckled our seatbelts. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up from her spot and lead her to the back cabin bedroom so we can have some privacy for the things I wanted to do to her.

  “You ready to join the mile high club baby?” I smile as the door clicks shut behind her.

  “Are you already a member?” She asks, bashfully.

  “Nothing before you counts. Only you.” I say, meaning every word of it.

  Sure, I’ve had my dalliances in the sky on a few occasions. I’ve gotten cozy with some flight attendants while they were supposed to be serving me alcohol instead of themselves, but right here and right now Allison is the only one who matters. I chuckle, as I can’t recall the last several years of my life. Allison is all that I can see, everything in my past is a hazy existence.

  Since I consider her as my future, I had an hour left of the flight to show her exactly how much.

  ***

  “Anna, in my office! Now!” I yelled through the intercom. I needed Beth back, this temp has been unhelpful in every faucet of my daily business. I know that it’s likely not her fault but since she is not Beth, I’m probably taking every little thing out on her that I can. I normally don’t have too much interaction with Beth, because she either gets her shit done without issues or is usually one step ahead of me.

  I’m staring at agendas for two meetings this afternoon and neither are current. They contain information from meetings from the fall line and that is simply unacceptable.

  Anna scurries into my
office, looking like she’ll fall over with just one word spoken her way. Noting her scared demeanor, I take a deep breath to avoid yelling at her.

  “The agendas for the afternoon’s meetings, are dated. Please re-do them to the topics listed in the calendar appointment.” I instruct, reigning in my anger. I feel like smoke is coming out of my nose.

  “I apologize sir. I will correct it right now. Is there anything else?” She asks, before she leaves.

  “That’s all for now. And Anna, I need those done before lunch so I can approve them before you print.”

  She nods as my cell phone rings. Beth.

  “Hey boss-man!” She sings into the phone.

  “Please tell me something good.”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow. Is that good?”

  “Best news I’ve heard all day.”

  “I already called the temp agency. They’ll have Anna stay one more day, and tomorrow I’ll just have her go through with me what she’s been doing for the past two weeks.”

  “No, she hasn’t been doing anything. Well, she hasn’t been doing anything correctly. Call them back and just let today be it for her. She’s a broken leaf, she may crumple if she stays here any longer.” I beg.

  “Ty, she’s probably like that because you can be a real dick sometimes, you have moments when you can be scary, if not a complete asshole.”

  “Don’t sugarcoat it or anything.”

  She hangs up on me and I’m slightly less agitated with the news of her return. The remainder of the day is anticlimactic with meetings back to back. I let Anna leave the office earlier than she normally would, in hopes that she won’t return tomorrow and the majority of my other employees have already left for the day. I’ve got my face glued to the spreadsheets on my screen and my ear buds in my ears playing Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 to drown out any additional annoyances so I can get home at a somewhat decent hour. Lately, I’ve been at the office later than usual since the release of the summer line is this weekend. I have people who can double check everything, but I would rather make sure that its triple checked just in case one of the other people had a lapse in judgment.

  I note a change in the room, some floral scent has wafted into my nostrils, and I look around my monitor to see Penny sitting in the chair in front of my desk. She’s comfortable, so I’m unsure as to how long she has been sitting there. She’s looking at me with concern, yet questioning eyes.

  I click to save the spreadsheet that I was reviewing and yank the ear buds out of my ears. My blood is boiling at her presence and it’s taking every ounce of strength that I have in me to remain professional. I move my monitor to the side and fold my hands together. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, hoping that when I open them, she won’t be sitting in front of me. As I open my eyes, it’s unfortunate that she still is.

  “Penelope.” I start. Deep breath, deep breath. “What part of don’t ever step foot on my floors, do you not understand?” I growl.

  “I know. Listen, I know. But I need to talk to you. I have so much I need to say.” She begs.

  “I don’t care about what you need. That ship has sailed. Please, leave my office. You are not welcome here.”

  “Can I just talk? I don’t expect you to say anything.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t. I am on a tight schedule and need to get home.”

  “Don’t you live upstairs?”

  “That’s none of your business.” I bellow.

  She looks down at the floor and nods. “I’m sorry.”

  “Say what you have to say Penelope, and then leave. Make it fast, I don’t have time for petty shit.”

  “What I did, to you and to us. I’m sorry. I was young and stupid, and just … I had a momentary lapse in what was right and wrong, and I was stupid to think you wouldn’t find out and I could keep doing what I was doing. If I could take it back then I would, I would rewind time and who knows we’d still be together. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “Are you finished?” I ask.

  “I-guess…”

  “Good. You’ve said what you wanted. Now get out!”

  Silently, she stands. She turns and walks towards the door, stopping at the doorway.

  “I never stopped loving you, you know.” She says, her voice cracking.

  “Don’t worry, I stopped.” I say my voice hard and my eyes cold. Knowing I sent her the message to get out of my space. I shouldn’t have even allowed her to say anything, but since security is six floors below, there was really no stopping her.

  I hastily shoved my laptop into my messenger bag and closed up my office. Determined to get home and just forget about the later part of my day.

  Moments later, I stood in the elevator, the back of my head against the wall, my eyes closed as individuals got on the elevator and rode down to the garage. Once the elevator finally stopped, I acknowledged that I wasn’t alone in the elevator any further, with a curt nod as I walked past several people. With the dozen or so people who had gotten on since I did, Penny was standing to the side after vacating the small space. With a stone face, I walked right past her. Hearing her call my name, my stride never slowed, until I reached my car. She stood between her car and mine, waiting for me to notice her or even look her way. I started the car, backed out of my spot and left the garage, without giving her the satisfaction of acknowledgment.

  During my drive home, I decompressed. I ran scenes in my head of my interruptions of the day with Penny. She thought that she wouldn’t get caught, that was all she had to say. She was sorry, and she still loved me. All of which is ridiculous and the biggest load of crap, if I ever heard one. When I reached the house, I noticed the light on in Allison’s office and walked straight up the stairs.

  She was sprawled out on the floor rug, with her feet up in the air, reading over a book with a highlighter. She hadn’t heard me come in as she had the music turned up pretty loud. I shut off the music, in turn scaring her.

  “Hey you. Did you just get home?” She asks putting the cap on the highlighter.

  “I did. You eat dinner yet?” I ask, kneeling down in front of her.

  “I did. Lincoln kept you a warm plate in the oven. Want me to heat it up?” She smiles.

  “No, I think I can figure out how to use the microwave. I actually want to talk to Lincoln, guy stuff.” I clarify.

  She looks at me questionly and then nods with a small smile.

  “Okay. You alright?” She asks.

  “Yup. Keep studying, I’ll be in my office.”

  “Kay. Love you.” She says sitting up further to kiss me.

  I find Lincoln sitting out back by the pool with his tablet and a martini. I pull up the lawn chair beside him and wait for him to put down his tablet silently. We used to talk out here all the time, I’d run ideas by him, I’d tell him about hook-ups and we’d talk a whole lot about nothing.

  “It’s been a minute since you’ve come out here. Something up?” He asks.

  “You can say that. Do you remember me telling you about the girl I dated in college?”

  “The snake, yes.”

  “Snake?”

  “With her venom, she sucked the life out of you. Until Allison, that is – who brought life into you.”

  “Yeah, okay whatever Mr. Philosophical. Anyways, that snake has resurfaced and paid me a visit tonight.” I exhale.

  “No shit. What did she want?”

  “Fuck if I know. She’s stirring up all these feelings that I pushed away, so far away.”

  “You miss her?”

  “Fuck no! I loathe her, I kept trying to kick her out of my office. I don’t give a rat’s ass about what she says. I want nothing to do with her!”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “She told me that she still loves me.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told her I didn’t love her and to get the fuck out of my office.” I wipe my forehead.

  “So, she comes back, what – apologizes and then says she st
ill loves you? Sounds like she wanted closure or for you to admit that you still have feelings for her.”

  “Or to fuck with my head.”

  “Is there anything she can fuck with you about? You cut ties, you threw her out back then. Look, I don’t pretend to know what exactly happened, nor do I need to know. But whatever has her coming back just sounds like she needed to apologize for her doing you wrong and then maybe that’s that.” He says.

  “You think that’s all? Closure?”

  “Sure, why not. Getting closure is usually something chicks want. They hold onto shit forever unless they get it.” He shrugs.

  “Maybe you’re right.” I nod.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  ALLISON

  The summer line launch takes place this weekend. My face is fully plastered everywhere. It’s been on billboards here and there throughout the city but now, according to Tyson it’s in print too and has been for a few weeks. I saw some of the new full size photos displayed in the waiting area of Mad Designs when I last visited Tyson and it was surreal. There’s a party in the top floor apartment penthouse on Saturday night and I couldn’t be more nervous. There will be photos of the line all throughout the space, the majority of the photos will be of me and I’ll be on the CEO’s arm.

  A part of me is worried about how that would look, but we’ve been photographed a few times before, that I shouldn’t think that it looks tacky. We’re living together, I’m his girlfriend and he’s my boyfriend, it’s not like I’m a piece of ass that he’s passing time with until the end of the season. I’ve googled him in the past and he was rarely associated with any of the previous models, at least that I could tell. He’s told me snippets of his playboy past, and from the sounds of it, he didn’t date at all. He was a serial fucker as he called it. Not that that term made me feel any better about hearing about my boyfriend, my lover having sex with anyone but me but I had asked and he was blunt and honest. It’s obviously not exactly who he is anymore, so I can’t be mad at him for having a life before me. In fact, I should thank all his previous conquests, because he’s amazing in bed.