Lucien knew this firsthand, because he’d done the sneaking to prove it. When she didn’t answer, he said...
“Ona...this thing between you and I; it just feels so right--and I think that we’re worth the risk. We have to see where these feelings will take us.”
He waited and he couldn’t discern the expression on her face. He said...
“Do you feel it Ona--or am I wrong.”
Ona shook her head when she said...
“No...you aren’t wrong. I feel it too.”
One of her creeds spoke about idle statements and the dangers of thoughtless words. She’d always been careful to say only what she meant because once said, words couldn’t be retracted. She studied Lucien’s eyes and she could see how much her declaration had meant to him. He wasn’t just pleased; he was relieved. He looked like he’d just been freed from carrying a heavy load. Ona felt the same sense of relief and she was certain that the members in her commune wouldn’t present her with any problems. She knew what to say and how to deal with them. Yes; the word popped in her brain, because she was persuaded to believe that the idea stood a chance of succeeding. She didn’t know how it would end, but she did know when it would end.
Ona said...
“Are you sure about this? I mean--I cannot make any promises. I...I...”
She was getting flustered considering outcomes. Lucien hushed her, when he lowered his mouth to her forehead. He pressed a kiss there, then he paid equal homage on both sides of her face. The kisses were soft and gentle, yet each conveyed a fervent longing for her. When he raised his head, he lowered his lips close to her mouth. He was so close, it wouldn’t take much to kiss her.
Lucien said...
“We don’t have to figure everything out today. I love you Ona. We can do this--and I promise you; you won’t regret this.”
Her mouth hovered nearer to his, when she said...
“No...I won’t”
He smiled, then he closed the gap, sealing their agreement with a kiss.
**********
Chapter 16
What I wouldn’t do for love
“Bolden...”
Eliza screamed out his name, then her teeth bit near his collar bone. His orgasm had been so intense, he didn’t register the pain. His hold around her waist was so tight, one would think that he was hanging on for dear life, while dangling over a chasm. Whenever they made love, every act consumed an extreme amount of energy and this time was no different from the others. In public, Eliza appeared calm on the outside, but in the bedroom her persona swung in the opposite direction. She was making a humming noise and her body trembled, then she collapsed laying flat on his chest. She was lifting to disengage them, but Bolden squealed out a plea because every nerve in his body buzzed like a jar filled with bumblebees.
His jaw clenched down, distorting the sound of his words.
“Please--please--please, don’t move baby.”
Eliza was a brilliant crisis management consultant and in her business, she was one of the best. Her list of clients read like a who’s who, of wealthy powerful people, and some of those clients included the Delors and Morpheus Gustafson. Currently, her primary client was the governor of Wyoming, Andrew Wilcox. He was a political savvy man, and his aspirations went as high as the oval office. She’d had her fair-share of politicians as clients, and it came as no surprise to her, that those people had concealed embarrassing secrets. She was a professional, and nothing shocked her, but Andrew Wilcox was something entirely different. From day one, her first assignment involved years and years worth of skeletons and all of his troubles couldn’t be concealed in a closet. With a client like that, Eliza had no other choice. She’d finally confided in Bolden, but her openness wasn’t the type of revelation that nourished relationships. In fact, the line that separated their personal and professional lives didn’t seem all that clear anymore, and this unhealthy melding had created a series of complications.
Eliza waited until Bolden’s body relaxed. She rolled over, then she reached for a glass of water on the nightstand. He sat up, adjusting his eyes to read the clock. It was late, but not to late to finish the report he’d started before Eliza lured him into her bed. He was nearly out of the bed, when he felt her hand pulling on his arm.
“No...don’t go.” She said...
“I need to draft that report. You’ll want to talk to Wilcox first thing in the morning.”
“We’ll see him tomorrow night--so the report can wait.”
Bolden shifted in the bed to stare at her, and he appeared to be confused. He said...
“We just saw him this morning. Then we jumped on the plane to fly to Texas--now you’re telling me that we’re going back to Wyoming in the morning?”
Eliza nodded when she said...
“Yes. I want to see his face when I show him those emails. That man is a fool if he thinks he can continue this affair and not have the information leak out before or during an election.”
“But...is that the only reason that we’re going back? The emails?”
“No.” Her face held no expression and he’d seen this before. She would make a fortune in poker.
Bolden said...
“There’s another problem isn’t there.”
Bolden reflected on this morning, and his time spent at Andrew Wilcox’s house. He’d sat in the library while Eliza had a private conversation with her client. One of his cooks had offered Bolden a fresh danish and a cup of coffee while he waited. She also told him that she would take him to a room with a view. He’d appreciated the large windows with picturesque views but he didn’t realize that the room was right next to the area where Wilcox and Eliza had been talking. At first, the conversation didn’t interest him, until he heard a name that sounded familiar. Amy Randolph. The name had been repeated a few more times, then the conversation became heated because Eliza was blaming someone for being dangerous and impulsive. At this point, Bolden had begun to eavesdrop. He had not fully understand and now he wanted to be clear.
He said...
“Eliza...I should have said something earlier, but I didn’t...”
Eliza turned to him, and she raised one brow.
“What should you have told me?”
He didn’t like the sound of her voice, and he was beginning to think that perhaps now wasn’t a good time to discuss this.
He continued.
“Today at Wilcox’s house...I overheard parts of your conversation.”
Eliza’s face wore no expression but her eyes were like tacks, nailing him to the wall. He didn’t let her annoyance stop him.
“There’s a case that’s been getting a lot of play on the TV News. Marisela Pettier’s has filed a series of lawsuits against the city of New York. She claims that her brother, Tollin Pettier did not commit suicide, like the medical examiners report states.”
At this point, Bolden had expected Eliza to stop him and when she didn’t, he continued.
“I heard you and the governor talking about Tollin and a little girl by the name of Amy Randolph.”
He waited several seconds, because after saying the names, he was certain that she would have said something--but Eliza remained quiet, and her eyes shot a few more tacks his way. He felt the hit of each sharply pointed object, but there was something to this, and he was certain, that this had something to do with their quick turn around trip.
Bolden said...
“Eliza...if I’m going to work with you; you have to be honest and tell me...”
She shut him down when she said...
“You work for me Bolden. I thought we established that in the beginning. You work for me...and you don’t get to tell me what I should or will tell you.”
His brows furrowed but he wouldn’t be bullied, even if she was his boss.