Tantalizing His Obsession

Chapter 5 Beneath the Surface

Lazarus

I sit back in my office chair, feeling a sense of satisfaction. My plan is in motion. Phoebe is going to be around my mother full-time, and that means she'll be around me more often. I lean back and think about the next steps. I need to gain her trust, make her feel secure around me.

As I contemplate, my phone buzzes. It’s a message from Eric: “All the men are aware of your conditions and there are no incidents to report.”

Good. At least I know she’s safe. But this isn’t enough. I need to be more involved, more present in her life. I need to show her that I’m not just some cold-hearted businessman, that I care.

I decide to visit my mother. As I walk down the hallway to her room, I think about how Phoebe interacts with her. My mother adores her, and that says something. My mother is a tough woman to please, and if Phoebe can make her happy, then there’s more to this girl than meets the eye.

I enter my mother’s room, and she looks up from her book, smiling. "Lazarus, dear, what brings you here?"

"Just wanted to check on you, Mother," I say, taking a seat beside her.

She pats my hand. "You’re a good son. I heard you requested Phoebe to be my exclusive caregiver. That girl is a gem."

I nod. "Yes, she is. I just want to make sure you’re well taken care of."

She gives me a knowing look. "Is that the only reason, Lazarus?"

I meet her gaze, not quite sure how to respond. "She’s a good caretaker, and you like her."

She chuckles softly. "Just be honest with yourself, my dear. Now, tell me, how is work?"

We chat for a while, but my mind keeps drifting back to Phoebe. I need to find a way to connect with her, to make her see that I’m more than just a rich guy she had a one-night stand with. I need her to see me as someone she can trust, maybe even rely on.

Phoebe

I wake up a few hours later, still feeling groggy but slightly better. The hangover has dulled, and I force myself to get up and drink some water. I need to get out of this funk.

I check my phone and see a message from Bria: “Hey, girl! Let’s meet up later. We need to talk about last night and everything that’s going on.”

I smile. Bria always knows how to lift my spirits. I text her back, “Sure. Meet at Dawn's Cafe at 5?”

She replies instantly, “Perfect. See you then!”

I get up and put on a gray t-shirt that I love. It says, "I have red hair because God knew I needed a warning label." Then I put on some black leggings and my black Vans shoes. I pull my hair into a ponytail and apply light makeup. You can still tell I had a hard night; no amount of makeup will fix it. I grab my purse and head downstairs, using my Uber app to get a ride. The Uber drops me off at Dawn's Cafe.

Dawn's Cafe is a charming, vintage-style diner located on the corner of Main Street. The exterior is painted a cheerful yellow with white trim, and large windows allow a warm, inviting light to spill onto the sidewalk. A retro neon sign with the name "Dawn's Cafe" flickers above the entrance, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafts out every time the door opens.

I push open the glass door, and the bell above it jingles softly. Inside, the cafe is cozy and welcoming, with checkered black-and-white floor tiles, red vinyl booths, and a long counter lined with chrome stools. The walls are adorned with black-and-white photographs of the town from decades past, giving the place a nostalgic feel. A jukebox in the corner softly plays classic rock tunes, adding to the retro ambiance.

I spot Bria sitting at our usual table by the window. She waves me over, and I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.

"Hey, B," I say, sitting down.

"Hey, Pheebs. You look like you’ve had a rough day."

I nod. "You have no idea."

Just then, a tall, tan man with short black hair and covered in tattoos comes in and sits at the front counter. Bria eyes him appreciatively. "Look at him; he is sexy."

I glance over and roll my eyes. "Go get it, girl, if you want it!"

She laughs. "No, I’m good for now. Nate keeps texting me, but I’m not sure if I want to text him back. He’s nice, but there’s no spark—only a spark in the bedroom." We both laugh.

I then tell Bria about my day. “Ashley called. She told me Lazarus wants me to be his mom’s exclusive caregiver and is offering triple the pay."

Bria’s eyes widen. "Triple? That’s insane!"

"I know, but it also means being around Lazarus all the time."

She nods sympathetically. "That’s a tough one. But hey, the money could really help you out."

I sigh. "Yeah, I agreed to do it. Ashley practically begged me, saying the company would suffer if they lost the Yates account."

Bria reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. "You’re doing the right thing, Pheebs. Just keep your head up and remember your worth. You can do this. Focus on Mrs. Yates and ignore Lazarus. But then again, that might make him want you more."

I smile, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks, B. I needed to hear that."

We spend the next hour eating burgers and milkshakes. We end up talking and laughing, and by the time we leave, I feel ready to take on whatever comes next. I know it won’t be easy, but with friends like Bria by my side, I can handle anything. Bria then takes me home to my apartment.

As I am walking to my apartment, a sleek black BMW pulls up beside me. Out steps my half-brother, Cole Hallas. He’s tall with dark brown hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and is dressed in a polished suit. He looks every bit the part of a successful businessman. He gets out of the car and gives me a big hug.

"Phoebe, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. Is everything okay?"

I look at my phone. I had no idea he was trying to get ahold of me; I was so busy talking to Bria. "Yes, I’m fine, but I broke up with Jack. He was cheating on me."

Cole looks mad. "Do you want me to handle him? I can get him fired."

"No, no, Cole, just leave it. I am done."

He sighs. "What are you doing in town, Cole?"

He says, "Oh, Father wants me in on a business deal, so he told me I need to come into the city more often to be more involved." He rolls his eyes. "Well, I wanted to come check on you since you weren’t answering, but tomorrow let’s go out for lunch. And don’t tell me no. I am paying, and that’s the end of it."

I smile. "I have yoga."

He grins. "I’ll pick you up from yoga then."

I smile. "Okay, sounds good."

He gives me a hug and then leaves. I walk into my apartment and close the door.

Lazarus

I am eating dinner at my desk, looking at Phoebe’s social media when I get a call from Matteo. I answer it on the first ring.

"Talk to me, Matteo."

He says, "Boss, the redhead you asked me to follow went to Dawn's Cafe. She got a burger and shake with a friend. They did talk about you and how she must keep working for your mother." I smile a big grin.

Matteo continues, "Then she went home, but boss, Cole Hallas was there and talked to her. He even gave her a hug. They seemed like they knew each other pretty well. I couldn’t hear what they said."

I slam my fist on my desk. "Okay, Matteo, just keep an eye on her and keep me posted."

I then think to myself, how the f**k does she know Cole Hallas? He is my main competitor in this area, and that family is trouble. They are related to the Greek mafia. Darius, who runs Hallas Development, is the brother to the Greek Mafia Boss Apollo. All of Darius’ money is channeled to the Greek Mafia. f**k, now I might be dealing with the Greeks.