FATE SEALED IN INK

Episode 5

Roderick’s POV

The drive to the hospital was the most tense I had ever been. Looking down at my father – his nose covered with a mask, his cold hand in mine, his breathing ragged – I had never been more scared. They said he showed signs of a cardiac arrest, and I couldn’t help but blame myself for it. If only Trevon and I had conversed peacefully.

I said silent prayers as they wheeled him into one of the rooms to work. Finding mother in the waiting room, streaks of makeup running down her face, Adeline consoling her. She stood as I approached them, giving me a small smile as she sat behind us. Part of me wanted to hold her in my arms as I cried, but we had a deal. And I had to be there for my mother.

“He’s in a coma mum,” I repeat what they told me in the ambulance. “His body p-put him in a coma so it could repair itself. What if he dies mama?” I ask and bury my tear-stricken face in her shoulder, my sobs getting louder.

“He’s going to be okay baby. Your father is a strong man,” she whispers patting my head and I look at up to her and smile. I wipe away the tears in her eyes and kiss her forehead before looking over to Trevon who looked like his world had ended. As sympathetic as I felt for him, he was still partly responsible for father’s condition. Deciding not to confront him and create a scene, I walk to Adeline and give her hug.

“We have to be convincing remember?” I whisper into her ear to ease her surprise. Her arms wrap around me, and I rest my chin on her head. The way our bodies molded into each other. My arms wrapping round her body completely and hers round mine. Her breathing relaxed as she listened to my heartbeat, which surprisingly remained steady throughout the hug regardless of how I felt with her in my arms.

“Come have dinner with me,” I say into her ear, and she looks at me with widened eyes. “I’m really sorry about your dad Rick. I’m sure he will get out of it soon,” she says, and I smile at her, putting her hand in mine.

“You both should get going,” my mum started. “I’ll call you to let you know of any developments.”

“Are you sure mama?” I asked. “I’ll be more than happy to do that.”

“No. he’s my husband… if I’m not there for him who will? Go home. Get some rest,” she said to three of us and I went to her and kissed her forehead. Giving her one last hug, Adeline and I went into the car.

I knew she had questions, but I was in no mood to answer any of them. My mind drifted from my father’s condition to the dinner with her. I quickly booked a reservation in Bacchanalia, one of the top restaurants here in Atlanta and sighed.

“Where are we going tonight?” she finally asked.

“Just dress pretty darling,” I reply before shutting myself out. I didn’t know what I expected to gain put of the dinner, but we’d see at the end of the evening.

******

I had no idea I could be as captivated as I was when I saw Adeline descend from the stairs, looking the way she did. Her black sleeveless dress with its daringly high slit, beautifully highlighted her legs and enhanced her breasts. The dress had a corset in the middle that accentuated her curves, and her silver heels perfectly matched her silver clutch.

I was too stunned to speak.

I smiled and took her hand in mine, lightly kissing her knuckles. “You ready?” I ask and she nods.

I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at her throughout the car ride. It was hard to believe that someone who tended a bar could look this good. Money really does wonders.

I led her out of the car, into the restaurant, and to our table with my hand on the small of her back for the entire time. As much as I didn’t want to admit, I liked the feeling of her skin on my hand.

“So, Addy, tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know Rick?”

“Everything,” I say, leaning into my chair.

“Well… my name is Adeline Raquel Gomez, I am twenty-two years old, I’m an orphan. I wasn’t able to finish college, but I do hope to get a degree in fashion designing if I ever go back. Umm, I love letting my imagination run wild and generate as many ideas and designs as I can. I love to eat, draw, design… I’m really good at making margaritas,” she laughs, and my heart skips a beat, “that’s the most of it. I have a pretty boring life,” she finishes and smiles.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your parents Addy,” I say, and she waves me off.

“It’s okay. It happened about seven years ago so I’m pretty much over it. I’ve been in and out foster homes, jobs, and crazy people since then,” she says and finishes her champagne in a gulp.

“How about you Mr. Faye… what’s there to know?” she asks, leaning towards me and resting her chin on her interlocked fists.

I take a sip of my champagne.

“I’ve been in charge of the company since I was twenty-one, that’s about six years ago. My full name is Roderick David Faye. I have never been in a serious relationship for a very long time, love isn’t exactly my thing,”

“You seem to be doing a good job so far,” she says, and I laugh.

“It’s just dinner Adeline. We have to get to know each other for this to actually work. Don’t think so much into it,” I reply and her face falls.

I feel a punch in my gut at her reaction. So much for getting in her good books.

“What’s the deal with Trevon though. you two don’t seem to get along so well,” she asks.

“Things changed between the both of us when dad gave the company to me. The initial deal was to give it to the worthier son after we both turned 21, at nineteen Trevon was already a drug addict and had been to rehab twice. Dad gave me that company on my twenty-first birthday and Trevon has hated me since then,” I reply unaffected, gulping down my champagne as well.

“So why does it look like the hate goes both ways?” she asks, and I sigh.

“Ever since then he’s been trying to take everything away from me. He looks for the slightest opportunity to make things go wrong and pin it all to me so he can get the company. I have way too much on my plate to begin to worry about that,” I say, and she nods.

I spent the rest of the meal cracking jokes, trying to ease the tension I had caused earlier with my big mouth. Her laugh, the most melodious sound I had ever heard, kept me going. It was really easy to put a smile on her face despite the empty look in her eyes. I was tempted to ask about that. She looks like there’s a lot more to her tending a bar in a strip club and making good margaritas.

Everyone has their own secrets, me included, but she looks like she has a truck full of them. And I’m going to find them out one by one.

The drive back was silent once again. She looked out the window the entire time. Keeping my hand from covering hers was difficult. I knew I had offended her with what I said but apologizing wasn’t my thing, and I didn’t like to talk about my wrongs either.

“When would I get my first payment?” she asks, eyes still fixed on the road.

“Before noon tomorrow,” I reply with a sigh, and she nods.

“Thank you,” she says in a way that made me suspect she was going to run away.

“You’re not running away, are you?” I ask and she chuckles.

She quickly gets out of the car and into the house as soon as we arrive. As much as I had hoped that tonight would go well, I expected her distance because of how much I had hurt her.

I felt both disappointed and disgusted with myself. This was a weakness, a vulnerability. Letting a woman have this much influence on my actions and thoughts was something I had always avoided because of my position in the company. My father and I have worked too hard for me to let anyone, especially a woman, put it at risk.

This is a contract. A deal we have to make sure the company doesn’t slip from my fingers. I have to do everything

I can to make sure it remains that way.