The Hellman

Chapter 6

Elaine paced her office as dread filled her. She had just kissed her boss. It had happened so unexpectedly that she could hardly understand why he had done it or why she had allowed him to. He had made it very clear from the beginning that he wasn’t looking for a relationship.

“You stupid girl,” she said

It wasn’t that he had kissed it, but that she had kissed him back. Having a crush on her boss was one thing she could reconcile but she couldn’t have an affair, neither could she put herself to fall for the one man she could never reveal her true self to. The thought reminded her of their conversation before the kiss and she was back to bashing herself.

“You stupid girl!” she said again in earnest, “you’re going to get yourself killed.”

She hadn’t heard anything from her friend Charlie in a week and she had no idea if Charlie had figured out about Julius’ arsenal coming into the states. If what Alexander’s source said was right, they may have already found her. The dread that had filled her earlier worsened and she didn’t know whether to cry or run away. She was in the middle of this self-deliberation when a knock sounded on her door. She was so startled that for a split second she thought it was Julius who had found her.

“Michelle!” Laura called from the other side of the door, “open up”

She walked over to the door and swung it open.

“Oh my poor darling,” Laura said walking into the room, “what’s wrong?”

Elaine hadn’t realized just how much her thoughts must have affected her countenance.

“Nothing,” she replied shrugging it off.

“Oh, don’t worry about my brother” Laura whispered, “he might spout this nonsense about not wanting love but he’s smitten with you.”

The information caused Elaine to raise her brow. She could accept that Jamie was smitten with her, Jessica was smitten with her but there was no doubt in her mind that the last person smitten with her was Alexander.

“It was just a kiss.” She replied, “it meant nothing.”

“You two are so much alike.” Lura replied, “you don’t think he likes you, do you?”

“No, I know he doesn’t like me” she replied,

“And you don’t like him?”

Elaine saw the hint of mischief on Laura’s face and smiled.

“No, I do not like Alexander.” She replied, “I was just vulnerable at that moment and he tried to comfort me. The kiss was just a mistake.”

She smiled to try to reassure Laura of her position.

“I see,” Laura replied, “what about Jamie, do you like him.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t date Jamie or any of the ‘Hellman boys’ for that matter.” She replied referring to the name Jessica always used to refer to them.

“Your mind seems to be made up” Laura replied, “well, I was coming by to ask you to lunch.”

“I actually have plans” she replied,

“I thought my brother said you were eating with him?” Laura asked, “are you still having lunch with him?”

“I umm, a friend just called and asked me to lunch.” She lied,

“Oh, well, that’s disappointing. I was hoping we could catch up for some girl talk.”

Elaine desperately wanted to go. Laura was the closest she had come to making a normal friendship but there were more pressing matters to deal with now that she had gotten possible information on Julius.

“Maybe tomorrow?” she asked

“That’s perfect,” Laura said, “walk with all your juicy stories about your childhood and your past loves.”

“Will do,” Elaine replied wondering how soon she could craft up enough of a past to talk about with Laura.

As soon as Laura walked out she grabbed her bag and her cell phone. She rang Charlie but when she didn’t get her, she decided to find her at work. The drive to her friend’s workplace took her twenty minutes due to the traffic but it gave Eline enough time to gather herself and her thoughts. There was no way she had been discovered. And even if she had been discovered, who was to say that it was Julius who was moving his army into the states. For all, she knew it could be any of the cartels down in Mexico. She didn’t want to worry unnecessarily. By the time she walked into the help center she had calmed herself enough to walk in there with a straight face. She still hid her face, a bit unsure if any of the people there were acting as spies. She walked directly to Charlie’s office and knocked on the door.

“Come” Charlie shouted from inside.

When Elaine stepped inside, Charlie’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing here!” Charlie seethed, “I told you never to come back here.”

“I think Julius is on his way to the states,” she replied

Charlie’s face went white and she straightened in her chair.

“Why would you say that?” Charlie asked

“I was talking to Alexander and it turns out he has a guy down in Mexico, his guy thinks that a cartel is moving things to the state in preparation for an attack. It turns out that they’re searching for someone.”

“And you think it’s Julius?” Charlie asked.

“It’s his strategy,” she replied, “I’ve seen him do things like this before. He sends the people and the ammunition ahead to prepare and then he waits to attack.”

Charlie was silent, and Elaine watched as the woman who had rescued her, run a nervous hand through her hair. It was always a challenge for them to keep danger at bay. It was even more challenging for Charlie who had protected and shielded her for so long.

“Do you have anything else?” Charlie asked

“I didn’t get anything else.” She replied, “I think Alexander’s contact is trying to get more information on what’s going on.”

“I have a few persons who just came in from that side.” Charlie replied, “I can poke around and see if they know anything, but I can’t guarantee they’ll have anything useful.”

“And what should I do?” Elaine asked, “should I pack my bags?”

The reference to their code brought her back to the first month she had been in the states. She had been so scared that she had kept all her important things in a bag in case she had to move quickly. Charlie was working on getting her a passport but for the time being, she had nothing. If she couldn’t move out of the states, her only hope would be jumping from one place to another; hiding for the rest of her life. The thought brought bitter tears to her eyes, but she bit back at them and steeled herself. She would do what it took to stay alive. If it meant living like this for the rest of her life, she would do it. Somehow the thought didn’t play so well in her mind, but she had to steel herself because she had been through enough to know that capture was worse than death.

“No,” Charlie replied, “this isn’t Mexico, just be on your guard and don’t get too close to anyone.”

“I don’t feel safe in that house” she admitted referring to the house Charlie had found for her after she had moved out, “I think I should move into the company apartment I get with my contract.”

The community was run down but the worst part was that she feared that she was surrounded by gangsters.

“You need to stay in that house.” Charlie insisted, “you’re too easy to get to anywhere else. I’ve told you this before.”

“I don’t see how I can be safe there.” She replied,

“Your face they know.” Charlie said, “you’re living in a stronghold, and if they see anyone from a Mexican cartel running around, they will handle it. You’re safer there than you are in an apartment where anyone can come and go.”

Elaine thought about it for a moment and nodded. Although she didn’t fear the men in her community, they had gone to great lengths to ensure that no strange persons hung around. She always assumed that it put her in more danger, but now she realized that she already had people keeping tabs on her without asking for it.

“I’ll stay.” She replied

Somehow, she was glad she had come to see Charlie. She felt a bit calmer now that she had been able to talk it over with someone else. There was no guarantee that anyone knew her or her past. If Julius thought she was in the states, then he was a smart man. That did not mean he knew where she was or what she was currently doing. The most they could do was hope to stumble around and find her. She had changed everything about herself; her name, her hair, her clothes and even the way she walked. No-one in his camp had ever been close enough to her to know what she looked like, so she was convinced that she was safe for the time being.

“How are things at work?” Charlie asked changing the subject

The question brought back images of Alexander standing in front of her looking down as if he had been lost in her eyes. She remembered the way his touch had ignited a fire within her that she had never felt before.

“Things are coming along great.” She replied, “I can’t complain.”

“And Alexander, he doesn’t suspect you right,” Charlie asked

“No, he doesn’t” she replied as memories of their heated kisses filled her mind, “we get along just fine.”

“That’s good” Charlie replied, “you should maintain your distance, I don’t want anything going wrong.”

“Why is that?” Elaine asked

“He’s the type of man that would hunt down a traitor and kill them.” Charlie replied, “he’s a dangerous man Michelle.”

She thought about the man she worked for and she couldn’t see him like that. He was dedicated, hardworking and most of all, he was gentle.

“I don’t see that.” She replied

Charlie looked at her for a moment with a furrowed expression.

“He is who he is Micelle.” Charlie replied, “he was trained to kill and now he’s been given authority to the government to do just that wherever he sees fit. If he figures out who you really are, do you think he will give you the benefit of the doubt that you’re a victim?”

Elaine suddenly realized what Charlie meant. Alexander was not her protector. In fact, he was just as dangerous ad Julius. The thought made her cringe. She didn’t want to see him like that. She wanted to see him as the man who had kissed her so passionately that she felt like skipping. All those thoughts vanished from her mind the moment she realized that there was no hope for her if she went down this road. Alexander was a threat and the sooner she realized that the better it would be for her in the long run. The last thing she needed was another man hunting her down. As ruthless as Julius was, she knew that Alexander was much smarter and more efficient.

“I see” she replied, “I should be getting back to work.”

She stood and walked to the door.

“Michelle,” Charlie said

She turned to look at her and Charlie’s expression was all the warning she needed.

“Don’t come here again.” She said

Elaine didn’t reply. She simply walked through the door. Without looking back, she made her way out of the building and drove blindly back to work. She sat in the garage for over ten minutes contemplating how she was going to live like this. She had to come in every day and work for a man who both enticed and terrified her. She would have to hold him to his resolve that there could be nothing between them; no matter how badly she wanted it.