The Ties of the Soul (The Ties Book 1)

6: Fever Dream

Joshua

I get back to my room around five. That brunette from last night was a wild ride. Knowing the prompt man Mateo is, he’ll be in his room by seven, but I wait to text him and make sure he’s up for our meeting. I spend an hour in the hotel gym to work off my hangover and then take a nap. I text him promptly at 9:50 after I wake up, but he doesn’t respond. That’s not like him. His read receipts show he reads the text at ten, but I’m already on my way to his room down the hall from mine. He zones out the entire time, staring out the window. After he showers, we grab breakfast downstairs before our meeting and he remains in a daze; lost in his thoughts.

Mateo’s scaring me. He normally ponders on the woman he sleeps with for a few hours, but I’ve never seen him like this. I haven’t seen him like this since Lisa. He was so in love with her and couldn’t think straight. When she died carrying his child; I think- no, I know it broke him.

I don’t know what that woman he slept with last night did to him, but this isn’t good at all. This trip is a business trip. Last night was meant for pleasure. He’s so consumed by that woman he can’t even focus on anything. If he can’t keep it together, Pops might take the company away from him and give it to Ava, and I can’t have Ava as my wingman.

Maybe if I can get him with another woman, he’ll snap out of whatever the hell is going on. He’s worked too hard to lose everything over some stranger. I need to help him stay focused.

To my surprise, he suggests returning home early after our meeting, which is something he never does. He enjoys the downtime of these trips. What the hell happened between him and that woman last night?

Mateo

I wake around 5:50 a.m. As much as I hate to, I must leave. I wish I could leave her my number, but she’s a married woman and I only could have her for one night. The least I can do is call for room service to get her breakfast. I’m sure she’ll be starving after our night together. Too bad I don’t know what she likes, but I guess I’ll just get her everything they have and request for them to bring it to her around 8:45. She’ll probably be up by then. I kiss her lips one last time so I won’t forget how soft they are. She quietly moans. I then kiss her forehead, admire her one last time, and leave.

The entire drive to my hotel, I can’t stop thinking about her. Maybe I should’ve stayed a little longer. After arriving at my hotel at 6:30, I go to my room and fall back on the bed. I close my eyes, trying to get a quick nap, but can’t fall asleep. All I can think about is her; my sweet Isabella.

~ A Little While Later ~

Buzz. It’s a text from Joshua.

JOSH:

I hope you didn’t drive your victim too crazy last night! Don’t forget our meeting today at 11:30. See you soon bro.

Guess I fell asleep anyway. It’s currently ten. He sent that text at 9:50. I must’ve drifted off to sleep while thinking about her. Someone knocks at the door, more than likely Joshua. I open the curtains to let some sunshine into my room and let him in. He’s never this happy, especially before a meeting. He must’ve met an amazing woman last night, too. I turn to the window and think about Isabella again. Precious Isabella, how I wish I could’ve more time with you. Your beautiful smile, your lovely hair, and those brown eyes have lit a fire in my soul.

“Mateo bro, are you okay? You look like you’re staring into the abyss,” Joshua says, with worry in his voice.

“I’m okay. I just briefly got lost in my thoughts,” I nod and weakly smile at him.

“Come on, man! It’s the usual schmusual. The meeting won’t be that bad... Oh wait! It’s the woman from last night, isn’t it? She was a beautiful baddie. I picked up a hot brunette last night. Not as good looking as yours, but she had a body like...”

His words fade as I get lost in my thoughts again. I hate how early I had to leave Isabella this morning. She looked so precious sleeping next to me. Truthfully, I wish our night lasted longer. I can still smell her… still taste her. I inhaled and memorized her scent after she fell asleep. Cocoa butter. Roses. Laying with her felt like heaven. Suddenly, she appears in front of me.

“Oh, my precious jewel, how I wish we could spend an eternity together.”

“I will gladly be yours for all eternity,” she whispers.

I go to kiss her, but Joshua snaps me back to reality. “Hello?! Earth to Mateo! We have a meeting downstairs in the conference room in thirty minutes!”

Shit! He’s right. I have to get myself together. My mind is playing tricks on me. What on earth did she do to me? All I can think about is that precious jewel.

“I don’t know, bro. Seems to me like she made you her victim instead of you making her yours,” he nervously chuckles but his face still shows worry.

I’ve only seen him look at me like this once. Last time I saw this face was when I lost my high school sweetheart. I was depressed for six months when she... was taken from me and he was so worried about me.

I feel just as I did with my high school sweetheart, but without the heartbreak; just full of love, passion, and desire. Strangely, it’s a love, passion, and desire for only Isabella. I’ve only known her one night and I feel as if she belongs to me. I need to take a cold shower and clear my mind before this meeting.

~ Two Hours Later ~

I ate way too much for breakfast and it doesn’t help at all during the meeting. This s**t is exhausting. I hate Papi gave me his company and makes me take all these business trips. He’s old-fashioned that way. Physical contact is always better. Makes you stand out from the rest. I’m just his pawn. He’s serving on the executive board, bossing me around. The executives could’ve had a Zoom call instead of this.

“Hey man, what’s the plan for tonight,” Joshua asks mischievously.

Joshua wants to hang out at another club, but I’m not feeling it.

“Ugh, I don’t know,” I reply. “I know we have a few days left, but quite frankly, I’m ready to go back home.”

“Okay, cool. That’s no problem. We can leave tonight if you wanna.” He gives me that concerned look again and grabs my arm when I turn to walk away. “Bro, are you sure you’re okay? Instead of leaving, we can go to the gym. A good workout will probably clear your mind.”

“No, I need to get away from here. Let’s just go back home… Tonight.”

Truthfully, I’ve lost all interest in Vegas now because I know I can’t have Isabella anymore. I want my sweet rose again, and the longer I stay in Vegas, the more tempted I am to go back to her hotel and make her mine again. I must leave Vegas now.

~ That Night ~

Fuck me! Why did I rush home early? I thought coming home would help clear my mind. This quiet, empty penthouse makes matters worse. My time with Isabella was the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Something about her made me feel secure. She satisfied my need for stability. Now that I’m home, that need has intensified.

None of the women I’ve ever been with, not even Lisa, made me feel this way. Oh, my sweet Isabella, what am I going to do without you? All I can do is think about our night together. My heart yearns for her. My soul yearns for her. I need her, but I can’t do anything about it and it causes me great pain. How I wish I could have her one more time.