Wealth (free and completed)

Chapter 20 - Telltale Signs

Janus

We were now an open secret. I could tell that Rafael and Joseph were not convinced about Valerie and me merely being platonic. To hell with that. We were done with pretending. Eventually, they would know anyway.

Still, some things must be considered. Dad’s murder was becoming even more of a cold case. Tristan James Designs, however, had a runway show to consider. We were holding two shows within two weeks. One would target the wealthy, while the other would target the young and the middle class. Both should somehow reflect Tristan James and Sangster Leathers.

It would be challenging, but Andrew had somehow put himself on overdrive. I was pretty proud of him, but I was also a little guilty about Val. It was easier to tell the Sangster siblings about the relationship than to tell Andrew about it. After all, it was my idea for him to meet Valerie in the first place.

“So, boss, I’ve already booked the venues and invited the critics.”

“Is that still part of your job description, Andrew? You should focus on the designs.”

“The designs are done, sir. So, I’m just here giddy about the shows.”

Then, he looked at me as if he was about to ask me something. He straightened himself and paced, fiddled with a blue and black friendship bracelet straight from the eighties. It was curious that Andrew had something like that. I had noticed a different one on him each time and found it curious. After all, we worked for Tristan James. We might not be fashion designers, but we were somehow close. Friendship bracelets no longer felt fashionable, unless someone could prove me wrong. I might be out of touch.

“Are you that nervous?” I laughed, but it was I who was getting a little nervous. I somehow knew what he was going to say.

“A little. Mr. Sangster, may I invite Valerie as my date to the shows? Or even just one if she’s too busy.”

I took a deep breath. I knew this was going to happen. Of course. I couldn’t tell him what I was thinking and what had recently gone down. This little vow to not care about what others say was going to be a hell lot tougher than I thought it would be.

“Well, you need to ask Valerie yourself. You have her number, right?”

“Oh, okay,” he sounded excited. “I can do that. I will call Val. I haven’t contacted her for a while. I’m having some, um, family problems. So, I didn’t think it would be fitting to talk to her at a time when I was somehow not quite right.”

“I understand,” I swallowed, feeling even more guilty. Andrew was a little younger than me, but he seemed more considerate about Valerie’s feelings. I couldn't even blame her if she said yes to his invitation. Andrew was the safer choice.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I worked on ensuring everything was in order. Even with people under me doing the leg work, I still liked checking on every detail. It was exhausting but worth it. I didn’t want to be blindsided when the time came.

My phone buzzed at around noontime. I had talked to most of the clients and people involved in the two shows but I wasn’t quite sure who would be calling me at that time. I answered, anyway. When you worked in business, you could not afford to skip any calls. You might get some wrong numbers and I had had a couple of rude ones, but it must be done.

The number did not register. Was it someone with a burner phone? I sure hoped not, but I had to find out.

“Hello?”

“You need to look closely around you,” a raspy voice said. “Are you not protecting her?”

“What do you mean?”

“Janus Sangster, you’re not the only one who's had a taste of that beautiful damsel in distress,” the voice said. It was lewd and maniacal, even though it had become apparent that he was using a voice synthesizer of some sort.

“Who is this?”

I wanted to know. Was it an old boyfriend who want to get back at her? Who would even think that? Who would dare? I had not even solved my father’s death and now we had to hunt this stalker down. Was it her rapist?

A chill ran through me. That sounded like the best answer, and it wasn’t good. Whoever it was still thought of her. He was still obsessed with her, and somehow, he had found out about what was going on between me and Valerie.

A plan formed in my head. I thought that I would be focusing on finding the killer but it looked like I had to look for her rapist first. Whether or not these two things were related, I would have to find out later.

At the end of the day, I purposedly headed for the parking lot after a quick goodbye with a few reminders to Andrew. He had been spending more time at the office, doing overtime. So, I told him to go home early and take a break. He needed that. All that hard work couldn’t be healthy.

“I need you to be at your best during the shows. So, best go home and get some rest. Hope your family issues have been resolved. He stood up suddenly, as if about to leave the office, as well. The quick movement dislodged a photo from his corkboard. It was something I had never noticed before.

It was a photo of a woman with light blond hair. Valerie? The picture seemed old and the woman’s hairstyle was a little dated. Valerie’s hair was in large waves. She often looked like a fairy or a princess. My heart pounded at the mere thought of her. She was beauty, intelligence, and grace under fire.

“Who’s that in the photo?” I asked in what I considered my friendliest tone. I could seem cold and strict here at the office, especially during crunch time.

“Oh. That. That’s my, um, aunt,” he said. Somehow, I felt like he was lying. But why would he lie about that picture?

Before he hastily placed the picture into his drawer, I was able to squint at it to see that the woman looked so much like Valerie. Was that her mother? But why would Andrew say she was her aunt? Why did he look guilty about it, too?

**

When I got home, things were back to normal. Joseph would be staying at his girlfriend’s, and Emilie was out. Rafael at least sent a message saying he would be late. I told him that I was not his dad, and he sent me a laughing emoji. So, there we were.

Hannah was not too happy about my involvement with Valerie, but she was no longer as opposed as before. She even gave me a small smile when I asked if Val had already eaten.

“I sent her a sandwich. Don’t look at me that way, Mr. Sangster. It was a large one. I think she had a lot of things to do for her classes. Grades, I believe.”

“Thanks for taking care of her, Hannah,” I meant it. “Is it okay if I just take my plate to her room?”

She sighed.

“Well, at least you are eating what I prepared. You know the drill. I know you’re the boss and you’re an adult, but you need to bring the plate down after you’re done. At least, get it to the sink.”

“I will wash the dishes, Hannah,” I grinned, as I started piling mashed potatoes, corn, and some fish fillet on my plate.

“You don’t have to,” she sounded gruff, but I saw a smile coming through.

“I will wash the dishes. It’s either that, or it will end up staying in the room.”

She went off in a huff, but I knew that she knew that I would be washing them, anyway.

It was getting to be a habit, knocking at Valerie’s door with a tray of food in the other hand. I smiled at that. It was so strangely and comfortingly domestic. Perhaps, keeping it an open secret in the family was a good idea after all. Joseph and Emilie had their own secrets to hide, and Rafael didn’t seem to care.

“Come in,” Valerie said.

“How do you know it’s me? Or do you think it was someone else that’s why you told me to go straight in?” I asked, keeping my tone light to assure her that I, Janus Sangster, could joke a little, too.

“Mm. I know it’s you. Lock the door.”

“Okay. You don’t sound too happy,” I noted.

“You told Andrew to call me. He wants me to be his date for one of your shows. Or both,” she said. I could feel a little anger simmering under the surface.

“I take it you didn’t like it? I don’t know what to say. I can’t actually tell him that I realized I have fallen in love with you when it was my idea for the two of you to meet?”

“You wouldn’t have let me meet Andrew if you had recognized our initial attraction.”

I held my breath and walked to place my tray on her bedside table. It was clear now, no more knickknacks, except for an alarm clock. It was as if she expected me to come with a tray of food there again.

“You’re right. I will fix this.”

“I can’t go with him, but I also don’t have a reason not to. He’s like, “No pressure, Val. We could go as friends.” He feels it’s okay since I am not dating anyone,” Val gesticulated wildly with her hands while talking.

“You don’t have to go.”

“You want me to be the bringer of bad news.”

“I may have to tell him. Tell me you’re ready to make this public knowledge, and I will,” I promised.

Her face softened.

“Okay, I just might tell him, yes, as a friend. But only for one show. He will have to go alone or with someone. Or, hey! We can find someone for him. Can’t you match him with someone?”

I thought about it. Andrew seemed to have his own issues. I thought of the woman he said was his aunt. Why would he have a picture of his aunt unless she raised him? Why did the woman look so much like Valerie? I wanted to tell Val that she seemed to be Andrew’s type and that I didn’t know anyone else with her shade of hair and coloring. I stopped myself. She already had so much to worry about.

“I’ll see what I can do,” reaching for my food. It was like I was already shutting her down. I didn’t want to talk about Andrew. I knew that I was at fault there.

“Did you eat already?” I asked after I was done with my food. “I may have to go downstairs to wash the dishes.”

“Oh. Hannah will love you if you do that,” she grinned, seemingly forgetting why she was upset with me. “But don’t go yet.”

Her voice had lowered into a near groan that almost undid me. I looked at her face, those glazed eyes.

“I won’t. Not yet,” I said, removing my dress shirt and pants. Like before, I folded them neatly and placed them on a chair.

“Come, Janus,” she sighed. “Kiss me.”

“I taste like fish,” I groaned, about to get up to brush my teeth, but she stopped me.

“It doesn’t matter. We can do it without kisses, for now, although I wouldn’t mind it at all. You should know. But you can just touch me if you want. I’ll touch you.”

Her hand had already snaked into my boxers, cupping my balls. Then, she made a fist around my c**k and started moving her hand up and down. We were facing each other side by side on the bed. So, it was easy for me to do the same. I slipped my hand under her teddy, felt the lacy underwear, and rubbed her c**t through it. She moaned.

“Keep on doing that,” she urged. I liked that she was not shy about what she wanted. At all.

I wanted more of her. Her heat. So, I placed a finger right into her underwear and rubbed her directly. I slipped the finger into her folds, moving in and out. She rocked her hips against my finger, not forgetting to pump my c**k at the same time.

“Can I enter you?” I panted, feeling like I could burst anytime.

“Yes. Help me turn the other way,” she said.

Oh, so she wanted me to enter her from behind. I didn’t mind it. She could roll on her own, but I believed that what she was feeling was urgent. So, I assisted.

With her back toward me, I squeezed her creamy buttocks. Kneaded them. Then, I pressed her against my erection. Just to be sure she was truly ready, I resumed rubbing her c**t with the heel of my hand while two fingers pumped into her. She was panting loudly now.

I was on the brink, so I tilted her hips a little so that I could enter her from behind. I did. She was so hot and wet, but still so tight. I felt embraced by her heat. Loved. As soon as I was fully sheathed, I thrust into her. It was not a time to be gentle. I tore up her teddy so that I could hold on to her breasts while I hammered into her. I was about to c*m, but I wanted her to go first.

“I’m almost there,” she panted as I thrust while kneading her breasts hard.

Then, there it was. I felt every tremor that squeezed me hard. She came violently, her whole body shaking, and I let myself go.

Fully sated, I got up.

“Going already?” she asked, disappointed.

“I’ll be back. I will shower, brush, and wash the dishes. Remember?” I laughed.

“Stay with me, then?”

“I will.”

I heard something drop. What was that? A coin? I kneeled on the floor and saw one of my boxer’s buttons there. I shook my head, amused. So, that was what you get when you have hot s*x.

But it wasn’t just the button that I saw on the floor. There were two strips of embroidery floss under Valerie’s bed. One was blue, and one was green.