(Still Wednesday)
Katrina had left for wherever she snuck off to – I suggested to Aya it was a game room, Aya suggested it was as torture chamber – only to return when the next turn of the screws came. I was informed I had a visitor coming up by the name of Libra Chalmers plus a guest. Quickly enough they appeared. The guest turned out to be Brooke Lee.
“Who are these two?” Aya glibly spoke as the two Vassar girls walked into the room.
“Hello Libra,” I greeted my almost date from last night. “Hello Ms. Lee,” I said to Brooke.
“It’s Brooke,” Brooke smiled at me – she was hungry and scenting around for something remarkably like me.
“I’m happy to see you – oh – this is my guardian and protector, Aya Ruger,” I made the introductions. “No lie, Aya has been keeping up with my workload while I’ve been on ‘light’ duty. Aya, this is Libra Chalmers and Brooke Lee, both from Vassar College. Brooke is Trent’s friend and Libra had mercy on me Tuesday night and kept me from being a ‘fifth’ wheel.”
“I’m actually Trent’s fiance,” Brooke corrected.
“Fascinating,” I lied. Oh fuck, that was NOT good.
“Cool. I’m happy to see the both of you, but what brings you to my office today?” I continued.
“Well, I showed up to ask for Trent and Libra asked for you,” Brooke gave a sly smile.
“The thing was,” Libra picked up the tale, “they were looking up Trent, but the front desk knew exactly who and where you were – so we came here first.” My mind was busily working out how to pull Aya aside to give her a friendly warning when Katrina waltzed in.
“Ladies, this is my boss, Katrina Love, Head of Executive Services for Havenstone,” I plastered a smile on my face.
“Katrina, this is Brooke Lee and Libra Chalmers. I met them Tuesday night,” I kept things simple. Doom was impatient.
“Brooke is Trent’s fiance,” Aya chimed in gleefully. She wasn’t being malicious. She just didn’t know any better. Katrina had been in the process of giving some congenial nods.
She stopped and turned on a dime. Damn it.
“Really?” Katrina’s interest was piqued.
“Yes,” Brooke beamed. She brandished her engagement ring in Katrina’s face. Better yet, Katrina ‘ooh’ed and ‘aah’ed then spun on me.
“Cael, I didn’t know Trent was engaged,” Katrina pierced me with those lethal ocular devices.
“Yeah, I bet you didn’t,” I groaned. “I only found out a moment ago.” Trent had lied on his dating survey – slash application to Havenstone. They kinda/sorta made damn sure we had no external female attachments. It meant less bodies to dispose of if things went wrong.
I couldn’t understand how they missed it then a curious custom/lifeline reared its ugly head.
“Brooke, that’s your ‘promise’ ring, right?” I probed. “I’m sure Trent would get you a bigger rock for the actual engagement.”
“Yes,” Brooke confirmed. “We’ve decided to make the official engagement when our families take the Christmas Holiday at Hilton Head.”
How could I express to Brooke that Christmas with Trent at Hilton Head was a rapidly vanishing dream? Katrina resumed her stroll to her desk.
“Katrina,” I started my appeal. My argument was going to be that ‘promise’ rings didn’t really count even though I knew her omission on his survey/application was bad enough already. Brian was different. If he chose to ‘follow his career’, she’d shed the prerequisite 17 tears and happily get on with her life. Girls like Brooke came looking and that wouldn’t do.
“No,” Katrina didn’t even turn around. When she got to her desk, the phone calls began. Brooke was starting to realize something had happened. I gained a level of importance that extended beyond my bedroom sexpertise.
“Cael, is something wrong?” Libra took my hand in hers.
“Trent may have neglected to mention some things during his job interview,” I explained.
“Like?” Libra was getting concerned.
“Like the existence of Brooke,” I answered. See, if Trent had written down his acquaintance to Brooke, Havenstone would have investigated her in the same way they investigated my mentor, Dr. Kimberly Geisler. She had admitted to the length, depth and termination of our affair.
The issue of her teaching me anything besides sex had never come up.
“What?” Brooke grew indignant. Not with Trent, but with me. See, I was still a peon in her eyes and casting dispersions on her guy, who she knew and trusted.
“Brooke,” I sighed, “did any Havenstone personnel talk to you about Trent?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Every single woman I was ever with was questioned about me and my relationship to them,” I explained. “Trust me; that was a really long list.” Libra had the answer to that confusion. She pulled out her phone and got a busy signal – that would be Havenstone’ now-active jamming devices.
“What’s the number?” I asked Libra. She was momentarily annoyed – then suspicion kicked in. She gave me the number. Caller ID indicated it was Marla, Libra’s sister. I gave the phone up.
“Marla,” Libra began, “did anyone from Havenstone Commercial Investments ever talk to you about Cael?”
“Ummm, is he in trouble because of what I said?” Marla asked.
“What did you say?” Libra eyed me.
“I said he was a total asshole who broke my heart and given the opportunity I wouldn’t mind watching he die a painful death,” she confessed. “Only later did I realize I missed him and felt sorry about what I said.”
“Do you know if they talked to any of his other former girlfriends?” Libra inquired.
“I am absolutely sure they talked to at least one other person,” Marla mumbled. Her Aunt.
“Who? I need to talk to them,” Libra continued.
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Marla responded. “Suffice it to say they didn’t give a glowing review either.” Libra hung up and gave me back my phone.
“Cael, do you have a problem with women?” Brooke glowered at me.
“Yes, there are so many of them,” I shrugged. “That seems to be my main issue.”
“Cael, how many women have you been with?” Libra mused.
“Around 200,” I acceded.
“200! Holy Shit!” Libra gasped. Out of the blue,
“Of those, how many have dumped you for cheating only to come back to you later?” Katrina postulated.
“Around 40,” I recalled.
“That’s my Daddy!” Aya crowed proudly.
“What?” Brooke boggled.
“Not what you think!” I insisted. “Not what you think!”
“Aya is my niece,” Katrina explained. “Cael is not her biological father. He is her friend, paternal guide and guardian.”
“Aya and I are in negotiations about me eventually marrying her mother, but I have assured her that is years and years off,” I added.
“Cael is not my real Daddy,” Aya clarified. “He lets me pretend that he is.”
“Besides Cael, does that 200 include the past month?” Katrina diverted the conversation.
“Well… 200 as in closer to 200 than 300,” I grinned weakly.
“How did you graduate?” Libra followed along.
“I have a lot of stamina,” I pointed out. Tessa Carmichael glided into the room.
“Brooke Lee?” she greeted the not-here-for-me girl.
“Yes? Do I know you?” Brooke was getting nervous and snippy.
“I’m Tessa Carmichael, Director of Human Resources for Havenstone. I handled the final interview process for Trent Grant,” she smiled with deceptive warmth. She was furious. I could tell, having a long history with women in such moods.
“Is that Lee – L-E-E?” Tessa continued.
“Yes, what is this about?” Brooke persisted.
“You and Mr. Grant are in a long term relationship?” Tessa asked next.
“Answer my question,” Brooke snapped. Thankfully Tessa wasn’t Elsa.
“Trent lied on both his initial application and then twice in the interview process,” Tessa relayed calmly.
“About dating me?” Brooke was confused.
“We will explain in a moment,” Tessa smiled and patted Brooke on the upper arm.