Red Blooded

Chapter 4 - Sam

Black fur. That’s what chased me, my car and Crick. Black fur so shiny and glossy, it made me wonder if there was anything wrong with my own hair treatment that I couldn’t get it to that standard.

I grimaced. I was jealous of a dog. But the one question remained—Who was following me?

Crick had driven us quickly out of New Hampshire without breaking any laws and although Crick pushed speeding limits, the black fur kept pace with us until we hit the freeway.

I headed for the air base, not heading for home. Jo had everything ready and waiting for me there and after a quick call to Eric and Angela and a brief goodbye with Crick and Jo, I boarded the jet and breathed out heavily.

The two weeks that followed my ‘escape’ was fast and frantic. I had no time to even have a moments’ thought to myself and always found myself surrounded by business men who looked intelligible and women who accompanied them looking vastly inappropriate amongst the business types.

I had worn down three designer shoes in the space of fourteen days and had consumed more coffee than any addict could take.

I was a walking, talking zombie.

The merger between South and Fields, the biggest media company and the biggest publishing company, had taken up more hours of my life than breathing did.

Looking back on it, perhaps I had overreacted. Perhaps, I could have stayed with Hilary and pretend to be the dutiful best friend whilst ignoring that her fiancé had once rejected me and only now, after I had gone through nine years of cosmetic and aesthetic changes, did he want me back.

But his claim on me angered me.

And the things that were happening to my body were unwanted. I wanted no part of a world that disgusted me. Once, I had wanted that whole world. I wanted the house, and the pups (gag) and the mate. And about three years after I ran away, I really thought I could have all that, minus the pups, just with ‘normal’ children, but life is cruel and devious, once it decides you’re to be miserable for the rest of your life, it won’t stop until you are. Now, I wanted the house, the money and the money…and the money. Apart from those closest to me, I saw no need to get into relationships but…I promised Sally and Eric and Crick and Hilary and…that I would ‘market’ myself.

I would do so, but not with haste.

Reality was though, I was surrounded by men, available and wonderful men for the most part of my stay in Tokyo.

Sam was one of those available and wonderful men. He also happened to be my first, my first everything. And then we broke up before I met Marc.

“Drink up,” he pushed the tumbler filled with water in front of me. I collapsed back on to the chair and flung my arm over my eyes. I was aware of the stares of other customers but I was too tired to care.

“I can’t,” I moaned feebly, “my throat hurts, my arms hurt, my head hurts, and I think—”

“That Sam is sexy; yes I know but please, refrain yourself. I’m over you.” He retorted. I let my hand slip from my face to glare at the blond sitting before me in the exclusive restaurant he had taken me to, to celebrate the end of the acquisitions and merger.

“If I had any strength, I would kick you.”

Sam smirked. “You still love me though, admit it.”

“Not until you say it first.” I sat back up in my chair and stuck out my tongue. Yes, childish it was but Sam seemed to be the only living person who could make me act a fool.