T.O.R.N.: There's Only Right Now

Chapter 4 Awakening

The yellow diamonds in Asante's tennis bracelet dazzled each time they passed a street lamp. The refraction of light lit up the back of the town car that she and Brennan rode in toward Mr. Fairchild's estate in the uber-luxuriousPresidio Heights. Brennan smiled at her as he touched her wrist and admired the gift he had given her a year ago. "You are stunning."

She smiled back in return but felt uneasy inside. She had not been able to shake the agitation that entered her stomach since she was in his office two days ago. Although she never actually met Fairchild, she didn't think it was nerves. The feeling was vaguely familiar but she couldn't quite place it.

She looked out the window to distract herself. She met her own reflection, her perfectly shaped almond, almost black eyes, were wild with curiosity. Her waist length hair; pinned up and framed her caramel skin perfectly. Her make-up was flawless, however, all she felt was exposed.

She forced her attention to the beautiful aesthetic that her eyes encountered beyond the window. She had never been to this part of San Francisco, the homes were massive. Regal almost. They turned onto Maple Street and as they pulled into the private cul-de-sac driveway, the ground lights that illuminated the Georgian style estate looked so ominous that she laughed out loud at the fear building inside her.

"What's so funny?" Brennan asked curiously.

"I'd just thought it would be bigger." They both laughed together taking in the fifteen-thousand square foot home.

The car stopped. The door opened. And standing outside in a black well-tailored suit was an extremely tall man, at least a half foot taller than Brennan, who was six-two.

"Dr. Valdis," He greeted Brennan as he stepped out of the car and shook his hand.

"Carmichael, good to see you," He then reached back into the car for Asante's hand.

"May I present, Dr. Asante Argueta," she stepped out of the car and stood between both men who towered over her five-foot-three frame. "This is Carmichael, Mr. Fairchild's right hand."

"A pleasure to meet you, Carmichael," She charmed. He smiled warmly, but his eyes took in every inch of her black lace, Dolce & Gabbana, knee length cocktail dress with the hunger of a wild beast. She shuttered in response. What is with me, shake it off, Asante, she admonished in her self-talk. She wasn't usually so reactive to people.

As they followed Carmichael into the house, Asante locked arms with Brennan and pulled herself closer to him to whisper, "I didn't know that you and Fairchild knew each other so well that you're intimate with his personal staff, how many times have you been here?"

"Once or twice," he casually replied, but somehow Asante felt confident he was lying to her.

They walked into an opulent high ceiling foyer at the center of which hung the most enchanting crystal chandelier Asante had ever encountered. Beams of light reflected off the cream walls. The double grand staircase gave the entrance a palatial quality. As they walked under it and entered a burgundy velvet wall-papered, mahogany-paneled corridor, Asante felt like she left the twenty-first century and traveled back in time. The sitting room in which they entered was decorated impeccably. Gold and burgundy accents adorned most of the furniture. Yet it was all so incredibly masculine that it could have doubled as a smoking lounge in some old country club. She had expected to see some doctors or board members from the hospital, but she only recognized one of the twelve or so faces that seemed to simultaneously turn and look at them as they entered.

Mr. Fairchild's beady eyes filled with delight at seeing her. A wide smile on his portly face greeted her before they actually approached.

All of a sudden, her stomach lurched, the feeling of snakes writhing in her gut erupted from the pit of her bowels. She remembered all too clearly now the last time she had felt this type of sensation in her body. The day she had lost her mother and Aissa. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as he reached for her hand. Before she could fully process what she was feeling, he grasped her hand in his and drooled, "I'm so glad the occasion has risen for us to finally meet."