Caught in the Middle

Chapter 7

The moment I was outside I hailed a taxi. A yellow cab swerved toward my direction. I stepped back as it stopped in front of me. I opened the door and cried out, "67th street on Lexington." The cab driver simply nodded his head and I closed the passenger door. I took my computer, my keys and cash as I exited the apartment and put it all in my knapsack. I didn't know what else I needed but the money was all I had until I got my next paycheck. Luckily, I was able to get a couple weeks off my from weekend job at the café to settle personal matters. I still had to attend work at Thorton's Bookstore.

I settled back in my seat as I took in my rumpled appearance through the reflection of the cab's window. I was five feet, three inches with a slim figure that men deemed attractive but I didn't considered myself beautiful. I was passable, pretty enough to get noticed but not the eye turning type like Irene. I had large brown eyes in a round face that many people think of me as innocent. But the air of innocence made me seem like a gullible person. The one thing I loved most was my smile because it seemed to transform me, making me beautiful. My smile won over customers in the café or at the bookstore.

Although the past three weeks, my smile rarely came. Not even watching some chick flick movies helped me feel better. I rubbed my eyes tiredly as tall buildings, cars and people's profiles passed me by through the window. My head hurt and I pulled at the tight knot on my head. My whole body sat stiffly, primly as I thought about seeing the rude Mr. Cole again.

Thinking back, I would have laughed at myself if I knew I was going to meet Mr. Cole. I would have never thought that one blind date would have escalated to me meeting two very different and dangerous businessmen.

During the three weeks, I only had the internet to keep me company and so I researched Mr. Pierce. To my utter shock, Mr. Pierce was a filthy rich business man. He owned several technology companies and even had some shares with Windows, the computer program. No wonder his name sounded familiar to me when I first heard of it.

Mr. Cole, on the other hand, was partly rich due to his money investment with business stocks and mutual funds. He owned several fashion companies and women worshiped the floor he walked on. Several stores like Lauderay, Glitter, Butterfly 18 were the famous name brands he owned. It was a mystery how I ended up meeting these men at simple places and somehow my future intertwined with theirs.

To make matters worse, they were rivals. Their constant competition to earn more money brought them fame. They were a lot of information about them in the tabloids. Mr. Pierce may have ruled the newspapers and the news but Mr. Cole ruled the magazines and the talk shows.

As the cab turned on Lexington and was making it's way downtown, I clutched the ends of my jacket. My body turned stiff with fear from meeting the stolid Mr. Cole. I felt sweat coursing down my back and I cursed Irene for talking me into dating some nasty, good looking man.

And now I was in a boatload of trouble.

The cab pulled over. "We're here, miss," he said. I nodded and asked him for the price.

"Fifty five dollars." I almost peed myself. Since when did taxis become so expensive? I gave him most of the money I had on me and I got out of the taxi while remembering to take my backpack. Instantly, the doorman was there to offer me a friendly greeting.

"Is there any way I can help you, madam?" the doorman asked. He was dressed neatly in a dark gray doorman suit. He wore a black hat on his head.

"Yes, I'm here to see Mr. Cole." The doorman eyed me perceptively. I almost wanted to hide behind my backpack. I was dressed in a black turtleneck sweater, faded blue boot cut jeans, black ballet flats, and a light brown jacket.

"Your name?"

"Tessa Black."

He nodded his head. "Mr. Cole is expecting you." He opened the door and led me into a grand lobby with shining mirrors, polished marble floors, luxurious black leather seats, and a massive glittering chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling. He walked me to a nice elevator. "Hit the top button. Mr. Cole lives in the penthouse."

My eyes widened at the information. Exactly how rich was Mr. Cole?

The elevator opened with a ding sound and the doorman retreated. I did as he instructed and watched the elevator doors closed again with a ding. Soon the elevators re-opened with the sound that was becoming annoying and Mr. Cole stood watching me with contempt in his eyes. He was still as handsome as ever with his black hair combed back and his glittery blue eyes.  The dark stubble on his jaw was shaved.  His eyes, however, held coldness and he wasn't dressed in a suit. Instead, he wore a white shirt that hugged his masculine form and black jeans. His feet were bare as they softly padded against the polished wooden floors. He accosted me.

"Ms. Black," he said. I blinked at him as I realized it was the first time I heard him call me by my name.

"Mr. Cole," I returned.

He turned away and left me to follow him. I quickly exited the elevator. The open area of his apartment caused a breath to leave me. His place was twenty times bigger than mine. All around the open space of his apartment had large glass windows, which showed an exquisite view of the Harlem River. I could almost see Queens on the other side of the river.

He stopped in front of one of the massive windows, overlooking the water. His broad shoulders and wide back faced me. I could see he over six feet tall.

I felt a lump in my throat and a pit in my stomach. "Umm... so... umm... I came to discuss how you can help me..."

'Damn it! I sound so greedy!' I didn't want his money or anything like that. I just wanted to clarify Mr. Pierce's restraining order.

He turned to the side as his eyes flickered over me. His face remained expressionless.

"You have walked into one messy complication, Ms. Black."

I frowned. "I know I did and I know I should have listened to you but I honestly thought Mr. Pierce was a decent man."

"You should have known better. Are you that gullible?" he asked. I looked at him with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you walk into any man's apartment so easily?"

I blinked at him. "You said for me to meet you here."

"Dane," he said.

"Excuse me."

"Call me Dane." He moved so close to me that he was only a foot away and I could see triumphant flashing in his pale eyes.

"You said for me to meet you here so we can discuss matters."

"And you clearly came by yourself."

"Meaning?" I was almost afraid to ask him because I didn't like the dark look on his face.

"I mean Ms. Black that you're going to be staying here for awhile, until everything in our companies settle down between me and Mr. Pierce."