Crash Into Me

Chapter Sixteen: Eli

Alli opens the door to her apartment and disappears inside. As soon as I know she's safe, I speed off back toward my place. What the hell just happened? I am bewildered by the night's poor turn of events. I really truly thought we were on the same page. God, I hope she just needs some time to think. What if she found out about what's inside of the chest? That would be a valid reason for her to change her mind about me...

The elevator doors to my apartment open up and I'm surprised to see my fireplace in the living room lit. Taking off my shoes soundlessly and placing them by the door, I cautiously proceed toward the source of light. I'm unsure of who could possibly be inside my apartment. The only person that has a key is Alli, and I know for a fact she wouldn't be here right now.

The ivory white chair is facing the fireplace. Crackling sounds from the fire fill my ears, my senses heightened in defense. I catch a glimpse of shiny blonde hair from over the chair. The figure remains motionless. Two red bottommed Louis Vuitton high-heels are visible from underneath. A hand is resting on the arm of the seat, along with a glass tumbler half-filled with alcohol and two maraschino cherries at the bottom. Cherry amaretto sour. Another whiskey-filled tumbler is sitting on the the table right next to her, untouched.

"Jannine?" I ask, feeling like I'm in some sort of twisted nightmare. Could this night get any worse?

"Hello, Eli." The red heels move forward and the glass disappears as she rises up from the chair.

"What are you doing here? How did you even get in here?"

"I brought some things that the movers forgot to bring over. I thought I'd save you the trouble of a trip back to our apartment," she motions to a cardboard box sitting on the living room table.

"Your apartment," I correct her. "And that still doesn't answer my question of how the hell did you get inside my place?"

"So feisty. A simple thank you for my troubles would be nice. Enrique from downstairs was kind enough to let me up. It's amazing what a few hundreds can do," her scarlet lips curve up into a wicked smile.

"Wooow. You bribed the doorman? You know that's illegal, right?" I run my hands through my hair in frustration. I get the sense that she will stop at nothing to ruin my life.

"And I'm a lawyer with friends in high places. I'm not too concerned about a little incentive from one person to another to help each other out. He's a little richer, and I'm—well I'm here," she shrugs her shoulders. She starts walking toward me predatorily, her ruby red dress stretching along her thighs with each step. "Where is your little friend, anyways? I hope there's not trouble in paradise?"

"That's none of your damn business, Jannine."

"Oh, so you two have hit a little rough patch? I hope it doesn't have anything to do with your arrangement with your mommy and daddy. Did you tell her so soon? I'm hurt. That took you over a year to share with me." She sits down onto the silvery love seat, crossing her legs and lounging back. "Or maybe she found out from someone else?" She raises her eyebrow mischievously.

I pause in a lightheaded daze. "What did you say to her?"

Jannine cackles, flipping her blonde hair back, "I didn't say anything to her, Eli. I didn't have to. You two have enough ammo between the both of you to self-destruct all by yourselves."

"Did you tell her about...You didn't tell her did you?" I feel my blood pressure surge in aggravation and my fingernails dig into my palms.

She grins viciously, "No, don't worry. I didn't tell her about your little secret. Not yet anyway," she looks away, looking pleased with herself.

"I swear if you tell her--" I cut myself off, trying to bring my anger back in check.

"You really need to do something about that temper. You always were a little firecracker."

"What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone?" I cross my arms in indignation.

"Have a drink with me." She takes a swig of her pinkish orange drink and motions toward the whiskey glass.

I scoff, "You can't be serious."

"You want me to leave you alone?" She stretches out her arms along the back of the couch, clutching her drink with one hand.

"Yes. I don't know how many times I've told you."

"Then have a drink with me. Just one," she swirls her glass before taking another sip.

"One drink and you swear you'll leave?"

She nods her head and raises her free hand up like she's swearing an oath. Everything about this feels wrong, but I'm desperate for her to leave. I just want to be alone right now. I rub my hands in my face in desperation and take a deep breath. Nodding, I walk over to the glass. I look up at Jannine. She raises her glass to me, toasting from afar. I pick it up and take a swig. It's Yamazaki 18, my favorite whiskey.

"I bought a new bottle, just for you," she smiles.

I ignore her ulterior-motive-filled comment and take a seat on the chair she was seated at earlier, placing distance between us. She leans forward in her seat, the tops of her breasts unapologetically exposing themselves. I re-adjust myself in my seat, uncomfortably.

"Listen, Eli. I don't want to take up too much of your time." I snicker in disgust at her statement. She's already taken up years of my time. "I just want you to consider the facts here. This thing you have going on with Allison is only temporary. She's just a play thing for you. You're infatuated with the superficial newness of a fresh romance, but I promise you, you will get tired of her."

"You are the most self-absorbed person I have ever met. I don't know how I ever wasted two years of my life on you," I sneer.

Jannine's face contorts into a look of injury at my words. "I'm sorry you feel that way. But the fact of the matter is, I am the type of woman that your family will gladly accept as your wife. I understand your world, just like you understand mine. We were born into lives of wealth and power. We are accustomed to the pressures and demands of this sort of life. She will never be able to give you the life you need. She will live her life feeling like a constant outsider surrounded by people who don't accept her. Allison will never measure up to Regina's standards."

I take a mouthful of the whiskey, feeling it burn its way down my throat. My ears flush with the warmth of the buzz.

"I don't care about any of that; the money, the family politics, the prestige—none of it. Screw that life and everything that comes with it. I don't need any of that. I only need her. I love her." I've never said that out loud before, but the second the words leave my mouth, I know that I mean them. I only hope she feels the same way after tonight.

She scrunches her face in disgust at my words. "You might think you feel that way right now, but I promise you, you will feel differently when you're left with nothing."

"I have everything I need Jannine." Had, I think to myself. I don't know if it's the exhaustion from my roller coaster of emotions, or the whiskey, but I'm starting to feel the room spin. She watches me attentively, ignoring my dismissal of her incessant advances.

"I can give you what you need right now." She rises herself up from the couch slowly and places her glass on the end table. Slipping one shoulder out of her dress, she reaches for the other sleeve.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I ask, baffled by her insanity. I feel the room start to zoom in and out strangely. Something is not right, but I can't seem to concentrate long enough to figure out what it is. "Did you put something in my drink?" I look down at the caramel-colored drink. It didn't appear to be tainted by anything, but whatever she might have put in it would have dissolved a long time ago. My mouth feels strange and I feel like I'm moving in slow motion.

Jannine shushes me and pulls her dress down, her ruby red lingerie blurring across my field of vision. "Don't worry, Eli. I'll take care of you." She unfastens her bra, shamelessly revealing her breasts before reaching down for her panties.

I fight desperately to stay conscious so I can stop her, but feel myself slipping. "You're...you're fucking...insane," I manage to say before the entire room fades to black.