Taken (Dark Desires 1)

“You are so gross!” I squealed, happy to have my friend back.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I meant just anal.”

“No way! You are a sick individual! Totally!”

The limousine drove around through the city. We laughed and talked watching the people who tried to see in the tinted windows as we rolled past.

“Natasha. I just want to say one thing.” She took hold of my hand and her eyes had tears in them. “Whatever happens, whatever you choose or whatever these two men do just know that I love you. I want nothing but the best for you and if you ever need me for anything you can just call. Anytime.”

“Di, you sound like you’re worried I might get lost at sea or something.”

“I’m just saying. No matter what happens or what anyone tells you I’ll always b

e your friend and I’ll always be right there if you need me.”

As I waved good-bye to Di when we dropped her at her apartment and the limo was now taking me home, I couldn’t help feeling like she knew something she wasn’t telling me.

Whatever it was had her nervous. That made me nervous. Little did I know just how far things could unravel in a matter of days. Little did I know how far minds could unravel. I am now convinced that desperation is the creator of monsters.

JOSHUA

Going in to work was like stepping foot in your family’s trailer home for Christmas after you’ve been in Paris for three years.

People looked at me as if they didn’t recognize me. That is, those who were brave enough to make eye contact with me. Some of the old familiar faces came and shook my hand. Some just gave me a nod. My brother, who is always so diplomatic, welcomed me in front of the board of directors. But I could tell by the way he avoided looking at me that he wasn’t thrilled I was there.

Note to my future protégé: If people are uncomfortable when you are around it means you’ve got something they want. My brother was always uncomfortable when I was around. But, he managed to hide it pretty well while he told of the company treading along in the black and plans for the future.

There were a few squawkers who always complained.

“We’ve got three contracts that have yet to break ground and have been tied up in arbitration for almost two years now.”

“The property that was acquired in Prague has not enticed any of the locals to apply. We’re sending our people over there at three times the cost.”

“The new legislation pushed through at the eleventh hour by that S.O.B. in the White House is going to cost our southern branches to reconsider the their distribution procedures.”

Waa. Waa. Waa. A bunch of babies.

I sat back at the opposite end of the conference table, swiveling in my chair watching them all. Some of the directors were cool customers. They listened pensively, every once in a while smoothing out their ties or nodding their heads in agreement with something my brother said.

Then there were the worriers. The cry-babies, no matter how golden their parachute was, it just wasn’t enough. They freaked out if even the slightest setback caused them to only reap about 1.7 return instead of the 1.8 return they had gotten last year on their billion dollar investments.

And then, there were the sweaters. The fat old farts who had known our father, who were as old as they were overweight and sweated non-stop just because breathing was an extreme cardio workout for them.

How did this group of misfits become our Board of Directors? Once again The Universe provides the answer. Surround yourself with people less competent and you’ve got job security. Thankfully the major decisions were left up to Marty and me although, my brother rarely consulted me on anything. He was a work-a-holic to the bone. His whole life was this place and well, dear old dad would be proud of him. When wasn’t he?

I looked at my watch wondering when the hell this snooze-fest was going to end. These meetings were so boring.

Thankfully I had my memories of the previous night to dwell on while I pretended to pay attention to the prospectus in front of me and the charts and spreadsheets in between.

What was that girl’s name? Well, she wasn’t really a girl. She was just some meth-head looking to make enough to get her through another day in her meager existence.

I knew when Natasha said she was tired that the Universe would send me something to play with in the meantime.

Not that I would do to Natasha what I did to the meth-head. What was her name? It’s going to bother me until I think of it.

She wasn’t as eaten up as some of them I’d picked up, being a newbie to the streets. I could tell because she hopped in my car and thought that I was her big break. It was going to be like that piece of shit movie with the rich billionaire who fell in love with a hooker. It can happen. Really.

Velvet! That was her name. Like the cake she had said, soft and moist on the inside. I nearly gagged and had to choke back the laughter that was creeping up my throat.