Cover Up (Cover #2) (7 page)

Chapter Five

“Some people come and go and are forgotten. But there are other people who share a part in our destinies. They come, they go, but they are never forgotten. They come, they go, but even after they go... they're still here. They never really went anywhere.”

~ C.
JoyBell C. ~

JULIEN

Emily was all I could think about
, even as Shane and I watched a young and nearly naked brunette dance in front of us wearing only a red lace thong. When I arrived at the office, Shane took in my disheveled hair, my blood-shot eyes, and the bags underneath that accompanied them. He immediately took my keys, and informed me that I was in no mental condition to drive. Too exhausted to fight, I relented.

I allowed myself to sink into the passenger seat of
my Mercedes, and tried my best to enjoy the new piece of machinery, but found it impossible. Not today. I had ordered the car a few days ago via my ever-trusty assistant, Sylvie, thinking that Emily might feel more at ease in a more practical vehicle. My mind wandered to the first night we met and, though the thought normally caused me to smile uncontrollably, today it caused my stomach to twist in agony.

We walked side by side in silence. The light, warm breeze provided me with a deliciously enticing smell of her sweet, floral perfume, which did nothing to cool
my ever-growing lust for this woman. She smelled like a warm, summer’s day in a meadow. Oh belle, what are you doing to me?

Just as we reached my car, I
she stiffened “Is something the matter?” I asked, as I opened the passenger door for her.

“This… this is your car?” she said in a tone that was more of an accusation than a question.

“Yes, is that a problem?” I did not mean to chuckle, but she was so charming that I just could not help myself.

“You drive a Porsche?” she asked
, sounding less than pleased.

Leaning against the car, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared down at her.

“Well?” she said, impatiently, awaiting a response from me, only I wasn’t sure which answer she would find acceptable. Why are you so difficult, woman?

“Yes, I drive a Porsche; yes, this is my car; and yes, I would like to drive you home in it.”

I could still see the adorable expression on her face as she realized that Julien Belmont, VP of Belmont International, and I were one and the same. It was also then, I believed, I had started to fall for the woman. The realization that I had subconsciously given her my heart even then shocked me, making it hard to breath. Unable to move, I allowed my head to fall back as I fought to take slow, steady breaths.

“What the hell
, man? You look like you’re gonna puke?” Shane muttered as he climbed into the driver’s seat, finally, after making me wait for him to change out of his ‘boring work clothes.’

He threw his duffle bag into the back seat, which I assume contain
ed the very expensive Armani suit he wore earlier. He now wore black designer jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black leather jacket paired with matching boots.

I assumed he would be bringing me home
, but leave it to my little brother to use any opportunity to visit a gentlemen’s club. Shane didn’t frequent any old establishment; after all, he
was
a Belmont. No, there was only one place that could live up to a Belmont’s expectations…‘Emerald Gents’.  Shane believed this place was ‘every man’s medicine’ - ten thousand square feet of space and eight thousand exotic, provocative, women on staff. The place offered every man who entered a home away from home.

Shane thought all
of a man’s problems could be solved at the only gentlemen’s club in Los Angeles that offered deluxe amenities, including designer suites with private butlers, concierge services, and varying themes to satisfy every indulgence. So far, his ‘medicine’ included a young woman, and full bottle service, which included an extensive wine list, champagne and liquor.

Since I was
in no celebratory mood, I opted for an old faithful friend.

“Whiskey, neat,” I
said, when the butler requested our order. Shane ordered the same. We reclined in our black leather seats and the brunette began her dance. In record time, the butler returned with our drinks and I watched as Shane slipped the man a tip. Shaking my head, I picked up the golden liquid and took a sip, enjoying the burn as it went down.

“So… Are you going to tell me why you look like shit?” Shane asked as he gave me a knowing sideways gla
nce.

I unwillingly
shuddered, as I thought about everything that had happened since this morning. Everything seemed to have changed within a blink of an eye. One minute I was ecstatic - Emily was finally coming back to me, convinced that she heard my pleas. And the next…I was here. Everything in between seemed to blur together.

“I wouldn’t know where to begin,” I offered truthfully
, as I stared down at the drink in my hands.

Shane had
never fallen in love, reveling in all that the bachelor life provided him. He was free to do as he pleased, with whom he pleased, with no consequences or explanations due anyone. We lived a similar life at one point, but somewhere in the last few weeks, I had broken my only rule.
Keep things purely physical.

All the women before Emily – and I’ll admit that there had been quite a few
- knew from the beginning that my relationships with them were strictly of a sexual nature. I had my needs and they would cater to those needs. In return, they’d get what most of them wanted, gifts and money. It worked, just like business. Business I understood, but not Emily.

“Well I’ve got all night but don’t be mad if I show up late for work tomorrow,” Shane teased as he took a swig of his drink.

“There isn’t much to say, really. She doesn’t remember anything of the past year. And last year she was with Adam, so…”

“Ouch, tough one,” Shane mumbled as he shook his head back and
forth.

“Look, you’ve brought me here to relax
. So let’s save this conversation for another day,” I responded icily.

“Your life, your rules,” he said.

The whiskey helped relax me a bit, but the girl only added to my torment. Each time she swayed her hips I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting to a fantasy of Emily swaying hers for me in a private dance. The fog, smoke, and slow dancing lavender lights on the stage helped bring the fantasy to life, as the woman’s face slowly faded out, replaced by my Emily. The music she danced to was just the right tempo. She stood tall in her signature black lace lingerie and five inch heels, much like what she’d worn for her little show for me at her apartment just a few weeks ago.

I imagined her teasing me again, moving her hands across that curvy, toned, soft body of hers and landing on
her small perfectly shaped thatch of curls made my shaft stiffen.
Would it always stand at attention at the mere thought of her?

“So, what are you going to do?” I heard Shane ask me from a distance.

Unable to tear my eyes away from the woman dancing, the woman my mind had morphed into Emily, I stared ahead. My eyes fixed on the woman before me. Her seductive movements held me in a trance as I slowly drank her in, letting my gaze fall on every inch of her body.

Noticing, she moved closer, now crawling on the stage towards me and I felt my manhood jerk.

“Looks like you got over that Emily girl kind of quick,” Shane loudly teased over the music, vanquishing my trance with the mention of Emily’s name.

Blinking my eyes, I met the disappoint
ed stare of the young brunette and instantly felt sick to my stomach. Reaching for my glass, I turned to find my brother staring at me.

“Guess not” he mumbled before setting his glass down on the round table in front of us.

Choosing to ignore him, I signaled the waiting butler and asked for another whiskey. If I was going to get through tonight, I needed the numbness whiskey could provide.

Turning back towards the woman, I realized th
at she had already moved on, setting her sights on another man on the other side of the stage. He seemed to enjoy the show as she spread her legs wide for his attention, loving when he leaned forward to place another bill at the side of her barely there thong.

The sight was enough to make me roll my eyes. My Emily was gone and somehow I’d allow
ed Shane to bring me to this torturous establishment. None of the entertainers here could hold a candle to Emily. The thought made me angry, although I wasn’t sure why. The last time I was here with Shane was just over two years ago and I, surprisingly, enjoyed myself thoroughly. But today…today I was a shell of the man I used to be. I was nothing. Emily reduced me to nothing.

“So
, are you going to tell me what your plan is? Because this…,” he said while gesturing up and down at me with his left hand, “is kind of depressing, big bro.”

Not bothering to turn towards him, I stared ahead at nothing in particular.
I had no plan. Emily left me again and I was done chasing her around. It was time for me to resume my life – the life I had absentmindedly placed on hold after meeting her. I needed to focus on what was most important, which was my business.

“No plan, no point.
Oh, and…You’re fired, effective immediately,” I stated, before taking the entire double shot in one gulp, wincing at the sting it caused as it went down. I set my glass down on the table and rose to my feet.

“I’ll see you later,” I muttered before turning away and heading for the door. There was nothing for me here; both Shane and I knew that. What I needed
was back at the hospital, in the arms of another man. Since I couldn’t have her, I needed to find my way back to the Julien Belmont I was before.

I couldn’t recall the drive to my home. It was a complete blur, my mind often drifting to Emily.
I wondered how and what she was doing. Did she have any memory of me at all, even a small trace? I sat in front of my house for at least an hour before finally cutting off the engine and climbing out. As I walked through the door for the first time since the day I ran out to find Emily, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Memories of the first night I
took her in this very foyer. I swept her off her feet and into my arms then ascended the double bridal stairs. I thought it simple back then. I met a stunning woman at the bar whose body called to me. I would take her in my bed, maybe a few times, and then we would go about our separate lives. Only that was not how it happened at all. I was drawn to her in a way that I couldn’t explain back then. I needed to be near her every chance I got. I felt complete when she graced me with her presence, and standing here now…I couldn’t help but feel hollow, alone, and lost.
How in the hell was I supposed to move on?

The pain in my heart was not only emotional
; it was physical. It felt like a piece of me had been ripped out of my chest and stomped on. I couldn’t breathe without her.

I s
lowly I made my way up the stairs, all the while knowing what torment awaited me. She had become a part of the home. Her not being here with me was like existing in a world without its better part – cold, void, and unbearable.

I didn’t bother going in the bedroom or the office. Instead
, I sauntered slowly to one of the guest bedrooms – furthest away from where her scent still lingered. I didn’t know how long it would take before I could face the rooms again but tonight … tonight, I just couldn’t.