Deceived - The Complete Series (18 page)

When she got all of her things together, it was three-thirty. She still hadn’t heard from Kim, but she’d gotten a call from reception that the car was waiting downstairs. She was tempted to leave without her, but she knew Kim would have a fit, so she called her office.  When Kim answered the phone she said, “Kim, we have to be at the Candy Cosmetics shoot in half an hour. Are you coming?”

“Oh is that today?”

“Um...yeah, it’s right now, actually.”

“I’ll be right down.” Angela took out her phone and called the CEO Hannah to let her know that they were running late. Hanna didn’t have her phone on, it went straight to voicemail. Angela was discovering that wasn’t unusual either. Hannah liked her privacy and if she wasn’t at work, she rarely answered her phone. Typically, she called every one back on her time table. Twenty minutes went by before Kim showed up. She got in the back of the town car with Angela and said, “It’s been a busy day.” Angela wondered if that was an apology, but she didn’t ask her. It was almost four-thirty before they got to the church courtyard at Olivera Street they were using for the shoot. Angela jumped out of the car and went straight over to Hannah who looked royally pissed.

“Hannah, I’m so sorry we’re late...”

“Do you know how busy I am, Angela? I don’t have time to stand around on a hot street waiting for you.” Angela’s eyes went to the canopy Hannah had been sitting underneath. It had misters all the way around it. It was set up in the shade and there was a battery operated fan. Hannah’s eccentricities usually amused her, but not today.

“I do know, Hannah, I’m sorry. I tried to call you... Kim wanted to come with me...”

“Hello, Hannah!” Kim was suddenly standing next to her with a giant smile plastered across her face.

Hannah looked over at the other woman. “Kim. Maybe you should teach your employee that the number one rule around here is that we’re all busy, so don’t waste our time.”

Kim looked at Angela and for a fraction of a second Angela thought she was going to admit that them being late was her fault. That thought was gone as soon as she opened her mouth.

“We’ll talk about it, Hannah, I promise.” Angela almost couldn’t control herself. She wanted so badly to tell Kimberly what a bitch she was being. She and Hannah were beginning to develop a good working relationship and Kimberly seemed to be going out of her way to ruin it. She bit her tongue almost in half and then she said, “Are you ready to get started?” Kim and Hannah had their heads together whispering and giggling. She could only imagine what Kim was telling her. She couldn’t believe that at one time she’d had so much respect for this woman. She’d even wanted to emulate her. Things change rapidly sometimes. When they finished their girl talk, Hannah looked up at Angela and narrowed her eyes,  “I’ve been ready,” she said. “Let me go make sure the air conditioning in the trailer kept my models from melting.” Once she was gone Angela looked at Kim and said, “Gee Kim, thanks for backing me up.”

Kim smiled a thousand watt smile at her and said, “That’s what I’m here for.” Angela had to take another deep breath and ask God for patience.

The shoot went smoothly after that. Angela had her ducks in a row and other than making her late, there wasn’t a lot more Kim could do to ruin it. She did have to endure riding back to the office with Kimberly and that was a chore in itself.

“You know Angela, you and I never got together for that drink we talked about having. Are you so threatened by me that we can’t be friends?”

Angela nearly choked. “Threatened by you? Why on earth would I be threatened by you?”

“I just assumed that was the problem. We seemed to be getting on so well and then as soon as you found out that I had history with Steve, you haven’t wanted much to do with me.”

“Maybe I have an issue with you sending my boyfriend naked photos of yourself.” Angela knew she shouldn’t engage her...but after all, Kimberly brought it up.

Kimberly laughed. “Oh those were just in fun and not even meant for Steve. I was sending them to another friend...the numbers got mixed up or something.”

“Or something,” Angela said.

Kimberly looked annoyed and said, “Surely you aren’t suggesting I sent them to him on purpose, are you? I don’t think calling your boss a liar is the healthiest thing for your career.”

“I wouldn’t think I’d ever have a boss who would be sending out naked selfies so this is a new experience for me. I’d appreciate it if you and I can stick to work from now on and leave our personal issues out of it.”

Kim smiled. It wasn’t pleasant. “Of course we can,” she said. “If that’s what you want.”

“I think it would be best.” By the time they got back to the office and Angela got home she was so angry and frustrated she was shaking. She had no idea how she was supposed to make it through an evening with Thomas now. One more uncomfortable situation and she just might scream.

*****

T
homas left work at the same time Angela and Kimberly left for the photo shoot. He got home and showered and shaved and once he was dressed he began preparing the chicken. He had been looking forward to this all week. Tonight was the night that Angela would be his, body and soul. As he was putting the chicken in the oven, his phone rang. He looked at the face and with disgust, put it to his ear. “What do you want?”

“Jeez man, I just wanted to know if you needed any more GHB. I got a delivery of some good stuff today.”

“Is the “stuff” you gave me the other day “bad” stuff?”

“No, of course not...”

“Then I’m good. Don’t call me again. If I need you, I will call you.”

“Okay man, chill.”

“Fuck you!” Thomas ended the call and slammed the phone down on the counter just in time to look up and see Angela standing there.
Fuck! How long has she been there?

“Hey, what was that about?”

“Telemarketer,” he said with a shrug. “I’ve told him twelve times I wasn’t buying but he won’t stop calling. How was your day?” She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I think I’ll take a shower while dinner is cooking.”

“Good. Hey, let me fix you a glass of wine to take with you. It’ll relax you.”

“You may be right,” she said. Thomas got a glass out of the cabinet. He poured her a glass from the bottle he already had opened and swirled it around before he handed it to her. He watched...a little nervously as she took a sip. She closed her eyes and let it settle. “Thanks,” she said. She looked back at the bottle and said, “I thought you weren’t drinking tonight.”

“I’m not. I opened it for you.”

She looked skeptical but said, “Okay, I’m going to shower and I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Take your time,” he told her. “We have all night.” What a night it was going to be, he thought.

Chapter 10

By the time Angela came out of the bathroom, she was visibly more relaxed. Thomas breathed in her fresh, clean scent and shuddered. He was thinking again about what he wanted to do to her...what he was going to do to her. He looked at the empty wine glass in her hand and said, “Want a refill?” She handed it to him and smiled. It was the first time she’d smiled at him in a while the way she used to...before Steve came into the picture. He didn’t let himself believe it was the drug working already. He wanted to believe she felt genuine affection for him...the way that she used to. He refilled her glass and handed it to her and then he switched on the Bose speaker he’d programmed her favorite music into. “Go sit and relax,” he told her. “About fifteen more minutes and it will be ready.”

Angela made her way over to the couch. She was wearing her yoga pants and a tank top. She had her hair back in a ponytail. She was swaying to the music and Thomas enjoyed watching the motion of her hips in the tight pants. She sat on the couch and he watched as she leaned back into it and closed her eyes. She was getting sleepy...not long now. His mouth watered and his cock twitched at the thought of what he had planned for her.

Thomas had spent a big part of the past week doing research on his laptop. He was desperate to find a way to get Angela to loosen up her inhibitions with him. He knew alcohol made her a little less guarded...but that wasn’t enough. He needed her guard to be completely gone...and he needed her to not remember any of it in the morning. What he’d come up with was GHB, or liquid ecstasy as it’s called on the streets. He found out that he could buy it in liquid form and that taking it with alcohol would intensify its effects. It basically caused euphoria, relaxation, increased sociability and loss of inhibition, as well as heightened sexual interest. The major side effects are those similar to a hangover...and memory loss. It was as if the God’s had created it just for his purposes. It was odorless and colorless so that he could mix it in her bottle of wine and she would never be the wiser. He’d mixed it before she came home. The fact that he’d promised her he wouldn’t drink tonight was also playing right into his plans.

He fixed two plates of chicken and pasta and two bowls of salad and put them on the table with the French bread. He poured himself a glass of ice water and looked over at Angela. She still had her eyes closed. He hoped that she wasn’t asleep yet.

“Hey Ang, dinner’s ready.”

She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “I’m not sure why I’m so sleepy,” she said, taking the last sip of her wine. He liked her like this...so calm. He hadn’t really seen her this way since before Blake got sick.

“Maybe dinner will perk you up,” he said. She pushed herself up off the couch and swayed a little bit side to side. “Hey, are you okay?” He didn’t want her falling down and hurting herself that would screw everything up.

She smiled again. God, she’s so beautiful. “I’m fine. I forgot to eat lunch today because I was so busy. I get a little light-headed when I don’t eat, so that’s probably all it is.”

“You need to take better care of yourself. But, if you’re not going to, come on over and I’ll stuff you up.” She came over to the table and as soon as she sat the wine glass down, he refilled it. He sat down with her then and while they ate he said,

“So, I got a call about your house today.”

“The Miami house?”

“Yeah, do you have another house?”

“Oh stop it. Tell me what they said.”

“The agent I hired said we got a really good offer. It’s even better than the last one that fell out of escrow and these people have the assets to back it. As long as everything they’ve told us checks out. We’ll know by early next week.” Thomas had gone out of his way to keep that house from selling. Once Angela realizes that he’s the one she belongs with, he has dreams that someday they might move back there and raise their children together in it.

“Yay!” she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “That’s awesome! You’re the man!” she was slurring her speech just a little bit and her eyes were looking at him softer than she had in a long time. She felt like getting rid of the house would be getting rid of the last stages of her grief.  Thomas disagreed. That house felt like as much a part of him as it was of her. He’d spent many weekends there with her and Blake. He was always envious of Blake, but never jealous and angry like he is with Steve. There has to be something about that guy that brings it out in him.

He smiled at her enthusiasm and said, “I didn’t sell it; I just worked with the agent. We’ll see how it goes. Don’t get too excited yet.”

Angela took a bite of her dinner and closed her eyes to savor it, making a noise deep in her throat that was almost sexual. “Oh God, that’s good,” she said.

With a smile and more hope than he’d had in a long time Thomas said, “Thanks. I’m glad you like it.” He watched her pick up her wine glass and take another big drink.

“Is it hot in here?” she asked, suddenly.

“I’m not hot. Do you feel like maybe you have a fever? I hope you’re not getting sick.”

“Me too, I can’t take any time off right now. Kim’s being a bitch.”

He laughed again. “What is she being a bitch about?”

“Steve of course. She’s a jealous wench! But, I don’t want to talk about it tonight,” she said. “I finally feel good. Talking about her will run my happy away.” She was talking fast and her eyes were only half open. “I like this song.” Her thoughts also seemed to be jumping from one subject to the next. Thomas filled her glass back up.

“Me too,” he said. “I think this is the one you and I danced to at the dollar dance at your wedding.” He was lying but she was too drugged to know or care.

“Was it? That’s so sweet of you to remember. I loved my wedding. You were Blake’s best man. Blake loved you. Dance with me, Thomas?”

He threw down his napkin and stood up. Holding his arms out he said, “There is nothing I’d rather do.” That was a lie. There was something else he was dying to do...but all in good time. Angela took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. He put one arm around her waist and took her other hand in his. He led her to the space between the living and dining room and began to sway with her to the music. He could feel himself getting hard already. His cock has waited so long for her. It was tired of waiting. Angela had her eyes closed and her head back, singing along with the music. Her long, sexy neck was exposed and he had to force himself not to sink his teeth into it. It’s too soon...and besides, he has to be careful not to leave any marks. For now, he’d content himself with dancing.

They danced until the song ended and Angela continued to stand in his arms for several seconds after the music stopped. When she opened her eyes she said, “Oops! The music is over, isn’t it? Why is it so hot in here?”

“Why don’t you go put on something cooler before we finish eating? Just throw on a t-shirt or something. It’s just us.”

She smiled. “You just want to see me in my panties and a t-shirt, don’t you? I felt how happy you were to see me while we were dancing you naughty boy.” Thomas grinned. Everything was falling into place. She was actually coming on to him. She wanted him.

He took a step in closer and with his mouth only inches from hers he said, “To be honest, I’d personally prefer if you wore nothing at all.”

Instead of getting angry, Angela giggled and pushed his chest playfully. “I’ll just bet you would you nasty boy. Go sit down. I’m going to change and I’ll be right back.”