Complicated Ties (The Ties Trilogy (A Contemporary Erotic Romance Novel)) (7 page)

The buzzer on his desk sounded, its shrill interrupting us, Daniel stood up and answered the call, the beads of sweat running his back, I could still feel where he had been, and the subsiding orgasms making my chest rise and fall with my shallow breaths. A familiar voice filled the room,

“Mr Ace, your 11 o’clock is here”, it was Amanda.
‘Bitch’
, she had interrupted us just to tell him someone was here to see him.

“Could you tell them I’ll be with them in thirty minutes”, I looked at him as he walked towards the bathroom and I followed, I smelt of sex, the combination of sweat and guilt emanating from every pore of my body.

Daniel stepped into the shower and began to run a sponge over his form, only minutes ago that body was above me, sweating and writhing..

Pity his assistant interrupted us, I wanted to  feel him cum inside me so badly, to feel him jet against my pussy walls. I cleaned myself up the best I could and found a notepad.

‘Can you definitely start on Monday?’, my hand shaking as I wrote the note  which followed by ‘Text me’. I contemplated whether to put a kiss or not. I decided not to. I left the bathroom and adjusted my dress and attempted to straighten my hair as I left his office and headed home where  I could clean myself properly.

When I arrived at home, Alice was watching Letterman on TiVo, she looked at me and smiled, I walked into my welcoming room and kicked off my shoes, the bed calling me.

I heard my phone ringing,
‘God, I hope it’s not Daniel...please let it not be him’,
I pulled myself off the bed and rummaged through my bag, the phone still ringing. I glanced at the screen ‘UNKNOWN NUMBER’ flashed on and off.
‘Why would he ring off an unknown number’,
the thought still went around my head as I answered it.

“Hello, White?”, I could hear someone breathing down the phone but remaining silent,the unknown caller making me feel uneasy.

“Hello?”, I started to get agitated, the other caller’s breathing getting heavier.

The phone went dead.

“For fuck sake”, I threw my phone back into my bag, and pulled off my dress and pondered on who it was. It wasn’t Daniel, he wouldn’t be so melodramatic.

My phone started to beep, which I knew was an indication that someone had sent me a text,
‘it better not be that heavy breathing freak’,
the screen lit up with a text that looked familiar.

Sender:With-held

‘MONDAY IS GOOD FOR ME, JUST A QUESTION...YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE...FELT LIKE YOU RAN OUT ON ME...THERE WAS SPACE IN THE SHOWER FOR YOU...SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS AND ONE OF MY SUB CONTRACTORS WILL BE ROUND TODAY AT 2 IF THAT'S CONVIENIENT. DANIEL.: )

I didn’t feel like replying to him, but I had to out of politeness and I needed the work to begin, I started to type out a reply trying to keep it polite.

I APOLOGISE FOR RUNNING OUT, I NEEDED TO GO HOME AND SORT MYSELF OUT..OH MY ADDRESS IS THE WHITE RANCH, 11609 SHELDON ROAD, CA95101.

MADDIE WHITE.

I placed my phone on the night table that stood next to my bed, a knock came at my door.

Alice popped her around it.

“Miss Maddie, Could you check on Sophie and Maizie, I found Sophie on the sofa, she cried and jumped. I found a puppy out of the puppy pen”, she sounded worried. My dressing gown was to hand as we left my room.

I walked with Alice into the living room, and discovered Sophie on the couch, she looked sore.

“It looks like Maizie wanted the puppies to be warm, just make sure Sophie stays in the Dining room would you?, she looked at me and nodded.

“Yes Miss Maddie, I’ll turn the heating up...keep them warm”, she turned around and headed to the utility room.

“Oh.. Alice I’m just going to have a shower”, I headed in the opposite direction and stepped into the bathroom. My dressing gown came away and I stepped into the inviting warmth of the shower.

The doorbell rang, its sound echoing through the house.

“Alice, would you see who that it is”, shouting through the jets of water.

Alice shouted back, “It’s some man dressed in a brown uniform”, “Shall I get Ant to answer it”, she continued.

“Yeah , I’ll be out in a few minutes”, came my reply as I washed my hair, the soap threatening to run into my eyes.

A towel stood between me and complete nakedness as I emerged from the bathroom, I saw Ant standing by the door about to open it.

“Well open it then..”, I requested

Ant opened the door and saw a man who looked like he worked for UPS, I noticed he was wearing driving gloves, but I thought nothing of it as he handed Ant a PDA.

“Package for Maddie White”, he spoke with a southern accent.

“Who’s it from..?” Ant asked looking suspicious

“No sender details, probably picked up from the Post Office”, he looked like he getting more impatient.

Ant signed his name on the plastic screen and gave it back to the UPS guy. We watched as he got back in his equally brown truck and pulled away in a hurry.

The box was nondescript, it had no sender, only my name and address typed out on a label, I looked for other details but found none.

The box was sealed with two pieces of tape, neatly. I removed the tape that left a sticky residue, and opened the box. It was packed with thin paper, a familiar smell filled my nose.

I pulled the paper aside and saw something that made me drop the box . A dozen Red Roses that had begun to turn black lay on the floor their leaves and thorns intermingled.
‘Who would send me roses?’
the thought interrupted by Ant.

“Secret admirer Miss?, Ant bent down and picked up a card and read it aloud.

“Forever yours x”, he handed me the handwritten card. The card had no name and was typed out in a normal looking typeface, I handed it back to Ant.

“No secret admirers Ant, well not that I know of..”,
‘Daniel wouldn’t be so direct...and creepy, he’s not the type.

“Glad you were there, the guy kinda creeped me out”,

“No worries Miss, I’ve always got your best interests at heart”, Ant walked back to the garage through the orangery.

Leaving the roses on the parquet flooring, I walked towards  the house phone which lay on a little oak table, picking it up I dialed my father.

On the third ring he answered.

“Hello...”, his voice sounding jolly.

“Dad it’s me..” trying to hide the fear.

“I don’t want to freak you out but I’ve been getting a few crank calls, and now a box of roses with forever yours on a card”,

“Seriously, sweetie you should of rung me earlier, as soon as they started the first call, look I’ve got a friend who runs a Detective Agency near you, he’ll probably give you a ring on Sunday, his name is Dan, he owes me a favor, Don’t worry we’ll get to the bottom of this and find out who’s playing games” his reply was stern but comforting.

“Dad, I’ll book a week off to catch up with you , oh let’s say next Month.. Sound good?”,

“Sure sweetie, look I have to go.. Things to do you know...Love you”

“Love you too”, I hung up the phone.

Walking into my room, I decided I should visit my brother Mike and the kids. Mike was a cop with the Santa Clara sheriffs office and I knew he had a day off. Grabbing my jacket I headed outside where Ant had brought my Aston Martin 177 around.

“Miss Maddie, I’ll follow you in the Evoque just to make sure you get there ok” he was firm and I felt that little bit safer that he would be behind me.

“Sure, thanks.. Good idea, just keep your distance, we don’t want any accidents”, I opened the door to my car and started up the V12  engine, it purred as I revved the engine.

The trip to Mikes was uneventful until I came up his road, the street cordoned off by Police, the officers waving to stop traffic, I could see Ant three cars behind me, his comforting presence a blessing in disguise.

I wound down my window and a officer came towards me.

“Miss, there's no access to this road by car, you’ll have to walk” his look was officious

“What happened? ...”, I knew the question was unavoidable

“Some kid on a dirt bike collided with a bus, emergency services are dealing with it”, he walked back behind the cordon and continued with his duties.

I parked my 177 outside a dry cleaner, and walked the hill that Mike’s house stood on. A colonial two story building that had recently looked like it had been painted, with one of those white fences surrounding a finely cut lawn, Mike’s station wagon parked on the drive with a red bicycle leant against it.

I could see little faces peering out of a window and then heard what sounded like a stampede came rushing out the front door, and two kids grabbed both my legs and hugged me.

“Aunt Maddie”, they both chimed with excitement.

“Hello James, John”, I grabbed them both and hugged them both. They then dragged me into the spacious house with its oak panelling and waxed floors.

Johns little voice piped up as he peered up at me,

“Aunty, can we stay at yours soon, I want to play my bike on your woods”, his face full of a beaming smile.

“Does John want to come too?” I asked knowing the answer already.

“Yeah me too Aunty...I want to play my bike too”, Mike and Megan came into view from the kitchen, they both hugged me and we sat in the front room.

“Mike, I’m going to see Dad next month.. If the kids want to come that's ok”,

“New Zealand?” he looked puzzled, “Yeah New Zealand” I told him as I wondered where Lucy was.

“Where’s Lucy?” I asked looking at James pushing his toy car along the floor

“Lucy’s at Playgroup...” Megan replied handing me a coffee, and then taking a seat on the couch.

“So Mike.. Kids...Dad...New Zealand?”

“If the kids want to go see Grandad?” before he had time to finish they both ran up and sat on my lap.

“Well you're all invited if you can get time off work...” Mike smiled at me and winked.

“I’ll organize time off, you want to stay for lunch?” he already knew my answer as we walked into the kitchen.

“Megan’s made her famous Babouska, and there's plenty to go around” we all sat around the dining table as Megan brought out the food, and  Mike began to dish it out.

We sat and talked about Dad, about Mike’s recent bust involving a crack den and what we would do when we go to Auckland.

“So what you have been upto Mad?”, Mike asked as he began to eat

“Just sorting out my building work Mike, the new vets” I looked at him and started to pick at my food.

“When do you think you’ll have it up and running?”, Megan came back into the room with a jug of ice tea.

“I’ve got some contractor coming out to have a look and work out the measurements on later today”,

“I’ll have to take a look at when it’s finished”,

“Yeah, good idea”, I picked up my fork and took a mouthful of food.

“So you don’t mind heading to New Zealand to see Dad?”,

“No sis, It will be good to see him, haven’t seen him in a while and plus it will give us and the kids a chance to get away from it all”, Mike poured me a glass of ice tea

“Mike I’m going to have to make a move, I’ll let you know the dates of when we're going to see Dad”,

“Bye Aunty...see you soon” James said, hugging my leg.

Mike and Megan waved me off as I returned to my car, the street empty of the accident that occurred earlier.

Driving along the freeway I could swear I was being followed, but put the thought out of my head as I approached the turnoff that led to my house.

Pulling into my drive I spotted a white GMC van with two men standing having a conversation and pointing to the woods. Daniel was there with man dressed a plaid shirt and scruffy looking jeans,
‘Shit what's Daniel doing here...he said only the contractor was coming’

Daniel spotted me and headed my way, but Ant had appeared from nowhere and opened the door to my 177,

“Cheers love,” Ant’s hand pulling me out the low seat and Daniel interrupted  us,

“Miss White, this is Edward Gregg,”, as he came towards us, his hand outstretched

“Mr Gregg, pleasure to meet you”, I shook his hand, it felt warm and clammy.

“How long have you been waiting then?”,

“Not long Miss White,” Edward’s reply seemed friendly enough, although I could see the scowl begin to form on Daniel’s face, his jealousy showing.
‘I swear he can’t get enough of me’

“Would you like to follow me, I’ll fix you both a drink if you fancy it,”. Daniel and Edward followed me into the house as I heard Ant start the engine of the 177 and pulled it around to  my four car garage that was at the side of the house.

“I hope you gentleman are not afraid of dogs, they don’t bite unless I tell them too, so be good boys would you”, I could tell that my comment had put Edward on edge but Daniel seemed nonchalant at it.

As we stepped into the hall, the dogs came bounding around the corner with Alice in tow,

“Miss Maddie, Good afternoon,”, she looked flustered as she led the dogs into the orangery.

“What would like to drink Gentlemen?”, I asked as I moved towards the bar, with both of them following me into the dining room.  The atmosphere was calm as they sat down at the table.

“Whiskey Sour, please Miss White”, came Edward’s voice with him peering over at me, I could swear he was checking me out. If Daniel was jealous at the fact, then he didn’t show it, although I would of expected him to.

“Coke with absolutely no alcohol in it”, came Daniels sly but what he thought to be funny reply. I made the drinks and joined them at the table, Alice came through to the dining room, she appeared to be agitated.

“Miss Maddie, I need your help with Maizie”,

“What’s the problem Alice?” the look on my face revealing my anxiety

“One of the puppies is having trouble breathing, and Maizie is panicking”,

“Alice would you keep these Gentlemen company and telephone Lisha to get her butt here with her Emergency Bag, I’ll be in the utility room. Oh get me some clean towels and fill one of those hot water bottles from the cupboard next to the bathroom.”, Alice moved to the cupboard and pulled out several cotton towels and an empty hot water bottle. She ran through the dining room with Daniel and Edward wondering what was happening, I could hear her grab the phone and dial Lisha’s number. The one sided conversation with Alice asking Lisha to get her butt here.

“Miss Maddie, Lisha is on her way”, as she came into the utility room with a pile of towels and a full hot water bottle.

I could hear Daniel and Edward come into the room, their faces looking concerned.

“What’s going on Miss White”,

“Daniel, I need you to go back into the dining room, I’ve got a distressed puppy and Maizie is getting too excited”, Daniel and Edward moved back into the dining room, with Daniel acting like he had just been told off, complete with his tail between his legs.

“Alice, take Maizie out into the yard, find out how long Lisha’s going to be”, I told her while I placed the distressed puppy onto the towels with the water bottle,
‘Trust him to be the runt of the litter’,
it was all I could do until Lisha arrived.

I returned to the dining room where Alice was conversing with Daniel and Edward, I could see she was overly flirting with them, Edward spotted me coming in.

“Everything ok,” he asked looking slightly concerned,

“Drink Miss White?”, with Edward asking me as I sat down next to him.

Daniel looked at me and gave me an odd look, I knew he was getting jealous at the fact that Edward was talking to me in a particular way.

“So..what was going on with the dogs...nothing major I hope?”, Daniels concern was genuine but the hint of jealousy was still in his question.

“Maizie’s a surrogate...”, before I had finished speaking I heard the front door bash open and the familiar sound of Lishas sneakers squeaking across the floor at high speed. She came flying into the dining room nearly knocking Daniel over.

“Where’s the emergency?”, she asked looking dishevelled and panicky

“Utility room, puppy having problems breathing, in and out of consciousness..”

We both ran into the utility room, and attached a nasal canula, the oxygen bringing her around slowly. Lisha attached an I.V subcutaneously in the scruff of the puppy’s skin of the shoulder blade to give the puppy the needed hydration. We watched as she came around, her head rising at us.

“Well that was a close one Lish.”

“Your telling me,” She looked at the puppy who was fully conscious and  it began to stand up.

“Thanks for coming so quickly, I appreciate it”, moving towards the door I turned around.

“Lisha, keep an eye on her, I’ve got some business to conclude, I don’t want Alice ending up in some sticky situation.”, Lisha laughed at my comment.

“Alice in a sticky situation?”.

“Never mind Lish”.

I returned to the dining room where Daniel and Edward were laughing at something Alice had said, she saw me and stood up.

“Miss Maddie, will there be anything else?”, she asked looking surprised that I had caught her making both men laugh.”.

“Go and see if Lisha needs any help Alice, I’ll speak to you later”,

“Yes Miss Maddie”, I watched her walk to where Lisha was, her tight black dress revealing her visible panty line and her long slender legs underneath her black tights. No wonder both men kept staring at her, wondering what they were thinking. If I knew Daniel it would of involved copious amounts of sex, followed by more sex.

“Miss White, drink this...it will make you feel better”, Daniel handed me a shot glass that smelt of vodka, his eyes looking at mine.

“Everything ok?,” he said,   guiding me to the couch. I sat down and downed the vodka.

“Yeah, Lisha the miracle worker just saved my ass, if you would excuse me both, I’m going to get changed into something more comfortable”, I told them as I stood up and headed into the hallway, pausing outside my bedroom door. I breathed deeply and pushed the door open. The room had been cleaned recently by Alice, the smell of lilies filling my nose and clothes back in their respective drawers and cupboards.

I made my way into the bathroom to freshen and up and compose myself, my clothes ending up in a pile on the rug. I heard a noise in my room,
‘that sounds like the door’,
I thought  I moved towards it and carefully pulled back the bathroom door.

I saw Daniel standing in the middle of my room, it felt like he had invaded a part of my private space.

“What the fuck are you doing in here?, my anger starting to boil as I confronted him. “If you need the restroom it’s down the hall, not in here!”. Daniel looked taken back, his face looking shocked.

“I wanted to get you on your own, to have a chat with you...I wanted to clear up what happened this morning..”, Daniel sat on my bed without being asked, I remained standing in my underwear with no attempts to cover myself.

“I thought it would be a good idea and you wouldn’t mind me coming in here to chat with you”, Daniel continued to look at me and my semi nakedness.

“Of course I mind, I’m practically naked, please Daniel it’s not a good idea for you to be in here, I don’t want people gossiping, let me get dressed first and I’ll chat to you about business and business only”, I opened the door to the bedroom and let him out, the door closing quietly behind him.

In the quiet confines of my bathroom I searched for my makeup bag, realizing it was in the bathroom down the hall I opened the door to my bedroom and quietly walked towards the door that led to it. Daniel was standing outside the bathroom, looking at one of my paintings on the wall, I watched him walk in and followed him.

Reaching for my makeup, Daniel was at the sink washing his hands, I removed the clear plastic case and moved towards the door, Daniel moved from the sink and stood in front of the open door.

“Would you excuse me please?” I said looking directly into his face, with my anger beginning to resurface,
‘This guy doesn’t get the meaning of talking later’,
I thought.

“Are we going to have dinner sometime Miss White, you seem to be avoiding the question...Look I’m going to be honest with you”, “Everytime I think of you and what we did  in my office makes me hard”, his honesty direct and to the point.

“I just want to push you against the  sink, pull your knickers to the side and fuck you until you scream with ecstasy...”, I could see Daniel’s face as he told me about what he wanted to do to me. I wanted it as well, but not now.. Not in the house with Edward in earshot.

“If you stop bugging me I’ll have lunch this Sunday...ok?”, my answer seemed to please Daniel.

“Thank you, I’ll pick you up at 6, and wear something sexy...”. His voice sounding demanding.

Beginning to put my makeup on and pull on the pink and black Tracksuit that lay on a chair besides the shower, Daniel moved towards the door and I followed him shortly after, attempting to avoid the obvious looks from Edward, as I approached the dining room I could hear their conversation about women that Edward had been with the previous night.

“Miss White...shall we have a look around your estate now”, Edward asked as he came towards me with a blue clipboard and a laser measuring tape.

“Sure Mr Gregg, this way please”, I led Edward and Daniel out of the front door and around to where I wanted my veterinarian practice to stand and my new home which would stand opposite.

Edward began to take notes and measure the plot, his concentration never faltering as Alice went about her duties as she passed us.

“Looks about right Miss White, what do you think Daniel?”, his question directed at Daniel who was stroking one of my dogs who had appeared from the orangery.

“Well...if Edward has everything he needs we’ll be heading out...I have that meeting with Larsen and Toubro at 8 and you know how they like to be early”, he said as he began his walk towards the white van.

“Miss White, is there any chance of seeing one of the puppies, my daughter would positively freak out if I got her one for her seventh birthday”,

“Yeah I’ll let Daniel know when you can come around.. oh and thanks for doing this for me.. have a safe trip”, I said, with Edward moving towards his van. I watched him get in and start the engine, spluttering into life. The van moved towards the gates as they opened and he pulled out on the main road.