Authors: Aleka Nakis
“Okay.”
What a peculiar call. A driver and the corporate account for my personal needs?
She shrugged and replaced the receiver on its stand.
“Benefits of working for the Lakis brothers,” she whispered as she entered the elevator.
Saturday morning, she took the N train into Manhattan, determined to give her credit card a workout. The typically reserved Samantha let go and vowed to make it a memorable trip.
One shattered personal credit card, five hours, and four shopping bags later, she returned to Astoria and walked the two blocks from the train to her favorite café. Leo, her usual afternoon waiter, automatically brought her a
frappé
, the Greek version of a creamy iced coffee. She added the adorable mouse-shaped chocolate pastry she splurged on for special occasions. It had to be the cutest animal styled dessert in the world. Especially the dark chocolate tail.
“So what are we celebrating my little red-haired siren?” Leo asked, straddling the chair opposite hers and placing the pastry in front of her.
“I’m going to Greece next week. I’ll be spending the whole summer there.”
“You are going to knock those Greek men off their feet. Just remember a few safety precautions.”
Oh, no. A scene from
Summer Lovers
played in her mind. What was he implying?
“Sunglasses and sun block are a must. Your light skin and big green eyes are no match for the Mediterranean sun. It’s very strong.”
Samantha let herself exhale. Reaching into a big red shopping bag, she pulled out a Prada eyeglass case. She put the dark glasses on and allowed them to rest on the end of her nose, tossing her hair side to side.
“What do you think?”
“I think you aren’t going to knock those Greeks off their feet; you’re going to cause a series of heart attacks. You’re stunning.” He laughed and grabbed for his heart.
Enjoying the teasing, she smirked at his little act, and blew him a kiss when he stood to return to work.
“Your afternoon treat is on me. Be sure to stop by and say
adio
before you go.”
“I will. Thanks, Leo,” she said, and flashed him what she hoped was a smashing,
don’t-forget-me
smile.
Taking a bite of the chocolate mouse, she allowed the decadent sweetness to roll in her mouth before swallowing the added calories to her daily allotment. A sip of the
frappé
to chase it down, and she was in heaven.
Why can’t life always be this simple?
If only she could feel confident with other men. Maybe even for something physical. Why couldn’t she just go with the flow, and then, maybe, she’d be able to stop dreaming of Demo? One night of hot steamy sex with her dreamy boss might satiate her fascination. But no, she’d never thought of it as just having sex with him. It was always so much more.
She had to stop thinking about him in this way. Period. Demo was the employer, she was the employee, and theirs was a relationship she valued. Her ex, Brad, had taken care of the rest. He had beaten her self-esteem into the ground an inch at a time.
Two more bites of the mouse, one more sip of
frappé
, and then a whole summer of fun. She’d focus on Greece.
Her cell phone chimed “Hard Days Night” bringing her back to the here and now. Rummaging through her bag, she found and retrieved the pink contraption. She checked the caller ID: private. Perhaps it was Demo calling from a landline. She eagerly flipped it open.
“Hello?”
“What is my little tramp shopping for today?” The icy threat in the ruthless voice settled on the back of her neck. “Come on baby, what pretty thing did you buy that I’ll have to tear off that priggish little body of yours?”
“Go to hell, Brad!” She slammed the phone shut, looked about the café and, satisfied he was not around, let herself breathe. Her teeth bit into her trembling lower lip, but even the taste of blood couldn’t stop the tears.
When did he see her? He didn’t know were she was, or he would have made some cocky remark about her coffee just to terrify her. Good old Brad, he always found some way to place a dark cloud over her head.
Maybe she should call the police. No, it wouldn’t help. They’d just ask too many questions she didn’t want to answer. And what if they looked into the hospital records? Put two and two together. No, she couldn’t call them.
Dropping the phone into her bag, she placed a tip on the table and gathered her things. She stood and exited the café. She was only two blocks from home, where she would be less exposed and vulnerable. Putting on her new glasses and tucking her chin low against her chest, she walked, scanning each doorway and side street for glimpses of Brad. She doubted she’d even breathed during the short jaunt.
Samantha rushed into her building, and a sense of calm washed over her as the heavy security door clicked shut. She was safe inside with the people she saw day in and day out.
Then a chill ran down her spine. Looking at the door of the lobby apartment, she shook her head. “Nah, the idiot is too cheap.”
She’d never seen the tenant who lived in that apartment. But it couldn’t be her ex. She would’ve known. Wouldn’t she?
Growing more nervous with every moment that passed, she opted to take the stairs to her third floor apartment.
Letting herself into her private sanctuary, she turned three deadbolts and secured the door. She dropped her shopping bags and walked around the small space making sure no one was there.
She was alone. Samantha couldn’t breathe, and it dawned on her: she was most vulnerable when she was alone. Her legs grew weak, and she sat at the kitchen table. Staring at the deadbolts, tears filled her eyes. With trembling hands, she picked up the phone.
She dialed the police.
*****
“You understand we can’t do anything if Daniels hasn’t actually hurt you?” the officer said. “Do you have a place to stay until you feel better about this?”
She slowly nodded as she saw the concern on his face. “It won’t be necessary. He doesn’t know where I live.”
“Just to be on the safe side, go somewhere else or have a friend stay with you.”
“We have a video intercom system and a new security door at the main entrance. I’ll be okay.”
The officer handed her a card with his personal beeper and told her not to hesitate to call the police. “You can call me directly if you wish. I’ll be in this area all week.”
Samantha opened the door to let him out. Her stout, silver haired neighbor, Mary, walked in. “What is happening here? Are you all right, sweetie?”
Relief flooded over Samantha as her friend took her hand and rubbed mothering warmth into it. Mary’s eyes urged her to speak and unburden herself.
“Yes, I’m fine. Have a seat on the couch while I let the officer out, and then I’ll make some tea.”
In the excitement of preparing for the trip, she’d forgotten it was Scrabble night with the elderly neighbor. Mary was close to eighty years old, but her memory was sharper than a twenty-year-old’s.
“I’ll have the board set up in no time.”
Thanking the officer, she locked the door behind him. Mary became her shadow and moved into the kitchen with her. Samantha remained quiet, considering how and what to tell the neighbor. She didn’t want to frighten her friend and add to the upset.
“Honey?” Mary raised a silver eyebrow in question, and motioned for Samantha to sit while the older woman went to put on the kettle. With a hug and well-practiced encouragement, Mary had the younger woman confessing the day’s events.
“Oh sweetie, I’m glad you called the police. You should’ve gotten a restraining order against him when he started acting so irrationally. And, I don’t care if he doesn’t know where you live. You’re not staying alone tonight.”
“I’ll be good in the morning. I just need to rest, and then I’ll pack for my trip.” Her hand shook as she raised the hot tea to her mouth.
“Now that young man you work for, he’s the type of man you need in your life.” Mary placed a warm hand on Samantha’s knee and applied the slight pressure her age-worn fingers would allow.
“Mary, you’ve never met Demo. How could you say that?”
“Sure I have. Remember that night you spent with him?”
“I’ve never spent the night with him.”
Smiling coyly, Mary patted Samantha’s knee. “Keep your knickers on, sweetie. I don’t mean
spent the night, spent the night
. I’m talking about the night you stayed with him because Mr. Good-For-Nothing was threatening you.”
“Oh, that’s right. You saw Demo in the hall when he brought me home in the morning.” Heat rose to her cheeks as she remembered her neighbor giggling like a school cheerleader when she’d introduced them.
“Yes, dear. And I told you that same day what I thought. I told you, he fancies you.”
“Mary, you know better. He’s my boss. That’s all.”
“A
that’s all boss
doesn’t invite you to spend the summer with him on an exotic island.” Mary’s eyes twinkled as she poured the remainder of the kettle. “Finish your tea, and then you’ll show me what you bought today. We’ll pack together.”
“He is my boss, and I respect that. Besides, you know that men like him marry within their small circle. I’m not up to being a toy for a Greek tycoon. I deserve more.”
“Honey, I don’t think he’s the type of man to play with your heart.” Mary stood with the tray in her hands.
“That’s what I mean. We never know how people really are. They’re not always what they appear to be. Do you know he has a different girl on his arm every week? Women swoon over him.” Samantha raised her hand and swatted at the air. “The only woman he’s been pictured with more than twice is Zoe Markos, a long time family friend. People say their marriage has been arranged since kindergarten.”
Chuckling, Mary shook her head. “Oh, dear, do you really believe that? Do you think we live in the middle ages? Young people today don’t do arranged marriages.”
“Maybe not most, but they’re Greek. He’s sowing his oats before he settles down with the proper wife. He may be nice, but if I—no—I could never just let him use me.”
Unfortunately, he had changed from her amicable employer to the leading man in all her erotic dreams.
No, no, she’d already decided she wouldn’t think about him. Looking into Mary’s eyes, she took a deep breath. “No man will ever have such power over me again. I don’t need them anymore!”
*****
One ring…Two rings…Three.
“Hello.” A mature woman’s voice sounded in Demo’s ear.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, ma’am. I think I might have the wrong number,” he said, hoping he didn’t wake her.
“Who are you, and who are you trying to reach?”
“I am calling for Samantha. This is Demosthenis Lakis.”
There was silence on the line. Did she hang-up?
“This is Samantha’s neighbor. Could you tell me where you are, and what you had for dinner?”
He pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it. What was this? The third degree?
“Please, humor an old woman,” she insisted.
“I had souvlaki and a salad at a
taverna
in Greece.” He couldn’t refrain from laughing and had to ask, “Are you Nancy Drew?”
“I’m Mary. Samantha is already in bed.” The older woman chuckled. “No wonder I liked your voice. I knew you’d be a polite young man with proper manners and diction.”
“Why, thank you,” he replied, grinning at Mary’s statement. “There is no need to wake Samantha. I’ll call in the morning.”
“Mr. Lakis?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what has happened today?”
He didn’t like the infliction of her tone in the question. Something was wrong. “No, Mary. Please tell me.”
“First, one more question, sir.” Mary breathed heavy into the phone before naming her terms. “What is the nickname your brother gave Samantha?”
“My brother?” Demo rubbed his chin. What did a nickname have to do with anything? “Tony calls Samantha Little Red.”
Mary sighed. “Good.”
Satisfied he was who he claimed to be, the woman told him why she was in Samantha’s apartment and the events of the day.
“Please keep her there. She’s safe inside the building. Don’t let her leave, and I’ll send someone to pick her up. She never takes his threats seriously, and we don’t know if he means it this time. I’m glad she finally called the police.”
“I told her to do that the first time I learned about Bradley’s threats. You remember, the night when she couldn’t leave the office because he was outside. I think she stayed with you then,” Mary said in a shaky voice.
“Yes, I do. I’m arranging for someone to come over as we speak. Just don’t let her leave.”
“Okay, I’ll try to keep her home. But you know how stubborn she is.”
“Thank you. I look forward to meeting you in person. As soon as things settle down, we’ll all go to dinner.”