CHAPTER 13
Laila
It’s been a long week, and by the time Friday comes, I am nowhere near ready for a night out with Ben. I follow Nathan around like a lost puppy, trying to find out what Titus is up to for the evening.
“You are driving me insane, Lowell. What do you want?”
“I just wanted to volunteer for extra hours tonight?”
“Why?” The ever suspicious Nathan asks, immediately assuming I am up to something that affects him.
I quickly decide whether to tell him the truth or lie, which I have a feeling he would recognize and put me directly in harm’s way. “I am trying to get out of a date.” Nathan laughs. “If I have to work, then there’s nothing I can do and can’t go.”
He looks me over, debating with himself, and I see a slight twinkle in his eye as an idea comes to his head. I can’t imagine it will be good for me. “Sure, Lowell. Titus is going out to dinner and then out for some entertainment. I can’t guarantee where that might be or what kind of sexual escapades you might witness. Still interested?”
Sighing deeply. “Yes.”
“Why would you agree to a date you didn’t want this bad?”
“I lost a poker game.”
“Well, that will teach you to play with men.” He walks away, proud of himself for the obvious dig. Against all my instincts, I ignore his comment and move on. At least I have a viable excuse now, one that Ben can’t work around somehow.
I wait until the end of the day to find him and do my best to seem shocked by my last minute assignment for the evening. His glowing smile forms the moment he sees me coming. I have to wait for him to finish talking to others as he gives them instructions. I would have never expected the constant joker, Ben, to be ranked so high with Titus. Once he finishes his conversation, he turns to me.
“How are you today, Tiger?” He sweeps my hair from the bruise on my head, the worst of my wounds from Caberera. “Your head is looking much better.”
“I’m good, thank you. Unfortunately though, Nathan has assigned me to follow Titus tonight, so I guess …” I shrug, noticing Ben doesn’t seem the least bit shocked. “What, you’re not going to argue with me?”
“No, things happen. We can reschedule if you want?”
“If I want? Are you letting me out of the bet?”
“Laila, I am not about to force any woman to do something she doesn’t want to do. If you don’t want to go, then we don’t have to.” He sits against a desk, looking into my eyes with confidence. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“What?”
“I’m working tonight too.”
“Why would you ask me out if you had to work?”
“It’s a process with you. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Win a game and expect you to not try to find a way out? I know better. I predicted your move before you did. I also know that you do want to go out with me.” I huff, stepping back as he leans forward. “It’s written all over your face.” He slides back cocky as hell. “Well, that and you have been checking me out all week.”
“I have not,” I argue, trying to remember a time he might have caught something.
“Have so.”
“I have—not!” I cringe at his ability to drive me crazy and put my finger in his face before he can say another word. “No, no. I’m not arguing with you. I’m going to do my job, and then I’m going to go home after, without you.” He acts hurt, all the while a smile is ready to form. I stare, and he winks at me, a smile warming his face. My knees begin to weaken again, and I hate him for having that effect on me. “I’m done talking to you.”
“Laila?” I stop and wait for his final word. “You have so.” He laughs, infuriating me.
“You’re such a child,” I yell at him.
He approaches, stopping to look down at me coolly, and leans in to kiss me on the cheek. “See you tonight.” He leaves me grasping a chair back for support.
“And I have not!” I yell after him.
An echo radiates down the hall. “You have so.” With others coming, all I can do is shake my head to keep from looking anymore insane than I already do.
My Friday night isn’t exactly what I was wanting. I got out of my date, but I am still spending the entire night with Ben. At least while on the job, he acts like a professional. Maybe I can get through this night without much trouble. We have a few people causing a drunken mess, but outside of that, it’s all pretty boring. Even Titus is yawning.
“I can’t take this anymore. Is there nothing entertaining in this city tonight?” Titus asks.
“I will take care of you, Baby,” Jolie hums, dancing her way in front of us all and stripping down to her underwear as she swings around, waiting for Ben to rescue her. Titus looks up at Nathan who rolls his eyes. She is not impressing anyone, and the indifference is starting to get to her. “If you’re not going to pay attention to me then I will go find someone that will!”
“Alright, but you’re not getting any of my security people while you go do it.” Titus waves her off, whispering something to Nathan who moves Ben next to Titus, making sure he stays put.
Infuriated, Jolie puts her dress back on and rushes down the stairs to mingle until she finds the right dumbass to give her what she wants. She lures the fool into nearly having sex right in front of Titus. The poor man doesn’t know what’s coming for him. “Stop!” she yells. “Help! Let go! Help! Stop. Please stop! He’s hurting me!” Jolie screams, flailing about as if she has been struck. The man stands dumbfounded as Titus sends someone down to right the situation. I doubt Titus fell for her act, but he enjoys the show and rescues her in a grand performance. It’s a beating I don’t enjoy watching, and I am not sure the man will live through it. Once Titus finishes with him, he is carried out and thrown into the street. It’s a display that proves Titus’s need for attention and respect. Jolie kisses him as her rescuer, and they return to the balcony like the king and queen of the utmost bullshit I have ever seen. They are made for each other.
The crowd becomes uneasy by the display. The obvious tension causes Ben and me both to take hold of our weapons and prepare to rush Titus out, but Titus holds us off, standing up calmly to address the crowd who are unsure if they should move. “Please, all is good. My wife is safely back at my side and the deplorable has been dealt with.” Everyone begins clapping along with Titus and his grand appreciation for Jolie’s insanity. It settles the crowd some, but it’s obviously still tense, and people are looking to leave. “Please continue having fun. Drinks are on me for the rest of the night,” Titus states, aiming for entertainment of another kind—drunken stupor. No one seems anxious to do much of anything. “I didn’t come here to watch people stand around. Someone do something. I don’t care what, but things better improve quickly or my good mood is going to disappear.” Titus slams his fist down on the arm of his chair, a deep shade of red forming on his face. “Ben, I always enjoy your entertainment. Surely you can think of something?”
“I do have an idea.” Ben leans down to whisper into Titus’s ear.
Titus nods, “Of course, you have my permission to do whatever you want.”
Ben disappears for a few minutes, talking to the DJ who nods and hands him a microphone. Ben looks up at me and winks. Oh this can’t be good. He races back up the stairs to the balcony. The music stops once again, and a spotlight beams right on us. Titus sits up with interest while I try to back away. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I need your help. I have been trying to convince this woman right here to go out with me for weeks.” I am pushed into the center of the light, shaking my head and cursing him under my breath. “Sadly, she keeps saying no.” The crowd simultaneously moans, and Titus laughs, clapping already at Ben’s ability to engage the crowd. “So, I was wondering if a song would help show my devotion to her.”
“No, it won’t!” I insist.
“Oh, I think it might, Laila, or should I say, Layla,” he belts out for no reason. Suddenly, I hear it. The notes that have plagued me my whole life, cursed by a song that happened to play when my parents first met. The crowd begins to get excited, and Ben? Well, Ben sheds his suit jacket, loosens his tie, and undoes a few buttons on his shirt to the roar of every woman in the room. He belts out the song as if he has done this a million times before, taking my hand and pleading every note to me.
I look around as everyone is cheering him on, including Titus who is encouraging and wanting more. Ben, I have to admit, is impressive with his moves, and the more I shake my head, the more elaborate the situation gets. I keep shaking my head, hoping this will end, but before I know it, he has me down in the middle of the dance floor, spinning me around and sliding up to me on his knees, begging me with passion as he calls out my name. This is a nightmare. With my hand in his and looking down at the fool on his knees, I am annoyed beyond words at this point. This is only going to get worse.
“Yes. Okay, yes. I will go out with you. Whatever you want. Just please stop.” Everyone cheers. Men pat Ben on the back and women tell me how lucky I am while trying to give him their phone numbers. Ben pays attention to no one but me. It’s disarming how he looks at me and even pulls me in close to him. He thanks everyone for helping him. I really don’t understand people.
He wraps his arm around my waist, staring into my eyes as he finishes out the long finale of the song. My hands are in his when he moves one for me, up and behind his head. The other he holds between us while I move in against his chest, dancing and listening to him sing in my ear. We are cheek to cheek as he sings just loud enough for me to hear. It’s an odd feeling that I don’t quite know how to handle. There is something comforting about the way he holds me. He continues singing songs of his own choice, lightly in my ear.
“Yes, you look wonderful tonight.” I look around and realize no one is paying attention to us anymore. Buried deep in a crowd, I close my eyes and relax against him, as he continues to impress. Ben pulls his head away from mine, grazing my cheek with his lips.
“Laila,” he whispers as his hand slides down my back. I lay my head on his chest and let him in a little closer. Everyone else completely disappears from my mind. It’s me and him. Ben singing, only to me, and swaying my body with his. “Are you ready to leave?”
“No.” I glance shyly into his eyes. “Not yet. Keep singing.” But just to me, please. Ben adjusts to allow me to fit right into his arms, as close as I can get to him.
Ben got Titus to agree to let us have the rest of the night off if I said, yes. If I didn’t, Ben was to give up his car. It was a bet Titus was willing to take. He does love his games, and Ben took advantage.
“That’s two yeses, you know? I’m not giving up.”
“I realize that. Don’t worry, I surrender. It better be a damn good date,” I say, and he immediately dips me backwards, smiling at me.
“Don’t worry. You’ll get your kiss, Tiger.” Pulling me back into his arms, he sings lightly, nosing my cheek with a tender kiss whenever he feels the need to do so. I don’t know what this feeling is, what these raw emotions are rushing through me. I haven’t felt it since I was a child, since my father told me it was all going to be alright—when I last felt safe from the world.