28 August 2012

Amber's Advocate

Chapter Seventeen


When the shit hits the fan, it hits


    Cade strolled to the front desk where they were greeted by the check in clerk.  He peered over his shoulder to see Amber taking in the grandeur of the lobby, of the Waldorf Astoria.  For a native New Yorker, she sure looked at the place as if seeing it for the very first time.  The lobby was opulent, boasting of Italian marble, the overhead expanse of a chandelier and subtle lighting gave the area an intimate feel. 
 
    "It's so dark in here... I wonder what it looks like during the day," Amber whispered, as she nervously played with her charm bracelet.

    "We'll find out in a couple of hours," Cade looked at his watch, "Would you like to go to your room?"

    She nodded and they made their way to the lift, "So what kind of room do we have?"

    "A luxury suite, you have your own bedroom, as do I, and we have joint facilities I think. We're on the forty second floor," Cade said stealing a glance at Amber.

   "What? But that's the penthouse area," Amber said, her mouth wide open.

   "One of them..." Cade replied.

   "I don't understand, how does your magazine afford luxury like this?  Don't get me wrong, it's great that you write and all... but it's not like a big publication, it's tiny in comparison to Vogue or GQ or... I mean, I hardly knew of it's existence until I met you," Amber said confused.

   "That's why I'm here in New York to expand the magazines horizon.  Besides, we don't exactly want to be Vogue a fashion magazine... or GQ... of course, I'd be lying, we want the sales side of things just not be known for being a fashion mag or lifestyle... the magazine's demographic is aimed towards the more accomplished, informative man.  The man who wants to know what the hell is going on around the world, not just what's outside his front door or on the street," Cade replied. 

   "That's all good and dandy and I appreciate the education Cade, but your magazine isn't with the big wigs yet... so how the hell did it afford this? The Waldorf Astoria?" Amber said stepping onto the corridor of the forty second floor.

    "It can't..." Cade said, putting his key into the door and the door opened.  Amber stepped in and her mouth dropped open.

    She turned around and looked at him, "So... what? You used your own money to stay here?"

    Cade stood by the landing, he watched Amber as she stood in the middle of their suite's foyer, her hands on her hips, waiting for a reply.

   "You used your own money to stay here... whatever for?" she asked in disbelief.

   "For you, for us," Cade simply said.

    "For me? I don't understand," Amber said, "For us?"

   "I can tell, you miss New York, I can tell by the way you talk about it... I can tell by the spark in your eyes, then by the way they water because it's too painful.  Because the way things ended here... it's not a place you want to go to revisit... but I want to change all that.  I want to show you that it doesn't have to be this way... that sometimes good can come out of the really bad stuff," Cade pleaded.  He remained standing, he wasn't going to pity her.  She wouldn't want that. 

   "So, you're my advocate?" Amber looked straight at him.

   "If you want to label it, yes... but foremost..."

   "You lied to me..." she rushed past him.  He grasped the sides of her arms.

   "I swear to you, I didn't... not intentionally... I just want things to be..."

   Amber shoved him away, "I trusted you... I trusted you and you deceived me! Why couldn't you just tell me you wanted me to come..."

   "Because I knew you wouldn't... it's too hard for you... God Amber, if you only knew what it's like to see someone you deeply care about, upset, hurting... a hurt you can't get to because you don't understand or you don't know where to start."

    "You won't know then, will you," Amber yelled and flew out the door.

    Cade cursed and ran after her.  She was standing at the lift, fuming, "Where are you going?"

   "Anywhere but here," she snapped back.

   "Can we go in and talk about this?" Cade asked softly.

   "What's the point, you assumed what you think I needed when you lied your way to get me here... do you have any idea what it feels like to know in this very city, that the person I used to love, tried to kill me... that he's lying in a cell in this city just waiting, biding his time... to seek his revenge.  I didn't want to come here, ever again!  I didn't want to come here... knowing I'm closer now to him then ever... but I came back here because you wanted me to and because I thought... maybe, however minuscule the possibility was... that there would be one guy out there... one guy, who would be different... but you're all the same... all of you."

    "Amber please, let's talk about this inside," Cade asked.

    "No, I'm going home... back to London... where it's safe," Amber said.

    "You can't run for ever Amber... you can't, it's not the way to live your life," Cade whispered.

    "It's my life Cade, IT'S MY LIFE!" she yelled back. 

    "I'm not telling you to live your life the way I want it... I just wanted to help you..." Cade offered. 

    "I'm tired of people trying to dictate to me how I should live my life... I'm not a child..." Amber said, pressing the button for the lift.

     "Please come inside and we can talk about this.  I'm not telling you, I'm giving you a choice Amber."

     "Then if this is the choice you're giving me... you'll understand... leave me alone," Amber stepped into the lift and the doors closed in his face.

     Cade stood by the lift, the adrenaline coursing through his veins.  He slapped his hand against the wall and stormed back into the suite.  The sound of his phone, brought him back to reality with a thud.  He searched through his hand carry and retrieved the phone, before it stopped ringing.  He looked at his call log, it was a UK number.  He called it back.

     The voice of a distressed woman came on the line and he recognised the voice immediately "Is she there?"

     "Millie, what's wrong?" Cade said urgently. 

     "Where is she Cade? Where's Amber?" 

     "She's just popped out," he lied, "Now, tell me what's wrong?"

    "Rick's out of prison... he got out... not even on parole... he got out,"  Cade didn't have to ask twice.  He ran out of the suite and ran into the lift, seeing the lift there waiting... without Amber.  He suddenly felt cold. 

17 August 2012

Amber's Advocate

Chapter Sixteen


Progress... Plans...

 
A Week Later...

    The man opposite him pushed the manila envelope towards him.

    "What's this?" Rick responded, picking it up and staring into it.

    "You wanted to know, so I got you something... open it up and you'll find out," the stocky man said, leaning back in his chair.

    Rick opened the envelope and caught sight of the bitch laughing hand in hand with a man he didn't know.  The photos were black and white, reminding him of stake outs he'd seen in an episode of CSI:New York the other night in the communal hall of this dank miserable shit hole of a prison.  Ironic.  He looked at the next photo and they she was kissing him, leaning into him and his hands were in her hair. 

    "Your point? Or did you just give this to me to fucking piss me off?" Rick slated.

    "Attitude... don't forget your place now Rick.  You forget who's on the inside and who's not," the stocky man pointed out.

    "What do you want Stan?" Rick said through clenched teeth, if he wasn't incarcerated in this place, his face would meet his fist. 

     "Your little girlfriend's snapped up a right gold mine.  He's an heir to an obscene amount of money... obscene... more then you and I will ever see in a life time," Stan grinned with malice, "So, I'm cutting you a deal... but that depends on what you're willing to pay me."

    "I want her to pay but I can't do that because I'm stuck in this fucking hell hole... I want to watch her die by my hand and my hand only..." Rick tried to contain his fury.

    "That can be arranged... these cells, this establishment is as corrupt as the lawyers of this city, the government and every police officer. When you wave a little green in their faces, they're like putty in your hands.  You can do what the hell you like with them, because they've sold their soul to the fucking devil himself.  Even the Senator of this state is as corrupt as they come and I know. I know.  I can promise you, I can get you out of this place in a couple of days before she gets to live the American Dream again," Stan said smugly.

    "Hold on a second, is she coming here?" Rick stammered, in shock.

    "Your little witch is travelling to the US... the land of the fucking free with her boyfriend... and then we can truly play our cards right.  Forget about the state lottery... we'll be rich!" Stan said rubbing his fingers together. 

    "So, what do you propose?" Rick said, leaning forward.  Licking his lips in anticipation.


***

    "Are you sure about this? I mean really sure? Sure as sure can be?" Millie said leaning against the door jamb of Amber's room.

    "At the beginning I was a little apprehensive, y'know with the state of affairs... the issues... but I'm tired of being scared... I just want to face it.  What's the least that could happen?  He's in prison, there's no way he's coming out.  I'll be safe, I can protect myself," Amber resigned herself to say, "I'll be fine."

   "Only if you're sure?" Millie smiled.

   "I'm sure, besides I really miss New York... it's home, even if there are things I don't want to think about there... I just want to get on with it," Amber replied.

   "Wow! I never thought I'd actually see the day... but this is pretty awesome," Millie said striding up to Amber and hugging her.

   "What are you talking about?" Amber said, drawing away from her friend.

   "You're in love with him?" Millie stated the obvious.

   "I'm not in lo-"

   "Love does a many great things... I should know... wow..." Millie said jumping up down, "I tried to deny it, but you do... you've got courage, determination... and the fact you're going back to New York, says it all.  You're willing to be with him, despite that.  It's gotta be love."

    "No, it's courage... now get off... I've gotta go give Shadow a bath," Amber walked away.

   "I know you're trying to evade my question, but I know you..." Millie said pointedly.

   "Like I said, I gotta go give Shadow a batch," Amber said, making a quick exit.  If she couldn't figure it out, could other people?

16 August 2012

Amber's Advocate

Chapter Fifteen


Untouchable


     Amber woke up abruptly to a ceiling that was unfamiliar to her.  When she turned her head, her eyes clasped on Cade who was reading in an arm chair opposite the couch she was luxiously sprawled out on.  Covering her eyes she groaned and spoke up,
     "Shit! So much for dinner."
     "You're in luck," Cade smiled, putting the book to the side and grinning, "I burnt it.  I didn't have the heart to start over, so we'll order in, instead.  Are you hungry?"
     "Starving.  How long was I out?"
     Cade looked at his wrist watch, "Oh a couple of hours."
     "And what's a couple of hours?" Amber asked, as she stretched.
     "I'd say, about six hours..." Cade smiled.
     "This is just too weird, I haven't slept like that in such a long time, it's so strange.  Even with medication, I never drift off like that," Amber said, shaking her head.
     "Well, what can I say? It must be the cosiness of my place.  What do you fancy to eat? Pizza or Chinese?" Cade said to a stand.
     "You pick... can I use your bathroom please?" Amber asked.
     Cade pointed her in the right direction and she shut the door firmly behind her.


   An hour later, they were sitting on the floor, having spooned various culinary Chinese offerings from the local Chinese takeaway.
    "So... I've got to go to New York for a couple of days in two weeks," Cade began, "And as you're a native, I was hoping you would join me.  What do you say?"
    Amber almost choked on the prawn she was half way through munching, "You can't be serious."
    "I'm deadly serious... you said you were missing the buzz, I'm going over there to meet some clients for work, why don't you come and join me? It'll be fun.  Besides, I'll be staying at The Waldorf and god that sounds amazing."
    "I promised myself I'd never go back there," Amber said, more to herself then to Cade.
    Cade put down his plate and then took the bowl from Amber's hands, "If it's too soon, I'm sorry... I'm crazy about you and the thought of not seeing you for five days is unbearable.  Shit! I'm not coming across right, a complete and utter needy git.  I just thought, as you're from there you'd be my tour guide and you'd show me around your old haunts y'know and we can make new memories.  Crap! That didn't come out right either."
    Amber was shocked to speechless.
   "Say something, anything..." Cade prompted.
   "Can I think about it?" Amber managed to say.
   "Of course," Cade replied and kissed her softly on the lips.

   Cade drove Amber home an hour later, she had left her bowl to the side after he had robbed her of it, after he asked her to go to New York with him. Silence had enveloped the conversation and even when he tried to make conversation with her afterwards, it was like she wasn't even there.  Well, her mind definitely wasn't.  Even if she was sitting right beside him.  When she asked him to take her home, his heart squeezed.  What a dumb ass he was and now standing on the pavement as the door shut, he felt like a sore loser.  He knew there were still things that traumatised her and one of those things was in New York.  He'd been so excited by the trip, knowing she was a native there, he couldn't resist.  And that temptation and the 'ask' had been a major ASK.  He felt like an arse. The look on her face had said everything, she was scared shit less and he wanted to console her but she had closed off.  Untouchable.  
   He eventually got into his car and drove away from the pavement.  He couldn't help himself, he was like a teenager and a crazy hormonal one at that.  He just couldn't seem to shake how hard he was falling for her and how ridiculously fast.  With his past girlfriends, it had taken him a long time to fall in love with them, it had taken him a year but with Amber, with it being only a matter of months... holy crap, he was crazy about her.  They hadn't even made love yet and he felt this about her.  Not that making love, having sex was a major thing for him because being with her and having her beside him was all that mattered.  He pulled up off the road to calm his beating heart, he never got this emotional.  He was a man for god sake- this was stupid. 
    He sat motionless in his car and decided to park up, he took out his mobile phone and dialled his friend Vince.  He needed to talk to someone and Vince had life experience.