Page 45 of Beautiful Deceit
I grab a loose t-shirt and yoga pants. I trade them for the jeans and top I wore to work.
In the bathroom, I throw my long hair into a messy bun. I laugh, thinking I have three men in my house, and I couldn't care less what I look like. When I wore something similar in front of Beau, I was worried I looked like a bum.
Brian is still busy with the alarm guys, so I check the store email to see if we have any special orders. We don't. I have nothing to keep me busy. I just wait, hoping Phil keeps his promise to be here soon.
Phil leaves with a fifty-dollar tip that he tries to decline three times. I insist, saying he is my hero and has no idea how grateful I am. He smiles at the first part and concedes, tucking the tip into his shirt pocket.
I am so grateful to have something to do, especially since it's cooking. I've only made the recipe I want to make once, so I grab my laptop to confirm the steps. When I open it Beau's picture pops up, because I didn't close the browser. I let myself look for a moment, before typing Epicurius into the tool bar.
Forty minutes later, I'm not even halfway done. Brian is in the studio now and has been on the phone for the past twenty minutes. He hangs up and comes over to the kitchen.
"Beau explained your situation, but I'd like to know what you haven't told him." He looks pointedly at me. I continue to chop up onions.
I don’t look up, but reply, "Straight to the point huh? The only thing you need to know is it would have went further if I didn't leave when I did. He didn't get the chance because I ran.” I press down on the knife harder, “I changed my name, so if it is him, he knows my new identity. The cards that I received had the name Samantha on it. I've gone by that for the past seven years."
He nods, "Who helped with the new dets?"
I scrap the onions along with carrots off the cutting board and into a Dutch oven, "I'm not sure. Rita, my mother’s best friend, handled everything, and I can't ask her because she died of cancer two years ago.” I look up at him and shrug, “She had a lot of money though, so I assume she went to someone good." I turn back to the stove, "Nothing has been questioned. I have bank accounts, I own the store, this studio, and it all held when Rita left me everything. So, I think my papers are good. I have no idea how he would've found me."
"If it's him, it's simple.” He states, “How many twenty something's would Rita leave a fortune to. All he had to do was a simple search of the probate court records." He's right, I know he's right, and I want to throw up all over my Coq Au Vin.
"He's still in Alabama though, right?" I put down my wooden spoon and meet his eyes.
"It seems so,” his brow furrow in thought, “I won't promise that unless I go and see him there myself. Right now let's just concentrate on getting things as safe as possible here.” Brian crosses his arms over his chest, “Which leads to our next issue. No more walking to and from work alone, no working by yourself, and you shouldn't be here alone either." He says it like I have a choice. I don't have anyone to stay with me.
I inform him of this, "That's gonna be a problem. I don't have anyone. I have some other properties that Rita left me. I guess being at a different address could help, but my studio is the closest to work.” I think on it for a second, then say, “If he found me through the will he'd know about her properties as well."
He has the nerve to look sheepish while saying, "We have a solution for that."
When he sayswe,I baulk, "We as in you and I, or you and the people you work with?"
"We, as in me and Beau.”
I throw my hands up, "Why are you calling him that? It's not his name.” I raise my voice, “I'm not letting him stay here. Did he tell you what happened? He's fucking engaged."
He puts his hand up in surrender, but replies, "It's not that simple Samantha, and there are explanations he needs to give you that I can't.” I turn my back to him to focus on browning the carrots and onions, “The only reason he's not here is because he knew you wouldn't let me in if he was with me. He's been waiting outside since I came in."
"Fucking shit," I say with disgust, encompassing everything I feel.
Brian smiles, and it looks strange on him. It softens his stark features. His brown eyes crinkle at the corners.
"He was so right about you. Sweet and sassy. Give him hell Samantha."
"I don't think you understand. I---we--," I stop there because I don't know what to say. Should I tell Brian I like Beau? Like I like him, like him.
"Let him explain Samantha."
Chapter 13
Ihear the buzzer about five minutes after Brian's announcement. I ignore it the first time, chopping up garlic instead. About thirty seconds later it buzzes again, this time repeatedly. I toss the garlic into the pot and wipe my hands on a towel before eyeing Brian. He’s sitting at the table looking down at my laptop. The corner of his lips tip up in attempt to suppress his grin.
I pick up the receiver and huff, "Hello."
"Sammy,”—his voices goes out, I think he hung up, until I hear—"Can I come up?"
"Ha,” I turn around so I’m facing away from Brian, “I've heard that before, jackass." Brian barks out a laugh.
"Sammy, if you let me up I can explain."
