The Score Read online

  “Well,” he cheerfully exclaimed over the music, “I’m glad you’ve finally made it.”

  He shook everyone’s hand and seemed to know each person in the group, including Karla, but his smile faltered when his attention settled on Tatum. It was an expression she didn’t recognize, but the nervousness in the pit of her stomach told her it wasn’t good. “What is your name?”

  She told him, but he didn’t hear her over the music. So, embarrassed, she screamed it. He extended his hand.

  “Tatum,” he repeated like he was placing it in the file cabinet of his mind for future reference. “That is a very pretty name.”

  “Thank you.” Tatum expected him to let her hand go as quickly as he did everyone else’s. He didn’t.

  A small voice within warned that he was going to ask her out. Tatum quickly dismissed the statement, but…there was something about him that wasn’t quite right. Tatum knew there was something horribly wrong, and the dread she felt earlier now rose up in her mind stronger than the voice.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Seth Carter. I own this place.”

  She struggled to say something important, but all she managed was, “Well, this is a nice place.”

  “Thank you.” Seth looked around before continuing. “I take it you haven’t been here before.”

  “No, I don’t go out very much. I’m very busy.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I’m a paralegal at a law firm.”

  “Sounds important.” Seth looked impressed.

  “Not really.” Tatum jokingly told the truth. “Paralegals do all the work and the lawyers get all the money.”

  Seth chuckled. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?”

  “Karla…” Tatum started to point at her friend before realizing everyone had disappeared.

  Seth leaned toward her ear. “Let me show you around.”

  Tatum didn’t want to follow him. She wanted to slip into her usual fade-to-black world. She just wanted a drink, a seat, and to be left alone, but she felt herself joining him nevertheless. It was a strong urge she couldn’t ignore.

  He placed his hand on the small of Tatum’s back as they proceeded. Any other time, she would have found a way to separate herself. He is a rich guy, she reminded herself, and you know what he’ll do. She was surprised by her own lack of reaction, though. She knew the truth about what he would do but didn’t feel threatened by his touch.

  Tatum tried to listen attentively as he showed her around the second-floor restaurant. He stopped talking long enough to ask her what she preferred to drink. After she told him, he let the bartender know her drinks were free. She wasn’t impressed, she was confused. Why in the hell was he being so attentive?

  Tatum continued to remind herself that she knew what he wanted. They all wanted the same thing.

  When they joined Karla, James, and a small group of others by the bar, Tatum prayed he would leave her alone. He didn’t. She tried to listen to the endless chatter, desperate to disappear into her black hole. She desperately needed to feel comfortable.

  “Where did you go to school?”

  Tatum did a double take hoping he wasn’t talking to her. When she saw he was, she answered politely. He didn’t volunteer any information about himself but continued to question her.

  “How long have you worked for the firm?”

  “About four years.”

  “I know a lot of lawyers. What’s your employer’s name? Maybe I know him.”

  “Adam Norris.” She turned to listen to Karla chatter about her latest account. After all, it was the reason they were there. Karla needed the time to promote herself. However, Seth wouldn’t leave her alone.

  “I currently own this club and two others. Maybe you’ve heard of them.” Seth quickly rattled off the names.

  Tatum politely told him no. She expected him to be a little disappointed. Any businessman would have been. However, he didn’t seem to care.

  “You know, Mr. Carter, I can really make this place a success…” Karla interrupted the conversation.

  Seth didn’t turn his attention to her quickly. Instead, his gaze lingered on Tatum for a while. “Please, call me Seth. And I’m sure you can make anything a success.”

  Karla stopped highlighting her resume. “You know, I should win an award for my PR skills for what I accomplished tonight. It took forever to convince Tatum to join us.”

  “Trust me, I am very grateful,” Seth said as he glanced at Karla.

  “Tatum isn’t really a shrinking violet or anything. She just knows who she wants to hang out with.”

  Tatum nodded towards James, grateful for the sympathetic words.

  Seth remarked, staring at Tatum, “That is not a bad thing. I find brains and beauty are very attractive in a woman.”

  Tatum started to wonder if she was dead and didn’t know it. They talked about her like she wasn’t there.

  She shifted in her stance uncomfortably, couldn’t believe it. This had never happened to her before, and the attention was making her more and more nervous. Now, she was even more desperate to fall into her comfortable black hole. She needed to fade to black and fast. She needed to regroup.

  Tatum remembered the voice that told her this rich man would ask her out. It caused the dread to overtake her body. She pretended she was fine, but the dread was making her hyperventilate. Why was she cursed with this problem? Because it’s your fault and you’re the only one to correct it.

  Finally, Seth left after the dark-haired woman from earlier approached him and whispered something in his ear. He nodded quickly, excused himself, and walked in the other direction. Tatum thought she would feel better once he was gone, but she didn’t, not even a little. She was still extremely nervous.

  As the night dragged on, Tatum tried to enjoy herself. She followed the group upstairs because Karla wanted to sample the food. Tatum then joined the smokers outside for their after-dinner smoke. She wasn’t a smoker, but she was desperate for the strangling feeling, which threatened to overwhelm her now, to go away. The cold air hit her like a brick. She paced and tried to inhale the brisk, clean air but the feeling wouldn’t leave. She felt like there was no air entering her lungs.

  She then followed the group to the nightclub again where they mingled with the other patrons, but Karla’s constant search for Seth was driving Tatum crazy. Hearing his name in every sentence made her stomach lurch. Only when the bartender yelled, “Last call,” did she begin to relax. Once she knew she wouldn’t see Seth again, she began to feel more at ease and like she could breathe again. He would be out of her life for good.

  Karla, James, and Tatum stood in a semicircle close to the door outside. The long line behind the red rope was gone. The bouncers were relaxed, knowing there were only a few more minutes to work. Some patrons strolled to the parking lot from the nightclub or restaurant entrance.

  Tatum sighed. It was the first time all evening she was able to feel her surroundings. She started to study the busy street and the people around her and had just begun to feel comfortable, when she heard, nice place.”

  Tatum glanced around Karla’s shoulder and saw Seth and the olive-skinned woman. He stared down at the concrete. The woman continued to talk. Tatum watched them, amazed. He didn’t seem to be listening, but the woman didn’t seem to care. If Tatum didn’t know the truth, she would have thought the woman was the boss and Seth was the employee.

  “That guy was probably from MPR. He’s probably been sent here to save the account. Maybe I should thank Seth too.” Karla sounded paranoid.

  Tatum quickly tried to change her mind. She couldn’t see him one more time. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary. That guy was probably a regular customer.”

  It didn’t work.

  “Seth.” Karla raised her hand so he would know who called to him.

  He looked up. His mood suddenly changed, and he strolled toward them with the woman in tow, completing the circle.

  “Are you gu
ys leaving so early?”

  “Early? It’s almost three in the morning,” Karla’s boyfriend joked. “If this is early, I’d hate to see late.”

  “I just wanted to thank you for a great time,” Karla said. “I hope to talk to you further about your account.”

  Karla extended her hand and Seth shook it. He didn’t sound excited. “Well, I’m keeping my options open.”

  “Maybe we can discuss everything over lunch,” Karla suggested.

  Seth nodded. Suddenly, a sparkle appeared in his eyes. He turned his attention to Tatum, and she knew she was in trouble. The dread, not the small voice, told her so.

  “Maybe we can discuss the account over breakfast tomorrow…if Tatum wouldn’t mind joining us.”

  “Me?”

  “Her?” Karla and the woman said in unison.

  “Yes,” Seth answered. “I’m always looking for fresh ideas and maybe Tatum can help with the presentation.”

  Karla stammered, “Yeah, sure. Tatum would love to join us, wouldn’t you?” The look in her eyes was one of desperate pleading.

  “Uh…” Tatum stumbled over her words like she was falling down stairs. She didn’t know what to say. She knew she had to say no, but she didn’t want Karla to miss out on the account. Shrugging, she announced with uncertainty, “I guess so.”

  “Great,” Seth responded.

  “Mr. Carter, you are needed in the club,” the woman told him. Seth didn’t reply.

  “Well, thank you again for the nice time,” Karla said.

  “Did you have a good time?” Seth asked, staring down at Tatum.

  “Yes.” Her voice cracking a bit with the tension coursing through her body.

  “Great.” He bent down and briefly hugged Karla.

  When Seth turned to Tatum and hugged her, it was a moment that changed her. The hug woke her up. The feel of him against her body was exciting.

  Suddenly, the protective ice she’d built around her heart, her soul started to melt. Seth felt hard and hot, which made her feel warm and safe. He wasn’t just a restauranteur with blond hair and blue eyes. He was a man she was attracted to. She envisioned him taking her to heights she’d only let herself imagine.

  It wasn’t the hug per se, but his touch, which was filled with anticipation, excitement, and lust. Sexually, she knew he would dominate her. Emotionally, he would challenge her. Mentally, Tatum knew she would hold her own.

  Until that moment, she had been confused. She had been taken out of her element where she felt safe and thrust into this strange world where men and women stalked each other through a darkened club.

  Tatum’s body pleaded for more of his hard body against hers. She knew what had made her feel this way, knew this was a great feeling, and yet she struggled to push those feelings away. He was going to get her in trouble. Tatum knew that, in order to maintain everything she’d learned so far in therapy, she had to stay away from him. It was more important to know herself and have her family’s love than Seth’s lust. He would make her soar and bring her down at the same time.

  Seth was the first to pull away. He leaned toward Karla’s boyfriend then stopped.

  “I’m not going to hug you,” Seth joked. “I’d probably become too sexually aroused.”

  “What about tomorrow?” Karla quickly asked like time was running out.

  “How about nine o’clock, here at the restaurant?” he suggested.

  “Sure.”

  Suddenly, he was gone. So was the woman. Tatum turned to look at Karla. She needed to get out of the Sunday breakfast with Seth. She was scared to death and hoped she wasn’t showing it.

  Chapter 2

  Karla arrived an hour early at her apartment, and Tatum wasn’t ready. She’d spent the rest of the night trying not to dream about Seth. She just wanted to forget he existed. Karla, on the other hand, was beaming. She sat on the brown couch like a child on Christmas Eve dressed in gray suit with her hair down.

  Tatum thought she’d picked the right outfit, and once she was ready, she faced Karla’s inspection.

  “What?”

  Her friend looked at her in disgust. “You’re not wearing that?”

  “I guess so. I’m wearing it this minute, aren’t I?” Tatum looked down at the black slacks and cream-colored silk shirt.

  “You need something that accentuates your boobs.”

  “Excuse me?” Tatum crossed her arms over her breasts.

  Karla made a face. “Girl, I need something that will distract him long enough to give me this account. You have more than I do, so use it.”

  “What am I getting out of this?”

  “A happy, very rich friend,” Karla joked.

  “You make it sound like he’s attracted to me or something,” Tatum remarked, hoping to hear something positive on the subject.

  “Hell girl, I’m desperate. I need this account. I don’t know why he wants you there, but I’ll take whatever advantage I can get.”

  Tatum placed her hands on her hips as she debated whether to expound the subject. She decided she needed an honest answer, and who better to give her an honest answer than her friend?

  “Do you think he’s actually attracted to me?”

  Karla stared at her like she had two heads and threw his name around like he was her best friend. “Seth? You mean, romantically?”

  “Yes.” She was embarrassed to be asking the question now.

  Karla sobered. “Girl, I wouldn’t worry about him. He’s—”

  “He’s what?” Tatum leaned forward like she was about to hear a fascinating secret.

  “He’s sort of a ladies man. He likes a challenge. He’ll work hard to get you, and once you’re under his spell, he’ll get bored and move on.”

  Tatum was surprised when disappointment slapped her, or rather, at how hard it slapped her.

  She stood erect as she told herself she didn’t really care, but she still couldn’t figure out if Karla was indicating he was attracted to her or not.

  “How do you know this?”

  “I have to do my homework. Besides, I know some of the women he used to date. Word gets around.”

  Tatum grabbed her purse. “Then that means you don’t need my breasts to get the account.”

  A tall, brown-skinned man dressed in a black and red uniform slowly entered the office at the Score. Seth was already sitting at his desk dressed in a blue polo shirt and brown pants. He was wearing his silver rimmed glasses because he forgot his contacts while he waited for his employee.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “Yeah Ralph,” Seth told him. “I wanted to talk about your application.”

  Seth didn’t have a good feeling about this. Ralph Jenkins was his best busboy and bartender. He’d been with Seth for less than a year. Ralph started at his second club, Water, and then transferred here because it was closer to home. Now, he wanted to be the manager of Score.

  Seth had decided to hire a manager when he realized he was pouring too much energy into the place at the expense of spending time at the other restaurants he owned. What he told Gabby was right. The other restaurants were suffering, but it was a job Seth had poured his life into, so he didn’t want to give it to just anyone.

  “I obviously have the experience,” Ralph began, touting his resume.

  Seth shook his head. He stared down at the resume on his desk. “Listen, I’m not disputing that. I’ve always thought your job experience was impressive.”

  Ralph had been a manager at a restaurant chain for years and owner of his own company. He fell on hard times just before he applied at Water. Seth decided to hire him because he knew most employers wouldn’t because of fear — no employer liked to hire someone with just as much or more experience than they had. It reminded most of them how quickly they could fall.

  “I just wanted to let you know that I have to interview one other person for the job.” He watched Ralph cautiously before continuing. “However, you are very much in the running for the job as long as you
keep up the good work.”

  “There’s no doubt about that. I certainly will.” Ralph sounded relieved.

  “Mr. Carter should be with you in just a moment, but I’ll be happy to show you to your seat.”

  Tatum and Karla followed the woman to the restaurant tables on the second floor. She waited for them to sit at an empty table in the corner of the Art Deco-style room. Once they were seated, she continued speaking. “If you have any questions or concerns before Mr. Carter arrives, don’t hesitate to ask. My name is Gabby.”

  Tatum took a moment to enjoy the decor. The light, mustard green walls made the room seem larger than it was. Each corner of the room weren’t really “corners” at all. They featured built-in columns with a series of straight edges higher than the first, which gave the room a feeling of glitzy Hollywood movie setting. The glossy, sleek light hardwood floor resembled a ballroom with its geometric pattern of zigzagging long, rectangular boxes. The only thing missing was a jazzy band in the opposite corner ready to play.

  Tatum looked at the rectangular shaped chrome chandelier on the ceiling, which shined a soft, bright white light. The chrome chandelier matched the chrome and black lamps resembling torches that were affixed high on the wall which beamed dull light upward. Each table had a sconce that highlighted the green and lacquered black curved table. The layered lighting gave the atmosphere a sultry glow.

  Karla grabbed the cloth napkin from the white plate and shook it before placing it on her lap. Tatum half-smiled at the hostess and waited for Karla’s usual overly hyper attitude to kick in. It was only a matter of time before Karla started asking Gabby for inside information. However, she watched Karla continue to avoid the hostess’ eye contact.

  “Are you his secretary? I wanted a contact here, and you know, I don’t want to keep bothering Mr. Carter.” Karla still didn’t look at Gabby.