Page 23 of Erotic Behavior (Observant Behaviors)
Ithadbeenafew days since the auction and the amount of questions I had compounded regularly.The problem was the second I was in front of Beckett my mind went blank.Well, that’s not true.It wasn’t blank, but filled with the dirtiest fantasies I had ever imagined.Tonight would be different, though.He had been slowly working up to leaving me for the day and today he had been at the office all day long.The day before, he only went in the morning, which wasn’t bad, but after eight hours away from each other, my mind was playing tricks on me.
I was sitting in the front room with a book when I heard the bell of the elevator.Out walked Beckett and my body, immediately flushed with need.I shook my head, trying to ignore it, and stood to greet him, only to be surprised that he wasn’t alone.
“Hello, beautiful.”He said, pulling me into his arms and placing a kiss on my lips that made my body melt into his.It wasn’t until the man next to him cleared his throat that I remembered we weren’t alone.I pulled back, but Beckett kept his hand on my back.
“Raven, I want you to meet my friend, Leo Rand.I went to college with him and his brother.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo.”
“It’s good to meet you, too.The way this one was talking so much about you today, I thought he had become obsessed with a fantasy.It’s nice to know you actually exist.”
I couldn’t help the blush that ran up my cheeks and turned away to hide it.
“Leo isn’t staying long, but he has some information on your friend Talia, and I wanted him to share it with us both.Let’s head into the office.”
I couldn’t help but worry.If it wasn’t anything serious, then Beckett would have just told me himself.Instead, he was leading me through the penthouse, and he pulled the doors to the office closed as soon as we entered.
“Have a seat.”he said, gesturing to the chairs across from his desk.“Raven, Leo does a lot of work for me and other individuals that require a special skill set.One thing he is very good at is following through with important things I ask him to do.Finding Talia was one of those things.I know she is important to you and you would want answers quickly, so I asked for his help.Also, Leo is one of the few people who knows about the auction.The staff and my family all believe I used a matchmaking service to find you.At the time, it seemed like the best scenario, so I hope that’s okay with you.”
“Sure, I guess.I mean, that’s much easier to explain to people, so I’m okay with that.”
“Since Leo knew about the auction house, he started there.”
“Sold to the Highest Bidder is a subsidiary of The Forever Match.You may have seen their logos at the offices when you were there.They claim to be too separate companies, but when I did my initial research for Beck, I learned they are under the same ownership.As you can imagine, files for things surrounding the auction aren’t something they hand over easily, so I got creative.Talia was sold at the auction the same night you were.Her buyer was there in person and she left with him immediately following the close of bidding.”
“So she’s okay?”
Leo looked over at Beckett, and I watched as Beckett nodded his approval.It would have bothered me if I weren’t so desperate for information about my best friend.
“We believe the man that purchased her is an older gentleman.We know his associates, he doesn’t have the best reputation.We have been able to confirm he flew with her to California the morning after the auction and we believe they are still there.”
“So why can’t she call me?I’ve left a ton of messages.”
“It’s very likely she doesn’t have access to her phone.Miles Carter is the type of man that gets off on the wrong kind of control.”
“What does that mean?”
“Baby Girl, it means you may not be able to reach her again.Or at least for the five years of her contract.”
Tears sprung to my eyes as I stood and paced the office.This wasn’t happening.Talia and I were in this together.The last thing I would have ever imagined is us not being in each other’s lives for five years.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this.She promised me we would stay in touch, that I wouldn’t be alone.”
Beckett stood and came around his desk, pulling me into his arms.“It will be okay.You’re not alone.You have me now, and Leo and I will do whatever he can to make sure that Talia is okay, and that she stays that way.”
It took me a few minutes to pull myself together.I was embarrassed for crying like I was, but the reality of my situation set in and I had never felt more alone in all my life.
Leo stood and walked up to the two of us.“I’m going to fly to Cali in the morning.My main employers have recently made some decisions that have slowed my work for them.I have some free time.If I can get to Talia, I will, and I’ll have her call you so you know she’s okay.”
“Are you sure?I mean, that seems like a lot to do when you’ve only just met me.”
“From what Beck has shared about you and what I’ve learned about Talia, it seems neither of you was really made for this type of life.I’m not saying that in a bad way, there is just a lot the both of you will have to learn in a short time.Adjustments like that are hard for anyone, but would be even more difficult for two young girls who didn’t grow up in this world.”
Beckett cleared his throat, as if indicating Leo was taking it too far.I cast him a slideways glare.I hated being in the dark and between the mountain of questions I already had and everything I just learned, my anger was getting the best of me.
“I should head out.I’ll call you when I land in California.”
“Thanks man.”Beckett let me go long enough to give Leo a quick bro hug and I moved to sit back down.Suddenly my entire world felt as if it was mid explosion and my only lifeline was a man I had known less than a week.Beckett kneeled in front of me and lifted my chin until I was looking him in the eye.