Page 12 of One Wild Ride

FIVE

Aria

“It’s so big.” Tiffany’s mouth fell open as her head dropped back taking in the full length.

“I know, it’s as if the old stiff was compensating for something.” I chuckled, tilting my head back to gaze up at the tip.

“Compensating? But it’s a building. And I thought you told me Alexander Hawthorne wasn’t old? You said he looked younger than you.”

Turning my head, I found a confused Tiffany glancing between me and Alexander’s building.

“Alexander didn’t build this, he just owns it. It was built in the 1920s. I know enough about Chicago Architecture to know that whoever designed the Haute Tower was old, male, and has long since died. Being one of the tallest buildings at the time, I can almost guarantee he felt sad about his lack of manhood so he decided to take it out on the world by building a large phallic symbol.”

Tiffany frowned. “I don’t think I can ever walk into a building again without thinking of old men with penis issues.”

“You’re welcome.” I curtsied. “Now, come help me design the crap out of the wall of a recluse’s bedroom.”

Tiffany nodded. We began to move toward the front entrance but as I was about to push through the revolving door, something made me stop. A shiver ran up my spine as if someone was staring at me so I turned. Searching the various people walking up and down the sidewalks of the city, I found no eyes turned my way.

I shook my head and shrugged it off along with the still bitter cold of an early spring day once we were inside. Glancing around, I was surprised by the small lobby. The slabs of dark marble that covered everything made it appear smaller than it should. My eyes landed on the two metal elevators behind a security desk.

Last time I was here, we came in through the garage. And, I was pretty sure staring at the elevator wall wasn’t automatically going to take me to his floor like it did for Alex.

“Did he tell you to call him when we arrived?” Tiffany’s innocent brown eyes darted around like a lost puppy.

“He doesn’t know about this,” I said.

“You didn’t tell him I was coming? I thought he was okay with me helping layout the design on his walls?”

Tiffany went to school for design. She never graduated as her son David surprised her and her deceased husband. A year before she graduated she left school to become a mother and wife.

She works from home now doing graphic design, and I thought she would be the perfect person to help me with the layout of my mural.

“I never had a chance to talk to him about it. Don’t worry, Tiffany, it’s not like he’s going to hold us against our will. He only did that once, and he has since apologized for it.” I shook my head and patted Tiffany on the back.

Alex never contacted me after asking me to paint the mural last Thursday. It’s Tuesday and since I still haven’t heard from him, I figured I would stop by to pay him a visit. I figured the worst-case scenario would be him telling us to come back another day to start the work.

I tried to make my way toward the elevators before I heard a deep voice. “Can I help you two ladies?”

The security man, with graying hair and a thick neck, glanced in my direction through weary eyes.

“Yes, we are here to see Mr. Alexander Hawthorne.”

His lip ticked up as he pushed back his black security hat. “Is that so.”

I nodded but he didn’t say anything, only folded his hands in front of his belly while leaning back in his chair.

“Do I take one of these elevators or do you need to call him?” I waved my hands at him because he wasn’t doing anything. As far as security guards go, he wasn’t very good.

“Oh, how rude of me. Just take that door right there. It should be obvious what to do next.”

I glanced at the door near the far wall. “But . . . that has an Exit sign over it . . .”

He waved me over. I came to stand as close as I could with his wooden desk in the way. Leaning toward him, he lifted his hand as if to whisper something to me, “It’s to fool all the reporters and unwanted people.”

When I pulled away he winked.

Waving Tiffany over, we walked over to the Exit door and pushed. It was hard to open but we managed to shove through before stumbling onto the pavement.

---