The Unraveling of Raven (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  “You ran again. Why, baby girl? You have to let go of the past and test the waters. You need to trust yourself again.”

  I shake my head, “Not with this guy, he’s too much of everything. He’s too intense, too beautiful, and way-the-hell out of my league. Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? I don’t even have a league.”

  He takes my hand. “Raven, you are a beautiful girl with a heart of gold, you just need to open it again. Who is this uncle and what’s the name of the company he runs?”

  I don’t know why he cares what company this guy runs. “The only thing I know, is the company is called Raiders Inc., apparently, he owns it. I’ve never heard of it, but then again, I was too nervous to even think,” I admit. Marco looks lost in his thoughts and then, he suddenly throws his hands in the air and orders me to change into something fun. Just like that, the conversation is done.

  He informs me that he was able to get reservations in Locanda Verde for the Trufflepalooza. It is three different courses, each course uses white truffles as the base. The food is very rich and people wait all year for this event. Robert DeNiro owns the restaurant and it is always booked. But Marco has a friend that works there, so he gets us in.

  It’s a beautiful, fall evening, so I decide to wear a deep violet, sheath dress that matches my eyes with black high-heeled boots. Let’s face it, a girl can never be too tall and these boots make my legs look really good. My hair is behaving tonight, so I leave it loose in waves down my back.

  We arrive and are seated at a long table with many other diners around us. The music is soft in the background which means we don’t have to shout to be heard. The food is like a dream. Three different chefs are showcasing the white truffle. Each course has a different wine to enhance the flavors of the foods that are presented to us. By the time the coffee comes, I’m stuffed and a little tipsy. Marco has made friends with the other diners around us and he is exchanging numbers with a good-looking man across the table. I wish I could be more like Marco. He is so carefree and open; he has everyone at the table laughing and relaxed. I excuse myself as I head to the ladies room, feeling a little tipsy and a bit shaky on my feet. I start to head back to the table, when I turn the corner and come face to face with those deep blue eyes from this morning. Oh no! I don’t want to get too close or I know what will happen. He puts his hands on my arms and our eyes lock. My nerve endings are on fire. I feel like I’m being zapped again!

  “Well, hello again, Miss Raven. I thought you had hours of work, or were you just trying to avoid me?” His voice is deep and smooth, like the most delicious chocolate in the world. He has a slight British accent that I didn’t notice before; I was flustered and unable to even think straight.

  “Excuse me, if you must know, I’m here with a friend for the Trufflepalooza.” As I look into his eyes, there it is—the look that curls my frigging toes. What the hell is that? I feel a jolt right between my legs. I’m fixed on those deep blue eyes, onyx silky hair, and only God knows what’s under those clothes!

  “Can I buy you a drink, Miss Raven?”

  I shake my head, “I’m sorry but, like I said, I’m with someone. Maybe another time.” I rush back to Marco who, of course, has the whole table in laughter. As I settle back into my chair, Marco leans in to me, placing his arm around my shoulder. “You okay, baby girl? You look flustered, at best.”

  I lean into him, “I’m fine just getting a little tired from today.”

  DAMN! SHE’S RUNNING AGAIN. What the fuck is up with this girl that, every time she sees me, she’s running? Well, not this time, sweetheart. I look to see where she went and find her sitting at a window table with a group of people. There is a guy with his arm around the back of her chair—I don’t think so! As I walk up to her table, I see her tugging that fucking ear again and I want to lick it and drag my teeth over it. Just the thought is making me fucking hard! I step up to her table, reach down, taking her hand in mine, and I kiss the back of her wrist. “Raven, please introduce me to your friend.” Yeah, sweet cheeks, you’re not getting rid of me that easy. She looks at me then back to her friend, but she won’t be pulling a runner tonight—that’s for sure.

  WHEN I LOOK TO Marco for some help, he is practically drooling. A lot of good he is. There is very little that has ever rendered Marco speechless, until now. “Jaxson, this is my roommate, Marco Green.”

  Maybe he’ll think Marco and I are a couple and leave me alone. Yeah, right, I don’t think this man would care if the Pope told him to back off. Marco looks very flustered, but then he snaps out of it and invites Jax to join us. I swear I want to pick up my fork and stab Marco with it! Before I realize what is going on, Marco informs me that the table we are at is for singles only, the bill is paid, and he is leaving with one of the guys.

  “Don’t worry, Marco. I’ll make sure she gets home safely.” With a wink and a kiss, Marco is gone and I’m left with Mr. Toe Curler! “So, Raven, please tell me all about yourself.”

  My stomach is in knots. “There’s not much to tell, at least, what I would share with a total stranger.”

  He cocks his head to the side and smirks at me. “Oh, I think you have plenty to tell. Let’s start out simple, how long have you been teaching?”

  At least it’s a subject that’s easy for me to talk about. “I have been teaching for three years. I really love it especially when I see the moment they get it. That’s when I love my job the most.” His eyes are locked on mine.

  “When do you not love your job?”

  My eyes fill instantly with tears, and I fight to hold them back. “I don’t like to see the children abused. I will fight for them no matter what,” I say quietly. He strokes his chin, and I find it sexy as hell.

  “You’re in one of the top private schools, in a great neighborhood. You must not see too much abuse.”

  Why do people think that just because people have money, there is no abuse? “Just because someone has money doesn’t mean they’re not abused. Abuse comes in many forms, not just physical.” Time to turn the tables on this guy. “What about you, Jax? Why do you do what you do?”

  SHE COCKS HER HEAD to the side, clearly waiting for me to answer. She starts tugging that ear again. Why does it make my fucking cock hard when she does that? “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not the typical corporate raider.”

  “Okay, enlighten me. What kind of corporate raider are you?”

  Alright, time to grace her with some of the “Jaxson charm” here. “That’s just it, I don’t just raid companies, break them apart, and sell them off in pieces to the highest bidder. I first look at small companies that are struggling and see if they have a marketable product or idea. From there, I either back them with the funding they need to get over the ‘hump’ or buy them from the owner who has no clue how to run a business. If it’s a viable business, I’ll revamp it and get it running. If I can’t, then I sell the assets off while trying to place the workers in other companies that I own. Most people that go into business have a great idea but they don’t have a solid business plan. I invest in agriculture, technology, and clean energy. People will always have to eat, travel, and use technology.”

  “You’re right. That’s not what I was thinking. What made you go into this type of business?” she restructures her question.

  I usually play things pretty close to the vest, but for some reason, I find her so easy to talk to. “I grew up very poor and watched my mother work for a big box company that didn’t care about its employees. She worked sixty hours a week and then went to work at night, cleaning offices just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I never want to live that way again, and if I can help other families in the process, then I will.” I can tell I’m getting to her, she seems to relax and take an interest.

  “What about your father, Jax? Is he still alive?”

  I scoff, “My father walked out on us when I was five years old and he never looked back. It’s always been my mum and my sister; that’s all the family I’ve ev
er needed.” I adjust in my seat. She’s tugging that fucking ear! I don’t know how long I can last before I lean over and take it between my teeth, slowly grazing them down it. Oh fuck, I’m hard—again!

  “Jax, I notice you have a slight accent. Where are you from?”

  I reach up, and pull her hand away from her ear, trying to maintain my concentration. “I was born in Wales. We lived there until I was thirteen, and sometimes my accent is heavier than others.” I run circles with my thumb in the palm of her hand.

  “When does it get heavier?”

  HE LAUGHS LIGHTLY, “WHEN I have too much drink or when I’m intimate.” Then he hits me with that killer smirk. “What about you? Where is your family?”

  I tighten up before I bring my eyes back up to his. “It’s just Marco and I. My mom died when I was fifteen. After that, I left home and never looked back. Marco has been the only family I have ever needed.”

  I can see him processing what I’m saying. “What does Marco do for a living?”

  I smile, always happy to brag about Marco. “He’s a graphic artist and in great demand. He has an eye for details.”

  “Why did you leave home at such a young age?”

  Just at that point, the server comes over to inform us that the restaurant is getting ready to close, which saves me from answering his questions. I can’t believe how fast the time went, neither of us realizing the restaurant was empty. As we head out the door, his driver is waiting at the curb. “Jax, I can get myself home; I do it all the time.”

  “Not tonight, sweetheart, I promised Marco I would see you home safely, and I always keep my promises. Your address, please?”

  WE PULL UP TO my building and my stomach starts to turn into knots. Then he does something I never would have expected; he looks over to me, pulls my hand from my ear, and kisses it. He didn’t move in for the kill, he didn’t even ask to come up. He just kissed my hand, then the inside of my wrist. “Goodnight, I had a wonderful evening, Raven.” The driver opens the door and walks me into the building, where the doorman is waiting. And then he leaves.

  “MAX, TAKE ME HOME, please.” Maxwell has been my driver and best friend for eight years now. I think even he was surprised by my actions tonight—I know I was. At least, he has the grace not to call me on it. She makes me feel very different; she peaks my interest and leaves me wanting more. I have never felt that before. Most women throw themselves at me. All they see is money and good looks which, thanks to my mum, I have never been lacking in that department. When Raven looked at me, I felt her passion. That’s something I’ve never experienced before. I want more of her; I need more of her. I decide, in this moment, that I will have more of her.

  I

  GET UPSTAIRS, UNDRESS, and decide on a cup of tea to settle my nerves. Marco comes flying through the door with the guy from the restaurant. “Sorry, baby girl, I thought you would be out for the night, especially the way Mr. Tall, Dark, and Beautiful was staring at you.”

  I look at him in confusion. “Well, you’re mistaken.” I inform him, before focusing my attention on his guest. “Hi, I’m Raven Anderson, Marco’s roommate.”

  “Oh, sorry. Raven, this is Sam. He owns a few hair salons in the village.” Marco offers.

  I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you. You can have the living room. I have papers to grade. Have fun.” I know he wants all the dirt.

  “Wait, what happened to Jax?” How do I tell him that I’m more confused than ever?

  “We talked for hours. He took me home and kissed my hand. That’s it, then, he left.”

  He is gaping at me, “Oh.”

  I gather my tea and head to my room. “Yeah, oh.” I walk away, completely flustered.

  SLEEP BARELY CAME FOR me and before I know it, Marco is banging on my door. “You better have a damn good reason for waking me up so early on a Saturday?” I call out. I’m going to smack him.

  “Um, Raven. You need to come out here, like now!”

  What the hell is his problem? As I open my door, I’m hit with the smell of flowers, coffee, and fresh pastry. I swear the best smell in the world is coffee and pastry together. If it were a perfume, I would wear it. I look at Marco as he watches some strange man set the table for us. The man hands me an envelope, turns, and leaves. Okay, this is very strange.

  “I’m busting, baby girl, what does it say?”

  I pull out a beautiful hand written note:

  Marco looks over at me. “Well, it seems our Jax is very deep, and he has great taste when it comes to breakfast. Let's eat, I’m starved!”

  The pastry is like butter melting on my lips, and the coffee is exactly how I like it. We are enjoying the wonderful breakfast when we hear a phone start to ring. It’s not Marco’s or mine. We look around and find a phone in a box with the flowers. “Hello?” Oh my God, really?

  “Good morning, Raven. How is your breakfast?”

  This man is so over the top. “Jax, the breakfast is wonderful, but why the phone?”

  He laughs, “I never got your phone number last night and I wanted to talk to you, it just seemed like a great idea. A phone just for me.”

  I can’t tell if he’s serious or snarky. “Do you really think I will carry two phones just so you can have your own phone?” I ask as I take a closer look at the flowers. “These flowers are very unusual, what kind are they?”

  “Yes, they are very unusual. They’re from Germany and they’re called Abracadabra Roses—they reminded me of you. They’re different from the everyday rose. And to answer your question, yes, I do think you should carry a phone just for me. I’m calling to ask you to accompany me to a charity event this evening. It’s being held at Chelsea Pier.” He is so confident.

  Do I want to continue this? “What type of event is it?”

  He sounds very passionate as he tells me about the charity event. “It’s part of a children’s charity that my company sponsors, and I would be honored if you went with me.”

  The charity is for children, how could I ever say no? “Okay, what time should I meet you there?”

  “Raven, I would never have you meet me there. I will pick you up at eight.”

  I feel like a teenager again. “Okay, Jax, I’ll see you at eight.” I hang up and I’m sure I have a stupid look on my face.

  “Marco, get your ass dressed, we have a lot to do from now until tonight!”

  WE HIT BLOOMINGDALES FIRST, to find something to wear. I need something that will render him speechless. I like to wear plum and I find just the right cocktail dress. The back has a cut-out, covered in plum lace and it has a low-cut front. It has a drop waist and it is very well fitted to my curves. It falls below my knees and has a slit up the back. It’s a combination of sexy, yet subtle. I find peep-toe stilettos in black patent leather with a matching bag to complete the ensemble. Next, it’s off to the spa for a mani pedi, waxing, and a deep conditioning treatment on my hair. I’m a little nervous. Oh, who the hell am I kidding? I’m scared to death! Marco invites Sam over to help with my hair and makeup. He pulls one side of my hair up and secures it with a beautiful clip. I feel like a teenager going on a first date.

  At exactly 8 p.m., my doorman rings to let me know Jax has arrived. Marco opens the door and I am stunned. He’s more beautiful than I remembered! This is a good thing because if I had remembered, I would have been even more nervous and I probably would not have agreed to go. He’s wearing a black tux and a black shirt with a deep violet bow tie—the same color as my eyes. He looks at me and there it is again, my frigging toes are curling and there is a buzzing in my ears.

  “Raven, you look amazing, more beautiful than I remembered.”

  AS WE DRIVE TO Chelsea Pier, I ask him about the charity that he is sponsoring, anything to get my mind off of the buzzing in my ears. “It’s to help the families of children with brain tumors.”

  “Why this charity?”

  I see that passion again in his eyes. “My company sponsors many different charities; I believe in giving
back to society. Sometimes, it is through a charity and sometimes, it’s something random such as, sponsoring a garden in Harlem. If we want change, then we need to do something to bring about that change. Just talking about it does nothing.”

  I wonder why I never heard of his company. “I agree. However, I’ve never heard of your company or the charitable works that it sponsors.”

  He laughs, “Good, I like it like that. I don’t need a feather in my cap or recognition on what I do. I do it, expecting nothing, that’s what makes it the most rewarding. By the way, I have to warn you the press will be here. They will be hounding me for pictures, which means they will also hound you. I’m sorry.”

  He looks so sad. “I think I can handle it. How bad could it be? A few pictures don’t seem like a big deal.”

  He stares at me and I wish I knew what he was thinking. I wonder why he suddenly looks so lost and sad. “Jax, are you okay?” Before he can answer, we pull up.Holy crap, there are flashes everywhere! I thought this was a small event; there are thousands of people! We get out of the car to head in and are immediately caught up in the frenzy. Flashes are popping in my face as I’m introduced to the who’s who of New York. By the time we sit down at our table, my face hurts from smiling so much.

  “Jax, is this what you go through every time you go somewhere?”

  He grimaces. “Unfortunately, yes, but if it means I can get more money for the cause, then I am willing to do it. I usually don’t attend these events with anyone, so I’m sure the wolves will be circling soon. Again, I’m sorry.”

  I try to put him at ease. “Don’t worry, I think I can handle them. Let's face it, I handle a classroom filled with second graders every day!” Glancing around, I notice his driver is never really out of sight; he’s always within reaching distance of Jax.