Gideon's Fall Read online

  Gideon’s Fall

  By EA Hunt

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  Copyright © 2019 by EA Hunt

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

  Dedication:

  What’s meant to be will always find a way

  Chapter One

  Staring at the satin and lace black and silver mask which would cover the right side of his face, Gideon Price could not believe anyone – man or woman – would ever wear something like this. Why would anyone want to walk around looking like the Phantom of the Opera? Sighing, Gideon picked up the mask and thought back to when it had been handed to him by Sabine Whine. He’d been ready to tell her he wasn’t going to be seen in public with this thing on his face, but she’d reminded him of the reason they’d partnered together in the first place. With reluctance, he’d taken the mask and headed straight for the bar. If he was going to wear something this ridiculous, he needed a few drinks.

  Picking up said drink, Gideon watched, through the large mirror mounted on the back wall of the bar, as more men and women walked into the bar, registered and were given numbers and assignments. Many of the women who’d come in were dressed in low-cut, high-hemmed dresses, while the men were dressed in three-piece suits or dark polos with slacks. Their attire showed their desire to impress whomever they were talking to but the masks on their faces revealed that they wanted the person to see them not their physique.

  Well, that was the idea anyway. It’d been presented to him by Sabine and his brother/partner Saxton Maron. He and Sax, as Saxton liked to be called, had a new vodka they’d wanted to present to the market. They hadn’t wanted to do a normal launch party – they’d wanted something different, something special.

  Enter Sabine. She was an up-and-coming event planner here in Atlanta and was looking to partner with a company to help with her latest event idea. Singles Masquerade. Singles would come to a designated location wearing a mask of their choosing. Women would be set up at specific numbered table and men would wander around mingling with the women at each table. There was a set time limit for each man to be at a specific woman’s table and only three men were allowed at one table at a time. If you liked the woman at the table you could place your number in the woman’s numbered bowl, all bowls were blacked out so no one could see if one woman had more numbers then the other, at the back of the bar. If the woman liked you she would write your number down on a slip of paper which would be picked up after the men were asked to move on to another table. At the end of the night, if two numbers matched, emails would be sent with each person’ contact information.

  Gideon had to admit it was a unique twist on speed dating. And from the number of people he saw enter the bar, Sabine had a hit on her hands. People were entering smiling and laughing – some with friends, some on their own. It was obvious – even with masks on their faces – everyone was a little nervous but also eager.

  He’d inquired about the masks at the initial meeting about this little venture three months ago, and Sabine had said that they were there so you could concentrate more on the person rather than on their facial features. Features which for some might influence whether they’re talked to or not.

  Turning away from the people entering the event, Gideon studied himself in the mirror over the bar. His head was kind of shaped like an egg and his skin tone was honey-colored, thanks to his father. Not that he knew who the man was. His mother had shared a name once, but that had turned out not to be true; once he’d located the man when he was thirteen and questioned him, and when he’d questioned her further, she’d screamed at him to leave it alone, then hit him. He hadn’t asked since. Plus, he decided that if his real father wanted to know him, he would look for him, Gideon. That is if he knew he existed. Gideon wasn’t so sure his biological father knew he existed. Gideon’s mother wasn’t exactly the most forthcoming woman with information – unless it benefitted her in some way – but either way, despite not knowing his paternal parentage, Gideon knew on some level that he took after his father.

  His mother was five-foot, seven inches in height, while Gideon dwarfed her at six-seven. He was huge. His size intimidated some people and made others want to climb him like a tree. He was built like a defenseman on a pro football team. Add in the scowl he sometimes had on his face, the tattoos covering his arms and his bald head, he’d admit, begrudgingly to himself, the masks were a good idea. Nodding to the bartender who refilled his drink he thought, ‘You can’t judge someone by the way they look.’ If you did, then it would be easy to think Gideon was nothing. You’d think he was a bad man who did bad things. Not a man who, along with his brother, owned and ran a multi-million dollar liquor company and a bed and breakfast located just an hour outside Atlanta, in a small northeast Georgia town called Pinewood.

  Pinewood housed The Peony Winery and Bed and Breakfast. It had been his and Sax’s first purchase out of college. Many people thought they were crazy for buying the sixteen-acre winery along with the B&B located on the property, but Gideon had thought it was a smart move. He’d watched the alcohol consumption on campus. Watched how companies would sponsor events off-campus to lure in the kids who’d just got out from under their parents’ rule and wanted to experience life. He’d also watched as people started posting on social media about how they’d visited this great little B&B while backpacking through Europe or how they’d trekked the Georgia mountains and were camping there to experience the outdoors.

  He'd kept track of the trends people were setting or following, knowing they’d want to continue some form of adventure when they were older, more established in their careers or had families. They’d still want to go backpacking but this time with their children. Or they’d want to stay at a small B&B and relive their youth – just for a weekend or a few days. With that knowledge in mind, he’d added a minor in business marketing to his major in finance. He’d also started saving. He knew that if he and Sax, who’d agreed to become his partner, wanted to get a great place that had all the things they wanted, they would need to save. And they had. Within six months of graduation, they had the Peony.

  There, with Sax’s chemistry degree in hand, they’d started slow. Introducing new wines to those who still came to the Peony because it was a tradition for them to see what worked and what didn’t. A year after the purchase, they’d introduced some microbrews – Sax’s idea – to the B&B’s menu and to a few locals bar around Pinewood and the county. Some of their new beers and wines were a hit and gave the Peony, which had been struggling before they’d purchased it, a much-needed boost in popularity with young career-minded people. Soon, they’d found their wine tastings almost full to capacity and the B&B’s reservations filling up months in advance. It had been so much work, they’d had to hire someone to come in and help.

  Gideon chuckled. Sookie Stanhouse didn’t really come to help so much as to take over. She’d walked into the Peony Bed and Breakfast, where utter chaos was the norm, and told them in no uncertain terms they were asses and should have come looking for her sooner. He and Sax had looked at the five-foot, one-inch woman with reddish-blond hair and olive-toned skin with surprise. They hadn’t had anyone talk to either of them in that manner before. Sax was an orphan who never knew either of his parents because they were killed before he was born in an car accident. He’d spent years
in foster care because adoption for African American children, especially males, was difficult. And Gideon? Well, his mother had just ignored him. She’d had better things – or people – to do than care for her only child or take an interest in his life. His mother didn’t know Sax and he was glad of it because the man he’d met at Freshman orientation had fast become his brother, his best friend.

  And with Sookie’s entrance, both of them found the mother they’d never had and the help they’d desperately needed to take what they’d built at the Peony to the next level. Sookie had hired more staff. Had got their filing and reservations under control. She’d even sat down with them and discussed where they wanted to go with the company she’d named GidMaron, since they hadn’t a clue what to call what they were building. They’d told her they wanted to sell more than wines and beers – that they’d wanted to venture into whiskeys and vodkas. She’d listened intently, giving her thoughts here and there, before pulling out her late husband’s whiskey recipe and giving it to them to make and sell. Valentino’s became one of their bestselling whiskeys. And once they’d been able to get it and their wines on store shelves, GidMaron had truly taken off.

  Which brought him to tonight. Tonight, they were introducing ‘Sookie’s Vodka’ to the market. Each guest at the event would be given a five-ounce bottle of the vodka before it hit the stores in two months. Production on their newest line had started last year. He’d wanted to honor Sookie for helping them and becoming what both of them needed. Sookie had waved off the name of the vodka and continued taking reservations for the B&B, which along with the winery, was now under the corporate umbrella of GidMaron.

  He’d simply kissed the woman he considered to be his mother on her head and continued with their product launch. Which consisted of each person getting the vodka, loving it because it’d helped them find the love of their life – or their love of the moment – and posting it on all their social media accounts. This would generate the hype needed for people to wonder what the vodka would taste like and how they could get it. That was how they were hoping it would work.

  “Gideon, you have to put on your mask.” The overly flowered perfume reached him long before Sabine’s low toned southern drawl did. Gideon closed his eyes and downed the last of his drink. He needed one more before he dealt with Sabine.

  Since she’d come into their office, she’d done nothing but invade his personal space. Touch his arm without permission. Brush against him when there was more than enough room for her to move past without being anywhere near him. She’d even asked him out to dinner to ‘discuss the event’ but left Sax and marketing out of the invitation when asked what time they were all meeting. He’d tried to be subtle with her removing her hand gently. Stepping away so no one would notice he wanted to out of her presence. Kindly turning down dinner invitations with an polite ‘no thank you’. But his kindness was being taking as reluctant acceptance. Sabine though she was wearing him down which was the furthest thing from the truth

  “Gideon,” Sabine drawled, stepping next to him. For months she’d been trying to get Gideon to notice her. To see she was interested in being on his arm. But he acted as if he didn’t know what flirting was. Which was hard to believe since the number of women – and men – who gave him appreciative looks. She placed her hand next to his on the bar top. She loved how her pale skin contrasted with his darker shade.

  “Here, let me put it on for you,” she said as she picked up the mask. She’d picked it out especially for him. The silver in the mask matched the light flecks of silver she saw in his sky-blue eyes. Which were beautiful striking, and she wanted them on her.

  “I can do it, Sabine,” Gideon replied, taking the mask from her hands. He turned to look at her. To many, Sabine was a beautiful woman. Long, jet-black hair which reached her hips. A curvy body that she’d paid good money to several good doctors and trainers to have. Her flawless, seemingly natural; makeup free, face added to her refined and savvy exterior. But Sabine was cold and a little heartless. He wouldn’t say she’d demand your firstborn if you struck a deal with her, but she was not above letting people think one thing when another was true. Keeping the image she’d sculpted alive and well. He’d once known a woman like Sabine. Almost married her. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  “Thank you for the offer,” he replied while placing the mask on his face. Gideon tied the satin ribbon around his head. He felt ridiculous but this was business and he was completely committed to his business. Some might even say he was all about business, without a caring feeling in his bones. But those people tended to be rivals who wanted his market share. Or former employees who’d been laid off – albeit with generous severance packages – when he’d realized there was no need for a department and had decided to close it to make the company leaner. To those on the outside, he was not a good man.

  “I know you can do it, Gideon,” Sabine replied, placing her hand on his forearm. She trailed her fingers slowly up his arm. “But it doesn’t hurt to ask,” she added with a purr.

  Sabine licked her lips. Gideon looked damn good in the half-mask. More virile. Dangerous. Her fingers traveled to his upper arm she was stepping closer when she heard her name called. ‘Damn,’ she thought. Sabine looked over her shoulder at her assistant. Valerie knew better than to interrupt her when she was with Gideon..

  “I’ll be right back,” she said, smiling at Gideon before turning and heading over to the woman to see what was so important she, Sabine, needed to leave her latest prey.

  He wasn’t going to hold his breath. Gideon turned back to his drink, grateful that Sabine was gone. He had to remember this was business. He was here on business and once they’d thanked everyone for coming and got this party started, he could leave and not be in Sabine’s presence any longer.

  “Can I please have a white wine?”

  Well, that was new. Gideon watched as the hairs on his arm stood on end at the sound of the sweet alto voice.

  “Any particular kind?” he heard the bartender ask.

  Lifting his eyes to the mirror, he admired the woman who stood maybe two feet from him. She wasn’t dressed like the rest of the women who’d come into the bar. Her sleeveless black billow top had a sheer high neck collar covering her ample breasts. Her painted-on black jeans were tucked into a pair of black stiletto-heeled boots which made her toned caves look sexy as hell. Her chocolate brown hair was cut in a curly bob, framing an oval-shaped face. With the mask, and the fact he was looking at her in a mirror, he couldn’t see her eyes, but he wanted to. Wanted to see the eyes of the woman whose coke-bottle, all-natural, shape had captured his attention.

  “No, not really. Whatever you have. Thank you for asking.”

  Her voice. He could imagine that voice whispering in his ear. Saying dirty, slightly nasty things she wanted done to her. Gideon turned towards the mystery woman. She didn’t look at him. She had to know he’d been staring at her. The mirror over the bar was huge and showed several feet behind them. Her caramel brown skin glowed as she squirmed under his perusal.

  He watched as she lifted the glass of wine, her rhinestone tennis bracelet catching the dim lighting, she should never be in rhinestones, only real diamonds, to her full lips. This sprite of a woman – there was no way she was taller than below the middle of his chest in bare feet; even in heels she only reached maybe an inch or two below his shoulder – was made for precious gems and nothing less. He stepped closer to the woman who’d piqued his interest. He hadn’t been this interested in a woman in a very long time. Yes, he sated his desires, but those women knew the score. One night nothing more. But this woman, the one standing before him? She was made for more than one night. She was made for forever.

  Was she uncomfortable? Yes! ‘But that was the point wasn’t it?’ she asked herself. ‘To come to this event, step outside her comfort zone and have men talk to her. Get to know her. So, she could find a date or a boyfriend.’ Well, the men here weren’t exactly boys. Especially not the mountain
of a man who’d been staring at her for the last five minutes. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever called him man a boy, even when he was one.

  Taking another sip of her wine, Nia Collins wanted to turn to talk to the man but she wasn’t the most sociable person. That was part of her reason she’d come tonight. To get out of her house and mingle with other people. Her sister, Pia, had sent the electronic ticket for this event in a gift email with a single word, ‘Enjoy.’ Nia wasn’t sure how she was supposed to enjoy men ogling her.

  Yes, the invite stated this was a masquerade. ‘Get to know the person. Not what they advertise,’ was the ticket’s mantra. But looking at how some of the women who’d arrived with her were dressed, she didn’t think they’d got the memo. Or they did and didn’t care.

  Finishing her drink, Nia wanted to order another but she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. She wasn’t a big drink so another glass could possibly get her drunk and being drunk was not what she wanted to advertise. Smoothing her sweaty palms over her thighs Nia wasn’t sure what she was adverting. Though her office mate, Deni, who’d seen the silver, red and white ticket on her computer screen a week ago and asked what she was going to wear. He’d told her she needed to be sexy. Wear something alluring to go along with the mask. She’d brushed him off, stating she had no desire to go. Even though her sister had told her she needed to do something other than sit at home in ratty PJs, watching tv and playing with her daughter.

  Even if she loved spending time with her five-year-old daughter. Playing with her, helping her learn to read and tie her shoes. Her daughter was the only light in her life.

  Deni though was in Pia’s corner. Telling her, Nia, that it was all well and good to spend time with her child but a woman like her needed someone to spend her nights with. Someone to listen to her rant about her day and the fact she ran a company where she did most of the work, and the man who was actually supposed to be running the company took credit for everything she’d achieved.