Torn

By Ellis Joyce

Grayson Samuel is a tall, dark, and handsome successful junior executive who is engaged to be married to Carmen Clarke, a very sexy, seductive and high-powered senior executive. Both work at the same prestigious Fortune 100 Company in Atlanta, Georgia. They are weeks away from their wedding when one of Grayson’s subordinates, Synclair Dixon, is murdered. In this complex tale of love, sex, and deceit, Grayson’s name is one of the names that is on the police’s short list of suspects. Throughout this ordeal, Grayson and Carmen try to keep their wedding on schedule and their lives as normal as possible as secret revelations between the two are revealed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellis Joyce
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310433207

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TORN

Ellis Joyce

Copyright © 2016 Ellis Joyce

All rights reserved.

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TORN

Grayson Samuel, a junior vice president at a high-powered, full-service investment firm, was a thirty-eight-year-old, six-foot-two black man with a slender but athletic build. Grayson had never been married; however, he was recently engaged, with the nuptials coming up in a few weeks. As a result of a major corporate reorg, Grays, as his closest friends called him, was recently assigned to a new division and a staff of twenty-five. It was a typical nine o’clock Monday morning staff meeting with everyone present, except Synclair Dixon, who was on scheduled leave.

The meeting was held on the sixtieth floor in the rich mahogany wood-furnished conference room that displayed a spectacular view of Centennial Olympic Park and the surrounding downtown landscape in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting was rather quick, which was a little unusual, and when it was over, the group was served cake, ice cream, and fruit to celebrate the birthday of the oldest staff member. But the celebration came to an abrupt end when two detectives entered the room and revealed the devastating news that Synclair, their coworker and friend, had been murdered Saturday night. In a blink of an eye, the atmosphere went from celebratory to somber.

The lead detective, a round man who stood about five feet five, said in a gruff tone, I am Detective Keith Gibson, and I need for all of you to return to your desks and wait until you are called to be interviewed. Do not talk to one another or congregate.

The detectives then commandeered the conference room and began their interviews. Wanting to isolate the staff from one another, they interviewed each separately, trying to gather as much information as possible. Who saw Synclair last? Who was she dating? What type of friends did she associate with? For the most part, Synclair was a private person; her coworkers didn’t know much about her after-hours activities, which was a little frustrating to the detectives.

Grayson was overcome by his emotions while waiting to be interviewed. Although others in the office were saddened by the news, none were as emotional as he. His demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by the detectives. They purposely interviewed him last—two and a half hours after they started—hoping he could provide much-needed answers. Because of his emotional state, the pair began to interview him with suspicion. What was your relationship with Ms. Dixon? asked Detective Anthony Sims.

No more than supervisor to subordinate, Grayson replied.

But the detectives got a strange feeling the relationship might have been more than what he wanted anyone to know. When was the last time you saw her? Gibson asked.

Last week at my Monday morning staff meeting, Grayson said nonchalantly. He explained that four years ago, when Synclair was hired, Grayson was her official office sponsor, and from that day, they quickly hit it off and established a friendship. According to Grayson, he and Synclair first had the typical coworker-to-coworker relationship, which changed to a supervisor-to-subordinate relationship after his promotion about a year ago. He also stated that Synclair was very private, divorced, and he didn’t know the name of her ex-husband or anything about him.

***

Four years earlier to the day, Synclair and Grayson met for the first time. Grayson introduced himself to her as she filled out paperwork and processed through the welcome center. She could tell by his appearance and demeanor that he was not the typical admin-type sponsor and that he had some status within the corporation. She wondered if all new hires were assigned a sponsor who was high up on the food chain. At first, she felt a little flattered about the situation, until Grayson explained that her official sponsor, the office’s administrative assistant, had called in sick that morning, so he’d volunteered to fill in. Plus, he was very intrigued after reviewing her biography and résumé, and to add icing to the cake, he noticed she was a homegirl, being from his hometown in North Carolina: Charlotte, known as the Queen City. That day, Synclair left an impression on him, as he did on her. He was particularly drawn to her unique features, which normally were not his taste. She was all natural, from her hair to her skin. Her hair was in shoulder-length twists, and she wore no makeup, but her skin glowed beneath the lights in the building. She was five feet nine, with mature, sexy curves in all the right places. Both knew after that encounter that there was more than just a physical attraction between them.

***

After more than three hours of interviews, the detectives did not have much more information than when they arrived. Detective Gibson called everyone back into the conference room and said, There might be follow-up interviews, and I appreciate everyone’s cooperation today. If you think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to call. You all have my business card.

Back at the precinct, the detectives reviewed the evidence they had gathered. Based on clues left at the crime scene and interviews with the neighbors, coworkers, and Synclair’s best friend, Tiffany Stiles, they were starting to put the pieces together. Gibson listened attentively as Sims said, Boss, this is what I have so far. There was no forced entry, so she had to know the killer. She went out on a date that night. As of now, only his first name is known: Blake. Her relationship with her ex had been strained at times, but recently, they were on good terms. He wanted to rekindle things, but Synclair wasn’t interested.

Good work, Gibson said.

After the tumultuous morning, Grayson gave his staff the rest of the day off. He also reminded them that if they remembered any information that could help the case, they should contact the detectives. Moments after his staff left, he received a call from his fiancée, Carmen Clarke.

Honey, I called as soon as I heard the news. How are you and your staff doing? Carmen asked.

Everyone is still in a state of shock. I gave everyone the rest of the day off, Grayson said.

That’s so kind of you, darling. How did she die? Carmen asked with concern.

The detectives aren’t saying, but I overheard one of them say it was blunt force trauma to the head, said Grayson.

Oh my…

Yeah.

So, did you know much about Synclair? asked Carmen.

No. Nothing personal. Just that she was very professional, driven, and on the corporate fast track to success.

CC, as Grayson and others called her, was his rock. Before he met her two years ago, Grayson was not maximizing his career potential. Although he had done well professionally, having an MBA and his CPA license, he really didn’t have any direction. A chance meeting with her in an elevator changed both his career path and his love life. Carmen was very focused and driven and had moved up the corporate ladder with ease. She was actively involved in the firm’s mentoring program for women and had a high success rate assisting females of all ages in getting promoted or finding other career paths. Grayson owed his recent promotion to her career guidance and corporate connections. He was a man who appreciated the support and love of his woman and was not ashamed to let others know how instrumental she had been in his life. Within their circles, they were known as a power couple whose guidance was sought by others. Looks were deceiving when it came to Carmen, who was five feet one and muscular. Although she was four years Grayson’s senior, she looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties when she was not wearing makeup.

As they continued to talk on the phone, Carmen heard the stress in Grays’s voice and decided to take her man out to the Ritz-Carlton that night and invite some of their closest friends. Dining with friends and loved ones was just what Grayson needed. The night was filled with fine wine, food, and a lot of laughter.

CC stood up and said, Can I have everyone’s attention, please? The guests immediately stopped what they were doing and gave Carmen their undivided attention.

I would like to thank you all for coming out tonight to support us, and in times like this, it is comforting to know that we have the love and support of our closest friends, she said.

Everyone raised a glass to toast, and one of them shouted, Loyalty! They ate and drank until midnight, and only stopped because it was during the workweek. After dinner, their guests departed, while Grayson and Carmen remained downtown and spent the night in a nearby five-star hotel that she had booked earlier that day.

***

Within six months of Synclair being hired, she and Grayson had formed a special bond. Not a day went by without them instant messaging each other, and during lunch they shared their weekend-dating horrors. They felt comfortable sharing their innermost feelings with each other.

One day Synclair shared with Grayson that she had grown very fond of someone in the office but didn’t know how to approach him.

Grayson looked surprised after hearing that, but he kept his cool and told her to just say what was on her mind.

Her face showed her nervousness as she paused for a few minutes. Then she walked back to her desk without pursuing it. An hour later, she returned, and they continued their conversation. From out of nowhere, she whispered, "I am attracted to…Kali."

Grayson was not expecting to hear that. He had been secretly hoping it would be him. After gathering himself, he said, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Kali is gay.

With both of them now a little disappointed by what they’d just learned, Grayson suggested she and Tiffany come hang out with him and his best friend, Steven, that weekend. Having nothing really planned, she took him up on his offer. That weekend, they all met at STK on Peachtree Street. Grayson and Steven arrived early, sat at a table near the entrance, and were so deep into their conversation that they didn’t notice when Synclair and Tiffany walked in.

Synclair said in a joking manner, Is this the way you treat two beautiful ladies that are in your presence?

Both jumped out of their chairs, and Grayson said, Excuse us for being rude. We were so busy talking that we didn’t notice the two beauties that are among us. Synclair, this is my best friend, Steven. Steven, this is Synclair.

Synclair and Steven shook hands while kissing the side of each other’s cheeks. Synclair then said, Grayson and Steven, this is my best friend, Tiffany. Grayson shook Tiffany’s hand and also kissed both of her cheeks, and then Steven did the same.

"Please have a seat, ladies," Grayson said as he and Steven pulled the chairs out for each to sit.

Steven hailed the waiter and said, Two more rounds of Goose for me and my boy, and two Grand Marniers for the lovely ladies.

"Coming right up," the waiter replied.

For the next few minutes, the foursome conversed until the waiter returned with their drinks. With a fresh glass of Grey Goose in hand, Steven looked at Tiffany, licked his lips like he was LL Cool J, and said, I didn’t know I was meeting Cinderella tonight.

Tiffany licked her lips in return and said, Are you flirting with me?

"It depends."

"It depends on what?" she asked.

"If it’s working," Steven replied.

She laughed and said, I’ll never tell after one drink.

"In that case—waiter," Steven called. Both Grayson and Synclair watched, admired, and chuckled at the interaction between Tiffany and Steven. The group drank, laughed, and danced throughout the night. It would be the first of many times that they all hung out together.

***

The next morning during breakfast, Carmen and Grayson discussed the final details of their upcoming wedding. Carmen was planning an extravagant affair, one of the largest ever seen in the area. The wedding cost more than $2 million, and the party consisted of twenty-five people. The demand from her friends, some she had known since grade school, to be in the wedding was so overwhelming—one of her three coordinators painstakingly picked all the bridesmaids except for Carmen’s matron