I'm Your Man by Timothy James Beck Page B

company’s products, Fiberforth, was the primary sponsor of the show. I could still hear the ad that always made Daniel and me laugh. Fiberforth: Because sometimes nature needs a little helper. I didn’t know if Bonnie would remember me, but it didn’t matter one way or the other to me.
    After breakfast, we made our way to the Hilton ballroom, where Adam found Bonnie standing alone as if she was Nefertiti awaiting a barge. Every time I’d seen her, she’d been wearing the same Egyptian-inspired garb, though she apparently had her outfits made in a million different colors and fabrics. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see that her purse was actually a canopic jar. Adam reintroduced us, then we wandered through the maze of exhibitors. Bonnie was probably looking for some jewel worth more than my annual salary.
    Behind me, I heard a commanding voice say, “Blaine.”
    I turned to find I was face-to-face with Lillith Parker. “Lillith! What are you doing here?”
    â€œI could ask you the same question, but instead I’ll answer yours. My gemstone therapist tells me that it’s a good time to surround myself with aquamarines, so I’m here to find some. It’s not my stone of choice, as it’s a bit too watery for my taste. But then, I only eat broccoli because it’s good for me.”
    â€œI guess I can’t argue with that,” I said.
    â€œYou could, but it would be a mistake. Taurus is supposed to watch his step with superiors today.”
    I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I was glad when Adam turned to see who had my attention. I introduced them and Adam said, “Nice to meet you.”
    Lillith shook his hand saying, “Gemini. Nice energy.”
    â€œHow did you know that?” he asked.
    â€œHow could I not?” she answered.
    He looked befuddled. Bonnie, who’d been hovering over a table of stones with a jeweler’s loupe in her eye, turned around. The loupe dropped from her hand and dangled from a chain around her neck.
    Adam said, “Bonnie, this is—”
    â€œLillith,” Bonnie said.
    â€œBonnie,” Lillith countered.
    Neither woman extended a hand, or any warmth, to each other. I glanced nervously at them, wondering what would warrant such a chilly greeting.
    â€œI’m not surprised to see you here. You never could keep your hands off valuable stones,” Lillith said.
    â€œYou’re not still harping on that, I hope,” Bonnie said. “You stole that amulet while my family was mammoth hunting and yours was cowering in caves.”
    â€œSo you say. Our tribal leaders made an even trade. You had no right to take it from my sarcophagus because it was shiny and pretty.”
    â€œYou promised my grandfather you’d never sell me at the Athens slave auction,” Bonnie snapped. “You betrayed—”
    â€œYou want to talk about betrayal? You slit my throat.”
    â€œThat was in the fourteenth century!”
    â€œBe that as it may, it still hurt my feelings,” Lillith answered, lifting her chin and looking down her nose at Bonnie. “You duped my father into believing you were going to marry me just to get the amulet back.”
    â€œAnd two hundred years later, you traded me, your own child, to a band of gypsies to get it. Then you claimed it was lost,” Bonnie accused.
    â€œNo, I claimed it was stolen. I’m sure we both know who was responsible for that. Lifetime after lifetime, and you’re still pillaging.”
    They subsided into icy silence. Adam and I exchanged a look, and he mouthed, Meet me in the lobby later.
    I nodded. I wasn’t sure what shocked me more, that I took Lillith’s arm or that she allowed me to lead her away. When we were a safe distance from Bonnie and Adam, she seemed to recollect herself.
    â€œAquamarines,” she said, as if the confrontation had never occurred.
    I followed her when she approached a