Take My Breath Away

Carlos, Matthew and Sheffield conversed for a while in the study. They'd planned this for a long time, and now they needed to make things happen.

In the bedroom, Evelyn and Sheffield made love languorously, exploring every curve, loving every minute of it. Eventually, Sheffield propped himself up on an elbow, and said, "Honey, I'm taking off." He stroked her hair. "I have some work to finish up." He felt bad lying to her, but he didn't want her to worry.

Evelyn was sleepy. In a haze, she asked, "This have anything to do with what you and Dad were talking about earlier? Why so late?"

"Yeah. It's complex. Problems are bound to pop up, so we figured we'd do it when everyone else was sleeping. That way we won't be disturbed. Matthew and I will switch off. When he gets tired, that's when I step in. Don't worry. I'll be fine," he answered.

"Okay, let me go with you."

"No, thanks. I can take care of myself. I'll rest if I get tired. Sleep tight, baby. I'll see you tomorrow."

Evelyn watched him leave the room. She really didn't imagine he was lying to her. She was just concerned about her husband's health.

For the next two weeks, Evelyn couldn't help but wonder why Sheffield left the house every night.

Then she asked Carlos, "Dad, what project are you and Sheffield working on? He hasn't been home at night. I asked him, and he says he sleeps in his office."

Carlos didn't even look at her. He played with the azure mud teapot in his hand and answered, "We found a mysterious mine. We don't know much about it yet, so we need to keep it secret."

"Okay, but why keep Sheffield out all night?" Every night for the past two weeks, she went to bed alone. If she didn't know her husband better, she would have sworn he was having an affair.

"So you're saying you miss him?" Carlos teased.

Evelyn's face reddened. "No...but think about how it looks. He's out late every night."

"Nothing strange about that. Once we're certain what kind of mine it is, he won't have to work late anymore. It won't take long," Carlos assured her. Soon, everything would be made clear. He was convinced that the rumors of Evelyn being a jinx were untrue, that someone was behind these accidents. The truth would eventually be driven into the light.

"Okay," Evelyn murmured resignedly.

A month later, Evelyn got a call from Sheffield—in the middle of the night.

"Hey, hone

, Melody was threatening to do the same. Evelyn said, "Melody, don't do this. You're..." She wanted to say, "You're my good friend." But she didn't. Melody hated it when she said that.

"Melody, come down from there. We'll go shopping. We'll find an even more beautiful dress for you, okay?" Evelyn really didn't know how to comfort her, and could only try and distract her.

Napier glared at Evelyn like a crazy man. "If anything happens to her, I'll kill you," he yelled at her.

Then he ran full-tilt towards Melody.

But Melody stopped him. "Napier, stop!"

Hearing her soft voice, Napier froze in his tracks.

Melody looked back and forth between them, and finally her eyes fell on Napier's frightened face. She had been in chemo for more than a year. She was tired of the pain, tired of being tired. The woman felt like the cancer had robbed her of everything. "Napier, don't hate me and don't hate Evelyn. There's no right or wrong in love."

Firemen got there quickly and mobilized. A crowd had started to gather, and the life-saving mat was inflated as fast as they could.

More people rushed to the top of the building, trying to talk Melody out of it. A psychological negotiator, firemen, policemen, doctors, nurses... They were all trying to save the woman sitting on the edge of the roof.

Napier turned around and yanked Evelyn to him. "Dammit, Evelyn! Save her, or I'll push you off myself!" he roared.

His strength was so great that Evelyn staggered and fell to her knees, but she kept her eyes on Melody the whole time. No one could guess what might happen next.