I looked at the schedule my secretary had just passed me and sighed. I’d barely have time to catch my breath. Between the opening of LRB and the closure of the other two companies, I was completely booked. I didn’t complain; I liked to work, especially on this new project I’d had to try so hard to get off the ground.
I saw the morning paper and cursed. Simon Roger had called me that same morning to tell me we couldn’t deal with any bad press right now. Our image was critical just then, he said. I knew he was right, but I hadn’t had time to mug for the cameras and explain every one of my decisions. Convincing the board had been hard enough—now I had to convince the entire world?
Things would get better—I knew that—but it would take time.
My phone rang, and I answered without thinking. It was Sophia.
“I’m busy,” I said, a little nastier than I should have.
“You always are,” she replied. “Your secretary told me you’re going to Los Angeles next week.”
“I’m going to drop in at the LRB offices and make sure everything is going smoothly.”
“She also told me there’s going to be a grand-opening celebration.”
“I see Lisa’s keeping you up to date,” I responded angrily. “Yes, Roger insisted that we throw a party; supposedly it’s the right thing for our image.”
“Had you considered informing me that you were taking off for California? I should remind you, it’s been a month since we last saw each other.”
I got up and poured myself a cup of hot coffee. I’d been so busy with work, and so unsettled by my last encounter with Noah, that I hadn’t thought about Sophia at all, to tell the truth. “Sure, I was going to tell you, but nothing was set in stone yet.”
Even from miles away, I could hear Sophia’s brain clicking.
“Shall we say your place, then?” I couldn’t fail to notice the excitement in her voice. It made me smile, despite the circumstances.
“See you there,” I said, sitting back down. “You’ve got your own key, right?”
I couldn’t help comparing the way I spoke with her and the way I spoke with Noah. I’d given Sophie the key months ago because she had to stay in LA sometimes for work, and my apartment there was sitting empty. I hadn’t had time to sell it. But the memories in those four walls burned hotter than the fire now crackling in the fireplace in my office…
My flight to Los Angeles was early, so I’d arrive in time for the personnel meeting scheduled there at midday. I wanted to be sure they weren’t making the same mistakes as last time. Plus, I wanted to see Maddie. I hadn’t been back since the new year. Noah had made herself scarce. I longed to see her, though. Her mother had told me she was busy on campus, studying, supposedly, but I knew she had stayed away because of me. The last night we’d spent together, almost two months before, was still engraved in my mind: each kiss, each word, each sound, each sensation… I didn’t know what would have happened if she hadn’t left. Could I have left her? Would I have had the strength to get up with her in my arms and tell her we were done?
Those questions didn’t have answers and never would. Fate had wanted her to make the decision, freeing me from the bother and letting us go on with our lives.
Now I had Sophia. But she was an obligation, a way of fulfilling expectations. I wanted to have kids one day; I wanted a wife. I would never love anyone the way I had loved Noah, but I couldn’t just leave everything on hold. There would always be painful memories, and I would always hold her in my heart, in my very cells, as if she were a part of me. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t keep trying to have the things I knew I wanted for my future.
Steve was waiting for me at the airport. He’d left to spend a few days with his older son, who was graduating from college soon. I smiled when I saw him, and we walked toward his car.
“How’s Aaron?” I asked, buckling my seat belt and turning on my phone to scroll through my missed calls and messages.
“He’s glad the whole thing’s almost over.”
I smiled, distracted, and checked the time. “You should speed up; I don’t want to show up late to a meeting I set up myself.”
Steve did as I asked, and in half an hour, we were parking next to a building I’d shelled out millions for.
I wasn’t surprised by the hustling and bustling when I came in. This was something I’d gotten used to seeing.
“Good morning, Mr. Leister; they’re waiting for you in the meeting room,” a secretary I didn’t know told me.
“Thanks. Could you bring me a coffee?” I crossed the lobby. I knew I was running behind. “No cream, no sugar, thanks.”
She hurried off, and I walked toward the meeting room. When I opened the door, I was surprised to find everyone laughing and out of their seats, surrounding someone or something that was apparently very funny. I snuck over, knowing no one had heard me come in, and saw a girl with long blond hair sitting down, arm wrestling with none other than Simon Roger.
It took me two seconds, I believe, to realize the girl was Noah.
I didn’t get it. There she was, laughing, hand in hand with that dumbass, who of course was letting her win, at least for now. When my eyes settled on their hands, I saw red.
“If the ten minutes between when the meeting was supposed to start and now have given you all enough time to start this circus, I don’t even want to imagine what you get up to when I’m not around,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear, including the two people who were the center of attention. They all stopped and turned toward me.
Noah jumped up when she heard my voice. Rage had overtaken my five senses. Nothing mattered to me then: not the employees I’d hoped to make a good impression on, not even the fact that, if Noah hadn’t been there, I would have laughed along and probably gotten in on the competition.
My whole world started to crumble at the sight of her.
“The meeting’s canceled,” I almost shouted. “I want everyone here at seven in the morning, and we’ll see if you get to hold on to your jobs. This isn’t a goddamned playground!”
I scowled at everyone there, especially Roger, who was way too cozy with my girlfriend—dammit, I meant with Noah.
I turned around to walk out, but first I shouted, “Morgan, my office!”
