Bedrock

by Britney King

  “Listen, have EMTs standing by for a possible concussion. Call my office and have them cancel my meetings.”

  William set the phone down and kneeled beside Addie. “Where were you headed? Is there anyone we can call for you?”

  Addie gasped, unconsciously drawing her hand to her mouth. “To a job interview at The Carlisle Agency.”

  William nodded, and Addie noticed a look in his eyes she couldn’t place. “Thomas, call Ms. Sheehan and explain that Mrs. Greyer is stuck in an elevator in the building.”

  Addie couldn’t help staring, noting the way William abruptly barked orders at whomever was on the other end of the phone. He was arrogant and rude, yet the magnetism she felt toward him was undeniable.

  William hung up the phone and sat close down beside Addie. Too close. Addie noticed how amazing he smelled. Had a man ever smelled that heavenly before? She was faint, out of breath. It felt as though all of the air had been sucked from her lungs. William ran his fingers through his thick black hair, removed his suit jacket, loosed his tie, and patted her thigh as if he’d known her his whole life instead of having just met her a few minutes ago. “They’ll have us out of here soon.” Addie glared at him, speechless.

  He laughed. “You really have no idea who I am, do you?”

  “Should I?” Addie asked, trying to hide her disdain.

  William eyed her impassively. “Only if you want to.”

  Caught off guard, Addie looked away. She stared at her shoes until William gently placed his hand beneath her chin and lifted it. Before she knew what was happening, his lips were on hers, and, for a moment, Addie was lost. William pulled her closer. As she realized what was happening, Addie pushed his chest to no avail. Either she was powerless to stop or he was incredibly strong. She pushed again; William released her but didn't take his gaze from hers.

  Addie stood, smoothing her skirt. “What the fuck was that? Didn't I tell you I was married?” Addie said, thrusting her ring hand towards him.

  He grinned at her, clearly amused. “Excuse me, if I didn't read anything in your kiss that said, ‘I’m married.’”

  Feeling flustered, finally noticing how hot it was getting in such a small space, Addie picked up the phone. Nothing.

  William’s hand covered hers and placed the phone back on the receiver. “I’m sorry. It won't happen again.”

  Addie said nothing and backed away from him instinctively. The two of them stood silently in opposite corners until, uncomfortable, even in the silence, Addie spoke up. “What a day.”

  “It’s not so bad. It led me to you.” Addie never would be sure if it was the genuineness of the way he said what he said or the glint of sadness in his eye that led her to cross the tiny space and place herself his arms. She kissed him with a passion that she hadn’t felt in quite a while, maybe ever. He matched her style, kissing her back harder than before. All at once, they were tangled up in each other, tearing at each other’s clothes. William pushed Addie’s skirt up and pinned her against the wall with his body. He lifted her slightly, his piercing blue eyes staring into hers as he pushed himself inside her. Addie dug her nails into the hard muscles in his back as he bit her lip. They made love ruthlessly, primitive instinct taking over.

  After he climaxed, still inside her, William sank slowly to the elevator floor. He kissed her bare shoulder. “Damn, Addison.”

  Addie smiled faintly and pulled away gently. “I . . .I . . . I’m sorry.”

  William reached for her hand, reading her mind. “Hey, no apology needed.”

  Addie rubbed the back of her neck. Oh God. Shit. Fuck! What in the hell just happened here? She had never been unfaithful. Had never even considered being unfaithful. And yet here she was, stuck in an elevator with this man for less than half an hour and had managed to commit one of the biggest sins possible. How in the hell had she let this happen? She had just made the biggest mistake of her life.

  Sensing her unease, William squeezed her hand and released it. He traced his finger across her lips, sending chills down Addie’s spine. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Addie studied his face as though she were trying to place it in her mind forever and forget it all at the same time. He was so beautiful it made her stomach turn.

  William pulled away, releasing her. “Blame it on the concussion. You weren’t in your right mind.”

  Feeling as though she could finally breathe for the first time, Addie dressed and straightened her clothes. William stood too, watching her but saying nothing. Finally, he, too, fixed his attire. Addie, sated, found herself drifting off to sleep: a sleep deeper and more restful than she had had in a long while.

  She woke to William stroking her hair, her head in his lap, whispering softly in her ear “Addison, wake up. Firemen are going to be busting through the door in about sixty seconds.”

  Addie panicked, realizing where she was and what had happened.

  She sat up just as one of the men slid the door open. Soon another grabbed her by the arm, and they lifted her out, placing her on a stretcher. Addie was dizzy. There was so much commotion going on around her. She searched the faces for William’s until finally she heard his voice in her ear. “These men are going to take good care of you, ok?”

  She blinked away tears until William’s face came in to view. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but the words wouldn’t come. He smiled, stroked her hair, and then he was gone.

  Six

  Addie came to in the ER with Patrick by her side. “Hey there, sleepy head. Sounds like you had quite the day.”

  “Yeah. You could say that,” Addie said, picking at her hospital bracelet.

  “What were you doing at The Hartman Building, anyway?

  The Hartman Building? Addie stared at him confused. “The what building?”

  “Downtown, Addison. What were you doing downtown? Patrick said sternly.

  Well, she certainly hadn’t planned on telling him like this. “I had a job interview.”

  Patrick’s mouth formed a hard line, but he said nothing. Breaking the uncomfortable silence, a doctor appeared, telling Addie that her CT scan was clear but that, because she had been unconscious, he would feel more comfortable keeping her overnight.

  “Doctor, really, I’m fine. I think I’d feel more comfortable at home, resting in my own bed.”

  Patrick sighed. “How soon can we get her out of the ER and upstairs? She’s staying.”

  Addie sat up a little too abruptly. “Patrick, that’s not your call to make.”

  Patrick stared at the doctor as he spoke, though Addie knew his words were meant directly for her. He was angry with her, and she knew it. “Doc, clearly after the day’s events, my wife isn’t thinking clearly. She seems to be having a hard time making sound decisions.”

  The doctor remained cool, neutral. “Look, all I can do is give my professional opinion, and, from a medical standpoint, I’d feel better if we kept you for observation.”

  Patrick turned to her, placing his hands on his hips as if to say I told you so.

  Addie lay back on the gurney, defeated. “What about the kids?”

  “I had my mother pick them up from Jessica’s.”

  Although she was furious with Patrick, Addie knew she should be nicer. After all, she had betrayed him, not once today, but twice. She felt terrible, sick to her stomach over it. But oddly enough, she wasn’t remorseful in the way that she thought she should be. Even as she lay there in the hospital with Patrick at her side, her thoughts drifted to the man in the elevator. She thought about the way he kissed her and the expression on his face as they wheeled her away. Addie knew she was wrong. She knew that she had lied by omission twice today. Of course, with her winding up in the hospital, Patrick now knew all about the first lie. It was only a matter of time now before he’d find out about the second.

  Once they moved Addie from the ER to her room, Patrick left to gather some belongings. Addie told him that she would be fine, that he would sleep better at ho
me, but he insisted, saying there was something important he needed to discuss with her.

  While Patrick was gone Addie checked her cell: a few missed calls and a dozen emails. Two stood out. One was from the agency she was set to interview for.

  Dear Mrs. Greyer,

  We at Carlisle Agency were very sorry to learn of the elevator malfunction you experienced this afternoon.

  At this time, following a very prestigious recommendation from Mr. Hartman himself, we would like to offer you the position of Account Manager here at The Carlisle Agency.

  Should you accept this job offer, per company policy, you'll be eligible to receive the following beginning on your hire date:

  Salary: Annual gross starting salary of $85,000, paid in biweekly installments by your choice of check or direct deposit

  Performance Bonuses: Up to five percent of your annual gross salary, paid quarterly by your choice of check or direct deposit

  Stock Options: 500 Carlisle stock options in your first year, fully vested in four years at the rate of 125 shares per year

  Benefits: Standard, agency-provided benefits for salaried-exempt employees, including the following:

  401(k) retirement account

  Annual stock options

  Childcare assistance

  Education reimbursement

  Health, dental, life, and disability insurance

  Profit sharing

  Sick leave

  Vacation and personal days

  Your work schedule would be part-time, Monday—Friday from 8 a.m.—2 p.m. Should you accept this job offer, per company policy, you’ll be eligible to receive the above beginning on your hire date.

  We at The Carlisle Agency hope that you’ll accept this job offer and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

  Sincerely,

  Sondra Sheehan

  CEO, The Carlisle Agency

  (555) 210-3782

  Addie was floored. $85,000 a year for part-time work. Seriously? William had recommended her, and, just like that, she had the job of her dreams. How? This kind of job had the power to change her life. The money alone was amazing, more than she had ever made before. But the hours were a dream come true. She would still be able to pick up the boys from school and be there in the afternoons. Where was the catch? She checked her voicemail, the first being a message from Ms. Sheehan, letting her know of the offer awaiting in her inbox and explaining that she looked forward to hearing from her. The second voicemail was a hang up from a number she didn’t recognize. Addie clicked off her phone, thinking everything else could wait. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait for Patrick to get back so that she could tell him her news. She had a job, and it was one she couldn’t refuse.

  Patrick arrived back with a flower and Chinese takeout in hand. Her news combined with his good mood nearly made her forget about the day’s earlier events. Addie decided to put what happened in the elevator behind her for now. Patrick sat the flower down and removed the food from the bag, arranging it in front of her.

  Addie smiled at him, so full of love in that moment. He had brought her, her favorite Chinese dish from their favorite takeout place to her favorite flower, a beautiful pink orchid.

  “Are the boys ok? They aren’t too worried are they? I should call—”

  Patrick cut her off “My mom says they’re fine. I spoke with them briefly, but they were too busy helping Rosie bake cookies to stop and talk.”

  Addie smiled, picturing her boys with Rosie, thinking of how much she liked her.

  “Eat while it’s hot.” Patrick demanded.

  “Ok, so sit down. I have some news.” Addie said jubilantly.

  Patrick took a bite, grinning. “You have news? Me too. Big news.”

  Addie suddenly felt nervous. “You go first.”

  Patrick’s mood shifted slightly. She took a deep breath, analyzing the seriousness of his expression. Nothing could have prepared her for what was to come next.

  “So, I’ve been given a huge assignment at work. And I think it’s going to be great.”

  Addie exhaled. “And?”

  “And . . . I’ve been asked to head up our newest division in China. I’ll get to start from scratch—do with it what I want—run it the way I see fit. It’s a year-long project, Addie, but I’ve given it some thought, and I think this could be great for us.”

  Addie choked. Suddenly, the room was spinning, and the wind was knocked out of her.

  “Say something, Addie. What do think?”

  “Um. I . . . I . . . How long have you known about this?”

  “Three weeks. Why?”

  “Three weeks. Three fucking weeks, Patrick? And you’re just now telling me about it.”

  “Well, yes. I wanted some time to mull it over and get all of the facts before I ran it by you.”

  “Wow. We’re talking about something that will change our entire lives, Patrick, and you wanted to mull it over before you ran it by me? As if we’re discussing dinner plans or picking up milk at the grocery store?”

  Patrick stood, pacing the room. “So, you’re not happy? You’re not happy? Don’t you realize what this means for my career? What this could mean for us! That’s it? You want to pick apart and argue over how long I’ve known?”

  Addie pushed her food away. “What do you want me to say? It’s a bad idea, Patrick.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to say a little more than that. They need an answer within forty-eight hours.”

  Addie rubbed her temples, thinking before she spoke. “What is there to discuss? It sounds as though you’ve already made up your mind. The only thing left to do was to ‘run it by me.’”

  Patrick moved closer, putting his hand on her leg. “Addison, come on. You know that is not what I meant. You mean the world to me; your opinion means the world to me. Look, I know this is a lot to take in all at once. But it’s only for a year, and I know we can make it work. You and the kids can visit, and I’ll fly home as often as I can.”

  “It’s fucking China, Patrick, not California. You can’t just hop on a plane and be home in a few hours. You do realize this, right?”

  “Of course, baby. It’s just that opportunities like this only come up once in a lifetime. It’s what I’ve been working so hard for. So many of my colleagues would kill for this opportunity, but they asked me. Don’t you see what this means, Addie? It means that I’m closer than ever to making partner. It’s what we’ve always dreamed about.”

  Addie wanted to tell him he was wrong. That it was what he’d always dreamed about. Instead she said, “I don’t want you to go, Patrick. I need you here. The boys need you here.”

  “Don’t do this, Addie. It’s just a year.”

  The nurse came in and began taking Addie’s vital signs and charting information. Addie and Patrick stared at each other, saying nothing until Addie broke the uncomfortable silence.

  “I guess you’ve made your mind up, then.”

  Patrick stood, running his fingers through his hair. “I need some air.”

  “Wait. I didn’t get to tell you my good news.”

  Patrick raised his eyebrows. “Yeah?”

  “I got the job.”

  Patrick’s jaw set as he turned and walked out, his silence saying everything.

  Addie lay there, staring at their cold, uneaten food, listening to the machines beep, and thought about how this morning, when the alarm had gone off, it had been, for the most part, a normal day. And now here she was lying in a hospital bed after betraying her husband in the worst way. To make matters worse, he told her that he was leaving their family for a year and he’d known it for weeks now. All of a sudden, Addie wasn’t sure who had betrayed whom. She knew she could tell him not to go. In many ways, she already had. But Patrick had already made up his mind, and it seemed the only option she had left was to issue an ultimatum. But she wouldn’t. Addie was smart enough to know that doing so would only lead to a life of regret and what ifs. She did not want to become that to Patrick. She witnessed
it too many times before, growing up. So she knew exactly what she had to do. What she hadn’t expected was just how much it would hurt.

  Patrick didn’t come back that night. Addie hadn’t expected that he would. The next morning he showed up with a bagel and orange juice, which she understood was his way of making amends.

  “So I hear you’re coming home today.”

  “Yep, I’ve been given the all clear. They’re finishing my discharge paperwork now.”

  On the ride home, they mostly talked logistics, matter of factly. Both of them steered clear of any and all emotion.

  “So . . . Tell me about your new job. I assume you’ve decided to take it.”

  Addie relayed the details of the job, the ones she knew anyway. Patrick explained that he’d be leaving for China in about two weeks and would do whatever he needed to do to make her transition back to work go smoothly for everyone even though he didn’t quite understand why she insisted on working, since he made more than enough money for her to stay at home, and he didn’t get why she wasn’t happy just being a mom.

  Addie ignored his last comment and stared out the window instead. There was no point in beating a dead horse, she figured. Patrick dropped her off at home, explaining that he had to get back to the office and that his mother would be dropping the kids off in a few hours.

  As Patrick bent to kiss her goodbye, she decided that today was a good as day as any to start letting go. When he went to kiss her lips, she turned her head and gave him her cheek. Unfortunately for her, he was in such a hurry that he didn’t even seem to notice.

  The following few days went by in a blur. The news spread fast. Addie found herself answering phone calls from friends and family who were curious to find out if the news was true. After a handful or so, she stopped picking up the phone. She was living silently in her very own version of hell. Her marriage was in shambles, so very far from where she’d ever imagined it as she’d said “I do” underneath the willows. The last thing she wanted or needed was to have to comfort others or explain to them that everything was going to be fine. So she lied. She told them that, while they knew that the upcoming year would be hard, military families did it all the time and they were excited for what the opportunity meant for Patrick’s career.