by Alice Ward
Drake’s persistence was infuriating, to say the least. But unlike Piper, I understood why he thought his methods would work. After all, they had in the past. Drake had spoiled me with abandon and I’d soaked up every minute of it, believing that his gifts were inspired by his love.
As much as I’d insisted otherwise, I’d become accustomed to the luxuries that came along with being his fiancé, a fact I wasn’t proud of. The more time I spent alone, the clearer Drake’s motives became. He didn’t spoil me because he loved me. He did it to distract me from seeing who he really was. And there was nothing in this world he could buy that would persuade me to give him another chance.
“Okay, we’ll change the subject,” Piper continued. “Seth and I are going to watch his friends’ band play at Vinnie’s tonight. Why don’t you come with us? It would do you good to get out.”
I shook my head as we neared the office. Piper had no problem moving on from her short-lived relationship with Martin. She’d met Seth Davis, a fairly well known local artist, at a coffee shop near Oliver and Stacey’s. After just two weeks, they’d already become inseparable. The way they looked at each other reminded me of my first few weeks with Drake, to the point that I couldn’t stand to be around them. I didn’t begrudge their happiness. It just hurt too much to watch it.
“Maybe next time,” I said as we stepped into the building. We found Pete waiting in the hallway with a huge grin on his face.
“Good morning, ladies. Chelsea, I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve set you up in an empty office in the other wing. But before you head over there, I’d like to speak with both of you.”
“I’m glad to be back,” I replied with a weak smile. “Have you heard back from the mayor? Is he going to give a statement of support for our campaign?”
“I hope so but no, I haven’t heard from him. I need to talk to you about something else.”
Piper and I followed Pete into his office and settled in to the seats across from his desk. He slid behind his computer and glanced back and forth at us with an eager but reserved smile. He cleared his throat and began.
“As I’m sure you both remember, Drake made a significant donation to the society a couple of months ago…”
God, can’t I have one day without anyone mentioning his fucking name?
“I remember,” I said with a sigh.
“As you know,” he continued, “the money was earmarked for a new historical documents wing… and also your tuition for graduate school, Chelsea.” I opened my mouth to protest, but Pete lifted a hand to stop me.
“I know you wanted me to divert the funds to the youth education programs. And I understand why you don’t want Drake to have anything to do with your education. But I was given an opportunity to purchase several private archives collections and I couldn’t pass it up. There’s just enough money left over to send both of you back to school, if you’re interested.”
“Both of us?” Piper gasped.
Pete nodded. “Marge will be ready to retire by the time you finish your degree, Piper. And you both know I prefer to promote from within. We’ll need someone with a PhD in art history to take over the department and you’re my first choice.”
“Can Piper take you up on the offer if I turn it down?” I asked, my voice dripping with hesitation. I crossed one leg over the other and folded my arms across my chest.
“Piper’s offer isn’t contingent on yours,” he assured me. “But I’d like you to think long and hard about this, Chelsea. The money became the society’s the moment I deposited Drake’s check. Don’t think of it as him paying your tuition. Think of it as me investing in you.”
“Pete’s right,” Piper insisted before I could argue. “You know it’ll be next to impossible for you to pay for grad school on your own. If you want to spite Drake, kill his plans for The Albergo. But don’t turn your back on a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
I looked from Pete to Piper and back again, processing their words. “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Of course,” Pete agreed, turning back to his computer screen. “And now for the second order of business, we’ve been invited to send representatives to a history convention in Las Angeles. I’d like the two of you to attend. .You’d leave in two weeks and I can have your work here covered while we’re gone. Are you interested?”
“A free trip to California? Count us in!” Piper agreed. She turned to me, heading off my protests before they left my mouth.
“You need this, Chelsea. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet a gorgeous historian, fall in love, and forget that Drake ever existed.”
I’d love to forget that Drake exists. But meeting a new man is the last fucking thing I need right now.
***
“It’s so good to see you, Chels,” Stacey said, turning sideways to pull me into a hug. I could hardly believe how much her belly had grown since the last time I saw her, and it made our embrace a bit awkward. She released me, grabbed her purse from the entryway table, and we stepped back into the hallway.
“It’s good to see you too,” I said with a hint of apology in my voice. She and Oliver had reached out to me several times since Drake and I broke up, but I’d avoided their calls. But when Stacey texted and asked me to go to a doctor’s appointment with her, I couldn’t say no.
“I know I’ve been MIA lately,” I continued as we made our way outside. “I needed some time to work things out in my head before I could talk about them.”
“I understand,” she assured me as we slid into a waiting taxi. She told the driver our destination and stared out the window, her arms folded protectively over her chest.
She understands, but her feelings are hurt. I don’t blame her.
“I know I hurt your feelings, and I’m sorry,” I said, slipping my hand into hers. “At first I was numb, and then I turned into a basket case. And since I pulled myself out of that, I’ve been so focused on getting back to work and saving the hotel. I know I’ve been a little selfish, but please don’t take it personally.”
Tears rolled down Stacey’s face and she brushed them away with a frustrated growl. “I swear, I’ve cried more in the last six months than I have in my entire life. I know that you needed time to sort things out, Chelsea. I was just afraid… well. You and I started getting close at the exact same time you started seeing Drake. When you ignored my calls, I was afraid things between us would go back to how they were before you met him.”
I grabbed her hand again and turned sideways to face her. “I love you, Stacey, and not just because you’re married to my brother. My relationship with Drake did bring us closer, and that’s the only thing about the past few months I’m grateful for.”
“Do you really mean that?” she asked, this time letting her tears run freely.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and wrapped my arms around her. “Of course I do. Honestly, Stacey, I wasn’t ignoring you. I was ignoring everyone and everything. I barely spoke to Piper and she lives with me.”
“I love you too, Chelsea,” she said, releasing me. She dug through her purse and pulled out a small package of tissues. “I’m sorry I got so emotional about everything. And I’m so sorry that Drake turned out to be such a bastard.”
“It’s not your fault,” I insisted. I took a deep breath and exhaled the words I’d promised myself I’d never say. “Have you talked to him? Do you know how he’s doing?”
Stacey cringed and looked away from me again as the taxi rolled to a stop at the curb. She paid the driver and we stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Drake showed up at our apartment right after you stormed out on him that day. He thought we’d be the first ones you called and he wanted to explain himself before Oliver got pissed off and quit,” she confessed in a hushed voice. We walked into the building and she took an immediate right toward the elevator bank. She hit all eight call buttons and danced around impatiently while we waited for doors to open.
“Sorry, I have to pee so bad,” she explained.
“Dance away,” I said, waving off her apology. “So when Piper called you the next day, you already knew we’d broken up?”
She nodded as the elevator directly in front of us opened. She dashed into it and hit the button for the fifth floor. “I told Piper that we’d already talked to Drake,” she explained. “We agreed we shouldn’t mention him to you until we were sure you were ready to talk about him.”
“Is Oliver still working for him?” I asked, unsure of what I wanted to hear. The practical side of me hoped that Oliver had kept his job. That’s what was best for his family. But the little sister in me hoped that he’d told Drake to fuck himself and turned in his notice.
“For the time being,” she replied with a sigh, her movements becoming more spastic as the elevator climbed higher. It slowed to a stop and Stacey pulled me out into the office. “If you’re really ready to talk about Drake, we can grab lunch after the appointment and I’ll tell you everything I know. But right now, I’m going to go pee in a cup and get prodded in uncomfortable places. Someone will come get you when it’s time for the ultrasound,” she promised.
“Lunch would be great,” I replied with a smile. “And I can’t wait to see that sweet baby.”
***
Stacey’s appointment went by fairly quickly. I’d only made it through half of the latest issue of Celebrity Weekly when a perky blonde in pink scrubs came to get me for the ultrasound. I stared at the screen in awe as my niece rolled over in Stacey’s stomach. Her tiny, perfectly formed face turned toward us and my heart leapt with a love I’d never known I was capable of. It was so surreal, looking at her, knowing she was in that room at that moment, but not being able to reach out and touch her.
By the time we made it back outside, Drake had disappeared from my mind completely. I didn’t think of him again until Stacey and I were seated at our booth at Ivy.
“So, I have tons to tell you. What do you want to know first?” Stacey asked once the hostess left the table.
“Have you decided on a name yet?” I asked, my voice brimming with excitement. “Does Oliver know you’re having a girl, or is it still a secret?”
Stacey let out an amused laugh. “Oliver is still in the dark and we haven’t decided on a name. But that’s not what I was talking about, Chelsea. I meant what do you want to know about Drake?”
Hearing Drake’s name after a blissful hour of forgetting about him felt like taking a bowling ball to the stomach. But as much as I hated to admit it, I had questions. And I knew Stacey had answers.
“Hi, I’m Nancy and I’ll be taking care of you today,” a smiling red head said as she approached our table. “Can I get you started with an iced tea or a drink from the bar?”
Stacey and I shook our heads and each ordered sparkling water and a grilled chicken salad. Nancy nodded her approval of our selections and quickly disappeared again. I took a deep breath, trying to decide where to start.
“So… have you seen Drake often, or just that first day?”
“He’s been by a couple of times. With Oliver working from our apartment, it’s kind of unavoidable. Drake talked Oliver into staying on as his agent. But things are all business between them now. Anytime Drake makes an attempt at small talk, Oliver cuts him off,” she explained. “I’ve honestly never seen him treat anyone this way. He’s been downright rude… not that Drake doesn’t deserve it.”
My brother was the king of hiding his emotions and playing nice with others. That’s one of the things that made him such a successful salesman. The fact that he was being openly rude to Drake made me feel incredibly validated.
“What about you?” I pressed on. “Have you talked to him since that first day? About what happened, I mean.”
Stacey nodded as Nancy returned with our drinks and salads. “Here you go,” she said, setting the large bowls in front of us. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, this all looks great. Thank you,” Stacey replied, stabbing a piece of chicken with her fork.
“All right then, I’ll be back in a few minutes to make sure everything’s okay,” the waitress replied before moving on to the table that had just been seated behind us.
I knew Stacey was hungry, so I tried to be patient while she inhaled half of her food. She chased it with a long gulp of her water and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Sorry, I was starving. Yes, I’ve talked to Drake a few times. He always asks how you’re doing.”
“What do you say?” I asked nervously. I hoped she hadn’t told Drake that I’d locked myself in my room and refused to take any calls.
“I tell him that you’re hurt, but getting along just fine without him,” she replied, lifting her glass to her lips again.
Relief flooded over me and I took a bite of my salad. “So, tell me what happened after I left the penthouse. How did Drake explain himself?”
“It all happened so fast,” Stacey began. “Ollie and I were lying on the couch watching that DIY channel for ideas on the baby’s room and suddenly, someone started pounding on the door. Oliver opened it and Drake stormed into the apartment. He started pacing the floors and said ‘I’m so sorry, I can explain,’ over and over again. Then, he stopped in front of Oliver, held his arms open, and told him he could hit him if he wanted. Oliver put a hand on his shoulder and asked him what the hell he was talking about. You should have seen the look on Drake’s face when he realized we didn’t know yet. He looked like a deer caught in headlights.”
I bet. Good, he deserved to feel embarrassed and put on the spot. He certainly made me feel that way enough.
“What did he explain first? That I’d found the forms, or why he had them in the first fucking place?” I asked, trying to keep the hostility out of my voice. After the ultrasound, I was very aware of the baby’s constant presence and I didn’t want her to come into the world thinking I was a bitter, angry person.
“Why he had the forms,” Stacey replied. “He came clean about everything, Chelsea. I really think that for the first time in his life, Drake was completely honest. He admitted that the assumptions people made about him were true. After the mess with Alex, Drake became a bit of a man whore. Those were his exact words. He paid all of the women he slept with to sign those forms. He claims that he was a sex addict and he was afraid if word got out about it, he’d be ruined, professionally.”
Disgusted by what I was hearing, I let my fork fall to my plate. “He paid women to sign nondisclosure forms and then he slept with them?” I spat out the rancid words.
How do you even proposition something like that? ‘Hey, I’d really like to fuck you, but I don’t want anyone to know about it. How about I give you some cash? Just sign this piece of paper and let me have my way with you.’
“For what it’s worth, he’s not proud of it,” Stacey said with a cringe.
“It’s worth shit,” I replied, pushing my food away. “And his excuse is he’s a sex addict? Isn’t that convenient? Did he tell you that I brought up the damn forms the first night we met? I should have never done that. If I’d just kept my mouth shut, he’d have asked me to sign one. And then I’d have known right away what an ass he is and I wouldn’t have wasted months of my life.”
Stacey looked down at her plate and pushed a soggy crouton around with her fork. It was obvious that she wanted to say something, but was hesitant to open her mouth.
“What is it, Stace?” I asked, my voice patient and even.
“I don’t think Drake would have ever asked you to sign a nondisclosure,” she started, still avoiding eye contact with me. “Don’t get me wrong. Lying to you was inexcusable and Drake doesn’t deserve any more chances from you. And I hope the fact that he hurt you haunts him for the rest of his life. But I still believe that Drake really loved you, Chelsea. He’s been in the public eye his entire life, and in twenty-eight years, he never answered one single question about his personal life. He only knew you for a few weeks before he told the whole world that you were together. He’d never have asked you to keep your relation
ship a secret. Drake was proud to have you in his life.”
As Stacey spoke, I felt despair creep into my chest again. I pushed it down, silently reminding myself that Drake deserved my anger, not my heartache.
“Too bad I can’t say the same,” I spat. “I’d loved to have seen your faces when Drake explained all this. How did Oliver react?”
Stacey took a deep breath and an odd blend of guilt and pride filled her face. “Oliver broke his nose.”
“What?” I gasped.
I get that they didn’t want to bring Drake up until they knew I was ready. But why the hell didn’t they tell me this?
Stacey nodded, her lips tight from trying to hold back a smile. “And Drake didn’t get mad at all. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, held it to his bloody nose, and agreed he deserved it. He apologized to Oliver and promised he was going to find a way to make things right with you. He asked him to consider staying on as his agent, and then he had his driver take him to the emergency room.”
“I can’t believe Oliver hit him. He’s lucky he wasn’t arrested.” I was in awe of my big brother. I wasn’t normally the type to condone violence, but I appreciated Oliver’s protective, albeit irrational reaction to Drake’s betrayal.
“Oliver was so mad, Chelsea. We both were. If Ollie hadn’t punched Drake, I’d have probably hit him myself. When he left the apartment, we sat down and had a long talk about what to do next. Neither of us wants to sacrifice Oliver being able to work from home.”
“I completely understand,” I interrupted. “My personal life shouldn’t interfere with Oliver’s career. That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.”
Stacey swallowed a sip of her water and continued. “You didn’t let me finish. Oliver hasn’t given notice yet, but he still plans to. We’ve decided to stay in our apartment and sell the penthouse once the renovations are finished. Oliver got a good deal on it, so we should make a nice profit. We’re going to use the money for Ollie to open his own real estate firm.”
