“Forgive you?” Ron repeated incredulously. “What for, I’m not the one you hurt, I have no reason to forgive you, call me cynical, but I would have never forgiven you, but that’s me. What you do with Lynwood is none of my business.”
Bea was not able to conceal her anger this time. She glared maliciously at him. Regaining her composure, she snickered.
“You’re jealous.”
Ron stared at her for a second and then laughed harshly.
Bea gasped outraged.
“You really are delusional,” Ron retorted.
Bea turned her back to Ron.
“Ron I need you to take Bea to your office.” Lynwood stated in a low tone.
Ron frowned. “Why?”
“Vessa is here,” Lynwood stated.
“No, don’t involve me in your mess Lynwood,” Ron replied curtly.
The glass doors opened. The three in the room turn towards the intrusion.
Ron’s eyes met Vessa. Lynwood cursed; Bea wrapped her hand possessively around Lynwood’s arm.
The smile fell from Vessa face as her eyes scanned the room. Bea sized up the petite woman, in her stylish designer suit. She was pretty Bea had to admit. Her hand tightened on Lynwood’s arm.
“Ready for lunch darling,” Bea purred up at him.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Vessa looked from Bea to Lynwood. Her eyes met his unwavering. Dread filled her. Lynwood didn’t have to say a word; she knew who this woman was. Suddenly her chest ached as her heart pounded painfully. Her throat clogged while unshed tears stung behind her eyes. Her heart was near bursting as an icy cold encased her body. Vessa purposely and boldly eyed the woman from head to foot. She was a head shorter than Lynwood and pretty in an artificial way Vessa thought; her full lips curled at the corner giving her dark face a smug appearance, her eyes glinting at Vessa maliciously. Vessa turned her attention to Lynwood who stood silently watching her. She looked directly at Lynwood, her hazel eyes cold.
“No need to explain, darling,” Vessa replied composed. Let me guess I’ve been replaced.”
“Vessa….”
Vessa raised her hand halting the words he wanted to speak.
“No need for explanations Lynwood, a deal is a deal.
Lynwood continued to watch Vessa cautiously, not sure how she would react. She was beautiful even with her icy stare, more beautiful than the last time he saw her two months ago. She simply glowed. The icy glare she bestowed upon him made him flinch. This was the reason he wanted to walk away. He knew if he saw her, again it would be harder to leave her. Even now with her tense body and cold glare, he couldn’t stop the feelings she stirred in him just by the mere sight of her.
Anger built in Lynwood. Angry at Vessa and at himself because of this weakness for her. When he thought he was head over heels in love with Bea those many years ago, Bea never stirred him as Vessa did.
“Is that all you have to say? Lynwood replied gruffly.
Vessa raised a well-shaped elegant eyebrow. “What did you expect Lynwood, histrionics, tears, maybe a little begging?” Vessa asked coldly. “Sorry I cannot accommodate your male ego Lynwood, maybe what’s her name shall once you’ve replaced her. Goodbye Lynwood have a wonderful life.”
Vessa turned to leave. She looked at Ron. She paused.
“Oh and Lynwood, stay away from me.”
Lynwood didn’t expect this finality from her; maybe he wanted her to rant and rave, at least show some emotion, not this cold, bland declaration.
“You broke the rules; the deal was when one tire of the other they were free to go. You claim you love for me, so don’t blame me Vanessa, this is all on you. I didn’t do this, I never asked for your love,” he replied coolly. “I don't want it.”
Vessa flinched. If he thought to break her heart anymore than he already has, he aimed well. With her back still to him, she choked out.
“No you didn’t,” she replied despondently.
Vessa met Ron’s eyes. Seeing compassion on his handsome face. All she needed was to get out of the room as quickly as she was able, before the tears that now stung her eyes started rolling down her cheeks.
“Who is this, Lyn?” Bea asked sneeringly.
Vessa turned her eyes scanning the woman with distaste.
Who are you?” Vessa countered.
Bea scoffed. “I’m the one he is with now and you are not.”
“So you say, you better hope he keeps you as long as he's kept me, that should be your only concern, who am I to stop him if he wants to slum awhile.” Vessa replied glaring at the woman. Bea stiffened taking a step to Vessa.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Vessa warned frostily her gazed freezing Bea.
“Goodbye Lynwood it’s been fun.” Vessa turned to leave then paused looking over her shoulder. “Oh, by the way, did I say don't contact me ever?”
On legs, she was not sure would hold her Vessa pulled the door open. She glanced at Ron. “It was great to see you again Ron, tell Izzy goodbye for me.”
Ron glared at Lynwood before turning away. Lynwood untangled his arm from Bea with the intent to follow Vessa.
Ron blocked the doorway.
“No, I’ll go after her, you stay away from her Lyn, I mean it.” Ron said angrily.
Chapter Six
Vessa stood at the elevator praying for the doors to open. “Come on, please,” she muttered desperately. She looked toward Lynwood’s office, praying he didn't go after her. All she knew was she had to distance herself quickly.
It suddenly became unusually warm. A fine sheen of perspiration settled on her brow. Her eyes closed briefly. She wiped her forehead with a shaky hand and took a deep breath. Suddenly everything appeared to move in slow motion.
She sighed. Her vision blurred. As if in slow motion her head turned to see Ron coming towards her in a hurry.
Again, she pressed the down button; two doors became four. Her heart rate increase and a panic started to settle in her chest. She looked down the corridor at a rapidly approaching Ron.
“Help me,” she mouthed reaching for him with trembling hands before everything gone black.
Ron couldn't miss the terror in Vessa’s face before he started running, too late, she fainted.
“Vessa!” He shouted.
Leaving Bea, Lynwood ran down the corridor; Vessa lay on the floor with Ron bending over her.
He rushed to her side. Ron looked over at Lynwood, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Get away from her!” Ron barked at Lynwood. Lynwood took a step back shocked at his friend's outburst.
“Do what she asks and stay away from her!” Lynwood was dumbfounded, but he stayed back. Ron easily lifted her carrying her to his office.
He laid her on the couch and ran to get a wet cloth for her face. Ron looked at her anxiously. He did not know what to do; the only thing he could think of was to call his wife.
“Izzy baby, get down to the office, as soon as you can,” Ron said with despair in his voice.
“What happen, Ron?” Izzy said frantically.
“It’s Vessa, please baby, I don’t know what to do.” Ron said in an anguished tone.
“I’ll be right there,” she said and hung up the phone.
Vessa looked so frail lying there. Ron looked down at her with concern in his eyes wondering if he should call 911. Ron lowered to the couch where Vessa lay so still. He took her small, weak hand in his patting it gently.
“Vessa,” he pleaded softly. “Please wake up.”
Her eyes blinked and opened slowly.
“What happen?” She asked weakly.
“Thank God,” Ron whispered, relieved. “You fainted.” He stated with concern.
“Can you sit up?” He asked gently.
She nodded. Slowly Vessa sat up. Her head started spinning. “Give me a minute,” she said feebly her eyes closed. She sat quietly. After a moment she spoke.
“Can you believe this Ron, the Ice Princess has been broken,” she said with a sh
aky smile tears wavering in her hazel eyes.
“No Vessa, you’re not broken, this is just a setback, everything will sort…,” Ron started.
Vessa raise her hand to silence him.
“I went into this with my eyes open, I took a risk with my heart and lost. I guess you can’t win them all,” she said trying to sound dispassionate and failing miserably.
Ron looked at her with sadness in his dark eyes.
Vanessa Sanders was the only woman he knew that stood up to the hardened Lynwood Holland. The only woman that had not fawned over him. The only woman who matched him in intelligence, arrogance and most of all, the only woman that made Lynwood take notice of her. Yes, Lynwood was a fool, he deserved all he was sure Vessa would give him.
Vessa stared out at nothing; slow tears began to run down her cheeks. She looked over at Ron.
“Why…?” She paused swallowing the lump in her throat, “did he do this?” She fell into his arms and sobbed as Ron had never seen before.
Ron held her. He didn’t know what to do; all he could do is sit quietly and try to comfort her. Ron groaned. He was not good with crying women. He wished Izzy would get here. Damn you Lynwood, damn you, he thought.
Having gotten rid of Bea, Lynwood stood outside at the door unbeknownst to them. Strangely, his heart ached for each tear she shed. He had not meant to hurt her. He panicked. What else was he to do? Love was not part of the deal; to him love was not an option when they both agreed to the affair. He didn’t ask for her heart, he didn't want it. Did he? He admitted he cared about her more than he ever had any woman, ironically even more than he cared about Bea all those years ago. However, he couldn’t love her.
Lynwood turned away leaning against the wall and hung his head. Vessa was clinging to Ron as if her life depended on him. Then he heard her say.
“I’m going to be sick!” Lynwood stood in the doorway dumbfounded while Ron helped her to the bathroom.
Vessa vomited until she fell weakly to her knees. When Ron thought it had dissipated, it would start again. He held her steady on her knees over the toilet.
Izzy arrived and pushed passed Lynwood. “What happened?” Lynwood heard Izzy say.
“Help her baby,” Ron replied.
Izzy got on her knees beside Vessa soothing her. Ron stood and watched. How could Lynwood be that callous? He knows what it is like to be hurt. Ron remembered how Beatrice Thomas had hurt him. Lynwood was devastated; he was by his side the whole way.
Lynwood had fallen hard for Beatrice. He could see nothing passed Beatrice. The beautiful Beatrice only wanted to marry well, and Lynwood was her chosen victim. His eyes opened when he found her in bed with another man on the same day he was to propose to her. The unfortunate man ended up in the hospital, of course his father paid for the man's expenses. From that day, his life changed. Lynwood became exceedingly ruthless, cold, and inflexible. He went from one woman to another never getting emotionally involved, until Vessa. She knocked him for a loop, and Lynwood knew it. The mistake she made was falling in love with him. Ron was sure Lynwood would never intentionally hurt anyone, but Vessa backed him into a corner. Lynwood wanted her with a passion only he could describe. He could talk about her for hours, admiring her personally and professionally. Lyn just was not going to allow love to be a part of his life.
Ron turned his attention back to his Izzy and Vessa. She lay on the floor with her head in Izzy lap crying heart-wrenching sobs. Izzy looked up at him with sympathy and concern in her eyes.
“Later,” he mouthed to her.
“Come on Vessa,” Izzy spoke softly, let’s get you up.” Vessa sat up slowly her eyes red and swollen.
“Why does it hurt so badly?” Vessa asked no one in particular. “Why did I let him in my heart?”
Izzy didn’t know how to answer that, she still didn’t know what was going on. Vessa again fell into her arms sobbing harder and repeating, “Why did he do this, why did he do this?”
Ron had enough; his heart was breaking for her. What he ought to do is punch Lynwood square in the face. He hated the pain she would have to endure, but prayed for the strength that she would need to overcome this heartache.
Ron left the women alone quietly closing the door. Ron turned. Lynwood stood in his office.
“How long have you been standing there?” Ron asked nastily going to the bar to pour a drink he so desperately needed.
“Does it matter?” He answered gruffly. “Is she okay?” He asked.
Ron turned to Lynwood. “Do you really care Lyn?” He said furiously. Before Lynwood could reply, Ron continued his tirade.
“See what you’ve reduced her to, she on her knees sobbing and asking why did he do this to her, do you think she deserved this?”
“No she doesn’t,” he responded in a voice so low Ron was not sure he had heard him. Ron looked at his friend and shook his head. He even felt sorry for Lynwood, he looked so stunned and helpless, and this was his doing.
Ron could hear his wife helping her clean up and trying to convince her to stay in Atlanta. Soon they would be coming out of the bathroom, and Ron didn’t want Vessa to see Lynwood.
“Go Lyn before she sees you,” Ron told him.
“What’s wrong with her?” Lynwood asked.
“Lyn please go before she sees you.”
“I can’t,” Lynwood confessed.
Too late, Izzy and Vessa returned from the bathroom. She came to an abrupt stop, her heart banging in her chest. An uncomfortable silence enveloped the room, and Lynwood didn’t move. His gaze was riveted on her face searching her red, swollen eyes. As their eyes met, Vessa lowered her head. She couldn’t bear to look at the coldness in his eyes that boring into her. Why had she not noticed the coldness in him before? His eyes penetrated her causing an uneasy feeling inside. She sensed the barely controlled power that coiled in his body. From the moment, they met she knew there was something unique about him, but how did she overlook the coldness inside him. An even more terrifying realization washed over her. She had done this to herself. It was foolish of her to think there was more to this affair than there actually was. Tears burned behind her eyes, quickly she blinked them away.
Vessa’s trembling hands took Izzy’s in her own. “Thanks for helping me,” she told Izzy, her voice low and throaty.
“Vessa, stay in Atlanta just for one night until you’re strong enough to travel, please.” Izzy implored her.
“No, I can’t,” she said whispered, her voice was gone from crying so much. “I have to get back. Ron, thank you,” she hugged him and then Izzy.
“Call us when you get home,” Izzy said handing her their home number.
“I will,” she promised. Vessa wanted to avoid any confrontation with Lynwood. She just hoped he remain silent and let her leave as fatigue drifting into her body.
“Vessa,” Lynwood called her name. She ignored him.
Lynwood reached out to touch her, she cringed, and backed away bumping into Ron who broke her fall.
“Lyn, leave it alone,” Ron said ordered.
Lynwood mood veered sharply to anger. He was tired of this. Damn it, she was his. She didn’t need protection from him. He may have handled things badly, but he didn’t think it would faze her if he backed out of the affair, she said as much. Damn it, she runs a multimillion-dollar company, this should roll off her back.
Vessa looked directly in his eyes her voice cracking as she haughtily replied.
“It was simple Lynwood, all you had to do was say it is over Vessa, I would have simply walked away, but no, coward that you are, you lied. I thought the ruthless executive fear nothing, there’s a laugh.” She looked at him pure hatred reflected in her eyes. Vessa moved around him and then stopped at the door turning to look at him, with tear-filled eyes,
“Goodbye Lynwood.”
Lynwood went to the window and looked down at the street. He watched Vessa lean weakly against the open door of the long black car; she looked back up at the window, a pained look on
her face. Vessa looked up, saw him, raised her hand, and then got into the car.
Lynwood stood by the large window looking out. A small part of him regretted the conclusion of his involvement with Vessa. The two months that he avoided her, she had been constantly in his head. How many nights did he lose sleep thinking, dreaming, and wanting her. She was the only woman who could tempt him with a simple smile, or that certain gaze in her hazel eyes that made him want her. He doubted there would ever be a woman to compare to her.
It was better this way. After she declared her love for him, he knew he would be in jeopardy of losing his heart to Vessa as well. That can never happen, it didn't matter how incredible he thought Vessa is. He had made a vow never to give his heart to another woman again, but Vessa was making it hard for him to keep his word to himself. He could not let that happen. One thing for sure, they were good together and he would miss the times they shared in and out of bed.
Lynwood heard the door to his office open; he didn’t turn to acknowledge the incursion.
“Lyn you okay?” Ron asked sincerely concerned. Lynwood faced his friend, his unbreakable demeanor in place.
“I’m fine; why wouldn’t I be?
Ron watched Lynwood closely. “You can fix this, Lyn,” Ron replied.
Lynwood’s gave Ron a cynical look. “Why would I want to, it's over,” Lynwood said dismissively.
Ron watched as Lynwood moved to sit back at his desk as if not two hours ago he had destroyed a lovely person. Ron looked at Lyn disgusted.
“You are a cold hearted bastard. I never realize just how much.” Ron berated. “Vessa is a good woman, yet you prefer the same woman who created the man you are now.”
“At least I know where I stand with Bea; I know what I’m up against. I could never love Bea, and Bea could never love me. With Vessa I’m not sure, I refuse to risk my heart again Ron and nothing you or anyone can say to change it,” Lynwood told him opening a file flipping through the pages before him.
“Well I guess you told me,” Ron replied sarcastically. “I just hope you don’t regret the decision you made today.” Ron turned, leaving the office.
One Night (Found Love) Page 6
