The Only One

by Melissa Ellen

  I stared into the floor length mirror twisting, turning and smoothing out the black cocktail dress I had picked to wear for the night. It was a clingy, off-the-shoulder, strapless number that showed off my collarbone and shoulders. The hemline stopped just above my right knee, cutting up at an angle above my left knee. I had went shopping with Valerie earlier in the day to pick it out once Rhett had texted me about dinner.

  I wore my hair down in large, loose curls, and my eyes were done up with golds and bronze colors - my lips shined with a rusty rose colored lip gloss.

  I heard the penthouse door open as I gave myself the final once over. I picked up my clutch from the bed and walked into the hallway to greet Rhett.

  I turned the corner, stopping when I saw him near the front door. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I took the moment to appreciate the stunning vision before me. He looked weary as if he had been carrying around the weight of the world. My heart sank. I hated how much he was having to work, and it had me wanting to demand we cancel the dinner and crawl into bed where I could take care of him.

  Despite looking tired, he was still strikingly handsome. He walked towards the bedroom, his head down as he rubbed the back of his neck. I moved again, distracting him from his approach with the clicking of my peep toe stilettos on the floor.

  He looked up at me - his tired expression being replaced with brighter eyes and the smile that has always been reserved for only me. You know… the one that is so contagious it can make me smile even on the worst of days. Everything that is bad in the world disappears with that smile.

  We both stood fixed in the moment just letting the vision of each other fade all our worries and stresses away.

  Rhett broke the silence first, “You look stunning.” He started his progression towards me again. I moved too, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us.

  He wrapped a hand around my waist, as the other stroked my hair. Our eyes met. “I would say you look perfect, but something is missing.”

  I knew he was up to something with the smirk on his face. “And what’s that?” I played along with his game.

  “Something that belongs here,” he said as his finger swept seductively across my collar bone. I raised my eye brow. “And I think I have just the thing for it.”

  He reached into his suit jacket, revealing a small jewelry box that he pulled from the inside pocket.

  “Rhett,” I started to scold him.

  “Hush, beautiful. Just open it,” he handed it to me. I took the box from him, glancing between it and him. He smiled encouragingly.

  I opened the lid of the box, revealing a beautiful and very expensive necklace. The obvious expense from the ridiculous number of diamonds that covered the necklace was not what had tears springing to my eyes. It was the shape of the pendant itself. The pendant was a smaller version of the antique key I had given him years ago. But this one was made of white gold and was diamond encrusted, hanging from a delicate white gold chain.

  I looked back up at him through my blurry eyes, speechless. My hands shook as he took the box from me. He removed the necklace and then reached around my neck to clasp it into place as I held my hair to the side.

  “Perfect,” his whispering breath brushed my ear as he fastened the clasp. I turned my head into his face, caressing his lips with mine.

  “I love it. Thank you,” I said, breaking the kiss to stare back into his eyes.

  “I love you, Ava Conner,” he planted a sweet, small peck on my mouth. We smiled at each other for a moment with silly happiness filling us. “We should go. The car is waiting downstairs.”

  I reluctantly nodded my agreement, hooking my arm in his as he escorted me out the door.

  Jim drove the limo down the busy New York street as I lay against Rhett’s side - my hand resting on his lap with our fingers intertwined, the other fingering the pendant around my neck.

  “You seem stressed. Do you want to talk about it?”

  He exhaled, “I need to warn you about who we’re having dinner with.”

  “Okay?”

  He turned to look at me, “We’re meeting with Rex Archibald.”

  “Rex Archibald?” I paused, “As in Serena’s father?”

  “Yes. But Serena will not be there.”

  “I don’t understand. Why are we meeting with him, and why would you insist I come?” I wanted nothing to do with Serena nor any of her family or friends.

  “Trust me, beautiful. It’s not something I wanted. He has been resistant on selling his shares of our company in London. Part of me feels like Serena has been in his ear. I didn’t expect him to be this difficult to negotiate with.” He paused, rubbing a hand down his face. “Celeste has been trying to handle most of the negotiations for me, so I could keep my distance. But he has been impossible. Only wanting to deal with me. And now, you.”

  “Me? I don’t understand.”

  “We have finally come to an agreement on the contract, but he put a contingency on signing it. He wanted to have dinner with you.”

  “Why?”

  “Honestly, I have no idea. I’m just hoping this isn’t some kind of manipulation of Serena’s.”

  “I see,” I replied nervously.

  “Babe, I don’t want you to worry. I’ll be with you. I’ve told you…nothing and nobody will ever come between us.”

  I smiled weakly at him, “I know. I trust you.” He pushed my hair behind my shoulder, kissing me as the limo rolled to a stop. He pulled back, ending our kiss, “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  He squeezed my hand, comforting me as Jim opened the door for us, “Let’s go, beautiful.”

  Rex Archibald was already waiting for us at the table when we arrived. I had only seen the man a few times before tonight – both times I had been serving him, not joining him for dinner. To say I was apprehensive was an understatement. I had never officially been introduced to the man, and I had no idea what to expect. Would he be kind and genuine like his best friend, Charles – Rhett’s father – or would he be spiteful and manipulative like his daughter, Serena?

  The atmosphere of the restaurant didn’t help with my anxiety and self-consciousness. It was filled with pretentious wealthy diners. Only New York’s most elite could afford to dine here with the plates costing up to a thousand dollars apiece.

  My body was rigid with anxiety, as we approached the table. Rhett held my hand tight, placing a gentle kiss on my temple to help calm me. His previous stress had seemed to disappear into thin air. His present demeanor - calm and confident. It made me wonder if he was in ‘business mode,’ masking his true emotions.

  Rex stood upon our approach. His smile was genuine enough which had me relaxing a little more. But only a little. He was still an intimidating man. Rex was handsome for his age which wasn’t surprising seeing the evil but unfortunately beautiful spawn he had conceived.

  He was distinguished looking with gray hair - one of the few things that aged him. He was lean and fit with a few wrinkles around his eyes and brow.

  “Rex,” Rhett said in greeting as he shook his hand.

  “Rhett. Good to see you, son,” Rex gave Rhett a manly pat on the back as they shook hands. His greeting had more endearment than I expected after our conversation in the car.

  “And this must be the beautiful Ms. Ava Conner I’ve heard so much about,” Rex smiled at me.

  “Ava, meet Rex Archibald,” Rhett introduced us. I shook hands with Rex.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Archibald.”

  “Call me, Rex, please.” I nodded, smiling shyly. “Well let’s sit,” he waved us towards the table he had been previously waiting at. “I hope you don’t mind. I ordered a bottle of wine for the table.”

  I had barely settled in my seat before the server was at our table, pouring us each a glass. Rhett and Rex made small talk, inquiring about each other’s families. After ordering our food – I relied on Rhett to order for me – Rex began inquiring about me, my family, m
y life.

  The entire dinner was pleasant, and I concluded Rex was definitely more of a Charles than a Serena. There was no discussion of business at all during dinner. Our plates were cleared by the server and more wine was poured in our glasses, but Rex declined a top off of his nearly empty glass.

  I glanced over at Rhett, wondering if this was the end of the meal. It was still unclear to me as why Rex had invited us here. Rex glanced between us, seeing the questioning look I gave Rhett.

  “I suppose you’re both wondering why I asked you to have dinner with me.”

  Rhett shifted slightly in his seat as he held my hand with his, preparing us both for what was to come. He nodded at Rex in response.

  “I wanted to be able to apologize to the both of you in person.” My brows furrowed together in confusion while Rhett remained impassive. “On behalf of my daughter and my family,” he continued. “Rhett, I know Serena has caused a lot of unnecessary pain and grief for you. And honestly, I have no excuse for her behavior. Sometimes, I wonder if it was her way of lashing out or crying for attention. I know I was an absentee father for most of her childhood - always busy with work. I regret that every day, and I hope I can make it up to her somehow.

  “If I may offer you one piece of advice, Rhett…..remember to make time for the ones you love,” he paused lost in his own regrets. “Anyways, I have taken enough of your evening. I do hope you both can forgive her someday.”

  “I hope you can understand I don’t see it happening any time soon, Rex,” Rhett said apologetically.

  Rex gave him a slight nod. “I completely understand. But as her father and someone who sees you as the son I never had, I hope you don’t blame me for trying. I’m sure you’ll understand someday when you have kids of your own,” he smiled between us.

  As Rex stood to leave, we both stood with him. “Ava, it was a pleasure finally meeting you. I can see why Rhett is so enamored by you. I wish you all the best. Rhett’s a good man, and I believe you’re both lucky to have each other.”

  “Thank you, Rex. It was a pleasure meeting you, too.”

  “Enjoy the rest of your evening. The check has been taken care of. Rhett, give your parents my regards.”

  “Will do,” Rhett confirmed with a hand shake. Once Rex had disappeared, we both sat back down to finish the last of our wine.

  “Well…that was unexpected.” I turned to Rhett for his reaction of the last few minutes. He smiled at me.

  “Not really. Rex is an honorable man, who cares very much about his family and friends.”

  “As much as I hate to admit…I like him, despite him being Serena’s father.”

  Rhett chuckled, pulling me to him as he kissed my head. “Are you ready? I plan to start taking Rex’s advice right now,” he leaned in closer, placing his lips next to my ear, “I’ve been picturing stripping you out of that dress all night. I want you in my arms – naked and panting my name.”

  My breath hitched as the familiar tingles trickled through my body. I’m not sure we would be making it all the way home. Thank goodness for the limo.

  “He’s a very smart man. And I’m a big supporter of your plan,” I winked.

  Making it back to the penthouse still clothed was a feat. We barely crossed the threshold of the penthouse before Rhett had me naked, wearing nothing but my necklace.

  I was now cuddled into Rhett’s side after multiple orgasms – yes, multiple – feeling, understandably, weak and gratified. It was my happy place.

  I admired the brilliant view of twinkling city lights through the large floor to ceiling window across from Rhett’s bed. It was moments like this that I struggled between wanting to live in L.A. or New York. I was enchanted by the bustling city of New York, but I longed for the peaceful soothing of the ocean.

  I let my thoughts continue to wander as the city lights hypnotized me like watching the flames of a fire. Rhett stroked my arm, “What are you thinking about, beautiful.”

  “You.”

  “What about me?”

  I rolled in his arms to face him, “That you work too much…. I worry about you. You aren’t sleeping enough. And I can’t watch you do this to yourself.”

  “I’m fine, babe,” he ran his fingers through my hair. “It won’t always be like this. Once I get things transitioned and up and running in L.A, it’ll be better.”

  “Do you promise?

  “Yes. Do you believe me?”

  “Always….besides if you don’t, I’ll destroy your phone, so you at least can’t work when you’re in my presence.”

  “My phone?”

  “Yes. It’s the devil. I have plotted it’s destruction on more than one occasion.”

  He released his deep powerful laugh, the vibration of his chest making me want to meld with it, “Should I get my phone its own security detail?”

  “Possibly,” I stated firmly. I really despised that thing, lately.

  “Noted.” He gave me a chaste kiss. I laid my head back down, pulling him into me. Wanting to ask him something else that was weighing on me after our conversation with Rex.

  “Rhett….”

  “Yes, babe?”

  “Do you think you’ll ever forgive Serena?”

  His body tensed slightly with my question. He didn’t speak for a few moments, contemplating his thoughts. I wasn’t sure what I wanted him to answer. Part of me wanted him to never forgive her, but at the same time I almost needed to know he could forgive her. Despite her deceit, she had been a very close friend his whole life. The man I knew wasn’t someone who could throw away a relationship like that so easily. At least, I hoped not.

  I found myself sympathizing with Serena. There was no way I agreed with what she did…but I understood her desperation. The desperation to keep him. After knowing the pain of losing him, I would do anything to keep us together. I would never trick him into anything, but I would never give up on us again.

  “I already have a little, just not fully. I’m sure I will someday, but even when I am able to….I still will never let her back into my life. She lied and put me through hell. I won’t ever trust her again.”

  My own body tensed with guilt. I was lying to him, also and I knew once I told him about Owen he would be hurt from my deceit. The longer I waited the worse it would be. I needed to tell him.

  “Rhett-” I started

  “No more pillow talk, beautiful,” he interrupted me. “We should both get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow was the opening of Mike’s restaurant, and I would finally get to see Lizzie. We’d been here a few days already, and we hadn’t managed to meet up. She had been too busy helping Mike with last minute details for the soft opening.

  I agreed, allowing him to silence me. Because no matter how much I knew I should tell him, it was hard, and I would rather him never find out. But I also knew my lie was like a ticking time bomb that could explode any minute, destroying my world. Destroying us.

  I rolled over trying to force myself to sleep. I grasped the pendant around my neck as I closed my eyes.

  I awoke to the murmurs of Rhett’s deep voice in the distance. It was still dark. He wasn’t in the room. I lay in bed trying to decide whether to get up and search him out or wait. I didn’t have to decide. Rhett was already coming back into the bedroom. I sat up on my elbows to look at him. He stopped in the dark, seeing my movement.

  “Did I wake you?”

  I nodded my groggy head.

  “I’m sorry,” he climbed back onto the bed. He sidled up to me, pulling my back to him, holding me close with his arm as he snaked it around my stomach.

  “Who were you talking to?”

  “Nobody.”

  “It must be important if it has you getting out of bed in the middle of the night,” I pushed him to tell me through my yawn.

  “Don’t worry about it, babe.”

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “We can talk about it tomorrow. Close your eyes. Sleep,” he comman
ded as he kissed my temple.

  I debated for a minute whether to keep pressing. But as I felt his breathing slow, I knew he was already falling back to sleep, and I didn’t want to be the one to keep him awake. He needed his rest. I closed my own eyes, falling back to sleep, also.

  CHAPTER 16

  We arrived to a squealing Lizzie greeting us as we walked through the door of the restaurant.

  “Oh my goodness, Lizzie! Look at your tiny bump!” I squealed back as she charged at me. We threw our arms around each other. I laughed as she squeezed me like a boa constrictor.

  “Because I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here, I’m going to ignore the fact you just pointed out I’m fat,” she smiled after releasing me.

  “I wasn’t calling you fat.” I rolled my eyes at her.

  “Lizzie. How are you feeling?” Rhett asked, giving her a small hug and kiss on her cheek.

  “Good, now the morning sickness is over.”

  “I’m definitely glad we are past that part,” Mike walked up behind her in his chef apparel. He hugged me and shook Rhett’s hand. “She was starting to give me a complex. Every time I would have her try a new recipe I was testing she would run to the bathroom gagging,” he said, smiling at Lizzie as she looked up at him adoringly.

  “Can I feel?” I asked hopefully, glancing towards her stomach. It was so surreal seeing Lizzie, of all people, pregnant. We both always thought I would be the first to marry and start a family.

  “Sure. Grope away. It may be all the action I get for a while.”

  I grinned ear to ear as I placed my hand on her tiny baby bump. “Have you felt her move, yet?”

  “Not yet…I think it’s still too early.”

  “I can’t believe she’s letting you touch. She hasn’t let anyone touch her belly….with exception of me of course,” Mike interjected with a smirk.