by Eydie Maggio
They heard Martie talking to the dogs as she made her way back down the hallway. Elise slowly pulled away. She wiped her gloss off of Trey’s mouth, but before she turned back around and grabbed the plates she said, “You continue to amaze me.”
~
“So what’s your schedule like for the rest of the week, Elise?” Martie asked as she hugged Elise.
“I have to be in New York tomorrow. I need to run by the office and meet my new assistant. Then tomorrow night is the Women in Fashion Awards.” Elise made a mental note to ask Trey if he wanted to come with her and Jeremy.
“Yes, Jeremy told me about that this weekend. I’m so proud of you, Elise.”
“Thanks, Momma!” Elise gave her mom one last hug before they walked out the door. “Once the buyout is done, my schedule will be less hectic. I think I’ll be spending more time here in Virginia.” Elise now had two reasons to be here, her mom and Trey.
“I can’t wait until you slow down, child. Mr. Trey, it was lovely meeting you. Thank you so much for the flowers.” Martie gave Trey a hug, too.
“It was lovely meeting you, too. Thank you for the invitation and the lovely breakfast.”
“It’s an open invitation.” Martie gave Elise a wink. Subtly was not her mother’s strong point. “You two have a lovely day.”
With that, Trey and Elise left Martie’s townhome. As they walked to the elevators, Elise blew out a huge breath.
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Trey was smiling as he looked down at her.
“Not for you! My mom was a victim to your good looks and charm.” Elise smiled. “Just like me.” Elise ran her hands up Trey’s chest and around his neck. “Thank you for coming.”
“Your mom is great. I love seeing how close the two of you are. She’s really proud of you.” Trey kissed Elise softly. “It sounds like you have a busy couple days ahead of you.”
“Yes and no.” The elevator rang and they both stepped in. “I don’t have a specific time to head into the office tomorrow, but I really need to meet my new assistant. Then the awards are tomorrow night, so I’ll be spending most of the afternoon getting ready for the event. Did you have any plans for Friday night?” Elise hoped that he could join her at the award ceremony. The elevator stopped on the seventh floor where they exited and walked towards Elise’s townhome.
“I actually do. I have an event with Paul tomorrow night.”
Elise was slightly disappointed, but understood. “So what does the rest of your week look like?” She wasn’t just making conversation. She liked spending time with him.
“Well, I have a few calls to make today, but that can be done from anywhere.” He smiled down at Elise as she unlocked the door of her townhome and they both entered. “Then tomorrow, I’m in my New York office with Paul most of the day. I have some fundraising things to go over, but I need to be at my firm for a couple staff meetings. I need to start removing myself from the day to day in case I do get elected. I have an obligation to my team and my clients so I want to have an exit strategy.”
“Wow, I thought my schedule was rough for the next two days.” Elise placed her keys and purse on the kitchen counter before making her way to the living room to take a seat.
“It sounds like we both need to be in New York tomorrow. Did you want to head there this afternoon, together?” Trey sat next to Elise on the sofa.
“Actually, that sounds great. Do you want to come with me to my office? I can meet my new assistant then we can maybe grab some dinner after.” Elise was excited that she could spend more time with him.
“Let’s do it! Do you need to pack?”
“No, I have an apartment there on East 91st. Where were you planning on staying?”
“With you.”
“Touché.” Trey smiled and leaned in for a kiss which Elise happily obliged. “Four hour car ride or ninety minute plane ride?”
“Ronald can drive us.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Elise gave him a small peck on the lips before she got up and headed for her phone in her purse. “Let me call Jeremy and warn him.”
Trey pulled out his cell phone and started making calls of his own. Elise got Jeremy’s voicemail so she just left him a message. Within minutes, she and Trey were hand in hand walking to the parking garage to meet Ronald. She looked forward to their road trip and dinner plans for tonight. She could definitely get used to having Trey around more often.
Chapter 14
Elise and Trey exited the elevator onto the floor where her offices were located. She opened the double doors to her suite and was floored by the sight she saw. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands of roses in different bouquets that covered nearly every surface of her office suite. There were bouquets covering the reception desk, the table in her conference room, everyone’s desk had bouquets and when she walked into her private office, there was no visible surface; even the floors had bouquets on it.
Elise looked up at Trey wondering if he was the one that created the rose garden in her office.
“I wish I could take credit for all this Elise, but I didn’t do this.” Trey had his hands raised and was sporting the same confused look that she had.
Elise heard Jeremy yelling at someone behind him as he walked into Elise’s office. “I need you to get rid of all this now before Elise gets here.” Jeremy was shocked to see Elise standing there in her own office. “Shit! Elise, I’m sorry about all this. I wanted to get all this cleared out before you showed up. They have been arriving all day.” Jeremy walked over to Trey and extended his hand out, “I’m Jeremy. It’s nice to meet you.”
Trey shook his hand and smile, “Likewise. Elise has spoken very highly of you.”
“Of course she did, darling.” Jeremy gave Trey a smile. “Elise, can I talk to you in my office for a second.” He was giving her the eye. FUCK! Something was up. Jeremy addressed Trey, “I’ll only steal her away for a minute. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Trey was being very courteous.
“Yes you are, honey.” Elise had Jeremy by the arm walking him out of her office as Jeremy waved over his shoulder to Trey. All Elise could do was smile and shake her head.
They walked into Jeremy’s office which was also filled with flowers. Elise shut the door, “What’s up?”
“First, you look fabulous! You’re simply glowing.” Jeremy hugged her tightly, “Second, I missed you so much.”
“I missed you guys, too.”
“Liar! There was no time to miss us with that man on top of you.”
“Jeremy!” Elise couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop stalling. What’s up with all the flowers? Trey didn’t send them.”
“We know. Sit down, Elise.” Jeremy pointed to the chair behind his desk.
“No! You are freaking me out, Jeremy!” Elise’s heart sped up and her hands began shaking.
“Ok, I’ll just come out and say it.” Jeremy took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “It’s Rixby.”
“What?” Elise felt like she just got punched in the stomach.
“He sent these.” Jeremy did his best Vanna White impression with the roses on his desk.
“Back up! Start from the beginning.” Elise was about to throw up. Jeremy had the same look. He and Ashley went through it all with her. This was not good.
“Ok, so here’s what we do know, we started receiving the flowers this morning. When the billionth bouquet showed up, I decided to open one of the cards. It said, "One rose for every day we have been apart.”
“Rixby sent all these flowers?” Elise was so confused. “Why now? Six years later. How random is this shit!”
“Yes, they are ALL from him, I checked. So here are the facts: we know he sent them and why he sent so many. Do you want to know my theory on why this may not be random?”
Elise couldn’t even speak. She just nodded her head.
Jeremy took out his iPhone and pulled up his Twitter account. “This picture was posted of you and Trey last night.�
� He handed Elise his phone. It was a picture of her and Trey at the concert. It was the last song of the night, and Trey had his arms around her waist. It made Elise smile and took her right back to that moment.
His head was turned away from the camera because he was kissing her neck, but someone had to have recognized him. He was hashtagged in the photo which looked like it was re-tweeted thousands of times. “I think Rixby saw this, and then did this.” Jeremy motioned to the flowers.
Elise was experiencing so many different feelings and none were favorable. She wanted all of them out of her office immediately and wanted to find Rixby Storm and spit in his face. She hated him at this moment. Elise opened Jeremy’s office door and started to exit. “Get all of these out of here now! Where’s the new assistant?” Elise tried to stay calm.
“She was getting the facilities guy to bring up a big rolling trash bin for us to get these out of here. She should be back in a second.” Jeremy followed Elise as she ran back into her office to meet Trey.
“Trey, we can leave.” Elise smiled and reached for his hand. “Jeremy, you got all this or did you need more help?”
“We’ve got it, Love. Sorry we couldn’t get it all out before you got here.” He walked over and hugged her. He knew she would react this way, and he tried to rectify it. She loved Jeremy so much.
“Tell the new girl that I’m sorry that I missed her. I want to take her to lunch to get to know her. Can you ask her to set up a reservation at her favorite restaurant?” She couldn’t meet her new assistant like this.
“Absolutely, Doll.”
Elise tried to keep the tears out of her eyes. She hugged him and whispered, “Thank you,” in his ear. She laced her fingers through his Trey’s hand and began guiding him out of the office.
Trey smiled as he extended his free hand out to shake Jeremy’s hand again. “Again, it was very nice meeting you.”
“And, you.” Jeremy responded. “Take care of my girl.” He smiled up at Trey.
“I will.” It sounded like a promise. After a few steps, he smiled down at Elise and asked, “Are you ok?” He looked concerned.
“I will be.” Elise led them to the out the office suite. They continued walking until they exited EDP Cosmetic Offices and reached the elevator doors. Elise stood there silently trying to keep her shit together. She kept her eyes forward even though she felt Trey’s gaze on her.
“Hey.” He shook the hand he was holding. Elise looked up at him. “If you want to talk about it, I’m here. If you don’t, I’m still here.”
“I don’t, but thanks.” There was no way in hell she was going to discuss Rixby with him.
“Ok. But, please confirm that this isn’t some kind of stalker.”
It became apparent that from the outside looking in with no details, this could be considered either a lovely romantic gesture or a sick psychotic obsession. In actuality, if Jeremy’s theory was right, it was a dog marking his territory.
“No, this isn’t a stalker.”
“Would you tell me if you were in trouble or in danger?” Trey took Elise’s face in his hands. She saw fear in his eyes.
“Yes. I wouldn’t put someone else in danger by proxy.” He let out a sigh of relief.
“Would you tell me if there was someone else?”
“I already told you there wasn’t.”
Thank you, Rixby Storm. Your little gesture worked. You have officially started shit between her and Trey. Mission accomplished. Elise felt the lump rising in her throat. She really liked Trey, but she was damaged goods. He didn’t need Toxic Elise in his life. “Look, Trey. Let’s just call a spade a spade. I had a really wonderful time with you in Paris and for the last couple of days. It was fun and exciting. But, this is reality. Reality is complicated. Let’s just leave what we had there.”
“Are you serious?” He looked hurt which brought the tears pooling into her eyes. “The only reason I asked you those questions was because I care about you and your safety, Elise. I wasn’t insinuating that you were lying.”
“I know your intentions were honest, but you don’t need someone like me in your life right now. Especially since you are about to be under tons of scrutiny in the media.”
“You don’t get to tell me who I need or don’t need in my life, Elise. I’m a big boy and can make that decision on my own. If you don’t want to be with me, then say that. But don’t use the “it’s not you, it’s me” load of bullshit on me.”
“Have you seen the picture on Twitter? Are you ready to answer questions to the press about your fling in Paris?” Elise crossed her arms in front of her.
“Yes, I’ve seen the picture! My campaign manager sent it to me and wanted an explanation. I told him to go fuck off, and if there is any press surrounding it, I was prepared to answer those questions.”
“How Trey? She was some girl I met on the plane, and we just fucked a couple of times while I was over there and a few times when we got back.”
“I’m glad that’s how you see it, Elise, but I see it a lot differently.”
“That’s not how I see it. But, Trey, there are things you don’t know about me and those things can be damaging to your campaign. I won’t do that to you.”
“What things, Elise? Talk to me.” He held her arms that were still crossed in front of her.
“Where do I begin? Oh, let’s start with Martie. I come from a single parent household where I have no clue who my father is. I grew up poor, really poor, Trey. At one point, my mom was on government assistance so we could eat.” Elise had never told anyone that, not even Ashley. She was so embarrassed and swore that she would make something of herself one day so her and her mother would never have to go through that again.
Elise continued, “I had an affair with a married man when I was in college. I knew he was married, and I did it anyway. How’s that for morals?” Tears were streaming down Elise’s face as she watched Trey’s expression turn vacant.
“See Trey, that’s the kind of stuff that could get dragged out by the media. Do you see what I mean? All that hard work that you did building your image to protect yourself from this type of publicity can be wiped away if I am identified in that picture, and that’s if they do just a little digging.” Elise was wiping tears from her face as she tried to catch her breath. She was bawling at this point.
“Elise, your company’s buyout could have brought that same media out, did that stop you?” Trey was rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
Elise put her hands on his chest. “The situations are completely different. My press hurting me is one thing; my press hurting you is another.”
The elevator dinged and there was a cute blond with square black glasses pushing a hug black rolling bin. She must have been Elise’s new assistant. Elise turned her back and walked over to the seating area that was near the elevator doors. She heard the bin rolling over the marble floor leading to the doors of her office. Trey walked over to her and put his arm around her.
“It can’t hurt me, Elise.” Trey drew her into his chest putting both arms around her.
Elise backed out of his embrace putting space between them. She looked into his gorgeous face and she started to cried harder, “I’m sorry, Trey. I’m not willing to take that risk.”
“I’m not willing to let you go.”
“Don’t do this, Trey.”
Elise heard the doors of her office open, and she saw Jeremy walk around the corner. Great, the new assistant went and told on her.
“What’s going on?” Jeremy was looking at Trey like he was about to shank him.
Elise couldn’t speak. She just kept crying harder and harder. She hated Rixby Storm with every fiber of her being, and she hated herself for her lapse in judgment that was still hurting her six years later. But she would not make that mistake again. She wouldn’t let Trey pay for her mistake, too.
~
Trey watched the pain consume Elise. He didn’t know what to do at that moment. Her friend Jeremy was looking at Tr
ey like he was the one responsible for what was going on, and maybe he was.
“God damn, him!” Jeremy wrapped his arms around Elise. “Why are you letting him do this to you, Elise?”
Trey realized quickly that Jeremy wasn’t talking about him. He wanted to know who! Who can make her hurt like this? Trey wanted to know. “Who?” He directed the question to Jeremy.
Jeremy looked between Trey and Elise but didn’t say a word.
Trey raised his voice a second time, “Who is hurting her like this?”
Elise just continued to cry. Jeremy spoke up, “This isn’t really about him. This is about Elise being hard on herself.”
“Yeah, I know. She wants to break ties with me because she thinks her past is going to hurt me and my campaign.”
“Are you FUCKING CRAZY, Elise?” Jeremy was screaming. He held Elise out at arm’s length, “I’m not letting you do this. This self-destruction has to end. I heard the old Elise on the phone this weekend, and I will not let her slip away again at the hands of that asshole!”
“Who?” This was the last time Trey was asking before he was taking it upon himself to find out. He was going to rip this asshole limb from limb when he found him.
Elise finally spoke. “Jeremy, if the media gets wind, they will smear Trey’s name for being connected with a home wrecking whore.”
“He wrecked that home long before you came into the picture. You can’t play the martyr, Elise. If you tell him everything, “Jeremy pointed to Trey, “and he still wants to be with you, then you go from there. If he doesn’t want to be with you,” Jeremy gave Trey a wicked pair of eyes, “then it’s his loss.”
“Is this the person that sent her the flowers?” Trey wanted confirmation.
“Yes.” Jeremy answered him.
Trey wasn’t waiting for an answer. He walked right back into Elise’s office and grabbed a card off of one of the bouquets that were in the black trash bin. He opened the envelope and tore the card out.
One rose for every day we have been apart…. Rixby
Trey looked up through the glass walls out into the lobby near the elevators. Jeremy was hugging Elise close while she had her head buried in his chest. Jeremy was looking at Trey obviously waiting for a response. Trey walked out of the doors of her office suite back to where they were standing.
