Solid Stone: Choices

by E. G. Patrick

  Walking past Alice, I reach for the door handle of one of Adam’s majestic double doors. I hear Alice in the background say, “You can’t go in there, he’s in a meeting!” She sounds panicked, but I don’t care at the moment. Sure enough, Adam’s eyes widen as he stops mid-sentence. There are two men sitting around his coffee table. They’re the Middle Eastern clients I’d seen before. Adam’s frame storms toward me, blocking me from their view. He sounds worried, “Is there something wrong?”

  “There may be. I need to speak with you.” I say quietly so only he can hear me.

  Adam’s eyes move behind me to Alice. I feel sorry for rushing past her. He gives her a small smile, reassuring her she’s not in any trouble. Turning to the men he says, “I’m sorry, gentleman, something urgent has come up, can we take a ten-minute break? Alice will get you some refreshments.” The men are polite and leave his office.

  “Tell me what’s wrong.” He now looks really worried.

  I speak calmly. “Where’s Greg? Please tell me you didn’t let an innocent bystander get caught in the middle of us?”

  He puts his hands on my shoulders. “No, of course not, he’s still in the team directory.” His body relaxes and he grins, its warm not malicious.

  “But his cubicle is cleaned out. I was just there.”

  “When I was talking to Greg at the bar, you know when.” He looks away for a second, still holding onto me. “Well, he told me he’s interested in environmental law. The guy has potential so I got him a transfer to our office out west. He’ll get lots of exposure there. It happened so fast, so I guess he didn’t get a chance to tell you.”

  My body relaxes and I feel stupid. “I’m sorry, I thought the worst and I shouldn’t have. Sorry for barging in like this.”

  “You’re a good person, don’t ever change your caring ways.” He releases my shoulders and steps back.

  “You should know that I’m resigning today and I’ll be giving you two months’ written notice on the loft as well.”

  His handsome face turns into a painful grimace, he quickly catches himself. “I see. You know you’ll always have a job here. Paul’s going to be so disappointed. The loft, you don’t have to leave Violet.”

  “I appreciate what you’re saying. Thanks.” I realize I’m whispering, I wasn’t expecting to face him today, I was going to do it all in an email—I’m good at that. “I’m telling Paul this afternoon when he gets in. I’m really sorry for interrupting you.” And with that, I leave his office feeling worse than when I walked in.

  §

  Paul’s not pleased. “Violet, what can I do to change your mind? Is it money?”

  “No, it’s not that. I’m ready for a change, I’ve given it three months like I promised and well,” I pause, “I prefer a smaller firm. This one is just too big and doesn’t give me as much exposure as I had before.”

  He sighs openly and his body slumps. I didn’t realize until now how much he cared about me working for him. “Are you sure I can’t convince you?”

  I shake my head no, but say it again anyway, “I’m sorry Paul, I have to do this and I’ll help you find a suitable replacement. I’m giving you two months’ notice if you need it.”

  “You’re irreplaceable! Have you found something?”

  “Not yet, but I’m looking. Just trust this is the best thing for me right now.” He doesn’t press me. I know he’s unhappy. He opens his office door, when I turn back he’s just staring at me. I give him a small smile, he doesn’t return it—perhaps he didn’t see mine.

  Chapter 31

  “Adam”

  “Alice, please ask Violet to come up to my office now.” Phil Barnett, my lawyer, is seated to my right. In five minutes my door opens and she walks in, looking as beautiful as ever and making my heart swell in my chest. I take a deep breath because I need to.

  She’s surprised, understandably, especially when she sees Phil—she knows who he is. “Am I being fired?”

  I smile at her, “No, it’s nothing like that. Please come in and sit down.” She closes the door and sits to my left across from Phil. “Phil’s here to transfer ownership of the loft to you. I want you to have it.”

  She’s surprised, but remains calm. “It’s out of my price range, Adam, you must know that.”

  She doesn’t realize I want to just give it to her. “I want to give it to you. It won’t cost you anything. You just need to sign these papers.” Phil opens a file folder and smiles at Violet.

  “It’s way too generous. I just can’t accept it. It wouldn’t feel right.” She’s lovely.

  “Phil, can you please give us a few minutes?”

  “Of course, and Violet, it’s nice seeing you again,” Phil says on his way out, closing the door.

  To get closer to her, I lean on the table. “Listen, if you leave the loft, it’ll just be empty. You yourself have said many times, what a great place it is. You love it, I know you do. Why leave it vacant when you can have it and live there happily?”

  “It doesn’t feel right. It’s too much.”

  “What can I do to convince you? Honestly, Violet, it was meant to be yours.” I’m trying not to sound frustrated.

  Her eyes narrow. “If I could afford it, I’d offer to buy it from you, but I know it’s way out my price range.”

  “Okay, what can you afford? I’ll sell it to you for that?”

  “You’d lose money, trust me.” She half grins.

  “Paul was going to tell you this, but since you’re here I will. You’re going to be awarded a fifty-thousand-dollar bonus for your help on the airline merger. Your work and what you found helped our client save millions. How about using that to buy the loft from me? It’s a sound investment, trust me.” It’s me smiling this time.

  “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. It’s awfully generous. I hope you’re doing this…”

  I cut her off, “You earned it. Like I said, you saved our client millions and made us look good in the process.”

  She relaxes and knows what I’m saying is true. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “Not easily, no. The loft belongs to you, it always has. It was you who found it.”

  She sighs, “This is still in my favor, but at least it’s something I can live with. How about I offer you two hundred and fifty thousand, with the bonus you offered, the bank will probably approve the rest. Is that a suitable compromise? I know you don’t like compromise, but it’s the best I can offer.”

  She’s firm and sexy. I have to agree, “Okay fine. Get your bank to call Phil and it’ll be a done deal.”

  “You’re sure, right? You’re really being way too generous.” She extends her hand, and as our hands touch I feel an intense energy, I know it’s real, I felt it. I turn the hand shake into holding her hand for a few seconds before releasing it. She smiles at me and we look into each other’s eyes for a moment.

  I get back to business. “I’d have been so disappointed if you didn’t live there, so you’re helping me too. I have something else I want to talk to you about. Do you have time?”

  Her head rolls back as she laughs, she’s excited about the loft, I can tell. “Aren’t you the boss?”

  “Yes, I suppose so. Although, right now, it seems you’re calling all the shots.” I smile.

  “Really?” Her smile is just perfect. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “About your job.”

  She cuts me off, “That’s a done deal. I told Paul yesterday, there’s no turning back, I’m sorry.”

  “I know that, but I may have something that will interest you.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “The assistant curator position at the museum has become available. The former assistant was promoted so they’re looking for a new one. I think with your history degree and legal experience you’d be great for the job.” Her bo
dy shifts in her seat. She wasn’t expecting any of this today.

  “That doesn’t mean you’ll be pulling any strings, right?”

  “Sweetheart, sorry Violet, this will all be down to you. As a member of the board I can make the introduction, but will abstain from the interview process, because, of…” I hesitate and then just say it, “because of our history. You know what I mean.”

  “Then I’m very interested. I’m starting to feel like a lottery winner today. I’ve always wondered what I’d end up doing with my history degree, and now you present me with this. I don’t how to thank you.”

  “I’m just glad I can help in a small way. You’ll need to update your resume and send it to me right away, and we’ll go from there, okay?” She nods and her body exudes excitement. I smile, because seeing her happy makes me a thousand times happier. A woman like her should feel like that.

  “Okay, I’ll work on it tonight.”

  “Great, now get back to work,” I say jokingly.

  “Yes sir.” She grins at me.

  “Don’t forget to have your people call my people.” She laughs and my eyes follow her to the door. I quickly update Phil before getting back to work.

  Chapter 32

  “Violet”

  Leaving the bank I feel ten feet tall. I’ve just become a property owner.

  I send Adam a text. Hi, are you still in town for your birthday this weekend? I promised you a birthday dinner and you agreed. Are you?

  It’s the least I can do. I know he won’t do anything for himself. I keep telling myself to move on, but it’s his birthday. In a few more weeks we’ll be leading different lives anyway.

  My phone beeps with a return text from Adam. Yes, I’m in town. My parents want me over for dinner on Saturday night though. Can you come? We can leave early and go for a drink after, if you’re interested? It would be nice to have you there.

  Oh, that might be awkward. Damn it, I want to keep my promise, and it’s for him not me. Okay, what time?

  Adam: Is six-thirty okay?

  Violet: Yes, I’ll see you then.

  Adam: I look forward to it.

  §

  We pull into his parents’ driveway. I’m feeling a bit nervous, having not seen them for a while. Jeffrey opens the door and gives me hug before he even says hello to Adam. The gesture eases some of my tension. “It’s so nice to see you, Miss Cole. It’s been way too long. How was Chicago?” he says warmly.

  I step out of his embrace. “It’s great to see you too Jeffrey. Chicago was cold.” We both laugh. He greets Adam with a big hug, no words are needed.

  Shirley and Rob, Adam’s parents, appear. Shirley embraces me first. “We’ve missed you. Chicago’s not that far, but I hear you were so busy out there and didn’t make it back to visit?”

  Rob’s next with an embrace. “We’re so glad to see you back here together.” He squeezes me before he lets me go.

  I smile at both of them. “I can’t tell you how nice it is to see you both, and Jeffrey. Is Liv here?” I ask not seeing Olivia, Adam’s sister. Shirley says, “No, she couldn’t get back here from work. That’s how new jobs go, she lives in Boston now and seems to be thriving there. We’re really happy for her.”

  I’m not surprised she’s taken a job out of town, remembering what Adam had told me about her and her mother. It still makes me sad. “I’m glad she’s doing well.”

  We follow his parents into the dining room. The table is set for four. Adam pulls out my chair and then sits beside me. I have to stop myself from holding his hand, it’s a natural gesture in the moment. Jeffrey pours wine into each glass and dinner is laid out on the table for us to help ourselves. Family style. It makes me feel warm.

  Shirley asks, “So how have you been, Violet? I know Adam missed you.”

  I look up at Adam quizzically, only now catching on that his parents had no idea we broke up. The thought had crossed my mind earlier when she mentioned I was too busy to visit. The warmness of their greeting was another hint. “I’m really great. I’ll be applying for another job soon, something related to my history degree.” For his sake and the fact that it’s his birthday, I choose my words carefully. Are they even aware I work for him now too?

  “That’s great, and very exciting for you,” Shirley says with a big smile. She touches Rob’s arm as he’s about to put a forkful of food in his mouth.

  Rob says, “Yes, it is, Violet. I’m sure you’ll get it. Adam always tells us how bright you are.”

  Adam smiles down at me, he knows I know. I’m not angry. How can I be when the wine is delicious, the company is lovely, and having a family dinner feels overwhelmingly wonderful? The fact it’s Adam’s birthday makes it even more special. I relax and just enjoy it all.

  We cover a wide gambit of conversation from Adam’s work to his dad’s energy project. His mother is helping a new upstart art gallery find its feet in the Queen West area. She says, “The opening is in a couple of weeks, you two should come?”

  Adam looks at me and when I nod, he says, “Send me the details, we’ll do our best to attend.” We clink glasses a few times over some trivia questions that come up over dinner, like who played the first Batman—of course Adam gets it right. The flow of the evening is perfect. Just before nine, Jeffrey and their housekeeper, Janet, come in with a birthday cake and candles. We all sing “Happy Birthday,” Adam blows out the candles. Jeffrey takes a picture—I love this family feeling. Shirley invites Jeffrey and Janet to sit down and we eat cake and drink coffee together. The group of now six is having a ball. Adam opens birthday presents and cards. It’s about ten when he suggests we leave. He whispers in my ear, “Do you still want to go for a drink somewhere?”

  I whisper back, “Sure, somewhere close to my place, okay?” He smiles. I smile too because I like saying ‘my place’.

  §

  We park at the loft and walk down to the main street. We choose a Mexican fusion restaurant with a patio. Being July, it’s a warm evening so we sit outside. The hanging lights overhead add a nice ambiance to the patio.

  “This is on me, okay?” I say to Adam.

  “Yes ma’am,” he says with a smile.

  “If you drink too much you can stay at my place if you’d like.”

  “Is that an invitation?” he asks through narrowed eyes that still smile, no, twinkle. Beautiful twinkling blue eyes.

  “It’s an invitation to stay in one of the two spare bedrooms,” I smile innocently. “So birthday boy, what do you want to drink?”

  “Tequila, it’s my thirtieth.”

  When the waitress appears I place our order. “Two Patrons please, and a bottle of water with lime.” She comes back with homemade nacho chips, salsa, and guacamole, and two shot glasses with lime hanging off the rim. I’m not a tequila drinker, but I’ve heard Patron is good. I’ve seen Derek and Steve, my university buddies, drink it upon occasion.

  “Happy Birthday!” I say for the second time and raise my glass. “Sipping, or are we downing these?”

  He grins, “Let’s down the first one.” And with that, I have my first shot of tequila, and I must say it’s not bad. I suck the lime to help it along. The warm liquid slides down easily.

  “So your parents don’t know we broke up, do they?”

  “No. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them. They’d ask too many questions anyway.”

  I sense there’s more and I intend to find out, so I order two more shots. We sip the second round and eat some of the nacho chips, the guacamole is fabulous. “So that’s the only reason, too many questions?” I take a large drink of water, my eyes watching him over my glass.

  “Mostly,” he says quietly, averting his eyes, which is rare for Adam.

  “Tell me the rest, I’m really interested. Do you want another shot?” Before he can answer I wave to the waitress and order two more. She’s back in n
o time as the patio crowd begins to thin out. “Bottoms up!” I say and we down them, lime juice squirts up on my cheek which makes us both laugh. Adam uses his napkin to wipe my face. He’s so gentle with his touch. “Well?” I say egging him on.

  “I just couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud, so I didn’t. I told them you moved to Chicago for work and that it was a good career move for you. Parents like mine understand the demands of a career so they didn’t ask any questions. It was just easier.”

  “So you took the easy route.”

  “I seem to do a lot of things I normally wouldn’t when it comes to you.”

  “Be more specific?”

  He leans forward, closing the gap between us. “Like not being able to let you go, despite how much you hurt me.”

  “We’ve hurt each other Adam.” My voice is low.

  “I know, and I’ll never forgive myself for it. I’m sorry, I lost control. Seeing you with Greg at the bar ignited a whole slew of different emotions. The thought of you with another man, well, it’s unthinkable to me, it made me angry. Then all the hurt from when and why you left me came flooding out that night, and it showed in my behavior. It was a dark side of me I’ve never seen before, and never plan to see again.” He takes my hand. “I’m so sorry, Violet. I should’ve told you this sooner.”

  “I knew something was wrong, I felt it. You were so different that night. I should’ve stopped it right then.”

  “I don’t blame you. In that horrible moment, I wanted to hurt you as much as you hurt me, and make you feel what I felt. I’m so ashamed. I’m sorry.” He bows his head and squeezes my hand. I call for the bill. We need privacy to clear the air between us.