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Chapter 8
Ben
Arriving at the office, I quickly shoot my attorney an email to have him draft up a contract for Alexa. I also make out a check and put it in my top drawer for later. Regardless of what she says, I know she could use the twenty-five thousand for school. And no matter what happens in the next couple weeks, knowing she will have it makes me feel better. I push aside thoughts that are begging to be explored like, why her? Why now?
Forcing myself to focus on work, I scroll through all my emails and messages, getting up to speed on where everything stands. When I’m certain I have everything ready for the meeting, I allow myself a moment to sit back for the first time and take a deep breath. Taking a drink of the coffee I grabbed on the way, I find its grown cold, and I’m reminded of the very hot coffee I had the other night, served by a very hot waitress. Wonder how shopping is going?
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I think about how callous I must have seemed to her this morning. I didn’t want to be, but my mind was already focused on what was waiting for me here. Looking around my office, I think how much has changed in the past few months. HALtech was my life, and that is all about to change.
The door bursts open, startling me from my thoughts just as the intercom sounds, “Mr. Hamilton, I’m so sorry; she rushed right past me. I told her you weren’t to be disturbed.”
Looking up, I see the last person I want to deal with today. Tess.
“It’s fine Patrice,” I reassure my temporary assistant as I shoot daggers at my ex, who has pranced into my office like she owns the place.
“Tess, what can I do for you?” My voice is quiet as I try to hold the anger at bay and avoid causing a scene in the office.
“Darling, is that any way to speak to your fiancé?” she asks, throwing down her Hermes bag in a chair and making her way to my desk.
“My fiancé? Is that some type of joke?” I spit out, my rage at her careless use of the term boiling below the surface, but I stay seated behind my desk to appear calm. A scene is what she wants, always a scene. And I’ll be damned if I’ll give her one so she can play the poor helpless victim. “We’re through Tess; we have been for a while. You knew it. That’s why you wanted to give me one last show, letting me catch you and Aaron in my office. My office.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She feigns ignorance, rolling her eyes as she walks closer to me, reaching out her hand to run her talons down my chest. “It was all a misunderstanding.” Her perfume, like her, is overpowering and giving me a headache
Grabbing her wrist, I pull her hand away from me, standing to walk around my desk. “There was no misunderstanding.” My voice is like gravel. “It was you on the desk with him between your legs.”
“Then why am I still wearing this?” She waves her left hand at me and shows off the obnoxious rock that she and her mother picked out.
“Because you’re delusional is my guess,” I tell her. “Keep the damn thing for all I care. It suits you… shiny on the outside, hardened on the inside.” Her mouth hangs open in shock.
“You don’t mean that,” she cries, sitting in my desk chair.
“Yes. I do.” I begin gathering my things, anxious to get away from her and the cloud of Chanel No. 5 that follows her like a mist of doom. “But you can give back my key to the apartment here, and my condo.”
“Why? Those were shared properties; you can’t do that. And anyway, the keys are in California,” she whines.
“Actually, I can. Your name isn’t on either of them, and we were never married, thank God. See that the keys get back to me as soon as possible. You haven’t stayed at the condo in months, and you’ve never stayed at the Manhattan apartment a night in your life. It wasn’t uptown enough for you, remember?” I remind her, with venom lacing my words, knowing I’m so close to blowing up. I open the door when her voice stops me cold in her tracks.
“Who is Alexa?” She’s standing now and looking at a piece of paper in her hands, smiling. Shit. I must have left the copy of the agreement I printed out.
“She’s no concern of yours.” I snatch the paper from her evil grip.
“Doesn’t look like a no one if your attorney is involved.” Now she’s being coy with me. “A waitress, really?”
“Make any attempt to talk to her, and your parents will be reading about your little indiscretions on the front page of the gossip section while sipping tea at the club.” My threat hits its mark, and I can see her backing down.
“I trust you can see yourself out,” I throw over my shoulder before storming out of the office to my meeting. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get back to Alexa.
The thought of seeing her after work, knowing she will be there waiting for me, with her witty mind and sexy mouth does something to my chest.
*****
Alexa
Passing the shops on Fifth Avenue is surreal, the car gliding down one of New York’s most infamous streets, allowing me a front row seat, a dream in slow motion. Seeing Tiffany’s is exciting since Audrey Hepburn is one of my all-time, favorite actresses.
After a few stops at some of the boutique shops on Madison Avenue, it becomes clear that I don’t fit in. That and the fact that I had no appointment and no name to grant me access. Card or no card, my black leggings and simple jersey top must give me away. Imposter.
Feeling like an outsider on my first real day in the city is daunting, but I’m running out of time, so at Ben’s insistence, I go to Saks and work with a personal shopper. Halle has a warm personality and instantly puts me at ease.
