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“Can we go get something to eat? I am starving?” She looks at me shyly.
At this, I can’t control my laughter. “Come on, greedy guts. My hotel has a great restaurant.”
She lets me tug her the few blocks to the Bryant Park Hotel where I am staying. We hold hands the whole way, but don’t say a word. We pick our way through the crowded street and only when we are seated does our conversation begin.
I had already decided to let Addie speak first, so when we sit down, I don’t say a word. I simply reach across the table and grab her hand. I hope she knows that no matter what she tells me, I am with her.
“I am sorry I didn’t tell you who my father is. He hasn’t been part of my life for so long. His fugitive status is something I have always been ashamed of, and I didn’t know how to even say those words to you.
“I haven’t told anyone since we changed our last name to my mother’s maiden name. At first it was done for our safety. The press was hounding us. The FBI agreed to help us achieve our level of anonymity, if we agreed to cooperate in their efforts to find him. And we did. But it all proved fruitless.
“A few years after Enron collapsed and the trials were over, no one knew where we were and they stopped caring. So, I lived most of my life as Addie Dennis and the only person from before I stayed in touch with was Cara. She knows my story. My sisters know my story and my mother knows my story. That’s it. I have not told anyone else.
“It wasn’t about not trusting you, it is just not part of my personal narrative anymore.?
??
She stops and takes a deep breath. For the first time she breaks eye contact.
“I knew I wanted to tell you, though. They think they know where my father is.”
I school my face to hide my shock as she peers at me with concerned eyes
“I refused to help. I didn’t want to give up my life. I didn’t think he would care what we had to say.”
I interrupt her for the first time. “If they know where he is, why don’t they just go and get him?”
“He is in Syria. There is no extradition agreement with the government and they are not willing to turn him over. They thought an appeal from us would help.”
“When we were in Paris I knew I wanted to tell you, but I just didn’t know how. And then I got back and the whole world had imploded. I didn’t have a chance to tell you.
“LaSalle and Willis offered me this position, but said I had to leave the very next day. They weren’t willing to lose Montiva as a client—and I don’t blame them for it.
“I don’t know how the news got out. It was focused on me, but my mother and my sister, Milly, have been collateral damage. Thank God the furor died down quickly.”
Her hand squeezes mine.
“The damage was done. I lost my job, left the city I love and left you.” Her eye swing back up to meet mine—the gold, dark and molten as she pins me with them.
“I am so sorry I left you, Simon. I came by to leave you a note and Mercy said…” Her voice breaks, but her gaze does not waver.
I interrupt her again.
“Mercy didn’t give me your note until three days ago.” She gasps in horror. “And I don’t know what she said, but she wasn’t speaking for me. If I had been there I would have done everything in my power to keep you from leaving. I am disappointed that you didn’t tell me Addie. I was shocked and angry when I found out the way I did. But that didn’t last long, and by the time I tried to find you, your phone was disconnected and you were gone.
“I couldn’t reach Cara and Louis, your emails were bouncing back, I was told you’d been fired by LaSalle and Willis, and no one would tell me where you were. I was in agony for two weeks until Mercy fessed up.”
“Oh, baby,” she whispers. Her hand comes up to caress my cheek. I close my eyes and turn my face so that my lips are in her palm, where I press a kiss to her skin. I pause a moment to savor the touch of her hand before I continue.
“Addie, it was Matthew who found out your real name and leaked it to the press. Montiva fired him.”
“What?” She shouts this and the entire restaurant stops to stare.
She continues in a stage whisper, “Matthew? The General Counsel. Are you fucking kidding me?” her eyes are huge with shock.
“No, Addie, I’m not. Listen, I wanted to kick his ass once I found out, but I am glad I didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me dragged out by security.”
I smile winsomely.
