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“I’ve seen your plans. They’re impressive,” I complimented Max, wanting to fill the silence. “You’re turning into me, Max. Don’t live here and let life pass you by.”
“That’s how you became successful, isn’t it? You’re here now, earlier than everyone else. I haven’t seen you working every weekend, but you put in your time during the week.” Max reminded me as I remembered why I wasn’t here on this last weekend. “You balance it all. The guys talk about you around here. You’re living the life.”
“I suppose,” I replied as Max gave me a surprised look.
“I heard that your daughter is off to college. That must be great to have the place to yourself. Is that why you’ve been gone on the weekends?” Max asked me as I smiled weakly.
“Yeah. It’s been nice,” I lied, knowing that I needed to act like the man that they all thought I was. I couldn’t tell anyone about Vivian. “I actually had another daughter that moved out as well.”
“The cute redhead? Haven’t you been taking care of her since she was just a kid?” I stared at Max, still stuck on his first words. “She works hard around here. She’s going to make a great graduate someday. Is she going into Architecture as well?”
“Graphic Design,” I responded as Max said something about that being a promising field.
“What about your daughter? What is she going to do?” Max asked as I realized that I didn’t talk about Bella too much around here. I always kept my private life separate from work and I smiled.
“She’s in New York at Julliard. She’s going to be an actress and she’s already in a play on Broadway this holiday season.” I told him, feeling the pride swell inside of me. “She’s always been fairly dramatic. Her mother…her mother told her to go into acting from the beginning. I’m glad that she’s seeing it through.”
“They both sound great. Good job, Dad. I don’t know how you did it with your hours.” Max complimented me, and I gazed at him.
“You’re not married?” I asked, and he shook his head. I knew so little about my staff’s lives outside of this building.
“If you ever meet the right woman, give her some of your time. It flies by too fast and…it just goes too fast.” I smiled slowly and looked at him as confusion crossed his face. “I wasn’t home for so much of life and now I regret that. I can’t change it but just take my advice.”
“I’m dating a great girl. Her name is Melody and it’s been a few years. I was thinking of proposing,” Max seemed to drop his shoulders after telling me this. “When the hell did it get so serious in this place?”
“I have no idea, but I like it. Maybe we should make this more of a family business. Holiday parties, barbeques, and that kind of thing.” I offered as he shrugged. “Go create a building, Max. Make it the best building in the city.” I watched as he left the office and took another sip of coffee. I liked the idea of my company being geared towards family and wished that I’d thought of it earlier. The only view into my personal life here was the scattered pictures set around and the fact that Vivian worked here during the summer and holidays when I needed her to.
I focused on work and answered some emails and scheduled some meetings. I was thinking about Vivian the entire time but knew that she might need some space right now. Things were getting intense between us and she had to be worried about that. I knew that I was. I’d leave her alone for a few days and do what I did best. I’d work my ass off.
Friday came with no word from Vivian and no answering of my phone calls. I put in days and nights at the office, going against my own advice to Max. I didn’t have anything at home to rush off to, so I kept myself busy here. By Friday evening, I was pacing the floors and trying to decide if I was going to break this no contact game that we were playing.
I looked through the building as other staff left for the night and tried to call her again. She let it go to voice mail and I closed my computer and prepared to leave. I pulled on my coat and shut off the lights to my office before walking to the car and heading towards the University. I’d never been to her apartment, but I knew where it was.
I pondered the idea of her having someone over, but Vivian didn’t seem like the type to jump into bed with another man after a week. Granted, she did the one time, but I could see the regret in her eyes after that. I pressed down on the pedal and the car moved faster after I pictured her gorgeous face in my mind. I needed to see Vivian, to touch her. I pulled into the little college town and moved through the traffic as my GPS guided me to her place.
Once I was in the parking lot, I hesitated. I didn’t want to go storming to her door and invite unwanted attention so instead, I sent her a text telling her that I was outside. I didn’t get a response, but I stared at the building with brightly lit windows and the sound of students talking and laughing around me. I was so far separated from this life now and I blinked as I waited for Vivian.
&nbs
p; I watched every movement outside as the moments passed. I looked at the stairs where I guessed her apartment was, waiting to see her red hair coming towards me. My phone chimed, and I glanced down, seeing her name on the screen.
Vivian: Why?
I had the sense to look up, seeing her standing at the top of the stairs with her phone in her hand. Vivian took that first step and came towards the car with a wan expression on her face.
CHAPTER 18
Vivian
I stared at him as I approached the Escalade. His face looked pale and the circles under his eyes became more prominent as I got closer to Boyce. It had been the longest week of my life and I knew that I didn’t look much different than he did.
I walked to the passenger side and tested the door, finding it unlocked. I slipped inside and stared at his profile for a moment. “What are you doing here?”
“I haven’t spoken to you all week. I needed to see you.” His voice was rough, and I leaned against the seat gently. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Boyce. I was just busy with school,” I assured him, watching as he turned to stare at me.
“We’ve been talking nearly every night for the last few weeks. You didn’t contact me at all after leaving so abruptly last weekend.” His eyes were hard as he held my gaze with his and I licked my lips slowly. “What bothered you about it?”
