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Arthur erupts at last, yelling insults and threats, but the officers are quick to grab him before he takes a single step near me. His screaming stops only when he leaves the office, not wanting to make a spectacle of himself in front of the employees.
Abby, who has been frozen in place and deafeningly silent the entire time, looks at the open door and then at me with a sorrowful expression. Pity creeps in my chest but there’s nothing I can do to help her. If she’s had any part in this, she will have to answer for her actions.
“That was underwhelming,” Andrew says and motions for Abby to leave.
I snort. A good show is a top priority for him. “To be honest, I’m glad I didn’t have to listen to his excuses.” Though it was my intention to give him the benefit of the doubt, his arrogance was too much to handle.
Andrew closes the door and gives me a knowing look. “Any news from Carol?”
“Nothing so far.” I refuse to believe I’ve lost her. “But I think, I’ll pay her a visit today. Maybe she’ll agree to hear me out.”
“I thought you said you didn’t want to just appear right before her unannounced.”
As much as I hate the idea, I know I have to do something. When she came into my office that day she was hurt and disillusioned, but I know what we’ve had was real. She must know it too, deep down.
I go through my schedule with Andrew one more time and after a meeting with my lawyer, I head to Carol’s new workplace, just as she’s looking for a taxi to go home.
“What are you doing here?” Carol takes a step back when she spots me leaning against my car. It’s clear this is the last place she expected to see me.
She crosses her arms over her chest, her dark wavy hair bouncing with every step she takes. The teal top she’s wearing and her tight black skirt that hangs right above her knees accentuate her figure, sexy but still appropriate for the office. But it’s not just me admiring the view.
Despite the frustrated expression, she’s staring too. It’s perhaps the first time since that night at the restaurant that she has seen me in a regular suit. I can’t help but smile at the irony. I was struggling to simplify my lifestyle to date other women but when it came to Carol, the one who I had no reason to pretend with, I did it without thinking, missing that old part of myself, my old life with her.
“I needed to talk to you, and this is the only place I could actually find you.” I gesture at the tall building behind me. “You didn’t answer any of my calls or messages.”
“Have you thought that maybe I didn’t want to be found? I mean, you of all people should understand that feeling.”
My mouth twitches a bit, but I don’t let the shame stop me.
“I do and I’ve regretted that dearly. That’s exactly why I’m not letting you go again. At least not without an explanation.”
She moves down the steps, her gaze fixed on mine.
“As you can see, I’ve moved on.”
She points at the building behind her.
“But for you to be at my new job, I’m guessing you already knew that. As for the explanation, it’s pretty obvious what you were going for. When I came to your office you had nothing to add, I don’t see what has changed in the meantime.”
I sigh and look around the crowded street before turning back to her.
“I messed up again, I know. It was a stupid mistake. If…if I could do it all over again. I would make different choices.”
Her gaze softens momentarily, her anger almost fading away before she looks up at the sky till she regains her composure. “I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that before.”
“You have, that’s true. But there are more things you need to know and maybe you will understand why I acted the way I did. Let’s go somewhere quieter and I will tell you everything.”
She smirks. “Look, Brian, the last time I let my curiosity take over—”
She tighten her grasp around the strap of her bag, nails sinking into her own flesh.
“I need to go. I’m late.”
Late for what, I want to ask but Carol’s already turned on her heel and is walking down the street. I watch her go, ignoring the phone ringing in my back pocket. The caller is insistent and as soon as it ends, it rings again. It’s only then that I pick it up.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Carol
