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I’m not even inside when I start to call Alexandra.
She answers after the first ring.
“Boss? What’s up? Kinda early for a business call, don’t you think?”
I look at the time.
Fuck, it's not even seven a.m., and I'm already bothering the poor woman, not to mention I'm definitely about to ruin the rest of her day.
“I’m sorry, Alex. I just needed to get to you ASAP. Cancel all my appointments for the day.”
I hear her choke on some kind of beverage. "Allyour appointments?" she asks warily, the disbelief clear in her voice.
"Yes, Alex. All of them. Also, the staff meetings and my lunch with my mother. I'm not going to be in the office today."
“Are you okay, Carina?”
I can hear the worry in her tone of voice, and I smile.
I could bet my company that there’s not another CEO in all of Boston with such a caring and devoted PA. Unless, of course, he is a man, and she is a woman, and he's fucking her behind his wife’s back. It happens too damn frequently in this city.
“I’m feeling a little under the weather, but it’s nothing bad, don’t worry. I’ll be as good as new by tomorrow.”
"Alright, Boss… take two Aspirins and get under the covers. I'll tell the company's head chef to whip you up some killer chicken soup with noodles for lunch and have Thomas bring it over," there's a determination in her voice that tells me arguing with her will be pointless unless I tell her the real reason why I'm playing hooky, and that's not going to happen.
I smile into the phone as I slip the Jimmy Choo off my feet. “You’re the best, Alex. Thank you. Please keep me posted if anything urgent comes up.”
“Not a chance, Boss. I’ll simply turn to Mr. Preston if that’s the case. We won’t sink without you for a day. I’ll talk to you later. Get some rest.”
I laugh. “Alright. Bye”
I don't want to wash away last night yet. Derek's manly scent still lingers on my skin, so I quickly scrub my face clean of makeup, comb my hair into a low ponytail and change into a light blue pair of comfortable spring PJs. Then I head barefoot into the living room and take a seat on the bench in front of my beloved, black, lacquered Baby Grand Piano.
I limber up my fingers with some scales, and then I take a look through some of the new modern renditions for piano I’ve been tinkering with lately.
I play the first notes of ‘Elastic Heart’ by Sia, but then I change my mind.
I need something that takes me beyond what I'm feeling and thinking. Something relaxing, ethereal, and beautiful.
I sift through the compositions, and then I finally settle onto an Enya's medley.
Soon the soothing notes of ‘Caribbean blue’ fill the room, calming my senses and slowing my heartbeat, yet they can’t erase the memory of Derek and the night we spent together from my mind.
He is always there, floating in the music.
I play for almost an hour and then give up.
I can’t say I don’t feel better —I always do after playing— but I can’t either say that my confusion and my doubts are all gone.
I’m still a bit achy and tender and so very sleepy.
What I probably need is a nice long nap.
I drag myself into my bedroom and slide into my bed under the fresh Egyptian cotton sheets, and I sigh as my eyelids flutter down in my attempt to forget all about Derek and fall asleep.
* * *
I wakeup with a start when I hear insistent knocking on my door.
