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"Roll with it."
She eyed him darkly as he went to fetch the wine and glasses.
"That's your profound advice—roll with it?"
"You are already rolling in the proverbial hay." He grinned at the dirty look she threw at him. Taking the full glass of wine, she took a long gulp, trying to steady herself.
"Perhaps this time away from him will do the trick and help us get things into perspective."
"You don't believe that." Corey took his seat and sent her a sober look.
"I cannot be in love with him. It will only complicate things."
"Hon, the fact that you are sleeping with the guy, already did that," he told her mildly. "And you know it."
*****
“Is something wrong?” Anika had brought her iPad along with her. James was standing by the window staring at the spectacular view. Buildings speared upwards, the heavy gray clouds somehow adding to the somber beauty. He looked tired, she thought, and felt a pang. This man was her father-in-law, at least for a year and it shook her.
“Have a seat.”
She sat on one of the plush chairs and tried not to fidget. “Have you heard from Jaylen?”
“He called when he landed.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s afternoon in Italy and he did say he was going to be tied up most of the day. He might call later.” She did not mention that he had called her almost midnight her time and kept her up talking and trying to convince her to have phone sex.
She had refused of course, but had been unable to go back to sleep. She had tried sleeping in the big bed they shared but had given up and gone into the room, she had originally taken as hers,
“He has not called me.”
“He is busy—"
James held up a hand as he crossed over the thick steel gray carpet to sit behind his desk.
“I don’t need you to make excuses for him.” He fiddled with a paperweight before putting it back in its original space. “We are at odds. Yes, over the past two weeks since he has been with you, there has been some progress—"he sighed deeply.
“The point is, I made a hell of a lot of mistakes, and that pushed him away. I have been trying to heal the breach, but it is slow going.” He stared at her with intense hazel eyes. “You are good for him.”
She shifted and uncrossed her legs.
“I don’t know about that—"
“No," he shook his head. “I want this marriage to work.”
She stared at him for a few seconds before looking at her screen. She had brought it with her to discuss the upcoming line up of musical talents they represent. To try and spin a potentially delicate situation where one of their singers had been caught with his pants down inside the hotel room of the wife of yet another singer.
A sticky situation that needs to be addressed. She was the PR for the company and hated the fact that she had to navigate through these personal minefields. “That’s a surprise," she told him bluntly. “I am not the type you would have chosen for him.”
He nodded at that. “Initially, no. But you are good for him. He needs someone who is not going to pander to his every whim. You are strong and have handled yourself well with the press.”
“It’s my job.”
He smiled at that. “It’s more than that.” He gave her a curious look. “I have also seen you without cameras aimed at you. There is something there.”
“James—"
“I am just an old man who wants to see his son get some happiness. And he seems happy. I am ill.”
She felt a lurch as she stared at him. “As in—"
