by E. L. Todd
When Abby walked inside, she saw the secretaries in the front. To the left there was a hallway that led to the different offices. She crept to the front then spoke to the woman behind the counter. “Hi, I’m here to see Mr. Frasier.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “Which one?”
“Uh, the son?”
“Which one?” she repeated.
“Paul.”
The woman looked at her computer. “He’s busy. You can make an appointment for a later time.”
Abby was getting annoyed with this girl’s attitude. Just because she was the secretary at a law firm didn’t make her hot shit. “I’m sure he’ll make an exception for a friend.”
“Mr. Frasier has many friends,” she said with an attitude.
Abby glared at her then walked right past her desk, moving into the hallway.
“Ma’am, you can’t do that!”
Abby flipped her hair and kept walking. When she reached Paul’s office, she knocked. The secretary caught up to her and gave her a look of pure loathing.
“You aren’t supposed to be back here without permission,” she hissed.
“Go away.” Abby rolled her eyes.
The woman’s eyes were about to pop out of her head.
Paul opened the door. “Abby?”
“Yeah?” she said with a smile. “Tell your annoying secretary to get out of my face.”
Paul glanced at his secretary then turned back to Abby. “Nancy, she’s a friend. I can take it from here.”
Abby stuck her tongue out at Nancy then walked into the office. Nancy stormed down the hallway, her heels echoing on the floor. Abby laughed when she sat in the chair in front of his desk. “She’s really something.”
Paul moved to the chair behind his desk. “She’s just doing her job.”
“And so eloquently….” She looked around the room and saw his diplomas on the wall. There were pictures of his family, and surprisingly, a picture of him and Alexandra at a baseball game.
Paul followed her gaze. “I couldn’t take it down. It was too hard.”
Abby nodded.
“Why are you here?” He crossed his legs and rested his hands in his lap. His alter ego came into play, the intimidating lawyer present. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her face.
“My boss is having some legal problems.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What kind of legal problems?”
“Uh, tax evasion stuff.” She couldn’t think of anything else on the spot.
“I do civil law, not tax law.”
“Oh. My mistake.”
He studied her face. “That isn’t why you’re here.”
Abby felt caught. “I just wanted some advice about his situation. I didn’t realize it wasn’t your area of expertise.”
Paul rubbed his hands together. Everything about him looked the same. But his face had completely changed. It was pale and hollow, like the life had been sucked out of him. His lips were thin, smaller than they used to be. And his eyes were dark, not bright like northern lights. The depression was written all over his face. “Would you like to get lunch?” he asked quietly.
Abby wasn’t expecting that. “Sure.”
He rose from his desk then grabbed his jacket. “The French bistro?”
“Sure.”
They left the office and walked a few blocks until they reached the restaurant. They sat outside in the courtyard, enjoying the mild weather. Birds ate crumbs from the sidewalk, and people chatted at the nearby tables. Paul glanced at the menu then ordered as soon as the waitress came to their table. When she left, it became quiet.
“How are you?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I think you can tell.”
“Yeah…”
“And I know that’s the real reason why you’re here.”
“I was trying to be discreet.”
“I was starting to wonder if Alexandra cared about me at all.”
“You know she does,” Abby said gently.
“Just not enough.” He drank from his tea then returned it to the table. He stared at the people who passed by on the sidewalk. His demeanor was different than it used to be. It looked defeated. “How is she?”
“She’s good.”
He nodded. “I’m glad.”
“Are you really?”
“Of course I am,” he said quietly. “She deserves to be happy—even if it wasn’t with me.”
“For what its worth, I really liked you.”
He met her gaze and held it. “You look a lot alike.”
“Oh.” She wasn’t expecting that comment. “Yeah. I’m just prettier.” She laughed at her own joke. “Just kidding.”
“You have the same bounce to your hair, the same shine to your skin. Even your voices sound similar.”
“Sorry.”
He drank from his tea again.
“What have you been doing?”
“Just working,” he said. “What’s Alexandra doing?”
“She’s going to medical school.”
His eyes widened. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “She started working as a nurse again. That gave her the courage to move forward.”
“That’s awesome,” he said with a nod. “Tell her I’m proud of her.”
“I will.”
“How is she—with him?”
Abby wasn’t sure if she should mention it. “They are good.”
“Are they living together?” His voice cracked slightly.
“They are getting married,” she said gently.
He took a deep breath like he’d been stung. “I should have expected that.”
“I’m so sorry.” Seeing Paul in such pain wounded her heart. He was always her sister’s boyfriend, but she became attached to him too. It was unfortunate he wouldn’t be a part of their family. “I hate this.”
“It’s not your fault. I knew this would happen. I just—thought it would be easier when it did.”
“It’ll get better,” Abby said. “And the only reason why Alex hasn’t called is because she didn’t want to hurt you even more.”
He nodded. “I don’t want to talk to her. It’s too hard.”
“I understand.”
“Where is she going to school?”
“NYU.”
“What?” he asked. “What about Blaise?”
“He’s going to law school there too.”
He shook his head in confusion. “And the cotton?”
“Martha and Cole are running it now. Everything worked out.”
“Wow,” he said. “I guess so.”
She sipped her water then felt the condensation on her fingers. “So…are you seeing anyone?”
He laughed. “No.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve been—around—but nothing serious.”
“You’ve been sleeping around?” she asked incredulously. It didn’t seem like something Paul would do.
He nodded. “It’s better than being alone knowing she’s with—him.” He finished his tea then pushed the cup away.
“Where are you meeting these girls?”
“The bar, the club—wherever.”
Abby drank from her glass because she didn’t know what else to do.
The waitress brought their food and they ate quietly. Abby kept thinking about Paul sleeping around. It was depressing to hear about it. He was always a monogamous person. It was sad how far he’d fallen.
Paul paid for their meal as soon as the waitress brought the tab. Abby didn’t try to pay for hers because she knew how he’d react. And he was already on the edge anyway. There was no reason to push him over.
They left the restaurant then reached the sidewalk. People walked past them, ignoring them. Paul stood with his hands in his pockets, the despair still shinning in his eyes.
“It’ll get better,” she whispered.
He met her gaze and stared into her eyes. “Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to her. You two are so much alike.”
“Not really,” Abby said. “She’s sweet and caring. I’m pretty much the opposite.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” He stepped closer to her then leaned in. Abby wasn’t sure what was happening. She always thought Paul was attractive in an obvious way. His body was layered with muscles and strength. She didn’t need to see him naked to know that she would want to see him disrobed. Paul pressed his mouth against hers then kissed her gently. It immediately sparked a fire within her, but she didn’t think it was because of Paul. She just hadn’t been kissed in a long time. Even though Alexandra and Paul were over, she felt like she was betraying her sister by letting the kiss continue. She pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She fixed her hair then looked at the ground. “I know I remind you of her…”
“I just miss her….” He took a deep breath. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
She patted his arm. “It’s okay. If you weren’t my sister’s ex-boyfriend, I would have liked it.”
“I’m still a fucking asshole. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Abby came closer to him then rubbed his arms. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
He sighed. “It won’t happen again.”
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “It’s okay.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her. “Thanks for being so cool about it.” He pulled away then took a deep breath. “Could you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
“When you talk to Alex, can you tell her I’m okay?”
Abby felt uncomfortable lying, especially to her sister.
“Please,” he said. “If she knows I’m a total mess, she’ll feel guilty about being happy with Blaise. I don’t want that. I want her to be happy. You know how she is. Unless I’m okay, she won’t let herself be okay.”
Abby nodded. “I can do that.”
“Thank you—I mean it.”
“But you shouldn’t be sleeping around.”
He shrugged. “It feels good—at the time.”
“Everyone heals in different ways. Just make sure you’re healing in the right way.”
“What did you do when you got your heart broken?”
Abby crossed her arms over her chest. “I started working out.”
“Like running?”
She shrugged. “Martial arts, mostly.”
He nodded. “Maybe I should kick someone’s ass.”
Abby laughed. “They might help.”
“And he could look like Blaise…”
“Now that’s creepy.”
“Yeah it was…” He stepped away. “I’ll let you go. It was nice seeing you. And sorry about the…you know.” He pointed to his lips.
“It’s okay,” Abby said. “And for what its worth, you’re a good kisser.”
He winked. “So I’ve been told.” He turned away then headed up the street. Abby watched him for a while until she could no longer see him. Her heart ached when she replayed the conversation in her mind. She remembered when she was in as much pain as he was. In her destruction, she went down a very similar path. It was easy for her to recognize the pain and despair. She just hoped Paul would get through it. He didn’t deserve the torment.
Chapter Three
Fernan came downstairs after lunch. He wore his typical suit and his dress shoes. She never saw him mix it up. “Why haven’t you taken the painting home?” He stood in front of her desk with his hands in his pockets.
Even though she won the bet fair and square, she knew how much he adored that painting. If she took it away, it would break his heart. “Fernan, you can have it. I know how much you love it.”
His eyes softened. “Abby, you won it.”
“I know, but it’s not a big deal. I’ll let you out of your oath.”
“Abby, it’s yours. I’m a man of my word.” His truthfulness was evident in his eyes.
“But—”
“If you don’t take it home, I’ll fire you.”
Her mouth dropped. “Damn. Just when I thought you were a cool boss.”
He laughed. “You never thought I was a cool boss before?”
She shrugged. “You’re alright.”
Fernan nodded toward the painting. “Take it home.”
“I can’t carry it all the way to my apartment.”
“I’ll carry it for you.”
Abby didn’t like showing anyone where she lived. “No, that’s okay.”
“So, you’re just going to leave it here?”
“I’ll hire someone to move it.”
“I’ll carry it after work.” He left her desk and walked toward his office.
“I said no.”
“I can’t hear you,” he said without stopping.
“Yes you can, asshole.”
“Nope.” He walked upstairs and shut the door.
When her shift was over, Fernan covered the painting with a protective cover and carried it to the entrance. “Are you ready to go?”
She felt her heart accelerate. “It’s fine, really.”
He rolled his eyes. “I always thought you were a bit annoying, but now you’re just a pain. Grab your things and let’s go.”
Abby took a deep breath then grabbed her purse. When she finally walked out the door, the dread settled on her. Fernan locked the entrance then walked with her down the street.
“Where do you live?” he asked. It didn’t seem like the painting was heavy. He carried it with ease.
She didn’t answer and just kept walking. Alexandra and Blaise just moved into their new apartment and it was just a few blocks away. The idea came into her mind instantly. She pulled out her phone and texted her sister.
Are you home?
Yeah. Why?”
I’m coming over. Just play along with what I say.
Well, right now isn’t a good time…
You guys can stop humping for 5 mins. She put her phone away.
“Everything okay?” Fernan asked.
“Yeah…”
He eyed her and kept walking.
When they reached the apartment, they took the elevator to the third floor then moved down the hallway. Alexandra realized she didn’t have a key when she reached the door. She dug in her purse for a moment.
“I must have left my keys inside.” She knocked on the door. “My roommate should be home.”
Fernan eyed her. “I thought you lived alone.”
“I did,” she said quickly. “Until recently.”
“Why did you get one?”
She shrugged. “I wanted some extra cash.”
Alexandra opened the door, and her hair looked messy and tangled. It was clear what she was just doing. She eyed Fernan then looked at Abby. “Yeah?”
“Let me in.” Alexandra barged in then put her purse down. “I left my keys in my room.”
“Okay…”
Fernan carried the painting into the living room. There were still a few unopened boxes from the move. “Did you just move here?”
“Yeah,” Abby said. “We wanted more space.”
“Where do you want it?” Fernan asked.
“Over there is fine,” Abby said.
When Fernan’s back was turned, Alexandra glared at her sister. “What the hell?” she mouthed.
“Shut up,” Abby mouthed back.
Fernan turned around and came back to Abby. “Is that okay?”
“It’s great,” she said.
He nodded. “Well, did you want to attend the McCormick Gala with me?”
“I’m not a good dancer.”
“We don’t have to dance.”
“And I’m not good with people.”
Fernan laughed. “I’ve noticed.” He touched her gently on the arm. “Come on. It’ll be fine. You seem like you don’t get out often.”
“Abby is a little harsh on the skin,” Alexandra said.
Abby ignored h
er. “Thank you, but no thank you.”
Fernan shrugged. “I guess I’ll take some other bimbo.”
“Ooh,” Abby said. “Lucky her.”
Fernan turned toward the door. “Have a good night, Abby. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” Abby said with a wave.
As soon as he closed the door behind him, Alexandra turned on her. “What the hell was that?”
“I didn’t want him to know where I lived.”
Alexandra raised an eyebrow. “So you tell him where I live?”
“I didn’t have a choice. It was on the spot.”
“Why didn’t you just not bring him back to any apartment?”
Abby sighed. “It’s a long story. But he was insistent on carrying that painting home for me. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Who is he?”
“My boss.”
“Oh.”
“What?”
“Why are you afraid of your boss?”
“I’m not,” Abby said. “I just don’t want him to know where I live.”
“Doesn’t he know that already?”
“I gave him a PO box for employment reasons.”
Alexandra gave her a sympathetic look. “Are you being a little paranoid?”
“I just don’t want him to know where I live, okay?”
Alexandra walked to the bedroom then pressed her ear to the door. “Blaise is in the shower.”
“Good for him?”
She came back to her. “He was really cute.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “I don’t date my boss.”
“And he seemed really nice. What gala is he talking about?”
“It’s something for another artist,” Abby said. “He likes to bring a date.”
Alexandra smiled. “And now he wants to bring you?”
“Apparently.”
“Why don’t you give him a chance? He’s smart, successful, attractive, polite…am I missing something?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong with him.”
“Then why don’t you date him?” Alexandra asked.
“I just said I don’t date people from work.”
“Well, he’s a catch so you should take a little risk.”
“Just stay out of it,” Abby said.
“What? You’re always sticking your nose in my love life.”
“Because you ask me to! You’re the one that told me to check on Paul.”
Alexandra turned toward the door then back again. The water was still running. “Shh! How is he?”