The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules)

by Woods, Lindsey

  I was shocked by the number of people around gathered at the pool. I watched families swimming together and laughing. I saw couples lounging in chairs, smiling. Everyone was here, happy in paradise. I felt silly, looking for the man who broke my heart who was barely more than a ghost to me. I decided that I really wanted to walk the beach. I knew there was little chance of finding him there, but I felt like right now I should enjoy it.

  I walked for what seemed like miles. The sun was warm and the wet sand was cooled by the lapping ocean. I had taken for granted this site last time, and every time I had come. Walking the beach took my mind back to Cole. I remembered the nights we spent just talking on the beach, how good it had felt being with him. I remembered hearing his voice and his laugh. I felt like an old woman, reminisciening about her past. I spent time remembering how things were before the shit hit the fan.

  I walked up a public beach access path and made it to the main street. I turned back, walking the direction from which I had come. What was I doing? Why was I out here searching for him? I could try to tell myself that isn’t what I was doing, but I knew that was a lie. I just needed to see him.

  I had walked all the way back toward the hotel. I was back on familiar territory. The sun was high in the sky by now, I was guessing it was about noon.

  I walked back to the pool area and sat on a chair under one of the tables with an umbrella. I felt exhausted. Emotionally and physically so. I set my sunglasses on the table and rubbed the bridge of my nose. I felt on edge, and nervous. I thought I had gotten over this feeling. I stood up and started walking toward the side door into the hotel room. I stopped in my tracks when I saw him. Sitting three tables away was the man who had occupied most of my time. I couldn’t move. He was sitting with his left side to me. His attention was concentrated on his phone in his hands. I stood there, looking at him. He looked as good as I remembered. His hair was longer than I remembered. I felt my stomach do flips while my heart pounded. I finally decided to try to sneak back the other way, when that voice stopped me.

  “Olivia, I’d love for you to have a seat. Only if you want to that is,” he said without looking up from his phone.

  My heart was pounding, and I felt like I was going to throw up, but I walked over and sat down anyway.

  Chapter 23

  I felt my body trembling as I sat down across from him. I was thankful that he was wearing sunglasses because it kept some of his intensity at bay. My heart was beating in my throat, and my stomach was threatening to come up. I sat there and looked at him, not saying anything. His screen went black on his phone and he put it on the table and leaned back in his chair. Even though I couldn’t tell, I knew he was looking at me.

  “Are you hungry? We could get some breakfast. You are much too thin,” he said. His voice was just how I remembered it. I felt some of my anxiousness disappear with his words. I shook my head. I didn’t really trust what my voice would sound like.

  “There were two statements and a question there, you are saying no to all three?” There it was, his matter-of-fact tone that infuriated me.

  “No to your question and no to the statements,” I said. It was about all I could manage.

  “So you have intentionally tried to lose too much weight?” He asked.

  I thought for a moment. He knows I hadn’t. How did I tell him I did it because my life without him has been pure hell? I spent more time trying to sleep sadness away than eat.

  “No, I haven’t,” I said almost like an embarrassed child.

  Cole put his hand in the air and whispered to the waiter who came. He slid a bill into the hand of the waiter. Judging by the sprint the waiter did after, it was a pretty large bill.

  “So did you have an entertaining evening last night?” He asked. There was a hint of something in his voice, I couldn’t quite place it. I felt my cheeks flush at that, thinking back to how he had perceived the situation. “I guess I can assume that your blush is all the answer that I need.” I watched some lines appear around his mouth and on his forehead. I took a deep breath, I was getting ready to tell him that it wasn’t what he thought.

  “I have to admit that is not how I had anticipated seeing you for the first time,” he said. He looked down at his hands for a moment.

  “Did you anticipate seeing me?” I asked. He looked up and I saw a very small smile flirt on his lips.

  “I’m here, aren’t I?” He said.

  “Yes, but why?” This was what I really wanted to know.

  “Every year you take a trip here, do you not? Every year after your schooling has ended.”

  “You came here because you knew we’d be here?” I wanted him to say it. I didn’t know why, but I needed him to say he was here for me.

  “No Olivia, as much as I care for your friends, I am not here for them. I’m here for you.”

  My heart skipped a beat. Between hearing him say my name and hearing him say that this is why he’s here I was in heaven. I sat there and let that settle in. I quite enjoyed hearing that, but why? What was I going to do with that?

  “More than anything I wish I could know what you were thinking. It’s maddening to watch your face and not have any tangible information.” He had rested his ankle on his knee and leaned back in his chair. He had a smile on his face.

  “I’m thinking about how I’m supposed to be feeling about all of this.”

  “How do you feel about this?” He asked.

  “Confused, really confused.” His face fell a little as I said that.

  “What are you confused about Olivia?”

  “You, what I am expected to do with you here,” I said. I was starting to get angry, I couldn’t explain why.

  “I don’t quite know Olivia. I hadn’t even been certain that you would speak to me,” he said. I saw the lines darken on his face. “I also am unsure of what that man last night means to you. Perhaps I truly am wasting my time.”

  “He’s just a guy I just met.”

  “You were going to sleep with a guy you had just met?” I saw his eyebrow rise over the top of his sunglasses.

  “I slept with you didn’t I?” I said as cutting as I could manage.

  “I hardly consider what was between us the same as some man picking you up at the bar.”

  “The only difference is he didn’t convince me to trust him.”

  “I didn’t convince you to do anything. You’re a grown woman and you’re stubborn. I couldn’t convince you to run from a rabid dog if you didn’t want to. You chose to trust me.”

  “So did I choose to let you destroy my world?” I asked.

  “I will accept blame for those things that I did wrong. I have suffered for them for the better part of a year. I disappeared from your life like you asked.”

  I felt the tears stinging my eyes.

  “Except you didn’t Cole. You didn’t disappear from my life because I spent every day since then thinking about you. One day I would be so hurt and feel like I could barely move otherwise I would fall apart. Another day I would miss you and think about you and think that I saw you or could feel you around me. You didn’t leave, I’ve still been living with the thought of you all year.”

  “I did as you asked Olivia. I spent the year living with the reminder that I lost the best thing I would ever have. I know you don’t believe this, but I have been a shell of a man without you. I lost everything when I lost you.” He was now sitting forward, leaning his elbows on the table. I wiped a few tears off of my face. I was about to speak when three waiters came over bringing plates of food and setting them down on the table.

  “Thank you,” Cole said, handing the man another bill. “Here, eat what you like. I knew you wouldn’t tell me what you’d like, so I ordered a bit of everything.” He said, leaning back in his chair again.

  “You’re absurd,” I said looking at all the food on the table.

  “Maybe so, but you are too thin and it makes me worry about you. If this is to be the last time I see you I want to know you at least
had a good breakfast, so eat, please.” He picked at a plate of fruit as he sat there, silently willing me to eat.

  I silently picked at a plate with some yogurt and berries. We both sat silently for awhile. I was unsure of where to go next. Cole pulled his sunglasses off and put them on the table. For the first time today I saw his amazingly light eyes. They were covered with concern right now.

  “Olivia I am still terribly in love with you. I know that I messed up, but I didn’t know what else to do. I fell in love with you, and I knew that you were the only one I wanted. I’m sorry.”

  I sat there and looked at him. His face was so handsome, even lined with worry and fear. I wanted nothing more than to hug him and tell him that I still loved him. He was so unsure and so tortured.

  “Olivia, I’m so glad to see you! You look better,” I saw James walking up, talking excitedly. He noticed Cole and his face dropped, “Excuse me, I’m sorry I hope I’m not interrupting.”

  “You are,” I heard Cole mumble across the table.

  “I’m sorry, I’m really ok. I just felt ill last night, thank you though for checking on me.” In the daylight he was even hotter than last night. He was wearing a pair of board shorts and a black tank top. He was built to near perfection and his smile was reassuring, not overbearing.

  “I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for dinner tonight, there’s a really nice place a few miles from here,” James said, pointing towards the west.

  “I’m sorry, she’s extremely busy tonight.” Cole said. James looked between me and Cole with a look of concern.

  “I’m sorry, you are?” James asked Cole. I watched a scary smile spread across his face, his eyes lit up and he stood with his hand outstretched.

  “Cole Cooper, it is truly my pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry I didn’t get your name, Olivia, you didn’t mention it to me,” Cole said, his eyes full of amusement focused on me. I felt my face get hot.

  “Umm, this is James, James this is Cole.”

  “James what?” Cole asked, not taking his eyes off of me. My face flushed even darker.

  “James Williams,” James said, putting his hand in Cole’s and shaking it fervently. There was clearly a fight for power going on. The guys finally stopped shaking, but Cole was still standing.

  “Well Olivia, I will call your room tonight and perhaps we can make some plans. I’m really glad you’re feeling better. Have a good day,” James said as he looked between Cole and I and walked away.

  Once he was quite a few feet away Cole took his seat.

  “What the hell was that pissing contest about?” I asked.

  “I don’t like him,” Cole replied, back to his cool and calm self.

  “Well I might be wrong about this, but I think he was asking me out and not you.”

  “Exactly, it gives me even more reason not to like him,” Cole replied.

  “Oh that’s not the only reason you don’t like him?” I asked.

  “No, he’s a punk. He only wants to have sex with you. He is extremely immature.”

  “And how do you know all of this?” I asked Cole.

  “Because it is my job Olivia. It is my job to read people, don’t forget that. Just because I cannot get a read on you does not mean everyone else is not extremely easy for me.”

  “What exactly will I be doing tonight that will make me so busy?”

  “Hopefully you will be reminded of my unrelenting charm and striking good looks and spend the evening with me.” A smile was growing on his face.

  “You’re impossible,” I said exasperated.

  “So that’s a yes?” He said with a huge smile.

  Chapter 24

  “What if I say no?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Then I go with my tail tucked between my legs back home. However, there is a part of me that believes that you won’t say no. It is my belief and my hope that you are just as arrested by me as I am of you. Which brings me to why I’m here. There is a part of me that trusts in the fact that you have missed me and thought of me even a fraction as much as I have of you. If I’m right then I believe that there is a part of you that may still love me. I’m hoping to attach to that part of your heart and bring you back to me.”

  “And if none of this is true?” My eyebrow was cocked and I was trying to give him half as much intensity as he pressed upon me daily.

  “If none of this is true then I will resign myself to the fact that I’ve lost you. I’ve accepted that that is a real possibility. You have no obligations to me Olivia. I cannot make you do anything. All I know is that I’m going to try my hardest to win you back. My plans did not anticipate another suitor, let alone a punk like that.”

  “He’s your age! How is he a punk?” I asked incredulously.

  “He just is. Just trust me for once would you,” he said. His voice was slightly irritated.

  “I believe that my blind faith and trust in you are why we’re sitting here right now.”

  His eyes went wide and he gave me a little bit of a sly smile.

  “This is why I cannot bear to go down without a fight. You make me work for it Olivia. Come on, let’s go,” he said, getting up and putting his sunglasses on. He slid his phone in his back pocket and looked at me still sitting at the table.

  “I had thought we’d set out on our adventure today, if you can bring yourself to get up,” he said slightly annoyed but with a smile on his face.

  “I haven’t said yes,” I said, looking at him.

  “Are you saying no?” He asked looking amused.

  “No,” I said and got up from the table. He laughed loudly.

  “I thought not, now come, let’s go.” He started walking for the beach.

  We walked down the beach. The sun was blazing in the sky. We walked along the water in silence for awhile. It wasn’t awkward or strange. I just thought we were both lost in our own heads.

  “Ok, so I need a little clarification,” I said, breaking the silence. I could hear the smile in his voice when he replied.

  “I had no doubt about that Olivia,” he said. He was looking straight ahead.

  “Let’s assume that what we’re doing here really is me doing you a favor, ok?” I heard a faint chuckle.

  “You do know what happens when one makes assumptions right?”

  “You’re a bastard,” I said getting annoyed.

  “Ok, ok. You’re doing me a favor, got it.”

  “Ok, in repayment for said favor I want full disclosure. I get to ask you whatever, whenever, and you have to answer or all bets are off.”

  “Olivia, I believe you’re starting to border on blackmail and I can assure you not only is it a crime, but I’ve had my fair share of it as of late.”

  “I still believe that you may or may not be a lying, cheating, son of a bitch, which should be a crime. I’d play along if I were you.”

  “Fine, full disclosure, but I have to have my own rules, to ensure you don’t wine and dine me as they say. If I give you everything you want up front, who says you’ll agree to see me again? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free kind of thing right? You can get full disclosure in the form of three questions a day.”

  “I know you didn’t just say that about the cow.” I couldn’t help but laugh. It was funny coming out of Mr. Impeccable English’s mouth.

  “It was an appropriate analogy. So do we have a deal?”

  “Fine, but you can’t cheat. You can’t beat around the bush, you have to answer the questions.” He stopped walking and looked at me. I stopped abruptly and gave him a confused look. “In the business world we shake hands to enter into a verbal contract.” He held out his hand in front of his body. I gave him a weird look and shook it. “Now, that is the protocol for business dealings. I believe in our case this is not strictly business, what about a kiss to seal the deal?” He smiled, not letting go of my hand. I made my eye roll as dramatic as possible and yanked my hand away.

  “You’re incorrigible,” I said and
walked away.

  “Well I do believe you are finally getting your money’s worth from that overpriced education. Do they still call that a hundred dollar word?” I smiled in spite of myself and tried to play it off.

  We walked again in a period of silence. He agreed to let me have it all. Now I knew there were some things I would not want to know but that I would have to endure, I accepted that as part of this agreement.

  “Ok, question number one,” I said.

  “It took you a whole fifteen seconds, I’m shocked. Continue,” he said, with a smile.

  “What is going on with Fredericks now?” I asked.

  “Nothing. He’s finally backed off. I basically sold my soul to the fucking devil but that bastard has finally finished his perverse gameplay.”

  “I think you owe an explanation for that.”

  “I would disagree, but I do believe at this point it is too early to argue since I’m willing to bet you have my balls in a proverbial vice, so I’ll start with an ‘Anything you want sweetheart’. He was pissed I broke it off, obviously. Rather than understanding that his daughter was the issue he decided to try to squeeze us dry. After much debate I was just going to take him to court. Of course he didn’t care for that given I had done nothing wrong in a business sense. Take that look off your face, I do mean in the business sense. I have never practiced bad business and I had documentation to prove we had tried to repay him. Well fast forward to him getting served papers to appear in court. He knew he was in the wrong so he came to my office one day. He said if we didn’t take him to court we wouldn’t prey on anymore of our customers. However he had already scared away about a fifth of them. Our multi-deal that I told you about was on the ledge, about to jump to another company. He said that if we didn’t take him to court he would leave us be and would make sure that Ron Johnson, the head of the decision making for the multi-deal, stayed with us and take us on for the 14 building contract we had started to draw. Since then he has stayed far away from myself and Jason. I retracted the court papers, but I have them ready to use at any moment.”