I lie on the bed, just looking up at the ceiling, thinking that the pain hasn’t set in yet, but it will soon. I’m still on the high of the rush of getting to this point. I turn on the TV and get lost in one of the afternoon talk shows. The host is very funny. I call room service and order a half bottle of red wine and a club sandwich. Adam would be appalled at a half bottle of wine. I don’t know why that thought comes to mind but it does. Any excuse to think of him; I guess. My cell phone is ringing and I get up to get it from my purse. It’s him calling. I let it go to voicemail. I need time to think of how I’m going to tell him I’m leaving him for good this time. A tear wells up in my eye and I quickly wipe it away. I don’t want to be crying when I open the door for my room service order. I sound cold, don’t I? That’s good I need to be tough now. I need to be like Adam, who is solid as stone.
I call Ann and leave her a message that I’m leaving for Chicago and will be in touch with her soon. I say nothing about Adam. The knock at the hotel door changes my train of thought. An older man walks in with a tray and places it on the desk. I give him a $5 tip, which makes him smile. He pleasantly says “good evening” as I close the door behind him. I pour a glass of wine and eat one half of the sandwich. Why am I so numb? I take a few sips of wine as I mull over sending Adam an email to let him know I’m leaving. I know if I call him or see him in person, he will convince me to stay and have an explanation for everything. I just know it!
I feel confused. I know what I saw. It’s not a mistake! The best of both worlds! I imagine them meeting during his business trips. She’d be satisfied, feeling powerful as the other woman, spending only happy moments together during their secret encounters at lovely hotels and swanky restaurants. It was clear she still had feelings for Adam. I knew that when I saw them together at the fashion event. I should’ve picked up it on then, but Adam the master planner professed his love to me that very night. I got lost in that moment and it made me forget about her. My inner voice chides, you knew it was too good to be true. You should’ve listened to me then and you wouldn’t be here now. “Fuck off!” I shout out loud. Now the tears come. A million drops fall down my cheeks. The stage one pain begins. I knew it would come. My tears become sobs, causing my body to shake. My phone rings again. I know it’s him, but I don’t answer. He must be fuming now wondering where I am and why I’m not answering my phone. I take a small amount of pleasure at causing him some aggravation. What I’m feeling is ten times worse. I go to the bathroom to wash my face and compose myself. How many tears have I shed over him? There are too many to count. Back in the room, I pull out my laptop. I’m going to send him an email. I decide I’m not going to mention Tanya as he’ll just deny it. If I see him, I know he’ll win me over. I’m not risking it, I’ve made my choice and I’m going to stick with it! The email I send will be one-sided and under my total control. No response wanted or needed. I begin to type.
From: Violet Cole
To: Adam Stone
Subject: Our Last Night Together Was Wonderful
Adam,
I’m sorry I’ve missed two of your calls. You’re probably at the apartment wondering where I am. You may have seen the security door key on the table. It’s not the spare key, it’s my key and I won’t need it anymore. Please don’t be angry and delete this email. You must read it to understand how I feel and how much you mean to me. So here goes.
You are the love of my life. I fell in love with you quickly because it just felt right. I couldn’t believe then that someone like you would want someone like me. When you first asked me to dinner it was like winning the lottery. It was a dream that had come true. In all my life I never dreamed of meeting someone like you, but had always dreamed of a man like you. It was a magical moment, even a fairy tale. Thank you for that.
I’m so glad you were my first. That was meant to be. I’m even glad I got to introduce you to Gia. I was fortunate to find a willing and exceptional partner to indulge with. You took on the role masterfully. You were an expert. Thank you so much for that too.
Last night was the first time I ever truly felt comfortable in my place at your side. I felt like your equal. What you said was meaningful and kind. I slept so soundly. Everything felt right. Even the simple meal was perfect because I was with you doing an ordinary thing with a very special man that I adored. It seems fated that last night was indeed our last night together.
You told me if I ever leave again, we’d be finished. Please be true to your word and don’t try to reach me. I need to blossom. I need to fend for myself and learn about the big cruel world and leave behind the fairy tale world we had together with all its glitter and finery. We both know that fairy tales aren’t real, which is why I’m leaving for Chicago.
Thank you for giving me a taste of a privileged life. There were many times I felt like a princess so I thank you for that too.
I wish I could be with you forever, but it’s not meant to be. You can’t help who and what you are, a smart, powerful and successful man and I can’t help who I am, a woman who still needs to figure out her place in this world. I knew deep down this was too good to be true, but wanted to prove something to myself. At some point you will want more than I can offer. I really do appreciate you giving it a try though.
I know you find this confusing, but Adam, I will always love you. I can’t imagine not loving you. Please understand this is the hardest thing I have ever done or will ever do in my life. I need to breathe on my own. With you, I keep holding my breath because you are squeezing me so tight it’s stifling at times. I don’t mean to be insulting and I know your intentions are good. Please let me go without any argument or debates. Someone like you won’t be alone for long. You can either put your armor back on or take a leap of faith with a woman worthy of you.
Please don’t try to reach me. I know one tug from you will bring me right back. That’s why I’m sending you an email and not doing this in person. Please Adam, let me go.
Goodbye.
Violet
I don’t reread the email. It was written from the heart. I press send and I know there’s no turning back now. He will receive it in seconds. I’ve done the unthinkable, leaving the man of my dreams. Sending an email was the easiest way out for me. It’s that simple. I need to grow and develop. I know that now, but that doesn’t stop the pain that comes rushing forward. It’s a spiraling black hole. The sharp pointy knife is back with full force, cutting through my insides. My eyes sting from the salty tears. I bang my fists on the desk, making my hands hurt too. Self-doubt kicks in. Have I made a mistake? I check my voicemail and hear Adam’s recorded voice. “Hi, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you tonight. Call me. I love you. Bye, Babe.”
Hearing his voice makes me bawl. I throw myself on the hotel bed and wail. Half my life is over and half my life is about to begin. At some point I must’ve fallen asleep. It’s 2 in the morning when I wake still in my work clothes. I know I won’t sleep well for a very long time.
Soon I’m seated at the gate, waiting to board the plane that is taking me to my new life. I can’t help myself when I check my email. There’s nothing from Adam. He’s doing what I asked of him, not to chase after me. As I’m about to board the plane, I look back and say goodbye before heading to seat 24C. I rest my head against the window and close my eyes. I will soon open them to my new life.
Adam After Reading Violet’s Email
“What the hell’s happening? What’s she thinking?” I reread her email three more times trying to wrap my head around it. I pick up my phone to call her again and throw it down on the desk. I know she won’t answer now. She must know I’ve read her email. I have no idea where she is. Should I call Ann? No, she won’t know what to say or do. I sit back in my chair, trying to think straight. I recap the events of last night. It was perfect. I made it clear how much I love her. Why would she do this when last night was so perfect? What happened from then until now? I look down at the open engageme
nt ring box in my hand. I was going to take her to the castle tomorrow, get down on one knee, and propose to her. Be her real prince, make her smile and probably cry. Thank God I hadn’t called her father yet to let him know.
Okay, she won’t answer my calls, but maybe she will read an email. I’m going to let her know how I really feel. Maybe seeing it in writing will convince her to come back.
From: Adam Stone
To: Violet Cole
Subject: I will love you forever Violet.
Violet, sweetheart,
I know you’re upset and need space to grow. I’ve reread your email three times and I get it now. I understand; I really do. Please read this email. I need you to know how much you mean to me.
You are my angel. You changed my life from the minute you captured me in those revolving doors. I knew then you were special and I was so fortunate and thankful to see you again that day. Remember how fate kept bringing us together?
Violet, I love you more than life itself. You saved me from an empty and lonely existence. Only someone like you could do that. You know how steadfast I was about being alone for the rest of my life. I may have been steel, but you were and still are my magnet. The fact I even shared that story with you says so much. I’ve kept it hidden for so long until you came. Like I said, you really changed my life. I want to marry you and have a family, if you want one. I won’t pressure you anymore. Take the Chicago job and we’ll make it work. I’m sorry I didn’t say that to you last night.
Violet, you are the only woman I’ve ever woken up with in the morning. I love your smile, your face, and your smell. Honestly, the others I always sent home. One evening was never going to be enough of you for me. With you from the get go I wanted entire weekends together. Violet, I want, need and love you so much!
Please, Babe, come home. We don’t have to talk about anything if you don’t want to, or we can talk about everything if you do. I promise not to argue or make you cry. I promise. Please come home or tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.
Violet, you are my cure, the remedy of all remedies. You’ve healed me and saved me from becoming an empty shell of a man without love and trust. You offer me both of these and so much more.
Sweetheart, I love and adore you. We belong together.
Please come home.
Yours forever,
Adam
I re-read the email as my curser hangs over the send button. I look down at the large diamond. It glistens in the light. Fuck, what was I thinking? I knew she was too good to be true. Why did I let her in? I’ve made myself weak and vulnerable. My sadness turns to anger as I snap the ring box shut and throw it in my desk drawer, forcibly slamming it shut too. I need to pull myself together. My mind reels: I won’t chase what I can’t have, she’s made that clear. I really love her and feel hopeless again. Oh, Violet, sweetheart, what did I do wrong? I put my face in my hands and shake my head. I quickly wipe a tear away. I haven’t felt like this since my uncle, a huge sense of loss. It’s excruciatingly painful and makes me remember why I never wanted to feel this way again! Why I promised myself to stay clear of love and all of its unsavory trappings! It’s too painful and risky. My sweet Violet of all people, the one woman I trusted with my heart. Fuck, Adam, stop this self-pity shit now. I sit up straight and compose myself. I need to think. As I’m about to delete the email, I change my mind and save it instead. It will remind me of what I feel.
Armor, she says. Yeah, titanium-plated fucking armor. I begin to think about work and the possible leak on my current merger. This day couldn’t be any worse.
I open the file with Tanya’s $10 million dollar contract with a major make-up company to review the changes we made earlier. She kept grabbing my hand because she was so excited about the deal and her new boyfriend, Eduardo. We laughed a lot at some of the terms of her public appearances. I wish I could go back in time. At least then I still thought I had Violet, the love of my life. To think, Tanya was happy for me and glad that I’d finally fallen in love. Work is my priority now, work and all the success that comes with it.
I will give you what you want for now Violet, because I love you. We’ll meet again soon, I promise. After all, we belong together.
Book Three…
SOLID STONE: Choices
Violet has settled into her new, independent life in Chicago. With her career going exceedingly well, she still has moments when she misses Adam, no matter how hard she tries not to. There’s no turning back after what he did. She’s angry at herself for missing his touch, their passion, and the love they once shared. Determination forces her to continue down the path she chose!
Adam, the self-admitted control freak, does the unthinkable when their paths cross again. Violet is left with some serious choices to make. How far is she willing to go for her first and only love? Can they even resolve their differences? There’s more to face than they know, when the past comes forward unexpectedly. The mystery behind the text messages comes to light! Will Adam and Violet make the right choices? Their story continues leading to another climactic ending, once and for all! Just breathe!
— TO THE READERS —
Thank you so much for reading Solid Stone: Odyssey, book 2 in the series. It means so much to me. If you have a minute, please leave a review on Amazon, iTunes or Barnes & Noble. You’re absolutely awesome for doing that!
If you want to find out more about my books please visit my website www.egpatrick.com and feel free to join my mailing list to hear about upcoming releases.
Social Media and I are friends! I’m on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EGPatrickAuthor/
and Twitter: @EGPatrickAuthor https://twitter.com/egpatrickauthor
Thanks for joining Adam and Violet on their journey to find true love! And, thanks for taking a chance on me.
E.G. Patrick
xoxox
About The Author
E. G. Patrick loves travel, the outdoors and is ruled by her heart. She believes in true love and living life passionately. Her desire is to write books that will be entertaining, loved and remembered.
Copyright
Suite 300 - 990 Fort St
Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 3K2
www.friesenpress.com
Copyright © 2016 by E.G. Patrick
First Edition — 2016
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information browsing, storage, or retrieval system, without permission in writing from FriesenPress.
ISBN
978-1-4602-8987-7 (Hardcover)
978-1-4602-8988-4 (Paperback)
978-1-4602-8989-1 (eBook)
1. Fiction, Erotica
Distributed to the trade by The Ingram Book Company
Solid Stone: Odyssey Page 32