Running Rings

by Ruth G Juliano

  “Verity Vale, um, Sharpe,” she replied, shaking his hand.

  Brock laughed, “Maybe you had it right the first time.”

  “Let me try again. Hello, I’m Verity Sharpe.”

  “You’ve been practicing,” he smiled.

  Verity laughed, “Lots of times, I recorded it and played it back. I think I can say my own name almost as well as you can now.”

  “So how do you know Jake Horton?”

  “I was his assistant for a while. He arranged for me to transfer to another Chief Officer, Harold, after I resigned, but he died not long after I started working for him.”

  “That’s pretty sad.”

  “At least he died at home and not on his way to work or at his desk. He was almost eighty years old and very highly strung.”

  Brock laughed, “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”

  “Something you’ll never be, huh? You were always so calm and relaxed and lackadaisical. Are you still like that?”

  Brock nodded, “Yes, I think so. I went through some self-pity phases and anger phases, but I came out the other side.”

  “Me too,” Verity said, “I guess we’d better get in there and schmooze like strangers.”

  “Is there somewhere we could hide for another kiss first? I have so many kisses to give you.”

  “Brock, I want to kiss you, I do, but it’s making it harder to know what’s coming. I don’t want to love you more only to find out I’m going to have to let you go again.”

  “Do you remember the promise we made each other?”

  “Yes, we promised to love each other no matter what horrible thing happened.”

  “Yes, and I know that we’ll keep that promise. I know that you’ll still want to be with me forever like you used to and you know it too.”

  Verity nodded, “But I’m going to break his heart, and I never meant to, Brock. He’s known ever since we met that I was in love with you, but we have something really special and he’s going to suffer because of me, because I was selfish.”

  “I’ll help you through it, Verity, if you let me. In my mind, I’m still your best friend. I’m still one hundred percent able to separate your needs from mine.”

  “It’s a wonderful trait. It’s rare. You’re rare, I know you are. Let’s go do this business world thing now, before I cry again. This is our world, Brock, this is where we aimed to be and we’re here together.”

  “Better late than never, right?”

  “I hope so,” Verity said.

  Chapter 41

  The building had a nice feel to it. There were big windows and light coloured stone floors. Verity felt like a professional walking in, and that was a good start. She needed to aim higher and this was higher than she’d aimed before. There were unadvertised positions going, and you had to know someone who knew someone to get an interview. Jake had arranged this for her, and she didn’t want to let him down. She took the elevator to the twenty fifth floor and looked around for a sign to where the organisation was on the floor. She walked to the reception desk and asked the woman behind the counter who advised her that the whole floor was the organisation, and the two floors below. Verity smiled. It was a big organisation. She crinkled her nose. She probably should have done more research about the organisation before showing up today. It was too late now.

  “I’m here for an interview,” Verity said.

  “Certainly, you’ll receive your questions fifteen minutes before your allotted time. You can use the side room there to write any notes you need to and then you’ll be called for your interview and have forty five minutes to answer the questions as fully as possible along with any other additional questions that may arise.”

  Verity nodded. “I guess I need to wait a few minutes before I get my questions.” She sat down on the couch by the window and looked at her curriculum vitae again. As far as CVs went, it wasn’t great. The jobs she had weren’t particularly glamorous and she’d been through a few of them. She was glad that they didn’t ask for the CV before the interview because they might not have offered her an interview if they saw her CV first. She began to feel insecure. This was one of the jobs that Jake had talked about, the one where you have the potential to grow with the organisation and be there long term and work your way to the top. If she could get in now, she could spend her career here or use it as a launch pad to another destination. She closed her eyes and meditated like Brock taught her to do before exams. He wasn’t here to kiss her afterwards though. Maybe it would still work. She had to relax and clear her mind and focus on what she was about to do.

  Verity walked into the interview room feeling confident. She could answer the questions they’d set underwater with her eyes closed. She sat down at the table and looked at the three men in front of her. “Good morning,” she said, “I’m Verity Sharpe.” She slid her CV across the table and sat down.

  They greeted her and introduced themselves as Victor, Benjamin and Taren. They asked if she would like to have the questions read to her or if she would like to read them out herself or just answer the questions.

  “There are five questions, and I have forty five minutes, which means I should allocate nine minutes per question. Having just used time on the introductions, I now have eight point six minutes per question, or I could succinctly answer all of the questions in fewer than four minutes each and let you all out for a coffee a little early. Time is money, gentleman, so I’ll get straight to the answers.” Verity maintained a straight face despite all three men smiling at her.

  “Firstly, the time value of money simply means that money is worth more now that in it is in the future because of the potential earning capacity it has. That one dollar could be earning interest right now, so my dollar today is potentially worth more than an uninvested dollar will be next week. We’re all about investing, so we have to treat our money kindly, make our deals wisely and never let one bad investment blow our portfolio.”

  Verity continued answering the questions in this way and then stopped. “You have exactly twenty minutes left. Do you have any questions for me, or would you like to go have a coffee before the next person comes in?”

  The three men gave a little laugh, and the man in the middle smoothed his moustache. “If you were the successful applicant, how soon could you start?”

  “I could start immediately. Two week’s notice is standard, but they’re aware that I’m too good for them so I could likely negotiate a faster turnaround,” Verity replied.

  The man on the left end adjusted his glasses, “And are you planning on starting a family in the next five years?”

  “No,” Verity replied, “That’s not part of my plan.”

  “I apologise if that sounds like a sexist question, but it’s important to know that staff can be relied upon,” he said.

  “Thank you for the explanation, Taren. I wasn’t the least bit offended by the question,” Verity replied.

  “Thank you very much for coming in,” Victor said, “We have a number of applicants, and as you are aware this was an unadvertised position. By doing so, we hope to see only those with good connections at the higher echelons. At this stage we only want one person, so in the event that you are not successful, you should know that you are in very good company.”

  The three men stood up, so Verity smiled and stood up. She reached across the table and shook hands with them all and thanked them for their time. She opened the door and walked out with her head held high. She felt liked she had ‘nailed it’ and answered every question with ease. Her competition had a lot to live up to as far as she was concerned.

  She thanked the receptionist as she walked by and headed to the elevator. Verity was still smiling. This would be a great place to work. Numbers were her forte and her talents were being wasted doing boring budgets and data entry. The elevator doors opened and she gasped. This was unexpected. He stepped out of the elevator and smiled at her. She looked around and there was nowhere to go. She stepped by him and went into the elevator. She pr
essed the button to close the door and when they were half-closed they reopened.

  He stepped into the elevator and looked at her, “Verity, please, just hear me out.”

  “We should just move on with other people. That’s the best option.”

  “That’s it? I thought we had a nice time at the dinner. I thought we were going to have this conversation but you won’t give me your number and you kept leaving work at different times.”

  “You left university and you went back home to your family and that was it. No calls, no forwarding address when you moved, nothing. We were best friends for four years, Brock. We lost our virginity together and I wasn’t even worth a phone call?”

  “You didn’t call me either.”

  “I tried calling your mobile phone and you never answered. Hundreds of times until it was disconnected. The home phone number you gave me was wrong. It never answered, again until it became disconnected. I tried every combination of that number, wondering which number you got wrong when you wrote it down. I thought you were dead, Brock, dead. I thought that was the only reason that you didn’t call. I couldn’t think how someone could be so cruel to someone they supposedly loved.”

  “And you don’t want to hear why?”

  “Maybe I don’t anymore. I’ve kept the same mobile number for all this time, just in case. I’ve upgraded my phone but always kept my number even though some arseholes have it and they send me stuff. But I kept it for you, just in case.” Verity wished she hadn’t said that. It was a sign of weakness and she didn’t want him to know that he made her feel weak. “You know what? Forget it. We don’t even know each other anymore. That was just a stupid university campus thing and it meant nothing to you, I get it.”

  “I love you, Verity.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything. Stop saying it because you don’t mean it.” She still couldn’t look at him. If she looked at him she would want to kiss him and that would definitely be a sign of weakness. She’d seen how good he looked in his suit and it was cruel.

  “You’re trying to push me away again, but I already know you love me, and that we’re going to be together forever. You’re still in your interview mode, feeling superior and all walled up with poise. I know you, and I don’t buy the act. I love you, Verity Sharpe. I will tell you I love you as many times as I have to say it until it sinks in. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Verity shook her head, “Brock, I can’t do this.”

  Brock pulled her close and kissed her on the lips, “You just don’t want to do it. You know that it’ll work out between us. It’s me. I’m the same man.”

  Verity shook her head and kissed him on the lips, “No.”

  He smiled and kissed her on the lips again, “Please hear me out?”

  Verity shook her head, “There’s nothing to say.”

  Brock moved his mouth to her ear lobe and gently nibbled it, “Please?”

  Verity lifted her shoulder and moved her head. It drove her wild and he knew it. “No,” she said.

  “We never had a fight. We only had play arguments about stupid things because you hated being wrong and it was fun to watch. This wasn’t a fight, Verity; this was something else, something beyond our control. Please? If you really knew me then you’d know I would never intentionally hurt you because I want to be with you forever and a day. I’ve never told a lie in my life. Not even to save myself. Please?”

  Verity knew that was true. She pulled him close and kissed him. His kiss was the same. It was the same perfect kiss; the one from university, the one from the bathrooms, the one from the laneway. She wanted him so much it hurt. She kissed his mouth and touched his hair and held him as close as she could.

  “Ground Floor,” the elevator announced.

  Verity let him go and wiped her thumb across his lip. She stepped around him and got out of the elevator.

  “Wait,” he said.

  Verity stopped and turned around, “Good luck in your interview, Mr Vale. I know you’ll do great. You’re extremely talented and just what this company needs.”

  Brock smiled and stepped backwards into the elevator. Verity watched the doors close and he was gone again. She huffed. If Brock was going for the same interview then he would definitely get the job over her. He had a perfect casual arrogance that other men seemed to love. Being an assertive woman made you a ‘bitch’, but being an assertive man made you a ‘go-getter’. Their approach was identical because they’d practiced it together for years in preparation for getting jobs in the real world once they left university. She hoped that if she didn’t get the job then Brock did. Verity was surprised at that thought. There was no animosity in it. There was only a genuine belief that he deserved the job, and that he would pull off a better interview than her. Verity smiled. She did love him. She’d always loved him. She wondered if she should wait for him. Maybe she should hear him out today. She looked at her watch and realised she didn’t have an hour to wait for the interview to be over because she needed to be at work by one. Next time, maybe.

  Chapter 42

  Verity looked at the letter of offer. This was amazing. It had been a really quick turnaround. Victor Benjamin Finance was offering her a job. It was right in the financial district where she’d be surrounded by smart people doing intelligent things to help other people. This wasn’t a bank, this wasn’t an assistant, and this wasn’t a Trust. This could be life-changing. She would have to write an acceptance letter and a resignation letter. She slumped in her seat. If she got the job, that meant that Brock didn’t get the job. She hoped he hadn’t done stupid like pull out and let her have it. No, he wouldn’t do that. He knew how important it was to her to be hired on merit. She couldn’t believe that they would hire her over him though.

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Adrian. This is worth twice as much money as I earn now. Opportunities like this don’t come up very often, so I have to take it. And it’s in the finance district and a very nice building.”

  “You’ve earned it. All those other jobs didn’t use your brain enough, hopefully this one will. You’re the best, babe.”

  Verity sighed, “Adrian, are you still seeing other people?”

  “No.”

  “You should be.”

  “I don’t need to see other people.”

  Verity stood up from the couch and looked at him, “You were supposed to be seeing other people the whole time. I think you should see other people again.”

  “You’re breaking up with me? That’s a bit hard to do when we’re not even officially going out.”

  “You’re being exclusive to me with your body. That’s something you’ve never done.”

  Adrian stood up and took her in his arms, “I respect you, and I don’t need anyone else. I haven’t had sex with anyone but you for a very, very long time. We don’t have to have sex every time we see each other, and we don’t. We’re friends too, friends and lovers. Why would I go out and have empty sex when I can have meaningful sex with my good friend?”

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Adrian. I know that I have to have the conversation with Brock, and I know that I’ve been putting it off, but regardless of the outcome, you need to spend the rest of your life with someone who isn’t me.”

  “You don’t love me?”

  Verity wiped the tear from her cheek, “I love you as much as I love him.”

  Adrian took a step backwards, “What?”

  “I do. That’s why we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

  Adrian shook his head, “That’s makes no sense. If you love me and I love you then why?”

  “I can’t do this right now.”

  “So you’re running away from both of us? Verity, knowing that you love me has made me feel better about myself than I have in a decade. I will respect whatever decision you make, but I need to know why you wouldn’t be with me if you and him don’t work out.”

  “I promise it has nothing to do with you and everything to do w
ith me. You’re amazing.”

  “Okay. I’m amazing,” Adrian said, kissing her on the lips, “New topic then just for you. Can you make me another book? Like the one you made me for my birthday.”

  “Yes, I have more pictures.”

  “I have some that I’d like to see in there. I took a few of you when you were asleep and I had a friend take some of us at the beach and … I’d really like to be able to look at them sometimes.”

  Verity ran her hand down his arm, “Make love to me, Adrian, like only you can.”

  “With pleasure, but first I want to show you something.” Verity nodded and Adrian left the room. He came back holding a small black book and put it into her hand. “This has the names, dates and an identifier for every woman I’ve had sex with since I was seventeen.”

  “Wow,” Verity said, turning it over in her hand. She thumbed the edge of the pages, and handed it back to him. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled.

  “You don’t want to read it?” he asked.

  Verity shook her head, “No, I don’t. Not because I’m jealous but because it’s yours. It’s information that you’ve kept for yourself, for your own records. It’s not supposed to be a source of contention or speculation, is it? I guess your wife might have a different view, of course, and it would be wise to never tell her about it, but I don’t need to know the how and why of your sex life, Dray. I love you as a person, as a wonderful human being, sex or no sex, just you.”

  Adrian smiled, “I know, and that’s why you’re not in here, Verity Kate Sharpe.”

  “What?” Verity replied, tilting her head in confusion.

  “You’re not in here, Verity, because you’re the only woman I’ve ever made love to. Even the very first time, that wasn’t sex to me. When you kissed me in the elevator, when you put me through my paces in the bedroom, I’ve never wanted to please a woman more in my life. I felt every emotion running through your body that night, and I was really making love to you. No one has ever made me feel like you do.”