by L. K. Lewis
As soon as I get home I sit on my couch and call Adrian. After the third ring his voicemail picks up.
“This is Adrian Thompson, leave your message.”
“Um … Hey, Adrian,” I start. “It’s me, Morgan. I need to talk to you about the other night in Vegas. Please don’t mention that you saw Drake and me together to anyone. Not that we we’re together, but … you know … people could get the wrong idea. Anyway, call me when you get this, thanks,” I say, and hang up.
Me: I left Adrian a vm asking him not to say anything about Vegas and to call me.
Drake: K baby, thx. Xo
I take a quick shower and throw a load of laundry in before I crawl into bed. It’s pretty early still but I’m a little tired from the weekend, and really just want to crawl in bed with a good book and start my week fresh tomorrow.
Drake
I barely slept last night. I missed Morgan. I know I’m overreacting to seeing Adrian in Vegas, and I’m trying to chill out about it, but it’s hard. I went back and forth about whether or not to invite Morgan to join me and I should have gone with my gut and just flown home Friday night instead. I could have still spent the weekend with Morgan, our secret would still be safe, and I wouldn’t be feeling like I may have just lost the most important thing in my life … because of my selfishness … again.
Morgan: Good morning Babe, missed you last night xo
Me: Good morning, missed you too. Xo
Morgan: Will I see you tonight?
Me: Of course baby, try to keep me away from you
Morgan: love you xo
Me: Luv u 2 xo
My Monday morning starts off as normal at the office, and that has me feeling more at ease. I head into the normal staff meeting and meet eyes with Morgan briefly, before joining my father near the head of the table. The meeting also goes along status quo, and I’m finally able to breathe more easily, assuring myself that all is fine. As the meeting wraps and everyone starts to shuffle out of the boardroom, my father lets me know that Adrian Thompson has called to ask for a meeting this afternoon to be brought up to date on all orders being placed with Thompson Manufacturing. I tell him that I could just have Grace send him an email with all of the current orders so we save everyone the time and hassle, but my father insists that we keep the meeting, citing that it would be good customer service, especially because we have just started working with Thompson. I get back to my office and send a quick text to Morgan asking if she knows what’s up.
Me: Adrian called a meeting for this afternoon.
Morgan: I know. Grace emailed me.
Me: Have you talked to him?
Morgan: No. he didn’t return my vm last nt
Me: Shit. Is he up to something?
Morgan: IDK, I hope not
Me: Me too.
Morgan: Plus side … I’ll see you again soon.
Me: I love you Morgan Lane
Morgan: I love you too Drake Baylor Jr.
Morgan, my father, myself, and a few other team members on the Thompson account are already in the boardroom when Adrian walks in, greeting each of us by name. When he looks at Morgan, he gives her a slight and almost unrecognizable nod as if to let her know he got her voicemail and everything is fine. In return, Morgan gives him a small, but still very professional smile and nod, her way of thanking him. Again, I feel as though I can breathe. I relax, grab the invoice documents I had Grace prepare, and guide my team through the meeting. I allow myself one quick glance at Morgan, and thankfully she doesn’t meet my gaze, but she also seems relaxed, which is a good thing. Morgan knows Adrian better than I care to think about, and if she is relaxed, then I can only believe that we are in the clear.
I wrap up the meeting and my father dismisses the team, including Morgan, but asks me stay behind and brief him about Vegas. He shakes Adrian’s hand and offers for him to make arrangements with Grace on his way out for another status meeting next month if he so wishes.
Adrian makes his way towards the door, and I feel as though I’m truly in the clear. That is, until he turns around, looks at my father and says, “By the way, Mr. Baylor, I think it was genius to send Drake to Vegas this weekend to close that deal with Scottsfield, that was a bold move that will benefit us both, so thank you.” My father looks at me and starts to smile, just before Adrian adds, “Sending Morgan to babysit the wives and girlfriends was even better.” Then the fucker gives me a wink and heads out the door. It takes all I have not to rush out behind him and kick his ass.
“Morgan went this weekend?” My dad asks.
“Yeah. I flew her out last minute when I found out some of the guys were bringing their significant others. This was supposed to be a weekend for them to blow off steam, so I figured I could entertain them as planned, and hopefully score even a few more points by having Morgan organize a shopping trip and a spa party in her suite.”
“Smart, Son, I wouldn’t have thought of that. Why did you ask Morgan specifically when she isn’t even on the Scottsfield account?”
Dammit.
“She isn’t on the account, but she is the youngest female in our firm, and you specifically said you were sending me because I’m young and could identify with the guys better and put them at ease about doing business with them. I went with Morgan because not only is she also young, and therefore more able to identify with the gentlemen’s significant others in turn, but she has had some great ideas and insight with the Thompson account, and I thought I’d be able to bounce some ideas off of her if needed.”
“That makes perfect sense too, good work,” my dad says. I give him a friendly nod, and head out the door. Right as I’m about to cross the threshold, my dad calls out to me, “One more thing, Drake.”
I turn around and face him, “Yes?” I say, trying desperately to keep my cool.
“Just how long have you been fucking Miss Lane?” And the bottom falls out.
“Excuse me?”
“Morgan. How long have you been fucking her?” My dad says, a little too calmly for how my body is currently reacting.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Cut the shit, Drake. I followed up with the Scottsfield guys on Saturday morning. They said they had a great time with you Thursday night, and were so excited about the deal that they flew home Friday to hash out their numbers before returning to the boardroom with us this week. They never mentioned anything about their wives or girlfriends or whatever, and they certainly didn’t stay long enough for Morgan to be flown out anyway, so tell me, Son … how long have you been fucking her?” My dad asks with a raised voice—not one loud enough for others to hear, thank God.
“I’m not fucking her, Dad, I’m dating her.”
Oh shit, the words made it past my filter and spilled right out of my mouth.
“You’re what, Drake?”
“I’m dating her. I’m more than just dating her, actually, I’m in love with her.”
“You know what this means, don’t you Drake?”
“Yes. And right now I couldn’t give a shit. It feels so good to get it off my chest that I’m in love with Morgan. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long.”
“So close, Drake, you were so close. I was so proud of you for the work you have been doing. You cleaned yourself up, you’ve been present and hard working. The Scottsfield guys even said they felt bad that you got them wasted, and then babysat them all night cause you were the only one that was sober and could handle yourself in public. Now you have gone and thrown it all away for some girl.”
“She isn’t some girl, Dad, and you know it. You know Morgan, and the amazing work she has done here. She’s the reason we have the Thompson account in the first place … Do you have any idea how much money that is going to make you this year and for years to come? Both Morgan and I are dedicated to this company, Dad. She is a smart girl, and you should thank your lucky stars every night that she has joined our company because she has become one hell of an asset.”
“You m
ean she has one hell of an ass, don’t you son?” My dad starts to laugh, but I’m in his face with my hand around his throat in less than a second.
“Don’t you ever talk about Morgan that way again. She is your employee, and the woman I intend to marry someday, and she deserves more respect from you for that. She’s your golf buddy’s daughter, for Christ’s sake. Have a little class, Dad.”
“Drake, because you’re my son, I’m going to give you one last chance with this company. I was about to retire at the end of the year, and now your fuckup has pushed that back a bit. Two months. You just had to keep it in your pants for two months more and this company would have been all yours.
“Our European division has fallen in productivity for the last three quarters straight. I’m giving you three more to turn it around or it’s all over. But Morgan has to be out of your life, and I mean it. Prove to me that you can do this, Son, and do it without any more lies or bullshit stunts like you just pulled in Vegas, and the company is all yours.”
“I won’t leave Morgan, Dad.”
“You don’t really have a choice now do you, Son? If you leave this company, I will ruin you. You’d deserve it after this weekend. Jesus, Drake, you had three simple rules to follow and you couldn’t do it.”
“Why do you want me to take over the company if I can’t follow simple rules and you’d rather just ruin me anyway?” I ask, hoping to have gained the slightest bit of leverage in this shitstorm of a situation.
“You’re my son. I’ve only ever wanted you to take over. I’m an old man with a young wife nagging me to retire, and I just want to hand over the reins. You don’t deserve it, though. You haven’t proven it to me yet, and until you do, I can’t retire. So get your head out of your ass, go to Switzerland, turn the company around, and you can have it. And if you think for a second that if you leave either you or Miss Lane will have a job or any type of future in this business, anywhere in the world, you can forget it. You know I have that power, Drake. You two will have nothing, try to build a future together on that,” he puffs, then leaves the boardroom.
I immediately run to the bathroom and throw up. My father will absolutely ruin Morgan’s future and mine without giving it a second thought. And his power is far greater than Jim Lane’s, so he would be no help to Morgan either. I have no other choice but this one, and he knows it, that arrogant prick. I hear the men’s room door open, and hear my father speak again.
“All communication with Miss Lane will cease this instant, Drake, do you hear me? Don’t for a single second think that I won’t find out if you try in any way to communicate with her either, I will know. Count on it. I want you on a flight to Switzerland this evening.”
The door closes behind him and I get sick again. This is what I have to do. I have to make it through the next nine months without even a word to Morgan, and then we can hopefully start over, together. Morgan promised to fight for us. I know she will be devastated that I am literally dropping out of her life without explanation, but she knew what would happen if my father were to find out. She’ll have to know that I’m doing this for us, and that I’ll find her again. My fight for us starts now.
Morgan
I haven’t heard from Drake since his meeting. I sent him a text, but he hasn’t replied. His car wasn’t in the parking lot when left for work and now I’m nervous.
“This is Drake, leave a message.” His voicemail picks up after the fourth ring.
“Hey it’s me, babe, I haven’t heard from you and your car was gone after work, so give me a call when you get this and we’ll make plans for tonight, love you.” I try not to sound too nervous, or like a clingy girlfriend.
I figure Drake must have gone home early, and is probably at the gym, so I go home and go for my run, hoping that when I get back there will be a missed call or text from him letting me know what we are doing tonight.
“Hey, it’s me again. I’m getting a little worried about you, give me a call.”
I leave another voicemail for Drake after I get home from my run … and take a shower. It’s been hours since I heard from him and I’m starting to go out of my mind. Without even thinking really, I get into my car and go over to Drake’s house. His car is in his driveway, but all of the lights in his house are off. I’m not sure what else to do. I wish he’d given me a key to his place. I get in my car and head across town to the only other place I can think of where I might find some answers. The bowling alley.
Thankfully Garrett is always working, and he gives me a nod hello when I walk in.
“Hey, Garrett. You haven’t heard from Drake today, have you?”
“Last time you were here you were looking for him, and that was a few weeks ago. You still haven’t found him?”
“Um … yes, I found him … that was just a misunderstanding. I’m looking for him again though, have you seen him?” I ask.
“Yeah, he came by this afternoon.” Garrett frowns as he answers my question.
“He did? What did he say?”
“I don’t think you want to hear it, Morgan.”
“Oh no, Garrett, he didn’t try to …” I don’t even want to finish my question.
“No, he didn’t try to buy drugs if that’s what you are asking. The boy is still clean if you’re worried. He asked me to watch his place for a while. He even gave me his car keys and asked me to store his car ‘til he gets back.”
“Gets back? Where is he going?” I start to panic. Drake is leaving me. Or has left me, I have no idea.
“He didn’t say. I’m sorry, Morgan. He was very vague, I think he meant it to be. He just said he was leaving. He didn’t say when or for how long … but if you are here, that means you probably already went to his place, which means he’s probably already gone.”
I don’t say anything else. There’s nothing else for either of us to say really. Tears are running down my face as I give Garrett a small shrug, and leave.
Fortunately I think my current state of shock prevented me from having a total nervous breakdown, and I am able to get home. I called Amanda on my way home and mumbled something about Drake leaving me and she is waiting for me at my door when I get there.
“Holy shit, Morgie, what happened?” Amanda asks, grabbing my keys from me. I’m shaking too badly to even open my damn door.
“I don’t know. We were in two meetings together today, we texted this morning and said we’d see each other tonight, and then he just … vanished. He’s gone, Amanda … Drake … left me.”
“Now hold on, Morgan, there has to be a simple answer to this,” Amanda starts, as she lets me into my apartment, takes my coat off me, and lowers me onto my couch. “There is no way that Drake just left you. That man loves you more than I have ever seen someone love another. This is a simple and silly misunderstanding that you will both figure out tomorrow when you see him at work. Maybe he had to work late, maybe he had a dinner meeting he forgot about and left his phone at work or it’s dead so he can’t get hold of you. Maybe he’s off planning another amazing Drake Baylor surprise and he has to keep you in complete darkness or he’ll ruin it. There is a simple answer to this, Morgie, you know there is.”
“Amanda, his car was parked in his driveway, but he was gone. He asked Garrett to watch his place and store his car for him for a while until he gets back. He left. He’s gone,” I say, as fresh tears fall down my face.
“That just doesn’t make sense to me. There has to be an explanation. Have you checked your email? Isn’t there some other way he could have tried to get in touch with you?”
“I checked my email, but I honestly don’t think he has my address. I even checked my twitter and Facebook accounts, but we purposefully haven’t connected on any social media sites, so I don’t know how else he could have contacted me. I looked in my car, my gym bag, my apartment, everything I could think of, but there’s nothing. He left me.”
“Okay, let’s think. Where did you last see him?”
“We had a last minute client meet
ing today with Adrian’s company.”
“Okay, and how did that go? Did he seem okay?” Amanda continues with her line of questioning.
“He seemed fine. I felt him glance over at me once, but didn’t want to get busted so I kept my eyes focused on something else.”
“Good. What else can you tell me?”
“Well, we ran into Adrian in Vegas this weekend, and Drake was worried that he would tell his father. I left Adrian a voicemail last night asking him to obey the ‘what happens in Vegas’ rule, and when I saw him today, he gave me a quick smile and nod so I think we are good there,” I continue.
“Hmmm. Maybe Drake is just keeping his distance from you to make sure all of your tracks are covered for now. I bet that’s it. Give it a few more days, and if he hasn’t surfaced, ask his dad, or call the police,” Amanda laughs, trying to brighten my mood.
“Yeah, I bet that’s it. I really can’t think of anything else, and I really don’t think he would leave me. He was talking about marrying me this weekend, Amanda. And not in the distant future either. He was so romantic and wonderful in Vegas, with everything. At dinner Friday night, he told me that he thought he was really close to making CEO, and when that happened he wanted to marry me right away, that he can’t wait any longer,” I say as I bite my lip, trying hard not to lose it again.
“Aww, you see, Morgie? Drake loves you. He would never leave you. I bet he’s just lying low until his father makes the announcement. You have nothing to worry about, okay?”
“Okay, you’re right.”
“Good, now take a shower and wash your face because you look disgusting. When you wake up tomorrow, you can start your day fresh, and I’m sure you’ll have all of your answers. And if not, don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll hear from or see Drake in the next few days. You know that man can’t stay away from you that long!”
“Thanks, Amanda, for everything.”