A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  Everleigh was half aware of the strange conversation happening around her. She lifted her head up to see Tom turn a lighter shade of red, but he plastered a fake smile on top and relented. “Very well.” He leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. “Sleep well.” He moved closer to whisper in her ear. “I’m looking forward to when we can be alone again. I miss making love to you.”

  As she watched him saunter across the lobby, she found relief in the fact she would not be sharing a bed with him tonight. She had held him off the last two months and didn’t plan on changing that until after the wedding if she could help it, but she knew he could be demanding and dreaded the day her telling him no wouldn’t work any longer.

  “Making love!” The loud snort following her statement was aimed at his back.

  Tom stopped with his back to her then started walking again, pushing the door open and leaving.

  Everleigh continued to giggle. “You wish, Tom.” Her tone remained harsh and hateful, no humor found at all.

  Tom stopped once again before the brass door shut and looked over his right shoulder at Walter standing there shifting and anxious. “Make sure she stays home tonight. She’s been drinking.”

  Upstairs, Audrey helped Evie slip her boots off and noticed that beyond just drunk, she was sad. “You doing okay there, sis?”

  Evie looked up then flopped back onto her bed. “Am I awake?”

  “Yes.”

  Evie moved toward her pillow and tucked her legs under the covers. Audrey disappeared for a minute and returned with aspirin and a glass of water. “Take these. Hopefully, you won’t feel as bad in the morning.”

  Evie obliged her sister, and then continued to drink the entire glass of water. As Audrey went to refill her glass in the bathroom, Evie lifted up on her elbows, and asked, “Was he real? Did you see him tonight?”

  After setting the glass on her nightstand, Audrey lay down on the bed next to her. “He was real. He still loves you.”

  “I still love him.”

  “You should be with him then, don’t you think?”

  Evie fell back down on the pillow, closing her eyes and touching her ribs where William had held her. She could feel his hands holding her tight to keep her from leaving, but she left him there because no matter how much she drank or they loved each other, it wouldn’t change their fate. “It’s complicated—”

  “Only because you make it that way. Are you worried about Mom and Dad?”

  She opened her eyes and looked at her little sister who only wanted her to be happy. She smiled. “No, not anymore. I can live without their money if I had to. I know that now. They don’t want to hear my side of things, so I’ve given up on their approval. I’m worried about him, about William. He and his family have worked too hard to get where they are. I would never risk being the cause of crushing his dreams.”

  “As if you could. You are a part of those dreams. He wants to be with you, and you’re worried about what exactly? You make no sense. If you love each other—”

  “It’s not enough. Love is a childish emotion best spent when dreaming of fairy tales. My fairy tale doesn’t come with the happy ending,” she said as tears spilled from her eyes, dropping onto her pillow. “He’ll love again. I have no doubt.” She wiped her face and laughed. “It’s silly I’m crying. I’ve made my choice and it’s best for everyone.”

  “Except you. How can you toss your feelings aside when—”

  “There was nothing casual about the decision I’ve been forced to make. I love him and will do anything that benefits him so he can be happy. By giving him up, I’m showing how much I love him.” Evie took a deep breath then yawned. She rolled over half out of aggravation and half out of sleepiness. “I’m going to bed, Audrey. Good night and happy birthday.”

  Audrey wandered toward the door, but before she left, Everleigh sat up and said, “I don’t know if you had anything to do with tonight, but if you did, thank you.”

  Evie rolled back onto her side, and Audrey flipped the light switch off. “Goodnight.”

  As soon as her sister had left, Evie dragged her pillow and blanket over to the window seat and curled up. She needed a backdrop of life beyond the confines of the bedroom. It was the only place she found any comfort in this huge apartment she used to call home.

  Chapter 27

  “Everleigh? Wake up.”

  She woke with a start and immediately cowered in the corner against the pane of the window. Her eyes met Tom’s, and she asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to check on you after last night. You were drunk—”

  “I’m fine.” She cut him off, holding the blanket up to her chin.

  “I can see that. I brought you a hot oolong tea.”

  She looked at him as if he was insane. Well, she knew he was insane, but she still seemed surprised by his actions. “Why?”

  “What do you mean why?” He handed her the cup.

  She didn’t take it and looked at the drink in disgust. “I don’t like oolong tea.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  “Of course, you didn’t know. You don’t know me at all.”

  “Everleigh, I’m trying here.”

  Everleigh looked out the window, relaxing against the wall. “Don’t try on my account. You’ve doomed me to a life worse than death. Tea does not make it all better.” She couldn’t look at him as she spoke. She was too upset.

  “We can have a good life if you give us a chance, sweetheart.”

  Fury raged inside as she whipped her head around in confrontation. “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” She got up and brushed past him, going into her bathroom and locking the door. Everleigh was pushing every one of his buttons and didn’t care.

  Tom scoffed out loud. “You’re being irrational and immature. I’ll come back when you’ve calmed yourself.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Take your time. It’s gonna be a while.”

  Determined to make his grandest gesture of love, William continued talking with Audrey about the next stage of his plan over the following weeks. But a complete stroke of luck shone down on him when Dallas asked to stay with him the following week for a job he booked. Without hesitation, William said yes to his brother staying, but had not thought anything more about it until his brother mentioned the name of the event—The Latham Fundraiser.

  William had heard that name before, but was having trouble placing it until the following Wednesday while working. William skid his bike to a stop in the middle of a crowded street when it dawned on him. Audrey had mentioned this event to him. It was the same event Evie was helping to organize. This was information he could work with. This event would be the perfect place to make his pronouncement of love. This event would be where Evie would make her final decision, one way or another. It was a risk he was willing to take though, for her. He tried not to dwell on the potential rejection because if she didn’t choose him, he didn’t know where to go from there.

  William called Audrey and got her thinking about their options while he tried to get his mind back on his job.

  She called him back thirty minutes later just as he was riding back into the messenger garage and told him he could go as her date. When he walked to the large assignments desk, he looked down the schedule posted for the following week and told Audrey to hold. “Is this schedule final because I need that Saturday off?” He looked at the girl doling out deliveries and pick-ups.

  She scoffed at his question like it was ridiculous. “That’s it all right. You work it out yourself if you need to change shifts.”

  He put the phone back to his ear. “I work ‘til nine that night.”

  Audrey sighed, thinking it would be better if he could arrive with her, but she said, “That should be fine. The party will go until eleven or twelve. Listen, I’ve gotta run, but I’ll do some digging to figure this out.”

  He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Hey, Audrey, thanks for helping me.”

  “Don’t thank me yet, cowboy.
But when you two get back together, you both can take me out for drinks.”

  “How about dinner, my under-aged friend, but seriously, thanks.”

  Everleigh rejected Tom’s niceties, including the roses he sent to her earlier in the week wishing her luck with the fundraiser. She knew the monster lurked beneath the surface and would rear up again. It was only a matter of time.

  Within days, the flowers had wilted and the note attached was in blue ink, which further cemented her hatred for him. But the kicker for Evie was that he always seemed to be hanging around lately. She ended his visits with excuses of finishing her commitments for the event. It worked well and she breathed easier once he was gone.

  Audrey made sure to be around, casually, of course, when Everleigh was working on the fundraiser and gathered intel for her partner-in-crime. It seemed to all be coming together. But Everleigh had started acting strange closer to the weekend. She seemed confused and to be questioning herself, sometimes even aloud. Audrey interrupted one such moment. “Got something on your mind there, sis?”

  Everleigh stopped pacing and found her sister sitting on the sofa. “Oh, I didn’t see you. What?”

  “You seem to have something on your mind. You want to talk about it?”

  “I, er, don’t know what you’re referring to,” she responded, twisting her fingers through her hair then laughed. “I guess I do.” She took Audrey by the hand, signaling her to be quiet as they sneaked back to her room, shutting the door and locking it. “I don’t know if I can do it.”

  “Do what, the fundraiser?”

  “No, the marriage.” She sat down on the window seat and watched her sister as she took the seat next to her with her mouth gaping open.

  “Then don’t, Evie.”

  Evie’s teeth tugged at the inside of her cheek as her brow furrowed. “If I tell you something, promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

  “I promise. Does it have to do with William?”

  She nodded. “The reason I can’t be with him is that Tom said he would keep him from graduating and denounce him to everyone in New York. He wouldn’t be able to get a job anywhere.”

  “I knew it!” Audrey exclaimed, pointing her finger at Evie. “I knew Tom was blackmailing you somehow. That is the lowest of low. He’s horrible.”

  “But, the last few days . . .” Evie looked down at her leg propped up in front of her. “The last few months, I can’t get William out of my system. I’ve tried so hard and just when I feel I can go through with this marriage, I slip again. I dream of him at night. I daydream about him. I’m always reminding myself that he can take care of himself. Tom doesn’t know everyone in this city, but then I think, but his family and friends do. I often wonder if my love for him could take the guilt away if I’m responsible for ruining his life.” She looked out the dark window and answered her own inquiry. “No, it can’t. It’s easier for me to marry Tom than to feel responsible for hurting William, for taking his dreams away from him just because I love him selfishly. I couldn’t live with that.”

  Audrey rested her hand on Evie’s leg and asked, “Are you venting or asking my opinion?”

  “I’m venting,” she said without hesitation.

  Audrey walked toward the door, stopped, and turned around. “You know I have to give my opinion though, don’t you?”

  Evie smiled and nodded again as Audrey continued. “William can take care of himself, and I doubt your love for him was ever selfish. Stop making decisions for him and just . . . just be with him. Don’t ruin your life over something you’ll regret the rest of it. And stop wasting your days away on a jerk that never deserved you to begin with.” Audrey rushed out of the room before Evie could argue with her.

  Evie leaned against the wall in her little alcove and stared at the traffic twelve stories below, letting her mind wander back to William for the hundredth time today. “Can I really be with him? Will he love me or hate me if he ever found out I could’ve helped him instead of hindering him?” This was something she had to take into serious consideration, but for tonight, she could only guess.

  Chapter 28

  William’s shift on Saturday was grueling. He never found anyone to cover for him and on top of that, two guys called in sick. He grabbed a sandwich and started eating while perched atop his bike. The thought of the night ahead made him feel sick, so he took one more bite then threw the rest away, unable to finish it. The next five hours were as busy as the first part of his day, but he trudged on trying to focus on the process of picking up and delivering packages.

  Everleigh, Audrey, and their mom Kitty returned from the salon by six in the evening. Since their make-up and hair was done, they slipped on their evening gowns and shoes they had spent weeks shopping for to wear to The Latham Fundraiser tonight.

  They met in the formal living room at six-thirty where Richard Wright and Tom awaited. Tom’s mouth hung open when Everleigh entered the room in a sea blue creation that sparkled and was more than flattering to her figure. But she became self-conscious and uncomfortable under his wanting gaze. She began to question if she should wear something else, something he didn’t like so much, but there was no time to change now.

  She went and stood by his side as expected and he put his hand around her waist. Leaning in, he kissed her on the cheek, telling her how beautiful she looked. Although her stomach rolled under his touch, she smiled politely.

  Dinner at the fundraiser was served at seven-fifteen, and plates were cleared by eight o’clock. Everleigh had managed to avoid Tom the following hour after dinner, using her active role in the event as a solid excuse to leave his side. After he tracked her down, he managed to convince her of one dance, but they were interrupted by his work associates, ending the dance early. She was grateful for the distraction.

  She wandered around checking the dessert table, having it replenished, making sure people were having a good time, and sometimes escaping to a dark corner for a moment to breathe, to think, to disappear.

  In the dark recesses of the ballroom, Everleigh looked around at what her life had become. It was nothing she cared about. Tom was across the room chatting with his company’s Human Resources Manager. She watched from the shadows of the far exit doors as he brushed his fingers across her hand, checking to make sure no one noticed. Everleigh did. So did the woman. She leaned forward straightening his bow tie. The act looked too intimate and they looked too familiar with each other while doing it.

  Two watermarks on the coffee table of his immaculately kept home. No sex in months, which she really couldn’t complain about, and whispering at the bar in the corner. Things added up. Tom was cheating, but why? Why would he want her when he had that other woman?

  She stared as minutes passed before the two separated with a quick embrace made to look innocent, but his hand patted the woman’s ass, and Everleigh saw it all clearly now. But what stuck out the most is that she didn’t care. She wasn’t angry and didn’t feel betrayed. She found relief and took her last helpless breath, refusing to live her life like this. She didn’t need the money. William had taught her that. It was tainted anyway. If her parents couldn’t see her pain or refused to then she would leave them behind for good. Tom wasn’t even a factor now. The hate she felt for him would last her a lifetime. She’d be a happy woman if she never saw him again. But Audrey . . .

  Audrey had disappeared after dinner, and Evie felt somewhat lost without her support tonight. She sought her out after making a few announcements and was surprised to find her talking to a waiter outside the ballroom doors. “Hey, I’ve been lookin—” Evie stopped mid-sentence when she saw Dallas. She stood there momentarily confused, a range of emotions crossing her mind, including the feeling she had just interrupted them.

  “Hi, Evie, it’s good to see you again,” the young man said, smiling at her.

  “Hi, what are you doing here?” Her heart sped up at the sight of William’s brother.

  Audrey brought Dallas closer, shrinking the distance between them,
and said, “He’s working the fundraiser. What a coincidence, huh?”

  Everleigh wondered how Audrey even knew him, but struggled for words. Seeing him reminded her once again of what she was missing, her fairytale ending. Gripping her stomach, tears formed in her eyes. Both Audrey and Dallas watched her, both their faces falling into sympathetic expressions.

  Dallas reached out and touched her arm. “He loves you just as much.”

  One tear escaped, but she swiftly swiped it away with the back of her hand. Everleigh pointed over her shoulder. “I should get back. I’m one of the hostesses tonight.” She turned and hurried back into the party. As the door closed behind her, she found the nearest wall for support and collapsed against it. Standing on wobbly legs seemed too much, so she walked to the nearest table and sat down, trying not to look crazy. She played her hostess role well and started visiting with a couple still lingering in their chairs across the table from her, hoping to get her mind off the pain she felt inside.

  Tom had been watching Everleigh from the moment she returned to the ballroom out of breath and distraught. He was curious by her strange behavior, but was caught in the middle of an impromptu business meeting. He was stuck, so he watched her over the shoulder of his associate, not really listening to the man in front of him, but catching words such as: Limits, takeovers, and dissolution. These were words of complete unimportance to Tom as he watched his fiancée.

  Everleigh slowly recovered and as she walked back toward the other hostesses, Tom saw Audrey and a waiter walking into the ballroom. The young waiter looked familiar, but at the same time, not quite. Audrey was slumming it tonight, and wondered if that was what upset Everleigh moments earlier. He would deal with Audrey tomorrow. She needed to learn that her actions were embarrassing not only to her family, but his reputation. Turning his attention back to the man in front of him, he continued discussing the volatile stock market and the board meeting coming up the following week.