by Amy Lynn
When the meeting is over and the room is clearing of colleagues, I see Brad in my periphery. He pours a glass of water from a carafe that sits in the center of the table and takes several big gulps. Brad has quite a lot on his plate these days, but do I feel sorry for him?
Not a single tiny bit. Asshole.
I stand buttoning my suit jacket, gathering my notes and slip them into my briefcase.
“Kent,” Brad acknowledges me just as my eyes land on the folder titled ‘JEM’ in my briefcase. “If you have a second, could you stop by my office before you head out?”
“Sure.” I agree, not even bothering to face him.
I take my time in the conference room, then stop to chat with a few partners to keep him waiting. Twenty minutes later, I finally enter the office of Bradley Lauren.
“Abram,” Brad almost growls out and immediately stands from behind his desk. He walks past me, retrieving my umbrella from the stand behind his door and hands it to me. “I believe this belongs to you?”
“Yes, it certainly does. However, I told Ava she could keep it since the one she has is pretty much worthless and can’t really be trusted.”
Brad’s jaw clenches a few times as the light bulb inside that little brain of his flickers.
“I think the one she has can weather the storm just fine,” he scoffs.
“So it’s just those uncontrollable forces of nature that are the problem then?”
Brad narrows his eyes as he tries to figure out what I wasn’t saying. I admit it could have been taken one of two ways. I was in fact an uncontrollable force of nature to be reckoned with. Truth. Or some uncontrollable forces outside of their marriage were making things rather complicated. Another truth.
“Let me make something clear here, Abe. I love Ava, and she loves me. There’s nothing complicated about that.”
Ah, he went with option two.
I smiled a knowing smile and continue. “Brad, you and I both know that you don’t need to actually see a problem to know that one exists. And the way see I it, you have two pretty big ones right now.”
Brad grinds his teeth together, and his hands clench into tight fists at his sides. “Stay the fuck out of my business, Kent.”
I look straight into his eyes, his face red and set in anger. “Believe me, I’m trying. But when your wife knocks on my door at nearly midnight, it becomes my business.” Leaning in, I take the umbrella from his hand. “I’ll take care of this.”
As I walk away, I imagine smoke pouring from Brad’s ears and the top of his head popping off like the villain in the cartoon when his plan gets foiled. I can’t help but smile.
Back at my office, I retrieve the ‘JEM’ folder from my briefcase and spread the contents over my desk. Photos, a background check, family history…It’s true I liked to do my research when it came to the women I choose to date. I’d already had a relationship, if you could call it that, with this girl, and it was over before it ever really began. Her name is Jessica, and I broke things off with her after a month or so when our relationship had become stale. Usually after I sever ties with someone, I never make the same mistake twice. Now she’s pregnant, and that changes things a little.
I pick up the receiver and dial the number listed on the sheet. She answers on the third ring.
“Abram, so good to hear from you.”
“How are things? I trust you are well?”
“Yes, I’m doing very well. Thank you.”
“I’m grabbing a quick dinner at the Corner Bistro around seven. Would you care to join me?”
“Now why would I want to do that?” she teases.
“Oh, come on, Jess. Don’t make me beg.”
She erupts in giggles. “You? Beg? Hell would likely freeze over before that ever happened!”
“I’ll send a car for you, say at six?”
“Hold on just a second. I haven’t agreed to go anywhere with you just yet Abram Kent.”
“Do you need to be persuaded?”
“I might.”
“I’m offering all the dessert you can possibly eat.”
“Deal.”
Chapter 20
Ava
Around 3:00, Mia calls me into her office. “I hate to ask this of you on such short notice, but is there any chance you could stay late tonight?”
Ugh! And on a Monday? If it wasn’t for the desperation I saw in her eyes, I wouldn’t have agreed. “I’d be happy to.”
“Great! I have a client coming in at 4:30, and then I need to discuss an important opportunity with you. It shouldn’t take long.”
I just sent Brad a message explaining I would be a little late and I’d pick up something for dinner when Abe strolls up to my desk.
“I believe this belongs to you?”
I am beyond confused, and my expression shows it. “Is that the umbrella you made me take from you that morning at church?”
Abe narrows his eyes when I say ‘made me.’ “It is. Brad returned it to me, and I’m returning it back to you.”
Shit.
“He wasn’t happy about you being in possession of it either.”
“Obviously.”
Abe holds the umbrella out to me, and after a moment, I take it. “What did you say? What did he say?” I shake my head as my temples begin to throb.
“Relax, princess. Just tell him the truth. Besides, there’s nothing adulterous about the day and the circumstances when I gave it to you.”
He’s right about that.
“But,” Abe says on an exhale, “I did say you were at my apartment Saturday night.”
I grab him by the hand and hurriedly lead him back to his office, trying my hardest not to slam the door once we are inside. “You did what?” I yell.
“Keep your voice down. I didn’t say you spent the night. I just told him you knocked on my door. That’s it. I wanted you to be prepared in case he questions you.”
I sit down in one of the chairs at the front of Abe’s desk and bury my face into my hands. How was I going to explain this?
Abe rubs a hand down my back. “I’m so sorry, Ava. I never meant to say anything, it just sort of…. came out.”
“It’s fine,” I say and slowly stand. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
Abe calls out to me as I make my way to the door, but I don’t look back.
I can’t.
I busy myself with paperwork, happy to have the distraction for as long as I can until Mia’s appointment is finished.
When the elevator doors chime, it’s out of sheer habit I look to see who it is. My heart stops when I see Brad step off.
He is dressed in a black suit I don’t even remember him wearing this morning. His stride is confident, and he’s smiling which makes no sense after my earlier chat with Abram.
“Surprised to see me?” he asks me when he approached my desk.
I shake the cloud of confusion and stand. “I am actually. What brings you by?”
Brad leans in and kisses my cheek. “I got your text. Just thought I’d save you the trouble of picking up dinner. I hope ordering Chinese is okay?”
“Yes, absolutely.” We haven’t had Chinese since we moved to Chicago, and it was something we used to do at least once a week.
“Ava?” Mia starts to ask while coming out of her office with her face buried in a manila file folder. “Could you…”
She stops walking when she sees Brad, and her words fall silent.
“Mia, this is my husband, Brad,” I introduce, taking a step towards her. “He just stopped by to inform me that he was in charge of dinner tonight.”
Brad laughs softly and steps forward to shake Mia’s hand.
“Oh! Well, how thoughtful!” Mia sings. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Brad.”
Brad smiles warmly at her. “Likewise.”
Brad returns to my side and puts his arm around my shoulder instead of in his pocket. “It wasn’t my intent to intrude, and I’ll leave you two ladies to your work,” he says and places
a kiss at my temple pulling me further into him. “See you at home, Ava.”
Leaning down, Brad tips my chin up to meet his eyes. “I love you.”
Looking at the sweet, loving man I married appearing before me if even for a few minutes; I can’t help the overwhelming desire I have to kiss him. “I love you too,” I answer back as I slide my hands beneath his suit jacket around his waist.
Brad’s skin is so warm; not knowing where I stand with him is preventing me from making any sort of move. I can’t risk being embarrassed in front of my boss if I lean in to kiss him only to get rejected, so I tiptoe around that possibility and quickly kiss him beneath his chin.
When I pull back, Brad’s eyes are closed, and his jaw is tightly clenched. Did I make a wrong move here?
“Ava,” Mia interrupts my thoughts from behind Brad, breaking the trance I was in. “It's going to be a few minutes before I’m ready to begin. Why don’t you see Brad down to the lobby?”
“Thanks, Mia.”
Brad gives Mia a goodbye wave, and we set off for the elevator. The doors close behind us, but before I can turn to face him, Brad hits the emergency stop. With my hands clasped in front of me, I turn around keeping my eyes on my thumbnail where the polish has started to lift and peel.
“Ava, look at me.”
When my eyes meet his, he asks, “Are you afraid of me?”
As I shake my head, I answer, “No.”
Brad takes a few steps forward. “What about now?” he asks with only inches between us.
“No.” I say as I reach out and smooth down the silk of his tie.
Brad sets his forehead against mine, his breath warming my face. “Ava, I want to kiss you.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“The fact that once I start, I know I won’t be able to stop.”
I kiss his chin as I did before, threading my hands in the back of his hair, slowly bringing his lips to mine. “Why stop?” I ask kissing his lips light and soft. He doesn’t respond by kissing me back, but he isn’t pushing me away either. Before I lose courage, I kiss him again and let my tongue fall against the fullness of his bottom lip. With a gasp, his lips part, and I quickly follow with another kiss, my tongue darting in slowly to taste the sweetness of his. For the first time in weeks, my husband kissed me. Really kissed me.
Brad captures me around the waist, the buttons of his suit coat sinking into my skin through the fine silk of my blouse as he holds me tight against him. His lips are moving hungrily across mine, sensations exploding throughout my body I nearly forgotten existed.
I feel Brad’s strong hold on me loosen and his lips slow until he breaks free, his chest heaving with his labored breaths and his eyes searching mine. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes and takes a step back from me.
“Brad, I loved every minute of that. I hated to see it end.”
Brad looks away and smiles, “Yeah, me too, but your boss is waiting.” Reaching over, he presses the emergency stop button so the elevator starts back up and holds my hand as the car lowers us to the lobby. When the doors opened, Brad kisses me on the forehead.
“I’ll see you at home.”
I nod and feel my chest tighten with anguish at the thought of him leaving. Fearing this moment will be long forgotten when I return home and our marriage will once again be sheathed in ice, I said, “I love you, Brad.”
“I love you too,” Brad answers back with a tender touch to my cheek.
I watch Brad walk away. The little smile he gives me over his shoulder just before exiting the building warms my heart beyond words, and I fight the urge to chase him down.
Please be this husband when I get home. Please.
When I arrive back on the twelfth floor, I join Mia in her office and sit down across the desk from her. When she looks at me, I could tell that she wants to say something about Brad’s visit. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little curious about her thoughts. Didn’t all women want to know what other women thought of their husbands?
"Ava, I'll try to make this as short as possible so you can get home to your waiting husband," she winks conspiratorially. "Rue, one of LA's premiere ad agencies and a company I have had the honor of working with for several years, is doing a new campaign this year called Reign. It's a fun program designed to raise money for cancer research. They put a list together of average women, photograph them like royalty, tiara, expensive jewelry, you name it, and auction off a chance to have a “night" with any Reign candidate of your choosing IF you're lucky enough to be the highest bidder. These programs are something I'm really passionate about, and this year, they invited me to be a Reign candidate."
"Mia! That's amazing! Congratulations!"
"Thank you. Now this is where you come in." She smiles. "I need you to come with me during the shoot. I need someone to keep me calm and make sure this photo won't be something I'm embarrassed about later."
"I'd love to." I take a deep breath and look away. As much as I really want to be a part of this event, I can't help but think about Brad.
Mia hands me a sheet of paper with all the details and travel arrangements. "The trip is completely on me, and it won't cost you a dime. Talk it over with your husband and get back with me as soon as you can. We're set to leave in two weeks."
I nod and smile as I take the itinerary and make my way back to gather my things from the bottom drawer of my desk. I take a quick glance at Abe's office hoping I can get some much-needed advice on what I should do about the trip with Mia, but the room is dark and empty. No goodbye from him today and no one to ride the elevator with to the lobby. I guess there's a first time for everything.
Pushing open the lobby door, the Chicago wind instantly assaults my face, and I pull my scarf up around my neck for warmth. As my heels click down the sidewalk, I wonder what Brad would think about my trip with Mia and about his affectionate behavior today. While I'm happy about the change, the motivation behind those kind gestures, especially given his attitude as of late, has my mind reeling with possibilities. Clearly Brad is trying to make an effort, a real effort and not some half assed attempt. I should just drop all the suspicion, but it is so hard to do, especially when I feel the other shoe might drop at any moment.
Then I remembered the way Brad touched me and how his kiss felt just a little while ago. How his eyes sparkled when he looked at me and the way he held me was full of love and tenderness. Like it was in the beginning when everything was fresh and new and you couldn't help but be stupid happy. Those were the moments I wanted back. Tangled sheets, messy hair, and flushed cheeks. To have Brad get in my head and possess my thoughts so violently that we forget all about the damage done. To completely and totally wreck me. Have words roll off his tongue he's never said to me before even if they're a lie. For one night have a heart that beats so wildly for me that he forgets he's ever said the words I do and says them all over again.
A flirtatious laugh of a woman breaks through my thoughts, and naturally, I look ahead to see its source. It’s a leggy blonde with her head thrown to the sky in delight and her hand looped through the arm of none other than Abram Kent. She looks at him with a wide smile, perfect white teeth and at that moment, he gives her one of those megawatt smiles of his. Something about her seems familiar, but it doesn't hit me until Abe hold’s the door open to a waiting car, that I see her pregnant belly and I know. It’s her. It’s JEM.
******
At home, I find Brad in the den. He is typing away on his laptop, and I can't help but stare at him. Will he be the affectionate Brad that visited me today, or will he be back to disturbed, bitter Brad? As if he hears my thoughts, he looks up from behind his computer and into my eyes and smiles.
"Hello Wifey."
The endearment alone is all I need to hear. I take a breath and try to swallow back my welling tears, but Brad notices and crosses the room. Grasping my shoulders, he gives a gentle squeeze and asks me what’s wrong.
"They're happy tears," I explain. "I'm so glad you'
re here."
He strokes my cheek and kisses my forehead as I put my arms around his waist and hug him tight. I can almost hear the walls Brad had put up come crashing down around us. We stand like this for a few minutes until Brad whispers, "I'm starving. Let’s get something to eat."
As we sit down to eat Chinese takeout, Brad’s cell phone begins to ring. He looks at the screen and quickly ignores the call. He is still keeping something from me. I can tell by the way his jaw tensed when he saw who the call was coming from. I just hoped at some point he would feel comfortable enough to talk to me about it.