"Ana, how was your appointment?" Kate asks over the car speaker, while I drove back to work.
"It was good, we barely scraped the surface," I reply. "I think we're going to have a long ways to go."
"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you."
"I know," I smile to myself. "You know that I'm grateful for your support, don't you?"
"Of course, but I do wish you would cut that asshole out of your life… I can't even believe that Elliot could have a brother that's such a douche."
I let out a small laugh, "Kate, he's trying, I have to start forgiving everything that happened… you know that."
"I know, but I still want to beat the shit out of him."
"Stow your knives, he's been on his best behaviour."
"Oh pish-posh, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. I'm just so glad that you're going out with Gerard, he's a great guy."
"Good to know," I chuckle. "Hey, I just arrived at work, I'll call you tomorrow for a gossip."
"Okay, can't wait. Love ya, girl."
I pause and finally able to reply, "Love you too."
I also found out something about myself recently, I have a hard time saying I love you, and I'm only able to do so with Kate because she had always been a constant in the last few years. Although, when Christian had told me he loved me all those years ago, I readily returned the sentiment… God, my therapist is going to make a killing with my emotional issues.
x
When I finally got out of work and to the lounge to meet Gerard that night, I was a bundle of nerves. This was my very first date, as in a guy asked me out and I actually accepted, and then showed up to the designated destination. I sort of wish that Kate could have helped calm me down from the first-date jitters, but I knew I had to do this on my own. I had to push myself to leave my office and force myself not to drive home; if this was what millions of women are going through daily I want no part of it. I mean Gerard and I hung out but it was more spontaneous, it was never planned.
"From what you told me I never thought you'd show," Gerard laughs when he sees me approach him at the bar.
"Me too," I confess.
"I'm really glad that you did, you look so beautiful," Gerard kisses my cheek and leads me to the table he had reserved.
I was only wearing my pantsuit from work, nothing special, but Gerard made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room.
"Thank you," I smile at him happily.
"So how was work?"
"Just barely got out of there before another client called me to fly down to meet them somewhere tonight," I laugh. "That reminds me I won't be able to go to the play with you."
"Why not?" Gerard furrows his eyebrows.
"One of the people I represent is having a breakdown because he has to have a face-to-face interview." He quirks his eyebrow in question, I guess that I was being pretty vague. "He's never done a face-to-face interview, it's always been on the phone."
"Ahh, well I'm sorry to hear that, I was looking forward to taking you."
I couldn't help the jolt of excitement inside; he wanted to take me out again… in public no less.
"Me too," I reply forlornly, "rain check?"
"Of course."
The night went on just like it had the first night we were together full of laughter and long conversation, but instead of a kiss on my hand at the end of the night, I received my first "French" kiss. That man's tongue is quite talented.
It ended there though; he was a gentleman throughout the night.
I stepped out of the elevator and into my house, and not even ten minutes later I receive a text from Gerard.
Had a wonderful night Ana, I'm really glad that you trusted me enough to give me a chance. Sleep well, beautiful x
I quickly reply and head into the bathroom to get ready for bed. It was a wonderful night, one of the best I've had in a long time.
x
"Knock, knock," I hear from my door.
"Come in," I answer without looking up from my computer.
"Hey, Anastasia," a smooth velvet voice made me lookup.
I look up and a small smile plays on my lips, Christian is back with a brown paper bag with food.
"Hi, Christian, is that lunch I see?"
"That it is," he laughs, "how's your week been?"
I quickly run through my week and give him the edited version; I've noticed a weird tension in both Christian and Gerard when I bring up the other's name. I'm a tad curious as to why that is because it seems to go beyond regular jealousy.
"Mine has been less than stellar. Anyway, I was in the neighbourhood and knew that you were too busy to see me this week so I decided to bring you something… And I sort of missed you."
In all honesty, I did miss him but all I could give him was a shy smile in return because when it comes to him I know that I had stand guard.
"That's nice of you," I blush. "So, I have to ask why are you here? Don't you have a multi-billion dollar enterprise to run?"
He chuckles and gives me a cocky grin, "That's the beauty of being your boss, you get to set your own rules and people tend to follow them."
"Your ego is showing," I tease.
"Yeah, yeah, let's eat."
x
The following weekend I jet off to New York to visit with Derrick Bow, my recluse client and in a strange sort of way a close friend.
"Hey Derrick, are you ready for tomorrow?" I ask over a plate of pasta that his mother brought to me.
Normally, this would not be commonplace, but like I said I had to find a way to connect with him and form a bond of trust.
"Not in the slightest," he answers.
"Want me to run through the questions again?"
"No, I think I got it. I just wanted you to be here… I trust you," he stutters out.
Derrick is a brilliant 29-year-old author, he published his first book four years ago and I've always enjoyed his twisted thrillers. His new novel has been on the New York Bestsellers list eight weeks in a row, I set up the interview before the book was ever bought but of course, he tried to dodge the interview. Now time is of the essence, we have to galvanize on his success and stay in the media while he is on the wings of his latest novel.
"And I know that your busy but I needed you to be here… I know most clients don't need you to be with them at every interview-"
"Trust me, I wanted to be here and I'm glad that I was able to move things around for you."
"Thank you, I feel much better about doing this."
"Good, I have to head back to my hotel, I'll see you guys bright and early."
xx
I met Derrick and his mom at their home by 9 am and rode with them to the hotel where the photoshoot and interview were going to happen. I ushered them to the suite where I've prepped the photographer and interviewer on what was permissible interactions. Both of them stayed a good six feet away and did not offer their hands to shake.
Derrick allowed the photographer to show him how to pose and quickly took the photographs they needed for the spread.
Then, the interviewer sped through my approved questions and within an hour and a half we were all done. It was amazing to see Derrick like this; though he will never be open to doing many personal interviews this was a great change of pace for him.
"Thank you, Rose, for coming down here, you have no idea how much this has helped me."
"No problem, I will see you soon okay?" I smile as I tapped on the hood of the town car after I said my final goodbyes to them.
I am really glad that I'm able to settle things with him and as I sit on one of the plush recliners at the first-class lounge. I'm on my way to Toronto for one evening and then to Vancouver. Even though this is just a start to my week-long trip, a wave of completion comes over and a grin settles on my face. I love my job; it isn't about the glamour but the relationships that I've created with my clients.
xx
Once I finally settle back into my regular work-life in Seattle. The days are passing in relative calm, travelling less and balancing my social life with my professional life. I'm seeing Kate more often for girls' night in or out and sometimes Elliot even accompanies us, having many long conversations and dates with Gerard, and Christian and I were slowly growing closer. I haven't breached the subject of contention between the two men, but right now it's working well, they don't speak of each other but there is definite history there.
Although Christian and I are getting closer there is always some sort of initial awkwardness. We didn't know how to act around each other, we're like awkward teenagers and if I were a third-party viewer of our strange dance I would find all this hilarious. Since I am not, I find our relationship off-putting and at times strenuous but I deeply enjoyed our heated debates and fumbling figures.
On the Gerard front, it has been in all rights of the word "flourishing", he's been a complete gentleman. The sex was good, not just good, but toes-curling-out-of-this-world sex. Once we stopped hooking up, we didn't have much to talk about. I didn't feel that spark when we were just conversing or out to dinner, but the normalcy of our relationship was quite nice. I've never been in a normal relationship.
"What are your Christmas plans?" Gerard asks as he plants kisses on my shoulder.
"Not much," I reply. "I kind of just want to relax at home."
"My friends and I are having an orphan's Christmas on the 25th if you want to come?"
"Um…" I reply. I couldn't think of anything worse than spending Christmas with people let alone people I don't know.
"You don't have to say yes, ma cherie," he quickly replies.
"No, it's not that," I try to recover quickly.
"Don't worry about it," he replies, he kisses my forehead.
Well I felt like total shit, he seemed really into it, but I truly did not want to be around strangers during my vacation. I would have gone on a vacation in a warmer place but vacationing alone seemed a bit sad especially when everyone everywhere is spending time with their families. I'm perfectly fine spending Christmas inside like a hermit – nothing like take out and old movies.