Disclaimer: Not mine
Thanks to all who have reviewed last time; apologies for making you wait this long; smirks for those who still wanna scream at me for keeping the mystery unsolved.
Chapter Twelve
Lindsey had another meeting with the CEO of O'Roarke Incorporated, a follow-up of yesterday's business. When he arrived on floor 57 though, he was stunned by the sight. After enduring O'Roarke's secretary's usual biting sarcasm, he entered the private office where, apparently, within a night, Angelus O'Roarke had aged years and he looked nearly…defeated. Lindsey took notice that he was wearing the same clothes he had on yesterday and his eyes were red.
"Good Morning Mr. O'Roarke."
"Good Morning Lindsey." Even his voice was unusually deep and scathed.
"About the documents you ask me to start preparing yesterday? I was wondering…" Lindsey wasn't very sure how to proceed and not sound like interference.
"I heard that you're getting married." The subject change was abrupt, and it moved on to something Lindsey didn't particularly want to share with his prominent client.
"Um…yes."
"Congratulation, Miss Morgan's a wonderful woman. Very loyal to the ones she loves."
"Thank you. How did you…"
"Mrs. O'Roarke is your fiancée's closest friend. I think you have probably found that out?" His wife's name did not come easy to Angelus and he moved his gaze to the floor to ceiling glass window surrounding the office.
"Yes."
"The divorce is amiable; you don't have to worry about choosing sides. I assume we both will be happy to retain your service once she knows the divorce will go through. But if she wants to look for another lawyer herself, I want you to represent her."
"You want me to protect her rights, even if it means against your own interest?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I can do that."
"Good. Proceed with the necessary documents."
That particular discussion ended there, and business as usual took over the conversation. Another half an hour passed before the end of the meeting and Lindsey excused himself from Angelus' office. As he neared the door, Angelus called out, "Lindsey."
"Yes?" He turned around.
"Did my invitation get lost in the mail?" Angelus asked blandly, his face showed no semblance of any emotion, it seemed like such a simple question.
Lindsey's brows furrowed, they didn't associate socially, Angelus knew this and yet he asked; it was not a question. "Probably, there were quite a number of invitations and the postal service these days are really lacklustre."
"So, you will send another invitation right? I won't want to miss your wedding."
"I have someone send it over directly."
"Great, Congratulations again. Looking forward to the party."
Faith was worried, looking around her apartment once more. She'd begun to clean out her stuff, getting ready to move into Lindsey's and have Buffy and Alex move into her apartment. She looked among the boxes filled with mementos of the past and unnecessities, all packed and ready for her next stage in life. A queasy feeling started in her stomach, and a chill in her feet. This Saturday's it. She looked down at her engagement ring. It was simple and unique, a band of platinum with a fiery red diamond. I didn't even know there were red diamonds. She smiled, remembering the numerous times that Lindsey had proposed.
The man had tried every trick in the world, but Faith always resisted, claiming that their relationship is fine and there's no need for a piece of paper. Until Lindsey sat her down and spelled out his need. I want you to belong to me, and I want to belong to you. The man was nothing if not persistent, and there was something in his eyes that night. Faith saw and responded, "Yes." The moment the word slipped out between her lips, instead of the restlessness she thought she would feel by the constraints of the role she would be stepping into, she felt a sense of peace. Her eyes, never leaving Lindsey's, were misted; she wondered what took her so long to say yes. She loves him; that she can no longer deny. She'd known it all the while, but it scared her. Lindsey was in fact the first serious relationship she'd ever had. That's not to say that she was a virgin, far from it, Faith was the party girl. She loved her hedonistic lifestyle and strived to find pleasure at every turn of her life. She never ever had the thoughts of settling down. Until she met Linds.
It was instant attraction. Fire and heat. While Faith had gone home satisfied of an afternoon's work well-done, and physically sated; she never expected to see Lindsey again. A little disappointing maybe, but for Faith, the next bit of fun is never that far away. And surely the little regret she felt now will pass soon enough. It did, the next day, when Lindsey called and asked her out for a little drinky-thing and maybe dinner, and maybe something more. A little drinky-thing, turned into dinner indeed, and something more. The progress repeated itself everyday for a month, with weekends being the perfect festive grounds for the lovers.
Before Faith had realized that a whole month had passed, Lindsey had managed to insinuate himself pretty well in her life. The man was definitely smart and sexy. While Faith would have thought that dating was a confining and repetitious activity. Her time with Lindsey was never so. She'd never felt more at ease with another man, and more excited and more fun. He would tease so much life out of her, enjoying the person and woman that she is just as he made sure she enjoyed him.
But deep inside, there was always this fear. Fear of betrayal, of abandonment, of love. She'd been deadly afraid that all that they have is just an illusion. That sometime, anytime, soon perhaps, that she would see the reality of who he is. Or, that he would see the reality of who she is. It never happened. In fact, everything became more real when they're together, the heat, the looks, the ice-cream. And this Saturday, in just 4 more days, she will be his wife.
Keeping her fingers crossed, Faith smiled and whistled as she re-enters her bedroom to change for dinner plans with Buffy and Lindsey.
TBC...
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