C39 Chapter 39

VIOLA

I record my message, Hi, Lara. I’m calling to tell you that I can’t work for you anymore. I’m sorry, I just wanted to help you from the bottom of my heart and I’ve done my best but I have failed you and I’m sorry. When you find out from Christine, you’ll fire me anyway. I’m sorry. Truly, truly sorry. I’ll pack my things and leave your apartment. I’m sure I can leave the phone and laptop in the apartment for your man to collect. I can drop the apartment keys back at the office tomorrow.

I finish the message and send it. As I do a message pops up on my phone. It’s from Lara. I retrieve the voice message.

Viola, I’ve just had a very disturbing phone call from Christine. I’m disappointed, to say the least. I have no choice but to terminate your employment. Please return your computer and phone to the office and leave the apartment. You can leave the keys to the apartment at the office as well.

I send a message back to Lara. Okay. I’m sorry.

That’s it. There’s nothing more to say or explain. I couldn’t expect any more or less. I look out the cab’s window and watch the city passing by. I feel as if I’m watching my dream dissolve and blow away in the wind. I had it all this time and I’ve thrown it away. I begin to cry silent tears. The cab ride seems to take forever.

I think of all the times that the universe kept pushing me back into Rick’s path as if we were meant to be together.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t that we were meant to be together. Maybe it’s because this industry isn’t for me. Maybe I don’t belong here and maybe it’s used Rick to throw me out again. I don’t know what I’ll do now. I can’t leave Los Angeles again. The opportunities are here. I’ll just have to find it. But that’s the least of my worries right now.

I don’t receive any messages from Rick. Why would I? I guess he’s getting his ass chewed out by the bitch right now. She’s probably pissed that I was handling the wedding arrangements. She might even cancel the wedding altogether just because I was involved although I did nothing. It was all done before I got involved. Well, there’s nothing I can do about it if she wants to be a bitch.

I arrive at Lara’s office the next morning. Sabrina, her secretary greets me.

“She’s expecting you,” Sabrina says.

I’m surprised. “She’s in?”

Sabrina nods. I’m immediately filled with trepidation. I knock on Lara’s door and enter when she calls, “Come in.”

She looks up when I enter and she stands and circles her desk. I stop and unshoulder the backpack with the computer. I open it and remove the computer. I place it and the cellphone on the coffee table along with her apartment keys.

“I’m sorry.” It’s all I can say. There are no excuses and Lara’s got enough on her plate without still having to listen to my schoolgirl explanations.

She nods. “Thanks,” she says. “You did a great job. I’m sorry to see you go but I can’t condone what you did.”

I nod and look down at my feet. “I understand. Thanks for everything you did for me. I wish you all the best and I’ll pray for James.”

“Thanks,” Lara whispers. I know she’s about to cry and I don’t want to see it. I turn and walk back to the office door. “Vi,” she calls when I reach the door.

I turn and face her.

“Good luck,” she smiles.

“Thanks,” I reply and then I leave her office. I say a quick goodbye to Sabrina and then I’m gone. I deal with my tears on the way down in the elevator.

I called Amber the night before and gave her the news. I asked if I can crash at their place again until I get on my feet. Amber and Dane are only too happy to be able to help. I’ll go there although I have no idea what to do next.

CHRISTINE

After the skank leaves, I turn on Rick.

“What the fuck was that?” I ask.

“Hey,” he says. “I didn’t do anything. You saw what happened.”

“How the hell did you meet that skank?”

Rick decides to omit their history. “She works with Lara. Lara asked her to step in after James’ stroke. You know she hasn’t been at work since his stroke.”

“Well, what the hell? Am I supposed to believe that she just decided to try and kiss you right now? How long have you been working on the wedding together?”

“Christine,” Rick says putting his hands on my shoulders. I brush him off. “Listen, it wasn’t my choice. Lara recommended her after James’ stroke. I trust Lara’s judgment. I had no idea she was going to do that.”

Rick can’t be honest. He thinks it will just make Viola’s situation worse. In all honesty, though, he hadn’t tried to do anything.

“What the hell is wrong with your shirt?” I ask realizing that it’s wet.

“She spilled coffee on it.,” I reply.

“Oh, how sweet. So she could pretend to wipe it off and feel you up?” I ask cynically.

“I think it was an honest mistake,” Rick replies.

“What, are you defending her now?” I ask. I’m looking for someone to vent on and he’s the only one in the room.

“Chris, calm down, please. It’s over. She’s gone and …”

“You’re damn right she’s gone,” I say. “I’m calling Lara.”

Rick wants to object but he doesn’t. He knows there’s no point. It’ll only make matters worse. I dial Lara and when she answers I first ask her about James. She tells me he hasn’t improved. I then proceed to tell her what just happened and tell her I demand that she fires Viola.

Lara is shocked and struggles to believe it. I put Rick on the phone and he confirms what happened. He hands the phone back to me and Lara tells me, she’ll let Viola go and apologizes. I apologize to Lara as well because I know she has no other back up which means she’ll have to return to the office to run the business herself.

Then I grab Rick and take him home. That night we make love like we have not made love in a long while and I realize I have been neglecting him for Grady. I realize I need to be careful or I could blow this.

Lara returns to work the next day. She calls me after Viola has visited her office and returned the company laptop and phone. I apologize to her again for putting her in the predicament she’s in now. I offer to send over one of my staff to help but Lara declines.

Things return to normal and I begin to make sure I spend more time with Rick. He asks me to keep the next weekend open and I guess that’s the wedding day. When I see Grady again, I tell him. He’s less than pleased.

“What do you mean you think it’s the wedding date?”

“Well, he asked me to keep the weekend open. He never does that and since I told him to arrange everything for the wedding, I’m guessing this is it. He never tells me to keep days open. All things are pointing towards it.”

“So, what about us?” Grady asks. “Haven’t I proved myself to you enough? How much is it going to take before you decide I’ve done enough? I’m beginning to think you’re simply holding out on me.”

“Oh, is the poor, little rich boy going to cry?” I ask sarcastically. “Don’t forget who left who the first time. Who broke my heart? Who want’s me back? You do. Are you prepared to do what it takes?”

“Haven’t I shown you that already?” Grady asks, the irritation in his voice clear.

“You might think so but it’s not your decision to make. You agreed to this remember?”

“Yeah, well I’m beginning to think that maybe I shouldn’t have.”

“Really? What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask as my temper flares.