Cold Feet

VIOLA

Lara is away from work for a long time. I run the business and keep her informed about the most important aspects only. I don’t trouble her with the day to day running of the business. She doesn’t need to know about it. James isn’t improving at all. He’s been moved home and Lara has had changes made to their room to accommodate the care that he needs. It’s just too expensive to keep him at the hospital even though her business is doing well.

Lara tells me multiple times that I’m a blessing for her and that she doesn’t know what she’d do without me. I tell her not to worry. I’m only too glad to be able to help her.

Rick and I communicate via text message and phone calls mostly. It seems we’ve both agreed it’s best to stay away from each other. When we speak it’s purely business. There’s no small talk at all. Neither of us will open the door to any more opportunities for weakness. As the wedding nears though, there is one last meeting that I have to have with Rick. It can’t be avoided.

I’ve started working from Lara’s office since I think it’s more practical. I can communicate faster with her team and her secretary.

Rick can only make it at seven in the evening. We planned to meet earlier but he has a last minute meeting with a client that delays him.

I order pizza delivery because I’m hungry. I don’t know if he’s eaten but I order extra for him just in case he’s hungry. The wedding is just over a week away and this is the final meeting to confirm everything.

I finish my pizza and go through my notes again. I want to keep the meeting as short as possible. I pour us each a cup of coffee. As I do so I don’t hear Rick enter the office. He approaches me from behind and speaks when he’s right behind me. I shriek in surprise and turn spilling the coffee all over his shirt and suit.

It takes me a moment to recover and then I lay my hands on his shirt. I can feel his strong chest under it. The shirt is hot and I realize the coffee must have been scolding.

“Oh God. I’m so sorry!” I exclaim. Lara’s office has a mini kitchen and I grab a cloth, wet it under the tap and then quickly start to wipe furiously at Rick’s shirt making it even more wet. The coffee stain lightens in color but the wet spot spreads as his shirt absorbs the water.

“I’m so sorry,” I exclaim again. By now his shirt is mostly soaked through and I can see the dark patches of his nipples. That and his muscles outlined against his soaked shirt are making me weak.

“It’s okay,” he says softly at last and covers my hand with his. It strikes me how small my hand is compared to his. I raise my eyes and meet his gaze. I’ve been avoiding it until now. And now it’s too late.

on my toes then kissing him. He doesn’t respond for a moment but then he reacts, and

“You fucking skank!”

friend. Christine. What is she doing here? The weddings supposed to be secret? My inner voice answers sarcastically, so you think because the weddings supposed to be secret you can kiss

look like a ghost. That or

and slaps me. Not once but twice,

up to protect my

you are?” Christine shouts. “I always knew you were from the wrong side of the tracks. When I’m finished with you, you’ll be back there and you’ll never make it back

my hands and look at her and then at Rick whose face

“Get out!” Christine shouts.

feel sick. I know I’m done for. My career is finished. I have betrayed Lara’s trust and if she has to choose there’s no question about the choice she’s going to make. I want to vomit right there in the elevator. I wish I could back and fix what I did, take the moment back. I pull out my phone and unlock it. I think it’s better if I tell Lara myself. She doesn’t

and look up Lara’s number. I dial her number

message and then decide a voice message

you anymore. I’m sorry, I really 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

do a message pops up on my phone. It’s from Lara. I

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.

a message back to

out the cab’s window and watch the city passing by. I feel as if I’m watching my dream dissolve and blow away on the wind. I had it all this time and I truly

back into the path of

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

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 really. It was all done before I got involved. Well there’s nothing I can do about