Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
“
Son of a bitch!
”
Julian says, in a tone mixing
incredulity, defeat and anger.
Ethan just gives a healthy laugh, and
tapping the shoulder of his stunned friend, says,
“
I think you mean thank you?
”
as Julian is looking at him awestruck, he
concludes,
“
One day, you
’
ll thank me Jay, trust me.
”
Ethan and Vi
“
To what do I owe such largesse? A 4x4
Lexus Hybrid E.?
”
she asked with a smile in lieu of a
welcome.
“
You are mighty generous
…
which only means one thing, you have a
hidden agenda
…
so tell me E, what is it?
”
she gave him an amused grin.
“
I
’
m trying to woo you
…”
he retorted deadpan.
Her eyebrow arched before she burst out
laughing, and said in Spanish,
“
Yo
no se
que
hacer
contigo
!
”
“
Is it working? Is it working?
”
he replied making a clown face.
She shook her head, unable to resist his
contagious banter,
”
I really don
’
t know what to do with you!
”
“
Well, baby, you could just let me whisk
you away
…”
“
E. You never cease to surprise
…
I
’
ll give you that! And no one can accuse
you of being cheap either! Come in.
“
she gave in, opening the door wide.
((~~!~~))
He had called her on her birthday. Actually, left a
message on her voicemail, informing her, he was in Paris, and knew she was probably
out with her friends and the man in her life the very same evening, so he would
not interfere, but yet wanted her to know his thoughts were with her.
She had gotten the message on her second
bathroom break from the meal they were having at La Tour D
’
argent.
Julian had gone all out, having the
restaurant closed down except for her party of 8. She had met Marcus and Todd
for the first time that evening, after hearing so much from both Julian and
Lily; Deric was there with his girlfriend du jour, and of course Kevin. The
affair was intimate, the food had been made and set by one of the best chefs of
the French capital, and of last but not least, the view of the city was simply
majestic, making the evening even more so exceptional and memorable.
In the powder room with Lily, she had
turned on her cell phone, almost on a hunch, and there it was, E.
’
s voice wishing her a happy birthday.
She had looked at Lily, and told her she
would make a quick and simple call thanking him for the car.
Lily had replied,
“
Nothing is quick or simple with Ethan.
”
but guarded the door while she was
punching in the number.
Unsurprisingly, he had picked up on the
first ring.
She announced she didn
’
t have time to talk to him that evening,
but would like to see him the following day, since he was in town.
He had laughed, and repeated,
“
Yes, since I
’
m in town, might as well
…”
They had agreed he
’
d call her in the afternoon to ink a
suitable time.
Now, here he was.
In the flesh.
And, with a dazzling
smile.
If she didn
’
t know any better, she
’
d swear, the man was on a mission.
Surprisingly, she felt a thrilling chill
on her spine.
What the hell?
((~~!~~))
Once inside, he kissed her cheek, and went straight down to business,
asking,
“
Is Kevin with you?
”
To say she was surprised was an understatement.
Inhabitants of the moon knew these two men didn
’
t get along, so why E. would enquire about
her best friend was a mystery.
“
Yes, he
’
s here, somewhere
…”
she motioned with her hand, eyebrows now
raised, and looking at him suspiciously.
He answered the silent question before she could voice
it, by announcing,
“
It
’
s actually him, I
’
m here to see first... I
’
m sure he wasn
’
t too thrilled to see my gift, and I
’
m certain he was relieved when I didn
’
t turn up at your party last night
…”
“
How
…”
she started, but he interrupted, saying,
“
I need to speak to him, clear the air, once
and for all. This is the only way we
’
ll
manage to cohabitate, knowing where we all stand.
”
“
Cohabitate? Ethan, what are you talking
about?
”
she asked, sensing panic rise within her.
“
I
’
m here, you
’
re here, he
’
s here, Julian is here
…
We all need to acclimate and cohabitate
with each other
…”
he explained.
”
I
’
m not sure I follow you
…”
she was now utterly confused and looked at
him circumspectly. His words simply did not make any sense at all in this
sentence!
“
Acclimate? Ethan
…
You and Kevin
…”
but she couldn
’
t finish, as from behind her, Kevin
’
s voice asked coolly,
“
Everything all right here?
”
his eyes resting on his sworn enemy as she
could feel his hand settle around her waist.
Ethan didn
’
t bother answering, and just walked past
them both saying,
”
I
’
ll
be on the terrace.
”
CHAPTER 97
Ethan and Kevin
2 Square du Trocadero, 75016. Paris. France.
A jolt of jealousy tore through him almost making him
weak-kneed. Reeling with anger and hurt, he watched her whisper something in
his ear, as his hand rested on her lower back, her body leaning against his.
She laughed softly before glancing towards him, and leaving the room.
Ethan walked ahead, ignoring
him
,
ignoring
them
, opening the French doors leading to the large terrace
overlooking the Eiffel Tower. He needed some air.
Watching them play house was making him
sick.
He feels the man standing behind him, and
without moving an inch, says out loud,
“
So you finally got her where you always
wanted
…”
turning
around so he could watch the other man
’
s reaction, his blue eyed stare piercing
the ones of the man watching him.
“
Ethan, you had your chance and you blew
it. Women do not like to be treated as property. Vi is no exception. Eventually
they rebel.
”
Kevin said, returning a hard stare to the
man he loathes more than anyone on the planet.
Ethan laughs openly,
“
Really Kevin? Wow! So, you think playing house
with her is what she needs to be happy?
”
“
She is happy Ethan!
”
Kevin retorts angrily.
“
Whatever Kevin. There are things Vic needs
that no one else but me can give her, so, keep deluding yourself thinking, you
’
ll get to finally have her, when the truth
is you never will, simply because you don
’
t have it in you to give her what she
needs and craves...
”
“
And, what
’
s that Ethan? A cheating husband? A
rapist? An abuser? A selfish man more concerned by his career than his wife
well-being? I could go on
…”
the man
in front of him pales, and his fists start to itch.
“
Caution Kevin. Shut your mouth because you
don
’
t know what you are talking about. You can
’
t possibly know what goes on between
married people
…
Oh, that
’
s right, you never were married
…
Gee, I wonder why
…”
Ethan says in a dangerously calm but
taunting voice.
“
You think Vic and I didn
’
t have sex after the rape? Well, news
flash, mate, the woman is sexual. We had sex, great sex, plenty of it, up to
the very last day she was in Sydney, I fucked against her own dresser and she
was begging me to thrust harder
…”
he continues, eyes narrowing, as he awaits a
reaction.
The first punch never hits Ethan, as he
intercepts and holds sternly Kevin
’
s wrist, and says inches from his face,
”
You don
’
t want to fuck with me Kevin. What would
Vic think of her perfect, protective, best friend, suddenly unable to control
his emotions like a schoolgirl?
”
he chuckles softly, adding,
“
Hate me all you want, I don
’
t give a shit. But let
’
s be clear about one thing. She will never
be yours.
”
He lowers Kevin
’
s arms, and says,
“
You won
’
t be able to make her happy. Not in the
long run anyway, so man up, and just admit it to yourself, you
’
ll save us all time and grief.
”
He straightens his cashmere sweater,
flicking away imaginary lint.
“
Kevin, she can
’
t be herself with you, never could. Let
her go, or she
’
ll end up resenting you and I don
’
t think that great friendship of yours
could survive it
…”
his voice
trails, a lazy smile gracing his face, while he steps away from the balcony railing
giving a pitiful look to his wife
’
s best friend.
As he reached for the knob of the French
door, he turns to a very discombobulated Kevin and when their eyes meet for the
last time, he says, "I'm taking her back. It was pleasant seeing you, as
usual."
((~~!~~))
Kevin is in bed that evening, alone. Thinking.
She
’
s been back for over two months now, her
pregnancy is fully showing, and she is simply glowing.
As beautiful as ever. No, even more so.
Coming home was clearly what she needed. What
he needed.
Seeing her, being with her every day has
reminded him how much he
’
s missed her, missed
‘
them
’
. They still have it: the bond, the
intimacy, that thing neither of them has put a label on. They also have their
limitations.
They don
’
t sleep together, except the odd night
when he reads to her and they fall asleep in each other
’
s arms, like old times.
Kevin thinks of Ethan
’
s words. God, he hates that man. Always
has, even before the rape. He hates him because he took her away from him,
transporting her on the other side of the planet. That
’
s why he refused to attend their wedding.
Just the idea of that man taking her away from him forever
…
He wants to punch him.
He drove Charlotte, his short lived
fiancée, to walk out on him, an hour before their church wedding ceremony when
she found them walking out of the vestry, hands intertwined, as he was telling
her she would always be the most important woman in his life; not exactly the
words that any future wife wants to hear. When Charlotte confronted him, his
inability to recuse his declaration sealed their fate. His future ex-bride
simply stated she would not enter a marriage knowing she
’
d always come second to another woman who
wasn
’
t
his
mother. He couldn
’
t help it. Vi was his everything and no
other woman would take her place.
Years have passed, and he
’
s had relationships, the longest being
three years with the same woman, but in the end,
she
was still the only
one he would give up his world for. The
One
he measured all women
against. So, he bid his time.
Truth be told, when she calls him and
tells him about the rape and the state of her marriage, his heart breaks
because of what she had to endure at Ethan
’
s hands. He hates knowing she suffered,
but he also feels perverse joy because for the first time in years, she cries
her need for him. He is needed again, her constant, her best friend. The only
man she can really count on.
When he finds out, she
’
s pregnant, he wants her to abort and
tells her so, even before her fall, even before the cancer. He doesn
’
t want her to face a daily reminder of
what that man has done to her.
He doesn
’
t want to face it.
But when he sees her determination and the
happiness the pregnancy finally brings her, he rallies. He
’
ll tolerate Ethan as long as he makes her
happy. When Luca is born, he sees her son before she does, and the baby takes a
piece of his heart, because he looks like his mother, and he has to admit with
Ethan
’
s striking blue eyes, Luca is destined to
be a heart stealer. When Luca dies, he
’
s there and sees how detached she is, and
he knows she is broken and never will be the same. He
’
s uncertain about what happened exactly as
she refuses to talk, but when she leaves Ethan almost immediately after, he
doesn
’
t care, he
’
s just happy she
’
s finally breaking her marital bond.
He wants her to come home, but instead she
tells him what she has left in store for Ethan, and he can bet Paris will be
the first place her husband will search to find her when he discovers what she
’
s done, so she will not be coming home.
Not yet anyway.
When her cancer returns, she goes away for
two long years to heal herself physically and mentally. They only communicate
through emails and seldom phone calls. He makes a point of keeping her informed
of what the fall out of her leaking the files has done to her husband career.
She doesn
’
t care. He
’
s happy, Ethan is truly behind her, and he
finally got what was coming to him. He is the one who suggests a quick divorce
in the Caribbean, so she can put this entire episode of her life where it
belongs, in a box, never to be revisited ever again. She concurs. The woman
re-emerging in Berlin in 2007 is a new Vi.
When he receives her call in 2007, and she
tells him she is ready to put the pieces of her life together, and wants his
help, he promises he
’
ll do whatever he can. And he does. She
wants to start a new life. He provides new passports, educates her on how to
transit through countries almost undetected, and advises her on creating the
simple life she wants without risking her former husband finding or contacting
her. He simply doesn
’
t trust Ethan to let her go and not exact
revenge.
Her new identity is the key to her and his
own peace of mind. The new multiple passports with 10-year validity only show
her first name, Thalia, which she
’
s always hated and never used on any
documents: from her degrees to her American express, it
’
s always been Victoryn, her middle name;
no one ever heard her be called Thalia, even he only found about the 1
st
name by accident. But, that very name would be her saving grace, she takes it
on 3 of her passports, and she carries her maiden and her mother
’
s maiden name, so she can travel freely
without the McGregor name to be flagged at any airport. She can still use her
McGregor name,- which she refuses to give up because of Luca-, she still has
her Australian passport and it
’
s enough to prove her identity if she needs to, just
not to cross borders with, he advises her.
She is free.
When she reappears in Berlin for one of
Deric
’
s shows at the German Fashion week at the
end of 2007, he is shocked. She is still his Vi in appearance, still strikingly
beautiful, but her eyes hold a sadness that never truly leave, even when she
smiles. She is calmer, less passionate, less extravert, and doesn
’
t seem to care about anything except her
work. Her PhD is finished and she starts prospecting for private international
clients. They decide her new life should be based as far away as possible
from her previous one, so it
’
s decided she
’
ll move the US; Lily will be just a short
flight away, just in case she is in trouble.
For the next three years, she strives
professionally, clients after clients, one international hub after the other,
her reputation as a sharp international contract fixer blooms, she finally gets
the recognition she deserves, and their bond is restored. They are closer than
they
’
ve ever been; they talk almost every day,
no matter where they are in the world.
He realizes, she is still his everything and
simply will never be replaced by any other woman. Yet, he doesn
’
t make any move to change their
relationship when they see each other. They go out, they drink, they talk and
smoke like old times and even fall asleep next to each other, but he is wary of
pushing his agenda because he can feel under the surface she is not herself and
he wonder if she will ever be again. As years go by and no man appears in her
bed or life, he questions her, afraid she is still traumatized by the rape, but
she surprises him when she tells him, her abstinence has nothing with the rape,
but with her and the choices she makes.
“
People change, they grow.
“
she tells him, but he
’
s not convinced growth has anything to do
with it, and he tells her so. He doesn
’
t want her to revert completely to her old
self, but he feels an essential piece of what makes her so special has gone and
whether he likes to admit it or not, he knows sex is important to her, so he
doesn
’
t get how she can abstain from it. Is she
punishing herself? And, if so, why and for how long? Life is short he tells her
to which she replies he doesn
’
t need to remind her, she knows but she
’
s had enough sex for ten lives, and she
’
s simply not interested in it.