The One (24 page)

He
took his time before responding, but finally said he would only report whatever
I allowed him to.

I
was now totally relaxed, smiled and told him to ask away.

He
did.

We
spent almost 6 hours straight talking, until I finally yawned more than I spoke
and fell asleep.

When
I woke up, I found James watching over me and I said in a sleepy voice,
"You're creepy...Do you always stare at women when they sleep?"

"Only
this woman." was his answer as he kept on staring, his expression
unreadable.

I
looked at him, wide-eyed, and said, "James?"

"Hmm?"
he let out softly.

"Should
I be worried? Are you going to tell him?" I asked holding his eyes.

"No.
I don't want you to worry. Not about me anyway. I won't tell him or anyone
anything." he smiled, and caressed my cheek, while placing a strand of my
curls behind my ear.

I
kept looking at him and finally whispered, "Thank you."

((~~!~~))

Vi and
James

When we landed in Dubai, one of the Sheikh's
Rolls Royce Phantom was waiting for me, and took us to the
Burj
al Arab. James was stunned by the majesty of the
hotel. "7 stars?" he mumbled. I laughed.

I
had been accustomed to the extravagance money can bring a long time ago.

James
had decided to spend a few days with me before returning to the States.

I
had some free time after all; we could enjoy a few days of peace before
returning to our working lives.

When
I had asked him how he would handle Julian, he had enigmatically replied,
"Let me deal with him."

We
had four fun days filled with camel rides, beach strolling, talking and
drinking. It felt like I was holidaying with a friend, but I was worried
as his departure date approached.

I
was getting antsy about Julian. I had the feeling he hadn't taken my
departure very well, and things would only get worse before they got better.

I
was grateful for James discretion, but wondered how Julian would react to a
blank report. He simply didn't strike me as the kind of man who would give up
and walk away. I still remember the things Ethan used to say about him, how
similar they were. I remember how Julian had said I was his before falling
asleep in my arms.

I
started to wonder what James would say to him.

As
it happened, as I was about to call him to question him more thoroughly, he
walked into my room, and said coyly, "I really need to get back, your
Julian left 17 messages on my voicemail, and there are 3 more from my boss. I
think he's pissed and I
’
m
about to get fired!" he chuckled.

I
felt a knot in my stomach and asked, "What are you going to tell him
James?"

He
looked at me with a determined look in his eyes and replied,

"Look
Vi, I'm going to tell him I found you, but you simply have no interest in him.
This way, I don't have to tell him anything else, and my job is done. I think
if I go the rejection route, it will be easier than explaining to him why I
can't tell him more about you."

I
pondered his words, thinking.

Would
it be enough? Really? Was it even believable? I mean, I still ached, and it had
been just a short week ago since I left him. If Julian had gone to the
extreme of hiring someone to find me, would he accept I did not want him in my
life? Without getting any explanation? Would he hire someone else or let it go?
Did I want him to let it go?

I
didn't know.

James
was watching me intensely, and he said, "Vi, believe me, I'll convince him
without betraying you. He will let this go. Trust me.
”

I
finally caved and said, "Can you let him down gently... Please?"

He
laughed, "Sure, I'll use my gloves, babe!"

I
threw a pillow to his face.

CHAPTER
18

Didn
’
t
we almost have it all?

Julian

He had just returned from the McCarty
board meeting and was exhausted. Marcus had been a champion as usual at keeping
everything running smoothly when Julian was still distracted with what they now
called the "V issue".

He
entered his living room with the intent of pouring himself a drink and unwind,
when the sound of a clearing throat stopped him.

“
How...? What the fuck are you doing here?
”
he exclaimed, advancing to the corner of
the room, eyeing the woman, and thinking,
Damn keys.

Her
legs were crossed, she had a cigarette in hand and was seated on one of his
sofas; her pouty lips curving into a Cheshire cat grin as he was walking
towards her.

“
Hello to you too Julian...You were saying?
”
she said, still smiling.

“
Frances...why are you here?
”
he asked in an impatient tone.

“
Well, baby, I missed you. I've been gone a
week!
”
she explained, relaxed.

She
uncrossed her legs, flicked her cigarette and added with a smile,
“
Aren't you happy to see me?
”
staring at him with shiny eyes.

Tread
carefully,
he said to himself. She was entirely too
happy being here. Something was up. He clearly recalled telling her they were
over....

“
Sure... How was your trip?
”
he asked, cautiously.

“
Great! How was your week?
”
she replied in a light tone.

“
Can I get you a drink?
“
he said while he turned his back on her
and took steps towards the bar.

Anything,
but talk about this week.

"
Sure
baby." she said, observing him like a hawk.

He
made himself busy at the bar, thinking,
what the fuck does she want? There's
got to be something...

He
turned around and brought her the glass of bourbon she asked for and
waited.

She
took a gulp, savoured it, and exhaled; still looking at him, smiling.

She
got up, walked the few steps separating them and kissed him.

He
stood stoically until she realized he wasn't responding to the kiss and she
said, her tone somewhat incredulous,

"What
is wrong with you?" looking at him puzzled.

"Frances,
why are you here? I'm sure I didn't imagine telling you we were
through..." he stated, impatiently.

"Oh?
That conversation?" she tilted her head, a laugh in her voice.

"Yes."
he ground out.

"Julian,
we've done this dance before...You meet a pussy that interests and entices you
enough
…
You reject me, your interest wanes, you take me back...How many times has it
been in the past 2 years? 5? 7? I lost count... So, this time, I'm saving
you the trouble. Have your pussy, whoever she is, I'm staying put..." she
replied sheepishly, sitting back.

He hadn
’
t moved, and was staring at her, until he
finally said with coolness, "Not this time Frances."

"Really?
What's different?" she looked amused.

"She
is. I am...Never mind. Look, we had fun, a lot of it actually. And you know me
better than most women ever have, but this time..." he replied with
shortness, hoping she
’
d
get the drift they were indeed done.

She
tossed her hair, and said in a taunting voice, "Julian? You said it. I
know you. You don't do alone too well and don't do relationships either. Nor do
I. We both know it. This is why you have plenty of women chasing after you, and
I, plenty of men. What we have is rare. We want nothing from each other but
great sex and great company, no games, no pretence. I'd say we somehow love
each other. It took us a while to get where we are and accept our flaws, so
tell me, what does the pussy of the week have that makes you want to change
that?"

"Frances..."
he growled in a warning tone

She
held up her hand, "No Julian. I want you to seriously think about it. I
don't know who this girl or woman is. Obviously, she's got your interest for
now, but I'm telling you, this game of revolving door we play only works
if the door is actually revolving. You and I know each other inside and out,
and no matter what we do, we don't judge and somehow always end up together.
Are you in love with her? Are you telling me we are done for good? Because
if we are, I will walk away, and not look back, but you owe it to me to tell me
face to face. And be sure about it, because if she dumps you next week, my
door will be closed...."

((~~!~~))

Frances Palmers had met Julian McCarty at
the Viper Room, a night she was feeling particularly despondent and needed some
fun and a quick lay. She had gone to the club mainly for the music, she
wanted to dance, and it was close to her condo on Sunset. She had noticed him
discreetly looking at her, while her body was undulating on the dance
floor, and when their eyes met, she decided he would do for the night. Of
course, she knew who he was, but she was Frances Palmers, she could have any
man she wanted. She had smiled, and invited him to dance. Within 10 minutes on
the dark dance floor, they was more humping than dancing, and unable or
unwilling to wait any longer, they ended up having sex in one of the VIP booth,
uncaring of who might see them. Thanks to the darkness, it seems no one had, as
there were no tabloids reports the next day.

They
hadn't exchanged phones numbers or names, and Frances thought, that's where it
would stay. Two days later, she had received a call from Ari Strauss, telling
her Julian had asked for her number. They shared the same agent. That fortuitous
coincidence sealed the start of their relationship.

Frances
was a free spirit, an A-list actress who simply didn't care about what people
thought of her. She was talented in spade, -countless awards attested to that-,
a beautiful red head with porcelain skin and dark blue eyes that seems to
mesmerize anyone looking at them for more than a few seconds. The public loved
her and had been faithful to her movies for the past 15 years, so it was enough
for people in Hollywood to tolerate her eccentric and sultry personality. She
had been associated romantically with a number of men, and women, was infamous
for flying off the handle numerous times, was notorious for always doing as she
pleased on set or in life, and no men had ever been successful at getting her
to an altar. She had a 25 years old son, of unknown father whom was
the most important person in her life. To say she was unconventional was an
understatement.

When
her steamy affair started with Julian McCarty and lasted over a few weeks,
taking them both by surprise when they soon celebrated their 6 months
anniversary, they both realized the relationship was working because neither of
them had any expectation from the other. There was no commitment issue, they
saw each other only when they wanted, the sex was great, they were free to
sleep with other people if they took their fancy, but as months went by they
seemed to be the permanent fixture in each other lives. Julian had several time
broken things off with her when a 20-something crossed his path and caught his
interest, but it never lasted more than 2 weeks and he always called her to
resume their relationship. It suited Frances just fine, reassuring her that
somehow Julian was hers, not matter which young, dumb bimbo spread her legs for
him, when he had one his moments of weakness as she called them.

She
and Julian had discussed the dynamics of their relationship, and it seemed for
all intent and purposes, they were as a couple as they could ever be.
Imperfect, some said utterly flawed, but a couple nonetheless.

Frances
thought their relationship would go on for years, and nothing or no one would
jeopardize it. Simply put, no 20-year old bitch could really compete with her
and what she did to Julian between sheets, or on a table, or in the Jacuzzi...

The
belief was firm as the Sears Tower, she thought. Well, until his last phone
call a few days ago, that is.

He
had dropped her off at LAX the previous Tuesday as she was due
for filming in NYC for 13 days straight. When she had rung him the very
next day to enquire about their plans for his birthday that was coming in up
the following months, the hollowness of his voice as he told her they were
through made her shiver. She had demanded explanations and he had refused
to answer, ending the call.

She
figured once again, he had met some 'distraction', and that it would quickly
pass. But, when she had spoken to Ari four days ago, and he had told her
Julian had cancelled his work commitments for the entire week, she knew this
was something else but the usual inconsequential infatuation she had dealt with
in the past, and decided she would fly back home on her first day off
and see Julian for herself.

She
needed to know exactly who was the bitch doing this number on her man.

Now
here they were, she had played her cards and was waiting for his answer.

((~~!~~))

Julian sat right across Frances looking at
her. It always shocked him how youthful she looked in spite of being 42. She
could pass for a 25-year old. "It's the alabaster porcelain skin.
”
  she kept telling him.

What
she had said made a lot of sense. He hated admitting it, because after all, he
was Julian McCarty and living in pussy galore land, and he would never lack in
that department; but, a woman like Frances was far and in between to come by.
She accepted him for whom he was, without judging. She wasn't after his money
or what he could do for her. She was a sorceress between the sheets, and all
this was not to be taken lightly, especially in the light of Vi disappearing
act.

If
he couldn't have Vi, Frances was truly the next best thing. Their relationship
had it all. Almost.

She
didn't even give me a chance, just packed and bolted.

Who
does that?

He
shook his head willing the question away, and said aloud, "Ok, Frances,
you win."

"What
do I win?" she asked, giving him a taunting look, her signature Cheshire
smile on.

"Me."
he replied in a low voice.

She
got up to sit on his lap, looked at him and started to kiss him again. This time,
Julian let himself loose and responded to the kiss.

Maybe
if I fuck her, I'll feel normal again. Just maybe...

"Baby,
I don't know who she was, but I am glad, you are coming to your senses...
”
she purred, sucking and biting his
earlobe, provoking a moan on his part.

He
could feel her hand unzipping his pants and freeing his manhood, as he was
cupping her ass, when he heard the security gate bell.

They
both looked up and stopped moving as to see if whoever it was would just
go away; but no dice, the bell kept on buzzing.

Julian
finally got up, readjusting himself while walking towards the main
entrance to look at the video intercom.

 A
4x4 black escalade with tainted windows was stationed at the main gate, and a
youngish man was staring at the camera from the driver
’
s window.