The One (32 page)

I
wondered if I should tell him about the conversation, I had with his mystery
woman just a few hours ago.

I
’
ve seen Julian unravel only 3 times in the
past 20 years. And every single time someone ended up dead, I pray this is not
going to end the same. I
’
ve
seen Julian clam up after the Belinda episode, and I simply don
’
t want to ever see him like this. It took,
Todd, Melissa, Charlie and I, everything we had to pull him out of that one,
and we all swore: never again.

I
was looking forward to seeing everyone, I hadn
’
t seen Melissa and Charlie in ages, they
were my extended family by proxy and I missed them.

My
assistant interrupted my thoughts when she announced Frances Palmers was in the
lobby wanting to see me without an appointment.

Frances?
This had to be a joke! But I knew it wasn
’
t. Ari had warned me, but I never truly
believed she would actually have the nerve to show up at my office!

Ok,
I must confess. Everyone knows Frances and I can
’
t stand each other. What is less known is
that we have slept together. Once. Well, actually, more like eight or nine
times
…

On
a drunken Friday night party, we met, danced a little, and flirted a little
until she told me she wanted someone to make her feel good after the horrendous
week she had. I had one of these too, so we ended up at the Chateau
Marmont
, fucking each other brains out for an entire
weekend, never leaving the room, only sustaining ourselves through room
service. Monday came, and we went on with our lives. Eight months later, Julian
organized a dinner at his house, and introduced me to his
‘
new girlfriend
’
: Frances Palmers.

To
say she was shocked to find out I was Julian
’
s business manager would be an
understatement. Pissed, would be more like it, but since we never really talked
that weekend, I didn
’
t
feel bad. She made me promise never to divulge what had transpired between us,
and I said I wouldn
’
t;
but, I loved making her squirm. Over the course of the past two years, she
’
s avoided me altogether every time she
could. I know she eventually hopes Julian is going to marry her, but I know
better; and there is simply no chance in hell that would ever happen, whether
he knows about us, or not.

And
now, here she is.

I
called my assistant in, telling her to cancel all my appointments for the rest
of the afternoon, as I would be out, and told her to let Frances in. This was
going to be quick. Whatever she wanted, I simply had no time for it.

((~~!~~))

“
Marcus,
”
she said coolly, coming in and sitting
down in front of my desk, her clutch on her knees, giving me a hard stare.

So,
it
’
s
like this?
I thought.
Ok
…

“
Frances, what do you want?
”
I asked, returning her stare with a cold
one of my own.

“
Julian dumped me.
“
she stated, in an uncertain voice.

“
What else is new?
“
I asked, uncaring.

“
I want to know whom the woman he left me
for is.
”
she added, demanding.

I looked, at her, shaking my head, thinking,
she is
such a fool
, but I said, tapping my fingers on my desk,
“
Frances, what makes you believe, I am
privy of this information?
”

With
an angry tone, she spouted,
“
Marcus,
you know everything that goes on in Julian
’
s life! Don
’
t try to fuck with me. I want to know who
she is! Ari already tried to play me
…”

I
got up, walked towards her, my eyes never leaving hers, grabbed her arm to make
her stand up, and when our faces were inches apart, her body against mine, I
murmured in deceptively calm voice,
“
Frances? Are you seriously trying to
intimidate me?
“
She licked her lips staring into my eyes as I continued with a sly grin,
”
Because if that
’
s the case
…
baby, you will have to do much better
than turn up here
…
and have a temper tantrum
…”
my voice aloofly trailed, my eyes darkening.

She
fidgeted, making her body jerk closer to mine and said,
“
Let go of me.
“
in a strangled voice.

“
Sure,
”
I chuckled, but tightened my grip,

“
As soon as you tell me that we understand
each other
…”
her eyes were blinking and I saw her focus linger on my lips as she licked her
own, and I knew she was getting turned on by this.

I
smiled. With my free hand, I caressed her cheek, and whispered in her ear,
“
So, Frances, do we understand each other?
Will you let this go?
”

I
could feel the heat coming off her body, when she actually whimpered,
“
Yes.
“

Her
free hand landing on my chest, she looked up at me, bitting her bottom lip, and
I knew she wanted me to kiss her. Badly.

I
let go of her, and walking back to my desk said dismissively,
“
Was there anything else you wanted?
”

She
was rooted to the spot for a full minute, staring at me with ragged breaths she
was trying to get under control, before she answered,
“
Nothing.
”
with a small voice and walked out without
looking back.

((~~!~~))

“
You
’
ll never guess who just left my office!
”
I said settling down with a beer in hand.

Julian
shot me a curious look, and asked,
“
Who?
”

“
Frances,
“
I smirked.

His
head tilted, and he asked, disbelief lacing his voice,
“
Frances went to see you? She hates you.
Why was she there?
”

I
shrugged,
“
It
seems you dumped her
…”
He smiled,
“…
And
she came to ask me, no, actually demand, that I tell her for whom!
”
I burst out with laughter.

He
was shaking his head when I added,
”
You know, she seems quite pissed. And a
pissed Frances could be a handful to handle
…”
He grinned, and said,
“
Well, what is she going to do? I mean, she
knew we weren
’
t
forever. Let her do whatever man
…
I
have other things to think about! Speaking of which
…”

“
Hey Marcus,
”
interrupted Charlie, joining us on the
terrace. We shook hands.

I
resumed,
“
So
Julian, you were saying?
”
Charlie looked at him intensely as he informed me,
“
I
‘
ve made a decision about Vi.
”

I
swallowed hard, bracing myself for whatever was coming as I was thinking about
the conversation that I had with the woman this very morning. And, unless
Julian had decided to let go for good, it didn
’
t bode well.

I
looked at him expectantly, while Charlie seemed to encourage him to talk with a
hand gesture.

“
I
…
I
’
m going to go to her.
”
he stated with resolution. I remained
silent, looking at my beer. Sensing my discomfort Julian said,
“
Marcus?
”
We looked at each other not speaking,
while Charlie was observing us both.

He
was the first to break the standoff, saying,
“
Marcus, obviously you disapprove of this
decision. May I ask why?
”
looking straight at me.

I
like Charlie. I really do, like another brother. I mean, he
’
s one of my boys too, but he
’
s married, has children, and he is a
shrink, so what does he know about the life of the single man? Especially a man
like Julian who can get any woman he wants whenever he wants, and doesn
’
t take it well, when things don
’
t go his way?

“
Charlie, look, I don
’
t disapprove. It
’
s not my place. Julian can do whatever he
wants
…
I
just don
’
t
want to see him get more grief
…”
I said, looking at both men. Julian was the first to cut me, saying
“
Grief? What are you talking about, man? I
’
ve finally decided to act on this. I want
her, and I am certain when I see her again, she will give us a shot, so
…”

I
sighed, and said,
“
No
”
.
“
No?
”
he repeated in an incredulous tone, eyes
brows arched, and turning his head towards Charlie as if he could explain my
statement.