Unexpected Chances (18 page)

Tabitha

A few days have passed and I haven’t heard anything from, Carter. I’ve been on edge since he walked out and I want to call him, but something keeps stopping me.

I’m in my office doing a few reports for Angela when I hear the bell above the door ding. It causes my heart to stop as I pray it’s Carter.

I notice Seth round the corner and head towards my office.

“Nice office, Sis,” he says, as he plops his butt into the chair in front of my desk.

“Thanks. Where have you been?” I ask, not skipping around the point.

“Around. You know me. I have shit to do and I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy for T&S time? Too busy for drinks? Busy doing what?”

“Easy, Firecracker. Don’t you worry your little curls? I’ve been fine and I’ve missed you too.”

Crossing my arms in front of me, I stare him down. He’s hiding something and I know it. Seth’s the one that will not tell you a thing, unless he has it figured out. He doesn’t talk about it until he knows for sure.

“So, I hear you had a good time the other night at mom’s banquet?”

“I did and Cory seemed to have one as well,” I state, with a wiggle of my eyebrows.

“I know he went out on a date with Meredith the other night. We’re all shocked. What did you do to have him let you go?”

“Nothing. He passed the torch is all I know.”

“Speaking of that. Do you know what you’re getting yourself into?”

“Stop worrying about me. I have no idea what I’m doing, but, I’m willing to try at least.”

“Just be careful, okay?”

“Okay.”

“How about we grab some lunch?”

“Let’s go and you’re buying,” I state, as I grab my purse and head out with my arms interlocked with my brother.

Lunch was okay, different, but okay. It felt that the two of us were hiding something from the other. I know he suspects that I have my eyes on someone.

I’m just not ready to explain who that is.

Too many questions, and then the overbearing brother comes to life.

These days I’d rather deal with the MIA brother, than the protective one.

It’s cute and all, but I wish he would allow me to grieve. That wasn’t allowed back then and it sure the hell wouldn’t be allowed today.
“Suck it up.”
has been used way too often when it’s brought up. Or the one I love,
“Men are asses, Tabitha. They hurt you and move on. No reason to hang onto the past. Let it go and one day if you’re lucky, someone will fall from the sky and take you away from me.”

Just thinking back to that conversation, brings a smile to my face. We were out and doing tequila shots for my birthday. It was shortly after I’d found out that Robert was sleeping with the universe. “Well everyone but me at the time.”

Tripping on my feet as I rush to get to my office, I brace myself and decide to call Cory. I have the perfect idea, but it will require his help.

“Oh my God, Cory I have it.. You ready?”

“Firecracker, I don’t like the sound of your voice. The last time you sounded this happy, you’d found a new drink and we were sick for a week.”

I pause as I remember back to the drinking game and frilly drinks I made the boys consume. “Oh that was a good night, don’t knock it mister.”

“It was until we almost died from your tropical whatever you made.”

“Hush and listen to me. This is brilliant.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

“Seth is being a butt and all, I don’t know weird. So you and I are going to dress up and go into stealth mode and follow him around. We can even scare him if you’d like.”

Laughing is all I hear from other end of the line.

“Cory! Are you paying me any attention?” I ask in a serious tone.

“Oh, I heard you and I swear we did that once, didn’t we? I’m pretty sure I had to explain a few things to you after the last stealth mission.”

I cringe as I flash back to Cory and I dressed in all black. We snuck out and followed Seth on a date. I was adamant he was dating a cheerleader from high school and I despised her. Cory borrowed his friend’s truck so we could stay invisible. We parked a few spots down from them in the parking lot located a mile from the pier in Santa Monica. It was dark and deserted, other than us.

Seth was so busy making out with Kiera, he never saw it coming. We snuck over to his car and started tapping on the rear bumper. No sooner than I reached up and the door flew open, my eyes needed to be bleached.

That was a vision I never care to see again in my life. I still mess with him about needing therapy.

“You are probably right. I’m sure I can’t afford to pay for that or anything else we would witness to be erased. Or do you know anyone with one of those flasher things they point at you and erase your memory?”

“Sorry fresh out of those today and we should leave him alone.”

“Oh it would be fun and possibly entertaining,” I say, in my best persuasive voice.

“Not happening. I still don’t live it down to this day. You have no idea how mad Seth was for agreeing to your crazy ideas.”

“He just needs to suck it up. No worries I’ll figure this out, maybe.”

“Bye, Tabitha.”

“Later tater.”

****

Carter

Bethany hasn’t shown up, which I’m not surprised in the least. I haven’t even heard from her since that call. Every little thing has me on edge. I’ve locked myself into my office, only working on my designs. It’s the only thing that keeps me going.

Last night I couldn’t sleep, so I ended up at the office before the sun even woke up.

I’m lost in thought as I hear a knock on my office door.

“Come in.”

“Hey, I just wanted to warn you that the witch is on her way up,” Kelly states.

“Thanks. Send her in when she arrives.”

“Do you have a meeting?” She asks, in that tell me when and I’ll escort her out for you.

“No, not today. Thanks though.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, Kelly. Hold my calls as well until she leaves.”

With a quick nod, Kelly exits my office and I prepare myself for the wrath of my wife.

“Carter, dear you look like shit,” Bethany states, as she barges into my office.

“Do you knock?”

“No need, I own this building so it’s my office as well.”

“Excuse me? You don’t own this building.”

“As of this morning I do. Daddy bought it for me. Something about I needed to show investment, and an interest into my husband’s work.”

“The building wasn’t for sale, Bethany. What did you do?” I say through gritted teeth.

“Everything and anyone is always for sale, Carter. Don’t you remember or should I remind you?”

“No need, I remember ever damn day.”

“Now, now. No sense in sounding bitter. You got what you requested,” she says, waving her hands around the room.

“I was stupid to agree. I should have ran as far as I could from you and your evil family.”

“You would’ve come back to me, Carter. You use to love me and now we have a little red-head in our way.”

“Leave her out of this, Bethany. I swear if you touch one strand of hair on her, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

“No worries of me ever touching her. I’m better than that, my dear,” she laughs, as she looks me right in the eyes.

“What do you really need, or did you just come here to inform me that you own my building now?”

“No I have a reason. I want to remind you of our little agreement. You know the one that says we are to have a child by the time our ten years are up.”

I swallow the bile down my throat as I hear those words slip out of her mouth. I don’t need to respond to her, she knows that I will never grant her this wish.

“Carter, you do remember don’t you or would you care to re-read the contract for yourself?”

“No, I remember and it’s not happening. Ever. We are done and you’ll see something from my lawyer soon enough.”

“Send it, because you don’t have a leg to stand on.”

“You asked for this war, Bethany and I’m willing to fight you tooth and nail. You and your family are done owning me. I don’t care if I lose everything that I have, I will not lose my soul to you again.”

“You think you love her? Is this what this is all about? Once she finds out how low you reached to achieve your goals, she will not have a thing to do with you. Oh, remember I do my homework and I know everything there is to know about your interest.” Bethany stops and leans over the desk to look me in the eyes. “I’ll destroy you and your company before I watch you run off with her. You’re where you deserve to be. Don’t forget what I did for you, what I gave up for you to have everything that you have in your life.”

“I’ve never laid a hand on you before, but right now, Bethany I could strangle you. I suggest you leave this minute.”

“I’ll leave and have my things delivered to your house this evening,” she says, as she slams the door behind her.

I reach down and wipe everything from the top of my desk and watch it crumble to the ground.

It crashes to the floor, just as my life did a moment ago.

Tabitha

It’s been over a week since I last heard from, Carter. No email, no surprise visit, nothing. I’ve been going over that morning every day since. Did I do something or say something to cause this?

Angela has been on me to hire the new assistant, and I’ve been trying to focus on that, and getting this proposal done for Georgia’s Inc., but my mind is elsewhere. This whole time he has been popping up here and there and now nothing.

After lunch today, I have the perfect plan but I need to see if I can pull it off without a hitch.

Me: Jessica, we still on for lunch?

Jess: You know it…

Wondering around the office trying to keep myself focused. I hear Angela call out for me, “Tabitha!”

“What’s up?” I ask, as I hop into her office.

“Someone’s in a great mood today.”

“No, just having a good one.”

“Can you copy this for the Black contract?”

“You trying to ruin my day? That machine hates me.” I whine.

“It doesn’t hate you, it’s just not fond of you,” she chuckles at me.

“Angela, if it spits anything at me, I will smash it and then blow it to pieces.”

“Easy, Tiger. No need to replace the thing this week,” Angela says, with her voice laced with sarcasm. As I grab the files from her hands, I notice she has a tentative date for her return to New York. I worry about her and everything she’s going through, but then at the same time, I’m happy.

She deserves to find her one true soul mate and I feel it down to my bones that she has found it. The only problem is how it happened and what has to come from everything around it.

This is one of the main reasons why I can’t slip about Carter. All these years we’ve made it a point to never fall for a client or remotely think to get involved. I know that she’s head over heels for this man, but now it’s my turn to prove what I can do in this business.

What a great story this would turn out to be.

First client and I fall hard for them.

Yes, I will hold this one tight to my chest for as long as I can.

Angela would never judge, she would offer her advice and support me to no end. But right now, I need to prove that I can do this job. I have to show her that I can be trusted to follow in her footsteps while bringing everything I have to the table.

This is why I’m keeping the biggest secret I’ve ever kept from my best friend. I’ll let her in when the timing is right, until then I’ll do what I’m doing.

“You stupid evil machine!” I yell, as I kick the copier at the same time.

It’s rigged. I’ve even blamed Seth and Cory for messing with it.

“What have you done, now?” Angela asks, while hiding the smile on her face.

I pivot on my heels to face her, “See it hates me. I can’t wait to hire, Jessica. This will be her only job. Copy! If it doesn’t do this to her, we are getting a new one. I know you all messed with it.”

Angela is doubled over from laughing as she holds up her hand to hush me, “How is it that it works for all of us, then?”

“I don’t know it’s like the candid camera show. Do you have someone pushing a button every time I walk near it?”

“Oh, yes that’s what it is. The camera is hidden in the flower pot.”

“Mark my word, lady. I will search this place high and low. I’ll find it. Did my brother put you up to this?”

“Oh my God, Tabitha I can’t breathe,” she says, as she holds up a finger taking a moment to gather herself. “I swear we haven’t done a thing, but will you let me know when you go to search the place. I so have to see this,” Angela states, as she walks away still laughing.

“I’m never touching it again!” I scream back at her.

I let out a huff while gathering the papers up and place them back in order. Once I’ve completed this task, I head into Angela’s office.

With a plop of the folder, she raises her head up in my direction “All done, I see.”

“No thanks to you.”

“Sorry.”

“No you aren’t. You all are evil, just plain mean. I’m out to go see Jessica. Need anything?”

“No just for you to tell me we have a new assistant.”

“You got it,” I state, as I exit the doorway and head to my office.

As I search for my purse, I hear the ding of my phone under the files on my desk.

Carter: I know it’s been awhile, but I’m thinking of you.

Knowing I should be ecstatic to hear from him, I’m not.

Actually I have no idea what I’m feeling. It’s a mixture of giddy and pissed off. I choose to not respond, let him sweat it out for a bit.

As I wait in the booth of the coffee shop near the office for Jessica, I pull my phone out. Taking a quick glance to see if I’ve received anything else, I’m a little heartbroken that he hasn’t sent a follow-up text.

I twirl my phone around, lost with what to do. I know my heart tells me to do it, but then my head tells me to stay away.

If I choose to follow my heart, I’m taking a gamble on the unknown. One that I’m not sure I will be able to come back from. My heart can only take so much at this point in life. Knowing that if he breaks it, I’ll never allow another soul to see what I have to offer. It’s sad to think this, but I know myself.

I believe that he has feelings for me, but to what depth.

Literally I’m inviting a stranger into my life, one that I know nothing about other than when I see him, or think about him. My heart beats faster and the butterflies swarm deep within my soul.

All the power over me, lies within his hands. I just pray he doesn’t crush it.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I notice Jessica hasn’t arrived yet and I have someplace to be.

Me: Something’s come up. I have to reschedule.

As I type the message out, I know what I’ve got to do.

Swinging into the office, I hurry to grab my files. Thankful that Angela is already gone home for the day. I sure the hell don’t know how I would explain this.

I slam the door closed behind me to my place as I dash down the hallway to pack a bag. I might not have heard from Carter recently, other than the brief text today and I have no idea what I’m doing

He needs the contracts and I plan to hand deliver them. I’ve been to his house and it’s nothing for me to jump on the quick flight, rent a car, and knock on his door.

****

Carter

I’ve been fighting against the universe in order to stay far away from, Tabitha. Bethany still hasn’t contacted me, and I’m waiting for that other shoe to drop. My days consist of gym, work, gym, and more work. It’s the only way I know how to handle my life.

I’ve just finished my normal workout for the second time today. As I grab the towel off the bench, I hear the faint sound of my cellphone.

“You’re alive I take it,” I state, rolling my eyes and wondering to myself what in the world Bethany could possibly need.

“Of course I am. I’ve been busy with work and haven’t had a chance to arrange for my things to be delivered. Will you be home this evening?”

“Fortunately for me, I have plans. I’d also advise that you not bring your crap to my house.”

“Oh dear, see it’s our house since we are legally married. Carter I’m tired of playing this game. As soon as you give into what I need from you, the quicker we can move along.”

“Bethany, let’s get one thing straight right now. That will never happen. Do you understand me?”

“No and you know I always win,” she says, as she disconnects the call.

I don’t trust her and I definitely wouldn’t put anything past her. I know she hasn’t been to California. Jack gives me daily updates on Tabitha’s where abouts. He’s explained to me on several different calls in the evening that she’s been laying low, and not going out as before. That warms my heart but then breaks it at the same time.

The other day I’d requested for Jack to snap a few pictures of Tabitha and forward them to me. I just need something to keep my focus, if not I might lose my drive to fight this war.

Staring into the refrigerator, lost in my own thoughts, I hear the faint knock coming from the front room. “Shit, I can’t deal with her tonight,” I say out loud, as I slam the door and head over to the front door.

“What did you not understand?” I yell out, as I swing the door open but I’m taken back to who my eyes land on.

“Umm… I’m sorry maybe I should have called,” Tabitha says.

“What are you doing here?”

“I missed you, and you need the reports. So I thought maybe I could hand deliver them to you,” she explains in a voice I’ve never heard from her before. It’s a mixture of excitement and regret.

Leaning my head against the door, I turn to look at her and I mean really look at her. I know I’m breaking her heart and will shatter it with what I have to say. If she ever talks to me again, it will be a miracle.

“I’m sorry, Pretty Girl but I wasn’t expecting you. Let me arrange for you to have a hotel near the airport. You can leave the files with me and I’ll go over them.” I exhale all the air in my lungs as I look her in the face. They’re filled with fire from the hurt I just put into them. It’s something I never wanted to embark onto Tabitha.

“Don’t waste your time, Mr. Northwood. I can handle my arrangements and as far as this,” she says moving her hand back and forth between us, “Consider what we were starting, over. I don’t have time to play your games. Under no circumstance do you need to pop up into my life again.”

She lashes out at me and I watch her drop the manila file folder down at my feet. When I look up from the floor into her eyes, I want to reach out and tuck her into my chest. The need for me to protect her outweighs everything else in my life.

Letting out a low sigh, I close my eyes and then look back up at her. Tabitha is still standing in front of me, not moving. It’s as if she’s in shock that I’ve rejected her. What else can I do to get her to leave other than what I have to say next?

I take her face into my hands as I say, “I think it’s best you leave, Tabitha. I can’t give you what you need right now, but I will promise you that one day I’ll give you not only my heart, but my soul. I never want to see the sadness in your eyes, as I do right this moment. Let that fire shine, and one day soon I hope you take a chance on me again.”

Once I finish, I place a gentle kiss onto her lips. It’s not a kiss of goodbye, it’s one I hope she translates into an I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to love her the way she needs to be.

She doesn’t respond, only looking into my eyes to make sure it’s engraved into my memory forever. I’ll never forget the pain reflected back at me for as long as I live.

I stand in the doorway and watch as she turns to leave. I want to stop her, lift her up into my arms and hide Tabitha away forever. If I hadn’t heard from Bethany today, this outcome might have turned out differently.

I half expected the person on the other side of this door tonight to be Bethany.