| No Love Attached |
chapter twenty two : million dollar meetings
The next morning I woke up with a hangover that could have killed, hence why I chose to work from home. My seven a.m. alarm sounded like an air horn blaring in my ears, while the sun felt like Hades himself was setting my eyes on fire. But I suppose that's what comes with mixing tequila and whiskey until all god forsaken hours of the night.
Since I didn't go into the office, I didn't have much to do besides a dinner meeting with the author of that chick lit book about all the casual flings. It turns out she had also lost her significant other, and I felt a longing to talk to her.
Due to this newfound free time and having the ability to lay on the couch, binging Netflix on my couch at noon, I found myself checking my phone every four seconds.
What was I looking for? A stupid, dirty text from Leo that would make the blood rush to my cheeks? A confirmation from Aaron that the book deal was mine? A voicemail from Penney confessing and blabbering all the dirty details of her so-called affair? A notification saying my Postmates' is arriving?
Honestly, any of those options would have sufficed. When my phone finally rang, it wasn't any one of those things. Instead, it was an incoming call from Damon Lancaster.
If he had called yesterday, I probably wouldn't have picked up. And if I did, it would be to yell at him for dumping Penney based on a dumb accusation. But today, I had free rein to answer my friend's call, so I hit accept.
"Hey," I answered.
"Hey," Damon's usually assertive voice sounded ridden with angst.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm not really sure why I felt the need to call because I know you're her best friend, but who's the other guy?"
I stopped fiddling with the TV remote and instantly gave him my full attention. "I honestly have no idea, Damon. She hasn't even told me about it, yet. I'm sorry."
I couldn't help but be surprised at how much the words stung. Penney was a grown woman who didn't have to tell me about who she was hooking up with, but it felt weird being that the girl feels the need to tell me when she pees.
"Ver, don't apologize --"
"No, I am sorry. You're my friend too and I've been an asshole by not calling to see if you're alright."
There was a silence on the other end of the line before he spoke again, "I'm flying out to London tonight to see Penney. For 'closure' or whatever she calls it."
"Good luck. Call if you need anything." A small, half-hearted smile formed on my lips, admiring how Damon was still being kind enough to see her after she cheated on him.
After we hung up, a small part of me felt that his pain was my fault. I was the one who set them up and convinced him to meet Penney.
•••
About two years ago, I got a call from my dear friend Anthony Bradshaw, asking me to meet up with him and this millionaire buddy that was interested in buying art from his gallery.
I politely declined with the words, "Anthony, I'm really fucking tired and don't feel like bar-hopping with you and some rich asshole. Close the deal yourself."
"C'mon, Vera. It's wouldn't be like that. You're great with business. I just need you to hype up the gallery and art to him so he'll buy more of it. Plus, he knows everyone. I'm sure he can send some great authors your way." Anthony's lyrical voice pleaded through the phone.
He had a point, but I wasn't convinced it was worth skipping out on a bubble bath. "I don't know --"
"Please. Do I ever ask anything of you?"
"Yes. Literally all the time." I replied, dryly.
"Okay, but that's besides the point. This is important. All of the galleries in the city are in a war for this guy's business."
After a long pause of contemplation, I gave in and told him he owed me a fancy gift, once he got this guy to work with him.
"Done! I love you, I love you, I love you. Meet at the gallery in an hour."
To Anthony's dismay, I met them at the gallery an hour and half later. I found the two men standing, awkwardly in front of a huge canvas piece that looked like shit but was worth more than the entire building. When I greeted my friend hello, he hastily whispered that my tardiness knocked a hundred bucks off the price of my gift.
"And who might you be? Anthony didn't tell me anyone was joining us." A smooth, confident voice came from who I assumed was the millionaire in question. He was dressed in an impeccable suit with a Rolex that cost more than most people's cars. His rich appearenace almost distracted you from his slight New York accent, but I happened to catch it.
"Vera Larson --" I started but was interrupted by Anthony.
"Vera works at the top publishing house in the city," he added.
"I'm not joining you guys. I'm just here to pick up a few pieces of art," I smiled to Damon and then turned my attention to Anthony, who had no idea where I was going with this. "How much is this piece?" I was referring to the large, ugly piece in front of me.
"1.3 million," he answered.
"Great," I smiled, while my insides recoiled at it's obscene price. "I'll take it," I bullshitted, hoping my plan was going to work. If not, I was stuck with a million dollar painting a pre-schooler could have made.
Damon's brown eyes flickered from me to the painting, back to me, then to Mr. Bradshaw. "I'll give you 1.5 for it."
Anthony and I smiled knowingly at each other.
That night, we all went for drinks to celebrate Anthony's pricey sale and Damon's pricey purchase.
Somehow, love lives were brought up. After a thirty minute story about Anthony and his boy of the week, Marc "with a C", Damon turned his attention to me while I nursed my martini. "So, what's your deal?"
My good mood quickly shifted, just as it did whenever that question arose. "My deal?" I chuckled bitterly. "Unavailable. I, uh, lost my fiancé not too long ago." I was shocked by my own honesty.
His playful demeanor changed. "I'm sorry. I'm sure he was a hell of a guy." Damon nodded in respect and put his glass up to clink drinks.
After a few more drinks, the weight of Josh seemed to be lost on everyone but me.
"You'd be perfect for my best friend Penney." I blurted out.
Something I couldn't decipher flashed across his face before he answered. "Oh yeah? And why is that?"
"I don't know. You're fun, she's fun. She's also gorgeous," I thought of my best friend with her shiny, blonde locks and sapphire eyes.
"Maybe a little too fun," Anthony scoffed and downed the last drop of his drink, causing me to kick him under the table.
"Maybe you'll have to introduce us, then." Damon smirked and sipped his whiskey.
•••
Later that day, I met with Tanya George at hip restaurant in the center of the city. She was a beautiful thirty-two year old writer, with dark caramel skin and a stylish, chopped hair-cut. After reading her book twice, I felt as if I already knew her.
"I think the book is in fantastic shape. I spoke to your agent and I think all that's left to cover is promotion. Which, as you know, we have an exceptional promotional and marketing team. I'll make sure that this book shoots to the top of all the bestsellers lists. It hits all the right demographics."
"Thank you so much. This is such a dream come true. Who knew that my relationship failures could do me any good?" Tanya laughed in such a brilliant way, it could lighten a person's entire mood.
I was about to wrap up the meeting, but there was something I was dying to get off my chest. "Can I ask you something? And you don't have to answer if it's too personal."
"Sure, of course." She smiled.
"I know it's not in your book, but I read somewhere that you lost your boyfriend a long time ago. What made you want to start casual flings? You see, my fiancé passed away a few years ago and I'm having difficulty letting myself be with anyone else. Or not feeling horrible about it, at least. I'm so sorry, I'm being so unprofessional right now. I promise, I don't normally do this."
"No, please, don't worry. Well, after he passed, I just kind of went wild. Searching for him in other people, I guess, but he was never there. You just have to do it, if that makes any sense. There were always people telling me to wait until I was ready, but I knew I was never going to be ready. It sounds kind of silly, but it was like loosing my virginity all over again. Once I did it once, I wasn't so scared and guilty anymore. You have to remember to put yourself first. Hooking up with someone doesn't erase the love you had for someone else."
I nodded, completely understanding what she said. It made a lot of sense in a strange way and meant a lot coming from someone who had been through the same thing.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate that." I gave her a warm, genuine smile.
"Look who it is! My favorite coworker with my new favorite author. Why don't I pull up a chair?" A familiar male voice echoed in my ears, causing my entire body to wince.
And just like that, the snake slithered it's way back into the Garden of Eden.
Or should I say, Alec James crawled out of his hole in New York and was back in London.
•••
Author's Note:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please throw me a vote or comment if you liked it! What did you think of the flashback? To show the relationship between Damon and vera? Let me know!