“You know, he reminds me of my Clifford before he passed,” she says, reminiscing fondly. “Marriage is never easy… you’ve got to work hard all the time. We make mistakes, sometimes we hurt, but with the right love, it will burn into your soul forever.”
Unable to hold back a smile, I thank her again before saying goodbye and walking out of the office. As I step past the small communal room, there’s a teenage boy sitting at an old piano. Marjorie’s son donated the piano to the shelter when they discovered many women could play. It wasn’t fancy, nor grand, but it looks good enough for this boy to run his fingers along the keys and play the tune.
A girl who appears to be the same age sits beside him. They both laugh, a joke between them I can’t quite hear, from where I am standing. At the same time, their faces brighten, grinning like two teenagers on the verge of falling in love. The boy nudges her shoulder with his own, playfully, before he rests his fingers on the keys again and begins playing a tune.
Each note becomes familiar, and like a blast from the past, it’s the same song Lex played the day we sat at the piano together for the first time. I’m drawn back to Charlie from high school—young, naïve, and unfamiliar with the power of love. I’d fallen in love with Alexander Matthews, all of him, despite his marital circumstances. I had been foolish enough at that time to think we would never break, yet my innocence led me to believe our love would last forever.
And this will never change.
There is no choice but to start the journey of healing our marriage. We aren’t completely broken, just bent over something we are both struggling to navigate through. And despite it all, the pain and suffering, keeping Lex away at an arm’s length because of my own fears, will only hurt us more right now.
We are a family.
It isn’t just about Lex and me either, Amelia also deserves my complete and utter devotion in joining Lex by trying to make us whole again.
I drive through the streets at record speed until Dreamteam Studios is directly in front of me. Parking my car, I run toward the entrance, almost out of breath as the receptionist greets me. I haven’t been on-site for months and have no idea who she is, surprised to see Lex has hired a brunette for once.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Lex.”
“I’m sorry.” Her fake smile irritates me so much, along with the way she stares at my attire.
I would let her know I’m wearing Valentino, but my fashion choice is of no importance right now.
“You’ll need an appointment.”
Frustrated, I shake my head. “I’m his wife. Now, tell me where he is, or I’ll hunt him down myself.”
The receptionist is taken aback by my threat but slowly connects the dots in her air-filled head.
“He’s in an important meeting in Boardroom A. You can’t interrupt him… there’s a strict no interruption rule. He will fire me if you go in there!”
Screw that rule.
I’ll make sure he doesn’t fire her.
My Louboutin heels click on the porcelain tiles, searching the nameplates on the doors until I see Boardroom A. There’s a glass wall, and Lex is sitting at the head of the table appearing uninterested while an older gentleman is talking. Lex’s jacket is removed and hanging on the back of his chair, he’s wearing his vest and tie, and looks dashing as the ever-so-powerful CEO.
With his body leaning back in his chair, his expression appear
s conflicted with his phone in his hand. His eyes wander to the screen, then his fingers are typing rapidly, only to press his lips together in a slight grimace before pressing send.
Seconds later, my phone vibrates in my purse.
Lex: I love you, Charlotte. Forever. Always. I’ll wait as long as you need me to.
His words evoke the emotions I’ve forced myself to bury. I had grown accustomed to impatient, demanding, and controlling Lex, but I can see his repent for the mistakes he’s made.
I open the door wide, every face in the room glances my way, and with my heart beating incredibly fast, I ignore everyone beside Lex.
With a concerned expression, he immediately rises from his chair, his neck muscles straining as he walks over to where I am standing. “Charlotte, is everything okay?”
“Yes, no… I need to speak with you,” I rush out.
Lex excuses himself before closing the door behind us, grabbing my hand, he walks me toward his office. Once the door is closed, he let’s me go and asks, “What’s wrong?”
I bury my head in his chest, welcoming his quick embrace while allowing the suppressed emotions to run free, sobbing loudly as the weight of our actions has come to the surface.