Thankfully, her first two meetings had been successful. She’d closed two deals and was on her way to close the third when Patrick called.
“Hello.”
“Hey there. How are you?” Patrick said, sounding upbeat.
“I’m good—just running between meetings. How are you?”
Addie checked her watch, calculating what time it had to be now in China.
“Tired. But good. Things are going better than expected. Listen, this is really premature, but there has been some talk about extending the project, and I was wondering what you’d think about living here—in China.”
The shit storm didn’t seem to be letting up any time soon. Addie sighed. “I don’t know, Patrick.”
Silence.
“Well, give it some thought, ok? Give the boys a hug and tell them I miss them.”
“Will do.” Addie said flatly.
“Addison, I miss you. I know you’re angry, but it doesn’t have to be this way, you know.
”
Addie stared at the clear blue sky, contemplating what to say.
“I know,” Addie finally muttered, knowing it was all she could offer.
Addie closed on the third deal and headed back to the office to quickly wrap things up for the day before it was time to pick up the boys. Opening up her email to send a few contracts, she smiled.
From: William B. Hartman
Date: 6/18/12
To: Addison Greyer
Subject: Speaking in Italian
Dear Mrs. Greyer,
Never underestimate the investigative tools at my disposal. I am fully aware that you are not Italian. :)
That said, I was testing the waters to see if you may enjoy speaking Italian.
I have to travel to Capri on business, and I want you to come with me. Bring the boys if you’d like. They’ll love it.
I’ve arranged it with your boss.
We leave in two days.
Il Vostro,
William
P.S. I can’t wait to see the beaches of Capri reflected in your eyes.
Seriously. I’ve made arrangements with your boss. Who does this man think he is? Addie stood and paced the length of her office. Certainly he didn’t think it was just that easy. That she could jet off to Italy, just like that. But what pissed her off the most was how much she wished she could. How badly she wanted to go. Addie grabbed her purse and headed out, first calling Penny to ask her to pick up the boys. She hated to do it, knowing and dreading the trouble it would bring. But she needed to clear her mind. She needed to see William.
Penny Greyer received the call to pick up her grandsons without a second to spare, which was, of course, something her daughter-in-law would pull. Addison liked putting her on the spot, making her jump through hoops. So thank goodness, Penny had Rosie, or God knows what she would’ve done. Penny knew it was just a matter of time after her son left that Addison would crumble. There was no way a girl of her means could survive alone, the way Penny had all those years. Her daughter-in-law just didn’t have what it takes to put her husband or her children first—which is why she had tried everything in her power to dissuade Patrick from marrying that girl. She begged him to quit seeing her, knowing she only wanted her son for his family’s money. She even tried setting him up with a few girls more like herself a few times, but this girl already had a hold on him. Besides the fact that she’d given Penny beautiful grandbabies, although thankfully they got most of their looks and smarts from their father’s side, there was nothing blatantly obvious that Penny could see that was especially wonderful about her. She was merely average—certainly, nothing special. What Patrick saw in her, she’d never know.