Then, she says, “What’s the catch?”
I let out a humorless laugh. “You’re welcome.” I slide a glance in her direction. “Now, get the fuck out of my office.”
She quietly gets up from the chair and heads for the door, which is not like her. Maybe she’s finally learned to keep her mouth shut when she’s got a good thing.
When she reaches it, I say to her back, “And, Ava, I don’t want to see you for a long time. A really long time.”
Turning, she smiles. It’s a twisted kind of smile with just her lips tilting up, no expression on her face at all. “That’ll be no problem. Not having to see you has always been the easiest thing for me to do.”
She pulls open the door, and my Uncle Richard is standing on the other side of it.
Uncle Richard is my father’s younger brother. He’s CFO, and he’s actually a nice guy. It’s so strange that two brothers could be so very different.
“Richard.” Her tone screams cool.
It’s no secret that they intensely dislike each other.
“Ava. Good to see you leaving, as always.”
She sniffs at him like he’s dirt on her shoes as she brushes past, heading for the elevator.
I exhale in the knowledge that she’s gone.
There have only ever been two women in my life that could fuck with my head.
One is the devil who just left. The other is Evie.
Thank God I don’t have to see Evie today. I might end up offing myself if I did.
“Sorry to intrude. Mark wasn’t at his desk.”
“It’s no problem.” I gesture for him to sit down.
He takes the seat Ava just vacated.
“So, what did the devil want?” He jerks his head in the direction where Ava just left.
I laugh. It’s my first real laugh in a while.
Sometimes, I think Richard should run this company. Well, I think it all the time.
He actually likes this industry and loves this company.
I often have this dream of signing over the company to him, and then I just run away. Far away.
But, I always wake up.
Even though this place makes me miserable ninety percent of the time, if I didn’t do this, I don’t know what I would do.
I guess I could surf every day and lead a quiet reclusive life, which is sounding quite appealing right now.
“She wanted to play Morgan le Fay.”
His eyes widen. “I hope you told her that she’s a fair amount of decades too late for that part.”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Knowing Ava, she didn’t take it well?” he checks.
“Nope.” I drum my fingers on my desk, my eyes averted. “I’ve given her the part of Viviane.”
“Adam, you could always just tell her no and mean it. You owe her nothing.”
“Yeah, I know. But what’s the point? I figure it’s just easier to give in now than later. Saves me a lot of hassle.”
He nods in understanding. “Anyway, I just came up to bring you last year’s numbers that you were looking for. They were on my desk after all.” He hands the folder containing the papers to me.
“Thanks.”
He gets to his feet, about to leave, and then he seems to change his mind. He turns back, his hand holding the back of the chair. “You always were a good kid, Adam. You just got the shit end of the stick when it came to your parents. And I know you probably think you just caved, and Ava won again, but she didn’t.”
“No?” I give him a disbelieving look.
“Ava wanted to play Morgan. You didn’t give her the part. You’ve never done that before. In the past, you’ve always caved completely and given her what she wants.”
That’s not exactly true.
There was one time, a long time ago, when I told Ava no, and I stuck to it. But that was when Evie was still mine, and I had something to fight for.
“Well, there’s always time for me to cave.” I give a dry laugh.
He stares at me with a serious look on his face. “Even still, I’d call this one a win. I’m proud of you, son.”
From out of nowhere, I feel an ache in my chest. It’s so severe that I press my hand to it.
Then, my cell starts ringing on my desk. I’m not familiar with the number, but something tells me that it’s Evie.
“I have to take this,” I tell Richard. “Oh, and thanks,” I say when he’s reached the door.
I’m not just thanking him for bringing papers.
“No problem.” He smiles.
I wait until he’s shut the door before I answer, “Adam Gunner.”
“Adam…it’s Evie.”
She didn’t have to identify herself. I’d know her voice anywhere. And I hate the way it still affects me, even now.
“Are you still there?” she asks softly.
I realize I haven’t said anything in response.
“I’m here.”
There’s a brief pause on the line. I can hear her gentle breaths.
Then, she says, “I was thinking it’s probably time we talk.”
I blow out a breath. My mother and Evie in one day. I guess someone up there really hates me.
“But we don’t have to…if you’re busy,” she adds quickly.
“No, it’s fine. Did you want to do this over the phone or face-to-face?”
“I thought face-to-face, if that’s okay with you.”
“Fine. When?”
“Are you…busy now?”
I can just envision her as if she were in front of me right now, biting on her lower lip, the way she does when she’s nervous.
I look at the paperwork on my desk and the emails filling my screen. “I’m always busy. But I guess now is as good a time as any. Where do you want to meet?”
“Um…I don’t know. I didn’t get that far. It’s taken me a week to find the courage to call you, so…” She trails off.
And that ache is back in my chest again but stronger this time.
I press my fingers against it. “Do you know Rock and Reilly’s Irish Pub?”
“The one on Sunset Boulevard?”
“That’s the one. I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay. See you then.”
I hang up, and the first thing I do before putting my cell into my pants pocket is save Evie’s number into my Contacts.
Don’t judge me. I might need to get in contact with her again.
I mean, we are still married after all.
After grabbing my car keys, I get my jacket and pull it on as I exit my office.
“Mark, I’m heading out,” I tell him, passing his desk.
“Will you be coming back, or are you done for the day?”
Stopping at the elevator, I press the button. “Done for the day.”
Pulling up outside of Reilly’s, I park my car and get out. I lock up and head into the pub. Max and I come here all the time. We’ve been drinking here since we got our first fake IDs at sixteen.
Back then, I would never have guessed that I’d be coming in here to meet with my wife to discuss the demise of our ten-year marriage that technically only lasted for one week.
I push open the door and step inside the pub. I immediately see Evie, as the place is empty, except for her.