Page 19

Chapter nineteen

M onday morning, Mya rolled out of bed and headed for her closet, only to realize she wasn’t in her apartment. The grogginess was still hanging over her when she heard Cristo stirring from his side of the bed.

“Morning,” he said sleepily. “You're up early. What is it, five?”

Mya turned around and rubbed her eyes to try to adjust to the dim light. “I slept so well I forgot where I was,” she replied.

Cristo propped himself up on one elbow so he could get a better look at her. “Is that good or bad?” He hoped it was good. It should mean she felt comfortable, but this whole sleepover thing was new to them both. He was still in shock that she wanted more, and he found himself silently praying that she wouldn’t change her mind. Mya was an angel among humankind, and he never thought she’d choose him, but then again, he never thought he’d fall for someone so much younger than he. “Are you okay?” Mya hadn’t responded, and the pause was beginning to fill his empty stomach with knots.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” she said. “It's a good thing, I think. I feel safe with you.” She smiled, then, walking over to the bed, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips. “I'm anxious to start this day. I need to know that Vic and Paris are going to be restored to their former glory. I can’t take much more of this crazy rollercoaster ride.”

“You know they’ll be fine. Obviously, it comes down to what Mikel and Dom decide, but we all put in our two-cents.”

“We should get moving. I could definitely use some food, and by the sound of your stomach, so could you.” Cristo's stomach had been growling throughout their entire conversation.

“Yeah, I think you burnt up all my fuel last night.” Winking, he said, “I'm open to another round if you like?”

“As wonderful as that sounds, I don't think I have the focus at this time. Let's allow the desire to build a little. Get your lazy butt out of bed. We need food, now!”

“Okay, okay.” Cristo rolled out of bed and wandered to his closet, where he pulled on the first clean suit he found. Mya helped him put on his tie, though he didn’t actually require any assistance. After, she wandered to the bathroom to freshen herself up and dress. She was surprised at how great it felt waking up in his bed. It felt as if she belonged there next to him. “I’m gonna grab a coffee and some toast to go,” said Cristo. “With today's meeting, I should probably arrive early to discuss the final details with the rest of the board. You’re welcome to stay here until you need to head over.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it lightly. “This place feels more like a home with you in it.”

When Cristo arrived at the boardroom, Mikel was already there, staring out the window as he often did. “Hey, Mikel. How’s it going?” he asked. The other board members filed in behind him.

Mikel turned toward Cristo with a contemplative look on his face. Shaking his head, he said, “For the life of me, I don’t know how things got so out of control?”

“We own one of the largest companies in Nevada and we suffered a catastrophic loss that thoroughly shook our families. You need to give yourself a break,” said Cristo.

Narrowing his eyes, Mikel said, “But how’d we miss the situation with Tom and Angela? How could we not realize our own children were being used?”

Nikola walked over to Mikel and hugged him. Pulling away, she looked into his eyes and said, “It makes me sick, too. Thankfully, Molly was in the right place at the right time, or this could have been much worse. When you’ve worked with people for as long as we have with Angela and Tom, you don’t see the knife until it’s being pulled from your back.”

Jessamine took a seat at the table, tears flowing from her eyes. “I feel like a terrible mother,” she sobbed. “Our children have been emotionally assaulted. We punished them instead of protecting them.”

“Darling, you’re a wonderful mother, but none of us saw this coming. We’re human,” said Dom, as he ran his fingers through his goatee.

Closing the distance between herself and Jessamine, Nicola placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. “Look at me,” she said softly. Her voice full of compassion. “Our children needed tough love. It took a strong action to pull them out of the terrible grief they’ve been drowning in. Paris overdosed. They were both arrested. If we’d done nothing, they could have ended up doing serious time, or worse, dead.” Grabbing a tissue, she handed it to Jessamine. “Dry your eyes, darling. Our children are alive, well, and thriving. Our family is finally beginning to feel whole again.” She smiled.

Jessamine nodded. Moving on, she said, “It’s getting late. We should probably take our seats.”

“Okay,” said Mikel, “Let’s get down to business and discuss the future of ADG.”

Reaching for her phone, Paris let out a sigh as she dialed Vic's number. She’d been calling him all weekend, but he refused to pick up the phone. This time, it rang once and went to voicemail. He’d rejected her call, yet again. A tear ran down her cheek. What was wrong with her? Why didn’t she talk to him when she had the chance?

She was lying upside-down with her feet propped up on top of her settee, passing time before her meeting, when she heard a knock at the door. The blood slowly flowed into her head. Part of her hoped she’d pass out and forget anything had ever happened between herself and Vic, but she knew that scenario would never see fruition. The knock sounded again, and Paris flipped herself around, nearly toppling over from the head-rush. “Just a second,” she called out as she knocked into her coffee table.

Paris swung the door open to find Jack standing on the other side with Mya and Chase. Jack was holding a large bouquet of wildflowers, and Mya had a balloon that said 'Good Luck!' in large, brightly colored scrolling letters. “Wow,” she said. “For me?”

“Of course, silly!” Mya handed Paris the balloon, and Jack and Chase followed her into the condo. “We couldn't let you go into that meeting without a positive sendoff,” she replied excitedly.

“Do you have a vase for these?” asked Jack, as he waved the flowers in the air.

“Check under the kitchen sink,” replied Paris, “and thank you. They’re beautiful.”

“Here,” said Chase, “I brought you your favorite Syrah for later this evening.” He handed the bottle to her, and she couldn't help but wrap him in a hug—something she’d never done before. Chase was taken by surprise but hugged her tightly in return.

“I have you all to thank for the support and for pushing me to be better. I couldn't have made changes without you. Honestly, looking back at how I acted, I don't blame the board for putting this plan into action. It made me realize how valuable my life really is and that I want to be surrounded by my friends and family.

“Where’s Vic?” asked Chase. “I thought he might be here with you.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” said Paris. “He isn't picking up my calls.”

“He’s embarrassed by what happened, and he feels like you rejected him. He needs a little time,” said Jack. “I know my brother. He’ll come around.”

“I can try talking to him if you like?” added Chase. “He usually listens to me.”

“Wow, man, my brother actually listens to someone? I thought he just pushed through the pain and buried it as deeply as possible.”

“Nah, he's come a long way since his fall from grace,” replied Chase. “We’ve gotten to be pretty close. I would go as far as to say we’re besties ,” he said with a grin.

Jack raised an eyebrow. “I thought it seemed you two were hanging out quite a bit, but I wasn't sure if it was business or pleasure.”

Chase smiled. “I enjoy his company, and we have similar interests. I’m as surprised as you are that this turned into a friendship. He was a bit of a jerk at first.”

Jack nodded. “Like I said, bury the pain, which then comes out as anger and jerk behavior.”

“True, that,” added Mya. She turned to give Paris a pointed look.

“I know, I know,” replied Paris. “I was a jerk.”

Mya grabbed Paris's arm and hugged it. “But you're my B.F.F. again, so it doesn't matter anymore!”

“Okay, enough mushy stuff,” said Paris. “Shall we get down to business?”

“Yeah,” said Chase, “I think we should head out. Hopefully Vic’s meeting us at the boardroom.”

Paris’s knees wobbled as she left her condo. She’d done everything the board asked of her, within her power. She couldn’t help that Tom had deceived her. On the other side of her mind sat Vic. What was happening with him? Did he plan to stay with Sense of Adventure? Why was he avoiding her? The questions flowed through her mind like a never-ending river.

Vic was already seated inside the boardroom, along with Cristo, his parents, and Paris's parents. He quietly watched the secondhand tick by as he awaited the arrival of Paris, Mya, and Chase.

Arriving at the boardroom, Jack turned to Paris, “This is where I leave you. I’ll be at your condo tonight to celebrate. Good luck in there, though I don’t think you’ll need it,” he said, giving her a quick hug.

“Thanks, Jack,” she replied. Turning away, she stepped into the room, followed by Mya and Chase. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Vic at the table, but then her emotions took over and she had to look away. Thankfully, Mya and Chase sat in the chairs flanking Vic.

“Good morning,” said Nicola, a smile on her face. “I see you’re all here early. I like that. How’s everyone feeling after the long weekend?”

“Wonderful,” replied Vic. “How are you?”

“I'm glad we’re coming to the end of this rehabilitative road you’ve been traveling over the past couple of months,” she said. “I think Jessamine and I agree; this has been difficult for us as well. No one likes to see their children suffer.”

Paris looked at her mother. “This hasn’t been easy. I’ve spent a lot of time feeling angry at the board, angry at Mya, and frankly, hating myself. The day Alli died, we fought. I wasn’t supportive of her and we didn’t get a chance to makeup. When she died, I blamed myself.”

“Sweetheart,” said her mother. “Alli’s death wasn’t your fault.”

Sniffling, Paris said, “I know, but it was hard to see that. I didn’t think I deserved to be here when she wasn’t. I never had a pill addiction, but there was a point when I wanted my life to end. I couldn’t see the other side. Everything felt too heavy to carry, so I numbed the pain with the idea that maybe one day it would be over. I’d take one too many pills and never wake up. The day that happened, you all stepped in and brought me back.”

Gasping, Nicola shook her head. “I wish you would have talked to us. We could have gotten you help.”

“That’s just it,” said Paris. “I couldn’t find the words to ask for help. I didn’t think I deserved it.” Pausing, she sniffled and wiped away her tears. “When you and the board forced us to start over, you saved my life.” Unable to hold back, a loud sob escaped her throat. Mya leaned over and wrapped her in a hug. Breathing in through the watery snobbery mess, she said, “I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t stepped in.” Turning to Mya, she said, “that accident you and Chase were in, made me realize I want to be here. I want to be a part of this family, and I want to help Alli’s legacy live on.”

Walking over to her, Mikel bent down and wrapped his daughter in a hug. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. You mean the world to us, Paris. We love you more than you’ll ever know.”

On the other side of Mya, Vic wiped a tear from his cheek. “This whole experience has been eye-opening. I owe you all an apology for my terrible behavior. Some of you may not know this, but I’ve been seeing a therapist. He’s helped me to find better outlets for my anger. I’ve also found a new friend in Chase.” Turning toward Chase, he said, “You’ve been a blessing, man. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction.”

Chase smiled back at Vic. “Anytime, brother.”

“Well, hopefully not any time,” said Vic. “I really don’t want to go through this again,” he said with a grin.

Chase rolled his eyes, but smiled. “Your timing is terrible.”

“Yup. That’s my son,” said Dom, shaking his head. “Anyway, we’re proud of the changes you’ve both made, which is why we’ve decided to permanently reinstate you to your original positions within the company.”

Paris’s whole body relaxed as she exhaled. “Thank you,” she said. “You won’t regret it.”

“We’re certain we won’t,” said Nikola, with a wink.

Straightening in her seat, Jessamine said, “With the removal of Angela and Tom, there will be two senior positions open at Sense of Adventure, and we feel it’s only right to offer them to you, Mya and Chase. You don’t have to decide right now, but we hope you’ll say yes. The clients love you, and you’ve shown great strength over the past several months. Your addition will create a well-rounded team.”

“Oh, My God,” said Chase. “There’s nothing to think about. I accept!”

“Me too!” replied Mya. “I always wanted to be an event planner,” she said with a grin.

“Congratulations,” said Paris. “This is great news!”

“Wonderful!” said Dom. “I think I speak for all of us here when I say we’re pleased to have you as our newest planners.”

Vic’s eyes dropped to the table. “I have something I need to say.” The room grew quiet as everyone’s attention shifted to him. “After the alarm clock situation, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to succeed in climbing out of the hole I’d dug. I started to look into other options and found out Le Hexagon is looking for a new Chef, so I put in an application. Last Friday I had an interview, and I’ve been offered the job.”

Dom’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you take it?” he asked.

“I haven’t decided,” said Vic. “Living on a smaller budget forced me to rely more on my cooking skills. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it. I have until Wednesday to let them know my decision.”

“My dear,” said Jessamine. “We love you, and we want you to be happy. If taking a new position as a Chef brings you joy, then you should do so, but know we will be sad to see you go.”

Mikel pursed his lips and let out a low whistle. “This is unexpected, but whatever you decide, you’ll always have a place within ADG.”

“Thanks,” said Vic. “I’ll let you know as soon as I make a decision.”

“That particular bit of information makes this next part a bit harder,” said Dom.

Walking over to the dry erase board, Mikel wrote a single word in the center.

“Retirement?” asked Vic.

“Retirement,” echoed Dom. “That’s the word of the day.”

“Please explain,” requested Vic.

Mikel took the lead. “Well, kid, for the past couple of years, your father and I have been looking into the future of the company. We’ve discussed what else we want to achieve and where else we feel we should go. We've held the reins on ADG for many years now and, while we love our company, we’ve decided that we’d like to take a step back. We’re retiring as CEO and COO of ADG, and we’d like the positions to be filled by you and Paris.”

“This won’t happen overnight,” said Dom. “We’re planning to retire in three years, which gives us plenty of time to transition.

Paris's jaw dropped when she realized what her father had said. She’d never imagined heading up ADG so soon. “What will you do with all your free time?” she asked.

“Well, sweetheart,” replied Mikel, “I plan to work at one of our restaurants, and Dom plans to take one of your positions and go back to adventure planning for a while. We want young blood to lead ADG into an even brighter future, and while we won't be heading up the company any longer, we’ll still be here to help you out when you need guidance.”

“What do you think about that?” asked Dom.

“Wow,” replied Vic. “I don't know what to say?”

Dom smiled warmly at his son. “Say you’ll consider the job.”

“I will,” said Vic.

“Good. That’s all I need to know at this time,” said his father. “We’ll table the rest of this discussion until after you’ve made your decision.”

“Before we end this meeting, Vic and Paris, we’ve reinstated your trust funds,” said Cristo. “And seeing as you’ve accepted the promotion, Mya and Chase, you’ll be receiving company cars as well as a monthly living expense fund.”

“After all we’ve been through together, you’re a part of the family,” said Jessamine. “We’ll all be working closely together to design and execute the future plans of ADG.”

Looking at the board, Chase said, “Thank you! I won’t let you down.”

“Now, if there are no questions, we can adjourn this meeting. We’ll sign paperwork for the new positions next Monday,” said Cristo. “Have a wonderful week.”

The meeting ended, and the board exited the room. Paris was still in shock, as was Vic. She was about to say something to him when he got up from his chair and headed for the door. She wanted to call after him, but the words wouldn’t come out. There was a slight twinge of pain in her chest as she watched him walk away.

“Hey,” said Mya, “Go after him.”

“I can't,” replied Paris. “I just can't. He doesn't want to speak to me.”

“Girl, you’d better step up, or he’s gonna walk right out of your life,” said Chase.

“I hear you both, but how am I supposed to talk to him when he won’t look at me or take my calls?”

“Paris, if you let this go, you’ll regret it,” added Chase. “Run.”

Nodding, Paris ran down the hall toward the elevators. “Vic! Wait!” When she turned the corner, no one was there and neither elevator had left the twelfth floor.

The rest of the day was a blur of emotions for Paris. She’d cried, she’d laughed, she’d maniacally cleaned her office. She was doing anything she could to keep her mind from wandering to Vic, who was nowhere to be found.

At six-o-clock Paris began her trek home. The office was nearly empty, and she was happy to be alone. She wondered what Vic was up to and whether or not he was home. She thought back to the days spent living in the same apartment and then allowed her mind to wander to the night at the cabin when they first slept together, and then the night in their apartment when they once again lowered their walls and let one another in.

Could he be capable of more? No one had ever kissed her with such passion and desire. She’d never felt so at ease around another man, and she’d never caught herself thinking about someone as much as she did Vic. Jack said Vic loved her.

The walk back to her home was short, but it was enough time for Paris to roll everything from the past few months, and even years, around in her head. No matter how she stacked it, the positive aspects of being with Vic outweighed the negative. In reality, she didn’t know if the negative even had legs for which to stand. She wanted him terribly, and by the time she reached the door to her condo, she’d made up her mind that if he’d have her, she was all in.

Picking up the phone, Paris dialed Vic's number. “Please don't let it go to voicemail,” she said out loud, just before his voicemail clicked on. Sighing, she left him a frazzled message. “Vic, it's Paris. I need to talk to you, please. I’d prefer to speak in person, but you’ve been avoiding me and ignoring my calls. I'm sorry I judged you so harshly. Forgive me?” She paused for a moment and let out a sigh. “For what it’s worth, I miss you, and I don’t want you to leave the company.”

Twenty minutes passed, and then a knock sounded at the door. Paris was sprawled out on the floor to her condo, ugly crying. The knock made her jump, as she hadn’t been expecting it.

“Paris!” yelled Vic. “Are you in there?”

She was surprised that he hadn’t heard the horrific caterwauling emitting from the condo. Wiping her face, she pushed herself off the floor and trudged over to the door. When she opened it, the look on Vic's face sobered and turned to concern.

“Paris, what's happening? Are you okay?” he asked.

Men, she thought to herself. How did he not know this was about him? “I'm fine,” she sniffed.

“No, you’re not,” Vic replied adamantly. “Tell me, what's going on?”

“It's you. It's always you!” shrieked Paris as she burst into yet another round of tears.

“Oh, sweetie,” he replied. Reaching out, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. “I'm here,” he said softly as he buried his face in her silky black hair. “I'm right here.”

“I know,” she wailed, “but what does that mean?”

“It means,” he replied deliberately, “that I’m here. I’ve decided to stay at ADG, and I want to give commitment a real go.”

Pulling back from him, she wiped her nose and looked into his eyes. “You really mean that?”

“Yes, Paris, more than anything. I’ve never wanted to be with someone so badly in all my life. I’ve missed you too.” Leaning in, he brushed back her damp hair and pressed his lips to hers. All his worries disappeared and were replaced by a comforting warmth. Kissing her felt right. Pulling away, he looked her over. She was smiling back at him in a slightly bashful way. “So, why don’t we go inside and start working on being a couple?” As she looked back at him, she felt safe and she could once again see the possibilities of her future.

“I like that idea very much,” she replied as she led him into her condo, pulling the door shut behind them.