Carter

I was sitting behind my desk trying to concentrate on work, but the only thing I could think of was how bad my head was hurting and what had happened last night between me and Zoey. I had to stop it from going any further because one, she was my employee, and two, it would be a mistake to have had sex with her in my drunken state. Even though I’d had sex plenty of times while I was drunk, Zoey was one woman who didn’t deserve that. The one thing that I couldn’t get out of my head was how she kissed me back. She didn’t stop me, and had I kept going, it would have changed everything. She was beautiful and sexy, and my cock would have given anything to be buried deep inside her. For me, it was purely physical. The things she said and the things I’d witnessed were too much for me and I found it difficult to be around her. We were complete opposites. She voluntarily surrounded herself around death and illness, and I did everything I could to avoid it. She believed in Heaven and a God, and even though I once did, I didn’t anymore, nor would I ever again.

“Excuse me, Mr. Grayson,” my secretary, Breanna, spoke. “Mr. Cecil Campbell is on line one for you.”

“Thank you, Breanna.” I sighed as I picked up the phone. “Cecil, how are you?”

“Have you made your decision yet, Carter?”

“I have, and I’ve decided that you’re going to sell me the property at the value we discussed.”

“The price went up, Carter. I have others waiting in line behind you. All I have to do is give one of them a call and the property will be theirs tomorrow at the price I’m asking.”

“You’re bluffing. No one I know would be that stupid. What I do know is that the IRS is closing in to seize your property for your lack of tax payments over the last three years. And once they do that, I can actually pay a lower price for it. I’m trying to help you out, Cecil. Take what I’ve offered you and run with it. You know it’s a damn good and fair price.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Carter.” He hung up.

After setting the phone down, I opened my desk drawer and shook three aspirin into my hand. Just as I was about to head to a meeting, my cellphone rang. It was Nora.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes. I need you to be home tonight. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“I’ll be home around seven and we can talk then.”

“Okay,” she softly spoke.

I sighed as I ended the call and told Breanna to have Ross come into my office.

“What’s up, Carter?”

“I just got off the phone with Cecil. He’s going to sell the property for what we discussed. Get the contract drawn up.”

“Excellent. By the way, how’s the nurse working out?”

“Nora really likes her,” I spoke.

“And you?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. As long as she provides my sister with the proper care, that’s all that matters.”

He stood there and stared at me with a narrowed eye.

“Yeah. You’re right. I’ll get moving on that contract.”

Evening rolled around, and I left the office and headed home. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Zoey because I knew, at some point, we’d have to talk about what had happened last night. When I stepped off the elevator, I headed into the kitchen and found Zoey standing with the refrigerator open.

“Is Nora awake?” I asked, and she jumped.

“You scared me.” She turned around and looked at me. “Can you please stop sneaking up on me?”

“I’m not sneaking up on you. You’re obviously an easily frightened person. It must be all that death you surround yourself with.”

“Yes, Nora is awake and she’s waiting to talk to you.”

“Do you know what it’s about?” I asked.

“No. The only thing she said was that she wanted to speak to the both of us.”

I sighed and set my briefcase down.

“Then we better go talk to her,” I spoke.

The moment we stepped into Nora’s room, she opened her eyes and looked at us.

“Good, you’re home.” She smiled. “Both of you, sit down.”

I took a seat on the edge of the bed while Zoey took a seat in the chair.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked as I lightly took hold of her hand.

“I don’t have much longer, Carter. I can feel my body deteriorating. I want to spend what little time I have left at the beach house in Malibu.”

“Nora.” I shook my head. “That’s not possible.”

“It is possible, Carter, and this is my final wish. I want to sit on the beach, even if it is only for one day. I want to feel the ocean breeze and smell the salted air through my window as I lie in bed. It’s getting colder here and I don’t want to spend my final days in a dreary place.”

“But, Nora, this is your home.”

“So is the Malibu house.”

“But—”

“Carter, this isn’t about you. This is about me and my final wish.”

I looked down and gulped because going back to that house was going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do. But she was right. This wasn’t about me. I started to sweat at the thought because I knew once we left for California, I would return to New York alone.

“Okay,” I whispered. “We’ll leave in a couple of days. I have to get things settled at the office first, plus we’ll need to pack.”

“Thank you.” She weakly squeezed my hand.

I looked over at Zoey, who sat there and didn’t say a word.

“Can I see you in my office?” I asked her.

“Sure.”

She followed me down the hallway and took a seat across from my desk.

“There are a couple things I want to discuss with you. First, about last night. I apologize for my actions. As you know, I was totally inebriated.”

“I know and it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“It will never happen between us, Zoey. I want to make that very clear.”

“You don’t have to make that clear, Mr. Grayson, because I know it won’t.”

“Good. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, the second thing I want to discuss is California. Are you okay with going?”

“Yes. Of course I am. You seem hesitant about it. Why?”

“I am, but I’m doing it for Nora. The reason doesn’t concern you. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“The weather there is warm, so I’m assuming you’ll have to go home and get some of your other clothes. Since I’m going to be home the rest of the night, I’ll have Juan take you now and I’ll keep an eye on Nora.”

“Okay,” she spoke.

“I don’t think her traveling is a good idea. But what can I do? If she wants to spend what time she has left in Malibu, then who am I to try and stop her. That will be all. Juan will be waiting downstairs for you when you’re ready.”

She gave me a nod and walked out of my office. Picking up my phone, I called Sadie and asked her if she would like to come with us. Since it was only her and she didn’t really have any family here, she accepted.

The thought of going back to that house terrified me. I wanted to sell it, but Nora wouldn’t allow it, and I couldn’t sell it without her permission since her name was also on the title. I got up from my desk and went over to the bar in the living room and poured myself a scotch. As I was about to drink it, I heard Zoey’s voice.

“If you’re going to drink while staying here alone with your sister, I’m not leaving.”

“Excuse me?” I cocked my head at her.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Grayson, but after last night, I don’t think I can trust you to be alone with her if you’re drinking.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I set my glass down and walked over to her. “It’s one drink and that’s it.”

“And one drink leads to many others. Especially with the state you’re in about having to go to California. I know this is hard for you because you know you’ll be coming back here without her, but drinking your problems away isn’t going to help her or you.”

I clenched my fist, which rested at my side, because I was one word away from massively exploding on her. I walked over to the bar, grabbed my glass, and dumped the scotch out.

“There. I won’t have a drink until you return,” I spoke in anger.

“Thank you.” She turned and walked away.