CHAPTER 17

Boyce

I looked out of the window as she left the house. Vivian could deny it all that she wanted, but she was scared. Unfortunately, I knew that both the restaurant and Anne showing up here could be the reason or maybe it was both. I couldn’t change the fact that I’d slept with several women in my single years and I wondered why I brought them home. I knew in the beginning that it was to erase the memory of Nora from my mind but that didn’t work. I’d always love my wife, and nobody made me feel much of anything until now.

I looked around the empty house and sighed as I walked back to the couch. I was hoping for one more time with Vivian before she returned to school. I was addicted to her and I stared blankly at the TV.

I worked out in my home gym for an hour that evening, hoping to get her out of my system. I planned to shower and get some sleep and throw myself into work this week but once I was watching TV in my bed, I was wide awake. I reached for my phone and dialed Vivian’s number, waiting for her to answer. When I got her voice mail, I left her a message to call me and dropped the phone on my bed. She was avoiding me.

I slept fitfully without a return phone call and woke up early to shower again for work. I was the first one in the office and I made coffee and warmed up my computer as I looked around my large office. I’d made it mine when I started the company and it reflected every part of my life. I was proud of this accomplishment in my life, but I knew that at some point I would want more. Maybe that time was coming sooner than expected.

“You’re here early,” Max told me from the doorway. He headed one of the most successful teams in the company and was moving quickly to the top. He worked as hard as I always did.

“Figured I would start the week right,” I joked as he frowned and looked at me closely.

“Are you okay? You look like there’s something on your mind.” Max told me as I looked out of the window to the city.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just need some more coffee,” I replied, reaching for my cup. “How does your week look?”

“I am handling the new bank in New York. It’s going to be beautiful.” Max boasted as I thought back to getting that account. It was going to do a lot for the company and at the time, I was excited. Now it just seemed dull and I took a slow breath as I leaned back.

“I’ve seen your plans. They’re impressive,” I complimented Max, wanting to fill the silence. “You’re turning into me, Max. Don’t live here and let life pass you by.”

“That’s how you became successful, isn’t it? You’re here now, earlier than everyone else. I haven’t seen you working every weekend, but you put in your time during the week.” Max reminded me as I remembered why I wasn’t here on this last weekend. “You balance it all. The guys talk about you around here. You’re living the life.”

“I suppose,” I replied as Max gave me a surprised look.

“I heard that your daughter is off to college. That must be great to have the place to yourself. Is that why you’ve been gone on the weekends?” Max asked me as I smiled weakly.

“Yeah. It’s been nice,” I lied, knowing that I needed to act like the man that they all thought I was. I couldn’t tell anyone about Vivian. “I actually had another daughter that moved out as well.”

“The cute redhead? Haven’t you been taking care of her since she was just a kid?” I stared at Max, still stuck on his first words. “She works hard around here. She’s going to make a great graduate someday. Is she going into Architecture as well?”

“Graphic Design,” I responded as Max said something about that being a promising field.

“What about your daughter? What is she going to do?” Max asked as I realized that I didn’t talk about Bella too much around here. I always kept my private life separate from work and I smiled.

“She’s in New York at Julliard. She’s going to be an actress and she’s already in a play on Broadway this holiday season.” I told him, feeling the pride swell inside of me. “She’s always been fairly dramatic. Her mother…her mother told her to go into acting from the beginning. I’m glad that she’s seeing it through.”

“They both sound great. Good job, Dad. I don’t know how you did it with your hours.” Max complimented me, and I gazed at him.

“You’re not married?” I asked, and he shook his head. I knew so little about my staff’s lives outside of this building.

“If you ever meet the right woman, give her some of your time. It flies by too fast and…it just goes too fast.” I smiled slowly and looked at him as confusion crossed his face. “I wasn’t home for so much of life and now I regret that. I can’t change it but just take my advice.”

“I’m dating a great girl. Her name is Melody and it’s been a few years. I was thinking of proposing,” Max seemed to drop his shoulders after telling me this. “When the hell did it get so serious in this place?”

“I have no idea, but I like it. Maybe we should make this more of a family business. Holiday parties, barbeques, and that kind of thing.” I offered as he shrugged. “Go create a building, Max. Make it the best building in the city.” I watched as he left the office and took another sip of coffee. I liked the idea of my company being geared towards family and wished that I’d thought of it earlier. The only view into my personal life here was the scattered pictures set around and the fact that Vivian worked here during the summer and holidays when I needed her to.

I focused on work and answered some emails and scheduled some meetings. I was thinking about Vivian the entire time but knew that she might need some space right now. Things were getting intense between us and she had to be worried about that. I knew that I was. I’d leave her alone for a few days and do what I did best. I’d work my ass off.

Friday came with no word from Vivian and no answering of my phone calls. I put in days and nights at the office, going against my own advice to Max. I didn’t have anything at home to rush off to, so I kept myself busy here. By Friday evening, I was pacing the floors and trying to decide if I was going to break this no contact game that we were playing.

I looked through the building as other staff left for the night and tried to call her again. She let it go to voice mail and I closed my computer and prepared to leave. I pulled on my coat and shut off the lights to my office before walking to the car and heading towards the University. I’d never been to her apartment, but I knew where it was.

I pondered the idea of her having someone over, but Vivian didn’t seem like the type to jump into bed with another man after a week. Granted, she did the one time, but I could see the regret in her eyes after that. I pressed down on the pedal and the car moved faster after I pictured her gorgeous face in my mind. I needed to see Vivian, to touch her. I pulled into the little college town and moved through the traffic as my GPS guided me to her place.

Once I was in the parking lot, I hesitated. I didn’t want to go storming to her door and invite unwanted attention so instead, I sent her a text telling her that I was outside. I didn’t get a response, but I stared at the building with brightly lit windows and the sound of students talking and laughing around me. I was so far separated from this life now and I blinked as I waited for Vivian.

I watched every movement outside as the moments passed. I looked at the stairs where I guessed her apartment was, waiting to see her red hair coming towards me. My phone chimed, and I glanced down, seeing her name on the screen.

Vivian: Why?

I had the sense to look up, seeing her standing at the top of the stairs with her phone in her hand. Vivian took that first step and came towards the car with a wan expression on her face.