Maya

 

 

I sit in stunned silence. I can't wrap my mind around what's happening. I just presented Julian with two offers for the penthouse, and he wants to accept the weaker of the two. It's less money, horrible terms and a ninety-day close.

"I deserve an explanation." I look at him, but he's facing the doorway. "I worked my ass off to sell that place, and something isn't adding up."

"Senator Carney is behind that shell corporation." He throws his head back against the chair. "I made a deal with him, Maya. He's giving me something in exchange for the reduced price on the penthouse."

That feels like a boot to the stomach. Not only am I missing out on a nice chunk of commission but Julian is essentially telling me that he pre-negotiated this deal. I had no real part in it which means technically I didn’t sell the property.

I've been wasting my time trying to sell an apartment that he'd already agreed to sell.

"What is he giving you?" I spit the words out in anger. "What the hell is he giving you that is worth that much?"

"Freedom." He pushes back and stands.

I know who Senator Carney is and I know for a fact that he didn’t tour the penthouse with me. Both Todd and Simon are too young to be the senator. Neither of them mentioned anything about him. My head is spinning in confusion.

Senator Carney's son, Bert, was accused of killing a man. He beat the victim's face in with a rock until he was completely unrecognizable and then he got off on some technicality. I dated his lawyer briefly which is how I know so much about the case. Everett, Bert's attorney, couldn't shut up about it. I was so appalled that I left him during dinner one night without another word.

"Does this have to do with that murder case?" I ask quietly. "You're not involved in that, Julian, are you?"

"Fuck, no." He finally looks at me. "Maya, no. I would never. "

"What then?" I push to my feet. "You said you were buying your freedom. What does that mean?"

"I need Isadora gone. She admires the senator, so I put out some feelers to see if he had a position for her. He called me and asked what I could offer in exchange. I told him I wouldn't deal that way, but then he became aware of the penthouse and expressed an interest in it."

"That's illegal." I sit back down. "Isn't it bribery or something?"

"No." He shakes his head. "I had two lawyers look it over, Maya. It's all above board."

Two lawyers. Two people who knew about this when I didn't have a clue.

"All of this to get Isadora out of the picture?" I shake my head. It's unreasonable and extreme. Granted, I don't like her, but there has to be a solution beyond him selling me out.

"I want her to start a new life away from here." He folds his arms over his chest. "She'd relocate to Washington. The past would finally be in the past and you and I can move forward without the threat of her over us."

"She's just an ex-girlfriend." I try and laugh it off. "She'll get over you eventually. It doesn't matter if she's sitting in the office next to you or in an office in D.C."

"You don't know her the way I do, Maya."

"I'm a woman. I know what it feels like to have my heart broken by someone I love." I hate dredging up my past but I feel the need to. "I wasn’t ready to let go of my ex either, Julian."

"You're nothing like Isadora." He clenches his hands into tight fists. "She was waiting for me outside my apartment the other night. She wanted to know who I was fucking. She will push and push until she pushes you away."

I finally see things clearly. This isn't all about his freedom from Isadora. This is about his fear of losing me.

"If you sign off on that deal, you are only prolonging the inevitable."  My voice rises out of pure frustration. "She'll go to Washington and pine for you from afar. She'll still look at your social media accounts every day and pick apart every single post. She'll call you for no reason but to hear your voice. Sending her away won't change anything, Julian."

"It will give me breathing room." The exasperation in his tone is evident. "I don’t expect you to understand any of this, Maya. How could you?"

"I lived it," I say softly. "I was just like Isadora once."

 

 

***

 

I sip the glass of water he got me. He hasn't said anything since I told him that I was like Isadora. I know he's waiting for an explanation and I have to give him one. I suck in a deep breath because this is going to take all the courage I possess.

"I moved to New York City because of a man."

Unease floats over his expression. He's sitting again now, next to me. He's stoic and silent.

"I fell in love with a man in San Francisco. He was the man I told you about."

"The man who left you for his ex." It's a statement, not a question. "I assumed that ended when he left you."

"It should have." I clench my hands together on the table. "I loved him or felt that I did at the time. I wasn't willing to accept his decision."

"So you followed him to New York?"

"I followed him and his wife to New York," I clarify. "I couldn't breathe knowing he was in a different state so I packed up my things and came here. I rented a small apartment and applied to college. I found a part-time job."

"Was he aware that you followed him across the country?" There's no readable inflection in his voice at all. I can't tell what he's thinking or feeling.

I shift in my seat, the restless energy I feel gnawing at me. "I sought him out often. I showed up at his work, followed him when he took her out. I essentially stalked them both."

It's difficult to admit. I was damn lucky at the time that neither of them called the police. If they had, my life would be much different.

"Why, Maya?" He studies my face. "Why did you do it?"

I hold his gaze while I answer. "I thought he was the only man I'd ever love. I wanted him with such force that it obliterated all common sense. I was determined to be the one he chose. I'd convinced myself that he'd realize his mistake and come back to me, so in my mind, being in New York made sense."

"How was this resolved?"

I chuckle because I could never have predicted the outcome. "I eventually gave up because he made it clear repeatedly that I was not the woman for him."

"Does he live here? Do you ever seek him out now?" He leans forward to rest both elbows on the table.

"I have no idea where he is now. I don't care." I look at the documents on the table. "The last time I saw him was years ago. He'd heard I was a rental agent and he needed a place to live. He split from his wife and he came to me."

I take a deep breath and go on, "I didn't feel a thing for him anymore but he told me he loved me and wanted me back."

His eyebrows lift with a silent question, so I answer it.

"I told him I didn't love him anymore and I couldn't help him."

"He's the reason why you made me promise to tell you if I was considering getting back together with Isadora?"

"I'm older now. I understand love more." I smile softly. "I didn't ask you to tell me because I was worried that I'd end up chasing you to the ends of the earth to get you back. I asked you so that I could give myself the necessary time to grieve and to let go in a healthy way."

I can tell he's waiting for me to say more, but when I don’t, he responds. "That's a very mature approach to take, Maya. I understand more now why you tested me that day in my office."

"I slipped into fear that day," I admit. "I recognized it quickly. That's why I told you and why I wanted you to understand how deeply sorry I was for how I behaved."

"You've given me a lot to think about." He scrubs his hand over the back of his neck.

I huff out a laugh. "I hope I didn't scare you away, but I wanted you to know about my past and the person I am now."