E l e v e n-3

When I'm dressed I leave Charlie to finish getting ready, and head back through to the lounge. I lay the paperwork I had couriered over on the low table, together with the Mont Blanc that Elena bought me for my 26th birthday with my initials engraved. The two contracts I lay out side by side, skimming my eyes over all the points I asked Philip to highlight in the NDA. The other contract was a lot more straightforward. "Any chance of you telling me what's going to happen? I really feel like we should have spoken about this before now," She says from behind me. When I turn to look at her my chest constricts. Her face is bare and her hair is dry now and loose about her face, falling over her shoulders. It looks perfectly dishevelled. The lace summer dress that I peeled from her earlier is once more tight fitting around her breasts, the top button of the neckline casually undone. She looks 19. She looks like I'd imagined her in ever fantasy I'd ever had about her in the last 8 years. "I'm going to save his company." I tell her. Her mouth drops open partially and confusion comes over her face. "Why would you do that?" "Because it's the smart business decision." I shrug, holding her eyes a moment before looking back at the contract. I hear her come towards me, and she takes a seat next to me on the sofa. "When did you decide this?" "Last night." "After we fucked?" Her voice is suspicious. I turn to look at her. "Yes." When she continues to stare at me I frown. "Charlie stop looking for hidden agendas where there aren't any. The company is salvageable. I'm going to salvage it." "So you're going into business with him?" Her scathing tone feels like being whipped. "You and my husband will be business partners?" I take a deep breath and turn to her. "Ex-husband. And No. I'm making a smart investment in his company. There's a distinct difference." "Why?" "I just explained that. I'm a businessman. I make business decisions." "I thought you were my friend." I feel my face contort. "I am Charlie, of course I am. But when we spoke last night it was clear you were concerned about it. About him. I thought this would be what you wanted." Her shoulders sag in defeat, or acceptance, and she turns away from me to gaze down at the paperwork. "What's this?" She slides the NDA toward her. "A non-disclosure agreement." I watch her face as she glances over it. "What are the 'additional agreed upon terms'?" She quotes. "That he signs the divorce papers," I explain. I didn't want that written down anywhere. We'd agree that verbally, with Gideon as a witness. But I'd make sure he signed them before he left this room. Her head turns to me. Eyes unreadable. "Do you have the papers?" I ask. "Yes. In my purse." She nods. "Good. Go get them now." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath and stands up. Going to where she dropped her brown leather purse earlier when she arrived in a rage. As she retrieves a manilla coloured envelope there is a knock on the door of the suite. Her whole body tenses at the sound, before relaxing again. "It will be Gideon," I say softly. "Of course," She nods before turning to go to the door. When she opens it he smiles brightly at her and moves in to hug her tight, kissing her on the cheek with familiar warmth. "How are you doing angel?" He says as she wraps an arm around him. "You good?" He pulls back to cast a glittering blue gaze over her over. She smiles warmly at him. "I'm good thank you," she nods. Gideon is wearing dark coloured grey jeans, a white t-shirt and a grey wool V-neck sweater. He looks casual and relaxed. I think his nonchalant demeanour also relaxes Charlie somewhat because she looks a lot less tense as she walks back towards me and hands me the envelope. "Sorry, I'm late." He says. "Got held up in Brooklyn. Was trying to get a look at a nightclub I'm buying. Place is like Narnia inside. I swear a minute in there is like an hour out here," He smiles. "So, where we at? Where do I sign?" He says sitting next to me. "We'll sign everything when he gets here," I tell him. "Is he an on time kind of person?" I ask Charlie. She shakes her head. "No." Just then, there's another knock on the door. Firm. Loud. "He's notoriously early for everything." She says looking a little pale again, afraid. Standing, I walk around the table to her and take her hands in mine. "I'm here." I lean in and kiss her softly on the lips. "Everything's going to be fine. Promise you." I smile. Her face softens on me and she nods, smiling back at me. "Ok," She squeezes my hands before letting them go to go get the door. As I turn back around Gideon is looking up at me. He's also smiling. For a moment I'd literally forgotten he was in the room. He leans back and crosses one leg over his thigh, ever relaxed. He looked pleased with himself. Vindicated. "Well about fucking time." He sighs, nodding once. "About 8 years too late mind you, but you always were a bit slow on the uptake man. You look good together. But then you always did." He smirks, a glint in his eye. I'm about to answer him when I hear movement behind me. Slowly I turn around to get my first look at him. At Charlie's husband. The one who'd managed to get her to marry him. The one who'd hurt her. The one who at one point had reminded her of me. He looks exactly like the bastard I imagined him to be.