Truth about Will

With all of Will’s creepy and disturbing behavior recently, I doubt anything I have to say today will come as a surprise. I’ve recently discovered the truth about the past Will always shrouded in mystery.

            Last week I went to visit Sam. I told her about getting fired and my plans, and she seemed excited for me, but a little anxious as well. When I brought up going back home, she asked, “And what will your Will do if you’re all the way down there?”

            I was surprised, as I’d only mentioned Will a few times to Sam, and never in a romantic way. When I said we weren’t together, Sam pressed the topic. Surely we were almost an item, though, weren’t we? With how much time we had spent together? I denied over and over again that there was even a hint of romance between us and assured her I’d never let myself be in a relationship with that man.

            Sam breathed a sigh of relief, and then cried out that Will was the most heartless man she’d ever met, and was thankful I’d be spared from his abuse.

            I was really confused, because I wondered how Sam had ever met Will, since she’d never mentioned meeting him before. But as it turns out, Sam knew Will from before her accident.

            When Sam and her husband were newlyweds and moved to the city for his job, they met Will. Will’s father had just died, and he sold all of his shares to the company and decided to make his money flipping houses instead. Whenever Sam and her husband spent time with Will, he was always complaining about the corporate world, with its soulless, power-hungry people. He mocked the businessmen, and as Sam’s husband’s work was a starting job to keep them fed more than anything he was passionate about, he joined in. But when my family was brought into the conversation—of my vain, conceited father and shallow, vicious sister—Sam defended me, telling them about how I was going to become a lawyer for abused children and other little stories from when we were roommates. 

            So, one mystery solved. I now know who told Will about me.

            Anyway, throughout this, Will had been dating a real estate agent, and they got married. With the money Will got from selling his shares in his dad’s company, they bought three houses to flip and hired construction workers, an architect, and an interior designer to work on the projects. They were certain they’d make a fortune from these houses. But then the housing bubble burst. Real estate collapsed and no one was buying homes, especially not at the prices Will and his wife had expected to get.

            The financial strain proved too much for the couple. She divorced him, taking half of what little he had left, and gutting Will of a lot of his resources. Out of pity, Sam and her husband lent him money. But what Sam thought was one month’s rent, was actually a lot more, as she found out upon her husband’s death. Her husband had given Will practically all of their savings, and when Sam came to Will about it, he refused to pay her back.

            Since that time, Sam’s kept tabs on Will’s doings. He became one of the “soulless, power-hungry” businessmen he’d previously despised. He’s been going back to everyone he’s sold shares to, and piece by piece has been building up his stock again. From Sam’s last count, Will just needs one more to hold the majority of shares in the company, and has decided to get that from my dad.

            At this point, I interrupted and asked if that’s why Will had been attempting to get together with me. Did he think that if he was a son-in-law, my dad would give the share to him? Had I only been a pawn?

            Sam said she didn’t think so. Her friend from the apartment complex who works as a maid and helps Sam with her own place, works for one of Will’s friends. They think she doesn’t understand English, and so they’ll have conversations with her in the room. Apparently Will really has fallen for me, because when talking about me it’s never in connection with my family and the share we have. It honestly would have been easier to accept that he was marrying me for the share than to think he actually has feelings for me. I get the shivers whenever I realize someone so horrible has romantic feelings toward me.

In addition to this, Will also talks to this friend about my dad’s secretary. He’s been worried that she’ll have a kid with my dad, and if it’s a son, Will has no hope of getting that share. My dad’s been pretty clear that my sisters and I will get money and property, but anything business-related would do better in a man’s hands (yes, really). Will figures that with this being my dad’s mindset, he can get the share with some persuasion, but if a son comes into the picture, he’ll lose it. Now, I know. What is this, medieval Europe? It’s ridiculous and shows just how paranoid Will is. Not only is he worried about it, though, he’s now taken action. According to Sam’s friend, Will’s recently dug some information on the secretary and is planning on blackmailing her to not only end any relationship with my dad, but get another job entirely. Since talking with Sam, I’ve found out from Ruth that last Wednesday, the secretary did just up and quit, and has moved out of the house as well. 

I never liked the secretary and always questioned her motivations, but I’d never expect her to have to quit her job, especially in this job market. I feel bad for her, and I wish there was something I could do, but she’s just disappeared. Ruth says even Eliza doesn’t know where she’s gone.

I’m glad that I know the truth about Will, and about what he did to Sam. Because the next day when Will came by, trying to apologize and saying he had let his jealousy get the best of him, I didn’t buy it. I told him I couldn’t even be his friend anymore, and not just for his behavior to me, but for what he did to Sam. He seemed terrified that I’d figured out that part of his life, but offered no explanation. How could he have had a good one, anyway? I also let him know that I would be doing everything I had to in order to get Sam’s money back to her. Will doubted I would be able to get the proof I needed, and I agreed, but as I had experience in law, it wouldn’t cost me like it would for him to hire a lawyer, which would be more expensive than just paying Sam back. And besides, once word got out he had taken advantage of an impoverished, paralyzed woman who had considered herself his friend, well, no one would want anything to do with him. No one would do business with him, and he’d be ruined. 

After some consideration, he wrote Sam a check for a substantial amount of money. More than I think they loaned him, but with some padding as bribery to keep everything under wraps.

Bringing that check to Sam was one of the best moments of my life. She started crying, happier than I’d ever seen her before.

I’m glad I got to help my friend, not to mention it was something to keep me occupied while I waited for Fred to contact me (he hasn’t). And I’ve been wondering what would happen if I just showed up and talked to him. I don’t know for sure how he feels, though. What if he’s done with my drama? What if he wants nothing to do with me anymore and leave me behind forever? I wouldn’t blame him. But on the other hand, what if that’s not the case? What if he’s waiting for me to make the first move, because he doesn’t want to be hurt again?

I’m leaving tomorrow to be back in town for my interview on Wednesday. Today is my last day in the city with him. I need to talk to him. Today.

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Fired

I did what I said I was going to do. Monday morning, I handed in my resignation to the head attorney, giving him my two weeks, though my last week I’d be back working in my home office. Then come Monday afternoon, and I get a call saying I have to go talk to my dad immediately.

            As you can guess, there was an argument. Dad was furious about my resignation. I admit, and admitted to him, that I should have told him in person rather than let it get back to him through the grapevine. But I refused to apologize for leaving. The more we talked, the more desperate Dad became in trying to get me to take back my resignation. He brought up the fact we were so close to landing the Dalrymple account, but losing our “family business” title would make that opportunity slip through our fingers. He called me ungrateful for the incredible position he had put me in and the money he’d spent on my schooling and everything I’d ever had, apparently, was due to his generosity as a father. He even brought up my mom, saying this was the future she’d wanted for me and how I couldn’t disrespect her memory and walk out of here. As if he had any right to speak for what she wanted. I had to be firm and honest with how difficult he was being. I explained that I never wanted this job and I’d always hated it and everything about it, and I was going after what I had always wanted to do. What sent Dad over all reason was when I said he’d regret all of the horrible ways he’s treated everyone but Eliza, because I was only the first of many who would get enough gumption to leave his toxic influence.

            My dad responded by firing me. I was to go home and pack up my stuff, because if I was so determined to be independent of him of him, I could be independent in all things, not just my job.

            It was a shock and I think it might have been intended to scare me back into my place, but all I felt was relief. I was happy to leave that house and find somewhere else to go. 

            While in a taxi, I called Ruth to ask if I could stay with her, briefly explaining the situation. Thankfully, she didn’t challenge my decision, and only said she’d have the guest bed made up for me. Even after I’d packed everything up and arrived at Ruth’s sister’s place, she didn’t lecture me. She told me my dad had informed her about my decision and wanted her to convince me to come back. But she put a hand to my cheek and said, “But abused children, huh? She’d be proud of you.”

            So I’m here now, without anything to do. I could head back down early and prepare for the interview. Ruth has already said she’ll let me stay in her house until I can find another arrangement. But…Fred is still here. I haven’t heard from him at all, but I don’t want to leave until I have to, or at least until I talk to him. Hopefully on Monday I’ll have something to report there. But if not, then I’ve probably lost him forever.

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Charity Ball

       Do you ever have an event coming up, or something you want to do, and you imagine all of the ways it could go? You spend days anticipating it, fantasizing what it will be like, raising your hopes and expectations of it to impossibly high levels, and then it happens, and it’s disappointing? Or even worse, terrible? 

            Yeah. That was Saturday night for me.

            Fred and I had been playing telephone tag for the past few days. I was putting together the final arrangements for the charity ball on Saturday, and Fred had a lot of meetings with investors. I did talk to him long enough on the phone on Thursday that I got him tickets to the ball, with the understanding that we’d get to catch up then.

            I’d been anticipating Saturday since then. I’d imagined how Fred would catch his breath when he saw me in my new dress, how we’d sit together for the dinner and afterwards dance all night with each other, how he’d linger as I finished up my hosting so he could ask to go on a walk despite the late hour. And then, we’d finally talk about that day at the court house eight years ago and where we were now. Or, worst case scenario, we’d at least have a few minutes to find a time next week to meet.

            But life rarely turns out as imagined.

            With all the last-minute things to do, Saturday flew by and before I knew it, the ball had started. I helped Dad and Eliza greet everyone, though really I was getting away from Will as I waited for Fred to arrive. When he did, it took all of my power not to follow him out to the party immediately and leave the reception to Dad and Eliza. I stayed long enough for the Dalrymples to come so that I could say hello to them. But after that, I flew to Fred’s side, just as he was finishing up a conversation with someone else.

            It wasn’t the most intimate setting, but we did get to talk for about fifteen minutes. Just about small, insignificant things, and yet, with where we are, no topic of discussion is small. He seemed warmer than when Will interrupted us at the coffee shop, and perhaps it wasn’t as dazzling as I’d imagined, but it was solid and real. Our conversation was natural and there was that connection that we’d always had was still there.

            But then dinner started, and to my dismay, I found that Ruth had undone my seating arrangement. I had seated Fred next to me and Will at table five, but Ruth switched them out. Now I was stuck with Mrs. Dalrymple and her daughter, Dad, Eliza, Ruth, Will, and three other affluent business associates. 

            Obviously, I was put out, but Will seemed just as animated as ever. It wasn’t his fault that Ruth had switched his spot and Fred’s, and I couldn’t make drama at such a huge social event, so I tried to smile and nod and go along with the conversation. However, I think Will could see that my attention hadn’t really been on him the whole time, because he brought up something I’d never suspected before.

            He said that he felt he had known me for longer than a few weeks. When I told him that was nothing but romantic nonsense, he pressed the point and claimed that it wasn’t. Apparently, he’d heard about me years ago and thought he’d really get along with me. I was confused, because I couldn’t think of anyone who we both knew in the past who would have bothered to share any stories about me. 

            Then Will leaned into me, his lips brushing my ear. He said, “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than when I realized that pretty girl I saw in Aspen was the girl I’d always wanted to get to know.”

            I pulled back and looked him in the eyes, trying to read his mind and failing miserably. Despite my pleas to tell me where he’d heard about me, Will refused, a smirk on his face the whole time.

            When I came to accept that Will was keeping that information to himself, my gaze fell back to Fred. Only this time, his chair was empty. I caught sight of him dashing out the door.

            Although to anyone else it might have seemed like nothing, I felt that he’d seen me with Will, and must have misinterpreted it. Cursing myself for letting my guard down, I followed after him, catching him at the elevator. He had that stiff posture he gets when he’s angry and I didn’t have to guess much why he looked that way. Our interaction when a little like this:

Me: Fred! Are you leaving already?

Fred: Yes, I have a lot to do.

Me: But they’re about to start the dancing. Isn’t one dance worth staying for?

He seemed to relax then, the warmth of earlier this evening returning. But before he could answer, Will came through the door, letting me know that my dad wanted me to come back so we could start the dancing. He especially made sure to note that Dad wanted me to start off the dance with Will. 

After this, Fred hardened again. The elevator arrived, and before stepping in he said, “No, there’s nothing here worth staying for.”

Then he stepped into the elevator and left. I was too far away to get to the elevator (at least in my heels) and stop him from leaving. I knew I had to go after him and explain everything, so I immediately pushed for another elevator. And then I had this conversation with Will:

Will: What are you doing?

Me: Going after him, he completely misread everything.

Will: You don’t have time to do that!

            By this time, another elevator arrived, and I ignored Will as I went over to it, but he put his hand in front of the door so that it wouldn’t close.

Me: Stop it, Will! I need to catch him before he leaves!

Will: I get you have this…this crush on him, but Anne, he doesn’t even seem willing to fight for you. Would you want a man like that?

Me: Better than one who tries to control me. Now let go of the door so I can go down!

I pushed his hand out of the way, which he didn’t fight. By the time I made it to the ground floor, Fred was nowhere in sight.

I went back to the ball, but I hardly remember any of the rest of it. Except for the fact that I refused to dance with Will. If he had just left me alone, if he were really a friend, none of this would have happened.

I’ve tried calling and texting Fred, but a girl can only reach out so much before it turns creepy and stalkerish. He hasn’t picked up or called back or texted. I don’t know what to do. But I feel like if I explained things to him, and if he understood, then maybe things would work out between us. I really hope he opens up to me and hears me out. When he’s angry or hurt he closes up so much, but I think if I could explain, then maybe…

I just…I don’t want to lose him again.

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Coffee Shop

            I really thought that Will and I might be able to do the whole friends thing. I mean, after I made it clear I wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship with him, he’d been respectful of that. No flirting or romantic touching, no conversations trying to convince me to give him another shot. It was great.

            Now…well, now things have changed.

            I had to go to this meeting outside of the office right in the morning yesterday, but was running late because my alarm didn’t go off. Dad left without me and Eliza had already gone for the day, which left me without a car or a ride. I called Will, and he picked me up and got me to the meeting on time. 

            After, Will came by to pick me up, and since I hadn’t gotten any breakfast, we decided to stop by a coffee shop and get something. While Will searched for a parking spot, I got out and waited in line to place our orders.

            I was the last person in line with about five other people ahead of me. After standing in line for only a moment, the door opened and I turned, thinking Will might have been lucky with finding a spot, but instead found myself staring at Fred.

            If there had been any thought that my love for him had lessened over the past few weeks, that was proven false when I first saw him. I felt lifted, lighter and happier than I’d been in a long, long time, and yet ever the more agonized, because this moment was the closest I’d been to winning him back in years. 

He looked surprised to see me, but pleased as well, and joined me in line. We were both hesitant and shy and unsure as we stumbled out some greetings, but soon found our footing. This is, essentially, what I remember of our conversation:

Fred: I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that when I found you, it’d be in a coffee shop.

Me: As anyone who knows me would say. Though I am surprised to see you here. I mean, Carrie mentioned you were coming, but I didn’t know when exactly.

Fred: We got in last night…I did get your number from Lucy, but I just wasn’t sure if I should use it since I didn’t get it from you, and…well…

Me: I would have loved a call. But as it is, this is a pretty fun alternative.

Fred: Yeah? Good to know.

And here is where I melted under the stare of his dark eyes as well as every romance novel cliché you can think of. I wanted to kiss him, but thankfully at this point it was my turn to order. I put ours down, and then Fred his. While we were waiting, the conversation went like this:

Me: So you got my number from Lucy, huh? Do you see her much?

Fred: Yeah, she and Ben are practically inseparable, and seeing as Ben’s staying with us, I still see her often.

            Carrie had been right. He didn’t seem unhappy about it, and talked about it as if it were a sister and not a woman he’d been interested in. It gave me a little bit of hope.

Me: How’s everything coming along, by the way? With the new business?

Fred started to tell me about it, but while I was wrapped up in listening to him, Will came up behind me, putting his hand on the small of my back, and greeted me. Fred stopped talking mid-sentence and his demeanor completely changed. I stepped out of Will’s hand as the barista called out our order. I asked Will to get it just so I wouldn’t leave the two of them alone.

            While he turned to get our coffee and pastries, Fred asked who was with me. Everything from his posture to his voice was tight, all of the friendliness from our earlier conversation gone. Will was back quicker than expected, handing me my coffee and bear claw. But the awkward meeting was delayed as Fred got his coffee. Then he came back and the two of them looked to me for an explanation.

            I introduced them both as friends, and they shook one another’s hands with strength that would rival the most aggressive business tycoon. 

            I suggested we find a table, but Will asked if I had that kind of time, or if I had to be back at the office. I said I had twenty minutes to eat a Danish and drink some coffee with a friend. Will insisted, saying that we really ought to go, since he, too, had to get back to his office. But when Fred volunteered to give me a ride back in his rental car, Will checked his watch and said he had more time than he’d thought and decided to join us.

            In retrospect, maybe I should have just left then, though really I was hoping for a chance to talk with Fred one-on-one if Will left early or something. The conversation mostly consisted of Will and Fred questioning each other—what they did, who they knew, what school they attended—while I sat there, trying to keep things from getting nasty. I’d taken the seat next to Fred, but that didn’t stop Will from wiping icing off my face with his finger and then licking it, or calling me “Anne-girl” (a name he’d never used for me before). 

            I wanted out of there quickly, and so I sped it up as much as I could, though I think all three of us wanted to get out of each other’s company. I promised Fred we’d have to get together sometime while he was in town, which seemed to pacify him as I left with Will.

            In the car, Will asked me “who that really was.” But at that moment, I didn’t like him very much. To be so immature, so possessive! The way he kept touching me, as if we were together and he was marking his territory in front of Fred was completely inappropriate. He hadn’t earned the right to hear about someone so near to my heart, in fact, he gave me every reason to guard it all the more. So I said he was just a friend, and while he didn’t say anything else about it, I don’t think he bought it, either.

            I had been feeling a little guilty for planning on leaving the city after I’d just befriended Will, but after yesterday, I’m just glad I have an excuse as to why he won’t be seeing me anymore.

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