“Ted also knows about the project… so relax”
“Brad… Ted Rufus is second best person for this job after me” Mr. Bradley looks at Andy and raises his eye-brow as Andy show off.
“But not for this campaign… no, I’m not allowing him to take charge… why did you leave the room”
“Why are you so sticky Andy, I need a fresh air… ok”
“We got air in the room too…”
“Also I have to call Judy”
“Yeah… really, ok for what?” Andy asks looking at him with sharp eyes. Mr. Bradley now raise his head “uh… hmm, for dinner” he hesitates “tonight?” Andy asks again.
“Yes… what’s wrong with you Andy why are you asking so many questions to me?” Mr. Bradley said, he was teased with Andy’s behavior.
“Nothing… just mess’ in with you” Andy said with giggles, Mr. Bradley get back to his work but after some moment he feels Andy is staring him seriously “what” he ask.
“Do you know Claire Wilson also don’t go on foreign trips… strange right?” Andy asks he plays blind. He knows that Mr. Bradley will not tell him anything. “No… I don’t think so… a lots of people don’t like to go on foreign trips” “oh yeah… name one” Andy said quickly.
Mr. Bradley get stuck, then says “why do you think it’s strange?” as working on his computer.
Andy think for a moment, then move close to the table put his arms on the table then says “and do you know she walks to her office from her home also… Annie told me”
“Yeah… so” Mr. Bradley asks in low tune.
“And she lives in your opposite direction which means you maybe see her going to her office”
“What do you mean…?” Mr. Bradley asks roughly
“I mean, she don’t look crazy to me… who wants to walk 25 min distance every day from her home to office… what do you think?” but before Mr. Bradley say anything Andy says “uh… forget it, you must be happy now, you actually met someone like you… she’s crazy like you” Andy phone rings, he got a message “oh… okay, I’m gonna leave” Andy said and smile to see Mr. Bradley confuse then leave the room.
Mr. Bradley now realizes that maybe he done something wrong.
CHAPTER 16
Claire was in her purple-black night gown, sitting infront of mirror. She was slowly combing her hairs, thinking about him. “I always wait for him, the one who touch my soul and now when I know him… I think why I met him”
She remembers, “After five months of her marriage, she gets settled in the city. She was selected as a creative designer at BAA, it was a usual Friday and she was running late from her work.
She was wearing, black sleeve-less, turtle neck silk blouse and brown pencil skirt with black pumps. She wears her pearl studs, her neck length hairs was side parted.
She quickly headed for the garage, Simon was out of the city for his political meeting, and it was month of May. She sits in her car and starts it but it doesn’t start. “Shit… I forgot to call the mechanic” she said hitting her hand on steering wheel. “Oh… God what I’m going to do?” she think as she get out of the car. She locks her house and start walking to get a cab.
“Simon… I told you to call the mechanic, you know I don’t remember these kind of stuff of because of your stupid car I’m walking for the first time in my life… hold it… taxi” but before she can sits in the taxi she remember she forget her wallet at home which she take out because she’s searching for her contacts list.
“No thank you” she said to the taxi driver. “What happen?” Simon asked. “Nothing… just please send someone to fix your broken car because I don’t like to walk” she said roughly and hang up.
She was very upset, first she was getting late and second she’s walking in her heels. She never walk that much before, her father was also very famous politician from Texas, she born with silver spoon. She doesn’t like the crowded places. She stops at intersection at Times Square, so many people standing there waiting for the signal to turn green.
The signal turn green and she move with throng, her phone rings suddenly and Claire was so teased. She searches her phone in the bag, she look in to her purse for phone she got it but as she raise her head she collide with someone.
It was Mr. Bradley, she look at him and her felt something different. She wants to say something but they keep looking in each other eyes. Both quiet and confuse, Claire feels time has stop for them. Then they realize the moving crowd so they both stand and Mr. Bradley move away as she does.
She wants to turn, and then put her phone to her ear like she’s listening. It was Annie but she was not. She had a feeling back there, a feeling she never felt before. Something she only thought you feel when you find your destination, a sting in her heart which stops all her senses even her words.
The whole day she’s been thinking about him, later that night lying on her bed. She thinks while playing with her hairs “why he didn’t say anything? Why he was looking at me like that? What is this feeling? Why I wanted to see him again… oh God!!” she said and sit straight “what is this obesity? It’s killing me”
She passed all the weekend thinking about him, she feels every hour like a burden, she can’t eat and sleep properly.
She decides not to think about him yet she’s thinking about him. She prepare quickly as possible on Monday, then headed for door but Simon call her from her back “baby… you forget the car keys”.
She gets afraid “uh… no, I will walk today” she said hesitantly as she turns.
“Walk? Why… I repaired your car, you can drive now” Simon said.
“Uh… I just… I just, uh. My yoga teacher used to say walk is good for healthy life style and I think I put on some weight”
“Really… ok but you look still so beautiful” Simon said and move to kiss her. It was the first time after her marriage; she doesn’t like Simon’s touch. She quickly walks to the signal. She was panting but she got time, she looked to the other side but she can’t see him, the one she’s looking for.
Crowd start walking as signal turn green, she starts walking, and saw him too. She smiles as she saw him, standing at the other side. She feels he’s looking at him because he was wearing shades.
He walks toward her, they were about to pass each other when he takes off his glass looking straight then to her.what he wants to tell her, she undertands
. All the way to her office she thinks “it was wedding ring… oh God,he’s married. So what, I’m married too but he showed up today… why? If he don’t want to see me he won’t come to see me but he did come that’s mean he likes me too”.
“I’m married too, now how will I tell him, does it change everything?” she thinks, sitting in her office.
“fine, tomorrow I will tell him that I’m married too… what he going to do, will come again or not. But I never feel so attracted toward anyone before. Uh!! Get out of my head” she cover her face with her hands.
“is he the one I’m waiting all these years?”
CHAPTER 17
“Claire… Claire” Simon call her and she get distract, he takes off his coat. “You are not ready yet…” Simon said, folding his sleeves. She stands and moves towards Simon to help him loose his tie.
“Simon I need to tell you something” she said softly, she was so close to Simon. He smile then says “yes… I’m all ears love” Claire smile. He takes her hands in his and they sit on the bed “Simon… I want to go Houston”
“Ok…I’ll arrange the flight ticket” Simon said pleasantly. She look at him then down her eyes “no… I mean I wanna move back to Houston… I miss mom and dad. I decide to live there” she said in low tune. She knows what she’s doing is unfair with Simon but she was helpless and there is no other way.
There was a moment silent between them, Sim
on put his hand on her cheek then softly asks “what do you mean… move back to Houston? You got a job here, you have a life here”.
She looks at him “I’m gonna quit my job soon… and I don’t want to live here anymore… In this city” she said putting her hair strand back to her ear.
“Well… probably because you haven’t leave this city for almost two years… you must me tried of schedule… just takes couple of weeks break, I’m sure you can’t stay away from this city for that long” Simon said cheerfully, trying to hide his expression that he’s afraid of Claire’s decision.
“I mean it Simon, I really want to leave this city and move to Houston. I am really bored and I don’t like this job anymore and also I don’t think I need a job to live… right?” Claire said little loudly.
Simon stare her for a second then says “yeah right… great, now you realize. I told you that when you start this job but it was your passion so I didn’t force you to quit and now you not just want to quit this job… you don’t want any job”
He stands and takes off his tie, loose his collar button “first you don’t want to leave this city now you don’t want to live in this city… did something happen Claire… has anyone say you anything?” he ask putting his hands his pants pockets.
“No… I just want to go back… because I’m missing my family… my town… listen Simon” she stands infront of him. “I will come back when I want to, but right now I want to go back”
“And what about me?” Simon asked.
“You can come too; when you are free… it’s not that far from New York” she said lifting her hairs to make hair bun.
“Yeah of course … New York and Texas are just thousand miles away honey” she didn’t reply, and getting ready to sleep, put on the blanket.
“Ok… fine, I arrange your ticket… it just that I will miss you so much” Simon said as he sits next to her.
“It’s no big deal Simon; you can come home whenever you want” she closed her eyes like she’s going to sleep, so Simon get up and walk toward wardrobe then stop to ask “you are coming to th party tomorrow… right?”
“Yeah… I will and I will also take my stuff from office on Monday so book my seat for Tuesday. I want to leave as soon as possible”
“Ok… I will” Simon said in low tune, she closed her side table lamp to sleep and he move toward wardrobe.
As he closes his wardrobe door, she slowly opens her eyes “he’s not for me… so what’s the point to see him every morning, when he doesn’t want to see me… when he doesn’t want to give me any attention. It was just my imagination that there is someone for me. It could be Simon or anyone but him. I don’t want to see him… I don’t want him in my life anymore. I will forget him… just like everything else about him… if he don’t care about me… if he like to hurt me then fine I will change my path” she thinks and a tear drop on her pillow as she closed her eyes.
It was Saturday morning, Mr. Bradley was reading a newspaper but he was thinking about Claire. “We are going in the party tonight… you remember that right, Brad?” Judy said making coffee for herself in the kitchen.
She take her coffee mug and sits in the T.V lounge to watch T.V “Brad?” she call him again when he didn’t respond her.
“Yes… I’m listening” Mr. Bradley said,
“Oh… really what was I saying? I don’t know why men lost when reading the newspaper; it’s like something extraordinary written in it or is it really a newspaper you are reading?” Judy shouts while setting her rollers.
“I will be ready, Judy” Mr. Bradley said softly, and then again thinks about Claire while Judy was talking.
“She was hurt yesterday because of me. Should I call her, tell her what I am going through? Meet her… but how can I get her number? Andy…no, he’ll understand what’s going on. He always understands so quickly, he already told me… was that all true, is she really for me? No Brad focus! If she was for me, we met before I get married to Judy. No I can’t just break her heart to have my love. I just need to focus on something else… focus very hard and I will get her out of my head”
He continues to read his paper then he remembers her smiley face after she gives her presentation. He was very hurt to leave her but he was helpless, he can’t break Judy’s heart. She trusts him so much and he knows that.
CHAPTER 18
“You are ready Claire?” Simon asked then stops as he sees her. She was wearing sequined gold floor-length gown, featuring panelling on the side and a thigh-spilt on one side. The gold embellished dress had black illusion panels at the waist, with black pumps. Her blonde locks were retro-styled side parted.
“Yes… I’ll be down in a moment” Claire said and notice Simon staring her with smile “what… what is it?” she asked, even knowing the answer.
“You look so beautiful, just like the first time I saw you at your prom night” Simon said, she formally smile then turn back to mirror. Simon feels that she doesn’t want to talk more and leave the room with so many words he wants to say to her.
She looks him leaving the room, and then wears her diamond and red sapphire bracelet looking at it. She slowly raises her eyes, she thinks “I know I look so good then why I asked him. Why I become so sensitive about how I look, I was never like this. Now I just want to see how you ignore me…tonight” then take her clutch and leave the room.
“You know Judy I don’t like parties but you still taking me… forcibly” Mr. Bradley said driving the car. “Brad… you are driving the car” Judy said, then giggles when Mr. Bradley look her with wide open eyes.
“C’mon Brad… it’s one of the big event in the city, lots of people coming here and plus I told you how important it is for me. Also Simon wants to meet you too, I told you so many times… right?” Judy said.
“Oh God… please she don’t come there, please don’t let her see me. How am I going to ignore her again? If I see her tonight… I don’t know how I will survive” Mr. Bradley thinks and inhales a cold deep breath.
“Excellent arrangements Judy it all look so beautiful… just like you are” Simon said cheerfully when Judy meets him with Mr. Bradley.
It was a huge hall, decorated with huge chandeliers in middle of the roof in a line; tables were set in the hall, every table was decorated with a rose buckeye and dinner crockery and the hall was filled with guest. On front stage was set for musicians playing jazz music, on the right bar was set for the guest and waiters serving the guest. The front was covered with glass, which make it more appealing.
“Thank you so much Simon, you don’t look bad too. Meet my husband Bradley Rick” Judy said as she introduces Mr. Bradley to Simon, she was wearing bronzy-light-brown satin gown which boasted elaborated embroidery, subtle floral details and a cluster of delicate beadworks, she brown mane back as high bun and side hair strands fall on right side. Mr. Bradley was wearing all-black, a mock-turtleneck undershirt with a crisp black suit with glossy black shoes.
“Oh, finally… I heard a lot about you from your wife and also I was curious to see the guy Judy fall in love with…and now I think she is so lucky Brad, if you don’t mind” Simon said shaking his hands with him “of course not and thank you it’s really nice to meet you too” Mr. Bradley said, he don’t want to say it but he did.
“Simon and I was class mate back in high school, and we hate each other” Judy said,
“Correction… she hates me, and I just don’t know why”
“Of course… because he was such a big player and I hate that kind of men”
“I was not a player… oh Claire, bard you do know my wife Claire Wilson” Simon said as she join them, he put his arm around her waist and Mr. Bradley saw that.
“Sure he does” Claire said smiling holding a glass of red wine, “you look so beautiful Judy” Claire said, pleasantly looking at him.
Before Judy reply to Claire, her assistant came to her and whisper something in to her
ear, “excuse me for a moment” she said and leaves.
“Ok… then you guys talks about the product, I’ll meet with my friend” Simon said as his friends enter in the party.
They were now alone, the hall was full with guest, with so many voices and music but Mr. Bradley still feeling nervous because Claire was looking at him with so many questions in her eyes for him, which are asking him “why are you ignoring me?” She was drinking her wine and looking at him then she tries to move toward him.
Mr. Bradley can’t bother her anymore so he walk past her to find a place to sit, and avoid her. He fined a place between people so she can’t talk to him. Claire, who was burning inside drinks all her wine, in single sip to cool down the fire inside her but she fails.
CHAPTER 19
“Wow Judy… the menu is very impressive” Simon said as waiters serving them dinner.
“Thank you Simon I really choose special item for tonight, of course it’s your special night” Judy said they were sitting on dinner table with Simon and Claire.
Mr. Bradley and Claire was facing each other, Claire looking him with sharp eyes sometime and Mr. Bradley fails to ignore her burning eyes.
“Of course Judy but I think Brad is getting bored in this party” Simon said with a smile looking at him.
Mr. Bradley attention when he listen to him “uh… it’s not that, it is a great party. It’s just that I don’t like parties.
“Yes… that’s true, Brad always like to be alone. He like quite places, when we were in college, he never come to my parties” Judy support Mr. Bradley and hold his hand, and it somehow affect Claire as she drink all her wine and the waiter refill it.
“Oh… no way, Claire likes to be alone too. When we were just friend, I always saw her sitting alone and far away from her dad’s parties. By the way, Mr. Davis throws awesome parties, we enjoy so much…don’t we honey?” Simon asks looking at her, and Claire smile.