Cold Feet novel Chapter 29

VIOLA

I am angry. So angry. Angry with Rick, with myself, and with the whole damn world. Why does life have to be so complicated? I think I’m angriest with Rick. If I hadn’t met him at the club I would still have been there or maybe found some other nice guy by now and be jumping his bones right now.

What a waste.

Amber sends me a message. Everything okay? Did you get lucky?

I answer, No. Don’t want to talk about it either.

She calls me anyway. I answer because I need to talk to someone anyway. I tell her the whole story and I can tell she’s genuinely sorry for me.

“At least he was honest enough to tell you,” Amber says. “Who knows where it would have led if he didn’t tell you and you developed feelings for him?”

“You’re right. Besides, it is partly my fault,” I admit.

When I end the call I feel better. I’m glad he told me and didn’t lie and lead me on. I was ready to be intimate with him and who knows what would have happened after that? Can you really say it would just have been a one night stand, I ask myself?

Well, if he’s in a relationship with someone else now then maybe he has changed for the better. Maybe there is a chance to be with him now.

My inner voice starts up. Get real. He’s with someone else. Duh. I sigh. I know it’s true. He’s not with me and he might never be. Maybe the universe is just trying to tell me something. Sometimes we find that one person we’re attracted to but for whatever reason, it’s never the right time. It seems to me that he is shaping up to be that person. Maybe I should just stay away, I tell myself.

Despite that last thought when I get into bed I finally give in to my desire and as I resort to the DIY version of taking care of my sexual needs, I close my eyes and fantasize about the unspeakable things I want him to do to me.

The weeks pass quickly. I don’t hear from Rick again and I don’t contact him either. I think of him again and again though. I keep myself busy with work and before I know it, I’m standing at the launch of the business Lara asked me to head up. The launch is held in a ball room at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Celebrities have been invited, particularly some celebrity couples who made the decision to elope as opposed to having a big wedding. Two of them give testament to the fact that eloping doesn’t mean cheap and doing it because people don’t approve. The media have been invited and as soon as my presentation is finished, they begin to ask questions. I quickly realize that Dana Rothschild is present.

“Do you enjoy skirting the edges of the norm?” she asks when I give her the opportunity to ask a question.

I shake my head, “I’m sorry I don’t understand the question.”

“Well, a few months back you were practically run out of town after people discovered you used a wedding whisperer to coax them into going ahead with their marriage when they had doubts about doing so. Yet, here you are now offering a service that encourages couples to run away against their parent’s wishes and get married.”

“That is not the case at all,” I reply. “We only provide a service to people that are eighteen or older. All our clients are old enough to make their own decisions legally and mentally.”

“Viola is it?” Dana says sarcastically. “Can you honestly say anyone is old enough to make a life decision, especially a decision to runaway and get married at the age of eighteen?”

“It is not my place to judge,” I reply.

“As long as they can fork out the money, you’ll arrange it for anyone then. Is that right?”

I know Dana is trying to push me into an argument. I just don’t know why. I get a feeling and I wonder if I’m right. My feeling tells me she’s been sent by someone.

“Miss Rothschild, I do apologize. Perhaps we can speak more a bit later. I see there are others with questions as well and our time is limited,” I say. Before she can answer, I move on and answer the other guests questions ignoring her altogether.