“I didn’t know what you were in the mood for so I ordered a variety. Salads, pasta, wraps.” He began to list off the food that covered the two layers of the cart. As controlling and domineering as he was yesterday in business mode, today he was soft and funny. I could understand why Mama was drawn to him. He was kind, despite his obsession with work.

As I sat and we ate lunch in comfortable silence, I realized that if I had learned anything the last two years, it was that life was unpredictable. You could be trudging along, everything just fine and suddenly you are side swiped so badly that you are enveloped in a pool of darkness with no escape. Mama may have escaped her pain by dying, but I was living with mine every day. It was why I used the sex parties to numb my pain. It was the only thing that was making life bearable, having that small piece of enjoyment to look forward to. After being in the city for only a couple days. I had made a connection with Bryce. The thought was warming because a part of me knew that Mama must have been smiling down from heaven watching us having a quiet and contented lunch together…

***

“There was something I wanted to talk to you about,” he began to say cautiously. “I want you to take an internship here at Tyson, you mentioned you were an engineering student. We have an electrical car plant that takes care of design here on site. I would like you to work there. You could probably use your time here to complete your engineering degree. We are affiliated with Columbia, but maybe you can contact the Canadian university and see if they will allow you to use your time as credit here, or maybe you can take some classes at Columbia if you need to,” he suggested. Was he out of his mind? American universities cost a lot more than the Canadian ones, and if I wasn’t mistaken Columbia was Ivy League.

“Bryce, I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I wasn’t planning on staying in New York. I mean, I didn’t know what to expect with meeting you and all…” I trailed off, not knowing what my point was or where I was going with this.

“Where have you been staying?” he asked.

I didn’t want to tell him the truth because I had a feeling he would feel bad, but I didn’t want to lie either.

“Look, I was waitressing for the past two years while paying the bills for my parent’s house back in Thunder Bay. My parents weren’t rich people and my papa went off the deep end when Mama got sick, he’s married to his bottle now.” As soon as I said the word 'papa' a dark look crossed over Bryce’s handsome features. I may have hurt his feelings, but he only recently came into my life, and I had been living for twenty-two years before he came along. “I don’t have much money so I’ve been staying in a motel in Queens but I didn’t come to New York to stay. I came to find you and now we’ve met.”

“So that’s it, you want to walk away?” he asked with slight irritation.

“We can stay in touch…”

“No, Vicky… No.” Bryce placed his plate down on the small coffee table and stood up striding in a small circle. “I think you should stay… it sounds like you don’t have anyone back in Thunder Bay… you said your father is an alcoholic. I don’t want you to have to live with that…”

“Bryce, he raised me…he’s just broken,” I explained sadly.

“Vicky, that is a hard thing to live with. My second wife is a recovering alcoholic. I know what it’s like. I want you here at Tyson… please, Vicky, I need the chance to get to know you. I know I can’t make up for our lost years together, but I’m just so taken aback that your mama passed away and you are the best part of her, of her legacy…the best part of me…” he said, surprising me even more. “Please stay…” he pled. With my eyes filled with tears I was overwhelmed with emotions: happiness, sadness, love, loss. It was too much. I couldn’t even believe he was pleading. As tough as he is on the outside, he really does have a soft side.

“Vicky, the internship pays well, you would be getting the exact salary as the other interns. You said no handouts and you would be working for your money, scouts honor,” he laughed lifting up his hand. “In terms of living arrangements I have a small two bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, it’s empty. You can stay there at no cost as long as you like. Please don’t look at it as a handout. I missed out on your entire life, please at least give me the chance to know you.” I could see this was important for him and he was making a strong argument. I could fulfill my promise to Mama and get my degree. I could probably make a nice salary and I wouldn’t feel so alone, like I did back home. Maybe this is why Mama urged me to come to New York in her letter; it was a fresh start.

“Thank you, Bryce. Thank you for the opportunity. I would like to take you up on your offer,” I answered nervously. This was not how I was expecting this day to go.

“That’s great, Vicky. I will have one of my men take you to the motel to help you move your things, and he will help you get settled at the new apartment. I will also send a driver at nine a.m. to pick you up from the apartment and bring you here tomorrow,” he said in an almost bossy way and my lip tugged up at the corners. This must be the real Bryce, making orders and having people follow them. He clearly put up a strong argument to make me stay. “I will call my driver, he will pick you up out front now to take you.”

“Thanks for everything.” I smiled, feeling a lot lighter than when I first walked in. Suddenly I remembered the name Scott Wellington and my skin prickled, I hoped he was long gone by now.

“Please don’t thank me, it’s the least I can do…” he trailed off with a kind smirk.

I turned to leave the office. As I walked through the doors and I headed down the long hallway toward the elevator, I suddenly felt paranoid after seeing the man that beat me. I pressed the button for the elevator, knowing it may be a long wait for an elevator on the fortieth floor. After a couple of minutes, the elevator doors opened and I entered the empty elevator and let out a huff of breath in relief as the doors began to close, when a hand appeared in the crack of the door and pressed the heavy doors open. My stomach dropped out from under me. It was Scott.

Chapter 9

Vicky

As he stepped into the elevator his lips are tugged up on each corner, revealing his dimples. It was those damn dimples that had made me drop my defenses the first time. His mixed features of male stud with his boyish grin had me thinking that he could give me a connection that I was dying to feel.

“Vicky…it’s been awhile…” he trailed off, flashing his dimples. I felt like my knees were going to buckle as sweat dripped down the back of my neck. I didn’t answer him. I just tried to keep my cool while keeping my eyes fixated on the elevator lights as it descended down. “Come on, if I remember right we had quite a night together,” he said, taking a step closer and running his finger down my arm. The contact made me cringe, and I wanted to turn and knee him in the groin. Only I didn’t turn to look at him or answer his request. I waited quietly for the elevator to stop on a floor and prayed for someone to enter.

Only the elevator continued its descent and Scott took another step closer to me, closing the space between us. My chest felt so tight I thought I might implode. “I’m staying not too far from here at a hotel, do you want to join me?” he asked with a low deep voice. He must think he was seducing me.

I couldn’t take it anymore and I snapped my head and said, “I’d rather die.” Then I snapped my head back and looked up to the numbers.

Scott began to chuckle. “I remember you were a feisty one.” He nodded his head as if remembering our night together. Clearly it meant different things to both of us.