Promises Forgotten
Chapter 10

Rubbing my eyes, I looked up at the carousel with my flight information on it. I was already holding my hard case with my bionic arm in it. I found out it was much easier to carry on my arm than it was to wear it in the airport. Most of the time they made you break it apart anyways to look at it and they can’t wand it because it’s full metal and so it’s just better that it goes through the machine like an instrument. It was a pain to be one handed, but usually airport staff were nice enough to help.

There are always exceptions to that, and New York is one of them. It was absolute chaos trying to get through this airport. Finally, one of my fellow passengers, a doctor out for a conference, was nice enough to help me when I needed it. I knew I would be going from the airport to my hotel, then directly to the office because the flight landed on time but took an extra twenty minutes to get unloaded. Sighing, I set my arm down between my legs and leaned over, eyeing my bag. Quickly grabbing it, I hefted it up like one of the bags of flour and easily pulled it back. I didn’t have much in it, but it was enough in case something happened and I needed to stay an extra day.

Attaching my hard case to the suitcase, I rolled it out onto the departures area, trying to flag down a taxi. Luckily, one pulled up in front of me. I smiled and the driver got out, lifting up my suitcase into the trunk. When he went to grab my hard case, I shook my head.

“It’s got my right hand in it.” I smiled at him and he shrugged, getting back in the driver’s seat.

“Where to, ma’am?”

“Two places, actually. I’ll throw in an extra $40 when we get to the final destination if you stick around at the first one.”

He nodded.

“First, the Millennium Downtown. I am going to check in and drop off my bags and then I have a meeting at the Anderson and A. Wright Group.”

“Understood.”

I sighed and looked out the window. “If we could make it quick, I would like to not be late for my meeting.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I don’t correct him. I’m not in the mood. I missed home already and I haven’t even been gone that long. It’s 3:30 p.m. and my meeting was supposed to be at 4 p.m. I did text Derek-with-two-first-names that I would be going straight there to save time, but I didn’t know how long it was going to take to check in.

We pulled into the hotel at 3:45 p.m. Paying him for the ride there, I reminded him of our deal and went inside. It only took a couple minutes to get checked in. I took out the cape to my vintage greek military coat I was wearing. It was actually something I procured from my time in Greece. The cape covered my right side and added just a little extra to the dark blue military uniform which I paired with black jeans today. It also hid the fact that I was missing a right arm, which was a nice bonus because I did not have time to undress and redress after putting on the whole damn contraption for my arm. I also changed out of my combat boots into heels because I figured I wanted to at least clack in an office for once in my life.

Going back down, my taxi driver was still there and I got in. We made our way through the streets and I took nervous breaths. Rubbing my hands against my black jeans, I tried to brush the nerves out but it wasn’t helping. I might see him. Face him after three years. I had to hold it together. That was the very least I had to do. The next was to set up a trust fund for Elliot. Those were the two things. That was it. Then I could go home.

We pulled up at 4:01 p.m. and I sighed. Pulling out my wallet, I paid for the fare and the extra forty.

“I appreciate it.”

“Good luck, ma’am.”

I smiled. “Thanks. I’m going to need it.”

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out and looked up at the building towering over me. Chuckling to myself, I took one more deep through-the-nose-out-the-mouth breath and dropped the smile off my face. Resting bitch face would be the main mask for today. My anger would get me through this damn meeting if it took me remembering what happened when I woke up after six days in the hospital in Greece. I would f*****g stand tall after this meeting. I would not be the one who lost everything.

Walking into the building, I looked around. It was ridiculously clean and my heels echoed against the space as I walked over to the receptionist desk. The clack made me smile. Striding up to the blond bimbos who had their boobs shoved up to their necks, I smiled politely.

“Hello, I am Mr. Anderson’s 4 p.m. appointment. If you could tell me which floor I am supposed to be going to, that would be appreciated.”

The middle one looked me up and down for a moment. “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong building.”

Oh lord almighty help me now before I f*****g flip on this poor bimbo.

“I understand I might not be your usual business type, but I am still Mr. Anderson’s 4 p.m. If you don’t mind, just tell me which floor and I’ll replace my own way from there.”

This time the right one stood up, leaned forward and I swear to god, through her cleavage I could see all the way down to what color her thong was and I was about to punch the woman when I heard my name being called from across the floor. Turning, I saw a beautiful woman jogging toward me in heels. She was also blonde but in a far less plastic way.

“I’m sorry! I got caught up. I was supposed to meet you down here at 4. I hope you didn’t have to wait long.”

I smiled at her. “No no. I just got here. My flight was delayed a little so I got here a minute late.”

“Follow me. I’ll take you up.”

I followed her but not before turning to the three bimbos and giving them a middle finger. No one caught it but them and the security guards who I winked at as they laughed. The woman quickly got into the elevator and I followed her. She pressed the button for the 52nd floor and the doors closed.

“My name is Stacy. I am Zach’s good friend and head assistant. Today, you will be meeting with Derek, who you spoke with over the phone, as well as his head of security, Jason.”

I swallowed, staring at the buttons on the elevator. “Will he…”

“Yes, he is finishing up a meeting and should be in there by now.”

Nodding, I didn’t trust myself to say anything else.

“I must say, you are beautiful. I wish we had met under better circumstances.” She smiled and I saw her refection in the elevator.

“Yes, better than me signing divorce papers of your boss and friend. Though, I’m assuming one of the giggles that was going on in the background of that call was you.”

Her smile widened. “Guilty as charged. How Zach managed to even sway such a feisty woman I will never know. It’s not his usual type.” Stacy laughed and I smiled.

Looking her in the eyes for the first time, I shook my head. “He never married his usual type now, did he?”

She nodded. “You’re right. He didn’t.”

The door dinged and opened to a very minimal and quiet office. I followed quietly behind Stacy as she walked through the office, but I stopped at the windows. The view out of the office was spectacular and I took a minute to admire it. I was slightly jealous that someone got to work every day while looking out over this view and I wondered how many took it for granted. My mind wandered to what it looked like when the mist rolls in when Stacy cleared her throat.

“Evelyn, this room here.”

I nodded and followed her. She went into a room where all the blinds were drawn. Honestly, this went to a level of paranoia rather than just being discreet. This screamed red flags. I looked around the room. Jason was sitting off in the corner. I knew him from our interaction years ago. Playboys could be picked out of a crowd easily. There were also quite a few photos of them together, since he was head of security. The other man had to be Mr. Two-First-Names and he smiled pleasantly at me. Leaning over, he went to shake my head and I held out my left which made him quickly switch hands.

“Evelyn, lovely to meet you in person.”

“Is it?”I barked and Jason in the corner snorted.

Derek looked taken back and I wondered why after our conversation on the phone. “We are just waiting for Mr. Anderson…”

My eyes narrowed. “Why the hell are we waiting? I’m sure you’ve already gone over the details with him. Honestly, I don’t know why he would even be at this meeting. I’m here to edit your damn document and make alterations to it. I’m not signing shit today.”

Another bark from the corner and Derek cleared his throat. “I think you will replace what we decided on pretty amiable…”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Amiable? Did you just f*****g say amiable? Do you even know what that f*****g word means or did you hear it during ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and thought hell, they hated each other too, so that word works here?”

“Miss Evelyn…”

“Don’t f**k with me, Derek. I am not a Miss and I will never be ever again. Hand me your damn papers so I can read them.”

He nodded and opened up his cliché black suitcase. I looked over at Jason and now Stacy who was sitting next to him. They both were near tears from trying not to laugh. I sent a wink their way which only made Stacy snort. Derek though, fumbled through the papers he had in his suitcase and finally pushed the documents to me. I took a quick glance and held out my hand to him. He looked at my hand and then at me.

“Derek with two first names, I need a pen, preferably red so you and your a*****e employer can read them when I mark this whole page up.”

He nodded and looked back into his suitcase, which was not big enough for him to be burying his whole head in, but he pulled out a red pen and put it in my hand. I took the cap off with my fingers and twirled it in my hand, looking down at the divorce agreement in front of me. Sighing, I started to read as the door opened up. My back straightened as I knew the only person left to show up, walked into the room. The two in the corner stopped laughing and nodded to him. Taking a quiet breath, I set my jaw and looked up at him.

My heart stopped as I saw the man who ran away with my heart and soul, without ever giving it back. The man who was my husband, father to my son, and the love that I would always remember.