A Summer to Remember(17)
“You’re not even worth it. I wish I never met you and I wish you hadn’t changed my life to the point where nothing will ever be the same again…all because of you!” I screamed in sheer frustration and bitterness. “You ruined me for every man after you and if I was smart, I would have cut off your testicles and turned you into a goddamn eunuch! You deserve it you self serving *!”
It was Paul who grabbed me by the waist and led me away as I collapsed in tears that began to flow whether I wanted them to or not. My heart beat like a piston in my chest and I cried gut-wrenching sobs that wouldn’t and couldn’t be silenced.
Talia walked over and tried to intercept me from Paul. “I can take over. I know what she went through and right now, she needs a friend.”
“It’s okay, Tal. I got this—”
“Um, excuse me, lover boy but you don’t have shit. Your perfect Ashley and her entourage have decided to make an appearance. They are all Paris Hilton’d up with their little f*cking rat dogs in tow. I think you should see to your girlfriend and leave this situation to me.”
For once, I didn’t fight Talia as she slid an arm around my waist and we walked along the beach, away from the nightmarish scene that had just taken place.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have attacked her. It wasn’t her fault and she doesn’t have a clue what a rat bastard Kevin is. He did his damage and left me…I need to move on but God knows I don’t know how, Talia.”
She held me closer as we stopped walking. “Have you finally considered therapy? You need to talk this shit out with an expert and someone who can help you transition to a normal life.”
I laughed then with mirthless ease. “A normal life? You know there is no such thing in my future, not for me. I can pretend his betrayal meant nothing and then I can concentrate on trying to get Paul but is that really going to make me happy? I thought I wanted to be here for the whole weekend but all I want to do is go home. Back to the City and crawl under the sheets on my bed. I can’t do this anymore, not now.”
My best friend smiled and stared deep into my eyes. “Let’s go. I got this. I’ll take care of everything, okay?”
“What would I do without you?” I questioned in a soft tone of voice.
“Probably go mad but it’s all good. You know that.”
I took a deep breath and began to walk back to the Beach Bar with my best friend. The sooner I escaped the Hamptons and returned back to life and reality, the happier I would be.
Chapter Six
Manhattan welcomed me like a prodigal daughter and I accepted her warmth and everything else she offered including the incessant noise, the endless stream of yellow cabs and the general population of people who spanned every ethnic group and religion.
I returned to the gallery on Monday and decided my trips to the Hamptons would have to be spread throughout the summer. Perhaps I could even try Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard. Anything was better than a nightmare scenario of running into Kevin again. The event had damn near scarred me for the rest of my life and opened old wounds I didn’t want to think about.
My assistants were handling the floor in the gallery while I spoke to the accountant in his office. Alastor Baker was an absolute genius when it came to numbers. He was also to die for hot with café au lait skin, deep hazel-green eyes and a body that was beyond perfect. He was also happily gay and engaged to a hot Norwegian he’d met on vacation while in the Greek part of Cypress, visiting family on his mother’s side of the family.
“So, in terms of profit, we’re doing okay?” I inquired while I nursed a grande, skinny sugar-free caramel latte.
“Yep. In fact we are doing better than okay. We have been extremely busy and I don’t see us slowing down either. This is going to be a phenomenal summer for us.”
I stood and walked around his spacious office. I wore a an enticing scarlet wrap silk dress and black Christian Louboutin four-inch heels. My hair was up in a chignon and my makeup was understated as usual but I had an amazing tan that accentuated my loveliness and I seemed to glow with a happiness that wasn’t there and hadn’t been in a very long time.
“Okay, if summer is supposed to be so great, when are you taking your semi-annual pilgrimage to Nicosia to see your parents?”
Alastor appeared skittish before he studied his Apple computer and typed something really quick before he stared at me again. “Well, it depends. I can wait until September if that is a better time for you. It’s two weeks but Lord knows I don’t want to get on your bad side. My parents are actually leaving Cyprus…at least full time. They are settling somewhere more stable and have already bought property in Nice.”