Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
M ax
My apartment feels empty when I finally arrive home. I’m hungry but I don’t feel like cooking. I head to the fridge to see if I have any leftovers worth heating up. It’s been a long day and I’m glad to finally be able to relax.
The sight of moldy cheese greets me as I open the fridge and I release a small sigh. I’m about to order a pizza when my phone starts ringing. For a moment, I’m hopeful that Lila is calling me for some reason, but I don’t even think she has my number. I see Marie’s number on the screen and smile as I answer.
“Hey, little sis. How are you trying to bother me this evening?”
“Is that any way to talk to your favorite sister?”
“How much?” I chuckle as I open an empty cupboard door.
“How much what?” she asks innocently.
“How much money do you want that Dad won’t give you?”
“I don’t want any money, my darling brother.” She sounds like she’s shocked I would even ask. “Plus, Dad would give me money if I needed it.”
"So if you don't need money from me, what is it you need, darling sister?" I ask her, running my fingers through my hair.
Marie is only my half-sister, but I love her more than life itself. I never thought that I would ever enjoy having a little sister, but she keeps me in check and I love that she seems to have no fear when communicating with me. She's quite possibly the only person in my life that tells me exactly what she's thinking when she's thinking it and doesn't hold back.
"So I was wondering just how much you love me," she says softly and I frown.
"Marie, what is it you want?"
"I told you I don't want anything. Well, not anything with a monetary value."
"Do you want me to charter a plane for you to Europe?"
"No. Why would I want that?"
"I don't know. Maybe you and your friends want to go party or something."
"If I asked you to charter me a plane to Europe, would you do it?"
"No," I say, chuckling. "But you're acting like you're asking for something major."
"It's not really major. In fact, it's not even that big a deal."
"So if it's not that big a deal, why are you taking so much time to ask me?"
"Fine. Can I come and stay with you for a little bit?"
I pause.
"Max," she squeals into the phone.
"I'm here."
"So is that a yes?"
"I didn't say yes."
"You didn't say anything."
"Exactly. Read between the lines, darling."
"Max, you're horrible. Please let me come. It's not going to be for long. I just really need to get away."
I let out a deep sigh. "Marie, you cannot just come to New York City. I can't be your chaperone. I can't take care of you. You know that your mother and Dad will not be happy with you staying in my apartment all alone. You know I work long hours and you know?—"
"Fine," she says. "I should have known you’d say no."
I pause. "I thought we agreed you'd come for a weekend to look at schools later on this year and then?—"
"It's fine. I'll figure something out."
I can tell by her tone that she's upset, but I can also tell that she's hurt, and if there's one thing I can't stand, it’s hearing her hurt. She's a good little actress, but I have a feeling she's not faking it this time.
"What's wrong, Marie?"
"Nothing," she says, gulping.
"Marie, tell me."
"Dad's cheating on Mom," she says softly.
"And does your mom know?" I ask, my heart breaking for her because I know exactly what she’s going through.
My dad had cheated on my mom when I was young and that's how he'd ended up with Marie's mom. My mom had never really gotten over her heartbreak, though she had moved on in her life. She’s now married to a very quiet man named David, and even though they get along and I can tell that he loves her, I know she hasn't given him her entire heart.
"Yeah, my mom knows," she says. "They shout and scream about it every night. In fact, I think Mom has someone herself…" She lets her voice trail off and my heart breaks.
"Fine," I say. "What are you going to do about school though?"
"Actually, I'm in the program right now where I don't even have to attend classes in person, so it's perfect. I can work from New York City. I just have to make sure that you have good Internet so I can do some Zoom classes and meet with my—" She giggles. "What am I talking about? You're an attorney and you're rich. You have good Internet."
"But I still cannot be here to chaperone you," I say.
"I'm eighteen, Max. I don't need a chaperone."
"You're also my little sister and you're a high school student, and if I'm going to take custody of you…"
"It's not custody if I'm just hanging out with my big brother."
"To your parents, to my dad and your mom, it will be me taking full responsibility and custody of you. So we need to ensure…"
"I'll be good. It's not like I'm going to sneak out or anything. It's not even like I have a boyfriend." She lets out a deep sigh. "Because guys aren't interested in me."
I press my lips together to stop from laughing. Marie is absolutely gorgeous and she's still young enough to have no idea that she is. But I’m not going to be the one to tell her that she could have almost any man that she wanted to because she’s my little sister and the longer she stays away from men, the better it will be for me.
"I think that when you graduate from college, you can start dating and I'm sure that?—"
"I don't want to wait until I graduate from college. Are you crazy? You're just as bad as Dad."
I start laughing then. "I'm just saying, you're not missing out on anything by not dating."
"I just don't fit in with these people here in South Carolina. I am meant to be a big city girl. I want to live in New York. I want to be with you, my big brother, and I mean, you're single, right?"
"As the day is long," I say, and she starts laughing.
"I mean, you could totally be in a relationship, but I guess you don't want to commit because there are so many women that want you."
"You sound like my ex-girlfriends, Marie. Have you been talking to them?"
"No," she sighs dramatically. "But I know men like you."
"Excuse me?" I say, frowning. "What do you mean you know men like me? I sure hope that is just an off-the-cuff comment and not an actual factual statement because?—"
"Oh my gosh, I am joking, Max. Obviously, I don't really know any men like you. I'm in high school. I don't know any men aside from you and Dad. I just mean I've watched a lot of movies.”
I groan loudly. How many women in my life are learning about life from fictional characters?
"What?"
"You're the second woman I have had this conversation with today. You cannot get your information about men from movies and romance books.”
“I mean I’ve had real experience as well, Max.” She mumbles. “That’s why I’m in this shitty position.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Uhm…nothing. So who’s the other woman?"
I frown at her question. I’m not ready to talk about Lila with anyone, not even Marie. I’m still trying to process our relationship with each other because it’s happened so quickly.
"What are you talking about?" I say quickly, trying to distract her. “Also, are you saying you haven’t been dating?”
"You said I'm not the only woman today you've had to tell they rely too heavily upon movies and romance books to get their information about men. Well, who's the other woman that you had to speak to about this? Not a woman you're dating," she says, giggling. "Oh my gosh, that would be hilarious."
"No. You know I'm not dating anyone, Marie. I was actually referring to my new assistant."
"Oh my gosh. You have another new assistant? You have a new assistant every other week."
"It's not quite every other week, but this one will last at least a month, I'm sure."
"What do you mean she'll last at least a month?"
"Let's just say there's a little bet that she'll last a month."
I groan as I think about Lila.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Max?"
"My new assistant might not really be the best person for the job, but due to a bet with Kingston, I decided to hire her. And she lives with her head in the clouds and she's totally unrealistic. I just want to make sure that when you get to her age that you are not the same way."
"Oh my gosh. Is your new assistant like, fifty or something?'.
"No, she's not."
"How old is she then?"
"I don't know. In her twenties."
"Ooh." Marie sounds excited. "Is she pretty?"
"What do you mean is she pretty? I don't know. I haven't noticed."
"You haven't noticed if your new assistant is pretty?"
"No, I have not. She works for me and as such, I?—"
"Oh my gosh. Okay, so she's either absolutely stunningly gorgeous or she's a dog," she deduces. "Because there's no way you don't know if she's attractive. You just don't want to tell me."
"Do you or do you not want to come to New York?" I challenge, changing the subject.
"Why are you changing the subject Max? Oh my gosh. She's gotten under your skin, hasn't she?"
"She has not gotten under my skin. I mean, has she gotten under my skin in the fact that she is annoying and doesn't really do a good job?" I pause. "Okay. I'm being unfair. I don't know if she's going to do a good job or not yet. She doesn't really have the experience that tells me she's going to do a great job, but I shouldn't judge her before she's actually done anything for me."
"Okay. When did you hire this lady again?"
"Today," I say, and Marie bursts out laughing. "What is so funny?" I ask her.
"We are talking about your new assistant like you've known her forever. This is just some lady you met today. She's really gotten under your skin, huh?"
"Marie."
"Ooh, now I'm getting under your skin. I want to meet her. What's her name?"
"I don't think you need to meet her. You've never asked to meet any of my other assistants and?—"
"Yeah, but it was quite obvious to me that you weren't interested in them."
"And I'm not interested in Lila either." I groan as I realize I said her name.
"Lila, that's a pretty name," Marie says. "Ooh, I can't wait to meet her."
"Marie, I have to go now. I have work to do."
"Okay, fine. So can I come up this weekend?"
"No," I say. "That's a bit soon."
"But—"
"But nothing. Let's schedule it for the beginning of next month. Okay? I still have to speak to Dad."
"You're not going to tell him what I said, right?" she says softly.
"No, I won't tell him that you know about him cheating or that your mom is cheating as well."
"Why are they like that?" she asks, her voice low and vulnerable. "Why can't they just be in love and just be with each other?"
"Because they weren't made that way," I explain as gently as I can. "I don't know."
"Is that why you can't settle with one woman?" she asks.
"Why, I'm not sure what you mean."
"Is it because you know you can’t be faithful and you just want a different woman every night?"
"Marie, I know you think I'm a player and I know you think that I have all these women, but trust me when I say I do not have a different woman every night. If I did, do you think I would be on the phone with you right now?"
"That's true," she admits. "But you never settle down and you never talk about wanting to get married or have kids or..."
"Because I don't know that I see that in my life plan," I say. "Not that I have anything against it, but it's just not my dream right now. It's not a goal of mine."
"You don't want to be in love and have that special person in your life that you can just chat with and hang out with and..." She sighs. "I mean, don't you ever feel lonely, Max?"
I pause for a second and think about her words. "Sometimes," I say, realizing that it's true. "Sometimes when I'm sitting on the couch and watching a movie and I laugh or get sad, I think about turning to the person next to me and seeing how they feel. But there's no one there."
"I know the feeling," Marie says. "I hate watching movies by myself."
"I know, but what about your best friend? What's her name again?" I feel bad that I can't remember her best friend's name.
"You can't remember my best friend's name?" she says, feeling hurt.
"It's Poppy," I say, laughing.
"You’re crazy," she says. "Poppy and I are no longer best friends. My new best friend is Bella."
"Oh yeah," I say, vaguely remembering a long story involving Poppy, Bella, and a handbag that they'd all wanted. "You're not going to miss her when you come to New York?"
"No, because I never see her. She got a boyfriend and all they do is make out and I don't want to be a third wheel."
"You don't mind being a third wheel with me?" I ask her.
"Well, you don't have a girlfriend, so why would I be a third wheel?"
"Touché," I say, laughing. "You do realize that I work a lot and I'm going to have to get a nanny or something, or a live-in governess, right?"
"A live-in governess. Are you kidding me, Max? I'm eighteen, not eight."
"Well, I'm just saying there's going to have to be someone here to help with chores and cooking and looking after you and making sure you don't sneak out or have men over or boys or whatever you call the guys that you date."
"I don't date."
"Yeah. Well, maybe when you come to The City, you’ll feel differently about that."
"Fine," she says. "Do whatever you’ve got to do just as long as I can get out of here."
"Okay. I'll give Dad a call tomorrow and we'll figure it out. Okay?"
"Thank you, Max. That's why you're my favorite big brother ever."
"That's because I'm your only big brother."
"I know, but I love you."
"I love you too, little sis. You have a good night. Okay?"
"You too. And don't spend too much time not thinking about Lila."
"I don't—" I start protesting, but she hangs up.
I shake my head as I place the phone down on the counter and stare off into the night.
"Lila." I say her name out loud. “Lila, Lila, Lila.” I repeat her name and an image of her beautiful face pops into my head. Her beguiling blue eyes, her blonde, silky hair. Marie had been correct in her statement. Lila is drop-dead gorgeous, and even though I don't want to admit it to anyone, especially myself, I can’t stop thinking about how perfectly proportioned her body is and how sparkling her blue eyes are or how luscious and pink her lips are.
She’s going to be trouble. The fact that she has a sense of humor and makes me laugh is even more damning. I don't need this complication in my life. And now she wanted to complicate the case with Jack Whittington, who I couldn't stand. He is obviously a jackass and when he started flirting with Lila, I'd been about to smack him. But he’s a potential client. A potential client worth hundreds of millions of dollars, millions of which would be poured into my law firm. I can't lose him as a client.
I let out a deep sigh and before I know what’s happening, I’ve picked up my phone and went to log into the HR database so I can find Lila's phone number. It’s easy enough. Her name isn't exactly common. I stare at the number on the screen and debate calling it. I have no reason to be calling her at this time, but for some reason I just need to have some contact with her. I wonder if she’s thinking about me. I wonder if she’s even going to come back into work tomorrow. I feel a dip in my stomach as I think about the possibility that she won’t come back to work. I need to ensure that wasn't so. I need to see her again.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I’ve typed her phone number into my phone and sent a message.
"You up?" I text, then put the phone back down.
I don't know what I’m doing. Maybe this was the biggest mistake of my life. Maybe she won't even respond, but as the phone pings a few seconds later, a smile crosses my face. She’s up and ready to flirt back. At least that's what I’m hoping.
“Who is this?” The message reads.
“It’s your boss.”
“Mrs. Cartwright?”
“This is Max Spector.”
“Do you have the right number? I have no idea who you are.”
“Lila?”
“My name is Bob.”
“Sorry.” I frown as I stare at the phone. Had Lila deliberately given us an incorrect phone number? I go back into the database and find her email address and try emailing instead.
From: [email protected]
Re: My bagel
Please let me know if you need my bagel order for the morning.
I send the email and wait. Five minutes later, a response comes through.
From: [email protected]
Re: My bagel
Get your own. Also, I’m not your assistant after hours.
A warm feeling settles in my stomach when I see her response. Email isn’t as good as texting, but it will have to do for now. I just need a distraction for the evening that doesn’t involve the law or my very messed up family.