Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Kir
Last night was amazing, but then Avril avoided me for breakfast and headed out the door as I showered. Admitting how I felt about her had been a mistake. And falling in love with someone who couldn’t love me back was the worst possible thing I’d done.
I needed to breathe and find my center. And that meant I needed blood rushing fast through my veins. I finished dressing. Then I worked on some files and for a couple of hours, which took my mind off my life and let me regroup.
Once done, I hopped into the limo and checked to make sure my purchase would be delivered to me before the hospital visit.
That night, Avril and I needed clear heads, and if I was going to impress her, I needed to shake off my tension.
The limo stopped on the runway, and the crew had my jumpsuit ready to change into.
I grabbed the gear and climbed onto the plane.
The plane took off as I finished changing in the back.
I grabbed my shirt and was about to button it when my phone rang.
I slipped into my seat and let the plane level off. Then I took Charlie’s call. He asked right away, “Are you really taking the day off?”
The launch was next year. I had the funding in order. I always got everything done. I glanced at the crew as we lifted off. “Is it a problem?”
“No, I was just checking to find if you’re sick or something and that’s why you’re stealing Michael.”
“I’m good.”
“Okay, well, if you need anything, you can always ask me or any of us.”
We were almost at the right altitude. Staff were waiting to open the doors. I stood up and said, “I will.”
Then I finished putting everything into the container and locked it. First, I did a quick rush to wipe my mind clear of any doubts. I finished checking my parachute and then told the crew, “I’m ready.”
They checked me over, and when I was fully ready, they opened the door.
The wind rushed in, and it was impossible to hear much as I fought against the currents to get to the gate with my hook on. Looking down, I fixed my goggles. No time to dwell on feelings when my life was on the line. I tensed and then nodded. I was ready.
Paul, the main crewman that day, patted me on the back as he checked my equipment for the last time. “We’ll meet you at the pickup point.”
I was given the clear, and I dived. For the seconds I spent plummeting to the ground, adrenaline ran through my veins. I forgot the world and my small problems as blood rushed into every part of my body.
Life was worth living. The thought hit me when I pressed for my parachute. The sky zooming by slowed, and I glanced around. In the distance, the ocean was enormous and blue and gleaming. And I remembered that I was connected to a huge world, and life wasn’t just about whatever was in my head.
Drifting was perfect. My body and mind were completely focused on being happy. I knew that on some level, Avril had to feel something for me. The night before, she’d been clear that physically, she was into me. We just needed time to figure the rest out.
The jump had cleared my head. As my feet touched the ground, I gazed up at the sky and nodded.
“I needed that. Thank you.” I unbuckled myself from the parachute and unzipped the suit as I waited for the crew and my limo.
As I stripped down to my cargo shorts, I mumbled, “Now I need to get Avril out of my system a little, as she clearly isn’t ready for me yet. ”
And I had a Bora Bora plan that needed to be made. Time was on my side as long as I let her decide what she wanted. I just needed to relax.
My crew found me, and soon, I was whisked back to my limo.
I fixed my tie and was ready for my meetings.
I checked the paperwork to make sure my gift was ready, and then I arrived at the hospital with everything I needed.
I was twenty minutes earlier than the administration expected me, but I headed up the elevator to the cancer ward to see Abigail.
I knocked on the door, and she called out, “Come in. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
I stepped inside and smiled. She looked like a smaller version of Avril, but they had the same blue eyes. I said, “I’m meeting with the hospital administrators, but I wanted to make sure you’re happy here and don’t want to be moved anywhere.”
She motioned for me to sit. “I want to be here for my sister.”
I quickly said, “And you will be, once you’re well.”
She moved her bed up to the sitting position and then asked, “If you and my sister break up, does that mean I’m stuck in Switzerland?”
Part of me wondered what they’d discussed, but I shook my head and sat back. “No. You have a legal contract with my mother’s nonprofit for cancer patients, and that includes transportation.”
She gazed at me like she wanted to say something. Then she said, “Okay, I’ll go, but please don’t ask my sister to give up her work life.”
If I stopped working, I’d spend too much time in my head. Maybe that was the same with Avril. I reached in my pocket for the box. “I wouldn’t, but there is one more thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
Her eyes widened. “What’s going on?”
“This is for you.” I handed her the black box along with a manilla envelope with her name on it.
She took a set of keys and held them up. “But we sold the house.”
I pointed at the folder, and she opened it as I said, “The family that bought it liked my cash offer. I made the offer last week when I realized you lived there until recently. I wanted to ensure that you and your sister had what was yours.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “This is too much.” She was trembling.
I took her hand. I hadn’t wanted to upset her. “It’s not. It’s your home.”
When she was able to talk, she said, “Thank you. I didn’t want Avril to sell it. I’m sure she was living in some horrible place while I was in here.”
The door to her old building hadn’t looked safe at all, though I wouldn’t add to Abby’s fear by saying that. I stood. The administrator was waiting for me outside her door.
I gently squeezed her hand. “If you need anything, let me know.”
She clutched the keys like they were a lifeline. Part of me wished I’d planned to spend more time visiting, but she had doctors’ meetings and now a trip to Switzerland for treatments. So I walked out, happy to take care of Avril’s family because her sister was nice.
I walked with the administrators to discuss my donation. As I sat down for the meeting, a few people said, “Mr. Norouzi, we’re glad you’re here.”
I took a seat and held my pen. “Happy to help the cancer ward.” But the truth was, my mind wasn’t on the meeting. I signed the checks and left. Time was moving quickly, and at five o’clock, Avril would finish her workday. I needed to get back to the city.
As I slipped into the helicopter, I called home, and Fuller answered. “I’m almost done with the decorations,” he said.
I was amused that he continued to act like a servant but happy that he was helping me. “I’ll be back soon, Michael.”
After the helicopter landed on my building, I headed to the first floor.
I needed to pick up the jewelry I’d ordered with the black pearls from Bora Bora, a nice present that fit our plans.
The jeweler was a block away. That morning had started with me alone and jumping.
Now it was busy with lots of people moving around, and everyone seemed so self-involved.
The clerks had my order, and I paid. As I was packing up, I noticed a familiar red head with pale hands folded on the counter next to me. I pivoted and said, “Bernadette, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you today.”
She pressed her arm to my shoulder. “I just wanted to talk to you because you don’t need to fake relationships with friends of friends.”
I narrowed my eyes as I took my order and slipped it into my pocket. “What?”
She shrugged. “We’re both rich, and we get along. If you need a date for anything, please call me in the future.”
My ears buzzed like something had happened. “I have to go.”
I walked quickly back home. I wasn’t sure why, but I wondered more about Avril. I hoped everything was fine.
As I stepped into my penthouse and took off my shoes, I called out, “Michael, your sister is downstairs.”
He came in from the living area. “She’s still in New York?”
“She thinks I’m faking with Avril.”
Michael shrugged. “I’ll finish with the coconuts and get out of here as fast as I can.”
No questions. He hadn’t heard anything. “Thanks,” I said.
My phone rang. I grabbed it as I headed to take a shower so I would be clean when Avril got home. Roman greeted me. His tone of voice worried me.
I closed my bedroom door. “Roman, what’s going on?”
“Did you jump out of a plane?”
I unbuttoned the shirt and tossed it into the hamper. I’d been nervous and unsure how to act, but I only said, “I needed to clear my head.”
“I thought you were settling down.”
Bernadette’s words echoed in my mind. “I am. Why?”
“Endangering yourself isn’t living. I thought you and Avril were cute together.”
Bernadette must have been reaching. I stripped. “I need to be happy on the inside for anything to work. I’ve got to go.”
Then I shook a shower and shaved. That night, I wanted to show Avril how relaxed and comfortable I was without conspiring about anything. As I finished, my phone buzzed.
I saw a text from Avril: Where are you?
I typed back, Home .
Three dots appeared, so I waited. Then her text appeared: We need to talk .
I agreed. We were good together. I typed back, I’ll get dinner started .
I dressed in a simple blue T-shirt and jeans, as that night was meant to be low-key.
As I came out, Fuller was still arranging coconuts. I went and joined him in creating a display. “Michael, we need to finish fast.”
Michael stopped. “My sister didn’t stay outside your door, did she?”
I met his gaze. “No, she found me a block up, on Fifth.”
We continued building the mountain of coconuts as he said, “Okay, I’ll make sure I have a car waiting for me.”
“At some point, you’ll have to take responsibility and go home.”
“Some point but not today.”
We finished with the display as fast as we could. We had to get the dinner started next. And soon, I’d see Avril again.