3. three #2
He matched perfectly with the view behind him.
It was like looking at a character in a vintage painting.
The glass window allowed us a clear view of the streets of Edinburgh.
Lamplights were lined across the cobblestone pathways, strollers passed by, while the structures were tall and dark.
I could hear the buzzing of conversation, along with the clicking of boots, and the honking of cabs.
He had an answer for every question, and it bugged me tremendously. He knew exactly how I would want a movie deal for my book. But he didn’t know me. I left before he could know more about me.
Greer turned toward me, her hazel eyes digging into me. I glanced at Camille, who shrugged.
“It sounds like a good deal to me,” Greer said.
“What do you think?” Cami questioned me. She must’ve seen the look of horror on my expression because then she said, “This is the deal of your dreams.”
She wasn’t wrong. This was the movie deal that I had always dreamed of for my work. But the book… the script… he had inspired everything. Just by being my greatest heartbreak.
“You deserve it, Lysandra. After all the hard work you’ve put into this,” Elena noted.
All three of the women inside of the conference room stared back at me with wide smiles on their faces.
Zack rolled his eyes and sighed softly, almost like he was forced to be here, bored out of his mind.
And Ezra… he wouldn’t stop looking at me with hopeful eyes.
Anticipation, anxiety, and longing were digging holes into me.
I knew I’d have to fortify my barriers and avoid the same mistake that I made years ago.
He would not know who I was now, I wouldn’t give him that privilege.
Ezra took me for granted, but I would take advantage of his proposition.
I would do this. For myself. For everything I’d suffered in my long life.
I looked over to my editor, then to Camille. I could hear their silent thoughts questioning whether I truly wanted this. I didn’t want to be here in this room with Ezra and Zack, but I knew I wanted my book to be made into a movie.
“It’s a deal.” I forced a smile.
“That’s wonderful. Thank you, Miss Guerrera. I truly think this will be one of our best projects yet.”
I gulped at the sound of my last name leaving his lips.
Camille, Elena, Greer, and Ezra clapped. All of them hooting and congratulating me.
“Mister Van Dorren, is there anything else you would like for us to review?” Greer asked.
“Yes. I printed out an initial contract for us to sign. Forgive the rush.”
Greer chuckled. “Nonsense. I enjoy your enthusiasm, and I’m sure Miss Guerrera does too.”
“Greer, may I be excused? I’d like to prepare for our next meeting,” I asked.
“Of course, Lys. Go ahead.”
As I stood up, his piercing blue eyes stabbed into me. I tightened my jaw and brought ice to my glare, grabbing my bag.
Camille’s glance landed on me. I endured mere minutes in his presence; but I couldn’t bear it anymore.
“Would you gentlemen like a break before we begin get into the nitty-gritty details of the contract?”
“We can head over to cafeteria to get some snacks. Thank you, Greer.” Ezra nodded as I made my way out of the conference room.
I walked out of the room and hurried down the hallways.
There wasn’t much I could distract myself with as I waited for my next meeting at 5 p.m., so I decided to head for the gardens. The rays of sun had begun to shine in a pink and orange hue. Their colors spilled across the Heavens as if they were paints smudged across textiles.
My phone began to ring as I took a stroll through the chipped cobblestones surrounding the garden.
I stopped at the top of the bridge that oversaw a pond, examining the fish that swam in the trickling water.
My fiancé’s face popped up in the middle of the screen.
His green eyes were so mesmerizing that even his photo of him made it seem as if he were looking at me in person.
I smiled as I accepted his call, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Hi, baby,” I chirped.
“Hello, love. How did the meeting go?”
If only he knew.
I let out a breath. “It went well. Better than I imagined.”
“Why is that?”
“The head of the company presented the deal to me. He had some pretty solid points. I just don’t seem to like the guy.”
My fiancé laughed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Something tells me he’s going to make this project difficult for me,” I replied, not being able to help but picture Ezra’s captivating face.
“Are you going to take it?”
“Yes, I am. It’s the deal I’ve been waiting for my entire life,” I said.
“It makes sense,” he said.
“How’s your day going?” I asked, sitting down on the nearest bench.
Aldair had been on a week-long trip to New York to learn more about orthopedics, which he planned to specialize in. He was a doctor at the Novamed Hospital in Edinburgh, barely a few months into his second year as a resident. He was a man born into a family of honor, wealth, and reputation.
The perfect man. At least when he wasn’t upset.
“Just got off the plane. I made a reservation for us at The Black Orchid.”
Miriam’s food would always be my favorite. I had tried different Scottish restaurants in Edinburgh, but none of them could compete with her recipes.
I thought it was sweet of him to know that I loved that place more than anywhere else. It was these moments when I wondered why I still doubted him at times.
“What time is our reservation?” I asked, checking the digits on my watch. I had another meeting with my publishers in an hour.
“At five o’clock.”
I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I can’t make it. I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you that I have another conference today with my publisher. I have to pitch a new book to them. I came outside to the garden to brainstorm new ideas.”
“Writer’s block still hitting you hard?” he asked.
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry, I would’ve loved to make it.”
“It’s okay. I can wait for you at my apartment?” I could feel him smiling on the other side of the call. Although I felt my stomach twist.
“Do you really think that low of me?” I chuckled.
“Worth a try,” he chirped.
I rolled my eyes. Aldair and I had never crossed the line physically.
I didn’t grow up in a religious household, but to think of that level of intimacy always made fear rush into my blood.
I always imagined a moment like that was an act that could be considered heavenly.
A tie, a bond between two souls. I didn’t want that to happen with just anyone.
Aldair wasn’t just another person, though.
I knew that. It just didn’t feel right to do it, yet.
It was the same excuse I had been telling myself for the past two years.
There were moments where I felt like he was showing me teasers of an unhappy marriage.
At times, he’d say things that made him sound just like Mario, and it frightened me deeply.
“Okay, but we do have to make time to go over our plans for the wedding. The time is passing by, and we haven’t been able to plan much.”
I bit my lip, closing my eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. I promise to make some time later this week.”
I think we both knew that was a lie.
“No worries, love. I can’t wait to see you this weekend.”
“I have to go,” I said.
“Okay, love. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you,” he said.
“See you,” I chuckled forcefully.
The typical whirlwind of doubt crashed into my mind. Aldair proposed six months ago, and I still didn’t have an exact date in mind. Autumn seemed like a better fit. But it felt foolish to choose my favorite season to marry a man I couldn’t bring myself to love passionately.
I hadn’t even gone dress shopping.
I knew the day of his desertion would arrive if I didn’t make a decision soon. I was aware he wanted a more physical relationship with me, and I knew he wanted me to start planning our wedding already. But every time my heart reached for him, it felt like I was going down a hollow, cold path.
I let out a shaky breath. Now, I had to brainstorm ideas for a new book that was meant to be released next summer. A nonexistent novel that I had no idea how to bring to life.
As I pondered, the image that came to my mind was Ezra. I shook my head at myself. I had already written a book based on our experiences, I couldn’t use him as inspiration again. It almost felt like I was cheating on Aldair. I rubbed my temples.
I had already spilled my broken heart and poured it into So Long, Scotland.
I produced many great narratives that many women could relate to.
One was literally being prepared to become a film this very second.
And I wondered whether I could pick up that story and give it a brand-new ending.
It was the best I could come up with in such little time.
I examined the gardens. Their lush colors were still prominent in the fall. A breeze flowed between the branches of the flowers, reminding me of a love that was short yet passionate. Our timeline was cut before we could ever bloom into adulthood.
What other lesson did I learn from that heartbreak? Would I be capable of throwing myself down this rabbit hole without opening doors that should be kept closed?
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach as I realized that my next best choice was to write another ending to So Long, Scotland.