"Abuela is here," Elle said, looking towards her grandmother.
Gabriella quickly wiped her face clean before turning towards her mother. "Hola Mama." She smiled as she got up and went to kiss her mother on the cheek. "Can you stay for lunch?"
"That would be nice."
"Thank you for coming, Blayne," Neil said as he walked up to her. "She just refused to speak to anyone else but you."
Neil Tedesco was one of her most competent VP's and he had called her and had continued to call her until she finally agreed to come.
"Yes, apparently," Blayne said cynically as she walked around the desk and sat. "What is the problem?"
"Everything went smoothly until it came time to sign the contracts. She insists on meeting with you first. Nothing would deter her. I'm sorry, Blayne; I know you didn't want to be disturbed but there was no other way. I've tried everything." Neil finished in exasperation.
She waived her hand as if suddenly tired of the whole thing. "Fine, when will she be here?"
"She is here now. Do you want me to bring her here or would you rather we meet at the boardroom?"
"Here…bring her here, Neil." Blayne leaned back into the chair and closed her eyes.
Neil seemed unsure and did not move. Blayne he could tell had lost some weight and seemed rather pale. What had happened to the once energetic and powerful presence he knew as Blayne Anberville? One day almost six-month before she had just not shown up. Seeing her now he realized that something was very wrong. The woman now in front of him seemed frail and vulnerable. The vitality that she always exuded was just not present in her.
When Blayne finally noticed that he had not moved from where he stood she opened her eyes and stared at him. "Well? Go get her. I don't have all day, Neil."
He seemed to spring into action at that moment and left her. She was irritable she knew that. She didn't want to be there. Responsibility, accountability, respectability…were words that made up who she was for so long. Blayne wasn't sure why she had come. The company could almost run itself she knew that. Besides, she had…they all had enough money to live many lifetimes over. What did it matter if one deal was lost or two or three? She just didn't care anymore. All she wanted was to be alone with her memories and her disgust of what she had become, of what she had allowed herself to become.
That morning when Neil had called had been harsher than the ones before. There seemed to be so many…so many mornings, nights, and days now; and as the specter of them spread before her the ocean had become too inviting. It had frightened her somehow. It wasn't so much that she feared dying or the thought that finally her need and loneliness would end but the thought that she had actually wanted it so badly that had shaken her. Neil's call was like a horn calling her into shore…throwing her a lifeline back to shore if she only wanted to reach out and take it.
Now as she sat in her old chair she looked around all the things that once had meant the world to her. Her triumphs were all framed on the walls around her. And just as her head dropped forward at the sadness that suddenly filled her soul the door opened before her.
Blayne had not heard the door open or close. She raised her head with her eyes closed and leaned it back again. This had been a mistake she told herself. When the meeting was over she would go back to the Cape. It had finally all sunk in…her past, even it s bits and pieces were unbearable to her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were ill." A soft voice brought her head forward and her eyes opened quickly.
Blayne stared at the woman in front of her in cold disdain. "Please sit down." Her lips turned up into a smile politely but the message her eyes were conveying was harshly cruel.
"Truly, Blayne. I'm sorry."
Blayne nodded and waited. When Tara said nothing she got up and walked towards the large picture window and stared out onto the city of Boston. "How high up we are. From up here the world seems so small."
Tara watched her in fascination. "Why have you been avoiding this meeting?"
Blayne smiled sadly still looking out and spoke softly. "I wasn't avoiding you, Tara. I don't want to be here."
Tara stood up and walked towards her. "This whole deal was put together because of you."
"I know." Blayne acknowledged.
"Pretty cocky, aren't you?" Tara said playfully.
"No, just tired of playing games." Blayne then turned to her.
They both looked at one another without saying a word.
"I don't want to play, Tara. I told you that night at the club in Quincy." Blayne broke eye contact first as she ran her fingers through her hair. "This is a good deal. If you want it sign the contracts. If you don't, don't."
"Is she so deep inside you that you have stopped walking with the living? Tara said venomously. "Jesus, look at you. You look like shit!"
Blayne remained silent.
"My god… you love her that much?" Tara asked incredulously.
"Ms Montgomery, my personal life is neither here nor there. As I recall you and I shared a dance and a kiss in a dark club in Quincy and that is all," Blayne said irately. "Having said that, will you sign these contracts or not?"
"I want you. I want to get to know you." Tara suddenly said softly. "I would like you to get to know me. I would not hurt you."
Blayne looked away as Tara's eyes began to fill with tears. "You are quite right, Ms. Montgomery. I barely know you and you barely know me. I am not worth knowing, Ms Montgomery, I assure you."
"I know more than you can imagine. I just got to your life late." Tara took a step closer. "I fell in love with you the moment I saw you at the Copley."
Blayne smiled suddenly and laughed. "What are you talking about? We didn't meet at the Copley, Ms Montgomery, you have one of the protagonist in this imaginary love affair mistaken for someone else."
"I had come to Boston to meet with you. I was staying at the Copley. When there you were…Blayne Anberville…bigger than life standing next to me in the elevator. I recognized you from a photograph I once saw of you in Fortune. I wanted you right then. I was actually going to speak to you in the elevator when I saw a tear roll down your face."
Blayne's eyes searched her face and saw the truth of her words. She remembered as well.
"That's the moment it happened. As you walked out of the elevator I felt the loss of you and I knew. I'm in love with you, Blayne. No games, this is my truth." Tara finished as tears ran down her face. "I know you can love me…I know that I can make you happy. I would at least ask for a chance to try."
"Tara…" Blayne looked down not finding the words.
"I can make you forget her," Tara said miserably.
Blayne looked up sadly. "No one can take her place. She is in all I am. I'm sorry." Blayne began to walk away.
"Please give me a chance." Tara grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Just one chance."
"Goodbye Tara." Blayne walked out leaving her standing in the middle of the office.
As soon as Blayne walked out of the office Neil walked in not sure what he would be met with.
"Ms Montgomery?" He said tentatively as he approached her. "Is everything all right?"
Tara wiped her face and turned around with a bright smile. "Yes, all is fine, Mr. Tedesco. Where are those contracts?"
"Here they are, Ms Montgomery." Neil suddenly smiled and walked up to the desk and handed her a pen to sign the papers.
"Thank you." Tara smiled sweetly.
Tara signed all four copies and then stood straight. "Well, it seems that our business is concluded then."
"Thank you. I will have copies sent to your attorneys." Neil shook her hand and smiled to himself as he saw her walking away.
As soon as Tara Montgomery turned away from him her smile faded and sadness once again filled her eyes. Every step she took was a painful one. She knew that each and everyone step was further and further from love. "I was late, my love. I was late."