Page 43 of Bold
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.
