Page 43 of Up All Night
I'm driving to meet a client at a property, when I look at my current listings, and see that I'm missing one."What the fuck?"I whisper to myself, thinking that maybe the site is glitched.I try refreshing it.It's still showing one less property.Scrolling through the listed properties, I see the one that's missing.It's been there for so long now, I almost ignore it.It's the listing with the slanted addition.It's gone.It's not even showing as 'sold', it's just gone.I refresh it again, and now it shows as 'sold'."Something is wrong with the site."I say to myself, looking up Lucy's number.
She doesn't answer, and as I pull up to the property where I'm meeting my client, I try her again.Still no answer.This is the first time I've ever called the woman and didn't get an answer.As I continue driving, I hear a ping on my phone, and thinking that it's Lucy, I look over, only to see that it's Stone.He's asking if I can meet him at the location where he's waiting to complete a deal.Where his next hotel is going to be built, but he and Lucy are waiting for clearance.It's also where I took him the first day that we met.I confirm that I can meet him there, since it's on the way to where I need to meet my client.When I arrive, I see his truck parked by a sign that now says 'sold'.I smile for him.
"Congratulations."I call out, as he walks towards me, ankle deep in uncut grass.
"Thanks.Lucy and I just got word earlier.I wanted to tell you the good news myself."
He approaches and hugs me tight."How are you."He asks, kissing me on the head.There is nobody else around.The area is completely desolate, since the whole lot is totally unaccounted for until now.
"I'm good.Been busy, just like you.How are you?"
"Fantastic now.It's like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders.It always feels like that for me when I'm starting a new project.Once the deal goes through, it's all happening, the part I love the most."
"That's wonderful.I'm so happy for you."And I am.I know what it's like to have things come together for you in the professional world.That's exactly how I felt when I got my first sale, and then later, when I got my first sale working at this realty company.
He looks at me.The look is still in his eyes.Part of me is so relieved, yet another part of me is worried that I may never see that look again, when he finds out.
"Come for a quick drive with me?"He asks.
"I have to meet with a client in a half an hour."
"It won't take more than ten minutes."
"Okay."
"We'll take my truck.Leave your car here."
I'm confused, but I go along with him."Okay."
I get into his truck, and his hand immediately slips into mine.I never knew how much comfort just one simple gesture could bring me.I grasp his hand tighter, because it feels so good to feel his touch again, no matter in what capacity.Going one step further, he lifts my hand and kisses it, as if by rote.As if he’s done it a thousand times before.He has no idea, but it means the world to me.Unconsciously, my hand goes to my belly.
My mind begins to wander, as I start to picture various scenarios, like Stone walking away from me, or him embracing me tightly at the news.I also picture my boss pointing towards the door, but I also picture Lucy hugging me.None of it seems rational.None of it seems real.All I know is that as I sit here in Stone's truck with him, I feel a strange sense of home, coupled with a sense of fear.A fear of losing this feeling.
I don’t even realize it until we pull up to a lot.I look over and I see it.It’s the house with the crooked addition, and a 'for sale' sign on a stake, sitting on the front lawn.Only the 'for sale' sign now has that sought after 'sold' bar attached to the bottom.My mouth is half open, as I wonder if maybe my career has already been pulled out from under my feet.How can it be sold, yet I am unaware?“What the hell is going on?”I ask him, recognizing the panic in my voice.
Stone squeezes my hand.“My developers for the new property can save me a ton of money on the bill, so I bought this house.I wanted to surprise you, so I made Lucy promise not to tell you."
I blink twice.I’m staring at the 'sold' sign.“You bought it?"
He nods, searching my face.“Are you happy about that?"
I suddenly realize what this means.Not only does this mean that I can be rid of that asshole that gave me such a hard time in the sale of this property, but it also means that Stone may be doing this for more than just a new house.This may be a gesture towards me.
“I really liked this place when you first showed it to me.And to be honest with you, I was trying to figure out a way to make it work.It was just a bonus that everything fell into place as it did."
Suddenly, my mind goes into panic mode.If Stone approached Lucy about this, she’s no fool.I start to worry that Lucy knows.Lucy knows that I’ve been having an affair with her client.Regardless of the fact that he asked her not to tell me, as a surprise, I may be in very hot water over this.The fact that she’s ignoring my calls, makes my hair stand on end.“Take me back to my car, please.I'm going to be late to meet with my clients."
“Are you okay?"
“I am fine.I just have so much work to do."
“ I know that Lucy was leaving all the paperwork for you, so you get your proper cut of it.So you don’t need to worry about that part."
I feel terrible, confused, scared, but most of all, I erased that look in the Stone's eyes.Now what’s left is worry.“It’s fine.I just remember that these clients, my new clients, they sometimes show up early.And I need to get back.We can talk about this later, okay?"
But we don’t end up talking about it later.
After a short conversation with my boss, I find myself on a plane to Paris, weaving a web of more lies.
