Rebound (9 page)

Okay, laying on the sarcasm a little thick...

He smiled a little bit.

Oh my god, he smiled! 

Maybe one day he will become a real boy!!

    Chapter 11

They spent the next two hours chatting up business associates and important contacts. 

Katrine was on. She was witty, eloquent and she impressed everyone she met with her knowledge of the project. She watched her boss work the room and marveled at how charming he could be when he removed the broom handle from his nether regions. They gave each other a knowing look, a look that said they were kicking ass and taking names. He was really the big fish here even though he was younger than all of these men by ten years or more. But he was the face of AG Industries tonight and it was his responsibility to make a good impression, and he was. 

She knew that she was there as a decoration of sorts despite her recent triumph. A pretty face to smooth the edges a little. She seemed to put the men at ease. There were a few women executives too, but they obviously were more interested in Abbot, not his assistant. She caught Alexander on a break and told him she was going to get a glass of wine.

“Would you like anything?” she offered.

“Actually a scotch on the rocks would be great.” He seemed to be amped from the business dealings. It seemed to defrost him a little towards her. Maybe it was because she had impressed him? Who knew.

“Alright, I’ll be back shortly.” 

She was at the bar waiting for her drinks when another
very
familiar male voice said, “Hello, Katrine.”

She gripped the end of the bar to keep steady. They had not seen each other for months, and this was the last place she thought she would see him. 

Just breathe. He is just a person, just breathe.

Once she gained her brittle composure, she slowly turned to face him. David, was standing right in front of her, looking handsome and familiar and... Oh god she was going to faint. She took a deep breath, as deep as possible anyway.

“Hello David. I’m surprised to see you. How are you doing?” 

Alright! She was actually speaking like a normal human being and not someone who wanted to jump over the bar and spoon the trash can.

“I am doing well, thank you. You look beautiful, as always.”

Save the compliments you cheating fuck wad.

“Thank you. I thought you were out at the beach house?”

She was trying to keep talking so she didn’t pass out, or throw up.

“I was, but we came back for the event. I am co-chair of the medical committee that helped consult on this project.”

All she heard was, “blah blah blah blah blah,” after he said “we”. Katrine started to panic. 

Oh, no way… She’s here!

 Katrine was desperately trying to devise an exit strategy when the she part of the “we” in question came walking up to them. The woman in front of her was tall with glossy red hair, porcelain skin and striking blue eyes. This woman was Katrine’s complete opposite in every way. It was like a slap in the face for some reason. Like “I was so tired of you, I wanted someone who looked nothing like you.”

She was wearing an ice blue sheath dress that glittered as she walked. If Katrine had the ability to speak, she would have asked her where Flounder and Sebastian were, but speech alluded her.

“Katrine, I would like you to meet Dr. Felicity Hargrove, my fiancée.

Oh god, it was worse than she thought, a doctor!

“I am very pleased to meet you, Katrine.”

A British accent??!!! A British Dr. Jessica Rabbit!!! Someone kill me now…Please thunder, strike me dead!!! Ground  open and swallow me up….Oh god, oh god I can’t breathe. Puking is imminent.

She managed to squeak out something that sounded like, “and you”. The female Dr. so and so was saying something else, something about better circumstances. Katrine couldn’t tell because the rushing sound in her ears was way too loud.

 Red’s lips were still moving, but she couldn’t discern a thing she was saying. 

Why is she still talking? Shut up! Shut the fuck UP!!!!!

All that talk about maturity and no need for violence fled from her memory. That was a good concept in theory, but in the here and now, it just wasn’t reality.
She wanted to run, she wanted to brake her wine glass on the side of both of their faces. She wanted to cuss them out and make a scene. But in reality she did none of those things. Katrine stood there, silent and composed. Inside however, it was turmoil and angst. Suddenly she felt a very gentle hand on the small of her back.

“Katrine, the CEO of Milner Media needs to meet with us, so I need to steal you away. Please excuse us.”

“Yes, of course. Please excuse me. Goodbye.”

She walked away in a daze. She hadn’t even noticed that her boss had approached them. He led her away to a corner. He grasped her elbows and dipped down a little so they were eye to eye. 

“Are you okay?”

It took her a minute to respond, as she was still reeling. Her hands were shaking and her breath was coming out in quick, consecutive puffs.

“I think so. Excuse me Mr Abbot, I need some fresh air.....” Katrine walked away and grasped her shaky hands in front of her stomach. She made her way out to the garden and found a corner where she could have her much needed melt down. She was cursing her color choice at that moment. The bright yellow didn’t really allow her to blend into the shadows. No longer able to hold it together, she started to cry. It was one of those silent cries, where the only sound is the intermittent intake of breath through the mouth every few minutes.  

How could he do that? How could he ambush me like that? Does he have no regard for my feelings?  

Apparently not...and at that moment all of the anger and hurt of the last six months came flooding back. The intensity was so great that it almost brought her to her knees. She leaned her forehead against the hard brick wall. 

“Katrine, are you alright?”

That startled her. She tried her best to compose herself, but didn’t have that much luck.

“I am so sorry, I don’t usually behave like this. I am usually quite stable, I assure you.” Sniff, sniff, sniff. “Thank you for rescuing me.” She sniffled a little then turned to him and said, “How did you know?”

He handed her a much needed tissue, then softly said, “I was watching you, waiting for my drink. Then I saw that man approach you. I saw your body language, you were obviously not happy. And then when the woman approached, you seemed as though you might faint. Who were those people?” He could not keep the concern from his voice. She was silent for a moment and then took in a very shaky breath.

“That was my
ex
-husband and his
new
fiancée. I haven’t seen him in months and that was the first time to meet... her. He left me, for her. She’s a doctor and she’s so pretty, and she’s…..” Sobs took over from there. Her shoulders shook violently.

He was really out of his element. He looked around for a second because he wasn’t sure what he should do. So he just pulled her into his chest and lightly stroked her back in an attempt to sooth and calm her down.

“Shhhhh, shhhhh please Katrine, please stop crying. I can’t stand to see a beautiful woman cry. Shhhhh, shhhhh.”

He continued to rub her back and whispered soothingly. Katrine was soothed and she finally felt like she could turn off the faucets attached to her eyeballs.

“Thank you Mr. Abbot, thank you for saving me back there. If you hadn’t, I would either be on the floor passed out or in the bathroom throwing up…” Sniff, sniff. “Hey, you called me Katrine,” she said in a croaky voice.

“Well, I thought since your tears, and other things, are all over my tux, we could forgo the formalities.” He hit her with the most amazing, genuine smile.

“Ok, I guess you’re right...Alexander?”

“Xander, please. My father is Alexander.”

“Alright then Xander. Again, thank you.”

She paused for a moment, then asked, “What about Monday? Are you Mr. Abbot or Xander? I would like to be prepared if you’re going to revert back to your usual persona.”

“No, Xander will suffice,” he said in his best stern voice. But after, he smiled and chuckled a little. Katrine had never heard him laugh and frankly she was a bit taken a back. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for him to morph back into señor surly. He didn’t.

“Would it be alright with you if I went home? I am a mess and all I want to do is hide under the covers until next year.”

“Of course. You have done a great job tonight. You should be proud. I was very impressed. And I am not easily impressed. But please come out of the covers by Monday morning. You have proven to be an integral part of this operation. I need you.”

She looked up into his eyes for the first time. His eyes were green, really green. As he looked down at her, he had a strange look on his face. He seemed uncomfortable. She had obviously freaked him out with her dramatic display. She would be embarrassed tomorrow, but right now she just wanted this night to end.

“Thank you... for everything.” She put that sentiment into her tear-filled eyes and she hoped he grasped how she felt. She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. Then she left. 

As she walked away he watched her. Even after she was no longer in sight, he watched the door. Finally Xander ruffled his hand through his hair and let out a deep breath. She had been so professional tonight, and intelligent, and witty. She had every exec eating out of the palm of her hand. She was in a word, amazing. 

“Oh shit Xander, you are in serious trouble”...

Katrine finally crawled into bed, her throat sore and her eyes red and swollen. It was well after midnight. She had been trying to absorb and analyze all of the highs and lows of the night. But she was too emotionally spent to come to grips with any of  it. She hoped sleep would not be hard to come by and when it finally took hold, she had no idea of the time. But when it did, she was grateful for the oblivion.

Chapter 12

Ringing, she heard ringing… 

Am I dreaming?  No, that is ringing. My phone? Alarm clock?  No, no definitely my phone...

She shook herself awake and grabbed the phone just in time. She let out a froggy, “Hello.”

“Katrine, hey I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

She sat up with a bolt. It was Ian. She forgot she was supposed to go out with him today. She was
so
not in the mood. She wanted to stay in bed and feel sorry for herself for the next decade...

“Hey Ian. Yes sorry. I didn’t sleep very well last night. What time is it?”

“10:30.”

“Oh gosh, I haven’t slept that late since college.”

“Well now that I have awoken you, sleeping beauty, I hope you haven’t reconsidered.”

She was smiling just hearing his voice, she couldn’t disappoint him and figured he just might cheer her up.

“No, no I haven’t. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, there will be time for that later, but first I thought I would take you to lunch.” Ian said wickedly.

Katrine laughed, “That sounds great. How about you pick me up at 12:30? Or I can meet you somewhere.”

“No, of course I’ll come get you. Then we can decide where to go from there. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect. I’ll text you my address. There are tons of great places around here. I’m sure we won’t have a problem finding a place to eat.”

“See you in a little while, Katrine.”

“Bye Ian.”

So she shelved her plan to stay submerged in her sheets for the day and jumped into the shower. A hot shower always had a way of revitalizing Katrine. She took extra time shaving her legs and underarms. She didn’t bother with the other parts, he was not going to see them anyway. And leaving her downstairs un-groomed would guarantee it. At least that was the theory. She had no intention of getting that physical anyway. A kiss, on the other hand, was a definite possibility. She thought it was always a good idea to discuss the physical parameters with herself before she went out with a guy. At least that was what she used to do all that time ago. How long had it been since she had been on a date? 

Oh my god, way too freaking long!

She decided to wear a simple sun dress to lunch. It was a soft pale blue, with spaghetti straps and a round neck line. She grabbed a pair of silver sandals with thin criss-crossing straps. It would keep her cooler in the heat and it would look nice without seeming like she was trying too hard. She decided to wear her hair up. She didn’t feel like messing with it today. All in all, it did not take her long to get ready. She was looking forward to her date and she wasn’t nervous. Katrine figured it was because she had know him for so long. Then she heard a knock on the door. Her stomach tumbled a little.

Ok, maybe I am a tad bit nervous.

She opened the door to find Ian dressed in nice cargo shorts and a short sleeved blue collared shirt. He was wearing leather flip-flops. Katrine loved a guy in flops.
The deep color of his shirt magnified the blue in his eyes. 

“You look really handsome, Ian.”

“And you look amazing, Katrine,” 

“Would you like the nickel tour before we leave?” Katrine offered. 

“That would be great.”

She gave him a tour, which took no time at all since her place wasn’t that big. She showed him Teddy’s room and paused. 

“You knew I had a son right?” She thought he did, but she didn’t want to spring it on him right before they went on a date. Like, “Surprise, I have a kid!!”

“Yes, I knew you did. How old is he now?”

“He’s ten, and he is amazing!”

“I like the look you get on your face when you talk about him,” Ian said with a warm smile. His smile was contagious. She felt better already.

“Well I guess we should go. I am famished!” Katrine said honestly. 

Her stomach was starting to growl in earnest. She locked up and they headed out to his car. It was a very nice cobalt silver Jeep Wrangler. It suited him. She could picture them riding around with the top off enjoying a nice fall day. But today was summer and she was glad the doors where on!