Chapter 2

Kristen fumbled through my suitcase and pulled out another dress.

“How about the red one?” She asked.

I eyed the low cut dress up and down before tossing it aside as well. Why did I even bring that one? It’s not like I was planning on going out anywhere dressed like that.

“To desperate.” I stated.

“Then why did you bring it?” She asked.

“I don’t know, I just packed a bunch of stuff and left. I was really nervous about this.” I answered.

She sighed and turned back to my suitcase and pulled out the last garments of clothing I had inside of it. Finding it was my Khakis and white top I knew then that’s what I would end up choosing. It was one of my better outfits.

“That one.” I said taking a sip of wine and pointing to it.

“How much more are you going to drink?” She asked. “You’ve almost drank half the bottle.”

“I know but it calms my nerves.” I stated.

“You two were friends for four years just talk to him like you always did. No need to be nervous.” She said.

I stood up from the edge of the bed and took the outfit from her. “Exactly, we were friends. Now we are married.”

“Well…” She paused. “Then just pretend like it never happened and you are just visiting him after so long apart.”

I sighed wishing I could do that but sadly this marriage was the only thing on my mind and I’m sure it’s the same for Nathan who keeps rejecting our divorce. I’m still wondering what that’s all about.

“Go put that on and we’ll go from there.” She said eyeing the clothes in my hand.

I nodded my head and walked to the bathroom to change.

Lucky for me there was a huge full length mirror in the room for me to see exactly how I looked. Hopefully this would be good enough for my now extremely successful and good looking ex best friend whom I ditched the day after our wedding.

I sized myself up in the mirror taking myself in. I suppose this would work, I’ll just have to wear my black heels I can barely walk in with it.

“Good choice.” Kristen said from the doorway.

“You think?”

“Uh yeah.” She replied in the most obvious tone.

I looked at myself once more before exiting the bathroom and back to my room. I picked the black heels up from the floor and slipped them on while balancing myself a chair.

Kristen stood in front of me and looked at me approvingly then pulled out her phone. “I made the appointment for an hour from now. We better get going before we end up late.”

I shook my head as I spoke. “I still don’t understand why you have to make an appointment with family.”

“Because he stays busy now and I knew it was the only definite way to get a meeting with him.” She explained.

“Why did you just call him?” I asked.

“Because he never keeps his phone on him in meetings and he’s been in them all day.” She replied.

Wow I guess he really is a busy person. I wonder if that’s why he hasn’t responded to the papers. Well…no, that can’t be it or else he wouldn’t have returned them either. I’ll have to get to the bottom of it when I see him again.

“…and then lunch.” She finished.

Oh no I wasn’t even listening to her. She will be so mad at me. See this is what thinking about Nathan does to me. I tend to block everything else out.

I seriously thought about asking her to repeat what she said but decided to save myself the trouble and just agreed to it. I’m sure I’ll figure it out later anyway.

“Ok let’s go.” I said grabbing my bag from the table and walking to the door.

I really hope I can get through this. I haven’t laid eyes on this man since the day I left and I don’t know how this will all unfold.

“Just breathe and we’ll handle the rest when we get there.” She said.

I nodded my head and smiled lightly trying to hide my nervousness. Ok just breathe Peyton she’s right, the rest can be dealt with once we arrive.

With that we left the hotel and we’re on our way to confront Nathan with all the courage I could muster.

*****

“You’re late.” The lady at the desk spoke.

“We couldn’t help it there was a pile up on the road on the way here.” Kristen replied.

“Well I’m sorry but Mr. Holbrook is about to go into another meeting in 10 minutes so I’m afraid you’ll have to reschedule.” She said firmly.

“Tessa cut the crap and just let us in.” Kristen said losing her patients.

She smiled in fake sweetness at her. “Sorry but I can’t.”

I stepped between Kristen and the secretary and gave her a kind smile. “I’m sorry about my friend here but it’s very important that we see him today. Is there any chance we could speak to him for just a moment?”

She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest before speaking. “And what makes you think if I won’t let his own cousin back that I will let you?”

Did we really have to do this? Why can’t she just let us in already? All I came here for was I divorce and I’m leaving until I get one.

I smiled down at his in same fake smile she gave us just a moment ago and spoke. “Because I’m his wife and I’m sure he wants to see me.”

The woman features turned into one of shock and then uncertainty as she stared back at me. “Mr. Holbrook doesn’t have a wife.”

“Oh no? Then why don’t you page him and ask for yourself?” I said.

She starred down at her phone for a minute before deciding what to do and then picked it up.

“Mr. Holbrook there is woman here claiming to be your wife shall I send her in?” She asked.

After a brief pause on her end she spoke again. “Yes sir. I will.”

After hanging up the phone she stood from her desk and walked to meet us on the other side.

“Follow me please.”  She said before walking in the direction of what I’m assuming was his office.

We continued down a long stretch of hallways until finally stopping at one with a broad door and silver handle.

Tessa knocked on the door and entered before announcing us to Nathan. After he told us to come in she left leaving it only the two of Kristen and I to go in.

I looked at her slightly nervous still but she nodded her head for us to proceed. I took in a deep breath and then took a step inside only to come face to face with the person I hadn’t seen in 4 years, my best friend Nathan.

“Peyton.” He nodded.

“Nathan.” I replied in the same manner.

“What a way to make and introduction. My  wife?” He said rather amused.

“It was the only way she would let us in.” I stated.

“Well it defiantly worked.” He laughed. “What do I owe the pleasure?”

I laughed. As if he didn’t know. Is he really going to play this game?

I looked down at the enveloped in my hands handed it to Nathan. “I believe this has something to do with it.”

He looked at me briefly before accepting it. He tore open the seal and looked the papers over and then back to me.

“You came all the way here to give me these?” He asked.

“It was the only other way to get you to sign them since mailing them didn’t work.” I replied.

Nathan walked over to his desk and laid them down and turned back to me crossing his arms.

“Aren’t you going to sign them?” I asked raising an eyebrow to him.

“You couldn’t stop by to just say hello first?” He asked.

Looked away slightly guilty. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“What have you been up to these days?”

“Well…”

Should I tell him about me getting married? I would kind of feel horrible coming here to flaunt my recent engagement and only leaving him with a divorce. Maybe I’ll wait until things are a little more back to normal between us. I’ll give it a day.

“I actually run my own interior design company now and I love in Miami.” I stated.

He nodded and smiled. “You’ve done pretty well for yourself.”

I chuckled. “Me? What about you, Mr. Fortune 500?”

“You saw the magazine.” He said.

“Yes and I couldn’t be more happy for you.” I smiled.

He studied for a moment before closing the distance between us leaving only a couple feet of space.

“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you to.” I said. “It’s been too long.”

He wrapped his arm around me and held me tight. As I wrapped my arms around him in response I smelt his overwhelmingly amazing scent. It was one that made you want to go weak in the knees.

Being here has made me realized how much I have truly missed my friend. I had been hoping we could be friends once again and I hope I’m right. It seems he harbors no Ill feeling towards me so maybe all is not lost.

I suddenly realized that we had been hugging for an unusually long amount of time and pulled away to meet his face.

“Would meet me for dinner tonight?” He asked. “I would like to talk about the term of the divorce and not in front of my cousin.”

Oh that’s right. I already had forgotten Kristen was in the room. I’ve done it again. Blocking people out.

I smiled. “Sure. When and where?”

I’m sure a man like him would have some amazingly expensive restaurant picked out for us to have dinner at tonight. Probably some five star place that requires a suit and tie to enter. I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad though. They do have quiet amazing food.

“I was thinking my place at eight.” He replied.

Wait did he just say his place?

“Your place?”

“Yeah, I’ll have the chef make us his special.” He said.

Of course he has a chef why wouldn’t he? Now it will just be me and Nathan alone tonight. I’m not sure just yet if that’s a good or bad thing but by the end of the night I’ll without a doubt have it figured out.

“I’ll be there.” I said.

“Great, I’ll have my driver pick you up.” He said before going to sit behind his desk.

“Thank you.” I smiled before leaving his office with Kirsten behind me.

I think coming here was the right idea. After tonight I’m sure he’ll sign the papers. He was probably just putting them off so I would have to come here myself. A way of burying the hatchet I suppose. Ither it worked and it looks like the friendship can be saved after all.

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Peyton's outfit to the side >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>