“Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you awake this early.” Tammy said, passing John coming out of his kitchen.

“I have a busy day ahead, just thought I’d get a jump on things.”

“Is there anything I should know about?”

“No, why?” he remarked blankly.

“I was simply asking. How was your evening?” With coffee cup in hand, she sat at the dining table across from John, busily typing on his laptop.

“Fine, how was yours?”

“Hectic.” she paused. “John, I want to talk,” she reached to take his hand, he quickly placed it against his mouth as if in deep thought—out of her reach. The sentiment of his gesture wasn’t lost on her. “Will you at least look at me?”

“Why.”

“Why? Because I’m trying to have a conversation with you, that’s why.”

Try as she might, she’d been unable to determine the cause of John’s indifference towards her. His benign temperament when dealing with others gave way to biting apathy where she was involved. The long hours they spent apart no longer concern him one way or another. He never called to ask when she’d be home, he never called at all. Her arrival and departure was of her own doing. When together, Tammy attempt a conversation but John showed little interest, rarely speaking two words and on one occasion, he left for bed mid sentence.

“What would you like to talk about?” John said sitting back, his arctic eyes meeting Tammy’s for the first time in a week.

“I’d like to know why you’re treating like this.”

“Like what?” he asked flatly.

“Like this,” she gesture between them. “I want to know what’s caused the distance between us.”

“What distance?” John rose, taking his coffee cup to the kitchen. “You’re still here aren’t?”

“Yes, I’m still here,” Tammy followed in a mix of annoyance and distress. “Not that you would’ve noticed. Since I went out to dinner that night, you’ve been act as though I don’t exist.”
 
The mention of that night caused a familiar knot to turn in John’s chest, the only twinge of emotion he’d felt since that night. He wanted to question her about her actions. He wanted to berate her for lying. He wanted to tell him how much he loved her and wanted to be with her. But he couldn’t. Tammy waited for seemed like an eternity for his next words. She could handle his anger or pain but his impassiveness was more than she could bear.

“Should I have been concerned about you going out to dinner that night? Correct me if I’m wrong but it was a group function, so I no reason to be upset, right?”

For the love she bore him and her peace of mind, she wanted to tell him what happened that night. Nevertheless, she feared full disclosure would only drive the wedge between them even further. “No.”

Hoping to see remorse or a retraction, John took Tammy’s face in his hand, meeting her eyes with compassion. “No, what?”

“No, you shouldn’t be concerned. It was dinner, nothing more.” she muttered. John worst fears were confirmed. She was no better than all the other women the flowed in and out of his life. With one exception, he’d fallen in love with her.

“You see,” he said into her upturned eyes. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Giving her a warm kiss, he left her standing in disbelief that she’d allowed that lye to slip through her teeth. Moments later she heard the front door close.



***********



“I see that the firm’s money has been returned” John said in full stride over his shoulder to Dennis.

“Yes, sir. Every penny has been returned safe and sound.”
 
“Good. Close the door behind you and spare me the details. Where do we stand?” He took his seat.

“I was converted Mr. Cates money into three currencies; the Brazilian Real, the Moroccan Dirham and the Pakistani Rupee,” Dennis said, handing John an itemized list of the Cates account. “When and if Mr. Cates needs of a large sum of cash, the Pakistani rupee will give us the most legal coverage based on its connection with the Indian Rupee. No one will question the large amount being converted at one time.” He waited impatiently, praying that he hadn’t missing any fine detail while John skimmed over the pages.

“Well done. You thought of everything,” he remarked with a twinge of pride. “It’s good to see that you can handle yourself under pressure.”

Dennis could have jumped for joy but judging from John’s distracted demeanor, he thought better of it. “Sir, I wanted to say thank you for—“

“For what? For not firing you on the spot?” he turned his attention to the papers on his desk. “Firing you would have gotten the firm nowhere. Besides, you made the mess; it was yours to fix, not ours. I only asked for your letter of resignation to cover the firm legally.”

“Sir?”

John reclined, exhaling slowly. “Liz backdated your resignation letter to reflect the week before this debacle occurred, thereby making you a temporary employee and washing the firm’s hands of your mistake.”

“You would’ve thrown me under the bus.”  Dennis said, his eyes fixed in awe of John’s unremitting benevolence and prudent forethought.

“In a heartbeat.” John said with a smug glint. 

“Well, thank you all the same.” he excused himself.

“Have Liz make your flight reservation,” John said, catching Dennis before he slipped through the door. “We leave for Los Angeles in three day.” They exchanged a knowing grin.



***********


Though his day had been productive, John couldn’t move pass his earlier conversation with Tammy. With the other females, this would have a no-brainer. Then again he’d been in love with any of them. One minute he blamed himself for failing to solidify their relationship and the next he condemned her as a traitorous harlot. Of all the men she could have chosen, why had she chosen Jeff? He couldn’t make heads or tails of her motives but one thing was certain, he needed to clear his head and the further away from Tammy the better. A two week long visit to their Los Angeles office would do the trick without appearing too obvious.


“Do you have a time preference?”

“What?” John frowned quizzically.

“I can come back later if you’d like.” Liz’s motherly topaz eyes studied John’s halfhearted participation in their conversation over her wire rim glasses.

“No, please. What were you saying?”

“What time would you like to leave?”

“As early as possible, but no later than noon.” John said as Liz quick took note.

“I’ve reserved your room however I will call the hotel to confirm an early arrival,” Liz said greeting Tammy with a slight nod as she entered the room and took a seat across from John. “Once I have a finalized itinerary, I’ll update your calendar and email you a copy. I’ll also arrange to have a car take you to and from the airport. Will there be anything else?”

“No,” John replied, his eyes fell on Tammy’s vacant expression. “That’ll be all.”

Liz took her leave with a hurried smile to Tammy, closing the door behind her.

Tammy turned her attention to John leaning casually in his chair. “Are you going somewhere?” she asked.

“Yes, I’ll be in the Los Angeles office for the next two weeks.” he answered attempting to ignore the angst in her face.

“Had you planned on telling me?”

“Sooner or later, yes. I didn’t want to disturb your work.” John replied, immediately regretting his bitter tone seeing its effect on her.

Tammy's chest tightened. “I always have time for you. Do you want to step out for a bite to eat? Maybe we could sit and talk for a while.”

Though she tried to conceal it, John saw the agony she was in and he began rethinking his decision to leave. Moreover, he began rethinking his decision to end their relationship. He hadn’t exactly been forthcoming about his feeling and he held her accountable for her inability to read his mind.

John rounded the desk and sat on its corner directly in front of Tammy. He exhaled a long breath and offered her his hand. They stood no more than an inch apart scanning one anothers face. John gently held Tammy on either side of her head and kissed her lips softly then rests his forehead against her chest. She ran her hands through the back of his hair in silence.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” John asked under his breath.

“What did you say?” Tammy asked as there was a knock at the door. They retook their seats.

“Come in.” John called.

Jeff stepped in and checked himself after seeing Tammy seated. “Hey, I didn’t know you were in here.” He smiled at Tammy, who gave a faint upturn at the corner of her mouth.

“Have a seat.” John asked dryly but friendlier than his previous greetings. “What can I do for you?” As Jeff sat beside Tammy, flashbacks of them leaned into one another over a cozy dining table played in John’s head and that familiar knot turned in his chest.

Jeff met John’s irritated eyes. “I stopped by because Dennis mentioned you two were leaving for LA in a few days. I was hoping to get an hour or two of your time before then. There’s a question as to the validity of the estate assignment in the Hargrove’s will. I wanted to bounce some questions off of you.”

Tammy sensed the tension between them. John looked as though he could’ve ripped Jeff's head off and Jeff seemed eager for the fight.

“Sure, why not.” John remarked with a short hoof. “I’ll be leaving in three days; we can meet afterhours any night before then. Have Liz put the time and date on my calendar.” He turned his attention back to his work, away from Jeff’s childish prodding.

Jeff wouldn’t be sat aside so easily.

“I was thinking we’d go out for a drink or maybe have dinner. I have a standing reservation at LeGrange if tomorrow evening works for you. Tammy and I had dinner there a week or so ago. The food and atmosphere was nice,” He turned making eyes at Tammy. “but the company was fantastic.”

Tammy felt the air leave her body as John’s gaze fell on her then back to Jeff. There was no mistaking what Jeff was implying.

“I was under the impression this was a group function.”

Jeff gave a juvenile half grin. “No, it was just to two of us, all night.”

Tammy couldn’t gauge John’s reaction. There was no expression—positive or negative.

“Tomorrow will be fine. Have Liz put the time on my calendar on your way out.” John said evenly, determined not to allow Jeff the benefit of seeing that he’d gotten under his skin.

“Will do.” Jeff rose and offered his hand to Tammy. “Are you ready?” he asked her.

She looked from his hand to his face, amazed that he could form his mouth to ask such a question. “No, Mr. Carpenter and I have plans.” she snapped.

“Not anymore.” John said without looking up from his work. “It seems you have more pressing matters to attend. Please...” he gestured to the door.

Jeff held the door open. Tammy stood on weak knees. She wanted to plead her case to John but he was in no mood to entertain neither of them. Tammy motioned for Jeff to give her a minute alone with John. He left, closing the door.

Tammy turned breathless. “John, I’m so sorry I lied to you. I swear nothing happened. He’s being a jerk. I should have...”

John raised his hand silencing her. Then without another word, he gestured to the door once more.