Fulfillment Golland, M. (best classic literature TXT) 📖

“I used to goriding with my dad. It was just something he and I did. When hedied, I stopped riding. It just didn’t feel right.”

“Do you thinkyou’ll ever ride again?”

“With you inmy life, I’m pretty sure I can do anything.”

***

We redressedourselves after the ride of a lifetime and walked hand in hand thelong way around to the lobby of City Towers.

“Alexis, youlook fabulous. It’s nice to see you getting around freely again,”Abigail said as she stepped out of the Concierge Attendant’soffice.

“Thanks,Abigail. It’s so nice to be able to get around freely. You reallydo take the ability to just walk around for granted.”

Samanthastepped out of the office and gave me a shy smile before duckingaway quickly.

“Please excuseme for a second, Abigail. Hey, Sam,” I called after her. “Wait asecond.” She stopped hesitantly and spun around, putting on a fakesmile.

“How are youdoing?” I asked, cautiously.

“Yeah, I’mgood.”

“Has anyoneever told you that you suck at lying?”

She bit theinside of her lip. “Yeah, my dad.”

I scoffed.“Have you spoken to Gareth since you told him you neededspace?”

“No. I justneed more time.”

“Okay, I’m notpressuring you in any way. I just want to let you know that if youhave any questions, ask. Again, no pressure, but Gareth reallylikes you, and he understands your need for distance.” I can’tbelieve I am sticking up for Gareth.

She let out along-winded breath and nodded her head. “Thanks. Look, I gotta go.We are being briefed on the hotel’s Christmas festivities.”

“Okay, I’lltalk to you soon.” I watched her walk away, knowing that she wastorn about her feelings for Gareth. Unfortunately, there was reallynothing I could do about it. Sam had a decision to make, and shehad to make it on her own.

I sigheddejectedly and turned back around to find Bryce chatting away to ablonde that I recognised as none other than Chelsea. I took in herclose stance next to him and her blatant flirting; the girl justdidn’t let up. I still hadn’t confirmed with Bryce whether or nothe had ever put her in her place about their friendship being justthat—a friendship. Regardless, it seemed quite obvious that sheneeded a reminder—I’d had just about enough of her disregard of ourrelationship.

I confidentlywalked up to Bryce and threaded my arm through his. “Sorry, I justneeded to tell Sam something,” I smiled apologetically at him, thenturned on Artificial-Alexis for the bitch in front of me. “Hello,Chelsea. How are you?”

“Wonderful,”she answered, batting her eyes at Bryce. Are you for fuckingreal? “I see your ankle has healed?”

“Yes, thankyou. I’m back to my old self.”

“How nice,”she answered dryly. “Bryce, I’ve been meaning to tell you about thenew Bell that Dad’s looking at acquiring. You really should comedown to the heliport and have a chat with him.”

“I’m sure heknows what he is looking at,” Bryce answered politely. Thisbitch needs the opposite of politeness. She needs a face full ofrudeness; unashamed, deliberate impertinency. “Excuse us,Chelsea. We need to see Dale about the elevator.” He went to leadme away.

I let go ofhis arm. “You go. I need to have word to Chelsea. I won’t be asecond.”

He gave me anunsure glance but turned and headed for Dale’s office.

When he wasout of earshot I turned to face Chelsea. “This stops now,” Ihissed. “Whatever you think you and Bryce have is over, so enoughof the disrespectful flirting. Back the fuck off.”

She looked inhis direction, a lascivious glint in her eye then turned back tome. “You are no longer carrying his child, nor do you have a ringon your finger. Until then, he is fair game.”

Before I knewit, my hand connected swiftly with her face, the echo from my skinslapping hers sounding loudly throughout the lobby.

“Don’t youdare mention my child, you fucking bitch!” I hissed quietly. I wasfurious. She stood there stunned, holding her hand against her pinkcheek. “Get this through that thick head of yours: Bryce. Is. Not.Interested. In. You. He wasn’t years ago and he isn’t now. I am theone he is looking at when he says ‘I love you’. I will be the onehe gets down on bended knee for, and before you know it, we will bemarried and you’ll be working for me. So pull your fucking head outof your arse, or you’ll find yourself unemployed.”

I gave her theonce-over with my critical glare then left her there to dissect mywords.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

There is noright or wrong way to grieve, it is an emotion so intense that ittakes control and overpowers your senses, leaving you feeling at aloss entirely. Without grief, we would never appreciate the joy wehad beforehand. Never value what we lost. Never be truly grateful.If all had gone to plan and the world was a place where fate waswritten in the stars, I’d be holding my newborn baby girl Bianca inmy arms this day. But it’s not. Life is full of ups and downs,twists and turns, love and loss. And life would not be worthexperiencing if it weren’t just that. You can’t have the goodwithout the bad, you need to somehow learn to accept the bad andadjust it in a way that you can endure and overcome.

Bryce was busywith overseeing the precinct’s set up of the Christmas Extravaganzathat was held every year. I’d asked Lucy to fill in for me in theoffice as I was not in the right frame of mind to work. I neededsome time to myself to clear my head, not only from the wave ofgrief I had been feeling on and off since waking up this morning,but from the dreaded feeling of my fall that kept torturing me. Istill suffered flashbacks on occasion but had learned toacknowledge them then let them go. It was quite possible I wouldnever be rid of them. Then again, maybe one day I would. For nowthough, accepting them and moving on was what Jessica hadencouraged me to do and I was doing that.

***

I popped myLive Trepidation CD into the Charger’s CD player, and rememberingwhat Matt had said at my birthday party, I pressed track four. Thesound of an acoustic guitar riff filled the speakers