“It was the only way I could get you to talk to me. I’ve left messages in your voice mail and called you.”
Carla hasn’t checked her voice messages in weeks and when he called she was too afraid to hear what he had to say.
“I must have missed your call,” she replied.
“Calls Carla with an S. I must have called you a dozen times but you never picked up. It was deliberate. Why?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she replied.
She saw him flinch. His face turned to granite. Her heart ached with the lie but she had to guard her secret. It was the only way she could protect herself from further pain.
“Alright then. You’ve made yourself crystal clear. So…can we talk about the job instead?” the formality in his voice was plain to hear.
Carla remembered the price tag. $100,000 could buy her dream back. She would be so stupid to turn it down now because of her pride. The notion that Falcon’s money would help setup her future seemed fair payback for getting her pregnant.
I’m starting to think like Lindsay.The thought wasn’t very appealing.
This job, it’s the one in France? Reek-weer?” Carla asked.
“Riquewihr,” Falcon corrected. “The vineyard has an old house that needs renovation. I intend to live there parts of the year.”
To be nearer Lindsay, perhaps?
“When do you want me to start?” She asked.
“I’ll be leaving in two days and I need you to be ready by then.”
“We’ll be traveling together,” Carla shot back in surprise.
“Yes, unless you have a problem with that arrangement.” Falcon replied coldly.
“No, of course not. I’ll be ready.” Carla agreed.
“It’s settled then. I’ll see you in two days.”
Falcon left abruptly leaving her more confused than when she started. Life decided on taking her on a merry-go-round that was only going faster and faster. She needed to focus and control her emotions. She wanted the money so badly she was willing to brand it on her forehead so as not to lose sight of why she was doing this.
***
Falcon gripped the wheels of his car. Agitation was written all over his body. The meeting at Brighton’s office went according to plan. Throwing the bait of $100,000 made him queasy. It felt like he was buying her. But he had to make sure things worked out in his favor. But something was different.
“What the hell is wrong with her? Why is she suddenly so distant and so…cold?”
Falcon snorted. He didn’t expect things to go south with her. He wanted to make amends, make things right between them. But it was like dealing with an Eskimo. He turned the key and gunned the engine. He thought he knew women, knew how to soften them somehow. But he was wrong.
“Women!” He cursed as he backout of the parking slot. His tires complained and squealed on the pavement.
