Page 59 of Robert

Her mouth tightened at that, and she almost ordered him to leave. But he was a friend as well as a contributor to several of the charities she was involved with.

“He’s a wonderful man.”

“One you wouldn’t have spit on or given a second glance in the past. How does he feel about that?”

“Is there a point to this conversation? I am busy.”

He sighed and ran his fingers through his thinning blonde hair.

“I’m jealous.” He told her grimly, moving to stand in front of her, where she was perched on the edge of her desk. “It should be me, Sonya. I am still in love with you and trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.”

“We grew apart.” Her annoyance dissipated at the despairing look on his face. He had started drinking and she could see the broken capillaries by his eyes and the lines running from his nose to his mouth. He looked very unhappy, a dullness to his eyes that was evident.

“But why?” He persisted. “We were in love.”

“We were children. And what we felt for each other was infatuation and youthful passion.” She laughed breathlessly. “It was good while it lasted. Now, I really have to…”

“I am sick.” He blurted out, giving her pause.

“What?” She blinked at him, and he smiled sadly.

“I have been diagnosed with a rare kidney disease.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Jason! I am so sorry.”

He nodded bleakly. “I was hoping that by getting a second opinion, it would make a difference, but it’s a no.”

“Is it- how long…?”

“Before I keel over and die?” He continued grimly. “Months, possibly I will live a year, but they are not hopeful.”

“What about transplant?”

“Too risky and the disease is too far gone. I left it too late and to be fair, I was drinking myself to death over the years. Partly it is your fault.” He finished half-jokingly.

“Please don’t say that.”

“I meant it when I said I still love you,” he told her soberly.

“I’m sorry.” She offered lamely, not knowing what else to say.

“Of course.” She went into his arms and did not protest when he held her tight.

That was how Robert saw them.

“Your assistant was…” His voice petered off as the couple moved away from each other hastily. Something sick twisted inside his gut and that was before he recognized who it was. The man – his former nemesis, the boy who had given him so much grief and made his life a living hell, turned to face him with a smirk on his face.

Rage, undiluted and unlike anything he had ever felt before vied with jealousy for supremacy had him staggering backwards.

The silence was potent and charged as the three were caught up in a slightly comical tableau, not knowing what to say.

Then Sonya broke the awkward silence. “Robert, what are you doing here?”

Dragging his gaze from the man standing next to her, he felt the pain of her betrayal tearing through his body. He had jumped to the conclusion that she was into him but had been proven wrong.

“I thought I would surprise you and invite you to lunch.” His voice was calm, and he had no idea how he was still standing there and making conversation. “But I can see you’re otherwise occupied.”

“You know Jason…,” she began desperately, trying to temper the situation.

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