Page 22 of Kiss and Makeup
“Sure. I—”
“Are you ready?” Madison poked her head into the break room. “We’re about to start round two.”
“Yeah, we’re ready,” Xavier answered for both of us, but he caught my arm as I stood up. “Wait. Can you finish what you were saying this time?”
“I was just going to say I won’t have any trouble getting Lauren to babysit on Saturday.” I struggled a bit to get my book back into my bag, which was draped over the chair under my jacket.
“Allow me.” Xavier took the jacket so I could reach into the bag more easily.
“Thanks.” I reached for it, but he twitched it out of reach.
“I said, allow me.” A shiver quivered down my neck and back as his hands brushed my arms, helping me into the garment.
Realizing my throat would fail me if I spoke right now, I took a quick sip of water before I said, “Thank you. Shall we?” and motioned to the door.
“Certainly. Madison appreciates timeliness. After you, Madam.”
The filming started, and everything went just as well as it had in the first set of shots. I found quickly that there was very little for me to do, so I just stood in the back, talking quietly to Xavier in between the hush that fell over everyone when the word “Action!” was uttered loudly.
In a short break, Xavier’s phone buzzed in his pocket. “My dad,” he said, and stepped away across the room to take the call. I stared idly after him, crossing my legs delicately and listening to the chatter.
I turned my head at a sudden sound, then back again as footsteps approached me. “Kristen?”
The voice sent a shock to my very core that surged me to my feet. “Brent?” Sure enough, there he was. I couldn’t forget that face, not after walking in on him wrapped in the throes of pleasure with another woman.
“Yeah… it’s me. Sorry to surprise you at work like this. You wouldn’t answer my calls…” His voice trailed into nothingness at my withering glare.
“Does that surprise you? Brent, I literally walked in on you with another woman. Your secretary! In youroffice.” My voice stayed quiet and calm. No matter how angry I was, my business would stay my private business and I would not shout about it for the whole world to hear.
“I know, and I’m here to apologize.” He didn’t wait for my poised lips to continue chewing him out. “Please, I need to do this. I made a mistake, and I know I can’t make up for it, but I have to try. I fired Carrie. She came onto me, and then things just kind of—of escalated—” He could see that this approach of trying to pin the blame on his secretary wasn’t working. “I just… I’m sorry. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, and—” He swallowed. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking for one more chance…. No, I’m begging for one more chance. I made you happy before, and I think I can make you happy again. If you’ll just let me try.”
As far as apologies went, Brent’s sounded like a pretty good one. But cheating? Was any apology for cheating a good one, or one that any woman should accept?
Luckily for me, it didn’t matter. For me, there was no choice to make here. “Brent, I appreciate your apology… but I’m seeing someone. My college sweetheart.”
Brent nodded, looking slightly crestfallen. “I remember you talking about him. Well, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you can forgive me, even if I never see you again… Especially if I never see you again.”
“I do forgive you.” I stepped forward and held out my hand. We shook, and I appreciated that Brent kept the contact brief and didn’t fall to his knees and beg for me back or do anything else childish that would ruin this closure we could both have. “And I apologize as well, if I caused any trouble at your office. I was angry when I left, and it was petty of me to talk to the receptionist.”
“It wasn’t too much trouble, and I deserved it anyway. Thank you… and tell Emma I said hi?”
“Sure, I will.” The promise was as empty as the Tupperware in my bag. Brent was out of Emma’s life for good, and he wouldn’t be getting back in, not even as just a mention.
“Goodbye, Kristen.”
“Bye, Brent.” I watched him leave, and I didn’t feel any anger, sadness, or betrayal. The resolution felt good, even though I hadn’t realized I needed it.
