Page 8 of Free to Dream
I’m left holding what may be the equivalent of a paper bomb. I can’t take my eyes off of it.
I know instinctively if I handle what’s inside wrong, my whole world is going to implode.
Charlie turns and walks to the door. With his hand on the knob, he turns and says something odd. “If I lived through what the people in that file lived through, it would be hard for me to choose dedicating my life to ‘happily ever after’ day after day.” He takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. “That’s the only copy. Nothing’s digital. I want it back in my hands by the end of the day.”
Nodding at me, he leaves my office, closing the door behind him.
I set the file down in the center of my desk. Bracing myself, I flip past the initial confidentiality pages and get to the table of contents. Scanning it, there are names I am sure I’ll become very acquainted with: Phillip Freeman-Ross, 32, Cassidy Freeman, 29, Emily Freeman, 29, Alison Freeman, 27, Holly Freeman, 27, Corinna Freeman, 27, and Jason Ross, 35 (with a notation that he is Phillip’s husband).
Then, names that make my gut churn.
Ryan Lockwood, 29.
Mildred Lockwood, 62.
What the fuck does my brother and mother have to do with the Freeman’s request?
Pressing a button on my iPad, I engage the locks on my office door and begin to read.
* * *
Hours later,my world has shifted on its axis and I know two things.
One, that cunt will never again be called my mother.
Two, I need to meet the Freemans.
I pick up the phone, call Ryan, and tell him he’s a go for the meeting with Amaryllis Events, setting their plans in motion. There’s just one caveat. I want to meet the Freemans. As soon as possible.
Ryan is outraged. Especially when I won’t share the reason why I feel this need to do so. We argue on the issue back and forth the entire time he and Jared are in transit to the restaurant in Westchester, resulting in Ryan hanging up on me.
Hours pass. After trying to clear up some issues I’ll need off my plate for a trip out to Connecticut in the morning, I find myself unable to think about anything but the contents of that file. I stand in front of my office window, long after the sun sets, not seeing the beauty of the Manhattan skyline. The sky transitioned from a deep color that can only be found over the Hudson in the fall to a deep murky ink color when my phone rings. After a terse call from Ryan confirming I’ll be meeting with the Freemans in the morning, he hangs up.
I let out my slow breath. I have my time to meet them. What I’ll do with that meeting, I have no idea.
I’ll use my instincts and figure it out in the morning.
3
Cassidy
It took me forever to figure out what to wear this morning.
I wanted to dress to give the impression I wasn’t nervous about the Lockwood meeting, but I wanted to carefully showcase the success our company has attained.
Looking down at my outfit, I’m satisfied with my decision—casual elegance with power thrown in. I figured my mulberry colored cashmere sweater dress, ending right above my knee, paired with high heeled black leather boots conveyed that. Hanging behind the door was a matching cashmere jacket in black that would graze the bottom hem of the dress if I needed to toss it on.
I can hear Phillip’s words from last night.“But you’re the face of this company, Cass. There’s no one we trust to do this more than you.”I can’t imagine how he could think that.
My gaze travels over to Phillip and Jason’s wedding photo. Both of them are beaming at the camera, with the rest of our family clustered around them. I hardly spare myself a glance, bypassing my image for those far more important in the photo.
When Holly showed me the photo after she developed it, she asked me what I saw. I told her immediately, “Golden beauty. I mean, just look at all of you.” My compliment was sincere.
Holly had cocked her head and said rather enigmatically, “You don’t see it at all, do you?”
“See what?” I had asked her, confused.
She patted my hand, took the picture from me and hung it on the wall where it resides today. “One day you will. I just hope I’m around when you do.”
