Authors: Andrea Carmen
Someone Like You (8 page)
“You don’t mind?”
“I love Foster The People,” she said as she began boiling water for the pasta.
Lucas began chopping up garlic across from her. She looked so cute, swaying with the music as she stirred the pasta. “You can dance, you know,” he said.
She smiled a shy smile and danced around more, singing as well in an off-key voice. He sang along with her, laughing at the same time.
“
Ooooh la love, I’ve fallen in love and its better this time than ever before
,” they sang together.
On impulse he offered his hand out and they danced a silly dance, with her twirling around while holding a ladle.
He hadn’t felt this happy in quite a while. He looked at her laughing, her fine nose crinkling as she did and he suddenly promised to himself that all he wanted in life was to see her happy with him. It felt like cloud nine, as cheesy as his head made it sound. He also kept telling himself that it was too good to be true.
It was ruined a few weeks later.
* * * *
Margo was smiling as she sat inside a cafe. Lucas was across from her..
“Well this—this is incredible,” she said holding up a photograph. She scrutinized it with her well-trained eye. Alex Forbes, her personal assistant, was smiling; all dressed in gym gear, looking every inch the perfect athlete/model in the photo.
“Your training’s done pretty well,” Lucas said, sipping his latte.
Margo raised her chin up. “Thank you. But I believe you’ve instilled some self-assurance in her that she forgot to show to us.”
He had invited her for another date for the coming weekend as he hadn’t seen her since the grand launch of Trekker. She reluctantly agreed again.
The grand launch was a resounding success. His clothing had good reviews, his store displays had good reviews and it had rave reviews from bloggers and health and fitness websites. Alex got a heap of compliments from just about everyone during the event. He felt a frisson of jealousy when men asked to take a photo of her or to have a photo with her. Her face was nearly everywhere in New York. Trekker opened its flagship store at Macy’s. Two others followed in a month’s time.
Alex had stopped working as Margo’s personal assistant, signing a year’s contract to be talent for Temperley Models, instead. Alex was glad she was no longer in the office all the time. The rumours spread against her made her feel terrible. That she had seduced Lucas Conrad, that Lucas paid Margo to absorb her into the agency, that they had a love nest near 93rd…Alex didn’t tell Lucas this, but she distanced herself a little from him, especially when they had a short lunch date one day.
They were at an open air Italian pizzeria in the Upper East Side. Lucas had sweet talked Margo into allowing Alex for a lunch discussion. While they were in the middle of laughing over something silly, a voice broke into the conversation.
“Lucas! Baby, is that you?”
Baby? Alex paused, feeling her heart sink. She turned to see a svelte, blonde woman wearing a long sleeved designer dress she’d seen at Henri Bendel’s a month ago. She looked perfect in it. Alex bit her lower lip. She saw Lucas’ face. It looked peeved. Because of the situation? Was he dating both of them at the same time?
“Ms. Edwards,” he said, “This is Trekker’s model, Alex Forbes.”
“Mixing business with pleasure on such a fine Wednesday noon?” she crooned, holding his hand. “How are you Alex?”
“I’m good,” she said in a small voice.
“She’s so tiny, Luke,” she side looking at her sideways. “I loved the ads by the way. Say, are you busy this Friday?”
“I’ll have to check.”
“All right, I won’t disturb you and your business date,” she said the last word tartly. “See you, babe.”
As soon as she left, the table was engulfed in awkward silence. Alex was busy staring at the pizza slicer. Lucas’ eyes were far away, across the street, concentrating on a fire hydrant.
“It’s not…”he began, “It’s not what you think it is.”
“What?”
“We aren’t dating.”
“We aren’t really dating either,” she said in a soft voice.
Somehow it sounded sad to Lucas. He swallowed some saliva. “She’s…a business associate. Actually her father and my father are business associates.”
“Okay.” She felt weird. Like she wanted to cry and leave him alone at the table to finish the pizza Margherita on his own. She felt cheated on. But what right did she have to feel this way? It was a business-related lunch date, nothing more. And she felt even more upset.
Lucas wanted to kick himself if he could. That had not gone well. Jennifer was insistent to have weekly dates with him, even going so far as to asking Charles Conrad if she could borrow him for a few hours. Charles agreed, of course. The building they owned was going to be his in a few weeks. They ‘dated’, but Lucas abhorred every minute of it.
Finally, she spoke up. “I’d like to go back to work, please.”
“Uh, sure,” he reached for his phone to call Ben.
“Don’t bother,” she said as pleasantly as possible. “I’ll just walk. Have a pleasant day, Luke.”
Lucas frowned remembering their last meeting. He tried to reach out to her, but she wouldn’t respond to his calls or to his emails or to his texts. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed her company. After meeting up with Margo, he headed directly for the Conrad Building, trying to keep himself busy with work. On impulse he reached for the intercom.
“Alice, would you come in, please.”
Alice was in his office in a few seconds. “Yes?”
“If someone’s mad at you, say a girl—what’s the best way to apologize….by way of a gift?”
“Did Miss Edwards get upset?”
“Not her,” he said irritably.
“Which girl is this?”
He rolled his eyes.
“I warned you, Lucas Conrad,” she said, wagging her finger at him. “I warned you not to take so much interest-”
“Alice, isn’t it too late for that? Now help me figure out how to fix things.”
“For which problem? Dumping Jennifer Edwards or making amends to Alex Forbes?”
“Alex. It’s all about Alex.”
“You like her?” Alice teased.
“Help me, Alice.”
“The matters of the heart…you’re on your own, sir. I’d love to help but I don’t know Miss Forbes well enough to help you. Are you trying to win her over?”
“Yes,” he said sheepishly and with a frown.
Alice sighed. “I’ve never seen you this bothered for a girl. Excuse me.”
“Alice, you can’t just leave me,” he said as Alice closed the door. He huffed.
Jesus! How am I going to fix this? Of course I like her; I spend every waking moment just thinking about her…he shook his head. This is probably stress talking. I have duties. Conrad duties. I can’t disappoint Charles…
He reached for his IPhone.
“Miss Edwards? Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”
“I love Foster The People,” she said as she began boiling water for the pasta.
Lucas began chopping up garlic across from her. She looked so cute, swaying with the music as she stirred the pasta. “You can dance, you know,” he said.
She smiled a shy smile and danced around more, singing as well in an off-key voice. He sang along with her, laughing at the same time.
“
Ooooh la love, I’ve fallen in love and its better this time than ever before
,” they sang together.
On impulse he offered his hand out and they danced a silly dance, with her twirling around while holding a ladle.
He hadn’t felt this happy in quite a while. He looked at her laughing, her fine nose crinkling as she did and he suddenly promised to himself that all he wanted in life was to see her happy with him. It felt like cloud nine, as cheesy as his head made it sound. He also kept telling himself that it was too good to be true.
It was ruined a few weeks later.
* * * *
Margo was smiling as she sat inside a cafe. Lucas was across from her..
“Well this—this is incredible,” she said holding up a photograph. She scrutinized it with her well-trained eye. Alex Forbes, her personal assistant, was smiling; all dressed in gym gear, looking every inch the perfect athlete/model in the photo.
“Your training’s done pretty well,” Lucas said, sipping his latte.
Margo raised her chin up. “Thank you. But I believe you’ve instilled some self-assurance in her that she forgot to show to us.”
He had invited her for another date for the coming weekend as he hadn’t seen her since the grand launch of Trekker. She reluctantly agreed again.
The grand launch was a resounding success. His clothing had good reviews, his store displays had good reviews and it had rave reviews from bloggers and health and fitness websites. Alex got a heap of compliments from just about everyone during the event. He felt a frisson of jealousy when men asked to take a photo of her or to have a photo with her. Her face was nearly everywhere in New York. Trekker opened its flagship store at Macy’s. Two others followed in a month’s time.
Alex had stopped working as Margo’s personal assistant, signing a year’s contract to be talent for Temperley Models, instead. Alex was glad she was no longer in the office all the time. The rumours spread against her made her feel terrible. That she had seduced Lucas Conrad, that Lucas paid Margo to absorb her into the agency, that they had a love nest near 93rd…Alex didn’t tell Lucas this, but she distanced herself a little from him, especially when they had a short lunch date one day.
They were at an open air Italian pizzeria in the Upper East Side. Lucas had sweet talked Margo into allowing Alex for a lunch discussion. While they were in the middle of laughing over something silly, a voice broke into the conversation.
“Lucas! Baby, is that you?”
Baby? Alex paused, feeling her heart sink. She turned to see a svelte, blonde woman wearing a long sleeved designer dress she’d seen at Henri Bendel’s a month ago. She looked perfect in it. Alex bit her lower lip. She saw Lucas’ face. It looked peeved. Because of the situation? Was he dating both of them at the same time?
“Ms. Edwards,” he said, “This is Trekker’s model, Alex Forbes.”
“Mixing business with pleasure on such a fine Wednesday noon?” she crooned, holding his hand. “How are you Alex?”
“I’m good,” she said in a small voice.
“She’s so tiny, Luke,” she side looking at her sideways. “I loved the ads by the way. Say, are you busy this Friday?”
“I’ll have to check.”
“All right, I won’t disturb you and your business date,” she said the last word tartly. “See you, babe.”
As soon as she left, the table was engulfed in awkward silence. Alex was busy staring at the pizza slicer. Lucas’ eyes were far away, across the street, concentrating on a fire hydrant.
“It’s not…”he began, “It’s not what you think it is.”
“What?”
“We aren’t dating.”
“We aren’t really dating either,” she said in a soft voice.
Somehow it sounded sad to Lucas. He swallowed some saliva. “She’s…a business associate. Actually her father and my father are business associates.”
“Okay.” She felt weird. Like she wanted to cry and leave him alone at the table to finish the pizza Margherita on his own. She felt cheated on. But what right did she have to feel this way? It was a business-related lunch date, nothing more. And she felt even more upset.
Lucas wanted to kick himself if he could. That had not gone well. Jennifer was insistent to have weekly dates with him, even going so far as to asking Charles Conrad if she could borrow him for a few hours. Charles agreed, of course. The building they owned was going to be his in a few weeks. They ‘dated’, but Lucas abhorred every minute of it.
Finally, she spoke up. “I’d like to go back to work, please.”
“Uh, sure,” he reached for his phone to call Ben.
“Don’t bother,” she said as pleasantly as possible. “I’ll just walk. Have a pleasant day, Luke.”
Lucas frowned remembering their last meeting. He tried to reach out to her, but she wouldn’t respond to his calls or to his emails or to his texts. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed her company. After meeting up with Margo, he headed directly for the Conrad Building, trying to keep himself busy with work. On impulse he reached for the intercom.
“Alice, would you come in, please.”
Alice was in his office in a few seconds. “Yes?”
“If someone’s mad at you, say a girl—what’s the best way to apologize….by way of a gift?”
“Did Miss Edwards get upset?”
“Not her,” he said irritably.
“Which girl is this?”
He rolled his eyes.
“I warned you, Lucas Conrad,” she said, wagging her finger at him. “I warned you not to take so much interest-”
“Alice, isn’t it too late for that? Now help me figure out how to fix things.”
“For which problem? Dumping Jennifer Edwards or making amends to Alex Forbes?”
“Alex. It’s all about Alex.”
“You like her?” Alice teased.
“Help me, Alice.”
“The matters of the heart…you’re on your own, sir. I’d love to help but I don’t know Miss Forbes well enough to help you. Are you trying to win her over?”
“Yes,” he said sheepishly and with a frown.
Alice sighed. “I’ve never seen you this bothered for a girl. Excuse me.”
“Alice, you can’t just leave me,” he said as Alice closed the door. He huffed.
Jesus! How am I going to fix this? Of course I like her; I spend every waking moment just thinking about her…he shook his head. This is probably stress talking. I have duties. Conrad duties. I can’t disappoint Charles…
He reached for his IPhone.
“Miss Edwards? Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”
Chapter Six: Some Silly Realization
Alex hadn’t seen Luke in a month. Well, twenty-seven days to be exact, since their short and disappointing lunch date. She had been trying to avoid him at all costs. She felt Lucas got the message since Trekker only sent the assistants or the director when she had to do photo shoots and store appearances.
She was relieved that she didn’t have to face him but at the same time, disconcerted. She didn’t want to think about it, but she missed him. Their random conversations, his little frowns, his vintage shirts…she shook her head as she walked down a grocery aisle, pushing a small cart along. She stocked up on her organic vegetables and fruits. Then she grabbed a bottle of soy milk.
It was a more or less an idle life she led nowadays. She had more time to paint and draw, more time to exercise, read books and shop for vintage flea market finds. Her tiny studio was filled with canvasses stacked upon one another. A week ago, she had a talk with an owner of an art gallery in the Upper East Side, interested with her paintings and sketches.
Lucas had suggested she move closer to the Upper East Side once, in an apartment maintained by the Conrad Group but she couldn’t bear to part with her studio.
She paid for her groceries in cash and carried them in a canvas bag. Her apartment was only 3 blocks away. As she walked up to her block, she saw a familiar car. Her heart thudded. It was a black Lincoln car. Luke’s. Luke was here? No. No.
The chauffeur got out.
“Miss Forbes,” Ben said, tipping his cap off to her.
“Hi Ben. Why are you here?”
“I have an invitation for you,” he said holding out a monogrammed envelope in cream and gold.
She took it from him with one hand. “Thank you, Ben…”
“You should really go. He got something for you.”
“A what?” she said, close to dropping her groceries. Ben quickly held out a hand to assist her.
“Here, let me carry that for you Miss Forbes.”
“I’m fine, Ben.”
“You’ll be carrying something else far more important,” Ben motioned to the passenger seat. There was a large box on it.
Her eyes widened as Ben took the groceries from her arms. She didn’t dare look at the box as they walked up for her flat.
“Sorry Ben,” she said as she unlocked her door. “My flat’s five stories up.”
“Used to it,” Ben said panting. He placed the groceries on the kitchen counter. Then he tipped his hat again. “Hope to see you this Saturday, Miss Forbes.”
“Thanks, Ben.”
She stared at the box again; it was a long box. She inched closer and saw the markings. Oh god, her mind whirled- Ellie Saab. Ellie Saab! Her hands were shaky now. She gingerly opened the box and saw the dress. She drew in a breath. Sure she wasn’t the fashionista type, but she knew what designers were worth spending on—even if she couldn’t afford it. But she had one now.
It was in baby blue and gold. The gold threads trailed all over the off shoulder dress. It was so beautiful she could have cried. But why? What was this for? She quickly opened the envelope. It was an invitation to a thousand dollar per plate gala for a children’s foundation. Then she saw another envelope tucked under the dress. It was in Luke’s hand writing, in hasty cursive.
Be ready by seven. I asked Lucia to help you.
Lucas
How could she say no to this?
Should I message him? Thank him? But I’m…I’m not mad. Just hurt. Wait, why would I be hurt? This is strictly a professional invitation, for Trekker and its corporate social responsibility. What shoes would I wear? Jewellery?
She decided to take a picture and send it to Jason on his mobile phone.
Seconds later she got a phone call.
“All right, what the hell is an Ellie Saab doing in your apartment?” he joked.
“Luke- Lucas Conrad invited me to a gala.”
“The Children’s Trust this Saturday? Mother’s going, I’m going too. Wonderful!”
“I have a slight problem-”
“Hair, makeup? Shoes? Jewellery?”
“Shoes,” she admitted.
“Hmm…come to the office tomorrow. I’ll raid our stockroom. Hopefully you’ll have a shoe that fits. Size 7, right?”
“Yes. Thanks Jason, I feel really lost-”
“Well, that’s what gay, younger bosses are for!” he said ending the call.
Alex laughed. She felt a better now, a little shaky still but better. It was probably the most extravagant gift she had ever gotten in her entire life; apart from the little painting room her father had set up for her when she was eight. She felt her disappointment towards Luke soften considerably.
She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt giddy. Does this mean he really likes me? Wants to date me for real? She toyed with the idea of sending him a message or giving him a call.
He’s probably busy, she thought.
And she was right.
* * * *
“No,” Lucas flatly said. “I am not going with Jennifer Edwards.”
Charles Conrad’s mouth turned into a steely line as he sat behind his large oak desk. “And why not?”
“I already asked someone else.”
“Your little Trekker model?”
“Alex. It’s Alex.”
“Young man, this is important.”
“To you, not to me. For Pete’s sake, I’m through with her empty tales of shopping and salons and tanning beds.”
Charles said nothing as he looked at his twenty-five year old youngest son. He looked at his eldest son, next. Michael was calmly smoking a cigarette in his air-conditioned office, loosening his tie as he did.
Lucas didn’t like it when his father was quiet. It only meant he was planning something.
“I’ll take Jennifer Edwards,” Michael finally said, stubbing his cigarette out on a potted plant. “I’ll save my beloved brother’s brain from being fried by some inane socialite.”
Lucas looked up, unable to believe his luck. He saw his brother give a wink at him. Their father said nothing for a while.
“Get back to work,” Charles finally said.
His two sons didn’t say anything as they left their father’s office on the eighteenth floor.
“Where are you going?” Lucas asked Michael.
“Need another smoke,” he said going up to the building’s rooftop garden. Lucas followed suit. It was a chilly afternoon as they sat on a bench, watching the organic herbs swaying in the winds.
“Thanks,” Lucas began.
“What the hell for?” his dark-haired brother said. Michael looked like a younger version of Charles Conrad with a hot temper, a contrast to Lucas who was fairer haired and calmer.
“Offering to take Jennifer to the gala.”
“It’s nothing. She’d be a good bang,” he said jokingly. “Want a smoke?”
“You know I quit years ago. But really, Jennifer will leave you feeling stupid after.”
“That’s why I saved your ass. You’re smarter than I am. I can probably play around with her. Charles will kill me for it. I won’t make a video scandal, I promise.”
Both brothers laughed, remembering Michael’s college video scandal with a senior at his Ivy League school. He had been judiciously expelled and sent to Europe to finish college. They had never seen their father so angry.
“Charles is really getting into our nerves these days,” Michael said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“He’s always getting on your nerves.”
“I feel he does it on purpose, you know?”
“You’re just not in good enough terms with him.”
“Hell, like you are.”
“I try to be, apparently, nothing’s ever enough.”
“Oh boo-hoo, sob story for the Conrad heirs,” Michael said sarcastically. “Anyway, I’ll call up Jennifer, tell her I’m interested in dating her and all that, then probably take her back to my room—” he stopped and grinned.
Lucas laughed. “Jesus, Mike. Stop being such an asshole.”
“So this Alex… is she special or what?” his brother asked, changing the subject.
Lucas shrugged. “She’s…interesting.”
Michael chuckled. “Apart from having a pretty face, she’s interesting too. Nice.”
“I like her,” Lucas said, standing up from the bench, stretching. “It’s all that matters.”
“Are you sure you just like her?”
“What? You’re my shrink now?” Lucas smirked at him. “Anyway, gotta get back to the salt mines. You should really quit smoking.”
Michael shrugged as he lit another cigarette stick. “Sure, I will. See ya, asshole.”
Lucas decided to take the stairs all the way to the eighth floor, his mind filled with thoughts of Alex. He liked her, that was all there was to it. She was a great girl. Someone he looked forward to being with- everyday if possible. He had been taking Jennifer Edwards out for lunch or dinner every few days, much to his chagrin, sometimes desperately imagining Alex in her place as she went on and on with her senseless banter.
“I miss you wearing your glasses,” he suddenly said as they took a breather at the park.
“My glasses?” she laughed.
“I have a thing for girls and eye glasses.”
“Must be a lot of girls,” she mused.
“Only one,” he laughed and winked. God, did he want to kiss her.
She blushed.
He paced around in his office, the mid-afternoon rays of the sun filtering through the glass.
He had bought the gown as a final effort to win her attention back. If she accepted it, it was a sign. Ben told him she had accepted it. But he hadn’t heard from her. He knew she was upset, he saw the confusion in her eyes the moment Jennifer left them during that lunch date. He had a feeling she was starting to like him. He did everything to make her like him…
He suddenly couldn’t take the thought that she was ignoring him. Was she doing this intentionally? He remembered little details about her, strangely enough. The way her nose crinkled when she laughed, her wide-eyed stare when he gently forced her into some retail therapy, her little fist punching his arm over a bad joke…
An impulse came over him.
“Alice!”
Alice came in. “Sir?”
“I’m off for today. Tell them I’m sick,” he said, hastily stuffing his laptop and other documents into a monogrammed leather bag.
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