30- She is a gem.
“Harris would leave this evening. Have you divided his work burden among others?” Ethan’s voice came out of the speaker.
“Not exactly. I talked to Abigail and she is ready to help us.” He was still in office, the expressions o n Abigail’s face were unreadable but Hunter still felt guilty.
“Hunter!” Ethan called him loudly.
“Yes?” Hunter took a deep breath.
“What is it? Are you even listening to me?”
“I think … I am.” Hunter wanted to protest but his voice was not very convincing.
“What is it, Hunter?” There was concern in Ethan’s voice.
When Hunter stayed quiet Ethan spoke again, “I am reaching there by next flight.”
“No … Ethan.” He rubbed his temples, “I am just overburdened, I guess.”
“What’s new in that? You were always a workaholic. So whatever it is. Tell me.” When Hunter could not speak Ethan said again, “Hunter! NOW!”
“I gave her the divorce papers.” At last he spilled it out.
“You did what? Are you talking about Abigail?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you out of your fuc*kin mind, Hunter?”
“Eth…”
“No. You listen to me. She is a gem and you…”
“Shut up Ethan.” Now he was flaring up.
“Why should I shut up? Why don’t you go and get it together Hunter?”
“Listen. I did nothing wrong ok? I just gave her a choice.”
“Choice? Choice of what?” Ethan was literally barking now.
“If she wants to stay married to me or not.”
Ethan could not speak for a few seconds, “Wha… What did she say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? What do you mean by that, Hunter?”
“She just asked me to sign it first.”
“I don’t understand. She asked you to sign it?”
“I gave her the divorce papers to give her choice, Eth. She deserves something better than a contract marriage. Someone who can love her. She is not a revenge person. I know her. It’s not in her.”
Ethan could not say anything. Both the friends were quiet, not knowing anymore what to say.
“When I gave her papers … it wasn’t signed. She refrained from signing it and insisted that I should sign it first.”
“Then. What did you do?” Ethan asked him holding his breath.
“I signed.”
“What? Do you know you are a monster? Abigail was right all along.” Ethan didn’t know how to put some sense into his friend’s thick head.
Hunter did not argue or fight this time.
“Why do you think she asked you to do it, Hunter?”
“I don’t know, Ethan.”
“She asked you because … she wanted to know if you want her or not? If you are involved with her i n any way or …”
“Stop. Stop it right there.” This time there was warning in his tone. But Ethan was Hunter’s childhood friend.
“Hunter.”
“I said, stop it, Ethan. She wanted to know? Good for her! She will get her answer. I am not involved in her. Not her, not anyone else. She is a good friend of mine. A sincere one. A trustworthy one. Nothing more nothing less.”
After hearing the finality in his voice, Ethan disconnected the call quietly. Hunter was a grown-up man and could not be coaxed into a relationship. He was not a baby.
Hunter started recalling the moment when he gave her the papers. There was a mixture of surprise and hurt on her face for a moment. Just for a nano-second.
But she quickly masked it with her smile and asked him to sign the papers first.
Was Ethan right? She was testing him? Had he failed her by signing the papers first?
Strangely enough, he wanted to go to her and tell her that it would all be ok. Everything would be fine.
“Whatever budget is required that has to be signed by me but before that, it has to get approval from Mr. Levisay. You all can go through your folders, for any queries you can contact me directly. My direct line number is given at the end.
Plus we are always open to suggestions. Please feel free to put forward and let us know.”
All the departmental heads were looking and nodding at her.
She had carried the meeting so well. Hunter was there with Mrs. Ann.
All of them were looking at her with admiration.
But Hunter’s eyes were a different story. They had pride in it. She had told everything in such a precise and clear way. The way she had managed the presentation on such short notice was commendable. The friendliness in her aura made her approachable to all the members of the conference room.
A few days had passed since she got the divorce document. She was as friendlier as she used to be though she had still not returned the document.
And Hunter did not ask for it.
After the conference, there was a small refreshment arrangement for all of them. Hunter did not join them but Ann was there with them throughout.
When all the members finally left, Ann looked at her with a friendly smile, “Bravo Abigail. It was mind-blowing.”
“Thank you, Ann.” Then she admitted with a sheepish smile. “Though I was hell nervous.”
“You did not seem nervous at all dear. You were quite opposite. Very confident indeed.” Reaching her, she held her hand. “Keep it up.” With that, she squeezed her hand and stood to leave.
“Umm Anna. Should I take the feedback by calling them or …” Abigail asked her while collecting her files.
“Just invite them for another meeting after ten days. Don’t forget to ask them to come well prepared.”
Abigail nodded her head in approval. “I would do that right away.”
When Anna left she relaxed in a chair sitting all alone in the conference room. She was so excited
for this meeting and after the meeting, she was more excited for the whole project. She could not wait to start the whole thing.
I have never been this much eager about anything in my life. Not even my wedding. Thank you, Hunter. Though she was hurt when he handed her the papers.
But it was just a contract marriage. Right? The good thing was, Hunter was her friend and he was helping her in every way.
Though at times she could detect guilt in his eyes. She did not want him to feel like that. So she became friendlier with him.
She had started doing the extra duties assigned to her because it was not in her to take advantage. They both were quite normal around each other and Hunter did not demand to take back the papers with her signature.
She would return it soon. That was the plan. Right now she wanted to celebrate her success.
She smiled to herself chewing her lower lip. She was more than happy to realize that memory of her wedding or Kyle or Chloe did not make her weak anymore. For her, it had become something more like an unpleasant experience and irksome memory. The pain which used to shoot in her chest by just thinking of any of these three was no longer there. There was a definite improvement in her nightmares too.
*Do you always smile like this when you are all alone, angel?” She jumped up in panic dropping her folder on the floor.
“I am so sorry, angel. Didn’t mean to scare you.” Rafael came around to pick up the folder.
“What are you doing here?” Abigail asked him taking her folder from him. Her heart was still beating at a supersonic speed.
“Just wanted to ask if we can grab a quick lunch.” That cocky smile on his face made him look too
cute.
“Sorry Rafael. But I just ate with my fellows.”
He shrugged sitting on the chair opposite her. “And where is our devil?” He asked looking around. Abigail laughed at that. He was asking about Hunter.
“He is attending another meeting I guess. And no. He is not a devil.” She said putting her chin on her palm with her elbow resting on the table.
When she had told Molly about her unexpected encounter with Rafael Wyatt. Molly was jumping o n her end. “Oh my God Abi. Just OH MY GOD!!!! Just look at you. Two hot men! Crazy after you … M y my!”
Abigail had to roll her eyes giggling. “Stop it, Moll. He is younger than us. And NO! None of them are after me!”
That memory of Molly’s silly assumptions made her smile again. Rafael looked at her dimple. “I would love to touch that again but it seems that there is an automatic connection of that dimple o f yours with that devil. Last time the way he walked in. It seemed he wanted to eat me up alive.” Abigail’s shoulders were shaking with mirth.
“Stop it.” Abigail put her head on the table still laughing while he grinned, looking at her.
At that very moment, Hunter chose to walk in. He took in the scene with Abigail’s forehead on the table and Rafael looking at her. Both had smiles on their faces making him somewhat furious,
He looked at Rafael with his fuming eyes. “You were leaving for shopping… I guess. What are you doing here?”
“Umm. I was just offering Abigail if she is interested in going shopping with me. Then we can also have lunch together.”
Abigail’s mouth hung open, but Hunter was quick to speak, “She can’t leave. She has work to do.”
Abigail frowned a little, then she saw Rafael chuckling, “But she needs to loosen up. You can’t make her work on an empty stomach.”
“Don’t worry about Abigail. She is my responsibility and I know how to treat my … friends.” Hunter snapped
“She is your friend? I didn’t know that? But still, she can go out with me. After all, a friend is not equal to a girlfriend!” Rafael pointed out trying to vex Hunter. And he was somewhat succeeding i nit.
“Hey! Hey! Guys! I am here! I am NOT invisible. Ok?” Abigail waved her hands to get their attention. “I am not at all hungry. By the way, I can decide for myself when to eat and what to eat. And certainly, whom to eat with. Have got work to do.” She collected her files and stood to leave, then turned around to look at them.
“You know? You two need to go together for that shopping spree and lunch. You both need to loosen up a little.” Murmuring that she closed the door behind her.
She did not know why they were acting so childish around each other. For her, Rafael was almost a child a little immature and carefree. But Hunter was acting as if he was born yesterday.
