The Upward Ripple

Lola smiled and looked at the empty coffee pot.

“I see someone has been up for quite a while.”

“Yeah, I guess there is no sleep for the wicked. Is there?”

Nate shut down his computer.

“I don’t think there is a wicked bone in your body,” Lola said. “Any special requests for breakfast?”

“Actually, yes. Waffles, eggs and crispy bacon,” he said as he walked out. “And maybe tea. If I have any more coffee, I believe I am going to have a very long day.”

Nate could almost hear Lola giggling as he made his way back upstairs. He took a quick shower as he thought of the impending talk he was yet to have with Cynthia. This work trip to Vegas could not have come at a worst moment. He had not had to care about a woman’s feelings for a long time. All the girls he met while in the club were either too drugged up to realize what was happening or just looking for a temporary release. It was all he needed at the time. Something without any need of commitment. But now that he had Cynthia in his life, it was like that part of him had died and in its place, there was a raging inferno that was his feelings for her. There was just too much going on. He had just admitted his feelings to her and then there was this secret and now he had to tell her that he had to leave, for work. His thoughts made him walk right to her door, but he hesitated when he got there.

“This is insane, Nate. You know it as well as anyone,” he thought but he could not bring himself to simply turn around and walk back downstairs. “Screw it.”

He sighed loudly as he knocked softly on the door.

“Cynthia, it’s me,” he said, waiting to hear her invite him in.

“Just a minute,” he heard her voice behind the heavy oak door before she opened it after a few minutes.

He was surprised to find her fully dressed. She looked beautiful as usual in a pair of black pants, a green and white floral off-shoulder blouse and a pair of black open high-heeled sandals. Her straightened hair fell on her shoulders like a black, silky waterfall. She was no longer the broken, scared woman from the fundraiser. She was the realtor once again. Prepared to go out into New York and conquer the market.

“Wow,” he said in a whisper as he looked at her. “You look…. Great.”

“I am so sorry, I forgot to mention that I think I found you the place you have been looking for,” she said with a smile. “There was a lot going on last night….”

“Yeah, that is what I am here to talk about,” Nate said, and she swept her hair to one side.

“I don’t think….” She started as she walked down the hallway.

“Cynthia,” Nate called out, making her stop in her tracks.

He looked at her for a long time hoping she would turn around, but she didn’t, she was just standing there.

“Cynthia, I meant everything I said last night. I am in love with you…. So much and I don’t want to see you hurting like this.” He walked to where she was and gently held her shoulders. “Let me share your burden. Please,” he begged. “Please.”

She turned around and he saw it again. That untold sadness in her eyes.

“We can’t talk here,” she said before she walked back into her room.

He followed her into the room and closed the door after him. She tossed her purse on the bed and began pacing. All he could do was watch in anticipation.

“What is going on?” he asked. “What happened?”

“It is not the easiest thing to say… I am just trying to get my nerves settled a bit before I… “she stopped pacing and looked at him. “It is not the easiest thing to say,” she said again.

Nate slowly walked to the window seat and sat down.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, and she looked at him.

“What?” she asked.

“Do you trust me?” he asked again, and she nodded

“Of course, I do, or I wouldn’t have come with you to New York.”

He raised an eyebrow over the other.

“Really?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“That kiss outside my place that day…. I mean, I had my doubts, but that kiss changed everything.”

“So, you came here because you…. You wanted to be with me?” he asked.

Cynthia exhaled loudly.

“Well, there were the commissions associated with the business you promised, and I needed to know that I could be happy with someone, a man, after everything.”

He shook his head.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“You told me about your past,” she started as she slowly walked to where he was seated. “At least a little… I’m guessing that what you told me was the most drastic part of your past you could have shared.”

He nodded.

“I was not so sure if I ever wanted to tell anyone but if there was anyone who deserved to know every little detail about my life, it is you,” he said, and she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

“Tell me again. The man from last night, Alistair….” She started and he nodded.

“Yes?”

“How well do you know him?” she asked. Nate shook his head.

“Well, he is an investment banker… or something along those lines. All I know about him is that he is in with Wall Street people and for that reason, does very well investing people’s money.”

“So, nothing else?” she asked. “I mean, how is he? What sort of a man is he? Morally speaking?”

Nate shook his head.

“Cynthia, I really don’t know where you are going with this line of questioning. Also, I cannot say anything as far as his morals go considering he seems to be Elise’s latest project and everything… look, you don’t have to say anything if you are not ready to, but I am worried about you. There was a look on your face when he spoke to you that I have never seen before and Cynthia that scares me.”