Page 73 of Escape To Paradise
Maverick insisted, “Leave this place, Julian. Leave now.”
Julian turned around and walked away. I watched as he left. Although I knew he had hurt me, I was still sad that our relationship ended this way. I started crying again, and I found myself thinking about the what-ifs. And the thought that we could still have been together was tearing me up inside.
Maverick hugged me, and I sobbed on his chest. “It’s okay, Harper. I’m here.”
***
The flight back to Georgia wasn’t as tough as I had anticipated. Maverick slyly upgraded our seats to first-class at the last minute, and I couldn’t protest. I kept thinking about Julian and the what-ifs, and it was so hard to bear. Maverick was very supportive of me, and I was glad he was coming along. The thought of seeing Benoit again made me queasy.
Benoit had set up an appointment in La Gourmandize. My lawyer, Keith, was going to meet me there. Holding Maverick’s hand, we walked in La Gourmandize. The familiar scent of the restaurant immediately greeted me. Everything looked exactly the same since I left it.
“Remember, Harper, he may try to talk you out of it. Just be strong. You’ve got this. He’s trying to influence you. Just stand firm,” Maverick said.
I nodded in agreement.
Benoit was sitting in one of the long tables, with Keith across from him. They both stood up when they saw us coming. Benoit looked thinner and disheveled. His skin was also paler. There was sadness in his eyes. I’ve been with him for so long that my first reaction was to embrace him. But the memory of his betrayal resurfaced.
I glanced over at the bar where I had seen him with our bartender. The emotions of that day came rushing in. And I felt my eyes moistened.
Keith shook my hand. I sat beside him, and Maverick sat next to me.
Benoit had a questioning look on his face as he glanced at Maverick. I didn’t find it necessary to introduce Maverick.
“You’re looking good, Harper,” Benoit said with a faint smile.
A part of me still missed Benoit. I wanted to pinch myself so I would wake up from this nightmare. Maybe I was still asleep in my house, sleeping on my comfortable bed with Benoit by my side. But I knew I was just fooling myself. Here was Benoit, sitting across from me, and he wasn’t the Benoit I fell in love with. He had turned into someone I didn’t recognize.
I went to work right away. “Why did you ask me to be here? It’s such an inconvenience,” I said coldly.
“Harper, I’m not ready to part ways with you. I want you back here, where you belong,” he demanded.
“You’re the reason why I left, Benoit. Actions have consequences. I can’t be your partner anymore.”
Benoit started pleading. “Harper, I miss you so much. I’m sorry about what I did. It’s over now. It was just a fling. She’s gone. Come back to me.” He sounded so desperate, but my heart was stone cold now. There was no turning back.
Maverick held my hand as if reminding me to hold firm in my decision. I glanced over to him. He nodded his head as if encouraging me to speak up.
“I can't, Benoit. I’ve moved on,” I said. I looked into his eyes. I saw sadness, maybe even regret.
Benoit said, “Harper, please. We’ve been together for eight years. You can’t just throw that away.”
Anger rose from deep inside me. “You were the one who didn’t think about it. You just threw away our eight years together.” My voice rose. “You didn’t care. Now, you must live with the consequences. I’m removing myself as a partner, and I’m getting my share of the business, and Keith will make sure everything is fair.”
Benoit became quiet. He looked at Keith. Keith started talking about the next step of ending our business partnership and the terms of payment. Benoit acquiesced to my demands. I was resolute in my decision. It also helped that Maverick was with me. Without him, I would have caved.
Benoit relented and agreed to sign an agreement. He was going to buy my half of the business. Deep inside, I knew he would bounce back as he always had. But I wasn’t so sure about what my future would be. The amount was substantial, but my future seemed more uncertain than before.
Keith had been working on the contract; all that was needed was for both parties to sign it. Benoit was the first to sign, then I did. Keith seemed relieved the contract had finally been signed. He’d been working on it for months, hoping for closure.
Keith shook my hand. “This is great, Harper. Per the terms of your contract, you’ll get the first installment in the next thirty days. And you’ll be getting a check every month until you’ve been paid in full. Per the terms of the agreement, twelve months.”
Benoit stood up with a look of disgust on his face and walked off. He left the restaurant. I stood and looked around the restaurant. It was probably the last time I’d be seeing it. I felt immense sadness. It was as if a part of me had also died. This restaurant was my life. I built this restaurant from scratch. Every side, every corner, had my mark on it. I chose the paint, the light fixtures, and the tiles. All were my ideas.
Maverick put his arm around me. “You’ll be okay, Harper. You’ll be fine.”
I started crying again. I was going to miss my restaurant.
Keith said he would keep in touch through email before he, too, left the restaurant. Maverick and I stepped outside and decided to stroll around downtown. I might never come back here again; there were just too many memories here.
