Page 35 of Completely Captivated
“Big plans for the weekend?”
“Yeah, Christa and I are going away together for the weekend.”
Lance narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his executive leather chair.“You’re spending the weekend with just one woman?Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?”
Aaron shrugged.“She’s different from the others.I look forward to spending time with her, seeing her.You’ll like her too when you meet her.”
“I get to meet her?When?”
“Soon.When I’m sure you can’t run her off with your winning personality and overall friendly disposition.”
“You said she owns her own business.How much money does she have?How successful is she?”
“You have to be the rudest person I’ve ever known.You don’t ask someone how much money they have.”
“Fucking hell, Aaron.You haven’t even talked to her about anything important, have you?As usual, you’re just drifting through life, expecting everyone else to take care of the details while you close the deal.I don’t even know why I’m surprised anymore.”Lance stood and paced across his office, agitation driving his steps.“Has it ever occurred to you that she could be playing you, getting close to you because she knows exactly who you are?”
“Who am I?I’m just an agent and co-owner of a business.I’m no one famous.No one special.”Aaron fired back against his brother’s accusations.
“You’re a highly successful agent who has helped build a nearly billion-dollar business from the ground up.You rub elbows with some of the most well-known and instantly recognizable people in the entertainment and sports industries.Your net worth alone would bring out the claws.But add in the overall business and future endeavors we have on the books, and any woman alive would do anything to trap you.”
“She’s not like that, Lance.You haven’t met her.You haven’t spent any time with her.You’re in no position to judge her.Or me, for that matter.This conversation is over.I’m off tomorrow, out of town for the weekend, and I’ll see you Monday.”
“Don’t forget the mistake you made before and what it cost, Aaron.Mom, Dad, and I can’t always be there to save you from yourself.”
“Fuck off, Lance.”
Memory Lapse
July, Present Day
Aaron satin his extravagant high-rise condo overlooking the Bay, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the horizon without seeing anything past his own failures.The vaulted ceilings and spacious floor plans at one time were a sign of his accomplishments.A testament to his talents.But as he stared out into the night, all he saw was his reflection staring back at him.Mocking him.Telling him he was a failure, like his brother had insinuated during their last heated argument.
He hadn’t left his condo in the past four days, from the moment he arrived home with Christa’s wedding rings clutched tightly in his fist.They still sat on the coffee table in front of him.Taunting him like every other thought and memory that riddled his mind.He refused to answer his phone.Lance had come by, but Aaron refused to open the door.When a knock at his door drew his attention, he was tempted to ignore it again.After a quick glance through the peephole, he recognized the courier uniform and opened the door.
“Mr.Rivers?”
“That’s me.”
“Just need your signature for the package right here.”The courier gave Aaron the small stylus to sign his name on the handheld device.
“Who is it from?”
“Affairs of the Heart Wedding Chapel of Las Vegas.”
Aaron’s brow furrowed as he took the package and absently thanked the delivery man.He moved back to his chair, tore the strip off the top of the package, and dumped the contents out on the coffee table.His heart thundered in his chest as he stared, captivated by the images spread out in front of him.
The image of Christa in a simple but elegant wedding dress, her face beaming with happiness, stared back at him.But what held his attention was the instantly recognizable expression of love on his own face.He stood beside her, in a white tuxedo with tails, with his arms wrapped around her waist.While she looked at the camera and smiled, his eyes were on her.
In the next photo, she stood in front of him with his arms wrapped around her from behind.He was leaned over, his chin resting on her shoulder and their faces cheek-to-cheek.The radiant smiles on their faces were impossible to miss—they were blissfully happy.
He surrendered to an overwhelming urge to speak to someone who could shed light on the time leading up to his departure from San Francisco.With his cell phone in hand, he quickly found the pilot’s number and hitCallbefore he lost his nerve.
“Mr.Rivers.What can I do for you?”
“Todd, this will sound strange, but I need to ask you a few questions about our last trip.”
“Your Vegas wedding trip.Sure.What’s on your mind?”
