Lost and Found - 22

22

The food was wonderful, the weather fantastic, and the ocean was warm when Amelia paddled in the shallows. Li was enjoying herself, they both were. But she needed these moments away, on her own, to think. There’d been no further news on Clay, though Marilyn had emailed her and told them that they were all out of work whilst the FBI investigated the company. She’d also had an email from her new employer Marc Freeman assuring her that her job was still safe.

Kicking at the sand, she watched two people jet-skiing around a distant headland, a spray of water shooting up behind each of them. Oh for a carefree life. She was dreading returning to the real world, the new real world apart from Clay and him arrested.

Back at the room, there was a note from Li, she was in an archery competition with the entertainment crew, but she’d meet her for dinner in half an hour. Amelia showered and changed into a summery long dress, then made her way to the open air bar next to the restaurant. She was drinking a Long Island Ice Tea when a cacophony of noise came from around the side of the main building. Looking up Amelia burst into laughter, seeing Li hoisted onto the shoulders of at least three men, reminiscent of Cleopatra with her black bobbed hair and exotic complexion.

                “I won!” she shouted across to Amelia. “Apparently I have talents I never knew about!”

Amelia laughed, “I could’ve told you that chick!”

Li was deposited in a rather unceremonious fashion in front of Amelia, and then the ‘Winners Sash’ placed around her.

                “I’ve got to wear this all night!” She laughed, ordering the same drink as her friend.

An hour later they sat opposite each other in the restaurant, replete after a divine meal.

                “So what do you do now?” Li asked her after explaining that she was going to change her flight to go home via Japan, it was an opportunity to meet Daichi’s family, and to extend her trip a little longer.

                “In ten days I fly back to New York and start my new job.”

                “Why don’t you call Sol? See if you can...”  Her question was halted by Amelia’s hand rising. They’d talked a lot about all that had happened, how deeply Amelia had been affected by Sol, and how hurt. But she’d also been further damaged by Clay and she was in no rush to fly headlong into something new.

                “I chose Clay. Not Sol. I’m not going back on that now just because Clay is ‘indisposed’ so to speak. You know me Li, I don’t flit from one thing to another, I decide what I want in a level headed way. And I made my choice.”

Li shook her head, “you’re TOO bloody level headed. What about romance and living life on the edge?”

Amelia laughed, “I take risks at work, that’s enough for me. Now let’s change the subject. I’ve said goodbye to Sol, Clay looks like he’s out of the picture...I’m happy on my own. I always have been.”

Li wasn’t convinced, but how did you influence someone who was so damned independent?

Friday 16^th July

A week in paradise had seen Amelia’s skin glow a healthy brown, the extra swimming and walking saw her slimmer than ever. As she paused looking out across the sea, at the early morning sun, she appreciated the positive effect this break, this place had had on her.  Li was the same, she’d been the life and soul of every party, every game, and she knew everyone in the whole resort. Amelia had to admit the break had been perfectly timed. She was heading home the next day, to who knew what. Li was flying to Japan to Daichi. Would life ever be this blissful again? Who knew, so Amelia threw caution to the wind and made the most of her last few days in paradise.

Later her and Li lay on adjacent beds, face down, having the most invigorating pummelling of their lives by two very macho, and sadistic Hawaiian men, highly tuned elbows finding spots that Amelia hadn’t realised could be sore. Saying that, it was so relieving, so refreshing that she wished she’d sampled earlier in the holiday.

Opening her eyes, Amelia glanced at Li who was in a similar level of repose, smiling when Li’s pleasure filled eyes met hers.

                “Are you sure about Sol?” Li asked for the umpteenth time that week. “I could just let it slip into conversation, that you’re single...”

                “And what does that tell him?” Amelia asked, “That I made the wrong choice? For the same reasons that Clay was right, Sol was wrong. And Clay may be out of the picture, but Sol is still wrong!”

Li closed her eyes, “I think you’re wrong, and I can’t believe that you would let this opportunity slide.”

Amelia sighed and closed her own eyes, “maybe, but that’s my choice Li, please don’t tell him anything.”

Reluctantly and against her better judgement, her friend agreed.  

Friday 18^th August 2008

Via her new job, Amelia had entertained every night for the last ten days. She was shattered but this weekend she had nothing to do other than relax and do nothing.  The thought was all that got her through the day.  Since returning from Hawaii, life had been difficult. She’d been interviewed three times by the FBI, Clay was eventually released without charge, there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him and the other two financiers with anything, though they were arrested on the suspicion of irregularities in their stock market activities on certain dates. With the inevitable collapse of a lot of banks and the impact on the government and the economy made this a federal offence.

When he was released, Amelia went to see him; he’d refused when he was in custody. She needed to talk to him, find out if his actions were him protecting her or whether he really had believed that she was chasing after Sol. Her integrity was all she really had when things went bad, and she wanted to clear her name, even now.

She’d arrived at his apartment to find it empty; the concierge said he’d moved out. No forwarding address or details, and worst of all no goodbye. Amelia was devastated all over again, but as she’d made her way home, she had realised that it was more to do with her lack of opportunity to sort things out, than actually not seeing Clay.

At that moment she swore herself off men, she was going to concentrate on her job.  She’d made a two year mental plan, to survive all the uncertainty of the looming crisis, and then once her bank balance and investments indicated a reasonable survivable level, she was going to leave. Turn her back on it all and head home. She could see her buying a little country house, maybe opening a cafe, or a shop, at worst she could work as an independent accountant. Nope by twenty seven she was closing this hectic door. She just had to last that long!

Shutting down her computer, she was about to leave for her weekend of not changing out of her pyjamas and ordering take away deliveries for every meal, when a brief tap on the door preceded Kate poking her head into the office.  Kate was the PA for her and the other executive Paul.

                “We’re all heading over the road if you fancy a sneaky wine before your relaxing weekend?”

Amelia was torn, Kate, a recent college graduate, was an absolute scream when they went out, as were the majority of the younger staff at this company. “I’m shattered Kate...I really shouldn’t...”

The younger girl could tell she was wavering and chuckled, “just have one or two, then head home! Simple!”

Only things are never that simple. So five hours and far too many drinks later, she found herself complete with her dysfunctional and lacking resolve, dancing and laughing in a nightclub with Kate and a few others. Since her holiday she had definitely started to let her hair down a bit more. She’d never have done this a few months earlier, but it was fun!

Saturday 19^th August 2008

Amelia’s head was pounding, unbearably so. She never had hangovers, but the previous night had gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. Her last memories involved a bottle of champagne and running barefoot along a part of Broadway with...

Her gasp was almost audible as she rolled over in her bed to see...yep she hadn’t imagined it, she had both met, and brought home Cole Stirling! Glancing under the duvet she gasped again, they were both in underwear, thankfully not completely naked. But that meant nothing. Surely she’d remember if she’d had sex with him? Closing her eyes she tried to control her breathing, passing out from hyperventilating was the last thing she needed now!

This was not her. She didn’t do one night stands; she didn’t forget what she did the night before. She enjoyed a drink, but not to this extent. She sighed, was this what she was reduced to? Fortunately it wasn’t a complete stranger. She knew Cole, but he wasn’t someone she’d sleep with like this sober. Rolling over she buried her face into her pillow. What a mess. Is this her subconscious reacting to the sudden disappearance of men in her life?

Groaning she lifted her head to see Cole smiling at her.

                “You ok? You were pretty drunk last night!”

She groaned again, “did I...did we?”

He laughed, spinning himself up to a sitting position, “that memorable hey?” Then with a chuckle, he made for the bathroom. By the time he re emerged, she was dressed, brushing her hair watching him with a scowl.

                “Amelia! Come on! It wasn’t THAT bad!”

She shook her head, “I don’t do things like this...”

Laughing he nodded, “I know, why do you think I brought you home? You were throwing yourself at everyone last night, if I hadn’t have brought you home then who knows who would have?”

                “Really?”

Cole laughed again, “relax your virtue is safe for another night! Though you really wouldn’t comment on that bastard who left me Dad high and dry!”

Nodding slowly, she felt the conversations gradually filter back in; she’d been upset when she’d seen Cole, because he was slagging off Clay, and despite it all she still felt some form of absurd loyalty towards him.  She remembered kissing him to avoid answering any questions. And the rest... heat diffused her body, embarrassed at the mere thought of her behaviour.

Cole stretched, stood in the middle of her bedroom in just a pair of boxer shorts, “I do GREAT breakfast, shall I make myself at home?”

Amelia mustered a laugh, “Seems you’re doing that anyway!”

True to his word he entered the kitchen like a man on a mission, and whipped up two breakfast burritos as she made coffee and found some orange juice in the fridge. The last few months she’d been trying to make more effort, cooking, filling the fridge with fresh ingredients. And she’d never been more pleased than at that moment, she may be embarrassed at her behaviour, but at least she could provide the makings of a decent breakfast. She was laughing to herself at the ridiculous reasoning when Cole sat opposite her and tucked in to the food.

Before Cole left he did confess that he still thought about her, that the incident the previous night had seemed like a gift to him. It was then that Amelia had let him down...again, gently she hoped by telling him that the incident with Clay had really unsettled her, and she wasn’t in a position to think about another relationship.

When the door closed behind him, she groaned, falling against it. She really had to sort her life out, and the loose and easy version of living just wasn’t her.

Wednesday 25^th October 2008

                “I’m sorry Amelia, but I’m going to have to let you go.”

She was glad she was holding onto the chair back when she felt the room begin to spin. This had been coming, the markets were in a mess, every day there was more and more doom and gloom on the TV, small banks failed, and earlier in the month a few of the big financial companies had declared bankruptcy. The government was holding crisis talks. She was a small pawn in this worldwide phenomenon, but she’d hoped she’d be safe. She’d wanted to see her plan through, leave this world because she wanted to, not because she had to. So as Marc Freeman looked at her with a sad and desperate expression on his face, she had to make a decision, the old survival instinct. 

Fight or flight?