All's Fair in Love and Business: Xavier's Story

Ch. 1

Xavier Sterling   

    I wince as my best friend yells at me yet again and take the phone away from my ear. I just turned down a date with her half sister, making her angry.

"Come on, T.H. I don't need you to find me a girl." I explain, having had this conversation a million times before.

"Obviously, you do! I'm already pregnant with our second child!" She points out.

"So, you get knocked up and all of a sudden it's my turn to make a baby?" I question, amused.

"Yes! It's what best friends do." She replies, adamantly.

I chuckle at her attitude. "Eva, I love you but thank God we never ended up together. You're certifiably insane."

"I'm being serious! How are our kids supposed to go to school together if they're years apart in age? They won't even be friends at this rate." She pouts.

"There are worse things in the world." I remind her. "Like being married to, Ruxin Novak." I say, distastefully.

I hear her quick gasp. "You did not just say that." She scolds, but I hear the laughter in her voice.

"Well, someone had to." More seriously I add, "I can't just rush out and find someone because you want me to."

She sighs, helplessly. "I just want you happy, Xavier."

"I know you do and I will be. I promise once I find "the one", I won't let her go." I say, looking for the file I want and sliding it in front of me.

"Dinner on Friday? Serena misses her Uncle Xavier."

"Don't start with the guilt trips. I've been busy." I respond, defensively.

"It's been three weeks!" She shouts, causing me to flinch and hold the phone away from my ear yet again.

"Alright, alright. Next Friday though, I have a thing this Friday." I reply.

"What sort of thing?" She questions, intrigued.

"Just a thing." I state, evasively.

There's no way I'm telling Eva I'm moving out of Manhattan. Knowing Eva she'll pick out a house near hers and convince me it's, perfect. I care about her but can't live that close to her, I would like a view of the water and as much as I love Eva and my niece, I don't want them as neighbors.

"Fine, keep your secrets. I'll find out anyway." She replies, smugly.

I laugh. "I have to get going. I'll call you later."

"Alright, bye. Mr. Mysterious." She says, teasingly.

"Give Serena a hug for me and flip-"

"Flip Ruxin off." She interrupts, knowingly.

"And say, courte-."

"Courtesy of, Xavier Sterling. Yes, I know the drill." She replies, I can almost hear her eyes rolling.

"So smart. Bye, Hon."

"Bye." She sings.

    I end the call, thinking of my Friday night. I open the file I have on my desk, skimming through contents. I've made a habit to research anyone I work with and Elizabeth Wheeler is no different. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I may look into the people before working with, but I don't do full out investigations on them, but this is important. Mrs. Wheeler is the best friend of my ex-girlfriend Piper Keller. They were friends long before we dated and I've spent time with Elizabeth and her now husband Aaron Wheeler.

    After Ruxin and Eva's marriage I've become the most eligible bachelor in New York. The press and paparazzi have been relentless. After buying out another high powered company run by Clint Mayberry, I've become even more popular. Money tends to make you more desirable to the media and of course the opposite sex. Its been years since I've seen Piper and Elizabeth, but I need the best person in real estate to get me what I want. A house that feels like a retreat, a safe-haven from my riggerious life in the city. Elizabeth Wheeler is that person. Elizabeth and her husband have made a successful real-estate company dealing with high profile clientele, from movie stars to corporate CEO's.

    I've already contacted Aaron with my interest in finding a vacation home with a list of my needs. However, once I started remembering my life with Piper its been like opening pandora's box. All the pain and disappointment that I had kept buried under an insane workload has came to a head. I told myself she wasn't worth agonizing over and the same was said for my brother Pasquale. 

    When I think of their affair I want to ask, Why? Why, did they do this to me? I shake my head in an effort to clear it, now isn't the time to get sucked into the past, I have piles of work to get through. Its been years, not knowing the answer to that question hasn't mattered in my life and I really don't need to know now....Then why am I researching her best friend? Even though I hate to admit it I want to know if they're still friends. I want to know if she still thinks about me. Does she regret what she did?

    I skim the rest of the file getting irritated. It doesn't say anything about Piper in the paperwork. Dammit! I should just hire someone to look into Piper. Picking up the phone I hear the dial tone and slam it back down. What the hell is wrong with me? Investigating my cheating ex is a new low. Fuck it. Selecting another file that needs reviewing and signatures I get back to what really matters, work.