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

Ch. 24

Xavier Sterling

I walk back to the bedroom after leaving Pip in the bathtub and lay back down. I look at the her phone. Deciding to keep her it is a strategic move and one I know I will pay for later. Unable to keep my eyes open, the late nights of the last week have me beyond exhausted.

Piper Keller
    I sit around the house for as long as I can before finding the keys to Xavier's Porsche and take a trip into town. I park on the street and stroll lazily down the sidewalk, gazing into the storefront windows no destination in mind. I still love Xavier, I really do. However, there's something holding me back. I've followed my gut this far in life. I'm not stoping now.

Not looking where I'm going I bump right into someone coming out of an expensive boutique store. "I'm so sorry." I apologize, immediately.

"Piper? Piper Keller, right?" I look up into Vanessa Dwyer's, light blue eyes.

"Vanessa!" I respond, somewhat speechless. I recall the story Ruxin told me and feel a little awkward. Vanessa is a good person. I've only met her a handful of times, but shes always been nice and engaging. "Its been a long time. How are you?" I ask, recovering from the shock.

She shrugs her tan shoulders and I notice shes definitely matured. She looks perfectly feminine and chic in a tailored long dress, that screams money and high society at the same time. "I'm good. I heard you are engaged to Xavier Sterling. Congratulations." She replies, happily.

I grin and shake my head. "Its not exactly official." I whisper, awkwardly.

Her eyes light up with laughter. "Oh, gossip. Its been a while." She says, rubbing her hands together.

I laugh at her enthusiasm. "You don't get enough gossip in Manhattan?" I tease, knowing full-well the social circle of the elite never close their lips on their perfectly orthodontic corrected mouths.

She gives me a sad smile. "I don't really stay in the city much anymore."

I'm a little shocked by her admission and start to wonder if the incident with Pasquale had been true. It just sounds so unlike him. I mean he's Pasquale, he can simply look at a woman and get her. However, theres always a side to people that we never see. "You don't sound too happy about it." I say, not waiting to pry but I can sense that the woman in front of me could use a sounding board.

She looks to the ground. "There's just no point in being there anymore." She states, then asks, "Hey, wanna grab brunch and catch up?"

I instantly agree and we go to a place on the water Vanessa assures me serves the best food. After we order I watch Vanessa shift in her seat. "Is something wrong?" I ask, concerned.

She shakes her head and picks up her napkin. "So, you and Xavier broke up and reconnected recently?"

I nod taking a drink of my tea. "Can I ask what happened?" She questions, awkwardly.

"Of course. We're here to catch up." I tell her, easing some of her discomfort. "Basically, Xavier was working a lot and I didn't feel like a priority anymore and I ended things. It was just a crazy time with him taking over the business and everything, I just couldn't play the dutiful girlfriend anymore. I wanted to be with him, it crushed me to walk away. In the end, it was the best thing to do for both of us. He threw himself into Sterling Corp. and I started a business with my friend." I explain, sensing her understanding.

She smiles and sighs loudly. "And now your picking up where you left off. So romantic."

I laugh. "I want to take it slow and he wants to get married and have babies. He doesn't care what order. Although, marriage would be the quickest."

"The Sterling boys like the fast pace." She agrees, knowingly.

Thinking of her and Pasquale's relationship I ask, "Why did you leave the city? You sound like you miss it.''

She glances away and then back with a broken look. "Because I'm an idiot." She scoffs. "It happened around the time you broke up with Xavier. Pasquale and I were seeing each other. We kinda got carried away at a party." She says, blushing. Shaking her head she continues. "It was an election year. I got the whole threat of disinheritance for months prior. I knew the scandal would piss off my father and Pasquale took the fall. Ruxin Novak thought he was forcing himself on me and I let him believe it." She leans onto the table with her hands covering her face. "I was such a coward. I didn't say anything. Pasquale got blacklisted, his own father tossed him to England and I came here. I couldn't stand to hear another bad thing being said about him, the guilt was too much."

I nod in sympathy, knowing she's being nothing but truthful. "We all make mistakes."

"Not mistakes that ruin peoples lives! What I did to him was despicable. I loved him so much, yet I threw him under the bus."

"Have you spoken to him since?" I question, interested to know if she explained herself to him.

"No, I've called, written. I don't blame him for not wanting to see or talk to me, but I do wish I could apologize. If I could take it all back I would." She states with conviction.

"He's thick headed like his brother and thats a horrible accusation to have leveled at him. Your dads not a senator anymore. Maybe you could do something? Talk to his father and explain what happened." I offer as advice, knowing her guilt is eating at her.

Her eyes start to water. "I've been wanting to do that since it happened, I even made it to his office once." She says,
starting to cry. "I need to make this right."

Our food is served and we eat, talking about lighter things. I try and succeed at making her laugh at Eva and Xaviers antics. At the end of the meal we walk to the front of the restaurant and out the door. I breathe in the fresh air and we start walking back the way we came. "I would say lets do this again soon, but I'm on my way back to the city. Tonight." She states, determinedly.

I smile at her, reassuringly. "It will be fine, Charles is a big softy. He might get upset, but he'll be happy you told him."

"He's going to kill me." She states, looking as low as she feels. "Will you tell, Xavier?"

"Only if you want me to."

"Please, I don't have the fortitude to face multiple Sterling men." She jokes, but I hear her seriousness.

"You'll survive and you'll feel much better when you set this right." I say, squeezing her hand.

    She nods and we hug, goodbye. I don't have my cell phone so I hand her a business card before we part and tell her to call if she needs anything. Getting in the low Porsche I look at the time, its after 1 o'clock. Xavier is going to be furious if he's awake. I stop at a nearby diner and get him a sandwich and a salad, hoping that bringing him food will calm the raging beast. I mentally roll my eyes, yeah right. Plus, he took my phone. Its partially his fault.