The Split

Chapter 17

-one week later-

Snow in New York. Cold. grey. Salty. And all was visible from the large office window in the high rise above Park Ave. Levi stood brooding darkly in her black suit, her cigarette burning in her left hand, right below a scar on her pointer finger. She didn't want to be the one to be stuck in the New York office for the next two weeks but who else was more competent to do this?

oh wait! the other partners at the firm. Her head had started hurting, she knew it was from the lack of food, sleep and way too much caffeine. She worked non-stop 15 hour days, going back to her hotel to pretend to sleep and shower. Most days she wouldn't even go back to the hotel but meetings everyday she had to be in top form. All she could think about when it wasn't business was about the final moments in Vegas. The fight. The anger. Another ritual she performed in the basement before taking the first plane back, one thing she was happy with was being welcomed back with open arms by her firm but didn't want to be stuck in New York, she had heard horror stories about so many business deals being broken due to competition but she wasn't one to give in so easily. One person wouldn't leave her alone though, he kept calling, emailing, sent flowers. Maybe an attempt to apologize but right now, she just wanted to forget them all. Everyone and everything from her time there. She had to move on.

A sounding knock on the cherry wood door broke her from the thoughts as she turned and saw her assistant come in.

'Confirmation on dinner plans at 9 with the Embory Financials. Here's the contracts for the 5 year deal from Kyoto industries already sent to home office and a message from you know who.' Daniel laid all papers on her desk and waited for instruction. His boss was unusually intense but very quiet lately. She hardly ate, rarely slept and refused calls from family and this person who called her daily. It wasn't for him to pry but he worried about her.

"Toss the message out. Get the new proposals for Kinney distributions so we can strategize tomorrow morning."

'They don't have any proposals drafted yet"

'Why not'

"Something about a virus and IT can't get out until tomorrow night."

Levi sighed. Ashed out her cigarette and walked to her desk chair.

'Call them again, tell them they have one hour to get down here and get the problem fixed or they will have to answer to me.'

Daniel nodded and rushed out. He was scared of her, she was so intense and god help him he was attracted to her anger and intensity.

Levi sat in her chair,opening the laptop she went right to work. That's all she had done since leaving vegas that day, she didn't care who she left behind.

It had been long past nightfall when she looked up from her laptop, 4:17am. All the research, proposal drafts, 3 different contracts, 5 new companies looking for buyers. She had been on a role. Getting up from her chair, she powered off her computer, placed in its sleeve and put it in her black briefcase. She reached for the office phone and called down to the main desk and asked for the security guard to get the car for her. Shutting off all the lights, she grabbed all documents with post-it notes for Daniel to fax, email, overnight and carrier messenger. She had to get him something, the way her mood had been lately, she knew that she had been working him hard and spoke less and less to him. He was good guy, she didn't need to be mean to him.

Levi's heels clicked on the marble floor to the elevators and went down to the main floor.

'Good evening Ms. Strauss, or should I say good morning.'

'Morning Charlie, is the car here?'

"Yes ma'am, i'll escort you out. Sidewalk is a little snow covered, another blizzard on the way."

Charlie walked her to car, her driver Seth took her bags and opened her door. She slid in and gave charlie a small tip as she usually did whenever she stayed past 11pm. With her bags next to her and seat belt on, Seth climbed in and drove off into early morning traffic and went to her hotel.

Once arriving out in front, Seth got out and opened her door, extending his hand to help her out, she thanked him and walked into the lobby of the hotel. It was silent and nobody in the lobby except the ones behind the desk.

'Ms. Strauss, your coming back so late. Is everything okay?'

"Yes, late night is all."

'Yes ma'am, you have a few messages and this came for you'

The young man turned and brought out a huge bouquet of white and orange roses. Black vase and a note attached.

'Forgive me, i never wanted to hurt you. Please Leviathan. Please call me'

She reread that note twice and sighed. "It came earlier after your dry cleaning was delivered. Your room was turned over, new sheets and we got rid of that soap that caused your hands to dry up."

'Thank you. Can i have a wake up at 830 am please.'

"Of course."

She gave a nod and walked to the elevator, pushed the button to her floor and carried her bags and flowers down the hall. Unlocked the door and went inside. The room smelled clean, she put the flowers on the table and went the bedroom. Undressing from her suit, she got in the hot shower and tried to erase the thoughts. He had been consistent in trying to get her back, but flowers and the note made her rethink freezing him out. But the only problem was, if she went into contact with him, she had to speak to her friend. She wasn't ready for that. The water wasn't hot enough for a moment, going to wash her hair she stopped thinking and listened to the sound of the city waking up. Afterwards, she toweled off, lotioned and untangled her hair, blow dry and braid it lightly before finding her t shirt, panties and went to the plush bed.

Ice cold sheets, it felt great on her heated and soft skin. The black covers contrasted with the cream sheets and she laid down after charging her phone.

She would consider calling him.

Just not now.

She needed more time.