Alexander Cavelli reviewed Ava Cooper's proposal. In his opinion, she was a smart girl, athletic with attractive features, but for some reason, he hadn't taken her to bed like he had done with other employees.
Alexander Cavelli, a 47-year-old divorced man, had three children who lived with his ex-wife in New York.
He had been divorced for over fifteen years, not by his choice, but because his wife left him when she believed he would be left on the streets during a financial crisis.
A year after divorcing him, she remarried someone wealthier and more stable than him.
He saw his children very few times a year, which made him sad. His children had grown up away from him - Brandon, 14; Adam, 18; and Emily, 21.
He never remarried; his life revolved around his work, his company that he had worked hard to establish and grow. Naturally, he had dated many women, young women obsessed with their jobs and careers.
His secretary interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Cavelli, here are the scripts for the upcoming week. They need your approval."
Alexander Cavelli owned a prominent entertainment company, and his most cherished possession was the series he had created himself, which had propelled him to the top.
Alexander was immersed in the scripts, making small notes of what he didn't like, when a sensual brunette in her mid-twenties knocked on his door.
"Well, look who remembered me," he said smiling.
"Of course, I remember you because I'm interested. Why don't you come with me to Las Vegas? Several members of the production will be going for the weekend," Jennifer, the lead actress of one of his series, suggested.
"I have to review the scripts; we'll be filming the season finale, and I want everything to be ready," Alexander replied.
"But I want to go with you," she pouted, crossing her arms.
Alexander smiled tenderly. "Come on, beautiful. Don't be like that. I promise that if I finish on time, I'll catch up with you," he said.
She began clapping her hands like a little girl, circled the desk, and threw herself onto him, hugging him tightly.
As he watched Jennifer leave the office, he couldn't help but think about how sweet and young she was.
Alexander Cavelli decided to go down and check on the filming. He loved seeing the production in action. Nothing had changed, no matter that he now owned a large production company, created more series, and had hundreds of employees under his command who were there to do that work. He would always pay attention to the smallest detail because besides his work, he had nothing, and he would never have anything else. He would never remarry, let alone fall in love. He would never give his heart to a woman again.
...****************...
Meanwhile, after making a great emotional effort, Susan appeared well-dressed in the living room of her house.
Seeing the piled-up boxes with David's belongings was a big blow. Did he truly stop loving her? She went to the kitchen.
"What are you making, Doris?" she asked.
"A salad, as Amelie requested."
"When will David come for the boxes?" she asked.
"Mr." David said he would send someone, but we still need to clear out the room,"Doris replied, looking serious and distressed."
"I'll take care of it later," Susan responded.
"Mom, why is this happening? How long have you been having problems?" Amelie asked.
"I don't know, sweetheart. You know your father; he doesn't explain much. It's just a crisis, dear, all marriages have problems, we'll solve it."
"Mom! He's taking everything; I don't think he's thinking about solving anything," Amelie replied.
"How long will you stay here? I don't mind you being here, but I don't want you neglecting your studies," Susan said.
"One or two days, Mom. Don't worry, I won't neglect my studies," Amelie assured her.
While setting the table, Amelie received a message from her sister.
"I'm at the airport. I'll be in Seattle in four hours."
...****************...
After lunch, Susan returned to her room, while Amelie took on the task of finding out which hotel her father was staying at.
To her surprise, her father was not staying in any hotel. She called the office, and the secretary was familiar with David Cooper's daughters.
"Miss Amelie, your father is not working and will be back in two days."
"I urgently need to locate him. I had a serious problem at the university and I need his help. I tried calling his cellphone, but the call didn't go through," said Amelie.
"Maybe it's because he hasn't arrived yet. He was in Miami. I have the phone number of his new apartment, I'll give it to you. You'll probably be able to reach him there, replied Grace, the secretary."
"Yes, please, Grace. If I can't locate him, I'll be expelled, Amelie responded. Which street is my father's new house on?"
"I don't have it, but I think it's in the note he left me to hire a company for the move."
"Tell me you've already hired them! Because everything is in the garden, my mother told me. If it rains, it will all get wet," Amelie said.
"Yes, they will come tomorrow, informed Grace, who gave her the address and phone number."
Amelie stared at the address. It was the most exclusive area of Seattle.
Hours later, when Ava arrived, she was shocked to see the boxes in the living room.
"Are they really getting divorced? murmured Ava."
"No, silly, I only did this to see the dumbfounded expression on your face, responded Amelie impatiently."
"How is mom?" Ava asked.
"She's in denial, she believes he will come back. But according to what his secretary told me, dad has a new apartment. So help me load some boxes into the car; we'll use them as an excuse to enter the building."
"Alright, first I'll go and greet mom," said Ava.
"I'll go with you, replied Amelie, following her sister."
The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar. Susan was lost in her thoughts, gathering and arranging David's clothes and belongings. Each item felt like a dagger in her gut, twisting and tearing at her soul with every step she took.
She collapsed onto the edge of her bed, crying uncontrollably as she looked at that suitcase containing 25 years of her life.
Ava was stunned to see her mother crying so inconsolably. Amelie grabbed her sister's arm, pulling her out of there.
"Let's go find dad!" Amelie said to her.
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