A writers' conference in California のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

NADIA'S POV “Are you okay? I've never seen you so red in the face before.”I smiled at Bobbi, my best friend as she eyed me worriedly. After dropping Fabian at the house, I stayed true to my word of avoiding him by leaving as soon as I could. There was barely any work for me to do in the café–I was going through a nasty writers' block, so I quickly arranged for a quick drink with Bobbi. “Yes babes, do I look that bad?”I whipped out my phone from my purse as I weighed my face against the darkness of the screen. She was right. I looked as though I had just run all the way to our meeting spot. “Tell me you see what I see now.”I dropped my purse noisily as I slouched into the empty chair. “I'm sorry…it's just with Marlowe's best friend and the kids, I've not had any time whatsoever for myself. I've not written in weeks either, but I leave the house at every chance I get to go to the cafe. It's a horrible situation, really…”Bobbi's lips spread into a smile that said she understoo

NADIA'S POV The spa had done a lot of good. But the torment of having a good-looking man whom I had sworn not to touch even though we had had phone sex over the weekend was still present.As I prepared dinner, I found myself looking through the window at the swimming pool time and time again. God, he was perfect in all ramifications. I had never assumed he was good with children, but he was a natural. As a matter of fact, I didn't remember the last time Marlowe had swam with any of the kids. He was always so cautious, and admitted that adults and kids swimming together could easily lead to domestic accidents. It was obvious that Fabian thought the opposite. “Can I help, mum?”I smiled at Nancy, knowing that it was the fever talking. She would rather watch “Desperate housewives” than help me out in the kitchen. But sickness had its way with kids, and a subdued Nancy was what the fever had brought forth. “Oh, don't you worry, my baby, dinner's almost ready. You can go and watc

NADIA'S POV Fabian Davenport ate my food like it was the best thing he had ever tasted. From the first time I had watched him at the dining table, I was aware of the fact that he had a huge appetite, but today, he seemed to eat more than usual. As he tore part of the baked chicken in his plate apart, I wondered if his hunger was caused by the swimming, or the flight from California down to Connecticut. I settled for the latter. “This…this is so good, Nadia. Thank you.” Fabian spoke through his munching, a hand on the glass of water beside his plate. I nodded, not bringing myself to look at his eyes. “Come on, Nancy, eat something.”My daughter was the exact opposite of Fabian. Her appetite was not the best, and being sick didn't help matters either. “Try the salad.”She ate slowly, giving me a stare that said she was only eating because I had told her to. “I'm sorry your dad couldn't make it to dinner, Nancy, he's missing a lot.”Nancy chuckled, and I found myself picking at

NADIA'S POV The moment my husband and Fabian came through the door, I knew something was wrong. I had never seen Fabian look so downcast. He carefully avoided any form of interaction with me as he made his way up the stairs. “What was that all about?”I raised an eyebrow in Marlowe's direction, who was chugging milk directly from the bottle thirstily. “He’s had a terrible day, honey. That includes me.”“What do you mean?” I asked, the food I was putting together for dinner forgotten. “None of the investors we visited were willing to take up his idea. They all loved it, but they all complained about the risk because it's a new company.”I glanced at the oven warily, before turning my attention back to a fatigued Marlowe. “You're an investor, aren't you?”“This…this is huge, Nadia,” he gestured with his hands. “I can't be the sole investor. I need two or three other companies alongside me in order to spread the risk. But sadly, no one's willing to take that chance.”Guilt crept it

FABIAN'S POV I waited on the stairs as I listened to Nadia's friend compliment my good looks. The compliment made me feel good, but I was waiting for something else. I was waiting for Nadia's reply. I wanted to hear what she had to say about me. When she finally spoke, I felt my hands curl up in anger. Was this how she had felt about me in her home all this while? That I was a nuisance? That it was all sunshine and rainbows until her best friend was the one accommodating me?What did that even mean?Shaking my head, I made my way up the stairs, then changed my mind midway. If Nadia was sick of me being in her home, then why not make it worse altogether? What did I have to lose?I slipped into the kitchen as if I had never left, somewhat pleased to see the shock on Nadia's face as soon as she noticed me in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, Bobbi, is it?”Her best friend nodded, eyes twinkling. She had similar hair to Nadia, and looking closely, I could see why they were friends.