Reasonable Doubt: Volume 3 (Reasonable Doubt 3)

“Why did you buy me that watch, Aubrey?”

“Why do you care?”

“I don’t, but I read the inscription on the back.”

Silence.

“I need to ask you something,” I said.

“Only if I can ask you a few things first…”

“Go ahead.”

“How can you possibly be so adamant about honesty when you haven’t been completely honest with me?”

“I have been completely honest with you.”

“I’m starting to believe that your name isn’t really Andrew Hamilton…”

“So you’re still stalking me and my past online? Do you not have any other hobbies?”

“Who is EH?” Her voice cracked. “Why are those two letters hanging on all your walls? Why are they engraved in all of your cufflinks?”

“Aubrey…”

“What’s going on with you and Ava? I saw her walk out of your office last week, and she smirked at me.”

“Is this a bad time to talk?”

“Yes.” She was breathing hard. “This is a very bad time. Why don’t you just hang up and go to the Marriott so you can f**k someone else?”

“I am at the Marriott, and I was actually about to f**k someone else.”

She was silent for several seconds. “I don’t… I don’t want to hear from you anymore, Andrew.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said I don’t want to hear from you anymore. Don’t you ever f**king call me again.” She hung up.

Impasse (n.):

The inability of two parties to reach a negotiated settlement.

A few days later…

Aubrey

My heart was still aching—reeling, and although I’d told Andrew never to call me again, and that I didn’t want to hear from him, I couldn’t move on until I received an apology.

I needed it…

I felt sick to my stomach after giving him that watch, and I’d foolishly expected for him to call and say, “I love you, too,” but he acted as if it meant nothing.

Without knocking, I opened the door to his office and shut it behind me.

He raised his eyebrow as I stepped over to his desk, but he didn’t hang up his phone.

“Yes, that will be fine,” he spoke into the receiver.