Hector walked into the office break room to find Lawrence having lunch with Amanda and Andrew. They were so involved in their conversation, that they didn't seem to notice that he had entered the room. He poured himself a cup of coffee and walked over to the table.
"So since when are you two such good pals?"
The table was silent for a moment before Andrew answered coldly, "We got to know each other while I was teaching his business course at the community college." Andrew glared at Hector and said tauntingly, "Maybe I should thank the person who set me up. I learned a lot, got to know Lawrence better. I think I'm almost better off now than I was before I got fired."
An uncomfortable silence followed as Andrew and Hector stared each other down.
"I should get back to my desk," Lawrence said as he started to stand.
"Me too," Amanda agreed before turning to her husband. "Honey?"
Andrew took the hint and backed down from the stare as he stood up from the table.
As Andrew followed Lawrence and Amanda out of the break room, Hector was left alone. When the others were gone he let his defiant expression relax into a frown.
He didn't like the way things were going. Suddenly he felt isolated in the office. Just when things seemed to be turning in his favor, Andrew was back. He really could have used Chad in his corner. But that was out of the question now, since Chad never showed up for his interview and was nowhere to be found.
Hector stood up and walked out of the break room. On the way back to his desk, he spotted R.J. on the telephone. Maybe he had an ally in the office after all.
"Have you found anything yet?" R.J. asked Lauren over the phone.
"What exactly am I looking for?"
"Anything you can find out about the company or its employees. I want to know how the company got to where it is today and I especially want to know if there's been any scandals. Do you think you can do that?"
"Sure, I can, but what are you doing for me? How are you going to help me get what I want?"
"Don't worry. I'll get you what you want." When R.J. spotted Hector walking towards him, he cut the call short. "I've got to go. We'll talk later."
"Hey, Hector," R.J. greeted his co-worker cheerfully. "How's it going?"
"Good. I thought I'd drop by and see how you were doing?
"I'm doing great."
"Still liking the job?" Hector asked in a teasing tone.
"I think I'll stick around for awhile."
"I'm glad to hear it. I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me. It looks like everyone else has already eaten. I thought it might be a good chance for us to chat, get to know each other."
R.J. smiled. This was just too easy. "I think that's a great idea. Let me finish up a few things and we'll go."
Chad walked slowly up to the Jordan's apartment. He wasn't sure if he should be here. He knew Audrey wouldn't be happy to see him, but he had to see her before he left. He had already checked out of his hotel and rented another room under a false name. He knew the safest thing to do would be to leave town as soon as possible, but he couldn't go without talking to Audrey first. He had to warn her. He owed her that much.
When the door opened, Audrey's reaction was just what he had expected, "What are you doing here?"
"I need to tell you something. Don't worry, it won't take long, then I'll be out of your life forever."
Audrey stood in the doorway with her hands crossed in front of her and waited, "What is it?"
"Can't I come in first?"
Audrey shrugged and then stepped out of the way.
"I want you to know that I'm leaving town, but I couldn't go without talking to you first."
"Why? That didn't seem to bother you before."
Chad ignored her attitude and continued. He didn't want to get into that now. "I had to let you know R.J. is town."
"Tell me something I don't know," Audrey sighed. "He's been making my life hell for months now."
Chad's brows furrowed with concern. "What has he done?"
"He found out that I was here, staying with my brother, and he started asking about you. He wanted to know where you were and where the money was. When I couldn't tell him, he decided it was up to me to make up for it by spying on this corporation he was interested in. And I didn't have any choice, but," she laughed humorlessly, "I guess I should be used to that by now."
Chad sighed and shook his head, "God, Audrey. I can't tell you how sorry I am. This is all my fault. I never meant for you to get caught up in this."
"Well, I am and that's not even the half of it. I left London to get away from your problems, but I can't get away from them. They keep following me and I feel like it's never going to stop."
"It will. I promise you, somehow, someway, I'm going to make this up to you."
Audrey just turned away. She didn't doubt his sincerity, but she didn't trust him to come through. "I've had enough of your empty promises."
Before she could ask him to leave, the doorbell rang.
Audrey answered the door, "Lawrence, come in. I'll just be a moment." She went to get her purse, giving Chad a look that clearly said, "get lost."
Lawrence followed her inside and was surprised to see Hector's friend Chad there. The two men looked at each other awkwardly while Audrey was getting ready to leave.
"Oh, hey you're . . ." Chad started. He had recognized Lawrence as one of Hector's co-workers and the man had gone to the party with Audrey. "You're dating," he concluded. "I'll, uh, get lost then." He stopped to look Audrey in the eye before going out. "Again, Audrey, I'm so sorry. Take care of yourself, ok?"
He waited for Audrey to reply, but when she didn't say anything, he left the apartment. He paused in the hallway before walking out of the building. At that moment he knew there was no way he could leave town now. He couldn't run away and leave Audrey to deal with his problems a second time.
Lawrence and Audrey had a very quiet evening together. Lawrence had never been much at holding a conversation on his own. He talked a little bit about work and the development that was going to start on his bit of real estate, but he soon gave in to the silence.
Audrey let out a deep sigh and said, "I'm so sorry, Lawrence. I haven't been very good company tonight."
"It's alright."
"No, it's not. I'm just a little out of sorts right now. It's Chad's fault, but I'm taking it out on you."
Lawrence felt like he should say something, but he didn't want to pry. "I didn't know you knew each other."
"We used to date," Audrey admitted. "But that's over. I've put him in my past and I want him to stay there. I don't want him around. "
Audrey's admission left Lawrence speechless. He didn't know how to respond.
"I'm not going to let his surprise visit ruin the rest of our evening," Audrey promised. "I'm glad that you called and asked me out tonight. I know this is only our second date, and we're just getting to know each other, but I really like being with you."
"I'm glad to be with you too."
Audrey smiled at Lawrence. There was almost something shy about the way he said those words, but his eyes were locked firmly with hers in a warm, sincere look. He was so unlike the other guys that she had dated in the past, but she thought he might be just the kind of guy she needed.
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