Perils of the Heart

Stefani Whiteford blinked the tears from her eyes as she sat on the deserted beach. This was the beach where she and Rog, her ex-boyfriend, came to unwind after long stressful days at the offices. But that was a year ago, and she could no longer live in the past.

Rog had made his choice the summer night of Jan’s wedding. When Stefani took that unfortunate stroll through the gardens, she saw Rog and Pam embracing. The two lovers sprang away from each other as she stepped into the gazebo. The pitiful explanation that spilled out of Rog’s mouth still rang hollow to her ears, even after all these months. That fact that he implied that he didn’t mean for this to happen was of no consolation to her broken heart. For six months, Stefani replayed the shocked expression of their faces night after night. Rog may not have planned it, but Pam’s spiteful countenance said she did.

Nonchalantly Stefani picked up a broken seashell and tossed it into the ocean. “How about that,” she mumbled. “Rog had tossed me away just as easily as I had thrown that shell into the sea.” This trip to the beach was the cleansing of that awful evening. No more mourning, it was time to get on with her life.

Quietly sitting on the sand, she heard a rustling noise behind her and twisted around.

“Hello, Red,” said Rog softly.

Stefani stiffened and sat up straighter. She never thought she would hear that nickname again. She turned around and stared at the man she had once loved. What was he doing here? Stefani twisted her head side to side, searching the beach for Pam. Her face flushed with anger when she thought he had brought ‘that person’ to their beach.

Turning back to the ocean, she asked. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“What is there to say?” she said coldly. She would not show any weakness or even a slight chink in her armor to this man.

“Pam and I are no longer together.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Will you please look at me? I need to see your face when I say this.”

“You explained everything last year.”

Rog was running his hands through his hair as he dropped to his knees in front of her. “I was wrong. I know that now. I have no idea why I…”

“I do. And say it, you tossed me away for Pam, my best friend. Ex-best friend,” she said, glaring at him through squinted eyes.

“I was under a lot of pressure at work and,” Rog started to explain, “well, she provided a sympathetic ear.”

All Stefani could do was gawk at him. “Are you serious?” Stefani said as she stood. “Listen, I’m late for an appointment. Besides, we’ve already said everything that needed to be said.”

“Please wait,” Rog begged, as he reached for her hand.

Stefani gave him a scathing look as she jerked her hand away.

Rog held his hands up in the air as if he were surrendering. “Please, I just want to talk.”

It felt good to be in an elevated position above this man. “Well, I don’t,” Stefani said as she stalked up the beach to her car.

Stefani couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder when she reached the parking lot. Rog was still on his knees, head down, with his arms dangling by his sides. If anyone looked defeated, he did. Almost as crushed as she felt this past year.

The tears began to flow down her cheeks as she drove onto the ramp of I-5, heading north. What started as a quiet evening at the ocean turned into a storm at sea? It had taken Stefani six months to gather enough courage to go back to that beach. At least, Stefani got the closure she had long for all those months ago.

She couldn’t fathom what made Rog think she’d want to talk to him? Did Rog think he could clear his conscience by hashing out his deception? Not a chance, this was more than forgetting a birthday or a family event.

***

Rog continued to kneel in the sand as Stefani walked away. He knew it had been a long shot. A year later, Rog could not envision why he thought Pam was the person that would make him happy. The difficulty started soon after Pam came to work in Rog’s office. He allowed the proximity to Pam to become a matter of convenience. Pam was easily accessible when Rog wanted to vent and sometimes share the excitement about his promotion as the CEO. He rationalized that he did not want to bother Stefani with his problems. After all, she was dealing with her issues of starting a new business. Rog finally realized a few months ago that Pam had a hidden agenda. She saw his promotion as an opportunity that could propel her career to new levels.

Rog slowly stood and brushed the sand from his knees. He trudged across the beach, hoping that Stefani had changed her mind and was still in the parking lot. But as he stepped next to his car, he realized his vehicle was the only one in the lot.

Rog looked out over the ocean and watched as lightning danced in the clouds. A storm was brewing not only in his life but in the surrounding area. Clouds began to move across the evening sky, threatening to give the countryside a much-needed soaking. Slipping into his car, Rog hit the start button on the dash of his Beamer. To his dismay, the roar of the engine did not excite him as it did when he and Stefani were together.

What had happened to him? Why did his brain go on a hiatus last year? Rog knew there was nobody more caring, determined, or smarter than his Red.

He had to prove to Stefani that she was the only one he loved. He knew merely sending flowers would not be enough. Rog had to show her how much she meant to him. With his new position, Rog could anonymously arrange more exposure for her struggling business. Rog knew her business would become a big success because she was an excellent interior designer. Of course, he had to be sure Stefani didn’t see his intervention as manipulation. She had to understand that just because he sent interested businesses in her direction did not mean she would automatically win the contract.

****

Now that the abysmal weekend was over, Stefani had to focus on completing her current business obligations. She needed to concentrate on the development of her company, Vital Décor. After Stefani graduated from design school three years ago, she had created her interior design business. Stefani was up for the challenge and knew the way to success was through hard work. Everyone had to pay their dues to prove themselves. For that reason, she needed to focus on her business and put Rog out of her mind.

Stefani unlocked the door to her quiet storefront office and saw the red, light blinking on her desk phone. When Stefani flipped the open sign on the door, it was like flipping a switch in her mind. Her attention was dedicated to the business at hand. Stefani laid her satchel on her desk and walked to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee.

Before the Bunn coffee maker finished dripping, the phone rang.

“Hello, Vital Décor. May I help you?” Stefani chirped.

“Hello, I am Mr. Gavin Carr’s secretary,” said the soft professional voice on the phone. “ Mr. Carr requires an interior designer for the remodeling project of the Struther’s Bank’s branches. Would you be available for a preliminary meeting tomorrow at three o’clock?”

Not believing her ears, she accepted the offer and hung up the phone. Now, this would be a feather in her cap. This kind of exposure would jump-start her business.

Stefani gathered her composure and pressed the button to listen to the next message. From the speaker came the loud somewhat grumpy voice of Mr. Ken Moor, owner of the Lite Glass Company. He was requesting his usual Monday morning update. Stefani smiled and knew Mr. Moor would be happy when she informed him that he would be able to move into his newly decorated offices next week. The second message came as a bit of a shock. The electronic firm, SSE, left a message inquiring about designing the new office spaces for their digital business.

Stefani stared at the phone in disbelief. Had providence struck at last? She now had the opportunity to design two large accounts. Thank goodness she had the foresight to hire an up and coming designer as her part-time receptionist. Stefani was sure the two of them could handle both projects.

After Stefani returned the call to SSE and agreed to meet with them on Friday, she called Cassie.

“Cassie dust off your drawing pencils. I am meeting with representatives from two companies about designing their offices.”

“I knew it would happen for you.”

“It hasn’t happened yet. We are only meeting to talk about the groundwork.”

“I believe in you. You are a talented designer. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed you.”

“Do you know someone we can hire as a receptionist. Neither one of us will have time to answer phones.”

“I know the perfect person. I will call her and have her meet with you tomorrow.”

Stefani felt this was the week that would send her business into overdrive. She and Cassie celebrated on Saturday at the new bistro around the corner from her office. To her surprise, Rog and Gavin Carr sat in a booth across the room.

On Tuesday, Stefani had a few additional design ideas for the SSE office. As she approached the SSE office, she saw Rog speaking with Mr. Gram. They were laughing and shaking hands. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, she wandered into a flower shop.

A couple of weeks later, Stefani walked into the bank when something niggled in her brain, She saw Rog conversing with Mr. Carr again. From what she remembered, Rog didn’t have an account with Struther’s Bank.

Stefani walked to the table where Cassie was going over the design for the lobby. “Cassie? Have you seen Rog here often?”

“I am usually busy, but now that you bring it up, yes, I have seen him. I can’t say weekly, but he has been here often.”

Stefani watched Rog as he swaggered out the door. Was there something more here than meets the eye? Surely, he didn’t pull any strings to have these business award her the contracts. No, Stefani would not allow herself to believe Rog would go to such lengths to undermine her. She didn’t need his charity. Her business may not be blossoming as fast as she wanted, but she was on the slow road to success.

Once again, Stefani saw Rog at SSE offices. She waited for him to leave the building and met him on the sidewalk.

“Hello, Rog,” Stefani said calmer than she felt.

Turning around, he immediately noticed her stiff stature. “Hello, Red.”

Stefani gave him a dirty look and said, “we need to talk.”

“What about?” Rog said in a friendly manner hoping his gut feeling was wrong.

“I think you know. Let’s go someplace more private.”

Rog’s shoulders fell because he knew this was not a social call. Her ridged spine said all there was to say as she walked ahead of him. Would she believe him that he only wanted to help? He had faith in her designing abilities, even if he hadn’t shown it while they were together. She had to realize that everyone needed help occasionally.

Stefani stiffly marched into the small coffee shop across the street and weaved her way to a corner table in the back.

“Let me explain,” Rog started, but Stefani wanted to have her say first.

“No,” Stefani said, trying to keep her voice low. “How could you? Didn’t you think I could do this on my own? You had to pull strings so these companies would hire my firm.”

“Wait,” he said, loud enough that a couple at the next table looked up. “I agree I did put your name out there. My colleagues were looking for a good designer I gave them your name. I also gave them other companies that you had worked for in the past. You got those accounts on your own merits, not by any pressuring from me.”

Stefani sat there, staring at him. Could she believe him?

“I know I wasn’t there for you in the past. I always focused on my career. I never told you how much I admired your work. You are truly a talented designer.”

“I don’t know what to think.”

“I did this to show you that I care about you. And that I believe in you. I simply gave your credentials to a few of my business partners. Let me get us some coffee before we continue this conversation.”

Stefani sat mystified in her chair. Her hands laid limp in her lap as she watched Rog move effortlessly to the counter.

Before long, Rog drifted back to the table and placed both cups of coffee on the table.

“Red…Stefani. Can we start over?”

Not knowing what else to do, Stefani picked up her cup and took a sip. “It’s a lot to ask of me.”

“I know, but whether you want to hear it or not, I love you. And I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“I have to think about this. Trust is hard to give once it’s broken.”

“I understand that. If you give me a second chance, I will never give you a reason to doubt my intentions.”

With that, Stefani stood and slowly walked out of the coffee shop.

All Rog could do was hold his breath as he watched her walk away. He knew nothing he said would change her mind. He was at her mercy.

Stefani walked back to the job site, exhausted. That conversation depleted every one of her emotions. She would not think about Rog. The only thing that mattered now was her business. After the projects were completed, maybe then she would reflect on his declarations.

To Stefani’s delight, there were no disruptions in the workload, and they were able to complete both assignments ahead of schedule. Both companies had agreed to schedule the grand openings a week apart so the designers could attend the celebrations.

The night of the Struther’s grand opening Gavin Carr graciously held up a class of champaign as he toasted Vital Décor. “Rog was correct. You are a very talented designer. Your concept was what the company had in mind.”

“I am glad you are satisfied with Vital Décor’s work,” Stefani said, trying to keep her composure intact.

Across the room, Rog conversed with several businesspeople from the community. Stefani caught his attention and motioned for him to meet her by the front door.

“I want to thank you for your help.”

Rog shook his head. “I only gave them your business card. You did the rest.”

“This isn’t going to be easy. We have a lot to overcome,” Stefani said as she stretched out her hand.

“From this day forward, I will prove to you that the love I have for you is undeniable,” Rog said as he took her hand in his. “Can I take you home, Red?” Rog asked.

Rog smiled as he opened the passenger door, and Stefani settled into the Beamer where she belonged.

Once again, when Rog pushed the start button, it initiated a roar from the engine and his heart.