The next day, I walked into the restaurant expecting Eric to already be there. He hadn't arrived yet, even though I left the office later than I planned. The hostess sat me at our usual window booth and handed me a menu. I sat facing the entrance so I would see Eric when he walked in, studying the menu while I waited.

I was starving as I had spent most of the morning setting up my brand new office on the Architect and Design level of the firm. It wasn't as big as any of the offices the Herman men had, but it was a perfect size for me. Plus, I had a lovely view from the wall of windows, three panes long to be exact.

Just as I was about to text Eric to find out where he was, I looked up and saw him walking in. He was dressed in a perfectly pressed gray suit, with a simple white collared shirt, and royal-blue tie. It was almost a weird feeling that I felt nothing at seeing him. I was so used to always looking at him with love or lust, that seeing him as just another person felt almost alien. But in a good way.

"Eric!" I waved him over.

"Hi," he greeted as he slid into the seat across from me. "Sorry for running late, I was stuck in a meeting that ran longer than planned." He picked up his menu and looked it over.

I looked back at mine too, even though I already knew what I wanted. "It's fine. I figured something came up."

The server came over a few minutes later and took our order. I watched him walk back to the bar to get our drinks. I ordinarily didn't like drinking during working hours, but I had a feeling I was going to need something stronger than soda to get through lunch with Eric.

"So, how's work?" He asked, unwrapping his utensils from the cloth napkin.

"Good. I just spent all morning setting up my new office."

He looked confused. "New office?"

I realized then that I didn't tell him about my job change. "Yeah, I was actually promoted to Director of Construction. Mr. Herman offered me the position yesterday."

Eric's jaw dropped. "Congratulations! I knew you said you were going to lead that project you mentioned yesterday. I didn't realize that included a legit promotion!"

The server returned with my white wine and Eric's ginger-ale. I waited for him to leave before taking my first sip. To be honest, it was more like a mini-gulp. Even that small taste of the liquid courage made me feel a little more relaxed.

"So," I took another quick swig of my wine. "Should we just get down to business about what you wanted to talk about?"

He nodded slowly. "I guess so. I don't even know where to start."

I huffed. "You and me both. I guess we need to establish what it means to be in an open relationship. I Googled to see if I could get a better understanding of it. However, everything I read was for couples who have been together, or married, for a long time and were just wanting to expand the sexual side of their relationship."

"Yeah. That sounds about right," he agreed. "What I was thinking was we'd only really be married on paper. You could still live in your apartment and do whatever you want with whoever you want, and I would do the same. Then we'd just kinda come together when we have events or family visiting."

I circled my fingers around the stem of my glass as I processed what he suggested. "Okay... Well, what happens when we find someone we actually want to marry?"

"I don't think that'll be an option. According to my mother, divorce looks bad for politics. If I want to show my supporters how dedicated I am to them, I have to show that I have a solid home foundation. If they see that I went from one marriage to another, they'll think it's a sign of someone unstable or someone who can't be trusted."

I stared at him in disbelief. "That can't possibly be true. I mean, look at who's currently running the country. Didn't he have like five wives?"

Eric laughed. "No, he had three. And besides, he's really the exception to the rule."

Our food arrived. I thanked the server and grabbed the salt and pepper, sprinkling each over my baked chicken dish.

"I don't get it. If you don't want to marry me and you can't get a divorce because of the stupid political game, why go through with this? Wouldn't it be better to just take a blow now before you even begin going down that path?" I asked as I cut into the chicken.

He stabbed at his steamed vegetables with his fork. I couldn't help but watch it as it lingered in mid-air while he spoke. "If our wedding date wasn't four weeks away, I would agree." He drew his fork into his mouth and continued as he chewed. "But by now everyone's already made their hotel and travel bookings. Plus, they probably have spent hundreds or some, even thousands, on new outfits for the event and gifts. Not to mention the amount of money both our families have spent on all the wedding details. It just doesn't seem like very good timing!"

His reasons, except for maybe the last one, didn't sound like they were enough for me to justify going through with this. "There's never good timing in this kind of thing. Besides, I'm sure they'd understand. And I'll take full blame, no one would think any less of you, Eric."

Growing frustrated, he placed his fork down on his plate a little louder than either of us expected. "Vicky, stop!" He quickly scanned his surroundings, then focused back on me. "Just go with it already. Being married to me won't stop you from being with Ryan fucking Herman if that's who you want."

"Actually, it will," I snapped. "By choosing to marry you, I'm throwing away any chance of a future with him."

He grinned devilishly and huffed. "Don't worry, you're not missing much! He's a worthless piece of crap who only cares about himself."

Who the hell does he think he is? I mean, I understand his ego is bruised, and he's probably lashing out because he lost me to Ryan, but that didn't give him any right to shit-talk the man I loved.

"He's more of a man than you will ever be, Eric," I snarled. "Here you are, still a mama's boy, doing whatever she tells you to do! At least Ryan stands up for what he wants and doesn't cower or conform to appease his family."

He stared at me, clearly thinking long and hard before deciding how to respond to my verbal lashing. "You don't know what it's like being part of a powerful family, Vicky! Sometimes there's no way out without complete destruction. And just wait and see, Ryan may think he's given up on his family and is setting off on his own, but when he sees how little he has without them, he'll be begging to be taken back into the fold of a comfortable and protected family."

I couldn't see Ryan being that way. All the memories I had of him, from college until now, he never seemed to show any connection to the material things around him. Sure, he didn't like taking the subway, and he had some expensive stuff in his office. Though he did live in an upscale apartment in an elite part of the city, I didn't recall him ever really living the way other snobby New Yorkers did. And I knew a lot of them growing up in Florida just as much as in New York.

"He's not like that. And he's nothing like you. You both may come from money and power families, but at least Ryan doesn't have his head stuck in the sand." I was done eating, even though I only had maybe five bites of my food. I wiped my mouth and placed the napkin down on my plate. "And know this, by appeasing to your family's desire to hold onto power, you are holding me hostage. I am only going through with this whole facade because I don't want your family to do anything to my parents and the business they built."

"Vicky-"

"I'm not done." I held up my hand. "Even though I'll be married to you, know that you have zero, and I mean zero, zip, zilch say on what I do with my life. And the day my parents retire, or God forbid, die, I will walk my ass into the best law firm I can find and file for a divorce. And not just any normal divorce. I will make sure that you will lose everything. Including your precious 'powerful Walton family' reputation."

Eric looked mortified and yet impressed at my threat. He even started a slow, solitary clap.

"Are you seriously clapping right now?" I barked.

He nodded and continued to clap a few more times. "You, Victoria Ashcroft, are already turning into my mother. I should extend an official welcome to the 'powerful Walton family' party for you."

I was infuriated! I could see this conversation was pointless, and no matter what argument I threw at him, he wasn't going to let me off the hook for anything. I stood up and looked down at him. "I will forever regret going to your fraternity party the night I met you."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to get you through this." Eric stood too. He towered above me by an inch or so. "I will see you this Friday for dinner with our parents. I'm sure my parents are dying to catch up with yours."

The server rushed back over to hand Eric the check. I used that moment as my chance to leave. I left and didn't look back.

***********

For the rest of the week, I was so busy adjusting and learning my new role as Director of Construction, that I didn't have much time to think about anything or anyone. On Wednesday, I had a dinner meeting with Adam and Mr. Gima's American liaison, Sam, about our upcoming project timeline.

Then on Thursday, I worked until nine at night, finishing up all the tasks I could so that I could take Friday off with a clear conscience. I was so excited that I would see my parents and show them my new apartment. I hadn't actually told them that I had moved out of the apartment I had shared with Eric. It really never came up, but I did tell them I had a big surprise to show them when they arrived.

I spent a good portion of Friday morning deep cleaning my apartment. Having worked so much during the week and dealing with life dramas the week prior, I had let my chores slip. I had kept the surfaces mostly clean and orderly, but the dust and grime that had built up during that time would send my mother spiraling to clean when she was supposed to be taking a break from that stuff. Even if it was just for a weekend getaway.

My phone alarm went off at eleven, reminding me to get ready to head to the airport to meet my parents, who were scheduled to land around noon. I finished up scrubbing the grime around the toilet and flushed the suds, exposing a beautiful, gleaming white porcelain bowl once again. I removed my rubber gloves and threw them back under the kitchen sink.

It had been raining most of the morning, but thankfully by the time I was hopping into a cab, the rain had lightened up. It didn't completely stop, but it didn't slow the cab driver down too much. I got to the airport in record time.

As I waited in the arrival hall's cafe, I enjoyed people watching while sipping a warm cup of coffee. I saw families reuniting with parents, some with grandparents, and even couples who looked like they were waiting forever for their other half to arrive. I loved it all. It was fun trying to guess their stories and who was related to who.

It made me think of ideas of places I wanted to travel to with Ryan. If he still wanted to be with me after I was married to Eric. I wondered how that would work. Would I be able to take trips with Ryan whenever I wanted? Or would I need Eric's approval for everything?

My loving thoughts for one quickly turned into loathing for the other. It had been going on like that all week, and I was getting sick of it. I was hoping to talk to my parents somehow about this and see if they would be able to give me insight. I hated that they were only going to be in New York until Sunday and wouldn't be back until the week of the wedding.

My phone chimed. It was a text for my mom, letting me know they were just at the baggage claim and would be out soon.

It wasn't more than ten minutes later that I saw my mom and dad walking through the security doors that initially separated me from them. I quickly dashed from the table, with my coffee in hand, and practically charged at them with open arms. "Mommy! Daddy! I am so happy to see you!"

I don't know why, but seeing them and feeling the comfort of their loving embrace made me cry.

My mom pulled back first and looked at me. "My sweet Vicky. Are you alright?"

I wiped away my tears. "Yes. I just really missed you and didn't realize how much until I saw you."

"Awe, honey!" My dad kept his arm draped across my shoulder as the three of us made left the terminal. "We missed you too. Is Eric still at work?"

"Yeah. We'll see him later on when we meet up with him and his parents at the restaurant."

We grabbed the first available taxi. The driver hopped out and helped load the small rolling suitcases into the trunk. Then the three of us squeezed in the back seat together. I gave the driver the address for my new place.

"Where are you taking us?" My mom wondered.

I smiled knowingly. "To show you the best view of New York City."