Harrison Towers, Memoirs of a Mogul (Glass Towers Trilogy) (5 page)

I am flying back to Montreal today
. There is a lot on my mind… I need to discuss the future of mine and Marion’s relationship with someone.

Getting to know Adelaide has completely turned my world on axis. I really am quite sure if I marry Marion, it may be the biggest mistake I could ever make in my life. Being this unsure about a life decision, leaves me with no other option.

Marion and I have known each other since we were kids. It is only natural that we should end up as a couple one day. Our families have been pushing for our union ever since we were young. It never occurred to me that there were other choices I could make and alternatives to marrying her. Until now.

After I make my way through customs, I grab my cell out of my pocket.

“Hi, I just made it into town. Can you meet me at Seven Bistro in thirty minutes?”

“Yes, it is important. Okay, thanks father.”

If there is anyone I need solid advice from right now, it is my father.

I arrive at Seven’s and take a seat at the bar. I order a crown and coke, needing something to take the edge off. My mind keeps racing. I keep thinking of Adelaide and her sweet kind ways. Her gentle demeanor and the class she exudes. She is breathtaking. I really can’t seem to get past this.

“Harrison, how was your flight?” I feel my father’s hand placed on my shoulder as I am chugging back my first glass.

“Father, thanks for coming. It was good, thank you.”

“It must be pretty urgent I suspect to get me out of the house at 9PM on a Sunday evening.”

“I don’t think I can go through with it.”

“Harrison. What are you talking about?”

I sigh, “I am talking about my upcoming marriage to Marion. It will not work. She is not the one.”

“She has been the love of your life for all these years Harrison.”

“No, actually she has been you and mom’s choice for me.”

“Do you really feel this way? Are you prepared to throw away all the years and history between you two?”

“Honestly father, I know in my gut that Marion is not the one for me.”

“Have you met someone else? Is there someone else in the picture Harrison?”

“No one serious. So, no.”

“You are young, you have your whole life ahead of you. If in your gut you know Marion is not the one, don’t go through with it. You can’t live your life wondering what if. When you know
she
is the one, you won’t ever be able to let her go.”

“Yes, exactly. I really don’t care to be with Marion for the rest of my life. Do I care for her, yes. Do I love her? I don’t think so.”

“Well son, there is your answer. My advice to you would be to tell her sooner rather than later. The family still thinks there will be a wedding to plan for.”

“Yes. Thanks father, I just needed....”

“Anytime son. You have my complete support. I will handle Marion’s family. You on the other hand will have to speak with Marion, and I suggest this week.”

“She thinks I am coming in tomorrow. I have arranged dinner tomorrow evening and I will take care of it.”

He waves the bartender for another round and then we both head home.

I wake in the morning with a terrible headache. What a wonderful way to start the day. This, on top of getting maybe two hours of sleep last night. This is going to be one hell of a day. I check my email and I have nearly ten from Marion, along with about a dozen voice mails. I guess she got past her computer phobia. I crashed as soon as I got back last night, and I had forgotten to charge up my mobile. Boy that sure was a mistake. The wrath of Marion isn’t pleasant.

“Hi, I just got all of your messages...Marion hold on.”

“Would you please just stop talking for a moment. I crashed last night and didn’t put my mobile on the charger. If you want to spend another hour rehashing why I didn’t call you back last night that is on you. I on the other hand have business to attend to.”

“Yes, I will see you at the restaurant around eight.”

I went for a long run and replayed everything over and over that I want to say to Marion. I decided to meet her in a public place to ease the path of disaster she will inflict my way. I can’t believe I was actually going to go through with this marriage, thinking about her this way. It is almost coming together for me. I really do not see her as the mother of my ‘someday’ children. Have I just been in a fog for all these years? If so, Adelaide has awakened me again. I now see that there is more to my personal life than Marion Devereaux.

I pull up to the restaurant at a quarter to eight and I see Marion’s car in the valet. That is quite surprising, considering she is always late. I walk inside and shake hands with Samson the owner, a long-time family friend.

“She is at the bar Mr. Towers. Oh, and we are looking forward to the big day.” He pats me on the back.

I give him a half smile and head towards the bar. Marion’s back is turned to me and I can tell that she may be on her second round of cosmos by now, because she has made friends with the gentleman next to her.

Before she spots me, I turn around and head back towards the main entrance.

“Samson, can you show Ms. Devereaux to our table when she is ready?”

“Certainly sir.”

“I have a quick call to take in the gentleman’s lounge. Thank you.” I nod and then duck through the door.

I make a quick call to check on the status of a commercial property deal of which I am in the midst of. Now that Marion has had many rounds of drinks, I better get some food into her but keep this brief.

I head back to the table Samson has reserved for us in the private corner of the restaurant. Marion is sitting there with her third drink in hand. I walk to the table and take a seat directly in front of her. This is already awkward.

“Harrison, what is wrong with you? I can tell there is something going on. What happened in New York?”

“There really isn’t any other way....”

“I knew it. I knew it. Who is it? Who is the other woman?” Her voice is loud and she is now standing.

“Excuse me? What are you talking about?” I glance around the room and notice people are looking our direction. “Sit down.” I command.

She scowls at me as she takes her seat opposite me. “You have been avoidant, not answering my calls, wanting to meet for dinner...just get it out already.”

“I honestly feel that I am not the right man for you.”

“What the hell Harrison, who are you fucking?” Her voice is getting increasingly louder.

“Honestly, there isn’t anyone else. I have had a lot of time to reflect while in New York. You know we have spent so many wonderful years together but...”

“Harrison, I am the love of your life. You know that. The one and only love of your life!”

“Oh hell, you were my arranged love. You know that our families planned for us to be together since we were young. Since we were born practically!”

“Yes, and…what is wrong with that? I gave myself to you, YOU and only you. I am your one and only true love.”

“Why do you keep saying that? Don’t you see it? We are an arranged couple. I am not
in
love. You slept with another man practically the minute after I left town and then got knocked up most likely by him. Now I am supposed to marry you. I have a lot more self respect and dignity than that!”

“Oh Harry, surely you know by now the pregnancy was made up. I was never pregnant. I was just trying to get some emotion out of you. I wanted you to feel something for me. You and everyone else played right into it and before long I was in too deep. So I had to make it seem I suffered a miscarriage.”

I am stunned and sickened at the same moment. “What the hell do you mean you made it all up? What kind of person makes up something like that? Do you have no conscience? So was the guy made up too?”

She shakes her head without looking at me. “No I did sleep with him once. But that was it. I hardly think that is enough to throw away our whole relationship. I mean haven’t you had at least one slip while we’ve been together?” She tries to grab my hand but I pull it away.

“No! I never cheated. That’s not how I operate. I am a trustworthy person who let the wrong person occupy my bed for too many years. I don’t want you now nor will I ever.”

“You don’t know what you are saying and you know damned well that was a moment of weakness, one I truly regret. Besides, you do too love me and I love you!” She pauses for a minute then with tears now filling her eyes, “How about all of those promises you made me the night you took my virginity? I would never have given you myself if I had known you were going to give it back.”

She takes another long sip.

“How about the ruckus we made the night you proposed? My whole family was there but you didn’t care. You have made me a sex deviant and now here you sit, throwing me away as if I was yesterday’s trash? I don’t think so Harrison Towers.”

She has thrown back her third Cosmo, and the bartender is heading over with another. I hold up my hand as to stop him from coming in our direction. She must have given orders to keep them flowing. Good lord. She has stopped making sense, her babble is hard to follow.

She looks at me with almost a vacancy. It’s like something else has taken her over it makes me very uncomfortable. It’s as if she is assessing me in some way.

“So are you really just telling me that you want some time apart to think about us? If that is what you are thinking, I will do anything you want. I know we're supposed to be together Harry. I won’t be able to go on living without you.” The desperation in her voice is sickening.

“I don’t know how else to say it, we are over. I have made my decision. Moreover, as for my supposedly taking your virginity…well, you actually threw yourself at me and if I am not mistaken, you actually lost it to Frank Monroe. Besides, we were teenagers. Kids say all sorts of things that aren’t true or they don’t mean. But ultimately, it’s the cheating on me last year and the baby, and all of your attempts to control me that lead me to this conclusion, we just aren’t right. I want to be happy and be able to trust the person I am with. I
don’t
trust you. You are a pathological liar I’m afraid.”

I can see the rage in her eyes building. I can’t believe I was considering marrying a woman who is so crazy and unpredictable. I feel like I have unleashed a monster. Though I know this is a shock to her so I will give her the benefit of letting this process.

“I know that once you take a minute to think about this, you will see that you too will be happier with someone else. For many reasons, we have grown apart and this thing between us is not what makes for a happy marriage.”

She is rapidly shaking her head no. She now seems panicky. “Okay Harry, how about we just take some time apart and put the wedding on hold. I know I am the one for you and you for me. Don’t throw it all away. Take some time and get your head on straight, okay honey?”

I mutter, “Don’t hold your breath.”

“What was that? What did you say? Don’t hold my breath? How dare you Harry, what has gotten into you!”

In literally a millisecond, Marion picks up the nearest full glass that just happened to be ice water, and chucks it at me.

“Shit Marion, calm the hell down. This is exactly why it is not going to work between us!”

“Wake the fuck up Harry...
we
aren’t done yet.”

She stands up, grabs her handbag and storms out of the restaurant. People are now talking and looking in my direction, and I couldn’t give a damn. It appears I have just dodged a major bullet. With her father now paid back, I can start the rest of my life with a clean slate.