In over her head ( closed - pm first )

[zydrate]

Charlotte (Charlie) Kendall

Paulie's Diner, 74th & Welsh, NYC

2 Years. It had been 2 years since I had left him.

Left him. Left our marriage.

Well, technically, we were still married. At least on paper.

I knew Andrew didn't want to see me but I could tell when I had called him earlier in the week, he was surprised to hear from me. Although when I asked him to meet me, he didn't sound too thrilled because I'm sure he knew I only wanted one thing.

Money.

No, I wasn't going to blackmail Andrew out of money. I needed money because of a little gambling problem I had.

Yeah...I admit it. Usually I was able to dig myself out of the debts I acquired but not this time. I had been in too deep for this one. I needed $50k by the end of the week or else I was dead.

That's what happens to one who borrows from the Russian Mob.

Originally it had been $10k...but you know, interest and all...

He was about 20 minutes late. Even though he said he would meet me, I wasn't sure if he really would or not. Not after what I did to him...marrying him for his money and then leaving him shortly after...

I had no one else to turn to as much trouble as I was in, knowing it could cost me my life, I wanted to live.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Are you sure this is wise sir?”

Andrew sighed contemplating both the question and his small tumbler of Disarona. Was this a good idea? He asked himself that several times this morning getting up and another several more at breakfast. He still didn’t know the right answer on the one hand what he was doing wasn’t strictly bad on the other hand it could destroy him all over again.

Kendall

Part bombshell Part hellion and all trouble he should have known better than to think she was with him for him. She seemed down to earth when they met seduced him quite easily (but really he hadn’t put up any fight on that score) and within weeks of meeting they were married. He couldn’t help himself he fell in love with her the moment they met she had an infectious personality she seemed interested in him and not his money, why wouldn’t he have fallen for her? She seemed so….. so….

Genuine

It was only after he came back from a business trip four months into their relationship and found his bank accounts drained and her gone that he realized the truth. That he saw her aggressive spending and pursuit of wealth for what it was.

That she was only with him for the money

All his friends said to forget it that she wasn’t worth it but none of them had a broken heart, none of them were in love with her and as the days turned into weeks and then months and years Andrew simply couldn’t seem to nurse his heart back to health. He lost faith in love and relationships instead throwing himself into his business and doubling his money.

Was that why she got back in contact with him? Some two years later? Andrew wouldn’t give her a dime of his money she had to know that? Yet why else would she call and arrange a meet? It wasn’t like she actually loved him or liked him and thre was no reason for them to talk otherwise… No this was about money it had to be.

So why was he going?

“We are here” Ian his best friend and partner said opening the door “I urge you to reconsider”

“I need closure” Andrew said smoothing his expensive charcoal grey Kingston suit and adjusting his Oxfords “I promise I will be okay”

“If you say so”

He stepped out onto the street pushing his gold rimmed aviators up, his hands gripped the golden cane and he moved forward ignoring his limp. After ten years of having the damn thing it still itched! Maybe it was a warning to get away and that nothing good would come of it.

He spotted her easily drawing in a shaky breath; he ran a hand through his long brown hair inwardly cursing his beating heart. His brilliant amethyst eyes took her in trying no to stare.

She still had it

“She’ll break your heart” Andrew reminded himself and shook his head he kept walking forward reaching her table and clearing her throat.

“Hello Charlie”

 

[zydrate]

That voice.

Andrew's voice always sent shivers through Charlotte. It was a deep resonating sound that she loved to hear. It was one of the many reasons she had fallen for him. Truthfully, it was never the money.

Hell, she didn't even know he had money until their third date and by then, it was too late. Money or no, she was in love with him.

Not was. Still. She was still in love with him.

It had all come back to her when she saw that he arrived. There was no way Charlie could do this to him. She didn't want to ask him for money. Rumor was that he was hurt with her leaving and that made her hurt too.

But this damn addiction was running her life now. She didn't want to drag him down with her.

"Andrew..." she said breathlessly as she stood and started toward him but stopped. Charlie wasn't sure what to do...shake his hand...she wanted to hug him but even that seemed odd...besides, he didn't look like he would accept it. "I'm glad you could make it."

She nodded to the seat across from her at the table, "Have a seat...please?"

 

[silvertongue217]

“Of course” Andrew said stiffly uncomfortable. She was still so damn pretty! With nice warm features and that smile that captured him when they first met. He had come here trying to convince himself that he wasn’t still in love with her and was doing it for closure but that clearly wasn’t the case he was still head over heels for her which made her dangerous depending on what she wanted.

He had a feeling it wasn’t him

He pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit down before taking his own seat. He was ever the southern gentleman he claimed to be when they first met.

“I will take a glass of water please” He said to the waitress that appeared “and a cheeseburger” He said placing his order before turning to her and looking her up and down.

“You know it isn’t fair that you still look that beautiful” He remarked trying to dissipate the tension before growing serious “So Charlie why did you contact me?”

 

[zydrate]

Charlie blushed and looked down when he said she still looked beautiful, "Yeah, well, you're still as handsome as ever Andrew.."

She looked at him. Charlie knew she had hurt him. She could tell it from his eyes. She had also betrayed him.

God, she couldn't do this. She couldn't ask for the money from him. Not after everything she had put him through. She didn't want to admit but yes, she still loved him.

There hadn't been anyone ever since she left him...

"What do I want?" It wasn't what she wanted, it was what she needed. Money. But again, she wasn't going to ask him..not anymore. Instead, she held in a breath as she reached into her purse and pulled out a bundle of papers.

Divorce papers.

"I...uhh..." she sighed and quickly wipe a lone tear that fell from her eyes, "I know I hurt you Andrew...I can say I'm sorry but I don't think there are enough words to say it. So...yeah.." she pushed them toward him. "I figure this is what is needed seeing as how I'm going to be going away for a long time..."

If I'm not killed first... She thought as she watched him. It was hard to gauge his reaction when he slowly took the papers.

 

[silvertongue217]

Andrew took the papers weighing them in his hand. After two years this was the end? He had a hard time believing that no more than he believed this was why she really brought him over here. Her words hinting that she would be going away for a long time also spoke volumes of what was really going down. There was some thing there some thing she wasn’t telling him.

She was in trouble

Andrew pushed the papers back “this isn’t what you cam here about is it?” Andrew said softly raising an eyebrow “It couldn’t have been not with the way your acting and what your saying….. no your in trouble and you came here to ask for my help”

“So why don’t you?” Andrew asked leaning back “you had no trouble taking money from me before and running off and I doubt you were in trouble then what changed? What’s preventing you from coming here and asking what you really want from me?”

 

[zydrate]

"OK...I deserved that.." Charlie said before taking a sip from her glass of iced water. "Yes it has to do with money but with what I did to you...I can't bring myself to even ask you for money. I've literally dug my own grave with what I've gotten myself into and even though I still love you, I can't do it. I figure that this is the safest way to go. Sign the papers, you'll be done with me and they won't come after you after I'm gone."

It was for safety as well as her own. She had to remember that. There was no way he loved her anymore, that much she knew. "Look, just sign the papers Andrew and I'll be out of you life..."

 

[silvertongue217]

Andrew starred at her for a long time, a long enough time for the silence to be awkward and very pointed. He starred at her almost analyzing her before he finally pushed the papers back again.

“No”

“Here is what is going to happen instead” Andrew said leaning in to look at her and make sure she was paying attention “I will pay whatever your debt is in full I will not divorce you and we will continue to be married because I am in love with you just as much as you are in love with me we will however or well you will go to rehab and work on your addiction we will start off slow and get our life back on track and continue to be happily in love” He said reaching out and placing a hand on hers.

 

[zydrate]

"Andrew..." Charlie said, shaking her head in denial.

No...he couldn't do this. He was always saving her, "I can't let you do this...I love you, I do and I know you love me but... it's a lot of money and the people I owe it to.."

She was making excuses, she knew that. "Baby, it's just better if I go and don't return...please, just sign the papers..." she was extremely near tears as she felt him grab her hand and pulled her to him, making her sit on his lap..

 

[silvertongue217]

“Nonsense” He said stroking her hair resisting the urge to breath in her scent. He didn’t know what caused him to pull her onto his lap but whatever it was he knew it was the right thing to do instantly every thing rushed back to him the feel of her and her scent countless memories flashed before his eyes of their time together.

Before it all went to shit

“If you would listen to me I would tell you I don’t want to go any where” He told her more firmly “I love you and you love me I don’t care how much it is I only care about you getting help after we pay these people whoever you and I will go away and get you into counseling some where you can heal without any one bothering us”

 

[zydrate]

She wrapped her arms around his huge shoulders as she rested her head near his neck and nuzzled him, finally relaxing against him. Again, she couldn't believe what he was saying. Like it or not, although she liked it a lot, she was stuck with him.

That thought just made her feel so bad for what she did to him..."I think I'm beyond help Andrew..." Charlie sighed, "And where would we go?" He always like to travel and she did too...but she liked to gamble more.

Yeah, she needed help, that much was for sure.

 

[silvertongue217]

“I did have one place in mind” Andrew said evenly pulling away from her and clearing his throat “there is a rehab center in the Carribean discreet and very well known for getting results if you agree we will both go there I will be close by and you can even come home for the weekends plus if any one from your past does come looking we will be long gone”

He leaned in pushing a few stray locks of her hair back and then cupping her cheek “I hope you make the right decision and agree for both of our sakes and for love I love you very much Charlie and I always will but this addiction is preventing us from being together” He said getting up.

“Take some time to think about it” He said handing her his card though he doubted she needed it “You have to decide what you love more me or gambling” He finally said turning and walking off leaving her to her thoughts.

 

[zydrate]

It was a good half hour before Charlie left the diner. She contemplated what Andrew had said. He was right, of course, but she was shocked that he was willing to take her back and at the same time, pay off her debts.

God, she didn't deserve him.

No, she couldn't take his money. Yes, she loved him very much which was why she needed to take care of this on her own.

From this point on, she vowed not to gamble anymore. She needed to get her life on track. She needed Andrew to see she was serious about all wanting to fix things. No, she would do this on her own.

The first thing she needed to do was go and talk to the men who she owed the money to.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Follow her”

“Yes sir” The cabbie said pulling out of the shadows of a building and following the target. Andrew watched her carefully making sure the cab didn’t lose her as they moved through the city. He was mad to be doing this! But he had no choice he knew her well well enough to know she was going to try and take care of this on her own. If she was desperate to come to him then the people she was dealing with probably weren’t nice.

And she was in danger

So he would take care of it and take care of her and then hopefully they would have their happily ever after. He wanted it, needed it just like he needed her. In truth he would pay any amount of money to get it for them and to keep her safe.

She finally ended up at a nice business office this was who she owed money to? It had to be some thing more like the mob perhaps? The thought of dealing with gangsters made him nervous but he quickly fell back on his military training stealing his shoulders squaring his jaw and waiting to follow her into the building.