Henrick Larsen stands over his desk, flipping through a manuscript. He glances up as James enters, a bright smile crossing his face. “Hello, Henrick!” James said in greeting, a wide grin on his face. “James! About time you showed up, buddy.” Henrick said excitedly! “Henrik! Sorry, I'm a bit late, got caught up in traffic. How have you been?” James said smiling. “Never better. Now, let me introduce you to someone special.” Henrick led James towards Estel’s room. He knocked once and let himself in. Estel was focused on editing a manuscript at her desk. “Who's that?” James whispered to Henrick while observing Estel. “That, my friend, is Estel Bremmer, our brilliant editor. She's the one who works her magic on manuscripts, turning coal into diamonds.” Henrick said proudly. “She sounds like someone worth knowing.” James was impressed. Henrick strides over to Estel's desk, motioning for James to follow. Estel looks up, momentarily startled by their approach. She and Henrick had just
She had caught him several times looking at her plight with a stoic delight, which had the effect of making her feel sick. As she saw him lean down to kiss his current admirer quickly, she thought bitterly that Michael was proving to be a master at torturing people in every way possible. Every single thing that he said to her was intended to be hurtful, and every single glance that he gave her was scornful. He was wringing his pound of flesh out of her with a seeming lack of effort, and Estel had not yet mustered the willpower to deny him the gratification he was seeking. In due course, she will. She came to the awareness that despite the cloud of misery she was moving through these days, she acquired hope as a result of the revelation. It was the only thing that had allowed her to make it through this incapacitating event. She could not have done it without it. But she was not at that place yet, and she glanced down at her watch with depressing melancholy to see that it would be at l
Estel understood that his emphasis on the term "young" in his dismissal of Piers was directed more at her ears than those of Piers. On the other hand, it had the opposite impact of humiliating her dignity. As Michael pulled her away with him, she offered Piers an apologetic, lovely grin. Then she transformed it into a sneer as she was forced to follow along in Michael's wake. She snarled at him and said, "What do you think you're doing, Michael?" as he flung her light jacket over her shoulders and shoved her out the door. "What do you think you're doing?" "You didn't even apologize to the hosts for leaving early!" "Yes, I did," he said in a voice that was taut with rage that was under control. "I'm not quite the barbarian you think I am." She allowed herself to respond to him in a way that had a double meaning by saying, "You don't know how I think of you." She continued while in the throes of her own rage, "But wouldn't you have been slightly embarrassed if I had refused to leave w
It didn't take long for him to answer. "Everything you say is true, Estel," he said, without Estel being able to detect any softening in his tone. "But that doesn't change the fact that the child was mine." Since it was evident that you did not want it, you should have had the courtesy to inform me about it so I could take it and bring it up on my own. "And how was I to know that, Michael?" Estel said as she turned to see his rigid and uncompromising face. Her eyes glowed with the anguish and rage she felt."I didn't know you," she said with self-righteous indignation. "I'm sorry." And I didn't care for the parts of you I knew about. How exactly was I supposed to know that you wouldn't laugh in my face when you ultimately failed to live up to your responsibilities?" The response from Michael was softly implacable; he said, "All you had to do was ask," but you didn't. You just hurried to a doctor, and—" He cut herself off, the ferocity that lurked just beyond the surface of his civiliz
"Michael, please!" Please don't do this again! "Estel fought for her life while still in his arms, having the terrifying impression that she was reliving the past. When he continued to ignore her, Estel's desperation rose to the point that she asked Michael, "What's to stop me from having another abortion?"The only way she could think of stopping what was happening was to say something she knew she would never do. It was the only way she could think to stop what was happening. "How would you be able to prevent it?" "I'll stop you, Estel," Michael said as he stood still just outside the entrance to her bedroom and looked down at her with eyes that sparkled in a threateningly brilliant light. If you persist in behaving in such a manner, I will secure you in a location until the moment that you give birth to your baby." It was absurd, but Estel was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Her common sense told her that Michael couldn't succeed at something like that, and her heart
Estel was sitting in the aircraft seat next to Michael. She had her hands neatly folded in her lap and looked intently at the dazzling brightness of a large diamond nestled against the simple gold of a wedding band. Even though anyone who cared to look could verify her marital status, she did not have the mindset of a married person. She felt isolated, empty, and intimidated by the magnitude of the challenge ahead of me. She couldn't help but let out a small sigh as she tilted her head to gaze out the window at the beautiful sky and white clouds. Their unspoiled splendor inspired her to struggle against the melancholy threatening to consume her, even though this wouldn't be useful to her in the conflict she was engaged in. She longed for Michael to engage in some sort of conversation with her, even if it were just a superficial small chat. Because of this, there is a greater chance that they will start to interact with one another on a more intimate level than the monosyllabic requi
When the captain's voice came over the loudspeaker to announce their arrival in Aspen, the moment was lost in the general commotion of buckling seat belts and stowing goods away in preparation for landing. Michael looked at her for a long while before the captain's voice came over the loudspeaker. Albert greeted them at the airport, giving Estel a lengthy look that was simultaneously compassionate, interested, and celebratory. Estel was pleased to see him, and in an outpouring of devotion, she gave him a hug and a kiss, which caused his wrinkled face to break out in a happy, somewhat embarrassed smile. She greeted him with a kind grin and inquired, "How are you, Albert?" "And how are Shayne and Mandy?" Estel was even more glad now that she had written to the Jones after her return to New York under false pretenses to explain as best she could. Why she had found it essential to remain there instead of returning to Aspen as she had said she would. Estel told them it was necessary to s
Estel continued to gaze at him, her emotions vacillating between hesitation and an almost overpowering urge to accept Michael's request. Because it was the first sign he'd given in days that he felt anything more for her than complete disinterest. She was willing to forego her doubts and use this first opportunity to get to know him more intimately. Her common sense told her that it stemmed only from Michael's sexual nature and not from anything meaningful. She couldn't fathom the change in his attitude. Still, she would use it to get to know him more personally. However, her throat began to close up when she tried to say yes. As a result, she only nodded her head and proceeded toward his bedroom on feet that appeared to barely touch the earth. Her belongings were in his room, and Estel breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Michael wouldn't make her return to her old room, as she had a nagging suspicion that he might. A situation like that would have made her job much more