My Sweet

JAMES

I walk away from the ladies. I feel lighter, I feel good. No, I feel great!

Liv..

Can one woman crawl under my skin so easily and so soon. I can’t wait to see her again. I like her. A lot!

My phone goes off. Katie. s**t!

" Hey, sis." I try to sound sorry and innocent.

" James Edgar O'Brien! You dropped me you s**t! You better have a good reason for this...."

"I met someone" I know that will shut her up.

"I met someone and she's funny and sweet and bloody adorable. Yes, I said adorable." I ramble.

"Oh my! OH MY!! That is a great reason. I want to know everything. James! I'm so excited. Did you tell mom? She's going to freak! You know, she thought you are gay?..." I smile at my silly little sister..

" Katie, I have to go. I'm meeting her and her sister tomorrow night for drinks at O'Hogan's. You want to come with?"

“Hell Yea!!!”

She's so excited that she ends the call without saying goodbye. Probably to go look what she's going to wear..

I can't get anything done. I daydream about blue/gray eyes smiling at me. Gosh I'm like a love sick teenager.

Tomorrow...

My phone shake me out of my reverie.

"O'Brien."

"James, it's your mother. What do I hear, you met someone? Are you sure you ready? This woman isn't after your money or status?" My overprotective mom.

She wasn't always like that.

Till Jessica..

Jessica was a socialite. She wore the best of everything. She demanded the best. I always thought that was why I love her, because she knew what she wanted and she usually got it. I just didn't know that Aiden, my best friend, was the one she wanted and all my money. She left me with nothing. By the time I realized something is wrong, they were in Spain. Living their happily ever after.

Jessica.. That's definitely a way to f**k up my mood.

" Mom, relax. She didn't even know who I was. She still doesn't really know. She's not a socialite. I don't even know if this is something. We just clicked. Maybe nothing will come of it."

"James, please don't tell me you’re in love with this woman."

"No mom, but I do like her, a lot. Don't worry. She makes everything better. Haven't felt this good in a long time." Mom sighs

" OK James, just be careful. I love you."

"Love you too mom."

I stare at the phone. I want to call her. I want to hear her voice.

I want this pit in my stomach gone. The one that tells me something is going to happen.

"Rachel! Come here please."

Rachel's my PA. She is probably the only woman outside my family I trust.

"Yes, boss. What you want?" She stands ready with her iPad.

Shit, should I do this? Then I hear my mom's voice.

Just be careful

"Can you do some digging for me on someone. Just the basics. I just want to know if my gut is right.. or wrong."

Rachel perks up. She loves this stuff.

"Hell yea! Who is it? New client?"

"No, it's personal." She gives me a big smile.

"Oohh, give it to me.." I hesitate

" Liv Nolan. She's from South Africa. I know she lost her husband 3 years ago, tragically. Her sister name is Em. I don't know if their names are short for something. Liv has 3 kids and she has her own business. That's about it."

I spend a whole morning with them and that's what I know! What did we talk about?

" I'll see what I can do. I'll first try social media then the newspapers. I'll let you know as soon as I get something"

I hope I didn't f**k this up already. I just can't get this s**t feeling off me..

Something is up..

After two conference calls and listening to a bunch of shitty demo's, I take a break.

Don't know who told these people they can sing..

Rachel sticks her head in.

"Can I come in?"

"Yes sure. Got something?" I sit back, thankful for the distraction. Rachel looks sad.

"You OK?" I asked.

"Yes, I found some stuff for you. James, you sure you want this?" I tense up.

Shit! I knew it! Something is off!

" Yes!" I have to know.

"OK. She's not active on social media, anymore. She has a f******k account and a Twitter, but her last activity was 3 years ago. She's 45, has 3 kids. 2 boys and a girl. She has her own bookstore-coffee shop and it's very successful. She gives to charity. So, that's about it."

She doesn't look me in the eye. She's holding something back.

"That's all? Rach, what else? I can see you are holding back."

" James, s**t, I can't. I'll leave it here. I can't tell you.. I won't be able to sleep tonight as it is"

Oh no, no, no, no..

She was perfect till now..

I grab the iPad.

Rachel just summed up what she found.

'Chris and Liv Nolan was hijacked on their way back home. The hijackers tied their hands together and demanded money. As the men went to grab Liv, Chris threw himself in front of his wife. There was a shot fired and Chris died. The suspects ran off with the couple's car and some jewelry.'

I had to stop there. I saw a video link too.

Under it she wrote

DO NOT WATCH THIS!

Who would film something like that?

Liv. .. Jaysus..

She had to be shattered, probably still is. How do you get over something like that? My heart is breaking for her.

I’m going home with a heavy heart. Tonight I have to process everything.

Tomorrow night I'll give Liv a night to remember.

A night she deserves.