Page 38 of Completely Captivated
“Will my memory ever come back?”
“Since the concussion was minor, I’d like to think your memory will return fully.Most symptoms and injuries to the brain are unfortunately a ‘wait and see’ type of diagnosis.You’ll need to take it easy over the next couple of weeks.Avoid too much stress, too much stimulation.Give your body time to fully heal, and your memories could return.It may be a little at a time, it may be all at once.Or it may be not at all.”
No stress.No stimulation.For two weeks?Yeah.That’ll happen.
Aaron slid behind the wheel of his Jaguar and used the solitude of his car to collect his thoughts.“I’m stressed just thinking about going back to the office, over every single thing that’s happened with Christa.I don’t fucking want to go to San Diego.”
Resigned to the unavoidable waiting argument with Lance, he drove to their office building on autopilot, barely remembering the trip once he’d arrived.The last time he’d been there was with Christa, dropping the surprise divorce bomb on her.So many aspects of that trip were the same.Ty was at his guard station.Employees hustled around him with determined strides, the next big meeting waiting in the wings.
Yet nothing felt the same.
No Stress, No Excitement
“You are going, and that’s the end of the conversation,” Lance bellowed, his voice carrying through the closed door and across the rows of cubicles.Heads turned and eyes widened, but no one appeared overly surprised at his outburst.
“I just left the doctor’s office.He gave strict instructions—no stress, no excitement.Rest for two weeks.”
Lance stopped and, for once in as long as Aaron could remember, real concern for his little brother covered his expression.“What else did he say?That little whore drugged you, didn’t she?”
“No, Lance, she didn’t, and don’t talk about her like that.I fell and hit my head with no help from her.Logan was with me when I did it.The doctor thinks I had a post-traumatic seizure from the concussion late Sunday night, and that impaired my memory.Lay off her already.She didn’t do anything wrong—I did.”
“You sure as hell did.Now all of this is documented in your medical history.It could cast doubt over whether you knowingly entered the marriage.”The anger and disappointment in his eyes were back, wordlessly berating Aaron’s stupidity.
“Are you kidding me right now?My memory from the past week or so is gone, but you’re only worried about what she could use against me in court?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant.This conversation is over.I’m done.I’m not going to San Diego.I’m not meeting with the new client.I’m not wasting my time finding the perfect models.If it’s so important to you, then go do it yourself.”He strode the door, and Lance stopped him just before his hand touched the knob.
“Aaron, I’m sorry.Of course I’m worried about you.Your health, the business you’ve helped build, and your future.You’re my younger brother.I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“I don’t need another father.You’re mybrotherand business partner.Act like it.”
“You’re right.I’m sorry, okay?I haven’t even had a chance to tell you I’m going on this trip with you.You’ve been stressed, and I thought you could use some R&R at the beach.A warm, sunny location.We can be two brothers simply having a little fun instead of working nonstop for a change.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.I’ll handle all the contract negotiations, and you handle finding the perfect faces and bodies for the campaigns.”
“This isn’t like you at all.You’re not a nice person.You’re never supportive.Why now?”
“Because I’ve been a dick, and I realize it.”
“Huh.You talked to Mom.Told her everything.She crawled up your ass, so you’re acting like the good son again.”
“No.I just calmed down and acknowledged your well-being is more important than anything else.This trip is a chance for us to be brothers.”
“I’m not staying two weeks, Lance.I’ll find the talent, and then I’m leaving.”
Lance nodded without giving a verbal agreement, but that was fine with Aaron.When Aaron was nowhere to be found, Lance would realize he’d meant exactly what he said.Aaron’s sense of obligation to his brother and their company wouldn’t allow him to leave Lance in the lurch at the last minute.But he vowed that trip would be the last time he put the company ahead of his own needs.
“As good as you are at your job, it’ll probably be no more than a long weekend away.”Lance slapped him on the back and smiled encouragingly.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?”
Lance chuckled and dropped his eyes to the floor.“If you have to ask that, I guess I’ve been a real dick to you.”
“You know you have.Ever since—”
