I am switching the story from third to first person so there will be instances of the two points of view.  

I stomped out of the hospital and rushed to the car park. Chris had made me lose my temper once again. There was a limo waiting and the driver approached me.

"Ms Perkins? " I looked at the uniformed man in puzzlement.

"Yes," I said slowly.

He tipped his hat and opened the car door.

"Ms Megan instructed me to take you back to the house and then to the airstrip." I looked at him for a moment and entered the vehicle. If I was going to be raped and murdered; let O'Connor feel the regret.

Luckily, everything was fine and as I pulled into my driveway I was super tired. A nap on the helicopter was almost impossible. The whirring of the helicopter blades was noisy and distracting. Plus I had been too emotional to sleep.

I was still fuming and angry. I was not going to let Chris get the better of me. I had to wash him out of my mind. The vindictiveness of that lout. He was the most ungrateful creature ever to walk this earth.

On Monday when I returned to work I would ask to leave his management team. I did not want to work with him much less see him again. How could I have let myself be dragged in by him?

I had made a colossal mistake and I had to fix it now.

I was too flustered and tense to stay in my home, so I drove to my parents' home. I needed some parental comfort.

My mother looked at me gave me a big hug.

"Oh my poor darling you look exhausted." She ushered me inside.

"I am worn out but okay." I said entering the front room where my dad was propped up watching TV.

"Hi Daddy." I said going over to embrace him.

"My pumpkin, how are you feeling?" he said. I snuggled next to him and pulled my feet under me.

"I'm just tired but how is your ankle?" I asked looking at his taped up foot.

"It's good," he said then smiled cheekily as my mother went into the kitchen. "Your mom has been treating me like a king, I can't complain."

"Oh Dad!" I said laughing.

"So what has my girl looking so angry." My father asked staring at me with concern.

My mother re- entered the room with three steaming mugs.

"Here you go my darlings, coffee for you dear and a nice ginger tea for you Rhee." My mother said handing us our mugs.

"Thanks dear." My Dad said.

"Oh Mom you always know what makes me feel good." I said accepting my mug.

"So Rhee why are you looking ready to blow your top?" My father asked again.

"Oh Daddy, it was horrible!" I then recounted the whole drama with Chris including the bits from the hospital.

"Honey, you must feel awful." My mother said afterwards.

"I will have to deal with that young man." My dad said firmly.

"It's okay, it's my fault, and I crossed the boundaries which I should never have done." I admitted.

"You did wrong to sleep with him but he had no right to treat you that way." My mother said steadfastly.

"Thanks mom, but it is my mess. I will fix it." I said wistfully.

"It will work out fine." My dad said. "You are usually level headed but I guess we all make mistakes. Look at me!" he said pointing to his bandaged foot and we all laughed.

My parents were so supportive, they had not berated me for sleeping with Chris but accepted my deed and gave me the comfort that I needed.

I spent the rest of the week and weekend watching old sitcoms with my dad and cooking with my mom. It was relaxing and made me forget Chris O'Connor and the pain he had wreaked on my heart.

I woke up early Monday morning and bid my parents farewell knowing that the next few hours were not going to be easy. They encouraged me to do what was best to make the situation better.

I dressed in a pinstripped navy blue skirt suit and put my hair into a tight low slung ponytail. It was sedate and very formal. I stepped into the office building aware that Mr. Frenkin was not going to be pleased with me. As I stepped out of the elevator he was waiting for me outside his office. It seems my presence had already been announced. He looked at me and I got the message as I followed him into his sanctum.

He sat down, tipped back his chair and breathed deeply.

"I received a very long email from Chris O'Connor over the  last week. He was very displeased to say the least by your actions. He wants an apology from you." I had already prepared myself for the worst.

Mr. Frenkin stood up and walked to the window.

"Rhysa, you're my best executive but what is wrong with you and Chris O'Connor?" he asked turning to look at me with a puzzled look on his face.

I could not tell him that I had slept with a client, I wasn't that dumb but I needed to pacify the situation properly.

"Mr. Frenkin, Mr O'Connor is too demanding and unrealistic. I want to quit his management team. I don't want to work with a man who is self-righteous and manipulative." I said confidently.

"You can't." My boss sat down and put his elbows on the desk and stared me straight in the eyes. "O'Connor is a massive contract. This could make or break us and whatever went down in that cottage. I want you to suck it up and apologise to the man!"

I stood up angrily, "No, give me another case, I want off the team."

"O'Connor specifically wants you to continue to manage the project." My boss divulged looking at me quizzically.

"He what!" I tried to rein my temper. The man is a sadist, what game was he playing now.

"Rhysa, he said you showed no remorse for your actions and that his stay in hospital is largely due to your negligence."

This time I was unable to leash my anger. I slammed my fist on the desk in front of me.

"Remorse for what, he came to the cottage in the middle of the night, he frightened me, he injured himself, he had me awake all night taking care of him when there was no electricity and my mobile had no signal so I could not contact anyone!" I stopped and looked at my boss who was staring at me shocked at my outburst.

"He wants an apology for what? Tell me what should I apologise for? For helping the sick bastard! I refuse to work with such a jerk and if you do not accept that then I quit!" I collected my things and walked out of the office.

I was heaving as I walked to my office. Eyes were busily looking everywhere but at me as I walked past.

"Get me some boxes to pack my stuff!" I informed my secretary before I entered my office.

How dare he demand an apology? He was just jealous and vindictive! To think I even felt that I had feelings for him.

"Never! Never again!" I screamed as I started to remove my personal stuff from the drawers of my desk.

There was a knock on my door and it opened. Mr Frenkin stood there. He cleared his throat. "May I come in?"

I nodded as he entered and closed the door behind him.

"Rhysa I do not know why you and O'Connor do not get along but he is a big client and he wants this company and he specifically wants you—listen, you are my best executive. You know the ropes and I would loathe losing you over this misunderstanding." Mr. Frenkin stated purposefully.

"Sir, I can't work with him. I just can't." I was resolute in my decision.

"Rhysa compromise with me please, you are the best and I still need you to work on this." Mr Frenkin sounded desperate. "I will set Greg and Lucinda to do the communications with him but you will okay the final work. You do not have to see him or speak to him but I need your input for this to be successful."

I stopped and looked at my boss. He had always been a business minded person who showed little emotion and I could see that he valued my work. I could walk away now or ride out O'Connor.

"Fine," I said after long thought.

My boss smiled. "Thank you for reconsidering, I will ensure that we smooth out the kinks but let us finish this deal and move on."

"Lucinda and Greg will go over to his home today; they will conduct the final transactions and report to you later."

"Fine, sir?" I said a bit relieved.

Mr. Frenkin walked to the door and put his hands on the knob. He stopped and turned to me.

"Rhysa, whatever happened between you and O'Connor I hope it will not spill into your relationships with other clients."

I looked at Mr. Frenkin and he gave me a knowing look. I smiled.

"It won't sir." Was all I said as he exited my office.

I sunk into my chair. That was a tough hurdle but I had overcome it.

The rest of the day was uneventful except for my colleagues' sombre tones when they approached me. I didn't need their sympathy. I needed protection from Chris O'Connor.

Lucinda returned that day with a glowing report on Chris O'Connor and how great he was and grateful that Lucinda would be handling his communications now.

"Chris was so accommodating." Lucinda was continuing her adulation. "He wanted me to tell you that he held no ill will toward you."

"Really?" I questioned.

"Yeah he said although the two of you may have some slight differences, he accepts that we all have faults." Lucinda went on to say.

"He did now?" I was truly sceptical. The lout was not to be trusted.

"Yeah, he really is cool; it's a pity you two don't get along. He is such a nice guy." Lucinda's eyes were all ablaze.

"He is a client may I remind you and he is the world's biggest womaniser so keep it professional." I warned her. She turned red and bowed her head.

"I-I... well....he was just, I have a boyfriend... I was just being friendly." She stuttered. I felt awful but I was a bit peeved.

"Just keep that in mind. Thanks for the update. You may leave." I was firm and final.

Lucinda stood up and left my office quietly. Her eyes were full of tears. Maybe I was too harsh with her but her interaction and glowing commentary about Chris just made me angry. Was I jealous? I hated him of course I wasn't.

The lout knew that technically I was still in charge and Lucinda was just the liaison. He was probably getting his kicks from knowing that Lucinda was reporting back to me.

The next day I sent a card to Chris and a Zimmer frame showing my empathy. I was going to take the high road let him wallow in his guilt.

It was petty but what the heck! He deserved it.

.................................................................................................................................................................

Two months later

"Hey mom, what's up?" I greeted answering my mobile while I did some stretches after my evening jog.

"We're fine honey you know your dad and his back, but he won't do the exercise." She complained. My mom had joined this yoga/ tai chi class and enrolled my dad who had strong opposition to doing "weird girly exercises."

"So has he gone to any classes as yet?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh no! He drops me off and waits in the car!" My mother sounded exasperated.

"Why not invite Aunt Jaine and Uncle Harry, maybe with another male around he might be tempted?" I suggested.

"That is a great is idea Rhee! I will call her now she will love it and maybe that sausage will decide to do something instead of wasting my enrolment fee!" My mother sounded quite pleased with the idea. I could hear the clocks ticking in her head.

"By the way, we're invited to a barbecue this Saturday actually." My mother informed me a bit quietly.

"A barbecue? Who is hosting it and why am I only finding out about it on Thursday?" I questioned my mother and realised there was something very sneaky about this 'barbecue'."

"I met this wonderful lady a couple of weeks ago and she is new to the neighbourhood so her son is hosting a kind of meet and greet barbecue to welcome her to the area." My mother supplied.

"How come I have never heard of this friend until now? " I asked still curious as to this new development.

"I thought I did mention her some time ago." I shook my head slowly my mother was too skilful. 

"You will come Rhysa." My mother inserted slyly.

"So this new friend just happens to have a son? And I'm sure this son happens to be around my age?" I asked realising a set up all too clearly.

"He is great guy, real down to earth." My mother unashamedly said. " He is very confident and some may misunderstand that for arrogance but it is a great trait to have!"

"Mom, I am barely over the O'Connor thing, I can't enter a relationship now!" I protested. " Stop trying to sell this guy to me. He sounds like an arrogant prick."

"Honey you need a man, 'the O'Connor thing' proves you need someone in your life. You're beautiful, successful and in need of a man. Work should not be the only thing in your life!" I groaned loudly at my mother's words. "Now I would not even think of setting you up with this guy but he is great even your dad likes him."

That had me to pause...my dad never likes anyone. Well he had liked Chris but that was an exception.

"I expect you to pick us up around three; you know your Dad can't drive at night. I love you; see you Saturday!" my mother rang off quickly.

I ended the call and sighed. Just what I did not need ..... another distraction.