remarkable."
Lizzie felt incredibly awkward. Clearly, Dr. Fordham had not heard about the breakup.
"Actually," said Lizzie looking at the floor, "we are no longer together."
Dr. Fordham looked confused. "But Sam just told me ...," she started.
"What did he say?", Lizzie asked surprised.
Dr. Fordham hesitated, clearly not wanting to be in the middle of this discussion. When she answered, it was in a slow and quiet tone.
"He told me you were engaged, happy, and planning an exciting honeymoon on the beach," said Dr. Fordham biting her lower lip after she finished.
"Thank you doctor, but your information is incorrect. I'm sorry." Lizzie paused. "There is someone I need to find. Please excuse me for a moment," said Lizzie as she walked towards the large staircase in the back of the room. She was livid and in shock . What the hell. I can't believe that jerk . Walking up the stairs, she gazed into the room to find Sam. Halfway up the stairs, she peered down to see Dr. Fordham talking with three men in tuxedos. They all looked at the ceiling, and then all looked at Lizzie.
She continued to scan the room for Sam, and spotted him near the bar. He was talking to an older gentleman who was very interested in the details he was pointing out in the room. Determined, Lizzie made her way through the crowd and caught his eye just after he had taken his first sip. His eyes lit up.
"Lizzie," he said happily. "I was hoping you would come. I would like you to introduce Mr. Clay Adams from the investment firm Barnaby and Adams," he said with a wink. He took a step towards her to kiss her cheek. Lizzie held out her hand in front of her face, and Sam got the hint.
He tried to remain coy. "So how was your flight? I came by seaplane for the final leg, and man was that pilot a cowboy," he said chuckling and taking a sip of his drink. After seeing the expressionless look on her face, he changed tactics.
"Mr. Adams, could you excuse us for a moment?", Sam asked. Adams, clearly sensing the tension, was happy to be dismissed and disappeared into the crowd behind them. "Lizzie, I'm sorry." She didn't let him continue and holding up her hand, nodded towards the doorway. They walked out of the museum and past the line of guests.
"Lizzie, Mr. Adams just offered us....," Sam started.
She cut him off immediately. "Listen here, you cheating prick. I don't give a shit what you want or what you are offering. Just shut your mouth and listen." Lizzie hadn't planned on what she would say, and her voice surprised her as much as it had Sam. He looked at her stunned as she continued.
"There will never be a time or a place where you and I are ever connected again, so don't you dare insult me by telling anyone we are engaged or even working together. Do you hear me? It took two years for me to realize how much you treated me like shit and believe me, I know I deserve way better than you."
Sam rolled his eyes but Lizzie continued undaunted.
"I deserve someone who listens to me, challenges me, treats me with respect and gives me confidence rather than taking it away." Her voice trailed at the end as she realized that she was providing Sam with a perfect description of Mackenzie. Sam had crossed his arms and was looking away from her.
"You know what asshole? Have a nice life," she said, walking away from him and towards the water.
When she felt it was safe, she looked back. He had walked back to the museum and was shaking hands and laughing with a guest in line.
Goodbye Sam
She thought about going to the hotel, calling Nicole or getting drunk at a bar, but instead walked towards the two docks at the end of the path. She had an odd feeling of confidence mixed with sadness. Stepping onto the dock, she smiled and then burst into tears.
27
Lizzie sat at the end of one of the long docks and stirred her feet in the cool water. It swirled into tiny pools around her feet as
Lizzie felt incredibly awkward. Clearly, Dr. Fordham had not heard about the breakup.
"Actually," said Lizzie looking at the floor, "we are no longer together."
Dr. Fordham looked confused. "But Sam just told me ...," she started.
"What did he say?", Lizzie asked surprised.
Dr. Fordham hesitated, clearly not wanting to be in the middle of this discussion. When she answered, it was in a slow and quiet tone.
"He told me you were engaged, happy, and planning an exciting honeymoon on the beach," said Dr. Fordham biting her lower lip after she finished.
"Thank you doctor, but your information is incorrect. I'm sorry." Lizzie paused. "There is someone I need to find. Please excuse me for a moment," said Lizzie as she walked towards the large staircase in the back of the room. She was livid and in shock . What the hell. I can't believe that jerk . Walking up the stairs, she gazed into the room to find Sam. Halfway up the stairs, she peered down to see Dr. Fordham talking with three men in tuxedos. They all looked at the ceiling, and then all looked at Lizzie.
She continued to scan the room for Sam, and spotted him near the bar. He was talking to an older gentleman who was very interested in the details he was pointing out in the room. Determined, Lizzie made her way through the crowd and caught his eye just after he had taken his first sip. His eyes lit up.
"Lizzie," he said happily. "I was hoping you would come. I would like you to introduce Mr. Clay Adams from the investment firm Barnaby and Adams," he said with a wink. He took a step towards her to kiss her cheek. Lizzie held out her hand in front of her face, and Sam got the hint.
He tried to remain coy. "So how was your flight? I came by seaplane for the final leg, and man was that pilot a cowboy," he said chuckling and taking a sip of his drink. After seeing the expressionless look on her face, he changed tactics.
"Mr. Adams, could you excuse us for a moment?", Sam asked. Adams, clearly sensing the tension, was happy to be dismissed and disappeared into the crowd behind them. "Lizzie, I'm sorry." She didn't let him continue and holding up her hand, nodded towards the doorway. They walked out of the museum and past the line of guests.
"Lizzie, Mr. Adams just offered us....," Sam started.
She cut him off immediately. "Listen here, you cheating prick. I don't give a shit what you want or what you are offering. Just shut your mouth and listen." Lizzie hadn't planned on what she would say, and her voice surprised her as much as it had Sam. He looked at her stunned as she continued.
"There will never be a time or a place where you and I are ever connected again, so don't you dare insult me by telling anyone we are engaged or even working together. Do you hear me? It took two years for me to realize how much you treated me like shit and believe me, I know I deserve way better than you."
Sam rolled his eyes but Lizzie continued undaunted.
"I deserve someone who listens to me, challenges me, treats me with respect and gives me confidence rather than taking it away." Her voice trailed at the end as she realized that she was providing Sam with a perfect description of Mackenzie. Sam had crossed his arms and was looking away from her.
"You know what asshole? Have a nice life," she said, walking away from him and towards the water.
When she felt it was safe, she looked back. He had walked back to the museum and was shaking hands and laughing with a guest in line.
Goodbye Sam
She thought about going to the hotel, calling Nicole or getting drunk at a bar, but instead walked towards the two docks at the end of the path. She had an odd feeling of confidence mixed with sadness. Stepping onto the dock, she smiled and then burst into tears.
27
Lizzie sat at the end of one of the long docks and stirred her feet in the cool water. It swirled into tiny pools around her feet as
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