Later that week, Leighton found herself at a newly-opened posh Italian restaurant called 'La Tempesta Interna', off Regent Street, with Kara for their weekly Wednesday afternoon lunch date. "What does it mean Ley?" Kara asked as she typed out an email hurriedly on her Blackberry. Kara was Leighton's good friend and confidant. She was also her boss, the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Standard. She checked her appointments for the rest of afternoon, sent a quick text to her mom and then looked up at her. "Well..?"
"Umm, it means the storm inside. La tempesta, you know - the tempest?" Leighton explained. The confidence in her voice was distinct. She took a lot of pride in her knowledge of the Italian lingua.
'Why do you look so dazed?” Kara enquired but her attention was still with her Blackberry. “I felt awful about canceling the last two times. I’m glad we’re doing this today. I’m starved," she rattled on. Kara always decided the details of their lunch dates. This little restaurant was the place to be that week and Kara was very pleased that her assistant had managed to get them a reservation. They had already 'bumped' into five influential people while they waited to be served.
"You're not a woman of many words today, are you?" she continued as they helped themselves to some freshly baked bread and olive oil.
"Did you like my piece last week?" asked Leighton, hesitantly. She knew it was not her best work. There were many things she wanted to talk to Kara about but now was definitely not the time. She didn't quite see the point of their weekly Wednesday lunches because Kara was always pressed for time. She was either on her Blackberry or networking and the real reason she made time to go out was to be seen at all the right places. Not that Leighton took any issue with it; in fact, she enjoyed the fancy lunches but she knew that if she really wanted Kara’s attention, it wasn't going to be then.
"Umm, it means the storm inside. La tempesta, you know - the tempest?" Leighton explained. The confidence in her voice was distinct. She took a lot of pride in her knowledge of the Italian lingua.
'Why do you look so dazed?” Kara enquired but her attention was still with her Blackberry. “I felt awful about canceling the last two times. I’m glad we’re doing this today. I’m starved," she rattled on. Kara always decided the details of their lunch dates. This little restaurant was the place to be that week and Kara was very pleased that her assistant had managed to get them a reservation. They had already 'bumped' into five influential people while they waited to be served.
"You're not a woman of many words today, are you?" she continued as they helped themselves to some freshly baked bread and olive oil.
"Did you like my piece last week?" asked Leighton, hesitantly. She knew it was not her best work. There were many things she wanted to talk to Kara about but now was definitely not the time. She didn't quite see the point of their weekly Wednesday lunches because Kara was always pressed for time. She was either on her Blackberry or networking and the real reason she made time to go out was to be seen at all the right places. Not that Leighton took any issue with it; in fact, she enjoyed the fancy lunches but she knew that if she really wanted Kara’s attention, it wasn't going to be then.
The service was efficient and the food was delicious. As Leighton enjoyed her grilled chicken salad, Kara ordered a bottle of Chardonnay. "A bottle? Guess I'm getting buzzed today,” she smiled to herself.
Kara: I hope you are coming to to the Gala this Saturday, Ley. I want to introduce you to Mr. Wellington and James FitzPatrick .. and Jennifer Marrone. I spoke to you about them last month I think.
Leighton: Yeah, I remember. I was thinking about it but I don't know Kara.. I don’t know. They might wonder why I'm there, I mean I'm just a columnist.
Kara: Who are they?
Leighton: You know what I mean.
Kara: No I don't. Forget about them. Wear that black Carolina Herrera gown with white gold and diamonds - you'll look older and sophisticated. And get Anna to help put it together. That should work. Good?
Leighton beamed with joy. Excellent advice from a woman with a flawless sense of style. No one understood what look worked for Leighton better than Kara did. "That's perfect,” she said and leaned forward to give Kara a hug but then stopped herself. This was not the place nor the time for public displays of affection. She looked at Kara typing out another email and wondered if she should tell her about the bouquet of pink roses she had received earlier in the day. She knew Ricky very well. He would definitely be there at the Gala too.
Leighton: Kara, you know Ricky, don't you?
Kara: What's that?
Leighton: Umm.. you know Ricky. Ricky? Eric? Eric Crowther?
Kara: Hmm..?
Leighton: He works at the head office.. with Tim. You know him, I've seen you two talk many times.
Kara: With Tim? Is he on the Board as well? That reminds me I need to call him sometime this week. My mom's doing a Sunday brunch and wants to invite him. I'm sick of her trying to get the two of us back together.
Tim or Timothy Ryerson and Kara were happily married until they separated 3 years ago. He was also on the Board of Directors of the multi-billion pound parent company that owned The Daily Standard among various other newspapers, magazines and media-related businesses. Outside of work, the two of them only spoke when it came to matters concerning their 4 year old daughter, Bella, and when Kara's mom insisted on inviting him to the odd family event.
Leighton: I don't think that's her intention though. Tim has always been like a son to her and maybe she just wants to make sure he doesn't feel left out.
Kara: He has been left out so I don't see why we should all try to make him not feel that way! So what were you saying? Oh yeah, Eric Crowther - every struggling model's Prince Charming and personal savior. Of course I know Ricky. Do you want your column featured in his magazine? That's a good idea. Let's talk about this later?
Leighton: Umm.. no.. I mean sure, cool.
Kara signed the check and they got up to leave. She was going to pick up Bella from her mom's and then head back to the office. Leighton decided she would take a long stroll in the beautiful afternoon sun but only after a stop at the Starbucks across the street. "I think he went to your University, this Ricky I mean,” Kara said plainly.
Leighton: I have known him for 5 years. I brought his name up.. because.. well, just because I just thought of him.
Kara: Hmm.. I think it's time for another dose of caffeine honey. Make sure you get it before you do any writing for me!
They both laughed, gave each other a kiss on the cheek and went their ways. Leighton regretted mentioning Ricky's name. She had made a mess of it. Kara would definitely ask her about it later sometime, probably at her mom's Sunday brunch. She worried about what she was going to say. She worried about seeing him at the Gala. It was only Ricky but things had taken on a different color between them the past month or at least he had been different.
Kara: I hope you are coming to to the Gala this Saturday, Ley. I want to introduce you to Mr. Wellington and James FitzPatrick .. and Jennifer Marrone. I spoke to you about them last month I think.
Leighton: Yeah, I remember. I was thinking about it but I don't know Kara.. I don’t know. They might wonder why I'm there, I mean I'm just a columnist.
Kara: Who are they?
Leighton: You know what I mean.
Kara: No I don't. Forget about them. Wear that black Carolina Herrera gown with white gold and diamonds - you'll look older and sophisticated. And get Anna to help put it together. That should work. Good?
Leighton beamed with joy. Excellent advice from a woman with a flawless sense of style. No one understood what look worked for Leighton better than Kara did. "That's perfect,” she said and leaned forward to give Kara a hug but then stopped herself. This was not the place nor the time for public displays of affection. She looked at Kara typing out another email and wondered if she should tell her about the bouquet of pink roses she had received earlier in the day. She knew Ricky very well. He would definitely be there at the Gala too.
Leighton: Kara, you know Ricky, don't you?
Kara: What's that?
Leighton: Umm.. you know Ricky. Ricky? Eric? Eric Crowther?
Kara: Hmm..?
Leighton: He works at the head office.. with Tim. You know him, I've seen you two talk many times.
Kara: With Tim? Is he on the Board as well? That reminds me I need to call him sometime this week. My mom's doing a Sunday brunch and wants to invite him. I'm sick of her trying to get the two of us back together.
Tim or Timothy Ryerson and Kara were happily married until they separated 3 years ago. He was also on the Board of Directors of the multi-billion pound parent company that owned The Daily Standard among various other newspapers, magazines and media-related businesses. Outside of work, the two of them only spoke when it came to matters concerning their 4 year old daughter, Bella, and when Kara's mom insisted on inviting him to the odd family event.
Leighton: I don't think that's her intention though. Tim has always been like a son to her and maybe she just wants to make sure he doesn't feel left out.
Kara: He has been left out so I don't see why we should all try to make him not feel that way! So what were you saying? Oh yeah, Eric Crowther - every struggling model's Prince Charming and personal savior. Of course I know Ricky. Do you want your column featured in his magazine? That's a good idea. Let's talk about this later?
Leighton: Umm.. no.. I mean sure, cool.
Kara signed the check and they got up to leave. She was going to pick up Bella from her mom's and then head back to the office. Leighton decided she would take a long stroll in the beautiful afternoon sun but only after a stop at the Starbucks across the street. "I think he went to your University, this Ricky I mean,” Kara said plainly.
Leighton: I have known him for 5 years. I brought his name up.. because.. well, just because I just thought of him.
Kara: Hmm.. I think it's time for another dose of caffeine honey. Make sure you get it before you do any writing for me!
They both laughed, gave each other a kiss on the cheek and went their ways. Leighton regretted mentioning Ricky's name. She had made a mess of it. Kara would definitely ask her about it later sometime, probably at her mom's Sunday brunch. She worried about what she was going to say. She worried about seeing him at the Gala. It was only Ricky but things had taken on a different color between them the past month or at least he had been different.
As she sipped on her Starbucks and headed toward the park, she wondered if he had really changed, if he really meant what he had been saying to her. Was he really sick of the genetically gifted women in the city? Did he really not want another shallow relationship? Had his unparalleled list of B list celebrity one-night stands finally come to an end? Hypothetically speaking, even if that were true then why would he want 'something real' with her? He had known of her existence for five whole years and nothing had ever happened between them. No sparks. No flames. No heat to speak of. So why the sudden change of heart? She stopped thinking about him. There were no answers to the innumerable questions and doubts in her mind.
She walked along the cobblestone path for a while and sat down on a bench. She placed her cup next to her and closed her eyes. The light breeze kissed her face gently and she smiled. A magical calm enveloped her and she felt loved, as if her angels were giving her a group hug. Her mind wandered down memory lane to her 5th birthday party. She smiled some more. Then she remembered her atrocious bright red high school prom dress and nearly laughed out loud. She was sure Emily had a picture somewhere. Then she thought of him. She felt the angels giving her a tighter hug, almost a squeeze. Leighton opened her eyes and looked at the bright sun.
She said a quick silent prayer asking the powers that be to send some warm loving sunshine down his path that day.
