― John Steinbeck
Sage
The first day back at work on the project and things are going well.
Britni's surprise visit was encouraging—she looked fabulous and my only concern was her mental-emotional adjustment to her new reality.
It's not everyday that someone has to deal with being half their age and even saying that seems surreal, but it's a legitimate concern.
I'll just have to keep an eye on her.
Lucky me, lol.
It turns out Norm is unavailable today to meet for lunch and I'm too shy to ask Eve, at least, not yet.
I still have to ask her if she'd like to double with Norm and Sybil for drinks on Friday night and now I realize it's only a day away.
It's short notice but if she turns me down it's understandable. Maybe I should have asked her to lunch and broached the topic then. But then, this is my life—I live in the Land of Misgivings—could have, should have, would have.
I exasperate myself sometimes, so that's why I end up today in the Hart House Grill, eating alone.
I'm musing about Eve and lost in her daydream when a familiar voice jerks me back to reality.
"I heard about your latest troubles, Eli—I wish you had listened to me."
I look up to see Sage Meadows standing before me, tray in hand.
"Do you mind if I join you? We really should talk."
I can't believe she'd have the nerve to face me but maybe she wants to make peace. But that's what I need at this moment to move on with my life.
I motion her to sit down. "What do you have in mind?" I ask, trying to be civil.
"Despite what you may be thinking, I'm not your enemy, Elias—I only wanted to inform you of potential obstacles to your project--not to cause them."
"I'd say being shot at twice by snipers and having my life threatened were not exactly 'obstacles' and when the police complete their investigation, the perpetrators will pay dearly for their crimes."
Her eyes were huge. "Did you say perpetrators—are you saying the police believe there's more than one crazy stalking you?"
"Don't know for sure—just surmising."
"Why don't you just let me review your Clinical Trials Protocols and I'll be able to assuage the concerns of people who were turned down for the project?"
"There's no need for you to do that—the protocols were independently verified and for you to do that would mean you'd be part of the project and share in the acclaim and any monetary
benefits accruing to patent rights."
Sage's eyes grew fierce. "What's the harm of that? The proprietary rights would bring in enormous returns—why not share with me so the project can go forward?"
I saw her motive and couldn't believe her attitude.
"What makes you think you're entitled to any kind of credit for this project?
"Oh really, Elias—are you going to go there? You know it was I who pushed you into independent research—you were content to simply carry other people's water. You owe me something for the time and effort I spent encouraging you."
I stared at her in unbelief.
She went on with her rant. "You call me entitled—why should Eve or Lise or whatever other tramp you end up with benefit from my effort? I made you—without me behind you, pushing you, you'd be nothing."
"You forget," I said calmly, "you broke up with me after abusing me verbally for months. It took a long time for me to recover and realize how toxic our relationship was. You made me? I don't think so. You tried to break me and almost succeeded."
I got up to leave, but she had to get in the last word.
"I've given you every opportunity to mend your ways and reconcile, Elias, but you always stubbornly went your own way. This so-called detective, Lise Jordan, isn't interested in solving your case—she's just interested in getting you into bed. She's a tramp like Eve Harrington. You never had good taste in women."
"I just hope when Lise wraps up her investigation you aren't involved in this mess, Sage. It'd be a high price to pay for being spiteful to throw away your profession and academic career because of resentment of my success."
"Your success?" she hissed scornfully,"you wouldn't have any success if it weren't for me."
I exited the Grill trembling with rage and flashbacks of past run-ins with Sage. I was a fool to try to make peace with a toxic abuser but what made it even more sickening was my gut instinct that she was behind all the attacks on me.