Shakin' Hands (Mafia)

"Not particularly, no," Ted replied, crossing his arms.

Nolee nodded, growing silent again as she waited for Brett.

"I left a few years ago. I was engaged, had been for almost a year. The night before our wedding, one I spent over a million dollars on, I found them cheating on me. With Brett. I was a pretty easy going guy but that killed me and I knew I didn't want to go through that again," Ted said quietly.

Nolee looked at him, "Brett...Brett slept with your..." she wasn't usually one for hugs, especially not when the guy had been a real jerk to her, but this man needed one. He wasn't bad looking and if she wasn't with Brett, she would have gone straight to him, be he rough or not.

She couldn't, however, get past the fact that Brett hadn't wanted to sleep with her and yet was willing to cheat with his brother's fiance.

"I'm sorry he was such an ass," Nolee whispered to the man as she hugged him.

"Wasn't the first time they had done. Apparently, it was an ongoing relationship," Ted replied, not really responding to her hug.

Nolee frowned, letting go of the hug. "Brett's...Brett's not the guy he's led me to believe is he..."

"I don't know. He could be. He could have changed. But his past probly isn't what you think it is," Ted replied.

"I...I met him at a bachelor party. He refused to touch me when I propositioned him. We went and got drinks. Since then we haven't made love but he told me it's because he's never done it and isn't ready yet. He said he's a prodigy of a lawyer." Nolee said to Ted.

"That's a bunch of bullshit," Ted said. "He's fucked before."

Nolee laughed, bitterly, "Obviously if he had sex with your fiance. I don't even know why I'm bothering to run away with him now. I should just go back to Hunter...take the beating like a woman and take the clients. It gets me money and I'm good at it..."

"I know Brett lied about his past, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have feeling for you. If he didn't feel something, he wouldn't have even thought about running away with you. There's something there, and you shouldn't waste it," Ted said.

"Then why is he late? Why hasn't he showed up the last two times we were suposed to meet!?" she hadn't admitted the last part to anyone.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to him in years. But I just know he feels something for you. He wouldn't give up his inheritance for someone he didn't like," Ted said.

"Wait...he told me that your father had fallen in love for a prostitute and that he wasn't going to get in trouble for datin' me..."

"He won't. Dad did actually fall for a hooker. But even if he didn't, he's Dad's golden child," Ted said bitterly.

Nolee put her hand on Ted's face, "What I said earlier...about havin' sex with you...if Brett doesn't show up..." she took a marker from her bag and wrote down Hunter's address on Ted's hand, "That's where you can find me."

Ted glanced at it, then her. "I'm not my brother," he said before turning and walking away.

Nolee frowned and waited for another hour before walking back to the Helmsly place where Hunter paced the living room furiously. "Sir...I'm sorry I went out for coffee with friends..."

"Then why do you have a bag packed?" Hunter growled.

"Sir I..."

"Go to your room, you'll have clients all night," Hunter growled.

Brett sat in his office his deck litered with coffee cups and papers, he had been working almost none stop for two days.

After a bad job, Nolee grabbed her phone, sending Brett a text.

~I'm not at the park. I've given up on us. After not hearing from you for days...I realized this isn't working. You don't love me..~

Brett stared at the text he just reseved before sending one back
~Nolee i do love you! I've been busy with a giant case i'm sorry i forgot to meet you just come to my office and talk to me~

~I talked to Ted. You lied to me. You were with his fiance. Besides....Hunter won't let me leave..."

~Wait you talked to my brother! Nolee he's lying i've really never been with a woman Please believe me~

~He...he...oh Bretty! Come get me! Mr. Cole is giong to be here in an hour...~

~On my way now~ Brett sent as he ran out of the office and driving quickly to Nolee.