The Contingency Plan (The Lonely Heart Series) Read Online Free PDF

up and down and then sucked her teeth.  “So why are you so sad?”  She knew the answer, but she just wanted to hear him say it with his own mouth. 
    “You know why, Charlie,” Sully said, pouring a n other glass.
    “Long distance relationships have worked,” she said in their defense.
    “Yeah for people who don’t have intimacy issues or trust issues.”
    “I don’t have either,” Charlie snapped.
    “Well, I have both.” Slamming the bottle on the table, he shook his head.  “This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
    “No shit.”  Her eyes bore into him.  Folding her arms across her chest, she shook her head.  “When did you find out about this?”
    “My brother told me today, this morning .”
    “And you’d never heard a word about it before?” she asked. 
    “Of course not.  I would have told you.  Give me some credit.” He wanted to as her who had trust issues now, but it would have only added fuel to the growing fire. 
    Charlie was quiet for a moment.  She could see that he was clearly hurt about the situation, but no more than she was.  Plus, she was afraid if they said anything more than this they would just hurt each other, and it wasn’t worth it.  “Well, there is nothing left to do but say goodbye.  I’ll get my stuff and head back to the dorms,” she finally whispered. 
    “Wait,” he said, feeling his heart tear apart.  He reached his hand out to her.
    “What is there to wait on?” Charlie asked with tears in her eyes. 
    “Charlie, I love you.  I just…”
    She sniffled.  “Save it, Sully.”
    Sully looked up from the counter with a tear in his eyes.  “I’m sorry, Charlie.”
    “Yeah, me too, Sully,” she said, turning around.  “But like you said, in life, you damned well better have a contingency plan, right?”
    Sully stood up.  “My brother promised me that he’d take care of you. He’d find you a job.”
    “I don’t want anything from Will, and I don’t want anything from you.”  Walking out of the room, Charlie left him there alone with his take out and wine to think about his decision alone while she quickly packed up her belongings.  Five minutes later, dressed and carrying a small bag on her shoulder, she barged out of the front door and slammed it behind her.
     
     
     

 
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    The Contingency Plan
    Chapter 2
    Exactly-seven years later
    Manhattan, NYC
    Ritz-Carlton Hotel
     
    Droves of well-poised men in black tuxedos and sophisticated women in formal gowns flooded into a banquet hall of the Ritz Carlton for the tenth annual Sophie’s Choice fundraiser/gala–a non-profit organ i zation devoted to raising awareness about women’s rights, especially the pro-choice agenda. 
    Under white blown-glass chandeliers and exotic table settings designed by one of the city’s hottest decorators, high profile celebrities, politicians, lawyers and executives laughed and drank as they listened to the NYU orchestra play on the stage. 
    On cue as the program began, the master of cer e monies came to the stage and welcomed everyone before going into her introductory spiel.  The buzz tonight was not about the event, however, it was about the president of Sophie’s Choice, who was absent to the event because of her ever-complicated battle with breast cancer.  In her absence, the VP of development and possibly the new president , Charlene Meadows was speaking tonight in her first ever appearance as the figurehead of the organization.
    Charlene came across the stage like she was floa t ing on clouds and stood behind the clear acrylic podium that boasted the logo of their organization in front of it.  Breathtaking in a black, Yves Saint Laurent couture gown, hair pulled up in soft braided tendrils, she grabbed the microphone carefully in her hands and looked out at the crowd with a determined and confident smile.  She knew that this was her moment to shine and had been preparing for it all day with her tailored speech.  The board of