Chapter 1
January 13, 1996 Seattle, Washington - elevation 520 feet (160 meters)
“Your muscles are pushed to the limit, burning from overuse and under nourishment. The little oxygen that enters your lungs is just enough to barely make it all the way through your cardiovascular system and travel to your brain. It’s a living hell. Yet there are men and women who crave it, yearn for it, live for it. Once you reach the top, you become an addict anxiously waiting for the next time you can reach the summit. The secret is that little part of you that always knows while you’re climbing, at any moment, you could die.” - Ekko Lightfire “8848 Meters of Hell - Surviving the World’s Deadliest Climb”
Sarah Fortune sat at a small table in the corner of Georgio’s. She was scheduled to meet with her business partner about bringing in a third member to their ownership team even though she knew it was going to go over like a lead balloon. This wasn’t her first rodeo when it came to delivering what would most likely be unsavory news. Knowing who she was delivering the news to, however, made the task more daunting than she cared to admit.
After settling into a job as the manager of a small investment firm, she began to look for ways to entertain herself while not slaving away for the almighty dollar. A friend from work suggested she enjoy the great outdoors so she began hiking and climbing, eventually deciding to up her wilderness skills by registering for a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course in Utah during the summer of 1989. That course was where she met Violet Atlas, a part-time instructor with NOLS who spent her summer teaching courses and the rest of the year working odd jobs to pay for her climbing habits. The first time they laid eyes on one another the connection was electric and intense, an affair based purely on adrenaline rather than emotion. They’d work and climb during the day and spend their nights tangled together in bed.
The couple eventually started upping their climbing game together, eventually traveling to Nepal in 1991 when Sarah and Vi decided they would tackle the mother of all mountains, Everest. It was risky, it was insane, but it was perfect.
Sarah made it as far as Camp 2 before she was forced to abandon the climb. She’d been stricken suddenly with a horrible case of high altitude sickness and though she wanted to continue on, their guide had called time of death on her attempted ascent. Meanwhile, Vi trekked on with the remainder of the expedition. Upon reaching the summit, Vi knew she wanted to come back, helping others achieve the summit so they too could see the view from the top of the world. Thus, the idea for Atlas Adventures was born.
When they returned to Seattle, Sarah had seen the drive in Vi change. Before everything Vi did was reckless and carefree, with no care or regard for her own safety or life. After the shift, she focused on Atlas Adventures and ushering paying clients to the top of the world. Sarah stood by her side, helping her in any way she could, eventually even becoming her business partner.
A month after their return from Everest, they were in bed, celebrating what was supposed to be the momentous occasion of Atlas opening its doors when Sarah made the mistake of once again telling Vi she loved her. She’d said it a few times during their two years together, always waiting for Vi to reply. Yet, Vi never did, always unable to utter the words she’d only told one person.
And that person had shattered her heart to the point Vi was never able to put the pieces back together.
“You’re never going to say it are you?” Sarah breathlessly muttered, unable to hide the wound the thought created in her heart.
Vi, doing her best to show her devotion as she trailed kisses from Sarah’s neck with the intended destination being between her thighs, stopped over Sarah’s naval. Their eyes locked, and Vi noticed the glistening in her lover’s eyes as tears pooled themselves in her eyes.
“Sarah…” she pleaded.
“She’s been out of your life for almost 3 years and I’m still having to compete with her.” The words weren’t angry, weren’t curt, they were just a fact.
“Don’t do this.” Vi was begging, knowing that Sarah’s patience with her inability to express her affection was gone.
“I can’t keep waiting for you, Vi. I deserve someone who loves me,” she retorted.
“I do.”
“Then tell me.” It was a demand Sarah knew Vi couldn’t meet.
Sure enough they laid there, silence haunting them as Vi couldn’t force the words to form on her tongue. Instead, she opted to rest her forehead on the woman on the stomach of the woman underneath her and sob knowing this was how they came to an end.
They remained business partners and even eventually friends. Sarah moved on, finding another girlfriend six months later while Vi returned back to her devil be damned mantra. It nearly got her killed when she fell 60 feet on the side of a rock wall in Utah. No one knew how Vi survived but Sarah was certain, one day, Vi’s give less than two shits attitude about herself was going to get her killed.
“Sorry I’m late. I lost track of time while training,” Vi announced as she sat at the table across from Sarah.
“It’s okay. Gave me some time to prepare myself to deal with your ass,” she quipped, leading Vi to groan and roll her eyes.
“What’s so important that you pulled me from my weekly boxing session tonight?” Vi sounded legitimately annoyed. Sarah was well aware the woman took her training sessions seriously, but this was business and Vi needed to learn flexibility.
“Calm down there, princess. It’s somewhat good news for once.” She saw Vi raise an eyebrow, intrigued by the prospect of whatever Sarah had to tell her. “We have a prospective third partner interested in investing.”
Vi perked up, excited to hear someone was willing to pump money into Atlas. “Oh really? That’s good, right? Like that helps us get to Everest in March?”
Sarah was stoic, still trying to decide how to tell Vi who the investor was. “It is. They want to pump in a lot of money and it comes with free advertising from here on out.”
Her body language was nervous and Vi had finally picked up on it. “What’s the catch, Fortune?”
“They want to be on the trek that leaves in March so they can write an article for Mountain Climbing Mag. It’s going to be a series that starts with prep for the expedition and follows along until you return to the states.”
“Okay, but still, why do I feel like there’s a catch?”
Sarah took a deep breath and said, “Because the investor is Caitlyn Kiramman.”
Vi didn’t hesitate. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.”
“Vi…”
“No!” Vi stood, waving off a waiter who had appeared to take their order.
“If we don’t accept the offer we don’t have enough overhead to do the spring expedition.” There was a brief moment, Vi avoiding eye contact. “I don’t like this anymore than you do. Believe me, the idea of owning a business with my ex is bad enough. Now I’m adding the woman who was the ghost that ruined our relationship, this isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. But there’s no other way.”
A pause and eventual sigh, “Fine.” Vi spat the word through gritted teeth. Slamming her body back down into the chair, she crossed her arms across her chest and glared holes into Sarah’s head.
“She’s flying us out to Cleveland to meet with her on Wednesday so take a few days to prepare.”
“Fucking wonderful,” the words oozed with sarcasm. Through the brave bravada Vi was attempting to display, Sarah could see the pain in Vi’s eyes. She was transported back to the summer of ‘88 when Caitlyn had bashed Vi’s heart to bits. She hated it, but what she’d told Vi was no lie. Without Kiramman, Atlas Adventures would fold.
Not waiting for the waiter to return, Vi stood. “Tell Kat I said you’re a shitty friend.”
“Are we friends, Vi?”
“We were never just friends.” Before she could respond, Vi marched toward the door and into the cold winter evening.
———————————
Vi had been to Cleveland one time in her life. She’d visited with Caitlyn, who had gone home to visit her family and show Vi around the town she’d called home since she was a young teen. Caitlyn had moved there from London when she was 13, her mother focusing on the American branch of Kiramman Media while Caitlyn’s grandmother would stay focused on the branch in the UK. It had been hard on Caitlyn, but she’d told Vi the one thing that made the move easier was baseball.
Baseball was what had drawn them to each other. Vi had sported her favorite Dodgers hat while Caitlyn had her favorite Cleveland shirt when they met at a bar near campus. So it seemed fitting the first thing she did was take Vi to Municipal Stadium to watch Cleveland take on the White Sox. Caitlyn had always loved to hear Vi break down her softball games so she knew, as they sat down third base line, Vi would bring the game to life in a whole new way for her.
That trip had been memorable in so many ways for Vi. She really felt like there was a chance they would make it as a couple, despite all the prejudice towards women like them. Little did she know two years later, it would all come crashing down.
Now, she stood waiting for Sarah to check in to their hotel so she could go and have a few minutes of peace in her room before their dinner meeting. Vi’s stomach was in knots and her throat had felt dry since Sarah had told her about the meeting. In true Vi fashion she’d shut down, opting instead to drink herself into oblivion. Two straight days the second she’d felt herself sobering up she’d hammer back another shot or two beers.
“Here. Room 516.”
Vi looked at the key and grunted, slipping it into her pocket as she hoisted her duffle bag over her shoulder.
“Don’t fuck around, Atlas. We’ve got to leave here at 4:30 in order to make it to Medina in time.”
“What? Why Medina?” Vi spat.
“Because dinner is at her house,” Sarah shot back. Vi didn’t respond, opting to find her way to the stairs.
She knew Cait paid for everything, the plane tickets, the rental car, and the hotel. Somehow it made the whole situation worse. The cherry on top of the shit sundae was the fact she was about to step foot in their home. Their home. Vi was about to come face to face with the life Caitlyn had replaced her with.
The drive was quiet, neither able nor willing to bring up the pending reunion. Vi watched the world go by out the passenger side window while Sarah focused on the crazies of rush hour traffic on the interstate.
“You of all people should hate this as much as me,” Vi uttered almost under her breath.
“I do, but I’m also a realist. Kiramman brings Atlas money and exposure. Her article series is going to make you the most sought after Everest guide in the world. People will be knocking down the door to get you to guide them.”
Vi hummed, eyes still fixed on the world outside of the moving vehicle. “Is this vengeance because I could never tell you I loved you?”
Sarah huffed, “Of course not. How could you think that?”
“Because for some strange reason you think it’s a good idea to partner us with my ex and then expect me to guide her on one of the most dangerous climbs in the world.” Her voice began to elevate as her frustration boiled.
Sarah shook her head, “You and I both know Everest was originally her dream with you, not mine.”
Vi hated when Sarah was right.
When the front door opened, Vi didn't look, opting to stare at the newly poured cement on the porch. Her mind was mush, desperately working to process how she’d ended up being escorted by her ex to the home of her college ex-girlfriend.
“Hello, Caitlyn. Sarah Fortune, pleasure to meet you in person.”
Out of the corner of her eye Vi saw the hand grasp onto Sarah’s. It was a hand that had touched every inch of her body. Held her when she’d ended the 86 season with a broken wrist and cried for two days. It cupped her cheek as they kissed to celebrate the 88 natty. It spent countless nights wrapped around Vi’s waist as they cuddled while sleeping.
She didn’t want to trail up the arm, but she knew she had to. Her eyes crawled from the hand up the arm toward a collarbone and neck, eventually landing on that face. It was everything she remembered, and yet not at the same time. Motherhood had made it softer, but worry lines creased her forehead. Her eyes were still bright and vibrant blue, but hid something behind them. Perhaps regret? Sadness? Disgust? Her lips curled into a soft, pink smile, doing their best to greet Vi in a welcoming manner.
“Hello, Vi.”
That voice. Seven and a half years since Vi had her that voice and it sounded like nailed on a chalkboard. Her face scowled and she simply offered a grunt as a response. Sarah shot her a warning glance while Caitlyn uncomfortably cleared her throat.
“Right. Well, can I invite you all in?”
“No need,” Vi shot back. “I’m only here to inform you both that I’m out. After we climb in the spring, Atlas is yours and you two can do whatever the fuck you want with it.”
“Vi…” Sarah somehow managed to stammer out the name. “Let’s talk about this.”
“No need. My decision is made.” She shot a look at Caitlyn who stood dumbfounded. “Sarah, give me the keys. You two don’t need me here anymore.”
“Vi, please, at least come in to talk,” Caitlyn pleaded.
“No! I said this is final. The fact you two thought this could work is beyond me.” Her anger was on full display.
“To be fair, this was my mother’s idea.” Caitlyn meekly admitted, face blushing at the words. It only caused Vi’s blood to boil even more.
“Fucking perfect. Of all the mountaineering companies in the world, she chose mine? That’s awfully convenient.”
Caitlyn folded her arms across her chest, “She thought we’d be able to work together.”
“In what world would I want to work with you!” She shouts the words, years of hatred and rage pouring out of her soul with every word. “You broke me.”
She turned to Sarah, “And you. You of all people should have known this was a bad idea.”
“It was a business move,” Sarah protested.
Vi let out an annoyed laugh. “Wow. That’s exactly what Cait said when she broke up with me. Guess I really know how to pick em.”
She saw Caitlyn’s eye blow wide open when she realized Sarah was more than Vi’s business partner. “Don’t worry, Cait. We aren’t together. Broke up with me during sex. That also sounds vaguely familiar.”
“Vi!” Another warning shot from Sarah and Vi threw her hands up in surrender.
“You two are oddly perfect for one another. Whatever you need for the article I’ll give. You can climb with my expedition but after that, I am in fact done. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to the city.”
As she turned and walked away, Sarah cried out “How am I supposed to get back to the hotel?”
On foot in the car and one foot out, Vi replied, “I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
The door slammed and the two women on the porch watched as Vi peeled off. When their attention returned to one another, Sarah and Caitlyn eyed each other up and down. Sarah could see Caitlyn’s demeanor had become hollow after Vi’s reaction, while Sarah suddenly regretted ever picking up the phone call from Cassandra Kiramman.