Flawed (Imperfectly Perfect Book 1)

by Lym Cruz

  “I can’t force Ronald to do that. Andrew hurt him.”

  “Oh, Jenny … Jenny, figure out a way to convince him or else…” I offered my most devilish smirk.

  Her teeth gnashed and the murderous stare in her eyes was fear-provoking.

  Satisfied, I crossed the room and picked up the box Andrew needed—that wasn’t heavy at all—and left the room as she continued to curse while Mendez was trying to calm her down.

  Chapter 25

  Andrew

  I sat, listening to her for the past five minutes, prattling about how wonderful Melissa was. She was convincing in delivering a heartfelt speech. But I knew my mother, she wouldn’t change her mind so drastically about Melissa overnight. Something was off.

  I rocked my chair, attempting to read through her. Could this be about Melissa’s family? Had it sunk into her how much Melissa is worth?

  My mother tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled kindly. “Melissa is a wonderful girl, Andrew, and I was wrong to interfere in your relationship. I see it now. I’m sorry and if she’s the one that makes you happy then you have my full support. I will be the best mother-in-law from now on.”

  “Cut the crap, what’s this about?”

  “Andrew!” She brought her hand to her chest, feigning innocence. “All I want is peace. I don’t want to lose you the same way I lost Chloe. I don’t want to push you away. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since Dave’s party and your words brought me clarity. This isn’t about me, it’s about you and Melissa. I only want to be part of your life. Your father as well. He’s extremely proud of you Andrew, he’s just hot-headed, you know that. He’s impressed at how well your computer thing is doing.”

  I wanted to believe her but I couldn’t.

  “Well.” She rose from the chair. “That’s all I had to say, please send my love to Melissa and call us when you’re ready to meet for that dinner, son. And by the way, this office looks good.”

  Seeing Jennifer apologizing was frightening. Terrifying even. My mother doesn’t apologize.

  “Thank you, and I’ll talk to Melissa about the whole dinner thing, but I doubt she’ll agree. I’m not agreeing to it.”

  “Andrew.” She sighed, lifting her eyebrows. “Family is important and I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to forgive us. Tell Melissa that from now on I’ll love her so hard she’ll beg me to stop.”

  Her last sentence didn’t feel as warm and cozy as the rest of the conversation. Her words were icy and almost threatening, revealing a bit of the Jennifer I knew.

  “I will.”

  “Oh, tell her that ginger tea is great for morning sickness,” she said, bringing back the pitchy, sweet tone. “It worked when I was pregnant with you.”

  She put on her white gloves, blew me a kiss and ambled out of my office leaving me baffled.

  ∞∞∞

  The music inside the apartment was loud. I didn’t know how the neighbors hadn’t complained about it. It was so loud that Melissa didn’t notice when I entered. She was dancing barefoot with a long floral skirt and a top that only covered her bust.

  As she spun round and round, the skirt formed a wide bubble around her. She looked mesmerizing. Mel was an amazing dancer. I stepped in and the air was thick with a spicy aroma. The scent was mouthwatering but also exasperating, I’d told Melissa I didn’t want her cooking.

  Melissa got startled when she noticed me by the door watching her. When she recovered from the fright, she ran to me, stood on her toes and kissed the side of my face, when she tried to move away, I held on to the back of her head and sealed my lips on hers. “I. Love. You.” I pronounced each word in between the kiss.

  “Hungry?” she laughed.

  “Why, did you cook?” I realized that I was shouting over the music. “I thought I told you not to.”

  She took her phone and switched off the music. “And I listened to you,” she said with obvious sarcasm. “I ordered everything.”

  I shook my head.

  Mel skipped towards the breakfast bar where she’d already set up plates. She poured wine into a glass and motioned with her index finger for me to approach. I removed my grey suit jacket and tossed it on the couch before taking a seat. She slid the glass with one precise elegant move almost as if she’d been rehearsing.

  “You seem better.”

  “I am. Today we’re having feijoada,” she said, producing an open casserole.

  The content looked interesting. I’d heard the name before and vaguely remembered it was some kind of stew with black beans, meat, and vegetables. She handed me a plate of the stew and white rice.

  “How was the talk with your mommy?”

  “She said she’ll love you so hard you’ll beg her to stop.”

  Melissa dropped her fork and burst out laughing. She laughed with such enthusiasm it was impossible not to join her. It took her a long time to calm down from her euphoria.

  “What else did she say?” Melissa asked amused.

  “Basically, she wanted to apologize for what she said to you then she went on and on about how great you are and said that we should go over to dinner at their place. A peace offering.”

  “What about your father, won’t he mind?” Mel drank from her water and cleaned a few laughter-tears that escaped her eyes.

  “She said that he won’t but I have my doubts. I know my mother … something is not right. She hated you now she’s your biggest fan?”

  “I’m awesome like that. I have that effect on people.”

  “Yes, you do. But … doesn’t it seem too perfect to be true?”

  “There’s only one way to find out. We go and have dinner with the Malcolms.”

  Melissa went back to her food and I eyed her suspiciously. She knew I was looking at her but she avoided looking up. My mother’s reaction was strange and so was Melissa’s. She didn’t seem surprised or shocked, instead, she was finding the whole thing amusing.

  “Mel, what’s going on? Did you talk to my mother?”

  “Nope.” She filled her mouth with food.

  “I’ll figure it out, might as well tell me now.”

  Melissa looked up with a challenging smile. “Not from me ‘cause I have nothing to say. Your mother wants peace—let’s accept it and stop fighting. I’d like my child to be able to know his, or her family. So, I don’t see anything wrong with it. Maybe she came to her senses or fell and knocked her head and one of the loose screws in her brain popped into place.”

  I didn’t believe her.

  Chapter 26

  Melissa

  I deleted all the photos I took of Jennifer and Mendez. It felt good having the upper hand, but she was Andrew’s mother and it would hurt him and destroy his family if anyone found out that she was sleeping with the driver. Not that I cared about that family, but because I cared for Andrew.

  Andrew was already suspicious of his mother’s sudden change of heart, and I knew he didn’t believe me when I said I knew nothing about it, yet it was better this way.

  Anyway, today was a day of celebration, Byte.Com—a high-tech security company—had bought the HoneyApp. For days they’d been at war with other companies to buy the app. To be honest, I had no idea it was such a gigantic success—let alone a million-dollar app.

  “None of this could be possible without all of you,” Andrew said, raising his glass. We clinked glasses, toasting to the accomplishment.

  “I’m glad I left my job and listened to this mad-man,” Ricky said, laughing. “Who would have thought a simple app could make us rich.”

  “Can we get a raise?” Sabrina teased, or maybe not, but we laughed along with her.

  It seemed like things were finally falling into place. My life wasn’t perfect, but it was getting there. Andrew placed his arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the conversation and watching the optimistic faces. Everyone was happy, laughing, and drinking.

  “Hey,” said the short cable guy who I knew now
was Trevor. “Who are you?”

  Andrew and I spun to see who was at the door. Immediately, Andrew congealed. “How did you get in?”

  “The door was open so I …” Ashlyn shrugged as though it was explanation enough.

  “I must have forgotten to close it,” Sabrina said, squeezing her way past Ashlyn.

  The light air that had been present a second ago was gone. I kept an impassive expression, hiding my irritation.

  “We’ll be outside,” Ricky muttered, and the three of them left. Ashlyn made way for them to leave the office.

  “Can I talk to you, Andrew?” Ashlyn asked. “It’s kind of urgent.”

  “We have nothing to talk about, Ashlyn.” His answer was curt and brisk.

  “Please, I won’t take much of your time and…” she gazed at me. “It’s sort of private.”

  Before Andrew could say anything, I began wriggling myself from under his arm but he held on firmer, keeping me in place.

  “Melissa stays.”

  “Fine. Can I at least come in?” She stepped into the office, glancing around, and then stood in front of us. “This is a nice place; you actually did it.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t come here to compliment the office. A phone call would have been enough.”

  “Yes, but odds are you wouldn’t have taken the call.” She paused and she let out a small sigh. “I’m not here to fight, I’m actually here to apologize. We’ve known each other for so long and I wouldn’t want our relationship to end like this. I want us to be friends again.”

  “Apology accepted. If that’s all you had to say please leave.”

  “I heard she’s pregnant? Are you going to keep it or are you also making her have an abortion as well?”

  “Ashlyn…”

  “What? She didn’t know.” Ashlyn turned her attention to me. “When we were younger your boyfriend got me pregnant and when I told him, he forced me to get rid of it.”

  Wow, what a way to start a new friendship.

  “It wasn’t like that, Mel,” Andrew murmured, looking down at me with pleading eyes.

  “What I don’t understand is how you would want to have her baby and not mine?”

  “Ashlyn, you know the circumstances were different back then. I’m sorry for what happened between us and with the pregnancy, but I can’t change the past. I offered many times to get you some sort of treatment or help but you’ve refused. I don’t know how to help you.”

  “Help me? You damaged me, Andrew. You fucking ruined me. My life was ruined from that moment on.”

  Ashlyn’s blue eyes were turning into puddles of water. Either she was a great actress or her words were sincere. She was hurting. I actually felt sorry for her.

  “Ashlyn, I’m sorry. As much as I wish we’d done things differently … nothing I say or do will change what has happened.”

  “Sorry isn’t good enough and I hope you don’t regret the choices you’re making because after this there is no going back. I won’t be there for you when you wake up from this stupid fantasy.”

  Ashlyn stormed out. What an apology.

  “Mel…” Andrew said, nearly whispering and I moved away from him. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “It’s fine, we’ll talk about this at home.” I walked across the room and picked up my bag from his desk. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”

  Just when I thought I knew all there was to know about Andrew this pops up, but I, better than anyone, knew that there were always multiple versions of a story and I wouldn’t jump to conclusions or judge anyone till I heard what Andrew had to say.

  Andrew’s car was parked right outside the office building and when I got to it, I remembered that I hadn’t brought the key. I paced back and forth uneasy with what Ashlyn said and tried not to jump to conclusions. Then I saw Erica buying a hotdog from a hotdog stand on the other side of the road. She noticed me too and waved.

  Great! Just who I wanted to see.

  I leaped into the road and after a few steps, I registered Erica widening her eyes with pure horror. It was almost as if she’d transformed into a statue, and the hotdog fell from her hand. At the same time, I heard Andrew scream my name.

  Confused, I spun, following the sound of his frantic voice, but I didn’t make it all way around. It was then I heard the screeching of tires and bright overhead lights, candescent in my direction. My mind caught up, as did my legs and I tried to run out of the way.

  “Mel!” Andrew’s hysterical plea was the last thing I heard before my feet roared off the ground, landing on the front window of a car. I rolled off the window all the way down to the hard concrete. All I could register as my vision became blurry was pain … everything hurt and the awful smell of tar right beneath my nose.

  “Mel, open your eyes. Look at me.”

  It was Andrew. He wanted me to open my eyes—I tried. The harder I tried, the more his voice seemed to fade into a distant whisper, until I saw, heard, smelled, and felt nothing. All of my senses were gone.

  Chapter 27

  Andrew

  “Mel please open your eyes! Melissa, please open your eyes. Please,” I repeated, holding her in my arms. She was not responding and the ambulance was taking forever to get here. “Don’t leave me, please.”

  “I will kill you,” Erica yelled, engaged in a heated argument with the driver. “You better pray she’s all right...”

  I tried to zone out the surrounding noises and focus only on Mel. Her head was bleeding and I couldn’t see exactly where the blood was coming from. I had no idea how to help her.

  It was difficult to breathe. My chest was rigid and I had to grasp for air. I felt as though someone had stuck their hand down my throat and was pulling out my guts.

  “Mel,” I brought my face closer to hers hoping she could hear me. “Open your eyes.” I felt soft air expel from her nose and it was a relief knowing that she was alive. I needed to see her open her eyes.

  Vaguely, I heard the sirens of the ambulance and then a man in a paramedic uniform said, “Sir, you have to let go of her.”

  I had to let her go. I knew it, yet I couldn’t. I didn’t want to let her go.

  “Andrew, please let them help her,” Ricky said.

  Next, two sets of strong hands pulled me back.

  “She’s pregnant,” I said.

  “Thank you,” Another paramedic answered, this time a woman.

  I watched as she carefully took Melissa’s vitals and assessed her injuries. She then put a cervical collar around her neck and gave her a brief examination. Then, they slipped her into a board and secured her with straps.

  “Is she okay?” I asked, following them to the ambulance.

  “She’s stable, but we’ll know more once we get her to the hospital.”

  “Can I go with her?”

  They put Melissa in the bus and climbed in. “No,” said the male paramedic. “It’s best you meet us at the hospital. You need to calm down, sir.” And then he shut the door.

  The ambulance drove away and I was, immobile, observing as it went. I shut my eyes and the image of Melissa being hit replayed in my head. I didn’t get to her fast enough.

  Traffic had stopped and there was a reasonably large crowd around the crash scene. People had their phones out and were taking photos and videos. It was repulsive how they were intrigued by tragedy.

  Then I was overtaken with fury, an anger I’d never before felt. My pulse raced faster than galloping racing horses. I stomped over to where the second ambulance was and to where Erica was throwing venomous insults.

  Ashlyn was the driver! I hated her. With a vengeance I’d never experienced before. She hurt Melissa and I wanted to hurt her.

  “Don’t go there.” Ricky jumped in front of me and held up his hands. “It’s not worth it. C’mon man, I know you want to destroy her. It’s written all over your face, but it won’t do you any good. Let’s go to the hospital. Melissa needs you.”

  Trevor held Erica by the arm, preventing her from at
tacking Ashlyn. I don’t think she even noticed that Melissa was gone.

  “Fine,” I agreed.

  “Let me drive you.” Ricky whistled. Trevor looked at him and hauled Erica—who wouldn’t shut up—toward us.

  We made it to Ricky’s car and he drove like a madman to the hospital. I didn’t complain.

  At the hospital, the woman behind the counter in the ER reception was typing and didn’t seem to have noticed my presence. I slapped my hand on the counter, causing my palm to sting, but she didn’t look up.

  “How can I help?” she eventually said acknowledging my presence.

  “I’m looking for Melissa Alford, she was just brought in … she was in a car accident.”

  “Are you family?” she asked calmly, typing.

  “For fuck’s sake.” She looked up at me from her glasses. “Yes, I’m family.”

  “Everyone says their family, son, do you have any proof?”

  I grunted and ran a hand through my hair fighting the urge to grab the vase on her desk and tossing it against the wall. “She was just hit by a car, damn it,” I began to raise my voice and my hands balled into fists. “Do you want a fucking blood test?”

  “Wait in there.” Her expression remained unchanged. She pointed to a door nearby. “A doctor will come to see you soon.”

  “Where is she? How is she?”

  She sighed. “I just said that a doctor will be with you shortly.”

  This woman was the least of my worries. I obeyed her, setting off to the doors she said. Erica and Ricky were behind me. The door was only a couple of feet away but a few bodies rushing to get somewhere bumped into me. We made it through the doors. It was quieter and an elderly couple sat close together holding hands, probably waiting for an update. I dropped into the first empty chair available with my elbows on my knees and held my head in my hands.

  Waiting without knowing what was going on was agonizing. No one said anything relevant. The sentence I kept hearing was, “Sir, please be patient, a doctor will be with you shortly.”