by Sherell Lynn
His words put tears in my eyes and fear and sadness in my heart. So, he wanted kids. How do I explain to him what Dr. Q said without him leaving me? I had just found happiness and now I might lose it. Was this some type of punishment? In that moment, I had to think of Adam and tell him the truth.
“Adam, I went to the doctor not too long ago. I don’t have any diseases or anything like that, but she did give me some bad news.” The tears started to roll down my cheeks. His hand came up out of the water and caressed my face.
“What did the doctor tell you? Whatever it is, we will deal with it together.” I loved how he felt about it, without even knowing what it is that I needed to tell him. I turned as much as I could in the bathtub to face him.
“Baby, she told me there’s little possibility of me ever getting pregnant.” His face changed to show disappointment and then quickly changed back trying to hide it. It broke my heart to know that I would never be able to give him something he obviously wanted.
All of a sudden his lips were on mine. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you, Bella. I still love you and if you are unable to carry our child, then we will have all the fun in having unprotected sex we want. And when it becomes the right time, we will consider other options.” I wanted to believe in his words I really did. I kissed him back and said a silent prayer that what he said was true. I didn’t want to lose him.
For the rest of the day Adam showed me that he loved me. The lovemaking we shared was eccentric and the attention he gave to my body was astounding. We talked and we laughed throughout our time together Saturday. On Sunday, Adam had joined me for church and we enjoyed hearing the word together. My faith in God was growing and so was the love for all the people he had brought into my life. We had a family dinner that night with two of my favorite people, Mr. Garett and Ms. Brenda. I felt so blessed. I said an extra prayer of thanks before retiring to my bed. I was eager to see Ava, come Monday morning. I hadn’t spoken with her since making sure she made it home from the club Friday night.
Here it was Monday morning. Adam had dropped me off at my house around six this morning. His house was at the far end of town damn near within the city limits. He said that his brother lived on the other end of town close to the other neighboring city. I had met his brother for the first time at the De Luca’s Christmas party catering event. He was just as attractive as Adam was, but he seemed more fun and brotherly. When I asked Adam, why they both selected to live on opposite sides of town, he said that it just worked for them. Since their family business was downtown and many of their businesses that they constructed were in both the neighboring cities, it made it easier after a hard day of work, to camp out at whoever’s house was closer.
Even though I was super tired from our early morning lovemaking, I enjoyed the extra pep in my step. I locked my car and made my way into the building, excited to get this workday going. I opened the door and immediately smelled the wonderful aroma of food cooking. That was the bad thing about working for Ava. The girl could throw down in the kitchen and so could Stephanie and Raymond. They all were so talented. It was no wonder the business was so successful.
I walked into the kitchen where all the magic happens. “Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning,” they all said in unison.
Raymond walked up to me with a knowing look on his face. “Hmm looks like you had yourself a good weekend.”
“Yes, it was the best I have ever had.” That was the truth and if I could shout it to the world, I would. Stephanie and Ava stopped what they were doing and come to huddle around me.
Stephanie grabbed me by the shoulders. “Okay, girl, spill the tea.”
I hesitated a minute, rubbing my hands together while trying to figure out if I should really give them any details of my time with Adam. Suddenly, I missed my sisters. I missed them every day, but it was moments like these, I missed them the most. I wanted them to be the ones I confided in. Maci would probably give me advice on love and Maddi would be a giggling, laughing mess.
That was another life though, a past that no one could know about. Thoughts like that had to stay hidden in the back of my mind. I had to stay in the present. Here I was known as Bella and she had just had an amazing weekend with her boyfriend. That title seemed a little elementary, seeing that I am in my late twenties. Nevertheless, I’m happy to be his girl.
“Come on, girl. Don’t keep us in suspense?” Ava took her apron off and threw it on the floor. Leave it to her to be dramatic.
“Okay, well, Mr. Adam De Luca and I are officially a couple in every way possible.” I loved hearing the sound of his name.
“So, you two had sex?” Raymond asked, making his way back to his cooking station. I looked at the girls. Ava and her green eyes were burrowing into me and Stephanie with her brown eyes looked intrigued.
I nodded my head and finally spoke. “Yes, and it was the best I ever had!”
I was getting hot and wet just thinking about it. Whew! After a few minutes of gossiping, we all retreated to our work areas. Ava followed me back to the front of the building where my desk was.
“I’m glad you had a great weekend, Bella, you deserved it girl. Not to bring you down or anything, but you did miss out on a great catering event. You know it was Nicole’s first day back from her injury. So, everything went according to the plan. I still missed you out there with me. I had kinda gotten used to you being my sidekick.” She gave me a puppy-dog look.
I walked around to her and embraced her in a hug. “Aww did you miss me?
She stepped back. “Of course, I did, so much so that I want you to be a permanent fixture to our Saturday catering events. I’m also giving you a promotion and a raise to sweeten the deal.”
I stood there shocked. “You can’t be serious, Ava?” I exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m dead serious. Come on already! Say yes!” Ava looked like a school girl jumping up and down, her strawberry-blond hair going all over her face.
“How can I say no to my very own strawberry short cake?” I laughed.
“So, it’s settled you will be my right-hand woman in and out of the kitchen.”
“And your best friend outside of business.” Ever since I had met her, she had always been there for me. Working for her didn’t change our relationship for the worse, it made it better. I had always heard that working with or for a friend was bad for business, we were the exception.
“No, you are like the sister I never had,” she responded. “And since you’re practically family I want to warn you about Adam. He is probably one of the richest guys in town, or the two neighboring cities, for that matter. I get the appeal of it. Bell, I really do. His money is as long as his list of women.”
I gasped at the nastiness in her voice and the words that were coming out of her mouth. Ava just continued speaking, her red lips manufacturing a frown.
“I’m not trying to hurt you. I just want to warn you. You might think this is a relationship, but I am sure he doesn’t. And being seen with him only makes you look like his next whore on the list.”
If she weren’t my so-called friend, I would have slapped the shit out of her. WTF was she thinking. Was she calling me a ho? I wasn’t here for any of that. I walked back to my desk, for fear I would knock a bitch out. She followed me. “Ava, I know I haven’t been living here long to know all the town gossip. But I really don’t care what they think of me or my relationship with Adam. He has never treated me like a whore. We have gone on many dates and he has been the perfect gentleman each time. This weekend he told me he loved me and I believe him.”
Now, it was her turn to be shocked, “He said he loved you?”
“Yes, we love each other.” I had a flashback to one of our many intense moments. My mood instantly brightened.
“Oh…Oh, okay… Wow.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I asked. Ava stood there looking confused. I sat down and turned my computer on. I didn’t have time for this shit, we had just had a great mom
ent ourselves, and she was ruining it.
“Look I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t realize how serious you guys are. You are my best friend, so I want you to be happy. I think it’s cool you’re down with the swirl. You two are a cute couple.”
“I’m glad to hear that you approve. Now that we have settled it, there is lots of work for us to do. You don’t pay me to chit chat.” I laughed off my frustration at the situation.
Ava gave me a smile before turning back towards the kitchen.
25
Adam
A whole week had gone by. I hadn’t spent as much time with Bella as I wanted to. This past week had been insanely busy. There was a bid that my company won, making it the sixth one this week. We were now booked out well past the summer. Buildings were going up everywhere. The company logo was standing strong on a few construction sites. Who needed to advertise in online newspapers and magazines, when my company’s work spoke for itself? I also had to attend to a few board meetings. My brother had gone to Italy to visit our parents, so that added to my demanding work load.
I felt like I was moving at the speed of lightning. Bella was the one thing that slows me down. From her flawless dark brown skin, to her beautiful smile and let me not forget about her joyful laugh, the image of her will be forever embedded in my mind. She was an angel from heaven. I had never thanked God as much as I had done here lately. Her coke bottle shape had me wanting to have her in my bed every night. Every chance I got, I laid her body out and wasted no time taking what was mine. I had always been strapped up in the past. Being with Bella, I didn’t have to worry about that. It was an added benefit.
I loved Bella with everything I had in me. She was my first real relationship that I saw my forever in. The only hiccup was that she could not have kids. It was devastating news to hear. I tried not to show her my disappointment when she told me. I am still trying to hide it. This problem was something I never thought would be one. I had slept with a lot of women. Some even claimed that I had fathered their children. All of it was lies and deception.
Those women had been trying to obtain a rich baby daddy and climb up the social ladder. The irony that the one woman I want forever with can’t get pregnant was a struggle I am trying to deal with. I will admit it. It must be an even bigger struggle for Bella to deal with. For that reason, I have to be strong for her. We would get through this together.
I looked out of my office window. Outside I saw people walking around laughing and enjoying life. Life was constantly moving. I stared out the window for another few minutes, before I turn my attention back to getting some work done. Hours go by and I had filled the time by going over contracts, acquisitions for land and building permits. It was quite taxing.
There was a knock at the door and then it flew open. “Ciao fratello hai perso?” Alex came in asking me if I missed him in Italian.
“Non ẻ affatto fratello minore,” I responded back, saying not at all little brother.
He laughed it off and continued to take a seat in the chair in front of my desk. “So, tell me what have I missed?” He asked.
I tap my pen on the desk before I began. “Well we got a few bids for-”
“Not anything about work, I got an assistant for that,” Adam interjected.
I threw my pen at him. “I didn’t realize you were into gossiping like little girls.”
He caught it in the air and threw it back. “It’s not gossip if it comes straight from the horse’s mouth. Now, I could tell you the word on the street is that you’re dating this fine ass black woman that looks like a got damn angel.”
I smirked; for once, the streets were right. “This should not be news to you. I was dating her before you left.”
“Yes, but you had not slept with her before I left. From what I hear she has been spending a lot of nights at your penthouse.”
My mind raced back to all those nights, where I claimed her body as my own. There wasn’t a part of her feminine frame that hadn’t felt the touch of my tongue or roughness of my hands. “I’m thrilled that the streets are spot on with their observations. I wished they had all the facts right about my past.”
“What, that you are a man whore? That’s the truth. Tell me big brother how long do you think this will last before you are tapping the next piece of ass to come your way?”
It took a lot for me to get mad. I’m usually a very patient man. Something about Bella made me want to protect her and our relationship. “Alex, Bella is my woman. There is no other piece of ass that I am chasing besides hers. Those days are behind me.”
“You wouldn’t have her if it wasn’t for me,” he said in a condescending manner.
In a matter of seconds, I ran around the desk, wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him up out the chair. “While your little tips might have helped me facilitate a date with her, it was my words, my lips, and my dick that landed her in my bed. You will do good to remember that.” I dropped him back down in his seat and adjusted my suit.
“I sure hope Bella never sees this side of you. You might scare her off. She’s not a toy to play with.”
“I would never hurt her. She is the love of my life.” Right now, I should feel over the moon. My brother was the first person other than Bella to hear those words. Instead, I just feel anger. My brother and I have always had disagreements. This time I felt it was a little more than that. I knew he wanted Bella for himself. I would die before I let that happen.
26
Ava
Months had gone by with Bella throwing her relationship in my face. It was always Adam this or Adam that. OMG, I am so sick of hearing about Adam! It was now summer time and everybody was booking my company to cater their events. We were doing everything from back yard BBQs to corporate office parties. We were so busy I had to hire more staff members than the three I had hired right after the first of the year.
Bella was now my office manager slash director of operations. Raymond was still head chef and Stephanie was second to his command. There were two junior chefs I had hired to work under them. I also added a full-time secretary and I had a total of twelve catering staffers just for events. One would think with all the extra help my business would run smoother without me putting in so many hours. That proved to be a crock of shit.
I spent my days meeting with clients, coming up with menus and fresh ideas. Whenever the opportunity arose, I would get my hands dirty in the kitchen. That was my serenity and saving grace.
“Bella, can you come to my office please?” I announced over the intercom.
A few minutes later, she arrived in my office. Bella was truly a beautiful girl. However, today, she looked like something the cat dragged in.
“You know friends have to be honest with each other, right?”
She let out a breath, which I am sure was nothing but hot air. “Yes, Ava, I do know that.”
I had to choose my words carefully. “Now, keep in mind that I love you very much.” I paused and she nodded her head for me to continue. “But you look like shit. Is Adam keeping you up all night or is there something going on with Mr. Garett?”
Bella ran her hand through her hair then spoke. “Everything is fine with Mr. Garett. He is very happy and in love. I’m starting to wonder why we even have a house. He is always working, volunteering, or at Ms. Brenda’s house. And I stay over at Adam’s most of the time when I am not here.” She closed her eyes and then yawned. “I have been really tired here lately. I’m sorry, Ava. I didn’t think it was affecting my work.”
I felt bad for my friend. There were many things I had put on her plate as far as work goes. Like me, Bella had been working just as hard. She had proved that she could handle it up until this point. I wondered if that was the problem.
“Do you feel like you are working too hard? You never answered me about Adam. Does this have anything to do with him?” I really hated asking about him. If she didn’t bring him up, I didn’t want to either, but something was wrong and I really
wanted to know what it was. She eyed me for a minute.
Sitting so still, I could see the bags forming under her eyes. Maybe I should give her the day off to get some rest. She yawned again.
“It’s like I said, I feel really tired all of the time. Adam has been great. The other night we were watching a movie and I didn’t even make it through the opening credits before I fell asleep.” That was it. I didn’t need her falling asleep on the job.
“Bella, I think you should take the day off. Go home to get some sleep or go to the doctor to see if it’s something serious.”
Bella’s big brown eyes become even larger. “You really think it might be something serious?”
“I don’t know, but aren’t you worried that it might be? You look very tired. I’m worried about you.”
“Okay, I will see if I can get seen today. Are you sure you can make it without me?”
“Yes, girl. Now, go before I change my mind.” I was pretty sure I could manage one day without her. I hope that it wasn’t anything serious that she needed more time off.
Finally, the day ended. I shut down my laptop and cleaned my office. I could proudly say we made it without Bella. There were a few challenges, but I didn’t get to own my own company by slacking. “Hello,” I say answering my cell phone. It was Luke on the other end. Turned out Luke was a great guy to keep around. The sex was good and any extra money he got he spent on me. It wasn’t much, but I did appreciate his dedication to make me happy. After a few minutes on the phone with him, I made my way out of my building. The plan was to go home and change to get ready to meet him at the park. That was another thing that he had going for him, the man knew how to stay in shape. Most of our dates were planned around some type of physical activity. We were a very active couple in and out of the bedroom. This evening would be no different. We were meeting up at the state park for a hike on the trail.
