by Andy Wayne
He turned around scraped the garlic into the pan.
The man clearly knew what he was doing as he poured eggs into the pan and added in different vegetables. He was right. He didn't need to be judged. This wasn't the same man she met yesterday. That man was angry and sullen, hardly capable of carrying on a conversation.
“Why are you so upset? You don't seem like a drinker.”
“I'm not.” He made her a plate and set out some fruit.
“Well, what is it?”
He pulled out his cell phone from his pocket. “Two months ago, this thing was ringing off the hook. Maricela sent text messages every few seconds, threatening me, my house, even Luther. Now she's trying to destroy my career.”
“You broke her heart.”
“No.” He shook his head and poured them both some orange juice. “That's the worst part. This woman decided to latch onto me, and I wouldn't have it. I went on one date. Then I told her off and now she's losing her mind.”
It was an old excuse, and an easy lie for him to use. “But she's alleging that she's pregnant, Diego.”
“Look at this.” He pulled up a video on his phone and hit play.
There was the sound of somebody sobbing. Then Maricela's face came on screen. It was the woman that threw her drink on Elena at the charity dinner. She was sobbing with red eyes and mascara streaming down her face.
“You see this?” She held up a knife and pressed it to her wrists. “This is what you do to me, Diego. I love you. Baby, please,” she was hysterical, “don't leave me. I'll be anything you want me to be. I love you!” She shrieked, then the video went blank.
“It looks like you broke the poor girl's heart.”
“Uh-uh,” he laughed and swiped to another video. “Look at this.”
“You know what?” Her face was clean and she was done crying. “I don't even care. I'd never hurt myself over somebody like you. You're not worth it.” She gave him the finger and ended the video.
“The woman is crazy. She sends me things like this all day, every day. Sometimes she's got a bottle of pills. Sometimes she's gonna run up here with a baseball bat. The team doesn't care. The only thing they're worried about is her going to the press.”
“And they can't release videos like that, at least not directly.”
“It will look bad on them for hiring a girl like her. Now I've got the short end of the stick, and everyone is blaming me. They don't care what I say.”
If she was lying, then they would have found out already. “I not sure if I believe you.”
“After what I just showed you? Come on.”
“I don't. She has ovaries that could quite possibly be functioning, and I'd put money on the fact that you gave it to her.”
“That’s just it… I didn’t. I never even slept with her. She was too crazy.”
Elena couldn't believe that. He was lying. This was all a show, the cooking and the way he was acting. He probably stayed sober long enough to deal with her, and planned on getting drunk later. Maybe he thought that convincing her would help him build a better image. Maybe he was mad at Maricela, and was trying to hurt her by making everyone think she was faking the pregnancy.
Elena wanted this man to be real. She had seen far too many sick, pasty douches pretending to be everything he seemed to be. They'd act like they could cook and keep house. They'd work out every few weeks trying to build some muscle. She dated men like that, but they never seemed to be able to keep up the image the way Diego did. Maybe he was everything they wanted to be, but it was probably too good to be true.
“You have to help me.” He was reeling her in, walking closer until he was sitting in the stool next to her, facing her.
“I don't want to discredit this woman. If she's telling the truth and I hurt her, I won't be able to live with myself.”
“Look, she just went to the media and started blabbing her mouth. She's not pregnant, and if people go out there and talk a bunch of crap about her, it's just gonna make me look bad. I've been telling Chance this from the beginning. All you gotta do is try to get her to take a pregnancy test.”
She sat back and sighed, “So you're telling the truth, aren't you?”
“Of course!” He sat down next to her. “I'm losing my career here. Chance won't listen to me. When you got here I had just told him to test her and he refused. He said that the team could get in trouble for making her do it. I stormed out and went to the bar thinking that my life was over. I worked for years trying to build what I have, and now I’m losing everything because a crazy woman is spreading lies about me. You don't have any idea what it takes to be where I am, do you?”
“I don't.” She shrank back a bit. He was too close, and wearing nothing but his sweat pants.
“You don't like football. I knew it.”
“It's dumb.”
“What? You think we're just a bunch of monkeys throwing a ball around?”
“Well...”
He laughed. “When you're working out, you push yourself harder and harder until you can't take it anymore. Then you have to keep going. Even though your body won't let you, you still have to find a way. That's where your mind kicks in and you literally have to run out of sheer determination. Over time, that determination grows… just like a muscle.”
She nodded her head.
“Exercise is the art of self-growth. When you're running, your mind clears and it starts running too. Running through all of the things that are going on in your life, all of your dreams and aspirations, and you start to work through them. All of the anger and tension that you build up throughout the day melts off and you can be alone with your mind. It's like meditating.”
“And sports?”
“It's a way to strut your stuff so people can see how hard you've worked. It's a competition, sure, and a lot of people have a problem with that, but it encourages growth.”
“Because you want to be better than the next guy.”
“It motivates you. But when you get to the core of it, it's not about the next guy, or even the rest of the team, it's about bettering myself.” He finished his food and his juice. Then he took her plate and washed the dishes.
“I did judge you.”
“I know,” he looked back with a grin.
“No, I mean...”
“You're halfway across the country. The culture in OB is different. We're close to the border. The two worlds mix. It's not like a lot of the Midwest where minority groups are stuck in impoverished neighborhoods. So you got a little scared when you saw a tatted up Mexican guy, right?”
“That's not it.” She was defensive.
“Yes, it is. You'd never admit it, not even to yourself, but that is it.'
“You were angry, drunk and looked at me like you wanted to bash my skull in when I first met you, and yeah, I guess a big tatted up Mexican does evoke a certain bias. But I don't appreciate being called waspy, either.”
“Good point. I apologize.”
“So do I.”
He finished the dishes and leaned across the counter. “Would you like to see some more of the house?”
“God, yes.”
“Come on.” He hooked his arm in hers and they walked out through French doors leading onto a veranda overlooking the ocean. “This is what the art of self-growth has given me.”
“Is that entire beach yours?”
“Yes.”
“It's beautiful.” She could see the clouds rolling in from the coast, pouring rain onto the ocean. “It's going to rain.”
“Oh, that's the best time to be out here.” He sat down on a square white cushion and sat her down beside him. “See, when the rain comes the tide rushes up and you can watch the waves, one after the other, getting bigger and bigger. It's a thrill.”
“Do you ever go out in the water?”
“Yes. I love swimming. I'll go out and catch fish, then bring them back and grill them. Oh, and the dolphins.”
“Dolphins?”
“Yes,” he c
huckled. “So the dolphins love this part of the coast because they can come in and catch fish here too. There's a whole bunch. So I'll see them all the time jumping out of the water with fish in their mouths. But they're mean. I don't like to go near them. You never know what they're gonna do.”
“You have dolphins in your backyard?” Elena laid down on the cushion and stared up at the ceiling.
“Sure do.”
“I have to apologize. I know I mentioned it before, but I can't stomach the thought of walking in and judging people like that. You're not a thug. You're not angry. You're harmless.”
“No,” he laid down and faced her, with his face inches away from hers. “I'm dangerous.”
She couldn't stop shivering, and he couldn't stop looking at her. “You are dangerous.” Oh to have somebody like him with his arms wrapped around her…
“I protect the people I care about. If anyone hurts somebody I love, and they do it bad enough, I'd kill them.”
“That's a redeeming quality. Do you really think I'm just some stupid white girl?”
“I like you,” he chuckled.
“No, you don't. You think I'm dumb.”
“No, I mean it,” he reaffirmed. “Most people would have gone crazy, walking out on the red carpet, smiling for the cameras and all that. They'd have been star struck. You didn't care… not at all. You walked right out and saw the whole thing for what it was. That might sound dumb to you, but you don't know my life. I haven't seen a woman that wasn't made of silicone in ten years. Everyone here is fake, trying to get into your pants and your wallet. There's no substance here. It's a relief to meet you. You're a real woman.”
“I feel that way too, you know, I mean about there being no substance here. That guy Chance...”
“He screws all the girls before he hires them. If they don't do it, he won't hire them. If they do a good job on their quarterly review, he gives them a twenty cent raise.”
“See, that's what I mean. No morals, just fake people. You're not fake, though.” She went quiet. “You've got no walls up at all. You are who you are, without apology.”
“I can't pretend. I do what I do.” He moved closer. “And when there's something I want,” he sat with his face hovering over hers, “I take it.” He fell slowly, with his top lip curled just right, and lit a fire that exploded over her lips and spread down her body.
Then he pulled back. “Was that okay?”
It didn't matter if it was okay for him to kiss her or not. She would have let him do it anyway, and when he was done, she would have begged for more. She had forgotten where was, and what was going on around her.
She had waited too long to answer, though. He sat up and held his head down low. “There is somebody back home, but...”
“If that's the case, I won't do it again, and I'm sorry.” His voice was dark.
She couldn't end things like that, not after what had just happened. “But I don't love him. We hate each other.” She finally admitted it. For more than a year she refused to admit that her relationship with Tripp was over, and it just rolled off her tongue like it was nothing.
“Do you want to leave him?”
“Yes.”
“Does he know?”
“He doesn't care.”
“Then is it okay that I kissed you?”
“Dear God, yes!”
He bent down and kissed her again, not with the same tender kiss he had given her before. This was faster, rougher and filled with the full force of his strength. He was like fire, eating into her face, spreading down her body and driving her insane. He burned so good the man could have done anything to her and she would have let him. She was his, and she didn't have any choice in the matter, because he was just too irresistible.
Elena laid with him, talking while they watched the rain as the waves edged up against the shore.
Chapter 5
Elena walked into the arena wearing a black and white pantsuit, her hair in a tight bun.
“Oh, hi!” Chelsea squealed.
“Get Chance.” She didn't want to hear that woman's voice any longer than she had to.
“Um,” she twisted her finger over her lips. “I think he's, in a meeting or something. There was a lot of heavy panting earlier.”
“Chance!” She knocked on his door and it cracked open immediately.
“Just a second!” He slammed the door shut again and muffled voices came from the other side.
“Are they hiring a new cheerleader?” she asked Chelsea.
“I think Chance is doing interviews for when Maricela gets her baby bump.”
“Is he?” Elena hated that man.
When he opened the door, he wasn't wearing any shoes and his shirt was buttoned up wrong. There was a young blond woman leaning up against the desk.
“I need you to bring Maricela into the office,” Elena said.
He walked back to the desk, and winked the girl. Then he picked up his tablet and started looking through it. “I can get her in tomorrow, but I'm booked today.”
“Just hurry up with him,” she told the girl. “I need Maricela in today. Chance,” she turned to him, “I'm going for coffee. Call me when she gets here.” Elena wasn't about to wait in the office while he screwed that girl and finally got around to Maricela.
“Fine,” he said, as he slammed the door on her and resumed his interview.
“Does he really screw all of the cheerleaders?” Elena asked.
“Yup. He made me do it too, but I make more here than I did dancing, so I don't mind.”
“How'd you find this job?”
“He picked me up one night at the club. Told me I had potential. Haven't gotten back on the pole since. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love it here.”
Elena had never heard anything so terrible in her entire life. She was disgusted with the place, so she walked around downtown for a while, picked up something to eat and sat down in a small cafe, where she did finally get a phone call from Chance.
“Is she there?” Elena asked.
“Yeah, and she's pissed. Apparently she had some sort of spa thing going on and we interrupted it.”
“ Good.”
“Are you screwing Diego?”
“Why?”
“She keeps going on about it, she seems to think that because she saw you sitting with him at the charity event that you're with him.”
“No, and she assaulted me at the event. The woman is psychotic. Have you seen the videos she sent Diego?”
“Oh yeah. That's some crazy shit, ain't it?”
“Don't take anything she says seriously, and get her in a room so I can talk to her.” She hung up the phone and walked out of the cafe carrying a white plastic bag.
When the elevator opened and Elena started to walk out into the reception area, she heard a shrill scream and was tackled to the ground, engulfed in a sea of frizzy black hair. “He's mine!” Maricela shrieked. She pulled Elena up by the hair and slammed her head to the ground. “Mine!” She did it again. “He loves me, we're having a baby and we're going to be together.”
The third time Elena's head slammed to the ground, she felt light. Maricela reared up and drew her fist back to punch Elena in the nose. Elena dodged to the right and threw Maricela off of her. The woman's head made a thud when it hit the concrete.
“Chance!” Elena rushed up to bang on his door.
“She wanted to wait for you,” he called from his office.
“Uh-huh, yeah.” Chelsea was on the phone. “She's the frumpy brunette with crazy hair fighting in the lobby. I need you down here right away.”
“Frumpy?” Maricela shrieked.
“Security will take care of her.” Chelsea whispered to Elena.
Two men ran out of the elevator, their hands hovering over their Tasers. “Is this her?” It was the blond that was always flirting with Chelsea.
“Yeah, baby! Get her!” she hopped up and down.
“Could you, like, tase her for me?” Ele
na asked.
Maricela spit in her direction.
“Sorry, we're not really allowed to use them unless we have to,” the blond said.
“Not even for me, Jeff?”
“Sorry, babe.” Looking to Elena, he asked, “What do you want me to do?”
“Bring her into this side room here.” Elena pointed to the door of a conference room on the other side of the reception desk, “Stay with me, please.” Elena walked up to Maricela who was staring at her like a snake ready to devour its victim. Then she crouched down to the woman's level. “I think we'll have a little chat, woman to woman.”
“I'm going to kill you.” Maricela stared at her dead on.
“Try it.” Elena stood up and turned back around to walk into the conference room.
“Let me go!” Elena heard from her spot at the head of the table. “Get off me! What are you doing? Please!” Maricela was hysterical when the men pulled her up to the door and threw her into the room. Her face made a satisfying smacking sound on the floor when it made contact. She shot up, shrieking, with her claws out in front of her and ran towards Elena. “You bi—
The blond security guard came up behind her, picked her up and sat her down in the chair on the other side of the table. “I have zip ties,” he yelled, struggling to be heard over Maricela's shrieking.
“Both of you just stand on either side of the chair.” She directed the security detail, appearing much more calm and in control than she felt.
“Now,” Elena turned her attention to Maricela. “I don't know you, but I know you're out of your mind. Those videos...”
“I love him, and that's something you know nothing about.” She was sobbing like a little girl now, a complete change from the shrieking witch of moments ago.
“Okay. Whatever. You're jealous and you're trying to destroy him, because he never wanted to be with you in the first place.”
“That's not true!” She struggled to get up, but the blond managed to sit her back down.
“Prove it then.” Elena set her phone down in her lap and pulled a box out of the plastic bag she'd been carrying. “Take a pregnancy test. He has reassured me and everyone else consistently that if you are pregnant he will make sure the baby is taken care of.”
