by Mia Ford
“Every time I think you can't get even more cheesy,” I say teasingly as we walk out of my apartment building and out into the cold air, “you just keep proving me wrong.”
Marvin just chuckles. I’m looking forward to our date, but also to what comes after if I would go to his place or he would return to mine.
We walk to his car, Marvin circling with me and holding onto my hand as I climb in, then he closes the door and moves to the driver's side. Once he's seated, he sends a smirk my way, then the car is on, and we're moving.
“We’re going to Del Posto. I know how much you love Italian food?”
He knows me so well, as a kid, my dream was to visit Italy.
“You’re spoiling me.”
He nods, “You’re worth it.”
He lifted up my hand and kissed it. I can get used to this type of treatment. I don’t know what part I love the most. The fact that he’s so caring and always thinking about the best way to take care of me. It’s the little things that a girl likes. Not the fancy restaurants, but just paying attention to the things we like.
Marvin’s more than any man that I’ve ever known, and he makes me want him not just for now, but always.
“I spoke to Ben last night. It was a bit weird when he asked what I was doing tonight and if we could meet up.”
“Oh, if you wanted to meet up with dad then that’s fine.”
He shakes his head while keeping his eye on the road.
“It’s not that. I’m just trying to think how to talk to him about us. I’ll have to do it eventually.”
“I know, but I don’t want to think about it tonight. Can we just spend a lovely evening out.”
“Eating pasta?”
“Exactly!”
I’m sticking my head under the carpet as far as my parents are concerned, I know that it’s a path that I’ll have to cross. I just don’t want to do that right now.
Two weeks ago, I’d come to the realization that I may have to lose my business. My parents are not going to take our relationship lightly, and we both know it. So, until we get to that bridge, I just want to enjoy him.
It doesn’t take long for us to arrive and I’ve always wanted to eat here, but I’ve never been able to afford it. I want to look around the restaurant, but my eyes are more focused on my date. As soon as he gives his name and we’re seated, Marvin blurts out, “I have a request tonight.”
I take a deep breath as I think back to the conversation in the car, wondering if it has something to do with my parents.
“What?”
“Can we please not talk about work tonight?”
I smile, pleasantly surprised by the request and more than willing to give in.
"Of course," I answer easily.
The meal is brought out to us, and it's as amazing as I thought it would be. We each get a different dish, but he lets me taste his. It’s all so delicious I can't tell which I prefer, and he offers an exchange, half of mine for half of his, so we can each taste everything.
“This is so good, Marvin,” I almost moan on another bite.
Marvin chuckles at me. “I’ll be taking you to a few of my favorite places around the city, but we can always come back here whenever you want.”
“Definitely,” I say with enthusiasm, and we go on to have a little discussion about other restaurants we’ve gone to, foods that we like.
It's not all innocent, of course. We’re getting on and flirting with each other, Marvin’s offering me food on his fork just to watch my mouth as I eat, and me doing the same as I pick up the cue from him and feed him from my plate.
“You didn’t make a mess. Where did the clumsy girl go to?”
I wink at him, “I can show you where she went to?”
He stiffens up and then abruptly asks for the bill. If only we could spend one night, without thinking of sex, then it would be amazing, but something always makes one of us want to go home early.
Tonight, it was my turn as I looked at the lady eating ice-cream and all I could think about was Marvin scooping up my pussy with his tongue.
He pinches my butt as we head out of the restaurant and growls, “You’re such a bad girl.”
That’s when I bump into someone. A person that I love to hate. Brenda Keeps, the CEO of the Silk Box. The company that’s been dragging me down and I needed Marvin to pick me right up.
“Watch it!”
She pushes me away from her and then I bounce in the direction of Marvin.
I’m just about to say something when she smiles, a sexy, seductive smile. Totally different to what she was doing a few minutes ago.
“Oh, Marvin. I never saw you.”
I watch as Marvin seems indifferent and wants to pull me away from her.
“What? You know her. How?”
Brenda’s blurts out, “See you in the morning, Marvin.”
He’s pulling me away, and I think that she’s laughing as Marvin’s refusing to answer my question. I’m not getting in the car with him.
No way!
“What does she mean about to see you in the morning? How do you know her? Why would you be seeing her in the morning?”
I think that I’m starting to answer my questions, but I’m throwing my hands up in the air because I want Marvin to respond to me right now. But he’s quiet. That can only mean one thing. I hate causing a scene in public, but I need to know the truth right now.
“Marvin?”
“Can we talk about this at home?”
I shake my head, “No. I can’t wait that long.”
“Fine, seeing as you want to hear it. I own the Silk Box. You happy now.”
“No, but I’m going home alone. Don’t follow me and don’t call. I don’t care what you have to say about it. Everything that’s happened has been a lie.”
“No. Not the way I feel…”
“Save it, Marvin! I’m not interested. At what point were you going to tell me that the one company that’s ruined mine, just happens to be one of yours?”
He smirks, “I thought that we agreed that you destroyed your company. Not the other way around.”
Wow!
“I can’t believe that you just said that, but then again what should I expect from a snake. You used me, knowing that you could have helped me a long time ago.”
He starts to head to the driver’s side.
“If that’s what you want to believe then fine. I wanted to talk about this at home. Behind closed doors, not on the street like animals. I think you’ll find that you used me too. You never came to Vegas for a good time! You went for the money.”
Then he gets in his car, and then he leaves me on the side of the street like a hooker. I hated Marvin when I thought that he was using money as a means to get me hot and bothered under the sheets.
But now I hate him even more, not only for the secret. But for saying that I’d slept with him for the money, even if it was the truth.
Chapter Fifteen
Emily
I stand on the street corner, watching his car go by. I don’t want him anywhere near me ever again. I start to wonder if he’d planned the whole thing and through my tears, I call Michelle. Maybe if she’s at home, then I’ll talk to her about the whole humiliating experience that I suffered tonight.
“Michelle, are you home?”
I blurt out as soon as she picks up the phone. My voice is muffled, and I should have tried to calm down before speaking to her, but I’m so upset. Heartbroken and I can’t stop fucking crying.
“Yes, yes, what’s wrong?”
“Everything!”
“Okay, just come over. Calm down, and then we’ll talk, okay?”
“On my way.”
“Or maybe I should come to you? Are you at home?”
I shake my head, “No, I’m out, but I can come to you. It’s okay. I’ll just grab a taxi.”
She sighs, “Good. I’m waiting okay?”
I nod, “Okay.”
Then I hang up, and I feel guilty
for calling her at nearly midnight, just because I’ve been a fool. Maybe I should have waited until the morning, but I know one thing for sure. I’m not sleeping tonight. I’m so fucking mad and upset.
I walk up a bit, and within no time, I manage to hail a cab. After I give him the direction, I manage to wipe most of my tears on my dress and to take in a few deep breaths and close my eyes for the short ride allowed me to calm down. Just a little bit.
By the time I pass the taxi, then buzz her apartment, the tears start falling once again. I can’t help myself, as much as I’m trying to control myself. I’m not doing a good job.
“Emily!”
Michelle screams as she opens her door in her pj's. I feel guilty that she must have been sleeping when I called, but the look of concern on her emerald eyes tells me that she’s more concerned about me.
“Michelle, he used me!”
I run into her arms. She pats me on the back, and her soothing voice reassures me that, she’s not bothered. She’s more worried about my emotional state at the moment.
“Come on, let’s sit down. Do you want a drink?”
I shake my head as she goes to shut the door and I dump my purse and my body on her sofa.
“So, we’re at dinner. Marvin and I. Then Brenda who owns ‘or so I thought’”, I use my fingers to highlight the fact that I’ve been so wrong about the owner of Silk Box.
“Bumps into me and then tells me that Marvin owns Silk Box. Not her. She’s just the ….”
I don’t even know her position.
“So the face or whatever of Silk Box?”
I nod my head, “Yes, and he owns it.”
She sighs with a puzzled look on her face, “So, how did he use you?”
“Well, he told me about the deal and that I had to go to Vegas with him to keep The Glimmer & Dazzle running.”
I’m crying, and she’s trying to make sense of it all.
“I’m lost. He owned the competitor and gave you money and a hot time in Vegas, but he’s using you?”
I feel as if I’m talking to a brick wall, she’s not listening at all.
“Yes.”
“But how Emily? He gave you money to run your company. His main competitor. How is that using you?”
I sigh, “You’re not listening.”
“I am. But it makes no sense. What did Marvin say?”
I stop crying because when I tell her this part, she’s going to think that I’m going over the top and after speaking to her. I think that maybe I am a little.
“He said to discuss it at home, and he didn’t want to talk about it on the street.”
“I see,” she clears her throat and says, “Look I get that you’re upset that he never told you. The fact that Brenda’s the face of the Silk Box, most likely means that he has nothing to do with the day-to-day runnings of the company. And doesn’t Marvin own loads of different types of companies.”
I stop facing her and put my head at the back of the sofa and sigh, “I guess.”
“So, most likely this is just one of them. I bet he didn’t even remember that he owned it.”
She grabs my hand and then leans after the sofa next to me.
“Emily, you get all wound up over things all the time.”
I lift my head up, “What do you mean?”
“Well, like designing you call all crazy and obsessive and shit. The same thing.I hate to say it; you’ve been doing with Marvin. It’s been all about Marvin this, Marvin that. Before that, it was all about the designs. You get all emotional about things, which is great. But I think that we both know that Marvin didn’t do anything wrong, but I get why you’re mad at him. Just try not to be mad forever.”
I mumble, “I’ll try. But it’s going to be hard.”
She shakes her head, “It’s going to be fucking hard because you’re as stubborn as hell. Maybe just take some time out and work on the business again and then after then see how you feel about Marvin.”
“I’ll try, but it’s going to be hard.”
“As I said, girlfriend, you’re as stubborn as hell!”
I drop her hand and then hit her as my tears turn to a laugh. I know that she’s right, but Marvin kept it from me for a reason. He was aware that he owned the main competitor, the one company that I hate at the moment. All the time that we were together, he never told me, and that fucking hurts. Cuts like a fucking knife. Mainly because I never realized until that moment, that I'd fallen head over heels in love with the man.
Chapter Sixteen
Emily
Dammit!
Dinner had been great, had been amazing in fact, and I'd had a long night planned for us. If only it didn’t get ruined by the last person I expected to meet.
I may not like Brenda at the moment, but business is still important. I’m not going to go after Emily right away. Especially after the way, the evening ended so badly. She needs time to calm down and see things. Well, at least be ready to hear my side of the story. I may own the company, but the day-to-day business is down to Brenda. She’s a family friend, and I was asked to invest in a viable business.
Emily had turned me down time and time again. I don’t believe in putting all my eggs in one basket, so I invested in The Silk Box. I’m a silent owner who has the final votes on the main decisions. Anything else is down to Brenda. I won’t apologize for that, then again what do I have to apologize for?
I have work to catch on, and besides, I’ve been so distracted with Emily lately, that I’ve as good as forgotten about it. Well, not entirely, but I haven’t been paying as much attention to it all as I’ve done in the past.
“Roger, what’s this email about?” I shout out as I read the lines of my email.
He rushes in as if there’s a fire, probably not used to my tone. I never use it with him, because I never have to. He’s so damn efficient at the worst of times.
“There’s a shipment that came in from Europe. You’ve been a little difficult to reach recently, so I haven’t had the chance to let you know, yet.”
Goddammit!
This isn’t working; I need to go home. I’m going to be shouting at Roger for the rest of the day, and I’ve got a fucking headache.
“Sorry, Roger. I’m going to get out of here.”
He nods knowing that my bad mood has nothing to do with him. I just haven’t been paying attention. I wonder for a second if I should take my Mac with me. I decide against it as I pick up my phone and head out of the door.
“Have a good night.”
“You too Roger and sorry about before.”
He smiles, “I know that you’ve been stressful lately. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure that you get some rest.”
I’m about to say something, but then I decide against it as I’m about to walk out. I was going to ask him if he wanted a beer. I could do with a bit of company and see as the only real friend I have is Ben. He’s the last one that I’ll be calling for a beer.
I head down the hall to the elevator. Press the button and then all the time the elevator’s going down, there’s only one person on my mind.
Emily!
Fuck it!
I start to dial Emily’s number as I get out of the elevator. The first time she doesn’t answer. The second time it goes to voicemail, and the third time she’s switched her phone off. She’s angry, and I should give her time. But it’s so damn hard!
Things have been good between us, even better than our Vegas weekend. But now, Emily’s not taking my calls this is going to be so damn hard.
This could mean that there’s only one option. Going to talk to Ben. Something that I didn’t want to do. Not yet. This isn’t how I imagined breaking the news of our relationship with him, but I call and ask him to meet me, anyway. He sounds exhausted on the phone, but this is something I've decided to do, and I intend to carry it out.
***
We meet the next day in a garden restaurant for lunch, out in the open and away from anyone that works for me. They tend to
go to lunch near work or stay in the building.
“Marvin, it's been a while.”
I pat him on the back in silence, and then I motion for him to sit down.
“A lot has happened in the time since,” I say, and he nods. I imagine he has his stories to tell.
“Yeah, Sharon’s been great, and Emily’s been quiet lately. Have you heard from her?”
“Me. Why would I hear from her? What about her friends, Michelle and Katie. I’m sure that they would have heard from her.”
“Wow, I’ve never known you to be all defensive,” he laughs nervously, and I can sense that I’m not the only one that has something to ask, he does too.
“Fuck it; I need a drink!”
“To tell me about you and Emily?”
He raises an eyebrow. I can’t believe that he knew all along.
“How did you know?”
He laughs, “When you went to Vegas. Katie called because Emily wasn’t picking up her phone. She called Michelle, and you know what women are like. Anyway, it seems that they were worried because Emily’s been so stress lately with the business.”
“Two G&T’s,” I signal to the waiter, but I’m still shocked about Ben knowing all this time.
“And you never said anything?”
He shakes his head, “We’ve been friends a long time, and I know that you’re not the type of guy to take advantage of her. And you can’t help who you fall in love with.”
I nod my head, thinking that my oldest friend make’s perfect sense. I feel a fool forever been nervous about the whole thing.
“No. I knew that when you and Emily were ready to tell the world. We would be the first on your list. Besides I’m not the kind of guy to interfere in my daughter’s love life. Anyway, things aren’t great for me at the moment. I don’t want to think of anything else but good things at the moment to keep me going.”
“Tell me, what’s going on?”
He shakes his head, and we both know that I’m not going to be fobbed off with a simple head shake. There’s something bugging him, and I want to know the reason that he seems so nervous.
“I’ve decided to close up shop. I’m folding the business.”
“What the..”
