by Janice Sims
On more than one occasion, while they were making love, she’d been overwhelmed by her emotions and the words I love you had consumed her mind. Each time, she’d buried the truth in her heart. Elise didn’t know how she’d feel if she bared her soul to Giovanni and he rejected her. More important, she didn’t want to spook him. Elise wanted their relationship to flourish, not fizzle out.
Wanting to look great for their date that evening, Elise unzipped her chain-link purse, opened her oversize makeup case and searched for her gold compact powder. They were going to Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts to see a Christmas musical, and Elise wanted to look great on Giovanni’s arm.
Her cell phone rang, filling the washroom with the unmistakable sound of Adele’s powerhouse voice. Excited to speak to Paige, Elise retrieved her phone from the pocket of her black polka-dot dress and greeted her friend. “Hey, girl, what’s up?” she said, cradling her cell between her ear and shoulder. “Sorry I didn’t text you back earlier, but the restaurant’s been crazy-busy all day and I never had a moment to myself. We had a private brunch this morning, the cast of Dating in the City dropped in for lunch, and we had a catered business meeting, as well.”
“I know you’re probably exhausted, so I won’t keep you. I just wanted to know if I can bring a date to your ugly Christmas sweater party next Friday,” she said in an animated tone. “Last week at the salon, I met a gorgeous Austrian stuntman who practically worships the ground my Jimmy Choos walk on, and I want the gang to meet him.”
“Sorry, Paige, no guys allowed.” Elise dabbed the powder puff into the loose powder, then rubbed it across her face. Every year, she hosted a party at her condo, and she couldn’t wait for her friends to see the surprises she had in store for them next Friday. “It’s girls’ night, remember? Absolutely no men, no babies and no dates.”
“That’s not fair,” she whined, sounding like a nine-year-old girl. “Giovanni will be there.”
“No, he won’t. He’s leaving with his family for Argentina the day after tomorrow and, even if he was in town, I wouldn’t invite him to my party. It’s all about spoiling my girls.”
Paige scoffed. “Yeah, right. You’re all talk. These days you and Giovanni are practically joined at the hip. So much so, it feels like I haven’t seen you in months.”
“The ugly sweater party is in less than a week,” she pointed out, adding a second coat of mascara to her eyelashes. “We’ll catch up then. I promise.”
“Or you could have lunch with me and Konstantin at East Hampton Grill tomorrow at noon,” she proposed. “I really want you to meet him, and tell me what you think of us as a couple. Please say you’ll come. It’ll be my treat.”
Elise heaved a deep sigh, drumming her fingernails on the counter. She wanted to be a supportive friend whom Paige could count on, but she’d promised Giovanni she’d start taking better care of herself instead of trying to be everything to everyone, and had planned to rest at home tomorrow.
Since the chocolate tasting session two weeks earlier, she’d stopped working overtime at the restaurant, reduced the cooking classes she taught at the nursing home and had attended Sariah’s yoga class, as well. And whenever grief overwhelmed her, she’d talk to Giovanni or journal about her feelings. Yesterday, she’d bought a first-class plane ticket to Charlotte, and although Elise was nervous about returning to her childhood home for the holidays, she was excited to see her relatives. Her parents were gone, but she loved her city, and baking pastries for her old friends and neighbors was a great way to spread holiday cheer—and honor her parents’ legacy.
“Paige, I can’t,” she said, hoping her friend didn’t get mad at her. “Maybe the three of us can get together in the new year.”
“You have big plans with your polo star tomorrow, don’t you?”
“Nope. I have big plans with myself!” Elise said with a laugh. “I’ve been going nonstop for weeks, and if I don’t slow down and make time to recharge my batteries, I’m worried I won’t make it to Christmas in one piece.”
Elise reapplied her red matte lipstick and then sprayed Dior J’Adore perfume on her neck.
“I understand, and I’m proud of you for putting yourself first for once. You deserve some R&R, and that smokin’ hot Argentinian, too. So, girl, do him until it hurts.”
Unable to contain her laughter, Elise shrieked and giggled at her friend’s joke.
The bathroom door opened and a mother of two hustled her daughters into the accessible stall and locked it. Elise pulled her phone away from her ear to check the time and gasped. Not wanting to be late to meet Giovanni, she tossed her makeup case back into her purse and then brushed the knots out of her hair. Pleased with her appearance, Elise beamed at her reflection. Just the thought of seeing Giovanni excited her.
“I was thinking about your party...” Paige continued. “We should do something wild to spice things up...”
The smile slid off Elise’s face. Turned off by her girlfriend’s outrageous suggestions, she fervently shook her head. “Paige, forget it. I don’t want exotic dancers at my party.”
“You’re no fun.”
“And you’re out of control,” Elise shot back.
“Leave everything to me. It’ll be my Christmas gift to you!” Her shrill laugh was loud enough to shatter a window. “I need to make some calls. Talk to you later!”
“Paige, I’m serious. Do not hire strippers for my holiday party.” Exiting the bathroom, Elise hustled down the corridor, admonishing her mischievous best friend in a firm voice. “My coworkers will be there, and I don’t want them to think less of me.”
Her comment was met with silence and Elise realized her soon-to-be-ex best friend had hung up on her. Stopping abruptly, she took a deep breath and counted to ten. It didn’t help. Wanting to set her bestie straight, Elise punched in Paige’s cell number and waited impatiently for her to answer. The call went straight to voice mail. Even though Elise was fuming, she spoke in a calm voice and reiterated her wishes in her message. Hanging up, she unzipped her purse and dropped her phone inside.
“Damn, ma, you got a nice rack and a fat, juicy ass, too...”
Elise wrinkled her nose. Disgusted by the stranger’s words, she glanced to her right and regarded the short, stocky jerk in the black sunglasses. “Excuse me?”
“No, gorgeous, excuse me,” he said, winking.
He reeked of whiskey and Cuban cigars, and his rancid odor made her stomach churn.
“I’m drooling like a dog, but don’t hold it against me. Your curves are everything, ma.”
The word ma echoed in her thoughts, tickling her memory. There was something familiar about him, leading her to believe she’d met him before, but Elise couldn’t remember where. Was he a friend of a friend? Had they been introduced to each other at the restaurant?
“I’m Esteban.” He took off his sunglasses, stuck an arm in the front of his button-down shirt and slowly licked his lips. “We should hook up sometime, so slide me your number, ma.”
Esteban looked straight into her eyes and something in her mind clicked. It was him. The guy who’d attacked her at the Fourth of July party. A lump formed in the back of her throat. Struggling to breathe, she cautioned herself to stay strong, willed herself not to fall apart in front of the man she loathed.
A cold chill flooded the corridor. It felt as if the walls were closing in on her; the knot in her chest was suffocating. She wanted to yell at him, to tell him how his actions had changed her forever, but the words didn’t come. Forcing her legs to move, she backed away from him.
“Wait! Where are you rushing off to? You didn’t give me your number, gorgeous.”
Esteban seized her hand and flashbacks of the Fourth of July party popped into her mind, chilling her to the bone. Before Elise could stop herself, she slapped him so hard in the face a sharp pain stabbed her wrist. Eyes wide, he touched h
is cheek with his palm.
“What’s the matter with you? Are you insane?” he roared.
Elise gathered herself, projecting confidence, not fear, even though she was shaking. Esteban had been no match for her five months ago and he was no match for her today. He looked dazed and confused, as if he were seeing stars, and stared at her in bewilderment. They stood in silence, glaring at each other for what felt like an eternity. Her thoughts grew dark and dangerous. I wish looks could kill, because you’d be toast!
“You’re lucky I’m a gentleman,” he snarled.
“And you’re lucky I forgot my stun gun in my other purse.”
Esteban stepped forward, his gaze dark with anger. Elise raised a fist in the air. “Touch me again and it will be the last thing you ever do—”
“Elise? Esteban? What’s going on?”
Hearing a familiar voice, Elise dropped her hands to her sides and peered over Esteban’s hunched shoulders. Her heart stalled. Rosario wasn’t alone. Giovanni was standing behind her, his arms folded across his chest. The anguished expression on his face pierced her heart. How much had he heard? What had he seen? Was he mad at her for losing her temper with a guest? Panic seized her. Would Rosario fire her for her unprofessional behavior at the club?
“She’s loco,” Esteban said, raising an index finger to his temple and making circles.
“And you’re a sexual predator!”
“Elise! Stop it right now. That’s enough.” Adjusting his silk pin-striped tie, Giovanni glanced around the corridor, nodding and smiling at everyone who passed them in the hallway.
A biracial woman in a frilly party dress openly stared at them. Had she overheard their conversation? Did she recognize Giovanni? Was she going to tweet about what she’d heard?
“Everyone, follow me. We’re resolving this issue right now.”
Leading the way, Giovanni escorted Elise through the corridor, past the front desk and into his office.
Elise wanted to crash through the emergency exit, but her parents had raised her to be brave, not a coward, and she wanted to tell Giovanni and Rosario her side of the story. Her gut feeling was that they’d believe her. Comforted by her thoughts, she entered Giovanni’s office and stopped beside the leather couch—the one they’d made love on three days earlier. He’d used his teeth to take off her panties, had pleasured her with his tongue, lips and hands, and the moment their bodies had come together as one, fireworks had exploded behind her eyes.
“Why are you threatening my cousin?” Giovanni asked, fine lines wrinkling his forehead.
“The chick did more than just threaten me. She slapped me, too,” Esteban confessed.
“Elise, you can’t go around hitting people for no reason.” There was a note of anger in Rosario’s voice and her posture was stiff. “This is a place of business, not a wrestling ring, and I won’t let you tarnish this club’s outstanding reputation.”
Inhaling sharply, Elise rested a hand on her chest to slow her erratic pulse. Cousin? she repeated in her mind, her gaze darting between the two men. You guys are related? How is that possible? You’re smart, sophisticated and urbane, and Esteban’s a snake.
Elise swallowed hard. It felt as if someone were holding her head underwater. She couldn’t get enough oxygen into her lungs, and feared she’d pass out on the plush beige carpet. Taking several deep breaths, her mind cleared, her shoulders relaxed and her confidence returned.
“Your cousin forced himself on me five months ago, and he tried to do it again tonight,” she explained. “I apologize for losing my temper, but I wasn’t going to let him disrespect me.”
Esteban sneered like the villain in a horror movie, but Elise didn’t flinch, held her ground.
“You lying trick. I wasn’t even in the Hamptons last summer. I was in the Cyclades islands.”
“I met you at a Fourth of July party in South Hampton,” Elise continued, trying to recall everything he’d said that fateful night. “You told me you were an entrepreneur whose family owned a winery in Mendoza, and you bragged about partying on Diddy’s yacht days earlier.”
A cell phone rang, shattering the silence, but no one moved. For a long moment Elise inwardly pleaded with Giovanni to look at her, but he stared at his cousin instead. She wondered what he was thinking. “You attacked me—”
“That never happened. I never laid eyes on you before tonight,” he argued, interrupting her midsentence. “You have me confused with someone else, so check your facts, ma.”
Elise narrowed her gaze. She couldn’t remember her attacker’s name, but she remembered the sound of his voice, the stench of alcohol and nicotine on his breath, and Elise was a hundred percent sure that it was Esteban. “I don’t need to check my facts. You tried to force yourself on me, but I fought back and won.”
“I’m out of here.” Esteban marched over to the door, yanked it open and fled the office.
Giovanni and Rosario shared a look and Elise didn’t know what to make of it. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Rosario interrupted her and Elise swallowed her words.
“I want to meet with you in the restaurant first thing tomorrow morning.” Rosario pinned her shoulders back and tugged at the bottom of her navy blazer. “In the meantime, please don’t discuss what happened tonight with the other staff. It would be unprofessional and also detrimental to your position here as executive chef. It’s a private matter and, regardless of how you feel about my cousin, you must continue to uphold the integrity of the club.”
Too choked up to speak, Elise simply nodded in response. Rosario left, and it took everything in her not to run into Giovanni’s arms and bury her face in his chest. Her mind was in turmoil, filled with a hundred conflicting thoughts, and she wanted him to comfort her. But he didn’t. He couldn’t meet her gaze and suddenly seemed incredibly interested in the canvas paintings hanging above the couch. Until that moment, Elise thought she knew who Giovanni was. He’d always made her feel safe, special, as if she meant the world to him—but if he cared about her, he would have supported her, not bailed on her when she needed him most.
“It’s late,” he announced in a solemn tone. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
Her spirits plunged to her feet. “We’re not going to the theater to see the Christmas musical tonight?”
“In light of what just happened, I don’t think it’s wise. You should go home.”
Elise read the look in his eyes and what she saw made anger course through her veins.
“You don’t believe me. You think I’m lying. You’re mad at me.”
“I don’t know what to think, because none of this makes sense. Esteban would never do the things you’re accusing him of. He’s just not that guy.” Hanging his head, Giovanni rubbed at his eyes with his fingertips. “You have the wrong person, Elise. My cousin didn’t attack you.”
“Yes. He. Did. But I’m not going to argue with you about the most traumatic experience of my life, because you weren’t there.” Elise stepped past him and headed for the door. Remembering all the good times they’d shared, she stopped in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder. “Have a safe trip to Argentina and a great Christmas with your family.”
“I’ll call you on Christmas Day—”
“Please don’t,” she said in a firm voice. “It was foolish of us to embark on a romantic relationship and, going forward, I think it’s best if we don’t talk or see each other outside of work.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
No. I want you to fight for me. For us. I want you to believe me! Her mind flashed back to the first time they’d kissed, and her heart shattered into a million pieces, but she didn’t crumble in despair.
Elise thought hard before she answered his question, didn’t want her emotions to get the best of her when she spoke. Just the thought of being without Giovanni made her tear up, but she wasn
’t going to let him hurt her again. “Yes, it is. I’m already in trouble with Rosario for slapping Esteban, and if she finds out we’re lovers, she’ll fire me.”
“Do you care about anything besides work or is that all that matters to you?”
“Giovanni, that’s not fair,” she shot back, whipping around to face him. “You were born with every advantage in life, with the best of everything money could buy, but I wasn’t.”
He started to argue, to refute her claim, but she raised a hand in the air to silence him.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve worked tirelessly to prove myself to teachers, administrators, then to my instructors in culinary school,” Elise continued.
A sympathetic expression covered his face, but she finished her thought.
“I’ve had to contend with sexist bosses and racist colleagues who despised me just because of my skin color, so forgive me for putting my career first. I’ve dreamed of being an executive chef since I was sweeping floors at my aunt Lucinda’s restaurant at ten years old, and I won’t lose the best job I’ve ever had.”
Marching out of the office with Giovanni hot on her heels, Elise willed herself to maintain her composure. In the lobby she heard animated voices, laughter and conversation, and forced a smile as she breezed past a well-known Italian businessman.
Elise increased her pace. Spotting Demi and Chase posing for a picture in front of the Christmas tree, she hoped the parents-to-be didn’t see her, and shielded her face with her hands. They were a shining example of what a healthy relationship should look like. Seeing them together only made Elise feel worse about her argument with Giovanni.
“Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely,” Giovanni said.
“Don’t hold your breath,” she grumbled, exiting the club through the sliding-glass doors. Flinging her shawl over her shoulders, Elise braced herself against the bitter wind as she dashed through the parking lot.
Inside the safety of her car, Elise collapsed into the driver’s seat, dropped her face into her cold, chilled hands and let the tears fall.
