by Nova Rain
Chapter Nine
Rosanna
Damn you for putting me in this position, Chris.
Damn fate for me crossing paths with you again.
It wasn’t enough that you found out about my second job. That I was more embarrassed and shocked than I’d been in years. You had to give me a deadline, too. You had to make me have a conversation that I’d been avoiding like the plague. And who I would have to have it with? Catherine, a loyal friend since the first grade.
I wished I was back there. Life was so much simpler back then. I didn’t have to worry about bills, loans, or landlords. As for men, those weren’t a concern, either. My relationships didn’t last more than two or three weeks. Things never got serious, and so, no one got hurt. Now, I had a multi-millionaire pursuing me, like I was some sort of grand prize.
In spite of this awful situation however, there was something I had to admit.
I was flattered. Chris Fullerton was a gorgeous man. Just for the hell of it, I tried finding someone more handsome than him in “Eleganza.” I paraded in front of three dozen men three times that night. There were some interesting cases like Sam and Ryan, but neither of them had his impeccable looks. That hunk had shown interest in me since the night of the fundraiser. His persistence might have frustrated me, but it also made me feel great about myself.
Regardless of that, what he did in that backroom had amazed me. He wasn’t interested in a sensual dance. He just had no desire to see me naked in that sort of environment. Once he’d finished those sentences, I thought I was about to drop to the floor. Just like that, he had shattered two, popular beliefs. One: Men are visual. They love to see nude strippers. Two: It doesn’t matter where they get to stare at a naked stripper. It can be a crowded street, a balcony, a filthy bedroom or a messy kitchen. To them, all that matters is the sight they were able to behold.
And this wasn’t the most important conclusion I came to. If I had any doubts about how he viewed me, his statements destroyed every last one of them. He didn’t want a fling. He actually wanted a relationship with me. The question remained “was I allowed to give it to him?”
Time would tell, but after running into him in “Eleganza,” one thing was as clear as daylight. His kiss had made my knees buckle. It was full of passion and desire. Tender at first, teasing my lips, and then picking up in intensity with each passing second. It screamed “I’ve got to have you.” To be honest, if he had pressed me up against the wall, I wouldn’t have done anything to discourage him. A vertical surface and our writhing bodies would have been a much better conclusion to that night than my embarrassment. Of course, I’d have been in trouble for spending too much time in that backroom, but that wouldn’t be an issue. I’d just tell my boss that the customer demanded a few more minutes with me.
Catherine and I worked different shifts on Saturday, which was a stroke of luck. She knew me too well. Most likely, she would be able to figure out that something was bothering me. She would insist on me telling her, but I didn’t wish to do that at work. A hotel lobby and a kitchen were not ideal places for a private conversation. So, I arranged a meeting with her at “Delilah’s,” the same lounge and café where I had met Rachel the week before.
Once again, I was back in that cozy place, a mix of coffee scents and cream satisfying my nostrils. Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” set the mood for a relaxed Sunday evening. If it hadn’t been for my stress, I would have sat down and guzzled coffee to my heart’s content. Yet, this simple idea didn’t even cross my mind. I couldn’t think of pleasures, knowing that I was just seconds away from such a huge revelation.
Striding past the pillar near the entrance, I made my way down into the café. Catherine was at the table in the upper right corner, laughing and obviously in a good mood. To my surprise, she wasn’t alone. She was sitting across from a man in a brown sweater. And this wasn’t the only thing that puzzled me. My friend’s white blouse had a large stain at the right shoulder, noticeable even from fifteen feet away. She took her eyes from him for a moment and looked up at me. Afterwards, the stranger got up, turned and walked in my direction.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
He was tall, well over six feet. His blond hair was a bit too short for my taste. It couldn’t have been longer than half an inch. Other than that, he had broad shoulders and a pair of light-brown eyes. His smile had caused dimples to form in his cheeks.
“Um, who was that?” I asked, pointing my thumb behind me.
“Have a seat, my dear,” Catherine urged in a—bad—English accent. “Have some coffee and relax. Tonight really is wonderful.”
“Said the girl with the huge stain on her blouse,” I teased, setting my purse down on the table. “I’m all ears,” I went on, taking up the stranger’s seat.
“His name’s Marcus Tanner. It all happened right outside,” she began, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I had just gotten out of my cab. Marcus sped by, and his Benz hit a puddle. He splashed water all over me. He stepped out of his car and apologized to me. You won’t believe how nice he was to me. And did I mention how cute he is?”
“I kind of saw that for myself,” I smiled, leaning forward. “So, what else can you tell me about him?”
“He’s a doctor,” Catherine announced with a smirk. “He’s an orthopedic doctor at the Metropolitan Hospital. Guess what? We have a date tomorrow night.”
“That’s great!” I cheered, a smile of bliss bursting upon my lips.
“It is, isn’t it?” She chuckled. “Girl, it’s been so long since my last date that I was starting to get desperate.”
“I’m a little surprised,” I admitted, my smile narrowing. “I thought you were a bit…” I paused, “…hung up on Fullerton. What’s the matter? Are you over him?”
“Ah, don’t remind me of that,” Catherine cringed. “It’s over for me. I was an idiot. In fact, I have a bone to pick with you.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t smack me across the face, that’s why!” She emphasized, intensifying her stare. “Honey, I was acting like a goddamn schoolgirl. Why didn’t you tell me I was being ridiculous?”
“Cath, you always get a little too excited when you meet someone new,” I remarked, my tone steady. “What was I supposed to do? Tell you to hold your horses? Would that have changed anything?”
“That’s the thing. I hadn’t met him,” Catherine pointed out. “I’d just heard of him. I had this…” she faltered. “Crazy idea that he was my soul mate. That I was born to be with him. Isn’t that what schoolgirls do?”
“Pretty much,” I shrugged, interlocking my fingers over the table. “Listen, while we’re on the subject, there’s something you need to know. Actually, there’re two things you need to know.”
“Rosie, you’re scaring me,” Catherine giggled. “What are you talking about?”
“This Monday, um…” I swallowed hard. “Dorothy gave me an envelope with a check from Fullerton. Believe it or not, it was for fifty thousand dollars. At first, I thought it was some kind of joke, but she said he’d dropped it off himself, and that I could even look at the security camera footage if I didn’t believe her. I went over to his building. Man, I was mad…”
“Why would Fullerton do that?” My friend wondered, her face twisting into an expression of curiosity.
“His excuse was ‘to see me again,’” I spoke in a deeper voice. “He tore the check to pieces when he realized how upset I was. Right before I left, he, uh…” I took a deep breath. “Turned out the lights and asked me to dance with him.”
“Then I was right.” Catherine concluded. “He did play that song for you during that fundraiser. Somehow, you dazzled him.”
I waited for a few moments, to see if she had anything else to say; yet, she kept her mouth shut.
“This is going to sound crazy, but I ran into him in ‘Eleganza,’” I continued, my voice losing its nerve. “He was there for his friend’s bachelor party. He paid for a private dance. I d
on’t need to tell you how shocked I was to find him in that backroom. When I did go in though, he said I didn’t have to dance for him. We, uh…”
“Kissed?” She ventured a guess, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” I confessed on an exhale. “I’m very sorry, Cath. I know I shouldn’t have let it happen, but…”
“Thanks for ruining my night,” she told me, her smile vaporizing as she put her hands on the table.
“Catherine, please…” I begged, my heartbeat escalating. “Will you sit back down and listen to me?”
“No, you listen to me,” she groaned, her jaw tightening. “I just admitted what a fool I’d been concerning Fullerton. I’d idolized him for some reason. But, if you had come to me after he shot me down, I’d have given you the green light. You know why? Because I knew I had no chance of dating him. I had no reason to object to you two dating. Instead, you chose to go behind my back. Thanks for being a backstabbing bitch, Rosie. Have a good night.”
At that, she turned on her heels and walked away, confirming my worst fears. This wasn’t what I had in mind. I thought she would be angry with me, once I mentioned the check. The result was the same, though. Catherine was furious with me. I had jeopardized our long friendship, and now, I had to suffer the consequences. Sadly, for me, her flight was just the first and perhaps the lightest of those. From that point and on, I had to pray that we didn’t work the same shift.
Chapter Ten
Chris
When Monday dawned over New York City, I realized how correct my suggestion about the Empire State Building had been. It was pouring with rain. Every few minutes or so, booms of thunder were rattling the windows. The observation deck on the 86th floor was an ideal place for a meeting in such bad weather. Still, even if I had asked Rosanna to meet me at the pier, she wouldn’t have been able to use the rain as an excuse not to show up. We had been in a rather strange situation for ten days. I was sure that she wanted to clear the air between us, just as much as I did.
The 86th floor of the building was rather crowded when I arrived there. Locals and tourists were gazing out at the unique views of the city. I wasn’t surprised. I was at one of the most popular places in New York City. People from all over the world were eager to enjoy 360-degree views of the Big Apple. They could marvel at the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, the Hudson River and so much more.
Hands in my pockets, I stared up at the chrome ceiling, spotting several signs that pointed in the directions of buildings and landmarks. That was a great touch. If anyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the Chrysler Building or the East River, all they had to do was pick up a pair of binoculars. Of course, I’d seen this before, but it never ceased to amaze me.
Shifting my attention to the entrance, I noticed a group of five people trying to get in. Right behind them, was the blonde I had been waiting for. Rosanna stood, in a dark-brown overcoat and an umbrella in her grasp. Her presence gave me a reason to smile. All the same, the stiff expression on her face sent away any notion of joy. In its stead, came an ugly feeling of concern.
“Thanks for coming,” I uttered in a calm tone. “I’m guessing us going out didn’t go down well with your friend. Am I right?”
She sighed and pressed her lips together. “Yeah. As of last night, Catherine officially hates my guts.”
“Then I should try and make you feel better,” I suggested, reaching forward. I took her wrist in my hand and flipped her hand upward to face me. I slipped my hand into hers, not taking my eyes off her gorgeous face. Feeling her warm skin against mine, I leaned closer. “Where do you want to go?”
“Frankly? I’d like to go home,” she answered my question in a wobbly voice. “I’m sorry, Chris. The past twenty-four hours have been really hard for me.”
“Would my place be okay?” I asked, easing her close.
“Sure, but…”
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman, I promise,” I stated. “We’ll just have a drink and I’ll cook. How’s that?”
“Sounds good to me,” she commented, offering me a hesitant smile.
Without uttering another word, I led Rosanna back to the entrance. I meant to discuss things with her, but the idea of chatting about her issues in public didn’t sound so appealing.
In a few minutes, we were crammed into the elevator. Unfortunately, the girl who I had kissed in “Eleganza” had vanished. She had a strong desire to savor the moment. The Rosanna I was holding hands with was drifting. Staring into the void, she didn’t even squeeze my fingers. I had to pull her away from the doors, every time the elevator stopped. In essence, it was her ghost that showed up on our date, not Rosanna herself.
I’d be lying if I said I appreciated that. Despite my annoyance though, I decided to keep my silence. I had gone out of my way just to get her there. I wouldn’t start our first date with an argument. Besides, I was an understanding man. I didn’t know what had happened between her and Catherine yet, but the details were not important. I could see the effects of their fallout on her.
Acting very unlike myself, I didn’t even brag about my Dodge Viper. To do that, I needed a willing audience. Mentioning to Rosanna how powerful it was, would be one of the most immature things I’d ever done. For one night, I had to treat my car like an ordinary vehicle. No engine revving. No abrupt starts and no skidding along the road.
Less than a mile from my apartment building, a sideways glance at her indicated just how much she had been hurting. The strong beams of an oncoming car in the opposite lane revealed the trail of a tear on her cheek. I applied a little more pressure to the accelerator. If I had to be patient before, I had to be twice as patient now. This wouldn’t be an ideal first date by any means, but it was more than obvious that Rosanna didn’t need a boyfriend this night. She needed a friend, and I was going to do my best to give her one.
The Viper rolled into the parking lot of the apartment building, overhead lights illuminating the parking spaces. Again, she didn’t seem impressed by rows and rows of supercars. Rosanna just got out of my car, scanning the basement for the elevator. I led her there, wondering how I could make this easier for her. Would it be better if I just cooked something right away? No. Her emotional state wouldn’t allow her to eat anything. Some alcohol? Yes. That sounded like a better alternative.
Unlocking my front door, I reached through the gap and flicked the dimmer switch. Lights of appliques and ceiling light fixtures alike were dimmed to romantic shades, dark spots forming across the floor. I gestured Rosanna in, hoping that I wouldn’t mess this up. For the first time ever, I was on a date with someone who was too distracted to enjoy herself.
“Very nice,” she praised, her gaze roaming through the living room.
“Make yourself comfortable,” I urged. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Gin with a twist on the rocks, please,” Rosanna requested, a smile of bitterness spreading across her face.
I headed over to the kitchen on the left as she sauntered towards the glass façade. I took a bottle of gin and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s out of my liquor cabinet. I needed something a bit stronger.
“I love the view from up here,” she confessed. “You get to see Central Park and lots of the buildings in the area, without having to worry about the noise.”
“I’m guessing now you understand why we ran into each other the other day,” I commented, carrying a tray into the living room.
“Not really,” Rosanna shook her head, turning to me. “I mean, I get how you live close to Central Park, but I don’t understand why we hadn’t crossed paths with each other before.”
“Because I prefer the piers,” I explained, using a tong to put ice into her glass. “Last Sunday was just too windy for me to go down there. Here you go.” I handed her a glass of gin. “Can you answer me one question?”
“Sure.”
“Why were you so cold to me during that fundraiser?” I asked the thing that had been boggling my mind for days. “Was it because of Catherine?”
> “Catherine’s crush on you was one of the reasons,” she said, seating herself beside me. “I’m going to be honest with you. Up until I saw you in that lobby, I didn’t really like you. You looked a little smug in your pictures, and I think you had a little too much makeup on. Last, but not least, I’ve heard that song a million times. My parents used to be Toto groupies. They named me after it.”
“Wow,” I chuckled. “They have good taste in music, I’ll say that much. Now…” I took a sip of whiskey. “Can you please tell me why you’re feeling so blue?”
“I told her about us yesterday,” Rosanna explained, leaning her side against the couch. “She said she’d have been okay with us dating if I had gone to her after you’d rejected her. I didn’t. Now, she’s mad at me. You need to understand that Catherine and I are more than just friends. We’ve known each other since we were six. We’ve been through everything life’s thrown at us together. Not being on speaking terms with her is just…” she faltered, “…too much for me to handle.”
“Give her some time,” I advised. “You guys sound like you’re practically sisters. I’m sure you’ll work things out soon.
“How do you know?” She wondered, pitching her voice higher.
“You girls have been friends almost all your lives. This can’t be the first fallout you’ve ever had,” I presumed, setting my glass down on the table. “I think she loves you too much to not forgive you.” Finishing my phrase, I reached over towards her and eased the glass from her grasp. I put it on the table as well, before snaking my arm around her shoulder.
Rosanna heaved a deep sigh, the moment I pulled her near. “I don’t deserve this. You wanted to go out with me, and you’ve got this silly blonde in your apartment, whining about her friend.”
“What’s your best memory with Catherine?” I asked, ignoring her comment.
“What?” She raised an eyebrow, whipping her head around.