Real Love

by Tracy Reed

  “Sexy, I’ve always pictured myself to be more cute,” Olivia said, as she stood staring at Eric in all his nakedness.

  “Olivia!” The shock of seeing his wife drained his excitement.

  “Get dressed. We need to talk.”

  She picked up a glass of champagne and the bottle and walked back out to the living room.

  He sat on the bed cursing to himself, trying to figure out what to say. He looked down at himself and he was as drained as a limp piece of spaghetti. He climbed out of bed, got dressed, and gulped down the other glass of champagne before joining Olivia in the living room. “Olivia.” She turned to face him. “Have a seat.”

  “No, thank you.” She remembered what Kyla had said, and there was no way she was going to sit on anything in this apartment. She looked at him, waiting for him to say something.

  “How…what…,” he didn’t know what to say.

  “Let me. You know I’ve been trying to get an appointment with one of the hottest interior designers in the city, Kyla James.” He cringed. “Did you know she only takes referrals?” Still no reaction from him. “Turns out, she did DeeDee and Mike’s place. So I asked DeeDee to help me get an appointment with her.”

  “What?”

  “Imagine how delighted I was when I finally got a meeting with her. The joke was on me. Because all I had to do, was mention you.”

  He swallowed hard. “Me?”

  “Yeah. Seems the only name I needed to give her was yours.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t insult my intelligence. She told me everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “Every little sordid, disgusting, perverted detail.” All the color drained from his face. “You might want to sit down.” He sat in the chair. “Want another glass of champagne?” she asked.

  “No. I’m fine. What did she say?”

  “She said some rather interesting things. However, I think the most shocking was how long you two had been together, six years.” She rested her hands on the back of the green chair and quickly pulled back, wiping her hands. She looked at him waiting on a reaction to her statement. “Nothing?” She folded her arms in front of her chest and continued. “She said she demanded you choose, and when she didn’t hear from you, she figured you had made your choice, me. Yippee.”

  “Then why…”

  “Did she tell me?” She nodded and smiled. “Seems your little girlfriend, I mean ex-girlfriend found Jesus.”

  “That’s not true.” He refused to believe the words coming out of his wife’s mouth.

  “Oh, but it is. Seems she found a man who was willing to commit to her. I’ll give you credit, you’ve got great taste in women. She’s beautiful, talented and smart. Heck, if I were a man, I’d have tapped that, too.” She continued walking around the beautifully decorated apartment.

  “Stop it.”

  “Am I making you uncomfortable?” she asked. “So what are we going to do?”

  “Call it the past and move forward.”

  “That’s funny. Except for one little thing.” She bent down and whispered. “I knew.”

  “What?” He looked shocked at her words.

  She repeated herself in his other ear. “I…knew.” He jumped up and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She stood up straight and repeated herself again. “I knew.”

  “For how long?”

  “About four years.” Olivia confessed, smiling. “Don’t look so surprised.”

  “Four years?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then why did you marry me?” he asked.

  “Status, power, money. In this city those things are more valuable than real estate.”

  “You married me for my money?”

  “And position.”

  “But you had position.”

  “Not on the level I wanted. Do you know how much power I have as Mrs. Eric King?” She shook her head. “Sweetheart, I can get a table at any restaurant in the city just by saying my name. I sit in the front row of the major collections during Fashion week, I have designer swag delivered to me on a daily basis, I’m in line to chair next year’s hospital gala, I’m on the planning committees of some of the top charities in the city and I couldn’t get this woman to meet me. That is, until I called an old friend and she hooked me up.”

  “You said you knew about Kyla.”

  “That wasn’t exactly true. I knew there was someone, I just didn’t know who.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I knew in the beginning when you stopped trying to get me to sleep with you, you were either seeing a hooker or had someone on the side.”

  “A hooker…my God, Olivia.”

  “Please, don’t act so surprised. I figured you had someone or someones on the side. Whatever it was, I was fine with it. We sort of helped each other. I wanted security and position, and you wanted a showpiece. However, I had no idea you’d be such a horrible lover.”

  “Excuse me? How would you…you said…”

  “I said I wouldn’t sleep with you unless we were married.”

  “So you weren’t…”

  “A virgin? No. Don’t look so surprised. I knew the only way to get you, was to not sleep with you. What I didn’t know, was that I wasn’t the one you really wanted. You wanted her, but she didn’t want you.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “If you insist on lying, this is going to take a little longer.” She refilled her glass. “A few months ago, when you became a lot more affectionate, I sensed a problem. I figured, something had happened with your friend or friends. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been all up on me.” She took a sip from her glass. “I’m gonna miss that girl.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “She provided a service our marriage needed. Now that she’s gone, we need to find a replacement.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Did I not make myself clear? You need a new girlfriend, because all of those disgusting, perverted things she did, I ain’t doing. No sweetheart, if you want what you had with her, we need to find you someone else.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “God, it’s true. Sometimes the cute ones are just that, cute. I liked my life the way it was. Sex with you was fair, I don’t know how it was for her, but for me, it was fair and twice a week with you was more than enough. I don’t have a problem with you getting your needs met elsewhere. But here’s the thing, if we go back to that arrangement, you won’t even have those two times a week with me.”

  “What? How are we supposed to be married and not have sex? What about children?”

  “Children?” She laughed. “According to your ex-girlfriend, children are the kiss of death. So if you want this thing we have to continue, there will be no children.”

  “I never said I didn’t want children, that was her.”

  “And you agreed. She said she told you if I got pregnant, that was it, you two were finished. So I’m taking a couple of pages from your old play book. You need to find someone who will do what she did to you and who understands the rules. Birth control is a must because there will be no babies. I don’t have time for ‘baby mama drama,’ and I have no desire to see the details of my marriage played out on Page Six of The Post. Your new girlfriend will need to keep her mouth shut and stay away from me and my circle of friends. If she doesn’t abide by the rules, I will file for divorce and call Page Six myself.”

  “What about the position you’ve worked so hard to achieve?” he asked sarcastically.

  “That’s easy. I’ll write a book detailing your sexual perversions. Trust me, by the time I finish telling all of New York your business, you won’t be able to counsel the animals at the zoo. Or, I’ll get a reality show and tell things you didn’t even know I knew. Don’t try me Eric. I may look sweet and innocent, but I’m a pit bull when pushed. You have way more to lose than I do.” She walked ove
r and picked up her bag. “I had Margo pack a few things for you so you could spend a little alone time here figuring out what you want to do. And yesterday, I filled the refrigerator.”

  “Yesterday?”

  “Where’s my head? Your little girlfriend, I mean ex-girlfriend, sold me the apartment.”

  “What?”

  “Seems all that money you gave her, she used to buy this place. Please make sure the next girl you get is just as smart, if not smarter than she was. And before you offer her money, we’ll need to talk. My God, twelve thousand a month, and you’re still a lousy lover. That poor girl, she must have done all the work. Anyway, I told her I wanted everything to stay the way it was. Including the lingerie and the toys.”

  “You’re sick.”

  “No, I’m practical. She already set up everything. All we need to do is insert a new ho that’s her size and has her skills.”

  “Olivia!”

  “Okay, tramp.” He shook his head. “If I don’t hear from you by the end of the week, I’ll assume you want the divorce route. Otherwise, I’ll expect you home for dinner on Friday at six.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Bye, Sweetie.”

  He watched as she walked out and closed the door, taking his manhood with her. His perfect life was over. If he’d seen some of that woman seven years ago, he never would have hooked up with Kyla. The nerve of her saying he was a lousy lover. Kyla never complained.

  Chapter 56

  THE ELEVATOR STOPPED AND THE door opened. Winnie started barking because she was eager to get off her leash. Kyla bent down, unhooked the leash and she took off running. “Sean,” she called out. No answer. She put the bag on the counter, laid her coat on the chair and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

  The elevator opened and Winnie ran up to greet Simon and Sean. “Hey Winnie.” Sean bent down and rubbed her neck. “Where’s your mommy?” As he said that, the toilet flushed and the water started running. A couple of minutes later, the soft footsteps came walking toward him.

  “Hey baby.” She walked over and kissed him.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “I brought steaks,” she said.

  He laughed. “I got Chinese.”

  “Okay. We’ll eat Chinese tonight and tomorrow we’ll have steak.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He kissed her.

  “Oh, before I forget.” She walked over to her bag and pulled out a white envelope and handed it to him.

  “What’s this?”

  “Open it.”

  He opened the envelope and pulled out the check. “Wow, that’s a lot of money.”

  “I know.”

  “So what are you going to do with it?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. Apart from paying my tithes, I don’t know.”

  “Well, one of the rules of free money is one frivolous item.”

  “What?”

  “My grandmother always said, when you come into free money you should buy one frivolous item.”

  “Well, my dad said it’s best to save for a rainy day.”

  “Ky, you have enough here for a few rainy days. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but if it were me, I’d buy myself a little something, and then put the rest of it aside for a rainy day.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Are you okay about everything?” Sean asked.

  “Yeah, it was the right thing to do. That was my old life, and I love my new life and I love…”

  “What?” He looked at her smiling.

  “Change.” He just knew she was about to say those three little words he’d been waiting to hear. “We should take a trip.”

  “A trip?”

  “Yeah. What are you doing for the holidays?”

  “I usually spend them with my family. However, things are different this year.”

  “Really? How so?” she asked.

  “I have a new girlfriend I really want to spend the time with.” He kissed her. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I was thinking about going to Mexico.”

  “Mexico? Are you serious?”

  “Yes. Every year, I close down for a couple of weeks and leave two days after Christmas and come back the second week of January.”

  “That was before me, Winnie, and Simon came into your life.” He waited for her response. “And what am I supposed to do, stay here and baby sit Simon and Winnie while you go off for two weeks in the sun?”

  “Come with me.”

  “No. The holidays are meant to be spent with family.”

  “I know. I spend Christmas with my family, and then I…”

  “Wait a minute. When was the last time you stayed in the city for New Years?”

  “Uhm, about ten years ago.”

  “What?”

  “The last few years I was with Eric, and before him there was someone else and we agreed not to see each other during the holidays.”

  “Why?”

  “He liked spending the time with his kids and his…”

  “Oh.” He took a deep breath. “Tell you what, I’ll make a deal with you. If you spend Christmas with me, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go for New Years.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “Anywhere?”

  “Within reason.”

  “Hum…New Years in Tahiti, no Kona, oh Capri.” She looked at him. “What about Simon and Winnie?”

  “We can leave them with your folks, my folks, book them into a pet hotel, or find a place that will let us bring them. What do you say?”

  “Hum…hum…” She looked at him smiling. “Decisions, decisions, decisions…deal.” He picked her up and kissed her. “Then that will be our Christmas gift to each other.”

  “What?” He placed her back on her feet.

  “Sean, I don’t want you spending a lot of money on me for Christmas.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do. I’ll get you what I want to get you.”

  “Sean, I know you, you’ll go out and do something insane and that’s not necessary.”

  He kissed her. “Ky, I’m not going to make a promise I probably won’t keep.”

  “But—”

  “Let’s just say, we’ll be wise and not go overboard.”

  “Deal.” They shook hands.

  Knock, knock. “Come in,” Sean called out. He didn’t turn around because the smell of Kyla’s parfum alerted him to who it was. He continued working as the soft footsteps got closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Hey there, girlfriend.”

  He knew how much she loved hearing him call her his girlfriend. He felt her breathing change when he called her that.

  “Hey there boyfriend,” she purred.

  He turned around and wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed her on the lips. “I’m glad you stopped by, I need to talk to you about something.”

  “What?”

  “Where’s Winnie?”

  “Is that what you had to ask me?”

  He chuckled. “No.”

  “In the showroom playing with Simon. So what did you want to talk about?”

  “Our trip.”

  “The vacation you promised me?”

  “Uhm, here’s the deal. I got a call this morning from an architect I met last year at market. After we caught up, he wanted to know why I hadn’t sent the images he requested for the resort he’s doing.”

  “I didn’t know you were working on a resort.”

  “I’m not. Turns out, he told the designer he was working with he wanted her to get all the furniture from me. I told him I hadn’t spoken to her. He called her with me on the phone so she could explain, and then he fired her.”

  “What?”

  “It gets better.” He took her hands in his. “He asked if there was a designer I felt comfortable working with who could handle a project like this on short notice and I suggested you.”

  “What?”

  “Turns out, he’s familiar
with your work. He said he likes your style.”

  “No way.” She started smiling.

  “I told him I’d talk to you and get back to him tomorrow.”

  “Where is this fabulous job?”

  “The Maldives.”

  “What?”

  “If we agree to take the job, we get to spend two weeks at the resort and go back in a few months to oversee the installation.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. So what do you say…two weeks in Mexico or two weeks all expenses paid in the Maldives?”

  “How big is the job?”

  “It’s thirty-five luxury bungalows on a private island.”

  Kyla’s face lit up. “What’s the budget?”

  “Very, big.”

  “What’s the point in the trip, not that I’m complaining about a free vacation.”

  “So we can see the place and meet with him. He’s been living there for the past few months. And this way, we can get all of our measurements and get your sketches approved. Ky, if we take this job, we’d have a lot of work to do in a little bit of time.”

  “I don’t know Sean. It’s one thing for us to do a couple of apartments and houses, but a resort…we’d be working very close for a few months.”

  “Not really. Once we get the initial designs done, the rest is just waiting. I’ll be dealing with the factory on the furniture, and later the installation.”

  “For you it’s not much, but I’d be trying to bring this entire thing together in what, a matter of weeks…I don’t know…it sounds like…I usually need…”

  “You can do this. If I didn’t think you could, I wouldn’t have recommended you.” He opened his computer and clicked on the resort’s website.

  “Is this supposed to entice me?” He watched her face as he clicked through the pictures. “It’s beautiful, but…”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “This is a big deal. I was working my way up to two weeks alone with you in Mexico, now you’re talking about two weeks on a very romantic remote island.”

  “A working vacation.”

  “Huh, yeah, a working vacation…in the Maldives. I don’t know if I can do that.”