She glanced at him for a moment and then turned away again. “Lissette. Lissy for short.”
“Awesome. I’m Matt. May I also have your last name?” He asked, scribbling away on his clipboard, not even noticing Lissette’s emotional state. All he heard was her accepting my proposal. Here he was signing my life away and I couldn’t even feel my face.
“Lissette James,” she replied, finally standing to her feet to lean against the frame of the door of a place called Caroline’s Craft Corner. I looked her over. Clearly there was something going on with her.
Matt searched through his bag while Lissette and I stood there in awkward silence.
“Dude! Introduce yourself!” He urged in a whisper.
I inched forward when he shoved me and looked into Lissette’s eyes again. She had to be joking. There was no way this woman had taken me seriously. No way. Reluctantly, I extended my hand. “Luke Valente.”
She gave a tight, empty smile and ignored my hand lingering in the air. “Sweet.”
As soon as I could, I pulled Matt aside. “You know I’m not doing this, right?” I whispered.
“On the contrary; I have your signed contract right here,” he said, patting the side of his bag. I sighed and shook my head. “Besides… it’s not like you can’t get out of this ever. If things don’t work out, divorce her, and it’s over! The most permanent part of this whole thing is gonna be the money we make,” he said under his breath, raising his eyebrows reassuringly as he waited for me to get onboard.
I never replied, so Matt went on. “All right, Miss James. Lemme explain what my brother and I are doing here today. First, let me start by saying that his proposal was completely legit. I’m making a film that chronicles the lives of two married couples. One who went a more traditional route and one that… well… you two are pretty much the other couple.”
Distracted by her own thoughts, she shrugged nonchalantly. What the hell kind of crap day did this chick have that would make her say yes to this? Say yes to me?
Matt took note of how indifferent she seemed about the whole thing, too, and paused. “Oookay. Would you be willing to sit down with Luke and I over lunch tomorrow?” he asked. “That way we can discuss the details and you can sign the contract.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” she answered.
There was another blank stare from Matt while I imagined he, too, was beginning to think this was a bad idea.
Still, he exchanged cell phone numbers with the girl. I stood there in shock while he finished his spiel and then followed behind him when we walked back in the direction of our apartment. I looked back over my shoulder to find Lissette resuming her seat on the steps. It seemed wrong to just leave her, even if I did think she was a little crazy.
“Are youuuu… okay?” I asked, doubling back. “You need a ride or something?”
She didn’t make eye contact. “Seems to me like you’re on foot just like I am.”
I looked down and smiled. “Touché.” I took a few steps toward her. “But still, I mean… we could wait with you until the bus or your ride comes. Did you call a cab?”
She sighed and put her hands over her face. “I’m fine… I’ll just… I’m fine,” she repeated. “Tomorrow, right? I’ll be there,” she added dismissively, like she wanted me to walk away, like she wanted me to leave before she started crying again.
“Yeah, tomorrow.”
She rubbed at her eyes and cleared her throat, focusing on traffic again when she nodded. She clearly wanted me to leave, so I did. I walked away, but not without looking back over my shoulder at her again. All I kept thinking was: she must’ve had one messed up day to agree to marry a perfect stranger. Either that or she was completely out of her mind…
Chapter Three
Lissette
Sitting in the waiting area of the bank, I had time to think. Last night was… last night was a bad night. There was no other way to put it. The news of Gerard not only moving on, but getting married? That was hard to hear. We’d spent almost an entire year together only for him to end it when I opened up to him about something personal, something I’d change if I could. But now, after only what… six months? He was marrying this Robyn girl? It didn’t seem right. Seeing that ring on her finger did nothing but prove the fact that Gerard never loved me as much as he claimed. Couldn’t have.
My head spun at the thought of the two strangers who approached me the night before, asking the most ridiculous of questions. Marry me. Yeah, okay. I was so broken, so hurt by what I found out about Gerard that I agreed to something completely outlandish. Hell, for all I knew it was a prank. The only thing that made me think the guy behind the camera might actually be legit was the fact that he’d sent a quick text when I pulled into the bank parking lot a little while ago. He wanted to make sure I still planned to show up to meet him and his brother for lunch. I’d go, but only to tell them I was out. No way in hell would I go through with this, regardless of what that stupid fortune cookie said about a ‘tall, mysterious stranger entering my life’. I was positive Luke was simply passing through.
“Ms. James?” the gray-haired gentleman said with a smile.
I perked up at the sound of my name, pretending to be hopeful about getting approved for this loan. It was my last ray of hope, my last lifeline.
I took a seat at the man’s desk as he went over all of the paperwork I filled out while waiting in the lobby. He made copies of my personal information while I waited in nervous silence for him to either kill my dream or give it life. I held my breath when he removed his glasses and set them aside on the desk.
He sighed before speaking; not a good sign. “I’m sorry, Ms. James, but there isn’t any way I can get this loan approved. There’s just—” he paused and thumbed through my credit report. “…line upon line of unpaid medical bills.” He looked me in my eye. “What’s happened here, ma’am? It looks like things have just spiraled out of control over the last few months. That sends up all sorts of red flags.”
Clasping my hands together on the man’s desk, I went ahead and explained my situation to him. “Mr. McCoy, I lost my job six months ago. Since then, I’ve been trying to find some way to make ends meet, but I haven’t had much luck with job leads. Well… no luck really. I had to borrow from my 401K and basically rely on the income from my handbags and jewelry to support me,” I confessed, pausing when I struggled with revealing the rest. “The um… the medical bills started coming in when I lost my insurance. I have a personal condition that requires regular treatment that I can’t let lapse just because I don’t have a job. Unfortunately, those bills have been difficult to keep up with, which is why I was hoping this loan would help me launch my business properly. That way I can pay off my bills and get the insurance I need.”
I felt winded when I finished speaking, on the verge of tears again, but I refused to cry at this man’s desk.
A look of sympathy filled his expression when he lowered his head, looking over the figures once more. When he shook his head, my heart sank. “I’m sorry, Ms. James. There just isn’t anything I can do.” He handed over the folder with the paperwork he’d copied inside. “Perhaps if you’re able to take care of some of these blemishes on your credit, in… I don’t know, six months, a year, maybe our establishment could better assist you.”
And that was it. My dream was dead and floating down the river just like I feared.
I made it home in a daze, shedding my clothes in a trail as I trudged toward the bathroom to shower away the disappointment. I’d even borrowed one of Aura’s pre-pregnancy power-suits thinking it’d make a difference. Clearly it did not.
I let my hair get wet, reverting back to curls which I preferred over it being straightened. Running the hot comb through it that morning was merely to compliment the navy blue, business suit I’d worn to the bank. Now, I wanted no traces of my failed attempt to get out of debt. No reminders.
Standing in my mirror letting my skin air-dry, I checked the time. Lunch with Luke and M
att was supposed to be in half an hour, but I was leaning toward sending Matt a text saying that I wouldn’t be there. For some reason I didn’t, though. Instead I continued to dress and found myself standing at the bus stop.
I managed to convince myself that I was only going because I’d already given my word that I’d show up, but in all honesty I was curious more than anything, wanting to know what cockamamie scheme was behind that crazy proposal. One thing was for sure, though; it couldn’t have been real. In my emotional stupor the night before I hadn’t given it all that much thought, but there had to be a catch and I intended to get to the bottom of it.
At that exact moment I remembered the fortune from the Chinese restaurant and the words just seemed to float into my subconscious as I zoned out.
‘A tall, mysterious stranger will enter your life.’
There was no way I’d let my superstitious side get the best of me today. A soft, sarcastic laugh slipped out as I shook my head at the absurd thought that came to mind.
There was no way there was something to this.
Of course this wasn’t him.
*****
Luke
I sat there like a zombie while Matt ran his mouth on the phone. This girl, this… Lissette, she was supposed to be meeting us here any minute and I still felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.
Matt caught me glaring at him when he ended his call. All he had time to do was level a questioning look my way before Lissette walked in, scanned the room, and headed toward our table. I sighed and looked her over again, only half-believing she even showed up. Apparently, not even sleep had cleared her judgment. Anyone else would’ve come to their senses and stood my brother and I up, but not her.
She’d ditched the colorful skirt from the night before and went for a pair of jeans to go with her white tank-top and red, All-Star high-tops. She scooted her seat across the tiled floor loudly and plopped down at the table, her wild curls bouncing on her shoulders when she did.
“Okay, look, I don’t know what you two are trying to pull, but whatever it is, I’m out,” were the words she chose to greet my brother and I with.
So she wasn’t insane after all. Good to know.
Matt frowned and was ready to protest when she interjected again.
“I mean, clearly, I was not in the best frame of mind last night and you two took full advantage of that!” she ranted. My heart slowed a little, realizing this was all about to fall apart. She’d provided me with the out I’d been praying for. I couldn’t back out because I’d signed the contract already, but she could. I sat back and folded my arms over my chest as I relaxed in my seat, listening when she continued to rip my brother a new one. “I don’t care what sort of ‘movie’ you’re trying to make, but you can’t just walk up to random strangers and ‘solicit’ like you did last night.” She really used air quotes to emphasize her point. I held my hand over my mouth while I watched, trying not to laugh as she handed Matt his balls from across the table. “I’m pretty sure whatever you’re planning to do is illegal.”
Matt was half-smiling and half-shocked by her onslaught of accusations. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, lady, here’s the deal. I don’t know what kind of movie you thought we were trying to cast you in, but I was being serious when I told you I’m doing a documentary. Yes, I know it’s a bit unconventional, but that’s what’s gonna make it stand out.” He paused to laugh. “What changed? You were all in last night?”
She glared at him from across the table, making me grateful that she wasn’t directing her wrath toward me. “I’m asking the questions here,” she asserted. I had to turn in my seat to keep from bursting out laughing when Matt closed his mouth audibly as she’d demanded. “What’re your credentials? I mean… any Looney Tune can walk the streets with a camera. That doesn’t mean anything. And how do I even know you two are really brothers? For all I know, you picked Luke here up at a mental institution!” she said, gesturing toward me.
I stopped laughing and frowned.
Matt lowered his head, grinning as he gathered his thoughts. “You’re right. My apologies. I went about this all wrong.” He folded his hands on the table and cleared his throat before making eye contact with Lissette again. “Okay, I’m gonna level with you. I don’t have any credentials to speak of per se—none that would mean anything to you anyway—but I assure you this is all very real. Plus, I have it on good authority that, if this thing goes like I think they will, Phil Glastenburg is interested in backing this film. So… yeah there could be a lot of money to be made from all this in the long run.”
Lissette sighed heavily and rolled her eyes, looking as if she’d stand and leave the table right then and there.
“And,” Matt rebutted loudly to halt her. “I’ve got heart… and passion… two things most people in the industry are lacking.” It looked like he had her attention now. “The truth is, I’ve been at this for a long time, long enough that most people would’ve given up on it by now, but I haven’t.” He took a breath. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been passionate about something, but all I want is for people to look at my work and respect it,” he concluded. “And I think I’m on to something with this film.”
Lissette looked down as Matt’s words seemed to synchronize with her own personal experiences, whatever they may be. It looked like he’d reached her. I had to intervene before she caved and I’d be locked into this contract, giving absolutely no care for the money that would be lost.
“But we’d both completely understand if you changed your mind,” was all I could think to add.
Matt looked at me like I’d insulted our mother or something when the statement flew from my mouth. “Or,” he countered. “You could keep your word, sign this contract, and who knows? Maybe you and Luke here will find out that this film was nothing more than the vehicle that brought you two together.” He smiled slyly. “I know you think you’re the pawns in all this, but that could all be a matter of perspective.” His smile grew as he shrugged. “But who knows? Maybe I’m the pawn.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing already that my fate had been sealed. Girls always fell for his charismatic, ‘motivational’ crap.
“Fine,” Lissette said flatly, snatching the contract from Matt’s grasp to read it more closely. It wasn’t until then that she became aware of the fact that we’d get a $20,000 advance a month from now. She’d said ‘yes’ for other reasons, although, her eyes did light up at the realization that there’d be an almost immediate payout. She’d barely had the contract for ten seconds before scribbling her signature down nonchalantly.
Matt smiled at us both, shoving Lissette’s contract in the folder with mine. “Well… let’s make ourselves a movie.”
*****
Lissette
“You what?” I shrugged and stood in front of my open closet while my sister yelled through my earpiece.
“I said yes,” I repeated.
She was speechless for a full thirty seconds, the amount of time it took me to decide on my black, strapless maxi-dress and gold and leopard-print sandals. I was grabbing my gold hoops off the dresser when she sighed into the phone.
“You’re out of your mind,” was the conclusion she reached.
I shrugged again. “Eh, maybe. But for now it’s just dinner. I’m supposed to meet him at seven,” I said, glancing at the clock. “We kicked it earlier today, but he and his brother had to cut things short, hence the reason we’re now meeting for dinner, too. Apparently there’s a lot for us to discuss.”
“He’s probably a serial killer!” She yelled, ignoring everything I just said.
I laughed at a random memory she triggered. “Remember when I thought it was ‘cereal’ killer, with a c? Like someone who killed you so they could take your cereal? Or maybe because they didn’t respect your particular choice of cereal? I suppose that could go either way,” I rambled.
“Lissy! This is serious!” she huffed. “That’s it. Me and Darren are coming, too. Psychos tend to shy away when their target isn
’t alone. There’s safety in numbers.”
I laughed into the phone at my sister repeating one of my mother’s favorite phrases to throw at us when we were teenagers trying to hang out. “Relax. It’s just dinner. And I’m meeting him there. He doesn’t know where I live.”
“What’s to stop him from following you home?” she asked. “You live alone, remember?”
“Fine. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll come to your house when I leave the restaurant. That way he’ll come there if he’s ever looking for me.” The sound of my laughter only annoyed her more.
“I’m glad you think this is funny.” She paused. “Do you think you need to talk to someone? Like… a professional?” There was absolutely no hint of jesting in her tone whatsoever. She meant every word.
“I’m not crazy, Aura. I’m hungry and broke, which is why I said yes to this free meal. Key word: free. And maybe you missed the part where I said I’ll be raking in twenty grand in a month.” What my sister did not and would not know was that I agreed to all of this before finding that part out—about the cash. For now, thinking money was the only thing that motivated me created a buffer, kept Aura from thinking I was even more insane than she already did. What would she say if she knew I said ‘yes’ way before I even knew we’d get paid for this?
I dropped my towel and slipped into my underclothes and dress. I sat on the bed and put lotion on my arms, legs, and feet while my sister continued to rant.
“I blame this on Mom and Dad. They clearly didn’t give you enough attention when you were little. Now you’re looking for love in—”
“If you say ‘all the wrong places’ I might literally reach through the phone and slap you. I’m not even playing right now.”
She sighed and fell silent.
“Now, why can’t you just say something encouraging?” I asked
“Okay, how’s this: have a great time on your date! If you’re still alive when it’s over, give me a call and tell me how it went.”
“Oh, gosh. Hanging up now,” I announced just before ending the call.
Again for the First Time Page 4