The Deal

by Sarah J. Brooks

  “Seems kind of shady to me.”

  Liz thought so too, but she decided not to continue on with the conversation. Liz really wanted to just forget about everything and get back to work. They still had so much to do and so little time to do it in.

  “Let’s go over that new mock up. I’d like to see about changing some of the colors.” Liz said as she tried to change the subject.

  With that comment, the two went right back into work mode. They spent the rest of the day working solid until it was dark out. Liz was fascinated by how hard Ricardo worked; she had never worked with someone who liked long hours like she did. It was actually really nice to have someone just as dedicated to getting a job done well.

  Liz got a call from Bella and finally paused from her work.

  “How’s it going girl? Do you miss me yet?” Bella said with her high pitch chipper voice.

  “It’s been busy. But I’m good. How are you? How is your summer?” Liz did miss Bella and she felt that empty spot in her heart instantly.

  The two of them had been inseparable only a year earlier. But now with Liz working full-time and Bella still in school, they just didn’t get much time to hang out with each other anymore.

  “Boring! I was thinking of flying out to hang with you if my Dad is cool with paying.”

  “He just left, you should have just come with him.”

  “Really? That totally sucks. He never keeps me in the loop on things. I guess I should call him more.”

  Bella was still in college and lived on campus. Her father, Harrison, did his best to keep track of her, but Bella had a social schedule longer than even the most famous of celebrities. Liz and Harrison often joked that Bella could have her own reality show. It wasn’t just that she hung out with a lot of people; Bella was often in strange and unique situations that they both thought would make for interesting television.

  “He doesn’t keep me in the loop all the time either,” Liz said quietly.

  “What do you mean? What’s going on between you two?” Bella sounded concerned.

  Although she had initially been against Liz and her father having a relationship, the pair were actually really good for each other. Bella had gotten over the awkwardness of their age difference and accepted that Liz and Bella’s Dad were a good couple. But the way Liz was second guessing the relationship worried Bella.

  “We are fine. I just read a weird text message between him and his super hot assistance.”

  “Yeah, she’s crazy pretty. Yikes. But I don’t think anything is going on. He’s crazy about you.”

  “I don’t think anything is either. But there is just that weird feeling that he’s hiding something. It’s just got me worried.” Liz said as she packed up her things for the night and headed back to the hotel.

  By the end of the conversation, Liz felt better about her and Harrison and she had agreed that Bella should come out for a visit. Liz knew Bella was great at keeping herself occupied and Liz would be able to work as much as she needed to. Plus it would just be nice to have Bella around to chat with and spend time with again. They hadn’t really hung out for months.

  As Liz got back to her hotel room, she laid down and fell asleep almost instantly. She knew the second Bella arrived it would be very difficult to get any good sleep. Bella had a very difficult time going to bed anytime before sunrise. Liz thought about how much fun her and Bella would have when she arrived.

  Liz just hoped she would still be able to get her work done. She also decided she should stay away from drinking for a bit since the incident with Ricardo.

  Chapter 4

  “Come with me to get my friend Bella from the airport today,” Liz said to Ricardo as they worked on one of their projects.

  “Bella?”

  “Yeah, she’s Harrison’s daughter.”

  “Wait? What!”

  “You are friends with your boyfriend’s daughter? How old is she?”

  “She is twenty. We actually knew each other before I knew her father. We were friends. I met Harrison through Bella.”

  “Oh wow, Liz, you have a crazy life.” Ricardo couldn’t stop shaking his head.

  He agreed to come with Liz to pick up Bella from the airport. Ricardo really didn’t think Liz should stay with Harrison. In his opinion, if it looked like a cheater and text like a cheater, he was probably a cheater.

  “Yeah, I guess I never thought of it as too crazy.”

  “Well, it is. But yeah I’ll come with you to get your friend.”

  Waiting for Bella, Liz couldn’t help think back to when the two had first met and all the fun they had had in college together. Bella had always been the person to get Liz to go out and relax. If it had been left up to Liz, she would have spent all her time working or studying.

  “Liz!” Bella yelled from the other side of the terminal.

  Bella started running full force toward Liz and Ricardo. She continued screaming and did not seem to notice every other person in the terminal who was watching the scene unfold.

  “Prepare yourself. I think she’s going to tackle you.” Ricardo said as he took a step away from Liz.

  Before Liz could even process that comment, Bella had jumped up in the air and did indeed tackle Liz to the ground. Bella had all the force of a linebacker.

  “Liz, I missed you!” Bella continued as she jumped up and reached her hand out to help Liz up.

  “I missed you too, Bella.”

  “Hi, I’m Bella, the best friend,” Bella said as she reached her hand out to shake hands with Ricardo.

  Bella never had been shy. She didn’t wait to be introduced; she didn’t need to confine herself to the traditional customs of the world. Bella had always been the type of girl that just did what she wanted.

  “I’m Ricardo. I work with Liz.” He said as he chuckled.

  Ricardo had never met anyone with more energy than he had. For most of his life, Ricardo had been the life of the party, the guy everyone asked where the good times were at. But standing next to Bella, Ricardo felt tame. He kind of liked not being the most outgoing person in the room.

  “Liz, do you have to work today? Are we going out tonight? What time is it here anyways?”

  Liz looked at Ricardo for an answer to the question on if she had to work. They were caught up on most of their project so technically they could take the rest of the day off. But Liz wasn’t about to do that unless Ricardo wanted to also.

  “We are done with work for today. You girls should go out and enjoy yourselves.”

  “Yes. Perfect. Let me change and get dolled up and then you can show me all the party spots Liz.” Bella said as she moved toward the baggage claim area.

  Liz and Ricardo waited while Bella grabbed bag after bag.

  “I don’t know party spots except that one bar we went to. You should come with us.” Liz said as she looked at Ricardo for help with the plans for the night.

  “I did hear about a sweet club. I guess I could go with. I mean two hot chics as my date for the night…twist my arm why don’t you?”

  Ricardo headed over to the baggage area when he saw Bella struggling with her four bags. There was no physical way Bella could carry all of them and Liz wondered how Bella had even made it to the airport with all those bags.

  “Did you bring enough shoes?” Ricardo joked.

  “I think so. I have ten pairs.”

  “Ten pairs of shoes? How long are you staying? Until next year?”

  Bella liked this guy, he was funny. Plus Ricardo was very handsome. She liked his tall, dark and handsome look. It fit very well with the kind of guy she was looking for.

  As the three got back to the hotel, Liz gave Bella her key to the room and let her head up and get started on getting ready. Liz knew it would take Bella a couple hours at least.

  “I’m going to get her a key to the room and then probably take a nap until six o’clock. Does that sound good to you?” Liz said as she looked at Ri
cardo, who was fumbling with all of Bella’s bags.

  “This girl has got to learn to pack lighter.”

  Liz laughed. She knew Bella so well and there was no way anyone would ever convince her that packing less than her entire closet would be a good idea.

  “She’s packing for an emergency.”

  “A shoe emergency?” Ricardo couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Let me help you,” Liz said as she grabbed the two small bags.

  Liz and Ricardo entered the elevator and headed up to her room. Liz couldn’t help but think about the elevator at Harrison’s hotel, with the man who operated it for her. She thought about how she had found Harrison and his secretary in his room in their pajamas. Liz thought about the text message she read on Harrison’s phone. She couldn’t help but still be worried that Harrison was hiding something.

  All of a sudden, Ricardo leaned against Liz in the elevator and kissed her passionately. Liz pushed him away gently.

  “You just looked like you needed a good kissing,” Ricardo said.

  “In any other life I would be all for kissing you, Ricardo. But for now I think I need to figure things out with Harrison before I consider anyone else. Is that cool?”

  “Yeah, I guess I can find someone else to start kissing.”

  Ricardo didn’t seem hurt at all by Liz’s rejection. He smiled and held the elevator door for Liz as they brought Bella’s bags to Liz’s room.

  “See you at six o’clock,” Liz said as the room door closed.

  Liz felt exhausted. She couldn’t even imagine going out tonight. Instead, she wanted to just sleep.

  Liz’s phone rang with a call from Skype. There was only one person this could be and Liz didn’t want to miss the call this time. She hurried into her purse and grabbed the phone and swiped to answer the call.

  Chapter 5

  “Yes, Bella made it here alright,” Liz said first thing as she answered the call.

  “Great! How are you doing? I miss you already.” Harrison said with a huge smile.

  He was at his desk wearing a brilliant blue button up dress shirt. Liz loved that color on him. It made his eyes seem even more vibrant than they already were. The muscles in his arms skimmed the shirt and looked like they could break through with just a quick flex of his biceps.

  “I’m good. Bella and Ricardo want to go out dancing though. Ugh,” Liz said as she made a funny face.

  “Oh, Ricardo is going?”

  “Yeah, I’m not too hip on the club scene. Plus we will be safe with him around. You won’t have to worry about us.”

  “Alright. I guess.”

  Liz ignored the attitude Harrison talked with. She knew he didn’t like Ricardo, but he would just have to get over it. Liz would move onto a new partner as soon as this project was done.

  “How is work going? Is Sarah still working with you?”

  “Yep, she’s been great. But Martha should be back soon and she is even better.”

  Liz wanted to keep asking Harrison questions about him and his secretary Sarah, but she decided to let it go. There was no use worrying herself over that relationship if it was nothing but professional. Liz really didn’t have any proof besides an odd text message.

  “Great. Well, I’m going to take a nap before Bella breaks me in with the club scene here in Sidney.”

  “Sleep tight sweetheart. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  Liz blew Harrison a kiss over Skype and then quickly fell asleep. She really didn’t care how long Bella took getting ready. Liz was fine waiting until later to go out, or even not going out at all.

  By six o’clock, Liz had been forced out of bed and forced into one of Bella’s club dresses. Liz hated dressing up and going out, she was perfectly happy wearing her jeans. But Bella wasn’t going to let Liz out of the room until she changed into something cute.

  “Wow, you two girls look amazing. We have to post a picture to my profile. My friends are going to be jealous as hell.”

  Ricardo had a hotel worker take a picture with Bella on one side of him and Liz on the other. He couldn’t wait to upload it and have all his friends messaging him about the two hot girls he was hanging out with.

  At the dance club, Bella and Liz got straight to work enjoying themselves and dancing the night away. Liz decided to stick to drinking soda since she had had such a bad experience drinking the other night.

  Bella and Ricardo seemed to be hitting it off and when Liz needed a dancing break, Ricardo quickly stepped in to keep Bella happy. Liz sat down and was perfectly content to watch the other people for a while and relax.

  Liz didn’t feel the need to drink and party all the time like Bella did. Maybe it was something about her childhood or the fact that she always had to be so responsible. But Liz actually felt much more comfortable in sweatpants curled up on her couch than she did out partying and drinking.

  As she watched Ricardo and Bella dancing, Liz decided she was ready to head home. She gave them a quick hug goodbye and checked with Bella to make sure she had a room key.

  “Make sure she gets home safe,” Liz said to Ricardo.

  “Of course. You know I will.”

  Liz did indeed knew that Ricardo would take good care of Bella. He had been a perfect gentleman the night Liz had drank too much. Ricardo had made sure he got Liz home and even though she had been worried that something had happened between the two of them. They had not slept together and Ricardo had simply brought her to his room because Liz couldn’t find her key.

  By the time Liz got back to her room it was almost two o’clock in the morning. She could hardly keep her eyes open and fell asleep fully dressed on top of the bed covers.

  Around five o’clock in the morning, Liz woke up and looked over at Bella’s bed. She wasn’t there.

  Liz quickly jumped up and found her phone. She was about to dial Bella’s number when she saw a text message from her.

  The text read: “Staying in Ricardo’s room ;)”

  Oh man, oh man, Bella and Ricardo were hooking up? Liz instantly thought about Harrison and how much he would not approve of Bella and Ricardo being together. Harrison did not like Ricardo at all. Maybe it was just his Latin style or his handsome good looks, but Harrison would freak out if he knew Bella had spent the night with Ricardo.

  Just then, Liz heard her phone ring with a Skype call. She answered it automatically, but then instantly wished she would have let the call be missed. How would she explain why Bella wasn’t in the room right now?

  “Hey, baby,” Liz said to Harrison.

  “Hi, sweetheart. How was your night?”

  “It was fun. Still sleeping, but didn’t want to miss you. Can I call you later today?”

  Liz really didn’t want to let this conversation go on much longer. Harrison would surely want to talk to Bella and she wasn’t there.

  “Sure thing. Can I say I to Bella really quick?”

  “Oh, you know how she is when she is sleeping. There’s just no getting her up. We will call you later. Have a good day.”

  With that, Liz blew Harrison a kiss and hung up the phone. She decided to send him a quick text to explain how tired she was and set up a time later for them to talk.

  Liz went back to sleep. There really wasn’t much she could do about Bella and Ricardo hooking up. Bella was an adult and so was Ricardo. But Liz didn’t think it was a good idea for either of them. They were not the right type of person for each other and Liz was going to make sure and talk to Bella about that when she got back to the hotel room.

  Ricardo needed to find a girl more his own age and someone who had a job and career. Not a college student that liked to party and get wild all the time like Bella.

  Chapter 6

  At work, Liz waited for Ricardo to show up to see if he confessed to sleeping with Bella. But around ten o’clock when Ricardo came to work holding hands with Bella it was pretty obvious that the two of them were together.

  “Well lo
ok who decided to show up for work today,” Liz teased.

  “I figured I deserved a late day so I could keep up with your working habits lately.”

  “Hi, Bella,” Liz said as she gave Bella a look of approval.

  Although Liz wasn’t entirely sure she approved and she knew Harrison wouldn’t approve at all, Liz wasn’t about to say anything to Bella in front of Ricardo.

  “Hey Liz, want to catch lunch later? I’m going to go shop for a bit this morning.” Bella said as she squeezed Ricardo’s hand and then kissed him.

  Liz stood there as Ricardo and Bella started making out like they were high school kids. She stood there…and stood there…waiting for them to get done.

  “Geez guys, that’s enough.”

  “Sorry,” Ricardo said as he wiped Bella’s lip gloss off of his lips.

  “Yes Bella, let’s do lunch around one o’clock,” Liz said as she rolled her eyes at Ricardo.

  Bella took off down the hallway and stopped to turn around and wave at Ricardo. Ricardo waved back like he was possessed or something, waving his hand back and forth well after Bella had disappeared into the elevator.

  “Wow, Ricardo. What was that?”

  “What?”

  “You’re really going after Bella?”

  “Is it weird? I’m sorry.”

  “No, I don’t care. But she’s a wild one. Do you think you can handle a girl like her? She’s pretty much the opposite of me.” Liz laughed as she sat down to get back to work.

  “I don’t know what to say. She’s not really the type of girl I was looking for, but we click and we talked for hours last night.”

  “Oh, you talked?” Liz said with a wink.

  “Come on. You know what I mean. We really get along. We talked about our dreams and goals. It was one of the best dates of my life.”

  “Wow, that’s exciting I guess.”

  Liz wanted to tell Ricardo to stay away from Bella, but seeing how much he genuinely liked her it didn’t seem like a good idea. Liz knew how good love could feel and didn’t want to take that feeling away from Ricardo and Bella if that was what was going on between the two of them.