Holly sat in silence, bewildered by his behavior.
“And you Miss?” the waiter asked.
“Um––yeah, I’ll just have the beef and broccoli,” Holly replied. Truthfully, she had lost her hunger long before they had entered the restaurant.
“Oh and now that I think of it, let me have an order of chow-mein, orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp and a side of eggrolls,” Andrew listed off. For being a relatively thin guy, he sure did have an appetite.
“So where was I––”Andrew asked after the waiter had left.
Holly simply shrugged and took a large gulp of her tea.
“Oh! Yes, that’s right. I met that actor from Grey’s Anatomy. What’s his name…”
Holly tried to block-out Andrew’s obnoxious chatter by thinking of other things: Remember to buy red heels at Nordstrom––plan for the BIO mixer next Tuesday––pick up drying cleaning. She had a talent of surrounding her thoughts with mental barbwire when she was in a dire situation. Today, however, all her brain could do was count down the minutes until this date was over.
The food arrived and Holly didn’t have the slightest bit of an appetite, although she was happy to concentrate on anything but the dreadful man sitting before her.
“Can I ask you a favor?” Andrew paused and hastily chewed a piece of orange chicken before he continued speaking. “I lost my credit card a few days ago. I won’t be getting a replacement until Monday. Would you mind fitting the bill this time?”
In disbelief, Holly dropped her fork and said, “Excuse me?”
“The next time we go out, it’s on me. I swear.” Andrew continued stuffing his mouth with mosu pork.
He really had an audacity to think that there would actually be a next time. All Holly wanted to do at that very second was get the hell out of dodge. “Sure. As a matter of fact, I’ll take care of it right now.”
“Thanks. You’re a doll,” he said, steadily filling his mouth with more food. “Okay, so I have to be honest with you.”
Holly shot him a phony smile and said, “Oh, I don’t think it’s possible to get any more honest than you have tonight.”
“Well, I hope you don’t get freaked out when I tell you that I’m not really divorced. Technically, I’m separated. I just tell people I’m divorced so that I can actually start dating again. If I told people I was separated no one would want to date me, right?”
“You know––” Holly glanced at her watch. “I didn’t realize the time. I need to get home and reorganize my shoes.”
“Reorganize your shoes?” he asked with a mystified expression.
“Yeah. I have over a hundred pairs. It might take me all night, so I better get a move on.” Holly waved down the waiter for the check. It was no surprise that there was a copious amount of leftovers.
“Can I get a doggie bag for all this?” Andrew asked the waiter.
The server came back shortly with several white boxes. Andrew immediately began to scoop the remains of their dinner into the Styrofoam containers. “I’m just going to take these leftovers home to my mom and sister. Hope you don’t mind.”
Andrew had to be the most pompous ass man that she’d ever encountered. He literally made her sick to her stomach and furious at the same time.
Holly stood up and announced, “I really need to get home and work on those shoes. You take care and enjoy the leftovers.”
***
Holly didn’t think the day could get any worse––then she walked in the door of her apartment. Madelyn’s hellions were sitting at the kitchen table, giggling and snickering about something that gave her the impression that they were up to no good. As usual, their mother was nowhere to be found.
Holly came into the kitchen and Alex laughed aloud for no apparent reason. That was when her suspicions were confirmed.
She stared them both down and asked, “What’s so funny?”
“You’ll see,” Emilio said, continuing to giggle uncontrollably.
Holly had had enough aggravation for one night. She blew off their childish mind games and went to the refrigerator, longing for an ice-cold rum and Coke. Something odd inside the refrigerator caught her line of vision. Staring her blank in the face was a water bottle filled with a yellow liquid substance that was foamy white at the top. After realizing what it was, Holly screamed at the top of her lungs and both boys laughed hysterically. Madelyn had decided that she was concerned enough about the commotion to haul her ass out of bed.
“Oh my God! What happened?” Madelyn asked.
“One of your disgusting sons pissed in a water bottle and put it in my fridge!” Holly screeched.
With a look of disbelief, Madelyn reprimanded the boys in Spanish, but they continued to laugh as if they had just pulled off the greatest prank in history.
“Voy a darle dos al ferina!” Madelyn shouted.
Alex pointed to his brother and said, “It wasn’t me! It was Emilio!”
“No! He wanted me to do it,” Alex retorted.
Madelyn pointed to the refrigerator. “I don’t care who did it! Go clean it up NOW.”
Emilio got up and went to take care of the mess, trying his best to control himself from giggling.
“I’m sorry, girl. I mean it,” Madelyn apologized.
With no further comment, Madelyn headed back to her bedroom, believing that a simple sorry was going to make up for her son’s despicable, crude behavior. She had to be one of the most incompetent mother’s on Earth. It astounded Holly that this woman could walk away and pretend as if everything was okay in the world again. Unfortunately for Madelyn, there was no way Holly was going to let her get away with her neglectfulness any longer.
“Madelyn!” Holly yelled. “I want you and your monsters out of here.”
Madelyn turned around abruptly and asked, “What?”
“You heard me.” Holly crossed her arms like blades across her chest. “I want you and your brats out of here. Not tomorrow or next week–– tonight.”
“You’re joking right?”
“Oh honey, this is far from a joke,” Holly replied, pointing to the door. “Get your crap out of my place and leave.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious when I say that I’ve had enough of you and the boys for a lifetime.”
Holly’s harsh tone had Emilio and Alex stopping in their tracks.
A distraught look washed over Madelyn’s face, as if she was mourning a death at a funeral. She swallowed hard and said, “Come on. Let’s talk about this.”
“No,” Holly replied, raising her voice. “There’s no more talking. I’ve made up my mind.”
Madelyn knew from experience that there was nothing she could do or say to tame Holly’s simmering anger. “Boys, come on. Let’s pack up our stuff.’
“You have thirty minutes,” Holly announced. “Starting now.”
Holly watched as one brat took a load of belongings downstairs to their car, while the other jammed things into black trash bags. It was a monumental moment and Holly had only wished she had recorded it.
All three worked diligently as Holly stood back scrutinizing their every move, like a sergeant at arms. Holly didn’t bother asking for the key when she knew she would change the locks first thing in the morning.
“This ain’t over,” Madelyn snapped. She slammed the door behind her.
If Madelyn thought her threat was supposed to scare her, she was messing with the wrong woman.
***
Sabrina’s date with Trevor was going to be more trouble than what it was worth. After a maddening night, Holly was in no mood for anyone’s bullshit. To start another hellish day, Sabrina came by the office and insisted that she didn’t want Holly listening in on her date. Unfortunately, that was part of the deal and there was no way she was going to get around it.
Sabrina and Trevor met at Villa Blanca Mediterranean restaurant in Beverly Hills. She wore a black silk dress, which hugged her waist and flared slightly at the hips. I
t was typical that within the first five-minutes into the date, Sabrina started going off about herself non-stop.
“I’ve been to nearly every fashion show in LA. I actually designed an entire line with Vera Wang over a year ago.” Sabrina took a dainty sip of red wine and poised herself. “We are almost like best friends. I went to her birthday party in New York last year and it was fabulous. Anyone who’s anyone in the fashion world was there.”
“Okay, you need to stop talking about yourself. Show some respect,” Holly said.
Sabrina sensually traced the rim of her wineglass with a fingertip and asked, “So Trevor, what are you looking for in a woman?”
Trevor chewed his steak vigorously and poured himself another glass of wine. A stream of purplish nectar ran down his chin after he took a large swig. He wiped it away clean with the back of his hand and said dryly, “A woman who can support me and my dreams.”
Trevor was more interested in his meal than the actual date itself. He had never bothered with a shower that evening or took the time to put on decent clothes. Instead, he threw on an old white polo-tee and jeans.
“By his answer, he’s only interested in you for your money,” Holly said.
“Trevor, would you excuse me for a moment?” Sabrina asked, rising from her seat.
Trevor looked up from his plate and said, “Yeah. Take your time.”
Annoyed, Sabrina made her way into the restroom to speak with Holly privately. “Listen coach. I think I know what I’m doing. You need to butt out.”
“You hardly have a clue,” Holly replied.
“Like hell I don’t.” Enraged, Sabrina ripped off her wiring, along with the ear-bud, and stuffed it into her purse. After she regained her cool, she made her way back to the table as though nothing had happened.
“So where were we?” Sabrina took a seat and smiled at Trevor who was busy helping himself to a slice of molten lava chocolate cake.
“Waiter––do you have any vanilla ice cream to go with this?” Trevor asked.
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back with your request.”
“Trevor, you say you’re a janitor?” Sabrina asked. “Do you have aspirations of owning your own janitorial business one day?”
“Actually I do.” Trevor expelled a grotesque belch, which Sabrina didn’t seem to mind. “But that takes money.”
“Well, I could certainly help you out with that. I think an extremely attractive man like yourself deserves the finer things in life.”
Trevor was amazed that this woman hadn’t taken off after all his attempts at being juvenile and inappropriate. If she was that into him, he was going to take full advantage of the situation. “I’ll need company vehicles.”
“Sir, your ice cream?” asked the waiter. He set a large white bowl down in front of him.
“Sweet. Thank you.” Trevor scooped up the ice cream and plopped it on top of the piece of chocolate cake, not bothering to offer any to Sabrina.
“The vehicle thing can be arranged,” Sabrina said as she watched him scarf down the cake in less than thirty seconds flat. “Trevor, can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Do you find me attractive enough to be intimate with?”
Trevor nearly choked on his cake. He didn’t find one thing desirable about this woman besides her money. In his eyes, she was an old plastic surgery hag with a good boob job.
“Um––of course.”
Sabrina sat back with a satisfied smile. “Oh, I can tell we are going to be so good together.”
“Yeah, you bet.” Trevor raised his wineglass. “Here’s to you giving…helping me make millions.”
Sabrina clanked her wineglass with his and gushed, “Oh my.” Her face had flushed a pale pink. “Yes, here’s to us.”
“To us,” Trevor said sardonically.
“Shall we get out of here now and go to my home? I’d love to give you a tour.” Sabrina couldn’t wait to get him alone, run her fingers through his dirty-blonde hair and kiss those delectable lump lips of his. As far as she was concerned, Trevor was hers for the taking.
Trevor patted down his jeans. “I’d be honored, but there’s just one little glitch.”
“And what would that be, love?”
“I kind of forgot my wallet at home. I’m really sorry.” He had intentionally ordered the most expensive items on the menu because he did not intend to pay for anything in the first place.
“We all make mistakes, sweetie.” Sabrina dug into her purse and pulled out her wallet. “No need for apologies. You can make it up to me later.”
If he planned to milk this woman for all she was worth, he had to get a head start on it now. “I think I’m in love,” he said with a wink.
***
Back at Sabrina’s mansion, Sabrina was giving Trevor the grand tour.
“So I had this whole dining room remodeled. I even tore out all the cabinets myself. It must have cost around one-hundred thousand dollars to complete.”
Trevor wasn’t listening to a word. All he was thinking about was how he’d spend his first million: BMW, jet-skis, golf clubs, air gun, strippers, fifty-foot yacht, Harley motorcycle––
“Would you like to see my photo gallery room?” Sabrina asked.
“Photo gallery?” Trevor asked. He dreaded the thought of it. What could be more boring than looking at a bunch of photographs that meant nothing to him? Harley motorcycle, yacht, jet skis. “Uh––sure.”
Sabrina led him down the hall to a closed-door room. Trevor nearly bowled over after she revealed the inside. The entire wall-space was covered with photographs of Sabrina in every skimpy article of clothing imaginable.
“Here I am on a beach in Maui, doing a photo-shoot for a friend.” Her silver and black bikini was so small that the medium-sized, heart-shaped tattoo on her ass was completely visible. “Don’t I look amazing?”
Trevor rolled his eyes while Sabrina admired herself, and replied, “Yeah. You look bombastic.”
“Bombastic?”
“You know––totally hot?”
“Oh, why thank you.” She led him to the other side of the room. “This is me hosting a party at the Playboy Mansion where Hugh propositioned me to be a playmate. Of course, I declined. I mean, I have two sons. What would they think? Can you even imagine that? Me in Playboy?”
No actually, I can’t, Trevor thought.
“Oh and this one is my favorite––”
At the sight of Sabrina standing in nothing but colorful body paint, Trevor wanted to heave his dinner. When it came to covering up her female body parts, the photo left little to the imagination.
“I was one of the lucky girls who was body-painted that night at the mansion I—”
Trevor cut her off. He just couldn’t stomach another moment. His muscles tightened, he felt the pulse in his neck throb when he said, “Listen, I just have to say something.”
“Yes?” Sabrina asked, awaiting the compliments to come flooding in.
“You, lady, are the most narcissistic person I’ve ever met.”
She blinked like a person roused from dreaming. “Excuse me?”
“If you haven’t noticed within the last three-hours—we have nothing in common.”
“So are you telling me that you don’t find me attractive?” Sabrina asked, caught off guard.
“Do I really have to spell it out for you?”
“But earlier you said you did. I don’t get it.”
The woman was as dense as a bowling ball. “I lied,” Trevor confessed. “Well, now that we got that out in the open, I’ll just show myself out the door. Thanks for the interesting evening.”
Trevor took off without wasting another moment, leaving Sabrina stunned.
***
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” The next day at the office, Holly had a follow up meeting with Sabrina. “Other then I told you so.”
Sabrina sat in front of Holly’s desk. “I did nothing wrong,” she said indignantly.<
br />
Holly snorted and shook her head in contempt. “You are totally clueless.”
“Clueless? Really? All I did was take him back to my house and show him around.”
“Chris,” Holly yelled from across the room. “Come here for a second.”
Chris was at Holly’s side in a matter of seconds. “Yeah?”
“Chris, why don’t you do the honors of telling our lovely little Sabrina here why her date went south.” Holly folded her arms, leaned back in her chair and waited for Chris to take the stage.
“Of course—make me do all the dirty work.” Chris faced Sabrina and said, “Sweetie, I’m going to tell you why you’re single.”
Sabrina batted her eyes. “Well, of course I know why. I’m too good for everyone.”
Chris shook his head insensitively. “Forgive me for being so blunt, but you’re one stuck-up, self-adsorbed bitch.”
Sabrina’s facial expression was like that of someone who had just gotten cold water thrown in their face. “I beg your pardon!”
“You picked a guy that had no interest in you from the very beginning,” Chris continued.
Sabrina waved off him and said, “That’s not true. He was interested in me at the mixer.”
“Shut-up and let him talk,” Holly snapped.
“Then you practically bore the guy to tears on your date. All you did was talk about yourself,” Chris said. “No one cares how many celebrities you know, or how many pairs of expensive shoes you own.”
This time Sabrina remained silent. She slumped down in her seat as Chris continued to berate her.
“I suggest that you seek therapy before you start dating in my club again,” Holly said.
“Therapy?” Sabrina questioned. “What is this? The psychiatric ward?”
“Do you want our help or not? Otherwise get up and walk out of my office right now,” Holly demanded. “And as stated in the contract—you won’t be getting your money back.”
“Okay. I do—I mean I want another try.”
Holly folded her hands together on her desk and said rather calmly, “Very well. As I was saying, you will see my relationship therapist Dr. Cat Adams, who will whip you into shape.”
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