“Well…” Todd bit his lower lip in anticipation. “She had him about twenty minutes ago.”
“A him?” she asked, smiling through her tears.
“Girl, oh my gosh, he is so adorable.”
“Let’s go see him.”
Holly followed Todd to a bank of elevators and together they made their way to the maternity ward. Some of Emma’s family was just leaving when the two stepped inside her hospital room. Chris looked like a proud father with that huge grin spread across his face as he stared back affectionately at Emma and his newborn son. Emma, who appeared pale and tired, rested comfortably in bed, cradling her new baby in her arms.
“Oh, look who's here.” The moment Emma spotted Holly walking into the room, her eyes lit up like shooting stars. “We didn’t think you would be able to make it.”
“Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss this moment for the world.” Holly walked over to Emma’s bedside. “What's his name?”
“Steven Tyler,” Chris answered.
Holly had to process his response for a quick second. “What? As in the lead singer of Aerosmith or is that just some coincidence?”
“Not a coincidence. Emma has worshipped the ground that guy has walked on since she was a teenager,” Chris said.
“Oh okay—” Holly wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Weird, but whatever rubs your Buddha.”
Chris gently ran his hand down his newborn son’s head and said, “She promised me I could name the next one.”
“If you even think about naming your future daughter Lady Gaga, I will shoot you,” Todd replied in a serious manner.
Chris shook his head in revulsion. “Never in a million years will that happen.”
“Hi there little Steven,” Holly said in a high-pitched cutesy voice. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen a human being so small.
“Do you want to hold him?” Emma asked enthusiastically.
“Uh—sure,” Holly said hesitantly.
The second Emma placed baby Steven in her arms, Holly immediately started to tear up. His angelic little face reminded her of what she knew she was never going to have. “He's… he’s… so amazing,” Holly sniveled.
“Wow, Holly—are you okay?” Chris asked with concern.
“And I thought I was the one who was supposed to have post-partum depression.”
“You could say that she’s had a really rough day,” Todd said, rubbing Holly's back in small circles.
“I’m sorry—” Holly placed Steven back in Emma's arms. “I can't do this right now.”
“Okay, everyone out. I need to talk to Holly alone for a second,” Emma commanded.
“And so it starts,” Chris said with a roll of his eyes.
After the boys had shuffled out of the room, Emma asked, “Okay, what's going on with you?”
Holly sniffed. “I feel like such an evil person right now.” She then explained the entire calamitous story of her break up with Jake.
“Okay, let me just say that you were warned about this, Holly.”
“I know. I had no intention of falling in love with him, Emma, I really didn’t.”
“But you did. It just goes to show that the heart wants what the heart wants.” The baby squirmed in Emma’s arms, wiggling and making his presence known. “And the only reason you can't be with him is because his mother is a client?”
“Well, duh. That raises the stakes pretty high don’t you think?”
“Yes,” Emma said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t work your way around it like you always seem to do.”
“Not this time.” Holly took a deep breath. “He was such a good guy, Emma. I’ll probably never find someone like him again. I didn’t deserve him anyway.”
“Don’t say that. Maybe after February you could contact him.”
Holly shook her head in doubt. “He’ll never want to talk to me again. Not after the way I broke his heart into a million pieces.”
“For the time being, I suggest you go back to what you were doing before you met him.”
“That’s exactly the plan.”
“Oh, here’s another suggestion.” Emma rocked her son back and forth in the crook of her pointy little arm. “Why don't you just tell him the truth?”
“For what reason? For the purpose of making the situation worse? I just have to leave things the way they are,” Holly said. “We shouldn't even be having this conversation now. It's your day.”
“Holly, I know you're trying to be tough, but you're not fooling anyone. Especially me.”
“I'll be fine, okay?”
“Then wipe that miserable look off your face and come here and help me with this kid.”
***
Throughout the next week, Holly tried desperately to rid the memory of the night she dumped Jake. It took every little bit of strength she had left not to break down and cry at certain moments. The only thing that helped take her mind off things was her company. Holly damn near killed herself with work while trying to keep her mind off dire thoughts.
Todd plopped a pile of documents on Holly’s desk and whined, “Okay, can I go home now? I’m supposed to be going to Blake’s for dinner.”
“After you review those male recruit applications,” Chris chimed in. “It will take you less than ten-minutes.”
“Ugh!” Todd said with a stomp of his foot.
“I, myself, have to do one more thing then I'm calling it a night,” Holly mentioned.
Holly heard someone come through the front door just as Todd was walking back to his desk.
“I need to speak with Holly Sparks, immediately,” said a male voice.
Todd stuttered, “Um, uh...hold on just a minute.”
Holly walked into the middle of the room as she was analyzing a male recruit headshot. “Chris, I—” When she looked in front of her, her heart stopped.
“Hello, Holly,” Jake said with a phony smile. “That is your real name isn't it?” He held a thick stack of white paper in his hand that reminded Holly of a writer’s manuscript. “Gee, I recognize your buddy sitting over here. Which raises the question—is he really your friend or just some actor you hired to con me?”
Holly glanced at Todd and Chris whose eyes went as big as the moon. “Um, how did you find me here?”
Jake waved the stack of printed blog entries around in her face. “Oh—it wasn't that hard.”
In a rather calm manner, Holly asked, “Can we go somewhere and talk about this privately?”
Jake ignored her comment and in anger, he read from one of the printed blog entries. “July 15, 2013. “J” is so helplessly nerdy. I wish there was something I could do to change his outward appearance. It’s no wonder why he signed up on a dating site. Unfortunately, this guy will never attract the right kind of women if he doesn’t spruce himself up first—”
“Jake, stop. Please!” Holly pleaded.
Jake threw the paper to the side as if it was garbage and continued reading, “July 25, 2013. “J” is a sweet guy, but I can't get too caught up in my feelings when I intend to end this experiment next year.” He flung the piece of paper up in the air. ““J” asked me to be his girl, of course, I said yes. It's all part of the game—”
“Jake, okay. Just listen to me for a minute,” she begged. “It’s not what you think.”
“Is this what I was to you? He waved the stack of papers in her face again like a red cape in front of a bull. “Some big experiment—some big joke?”
“No, it's not even like that.” Her heart beat so fast that she could scarcely breathe.
Jake was as furious as a loaded pistol that might shoot off at any second. “No? I poured my heart out to you and then you go tell our business to the whole world? How could I have been such an idiot!”
“I really wish you would just let me explain.” Holly felt like she would die on the spot when she witnessed his chin begin to tremble.
“Why? So you can tell me more lies.” Jake chucked the stack of paper up in the air
. Holly watched it fall to the ground and scatter across the floor like a white blanket of snow.
All Todd and Chris could do was just stare in silence as they watched the scene unfold before them.
“Save your lies for the next fool you dupe.” Jake walked out the door and Holly stood wordlessly, blown away like dust in the wind.
“Why are you standing there like a buffoon?” Chris snapped. “Go hunt him down.”
Those words were enough to have her running through the hallway and chasing him down the stairwell as she called out, “Jake, wait! Please!”
He walked out into the chilly LA streets, continuing to ignore her. That night the city seemed empty and threatening.
“Jake! I need to tell you the truth,” Holly yelled as she tried to catch up with him.
Jake turned around suddenly and spat, “The truth? That's kind of contradictory coming from your mouth, don’t you think?”
“First off,” Holly said, trying to catch her breath, “I wasn’t supposed to get involved with you. Those were the rules.”
Jake smirked and said condescendingly, “Rules? Oh that’s just priceless—”
“But as luck would have it, it turned out that I actually liked you. I’d been on so many dates with creepy losers that I wanted to keep it going with you because you were kind and down-to-Earth. I tried so hard to keep my feelings and emotions out of it, but as I got to know you on a deeper level, I couldn’t help myself. The next thing I knew, I was falling in love with you.”
Jake pointed a threatening finger at Holly and said, “Don't you even use that word to try and appease me. It’s all perfectly clear as to why you never said it to my face in the first place. At least you were honest about that.”
“I was going to wait until after the experiment was over to tell you everything. Then your mother joined the club and that was when everything blew up in my face.”
“My mother?” he said softly. “What does my mother have to do with any of this?”
“Her name is Victoria Cain, is it not? How else would I know who she is? Don’t get me wrong though, she has no idea about any of this or that we even dated.”
Jake grabbed a fistful of his hair and screamed aloud, “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“Just so you know, from the bottom of my heart, everything I felt for you was and still is real.”
Jake took a deep breath and tried to control his simmering anger. “People who love each other don't post it all over the Internet for the world to see or set-up bogus dinner dates to break-up.”
“It was my job,” Holly said in aggravation. “And as a matter of fact, I only tried to break-up with you that night because I didn’t want you hurting like you are now.”
“So because it was your job you used me, Holly? Everything that I thought was real between us you made a mockery of.”
Shamefaced, Holly looked down at the ground. “You have to believe me when I say I wish I could take it all back.”
“You know, I thought you were different.” Jake shook his head in disdain. “I thought I finally found a girl who accepted me for who I was. You were this perfect, beautiful woman who seemed like she fell from the sky. In reality, it was all just an act and you turned out to be anything but flawless.”
“Maybe I wasn't honest with you at the beginning, but as I got to know you, I was myself with you, Jake.”
He looked up at the night sky and took a moment to clear his head. “Grayson was right. I have a habit of picking women who are seriously screwed up in the head,” Jake admitted. “My God, Holly. I was going to ask you to marry me when we went on vacation. How could you do this to me?”
Those words hit Holly like a blow to the head. She had waited her whole life to meet someone like Jake. Just when she came close to sealing the deal, she went and screwed it all up.
“Jake, please. Can’t we just talk about this?” she asked as she went to touch his arm, but he flinched.
“Just go, Holly. I have nothing more to say to you.” Jake walked off, leaving Holly in tears.
***
December 31, 2013
Sparks101.com- I Teach Women How Men Think
Dearest readers:
I know this may come as a shock to all of you, so brace yourself. With a heavy heart, I regret to inform everyone that I will no longer be dating “J” exclusively. Though I cannot divulge explicit details, I will say that I enjoyed the one on one time I spent with him and I will never forget the good times we shared. Deciding to go our separate ways was a mutual decision and for the best. Sadly, sometimes relationships, experimental or not, just don’t work out. I will go back to my regular routine until this experiment ends in February. I am so sorry for the disappointment, but I hope you will understand and continue to support me on this journey.
XOXO!
Holly Sparks
www.qualitynotquanityclub.com
***
January 13 2014
Date # ??? – Chadwick
After Holly reinstated her profile on Dr. Adams’s dating website, it didn’t take long for her to get a handful of emails. One man who caught her attention was an executive account manager named Chadwick. In his photo, he had shaggy brown hair and a thin face. His eyes were deep-set with lids that were heavily fringed with long dark lashes. Overall, the man was unique and quite visibly handsome. As much as Holly wanted to quit the whole experiment and return to her normal way of life, she didn’t have a choice.
Holly continued the dating experiment by meeting Chadwick informally at a crowded coffee house with a Caribbean motif. She was sitting in a comfortable wicker armchair and sipping on her café mocha when he walked in wearing glasses, sandals, a stripped polo shirt and khaki cargo shorts. The first thing that caught her attention were the big, ugly red welts all over his legs.
“Darlene, it’s wonderful to meet you,” Chadwick said with a playful smile, one that made Holly feel much at ease.
They sat down after he ordered his coffee and got into conversation. “I just got back from camping at Yellowstone. That's why my legs are so fucked up right now,” he explained.
Hmm, so it begins, Holly thought. A bit put off, she changed the subject, “So what are your hobbies? Do you go to the movies often?”
He snorted as though she had said something inane. “No. The only time you’ll ever see me in the dark is when I'm sleeping or having sex.”
That was precisely when Holly tuned this guy out. Throughout the short-lived, dismal encounter, she kept flashing back to Jake—to the first time they met, their first kiss, to how much she missed him. This experiment would never be the same and the thought of starting over nearly killed her.
***
At the office the following Tuesday, Holly was having an off day where she spent most of her time thinking about Jake. Had he moved on and started seeing someone new? Had he just completely forgotten about her all together? Just when Holly had enough and was about to walk out the door for the day, Victoria Cain showed up. She looked radiant in her dressy ensemble that showed off her golden tan.
Victoria’s teeth were clenched; a knot pulsed at her jawline. “We need to talk,” she sputtered sharply.
“Yes.” Holly sighed heavily and replied, “I suppose we do.”
Lesson 15
“As you very well may know,” Victoria’s facial features twisted into a scowl, “this won't take long.”
Holly silently cringed at the memory of going through a very similar scenario with Jake. “Can we please take this conversation in private?”
“No,” Victoria said bluntly. “I think your minions should hear what I have to say.”
“Excuse us? Minions?” Offended, Todd rose from his seat. “I beg to differ, honey.”
Holly shot Todd the ‘shut-up’ look and said, “Todd, Chris—I need privacy please.”
Without further delay, the two men left the office.
Once the coast was clear, Victoria chose to speak her mind. “Evidently, I shouldn�
��t have to remind you that you made a fool of my son in front of virtually, no pun intended, the entire world.”
“First of all—I feel terrible for the way this whole thing ended up. But I need you to know that no one but the people in this room knew about your son.”
“Oh really? Should we just discount every post on that despicable blog of yours?”
Holly tried to maintain an even-tempered composure. “In all sincerity Ms. Cain, I never once revealed his true identity.”
“Well, someone apparently found out about your little secret, didn’t they?” Victoria shook her head in contempt. “You know, when I first heard that Jake was seeing someone, I couldn’t have been more ecstatic for him. You’re well aware that my son hasn’t had an easy life. I thought that maybe he finally had found someone who’d bring him the happiness he deserved. With the way he talked about her, well, I was certain she had to be the one. I'd never seen him so full of life, so much in love. Then what do you know? He finds out that the one he’s in love with has been conning him from day one, and the individual to commit such a heartless act is you.”
The bitterness in this woman’s voice made Holly want to cry out in agony. “Ms. Cain, please—”
“No. I don't want to hear your excuses.” Victoria held up a hand to silence her. “For God's sake, you're supposed to be a matchmaker whose purpose is to help people find love, not destroy someone’s spirit.”
“I never wanted to hurt him,” Holly uttered. “I mean it from the bottom of my heart—I genuinely love your son.”
“No, you don’t love him. Clearly, you don't know what love is.”
“You are wrong about that part, Ms. Cain.”
“How can you stand there and practice what you preach? You are nothing more than a bitter, heartless woman.” Victoria’s feathers were clearly ruffled at that point. She stepped closer to Holly and shot her a penetrating stare. “I have no desire to be in this club of yours. God knows what kind of an operation you're running here. I don't care what the contract says, I want a full refund or I'll seek legal action.”
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