by Mia Ford
“Marvin I know that I could turn to you, but how many times can you bail me out. This has been a long time coming. You want to hear the funniest thing about it all?”
I shake my head wondering why he never came to me?
Feeling like a fool for mopping around and all the time ignoring the one friend that I’ve known since college, needed help.
“What?”
He sighs as he finishes his drink and signals to the waiter for another one.
“I feel fucking free. I don’t have to worry about my marriage being on the rocks for staying out late. I don’t have to think about anything twenty-four-seven. I didn’t realize until now, that I’ve been running a business that hasn’t made any profit for years and I’ve been trying to keep it above water for all the wrong reasons.”
“What do you mean?”
“The only reason I’m even doing all this is for sentimental reasons. I should have shut up shop a long time ago.”
“Don’t say that,” I shake my head trying to get rid of the guilt and trying to make some sense of it all.
“I’ve sold it. Someone else can deal with the shit, and it’s enough to pay off the loan. Barely. And that’s the most important thing. Not having to move. So, it’s not all bad.”
“I suppose,” I whisper as I start to knock back my drink and get rid of the pain. The ache of missing Emily and not helping my friend when he was in need, even if he says that he’s happy the shock of it all hasn’t hit him. I’m sure that in few days, he’ll be regretting his decision. That part I’m certain off for sure.
“Now, you going to tell me your side of the story?”
“Ben, what do you mean?”
He laughs, “I know that you called me for a reason. It wasn’t to tell me that Emily and you were over. It was for another reason. I already know that something’s up. Katie's been on the phone.”
“You’re one step ahead of me. Aren’t you?”
He laughs, “For once in my life I’m ahead of you. Not the other way around. Now, are you going to tell me what happened? Or am I going to have to listen to Emily’s side of the story?”
I shake my head, but as I start to tell him. He comes out with something that I could kiss him for right now.
He’s going to help, just as I’d hoped he would and it’ll just involve Emily listening which is something that she’s not doing at the moment. I know that it’s a glimmer of hope, but that’s all I have right now.
Hope that she’ll at least listen and I know that at least if she does that then maybe, just maybe she’ll see that I’m not evil.
I was just a man after her heart.
Chapter Seventeen
Emily
The last few days have been crazy, I’ve been trying to focus, and it has been so hard to do it without thinking of him. My parents have summoned me to the house this weekend. Dad sounds a lot happier, but I don’t want to tell him about my problems with Marvin or the fact that my business has gone from being on in the slumps to a little empire at the moment. The new Marketing Manager is taking things in the right direction. Contracts that were canceled have been replaced with new ones, more profitable ones.
I ring the bell and think about the fact that I’ve gone from being so low to being so high lately.
“There she is!” mom smiles as she opens the door.
Wow, the way she’s acting, it’s as if she hasn’t seen me in years. When she only met me last week for lunch. She didn’t stop talking, and it’s funny seeing her now with her blonde highlights and her new hair cut. Maybe selling the company wasn’t only the best thing for dad, but her too.
“Hi, mom. Sorry, I’m late.”
She waves her hand, “If you ever turned up on time anywhere. Now that would be a surprise.”
“I suppose,” I mumble as I hand her the bottle of wine that I got from the store on the way here.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
I nod, knowing that I didn’t, but it makes a nice change from buying a bottle for myself and using it to help me sleep. Which has been a bad habit lately, one that I need to break before it gets out of hand?
“I know, but I thought that you might like it.”
She kisses me on the cheek, “I do.”
I walk around the house and notice that it’s empty. I thought that dad was going to be here and we were going to have dinner together.
“Oh, dad’s not there. They’re at the back..”
They?
“Who’s they?”
She doesn’t answer me as I follow her to the back. I’m not sure how I never noticed the smoke before but as I see both dad and Marvin sharing a beer. I have the answer to my question.
Holy crap! The last thing I need is to see him. I feel like taking the wine that she’s holding in her hand and going back out where I just came from. I want to scream that it’s a problem. A big fucking problem and I don’t want to be anywhere near that man.
My eyes dart to mom as she smiles, “Marvin said that he'd join us.”
I stop at the porch doors, “It’s not a problem is it, Emily?”
I want to do the one thing that I’m good at..run!
I don’t want to be anywhere near him, and the idea of pretending is too much for me to bear. Mom smiles and I wonder if he’s told them. Did he tell them that he used me to get to Vegas? Made me fall for him knowing that he was the main reason that my company was in trouble.
Did he tell them that?
No, I bet he didn’t because he’s the type of man that loves to act like a snake. That’s the part of him that I missed out on the whole trip.
‘Just listen to him!’
Katie’s been begging me to do the for the last couple of weeks.
‘Maybe there’s a good reason for what he did,’ Michelle tried to explain to me. It makes no difference what they think about him because it’s as clear as night and day that he owns The Silk Box and he knew that it’s the thorn in my business side.
Mom winks at me, “Just give him a chance.”
“I did, and he used me…”
Mom shakes her head and then takes my arm and drags me to the kitchen. Away from them. Away from him.
“You were innocent in all of this too. You could have told him no and just gone to the bank and if that didn’t work just sold up as your dad did. He gave your business the life that it needed to run again. I’m not saying that what he did was right.”
She’s probably trying to make sense of it. Thank goodness I wasn’t around when she heard about what happened, I would hate to have seen their faces knowing that their daughter had offered herself for the sake of her business.
“All I know is that Marvin’s a good man. He’s been friends with your dad for years. He may not be perfect, but then no man is. He’s loved you for so long. Even I knew that.”
“You did? But why did you never say anything?”
“Because the only thing that your dad wanted to talk about was the business. And the only thing you could see was your designs. I’ve been ignored in this family for so many years that if he hadn’t sold it. I would have walked out.”
“What?”
“Emily, it doesn’t matter. All I know is that Marvin’s been trying to help you for years. Correct?”
I nod and then she continues talking.
“He’s told you that he’s interested in investing in that type of a business for a while and you were never interested. Correct?”
“No, I was never interested in giving him my body for…’
“That’s not what I asked you. You could have come up with a contract or something. Told him that you would listen to him. Take his investment under his terms. But you never did, correct?”
God! I hate listening to home truths. I move to the other side of the kitchen. Get the bottle opener seeing as mom’s going to walk around all evening with the bottle of wine in her hand.
As she hands me the glasses and I pop open the bottle. I start to pour the wine and mu
mble, “Okay mom. You have a point.”
She knocks her glass next to mine and smiles, “You are too stubborn just like your father.”
She takes a sip and says, “Marvin saw a business opportunity and took it. There’s nothing wrong with that in his world. Why he kept it from you, do you have to ask? He was worried that you'd take it the wrong way. Look I do not agree with what either of you did, but I do know one thing. You’ve been miserable and by the look of him too. He’s been feeling the same. Don’t make the whole thing go to waste. At least give your love a try.”
I giggle as I sip a bit too much wine quickly, “I was shocked seeing him unshaven and in those shorts.”
She nods her head, “And as for the Hawaiian shirt. What’s up with that?”
She takes my hand and leads me outside to dad and Marvin. As soon as Marvin seems me, he’s no longer smiling but looking at me.
“Dad,” I kiss him on the cheek, and he hugs me, making me nearly spill my wine.
“Dad! Why did you do that?”
I say as I pull back, thinking that maybe after today I’ll stop drinking. I’m getting a bit too attached to it.
“Because I thought that you would run through the door.”
I turn and face Marvin, “Marvin.”
“Emily.”
Dad blurts out, “Okay can you kiss and make-up already. I want to have a nice dinner tonight with the people that I care the most about.”
Marvin takes off his shades and says, “At least we’re speaking now.”
I nod my head, “Yes, but one step at a time.”
“I just want you to hear what I have to say.”
“Mom already explained some of it to me. But you can do it too…”
“But not tonight. As I said tonight's about celebrating. You guys can have your discussions later. Right now, I’ve got a big steak to cook and too much beer to get through. Now, Marvin come help me behind here and stop making sad eyes at my daughter!”
I laugh with that final comment. I decide that I’ll listen to what Marvin has to say, what mom said made a lot of sense. I feel like a fool acting as if I’m the wounded soldier, I’ve never been in a relationship before ever been in love. I didn’t know how to react to it all. Now, I’m starting to realize that I have been a fool in love.
Chapter Eighteen
Marvin
I’m sitting in my office, waiting impatiently. I check my time on my phone screen and almost growl, wanting it to move faster.
This is happening.
When I got the call from Emily that she was going to take my new offer, to say I was overjoyed would be an understatement.
I press the button on my intercom and speak to my secretary. “When Emily and her team arrive, please let them all in. They should be arriving soon.”
“Sure, Marvin,” says Roger enthusiastic as always.
I’m so damn nervous that she’ll back out of it. I sigh as I lean back in my chair behind the desk. I’m glad I got to speak to her at all. I never meant to lie to her. I keep up to date on all of my businesses, but I’m never directly involved unless it’s a venture I started, not a business I invested in which I rarely do, which is why I was hesitant when Brenda approached me about it in the first place. She needed help, and I had the funds to do it.
In hindsight, I was curious about the jewelry business, and Emily had shut me down so many times when I tried to talk to her about it. I wanted Emily to be with me, so when she asked for the money, I saw it as a good opportunity.
I didn’t think of telling her anything once she accepted the offer because I never saw the need. All businesses have competitors, my being the owner of one of hers would have changed nothing.
It hit home at the restaurant that night. The idea of having her, then completely losing her. The whole ordeal affected me a lot more than I realized over such a stupid mistake. A selfish one, I knew that telling Emily would bother her, but I didn’t care.
I had her, and that was all that mattered. I’ll never make that mistake again. I won’t take her for granted if only she’ll take me back. Emily’s perfect in every way and without her I’m just a miserable, lonely fool.
I'm determined to talk to her if only just a little. I can't let what we have just ended where it did, and can only hope she feels the same.
“Mr. White, they’re here,” Roger announces on the intercom. I pop out of my office and Emily’s standing a black suit with her hair tied back. She looks the perfect and I notice that she has one of her designs on her neck.
She starts walking with them, and I rush up to her, and she stares at me for a second. Blinking as I hold on to her arm.
I bow, “Nice to meet you. I’m Marvin White, and my secretary will direct you to the conference room.”
Emily gentle shakes her arm; she doesn’t like the way that I’m holding her.
“Marvin.”
“Emily, you look stunning today.”
She doesn’t even crack a smile. Something that she would have done in the past without hesitation.
“I just want to make sure that this deal goes smoothly and there’s no hiccups or misinterpretation of the deal.”
I nod my head, “I see. Can we talk for a minute in my office please?”
She hesitates as I motion with my hand. The last time she was in my office, she was sucking me as if there was no tomorrow. Calling it my lunchtime treat. How so much has changed in such a short space of time.
As soon as we both walk in and I close the door. I can see that she’s nervous about being alone with me. I’m not going to try anything; I just want to talk to her.
“Marvin,” she crosses her arms, which means that she's already defensive.
“I just want the lawyers to sign the deal, and then the merger between Glitter and Silk Box can take place. I noticed that Brenda’s not here.”
I sigh thinking that this isn’t how I wanted the meeting to go. I need to talk to her otherwise I won’t be able to concentrate on anything else for the rest of the day or even week.
“She’s on her way. Roger buzzed her the moment you guys arrived downstairs. Please sit down.”
She shakes her head, “Everyone’s waiting.”
“I know. Just sit.”
I didn’t mean to say it like that, but she gives in and uncrosses her arms and sits down. I sit on my desk, I’m putting my heart on my sleeve, and I need her to know that I mean it.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“Emily, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept my investment interest in The Silk Box from you.”
She’s looking up at me, but I can’t look at her. I’m ashamed of my actions, and my apology comes from the bottom of my heart.
“I shouldn’t have told you to come to Vegas with me to invest in your company.”
“Why?”
“Because it made perfect sense at the time and afterward it made none. It’s as if I took your weakness to make use of you and I’m sorry.”
She stands up and faces me.
“I could have told you that I didn’t want to do it. I’m not a kid anymore.”
I nod, “I realized that before we got to Vegas.”
We both smile as our eyes lock and the silence is broken by a knock on the door. I want to kiss her, but I know that I don’t have the permission to do it. Not yet.
“After the deal maybe I’ll take you out for a coffee?”
“Maybe?”
I raise my eyebrow wondering if she’s teasing me or if she means it.
“Not maybe, I will do. Because after today I’m going to have millions in the bank. I may be able to take you to Vegas.”
“Really?”
“Only if you’re a good boy.”
She walks away from me and with her hand on the door handle. I know that nothing’s been in vain. She wants me back, but it’ll take the time to gain her trust.
I have time.
I’ve learned my lesson, and I won’t be making the same mistak
e again.
Never.
“Good, because if you’re not Marvin. Then you can forget Vegas and don’t ask me about it again?”
“Understood.”
She opens the door, and a flustered Brenda walks in, I can’t hear what she’s saying because I realize right then as Emily leaves my office. I’ve created a monster, and I like it.
Epilogue
Emily
We’re opening a new shop; our expansion plans have kept me busy after signing the papers to merge the companies.
I’m no longer working alone, but I have a team. One that allows me to work on the aspects of the business that I love the most.
Designing.
I’m good at my job, and the expansion has allowed expertise in so many domains, and it’s all down to one man, Marvin.
“Why are you still here?” Katie asks as she hovers at my door.
“I’m leaving right now, just give me a minute to pack up my things.”
She stuck with me through thick and thin, and with everything going so well, I’m able to give her a raise, to pay her back for staying when most left at the threat of closure.
“Good. It’s not nice to keep your boyfriend waiting all the time.”
I purse my lips but don’t argue.
“Well, remember he’s still on a thin line.”
“But it’s been six months!”
I laugh as she lifts her hands up in the air, “I know, but I thought that you were coming to the opening too?”
“Yes, but I was just thinking of seeing if Roger was still in the office too?”
It seems like someone has a major crush, it’s amazing that both our secretaries seem to be hitting it off. I’m not sure if Roger’s keen, but by the way, Katie’s wearing a hot sleeveless black dress with her boobs on display. I think that she;s more than keen.
“Is Michelle coming too?”
I ask because I don’t remember if she was on the invitation list.
“Yep, I sent her an invite too and your parents. Don’t worry just get home and get ready. Okay?”
My mind is already moving ahead to getting home, and I’m excited. In the time since we signed the contracts, my relationship with Marvin has grown and in many ways matured. We aren’t running around like kids anymore. Even though I know that he’ll love if it we were sexual again. I want to take things slow. One step at a time, because I think part of the reason that I was so upset is that I rushed things. I thought that everything was perfect between us and it made sense to just spend all my time with him.