by BWWM Club
“It better,” she muttered under her breath before she leaned back against the couch. Olivia smiled and took the glass from her. “I’m not done yet,” Angelina whined.
“Well, you need to pace yourself,” Olivia said as she placed the glass on the table. “Can I get you something to eat or something?”
“I had half a pizza at around five. I’m still kind of full,” she said as Olivia put her legs on her thighs. She began to gently massage her feet making her groan softly. “That feels heavenly,” Angelina murmured.
“You need to relax…that’s all,” Olivia said as she rubbed Angelina’s feet, alternating so that each foot got an ample massage session. “I have to admit, I have never seen you this jealous. I am kind of enjoying being on this other side of the screen.”
“What side?” she asked.
“This one. Where I am the one sitting back watching my friend fall in love and deny that she is,” Olivia said. “I have to admit it is kind of refreshing.”
Angelina shrugged and closed her eyes again before she leaned back.
“To be honest I had forgotten just how much it sucks,” she said.
“You cannot be serious. There is no way you can say that being in love sucks,” Olivia said.
“Yes, it does, especially when you feel like you are doing everything wrong,” Angelina said.
“What do you mean? What do you think you are doing wrong?” Olivia asked making Angelina open her eyes. She was staring at the ceiling.
“He told me he loved me and I didn’t say it back,” she said exhausted.
Olivia’s eyes grew wide.
“What? When?”
“Some days ago…it was sometime last week,” Angelina answered.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Olivia said excitedly.
“I didn’t want to say anything before I actually had something worthwhile then,” Angelina said.
“Listen,” Olivia started. “You know the best love stories are not forced. I know you feel it. You just need to say it at your own time. When you are ready.”
Angelina rubbed her temple and sighed. She knew Olivia was right. She did have very strong feelings for Adrian. Heck, she loved him. But as far as telling him went, she would tell him on her own time.
*****
It was not until the following morning that Angelina and Olivia realized they had actually gone through two bottles of Pinot, which explained why they woke up past midday. After taking an aspirin and two bottles of water, Angelina took a long shower and then changed into a pair of Olivia’s sweat pants and a t-shirt before she drove to her apartment building.
She had just walked into her apartment when she heard her phone ringing loudly. She pulled it out of her bag and looked at it.
“Damn it,” she thought when she saw Adrian’s name on her screen. Given how much she had to drink the previous evening, she was not sure if any calls had come through. And even if they had, she had not heard anything. She sighed as she answered it.
“Hello,” she said in a tired voice.
“Angie? Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Angelina was now walking towards her bedroom.
“Because I tried calling you last night after you told Jolene where I was.”
”So she did come over after all?” She was now climbing on to the bed. “So how was dinner?”
“What dinner?” Adrian asked.
“She told me that she wanted to take an old friend for dinner,” Angelina said.
“She did come to the office but I was too busy,” he said. “And even if I wasn’t, I would have much rather spent the evening with you. Jolene and I never have any kind of intelligent conversation. She is good for one thing and one thing only – parties.” Angelina smiled as she laid back on the bed. “Plus we never really had any kind of relationship apart from the physical one.”
“Please, don’t remind me,” Angelina said as she rubbed her temple.
“So, what happened last night?”
“Two bottles of Pinot happened. And honestly I still want to sleep off the effects.”
“Fine. I just wanted to know what time I should come over to pick you up tonight.”
“I don’t know…maybe five thirty?”
“Isn’t that a little too early?”
Angelina pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it.
“I don’t think so. Shouldn’t we be there early just in case there is something to be done?”
“That is why Jolene is there. Let her earn her keep. You sleep and I will pick you up at quarter to seven,” he said.
To Angelina, the news couldn’t have possibly been better.
“Okay. I’ll see you then,” she said. “Wait a minute, Olivia is coming too. Do you mind getting her too?”
“I’ll send a car for her too.”
“Thanks. I’ll tell her.”
“Hey baby, plenty of fluids and make sure you eat too, alright? You need to keep your strength up.”
“Yes dad.” She was surprised she was actually able to make light of the situation.
“I’m serious. Make sure you eat something and have plenty of fluids. You need to get your electrolyte level up. Have a banana and then later you can chew on a celery stick and maybe have a tomato.” He sounded like a doctor or something.
“You realize you sound like a crazy doctor right now, right?”
“I care.”
“I will…don’t worry. I will be okay for the gala,” she said. She really wanted him to hang up so she could go back to sleep.
“Alright baby,” he said. “I love you, Angelina Carter,” he added before he hung up.
Angelina smiled as she looked at the phone. She sent a text to Olivia telling her Adrian would be sending a car for her later before she placed the phone next to her and closed her eyes.
*****
When Adrian came to get her that evening, he was taken back at how beautiful she looked. She was in a strapless cream colored peplum dress and a pair of strappy green platform shoes. Her hair was falling on her shoulders fully wavy. She looked perfect. And he was in a black slim suit, a gray shirt and a maroon tie. They didn’t realize they were both thinking the same thing at that moment. She looked at him and thought of how much she wanted to strip him right there and then and he wanted to push her dress up and just have his way with her.
“Hey,” he said in a soft voice. “You look so…you look so damn sexy.”
‘I was just thinking the same thing about you right now,” she said with a smile. He smiled. “Olivia?”
“A car is picking her up right now as we speak,” he said with a smile.
“Thank.” She could feel herself blushing as he looked at her.
“Shall we?” he asked.
She nodded and took a shawl. He helped her drape it on her shoulders before they both walked to the car. When she saw the car, Angelina gasped. She had expected to see the town car he usually used but he had brought a limo.
“Are you serious?” she asked as she looked at the limo.
“Yes, I am serious. Very serious,” he said as the driver opened the door for them. “Only the best for the woman I love,” Adrian said as they climbed in. She looked at him as she slipped a small hand in his.
*****
Angelina could hardly believe her eyes when she got to The Parisian. It was not the gallery she was used to. There was a valet service, a red carpet…the works. She looked around surprised at what she was looking at. It was like looking at a whole new place.
“Adrian,” she said in a whisper. She looked around at the dozen photographers taking pictures of the guests on the red carpet. If she didn’t know any better, she could have sworn she was at some award ceremony. Everything had been perfectly executed. “This is…perfect,” she said as she looked around.
“I told you it would work,” he said as she looked around.
“I am so sorry I ever doubted you,” she said in a soft voice.
“Come on,” he smiled as he slipped an arm around her waist and began walking her into the gallery.
“Mr. Corday…Mr. Corday over here!” some photographers were calling out.
The two posed for photos all the while Adrian had a possessive arm around her waist. The two had just walked in when Jolene came walking towards them. She was wearing a red dress with nude colored lace on the sides that showed off a little of her side boobs.
“Guys…you are finally here, thank God. Adrian I need to talk to you about the antique auction if you don’t mind,” Jolene said with a smile.
“I just acquired it, Jolene. All matters about the gallery are usually handled by Angie,” Adrian said.
Jolene looked at Angelina and then back to Adrian.
“Like you said, you acquired it. This is an acquisition matter I have to discuss,” she said.
Angelina was trying as much as she could not to roll her eyes.
“It’s okay. I’ll find Olivia,” she said before she walked away a little angry. She couldn’t tell but Adrian watched her until she disappeared into the crowd.
Chapter 7
Olivia took a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and took a sip as Angelina walked towards her.
“Hey, you…whoa,” Olivia started when she saw her best friend. “You look…beautiful.”
Angelina smiled and took her own glass of champagne.
“You look pretty damn good as well,” she said as she looked at her best friend’s blue floor length lace dress.
“Where is the boyfriend?” she asked as Angelina took a long sip of her champagne.
“Bitch with the long legs swept him away,” Angelina said.
“Whoa, sweetie. We are not even mincing our words, are we?”
“Well. I kind of find it hard to be polite since she is still all over him like white on rice.” Angelina said as the two of them began walking towards a table at the far end of the gallery. “I think I should just stay away as he handles her.”
Olivia looked at her as she put some chicken nuggets and sauce on her small side plate.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” she asked and Angelina shrugged.
“Honestly, I would rather not be around Jolene Parker because she kind of brings out my inner Joe Carroll,” Angelina said.
“Did you just compare knowing her to a murderous psycho who got people to kill for him?” Olivia asked.
“I did because that is exactly what she does to me.” Angelina took a bite of her hot wing. “Oh holy…where is this from? This is great!” she said before she bit into another hot wing.
“I know, right? How did the woman manage to get buffalo wings way out here?”
“Well, apparently she is a miracle working bitch,” Angelina said as she bit into another piece of chicken.
“Okay, you need to get away from here and go get your man before you use every vulgar word in the book,” Olivia said pulling the hot wing Angelina was about to eat.
“Are you trying to get rid of me Liv?” she asked with a smile.
”Kind of. Alex is coming and I love you but I cannot listen to you whine for the second night in a row,” Olivia teased. “And I have to say, that I really do love you.”
“Wait, Alex…I thought he was coming back next week,” Angelina said as she took a sip of her champagne.
“Well, things worked out faster than we expected and the woman at the store said that the elastic on this dress is perfect.” She took another bite of her chicken. “I am kind of looking forward to proving her right.”
“Olivia,” Angelina said as she looked around wondering if anyone had heard her.
“Go on…Alex just sent me a text. Pull your man away from the clutches of that long legged she devil.”
“Say hi to him,” Angelina said before she walked away.
She made her way to the main area of the gallery and looked around but she did not see any sign of Adrian.
“Maybe in my office,” she thought as she walked to her office. That was where she would have gone if she needed to talk to someone in a crowded area. But when she got to the door, she was surprised to find that it was locked. “Why the hell would it be locked?” she thought as she looked at her door handle. She tried the door a few times before she finally knocked. It took a few minutes before Adrian finally opened the door.
“Angie hi…I will be right there,” he said.
“What’s going on? Why is the door locked?” she asked as she tried sneaking a peek into the office.
“I just need to…” Adrian started saying before Angelina pushed the door open. She looked at Jolene who was seated on her desk. Her dress was uncomfortably high and she couldn’t help but wonder whether it was naturally like that or if she had pulled the dress up on purpose.
“What is going on here? Why are you on my desk?” Angelina asked.
“I was just talking to Adrian here. That’s all,” Jolene said in a sultry voice.
“There are chairs…and a couch by the window,” Angelina said. She could feel her cheeks getting hot and her hands shaking.
“Angie…” Adrian started before Angelina turned around and walked away.
She didn’t know what he wanted to say and to be quite honest, she didn’t care what he had to say. She handed her glass to one of the waiters and quickly made her way to the bathroom. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and she was quite sure she was going to cry. The least she could do was make sure she was away from the public eye.
When she walked into the bathroom, she shut the door and rushed to the sinks. She turned on the taps and leaned over as she felt the tears begin to flow. She didn’t know why she was letting Jolene get to her but it was quite obvious she was the kind of person who always went for what she wanted regardless of who or what was in her way. For God’s sake, she did know Adrian was in a relationship with her. She had seen it a number of times but she was still throwing herself at Adrian.
“You are better than this, Angie,” she thought as she took a tissue and folded it in two before she wet it. She then held the cold tissue on her eye for a few minutes hoping that it would be enough to reduce the swelling. She pulled the tissue from her eyes and then wet another one before she held it against her other eye. Just then she heard the bathroom door open and close. She would have turned to look at whoever had walked in but she didn’t want to strike up a conversation with anyone at that point. So, she never turned to look in the door’s direction.
She was about to wet another tissue when she realized something. Whoever had walked in was still at the door. She hadn’t heard any footsteps or any doors closing. She pulled the tissue from her eye and turned to look at the door.
“No,” she thought when she saw Carlton Romaine standing there.
“What…what are you doing here?” she managed to say, her voice shaking as he looked at her.
“I heard The Parisian was holding a gala and I thought, why not show up and see what the competition is up to?” Carlton said, locking the door. Angelina began to slowly back away as Carlton looked at her. There was something about the way he was looking at her that made her feel awkward, unsafe even.
“Stay away from me, Carlton,” she said and he laughed.
“You have become quite the fire sputter, haven’t you?” he asked. “I mean, no more Mr. Romaine?”
“You are not my boss anymore.” She was still taking steps back, moving closer and closer to the wall.
“Of course I am not,” he said.
“Stay away from me!” She was now shouting. “Help me!” she called out at the top of her lungs.
“Loud music, two hundred and something people talking…do you think anyone can hear you right now?” he asked. There was a tone in his voice that spoke volumes. There was something about him, the way he was moving, the way he was looking at her…the way he had so much confidence being there.
“This is the ladies’ washroom,” Angelina stated the obvious.
“I kno
w and it is the only place I could get you alone since your boyfriend and his new squeeze had already occupied the office,” he said.
“Why…why do you want to speak to me alone?” her voice was now shaking.
“You filed a law suit against me.”
“But I pulled it….I pulled it.” Her voice had now been reduced to a whisper. “It was not even my own doing…someone else did it and…” she felt a tear rolling down her cheek. “I pulled it,” she said again.
“Well, before you did, things got a little weird,” he said. He was now standing right in front of her. “Two of my highest earners pulled out of my gallery for fear of assault.”
“But you did come after me….you pinned me to the wall…” she never finished her sentence. He suddenly punched the wall next to her face putting a hole in the wall. She closed her eyes and gasped.
“You asked for it…you left Romaine’s and then opened a gallery of your own just down the road from mine…”
“Our galleries are almost four blocks apart,” she said in a whisper.
“I don’t like a smart ass.” He was now breathing hard. She closed her eyes and took a long deep breath to calm herself down.
“What do you want, Carlton?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“You are going to be have to reimburse me for all the money that I have lost.”
“Reimburse you…you just signed the Dutch Americans. They must be raking in thousands a month in profits for you.” Angelina was still scared but she was trying to sound as composed as she possibly could. She looked at him and he shook his head.
“I need you to hand over a piece of business, Angie…I am barely keeping my head above water because of the kind of shit storm you raised with that law suit and restraining order.”
“The restraining order…you are not supposed to be here,” she said. Her voice was still shaking. She could feel her eyes welling up again.
“Baby…” Carlton started before Angelina pushed him off.
“Do. Not. Call. Me. That.” She was breathing hard. She suddenly ran to the door hoping to unlock it and hopefully walk to her freedom but she didn’t make it. Carlton was faster than she was.
“Where do you think you are going, huh?” he asked as he held her tightly. Angelina screamed in despair. This was her worst nightmare. Him, in her gallery and her, totally helpless. She felt a tear rolling down her cheek.