"Darn the luck! Maybe we can try for that next Sunday! We could order a pizza and watch TV, while I sit there and get cramps in my hand, haha."
"That actually sounds fun, believe it or not. Maybe I am coming out of my shell a little bit."
"I'm so glad, O! I'm going to keep chip chipping away at that shell of yours and we are going to have a blast doing it! In the meantime, go inside and take a nap. I'll wake you up with enough time for us to get ready." I looked up and realized we were home. Oh, my bed was calling me. Just the sight of the house has me wanting to crawl into bed and not come out, but I wasn't going to do that. I plan on giving Claudia what she wanted and enjoy the rest of the day and night with her. It has been a great day so far, other than the little speed bump at the salon, but she's leaving me alone about my hair. I doubt I'll ever be able to cut it, but after today who knows.
*****************
I woke up to my cell phone ringing and I looked at the caller ID and saw it was my dad. I hesitated to answer it, but I knew if I didn't then he would call Claudia.
"Hi Daddy!"
"Well hey sweetheart, did I wake you?" I've always loved the sound of my dad's sweet voice and now I feel bad about not wanting to answer the phone.
"Well, actually you did. I was taking a nap, but that's ok. I needed to get up. How are you and Mom doing?" I'm sure he knows I sleep too much and for the first time in a long time, I was actually telling the truth and was taking a nap.
"I love a nap every once in a while, but it sure would be nice to hear that you're going out on a Saturday night and doing something. Saturdays always remind me of getting to spend time with the kids, when you and Derek would go out for dinner." That brought tears to my eyes. He and Mom were the best grandparents that way. They enjoyed their Saturdays with the kids and the kids always looked forward to seeing their Gamma and Papa every weekend.
"This might make your day then, Dad. Claud got me out of the house today. We went and ate breakfast and did girl stuff. You know, manicures and pedicures and we actually went to a little boutique and bought some dresses." Hopefully that will keep him from worrying about me too much.
"Oh honey, that's great! I'm thrilled you got out of the house. Thank God for Claudia! I can't wait to tell your mother." I could tell that he was grinning over the phone. I guess I really did have everyone worried. It's the first time I've heard my dad sound so happy about anything in a long time.
"She had to pull my leg a little to get me to go, because I sure didn't want to. I have to admit I did have a lot of fun and it kept me from well, thinking too much. Ya know?"
“Yes honey, I do know and I also know that today would have been Derek's birthday and I've been worried about you all day and was wondering how you were dealing with it, and I meant to call you sooner, but it's been a busy day around here." He sounded tired through the phone.
"Are you and Mom ok? Are you both feeling alright?" Oh, I don't know what I would do if something happened to either one of them and I'm sure the added stress of worrying about me all of the time probably doesn't help matters.
"We are fine Sweetie, don't you worry. Your mom gave me a bunch of honey do's for the day. I swear she would make a great prison warden. Don't you dare tell her I said that either! I will deny it!" He chuckled, but I knew he didn't mean it. Dad was the biggest procrastinator I knew, so I'm sure there was a lot he had put off and Mom had probably just promised him his favorite dinner for payment, if he would get everything fixed that needed done.
"Oh Daddy, I won't say a word. Mum's the word! No pun intended, hehe."
"Haha. You're a funny girl. I love you and think about you every day and I'm really glad that you got out of the house today, honey. You sound better than you have in a very long time." Now that I think about it, I've laughed quite a bit today. I heard my dad clear his throat and he lowered his voice, which meant that what he was about to say was serious.
"Your Mother and I have been talking to Claudia a lot lately about how you've been doing and I don't know if Claud has told you or not, but we have been talking about an in treatment program for you." I had to admit that I kind of thought this has been discussed, as much as they have been talking the last few weeks. Every time I would walk into the living room and she was on the phone, she'd get real quiet and get off the phone and say it was work stuff. I knew they had been talking about me, because she would say my name before I would walk in, but I didn't want any confrontation, so I never called her out in her lie.
"We were just trying to figure out a way to help you deal with everything, because honey, it HAS been a year and a half and I know you don't want to, but you do need to, well, just DO something! Anything, besides what you have been doing. And don't get upset. It was out of love and worry for you that we discussed it anyway." I could hear the sincerity in his voice and he sounded like he was going to cry. The last thing I want to do is make my dad cry.
"Well, don't check into any white coats yet, Dad. I'm going to be ok. I realized today that how I'm dealing with this is affecting you all as well. As a matter of fact, I really need to get off of here and start getting ready, because my day isn't over yet. I'm going with Claud to a business meeting over drinks and then we are going to dinner." There. That should make him feel better.
"Oh, that is wonderful, sweetheart. You have made your old man happy! Go. Go get ready. I need to go tell your mom what a great day you've had. Have fun tonight, sweetheart! I'm sure your mom will be calling you tomorrow to see how your night went." I could tell that he was very happy and excited for me.
"I sure will, Daddy. I love you and give Mom a hug and a kiss from me. Bye, Dad."
"Bye, sweetheart. And I sure will. A big kiss right on the lips! Haha."
"Haha. Ok.. You're such a mess. Goodbye." And then I hung up the phone. I leave my bedroom and go into the living room to see if Claudia is ready to start on my hair, and she has our dresses out along with our shoes and some jewelry she bought.
"Oh, you're awake! Awesome! Are you ready to get this party started? Yay! I'm so excited! Follow me to my salon! I have some great ideas for your hair! Bahahahaha."
Oh no. Her evil laugh. Now I'm scared, but I am excited to go out, which is a good thing, because it’s been a very long time since I've been excited about anything.
CHAPTER THREE
I hate to admit it, but Claudia did a fantastic job on my hair. She curled every bit of my hair into long bouncy curls and pulled my sides up and held them together with a sterling silver clip. After having everything on, including a necklace she let me borrow, I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe that it was me staring back. I've never considered myself beautiful, but looking into the mirror at myself with my hair done and a little bit of makeup on, I certainly felt it.
We walk into the bar at the Plaza and I look around, and it doesn't look like a bar at all. It looks like an old library, mixed in with a saloon with big mahogany wood round tables and wooden chairs that match. There is an almost antique feel about the whole place.
"Oh I see him. He's over in the little corner over there." She pointed to the corner to the far right and honestly, he didn't look like a P.O.S. from where I was standing. I followed her to the table, when she waved and took off towards it.
"I feel like a lucky man tonight! Not only do I get to look at one beautiful woman, but two!" He stands up and extends his hand out to me and I shake it.
"It’s very nice to meet you. My name is Paul Scott. And you are?" He put his other hand on top of my hand and started rubbing my hand, and looking at me from the bottom of my feet all the way up to my face and then lowered his eyes to my cleavage. He realized I noticed what he was doing and smiled at me. What a jerk!
"Olivia Porter, it’s very nice to meet you as well." I had to tug at my hand to pry it out of his hands.
"Are you any relation to Claudia?" I know he was looking between us to see if there was any resemblance.
"Mr. Scott, it doesn't matter if we are related or
not. I didn't bring her with me for you to inquisition, or ogle her. You said you needed to talk to me about the case, so let’s talk about the case." Saved by the bell. Or shall I say Claudia. I ducked my head and smiled inwardly.
"I apologize, Claudia. You are right, but I'm not blind and Olivia is very beautiful, I must say. Would you ladies like something to drink?" He sat down after we were seated and waved the waitress over.
"We will both take a Cosmo." Claudia didn't even think to ask what I wanted. I've never had a Cosmo. I rarely drink, but when Derek and I would go to dinner, I would usually have a glass or two of white wine. I guess Claudia noticed me shuffling my feet, because she reached over and patted my hand and gave me a reassuring smile.
"Ok Paul, let’s hear it. Why are you upset this week?" I could tell by Claudia's tone that she really didn't want to meet with him this evening.
"Claudia? What has you all up in a tizzy? I'm just asking you to do your job. I got a call from Denise's attorney this afternoon, still asking for half of my assets and she wants at least 100 million, before she will settle. I'm a little upset about it." He looked like he was about to cry right there in
front of us. I felt sorry for him, until I heard what he said next.
"Marissa and I just want this over, so we can get on with our lives. I wasted twenty years with that woman and gave her four kids that she has turned against me and I just want to be done! I want to keep my chateau in Tuscany. Marissa really loves that place and I want to keep the house in Malibu, the penthouse in Miami, and my penthouse here. I'll give her the lake house in Tahoe, the house she's living in now, and $500,000 a month for child support and alimony, but that's it! Nothing more than that!"
He actually looked Claudia in the eye after saying that load of crap. How many homes does he own? I assume Marissa is his girlfriend and was probably his mistress. No wonder Claud calls him a Piece of Shit!
"Paul, to be fair, there's not a judge in the whole United States that is going to go along with your request. You refused to have her sign a prenup and she has witnesses to that. How about we try to come up with some numbers here? Will it really hurt you to just give her $100 million? That's like a drop in the bucket for you!" I can tell that she really can't stand this man and I can't imagine anyone wanting to be anywhere around him. He looks to be in his late forties, rather handsome, but that's about as far as it goes. UGLY on the inside! I wonder how old Marissa is. That made me smile. She's probably barely twenty-one and has him at her beck and call.
"Claudia! That is not acceptable. They don't call me Paul Orville Scott for nothing!" I was taking a drink of my cosmo when I heard his full name and spit it out. He really is a P.O.S.
Even his initials say he is. He frowned at me and continued on his rant to Claudia. “I always get what I want! So you need to get with her lawyer and offer him this deal and let me know what he says." I looked at Claudia and she had her fake smile on, but she looked like she was about to hit someone.
"Ok Paul. I will call him first thing Monday morning and make the offer. If that's what you want me to do, then I'll do it." And that was the look of Claudia swallowing crow that was looking at me. Me personally? I would have told him to kiss it where the sun doesn’t shine and maybe thrown a drink in his face. I feel so sorry for his future ex-wife, Denise. I don't know if I would want to take him to the cleaners or take whatever he offered and never speak to him again.
"Now, that's my girl. I knew you would get this done!" He winked at Claudia and then he looked up towards the doorway and waved at someone and then waved them over. Oh surely we aren't getting another drink. I could tell that she is ready to go, because she looks rather miffed and apologetic to me. Claudia raises her head up to see who the POS is looking at and she gets a huge smile on her face, and jumps up out of her seat and starts running across the bar yelling, "Cash! Omg Cash!" She jumps into the arms of a rather tall dark headed man, who had to lean over to pick her up.
"Claudia! I haven't seen you since we graduated from O State. How have you been?" He is twirling her around and then I look at him, I mean really LOOK at him, and I have never seen bluer eyes in my life. They were the color of sapphires, they were so blue, and his smile with the dimples on each side of his cheek spread all the way up his high cheekbones to his eyes. Was this an old lover of Claudia's? She sure never mentioned a gorgeous ex named Cash from college and we tell each other everything.
"Cash, how have you been? I think of you quite often. Did you get my card and flowers when Vanessa, well, passed away? How are the kids? How old are they now?" I wonder who Vanessa is, because he got a really sad look on his face.
"Whoa there. One thing at a time." He put Claudia down softly, like she weighed as little as a feather and was smiling, but this time it was a really sad smile.
Mr. POS clasped Cash on the shoulder and then shook his hand. "Cash, long time no see my man. I see you know my lawyer. Too bad she's not into guys, huh? What a shame for such a beautiful girl. It's a waste, if you ask me." POS shakes his head and has a chagrined look on his face. I look at Cash and he has a confused look on his face and was silently asking Claudia what was going on.
"Cash and I go all the way back to college, Paul. He knows everything about me, no need to get all dramatic. How do you two know each other?” She was looking between the both of them, trying to figure out what exactly they have in common.
"Paul and I tend to do business together occasionally." Cash kept looking behind Claudia at me and it was starting to make me nervous, the way he was staring. His eyes! I just can't get over how beautiful they are.
"Speaking of business, are you ready for dinner? Ladies, you ought to join us for dinner. It would give me something pretty to look at, instead of this ugly mug." He started chuckling and I was inwardly thinking that there's nothing ugly about Mr. Cash. Paul's cell phone started ringing and he looked at the caller ID. "Excuse me, this is Marissa, I better take this." He walked off, so he could have some privacy.
"I guess I should introduce you to my sister-in-law, Cash. This is Olivia Porter. Olivia, Cash Kingston." Cash looked at me and smiled and extended his hand out and introduced himself. I shook his hand and certainly didn't feel the same sickness in my belly I felt when I shook POS's hand. He had a firm handshake and his eyes never left mine and I felt a magnetic pull in that one handshake. Oh my goodness. The thoughts that were going through my mind had me wishing that I could stare at him forever. I should be ashamed of myself. What would Derek think about the way I'm looking at him? I instantly look down in shame. I felt like I have done something wrong and all I did was shake his hand and look into his, his absolutely gorgeous eyes.
"It’s very nice to meet you, Olivia. So, you're Claud's sister-in-law? So that would mean that you're..." He immediately looked at my left hand and I know he noticed my wedding ring that I still wear and will never take off.
"Cash, she was married to my brother. He died a year and a half ago and she moved out here to live with me." Thanks Claudia. Way to make me feel even more uncomfortable. This had me looking down at my feet. The last thing I wanted was him looking at me in a sympathetic way, like he knows how I feel.
"Very nice to meet you and I'm sorry for your loss, you too Claudia. If I had known, I would have sent my respects." He looks at Claudia and then back to me. I see in his eyes that he is genuine with his words. "I lost my wife 5 years ago and there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss her very much." So that's where the sad look came from, when Claudia mentioned Vanessa. Vanessa must have been his wife. Uh oh, Paul is, I mean POS is back!!
"Cash, it looks like we are going to have to take a rain check on that meeting and dinner. Marissa just called and her Maltese has gotten out of the yard and disappeared and she needs me to go home and look for it. Honestly, I hope I can't find it. I think she loves that dog more than she loves me." Thank God! I sure didn't want to have dinner with him. My hope is to NEVER have to see him again. Claudia doesn't have that luxury.
&nb
sp; "That is quite alright. I think I might take advantage of inviting these two exquisite ladies to dinner. Ladies, what do you think?"
What do we think? Oh, this sounds like a bad idea. I don't know that I would be able to have one decent thought, if I have to sit across the table from him. His eyes! What is going on with me? I've never had a reaction like this to anyone. Oh God! Can he tell that I keep staring at him? I still haven't said one word to him.
"Oh, of course Cash! That's a great idea. We need to catch up for sure. Do you mind if we stay here in the bar? Something quieter sounds good to me, instead of going out to the main dining area. Does that sound alright to you, Olivia?" I just nod, because she's right. I would rather stay in here where the lighting is dimmer.
"Ok, we are going to run to the ladies room, so we will be right back." She winked at him and grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom.
*****************
"So, what'd you think about Cash?" I take it we didn't come in here to use the bathroom, but to talk.
"Well, he's cute." I wasn't about to say that I thought he looked like he just walked out of a movie screen.
"Cute? Cute? Are you kidding me? Babies are cute. Puppies are cute. Penguins are cute, but Cash is not cute! He's more like Greek God, totally HOT! And don't think for a minute I didn't see how you were looking at him either, Miss Speechless!" I know she is probably mad. Derek was her brother and I know it's too soon for me to even glance at another man. She was smiling at me, so maybe she wasn't mad at me.
"Look, Claud. Ok. He's, well, he's hot, but how come you've never mentioned him to me before? It sounds like you guys hung out in school. I don't ever remember you calling and telling me about a Mr. Greek God, Cash! I would have remembered it. Did you two date? Because you sure never told me about him, if you did." Why it mattered to me, I don't know. Did I just refer to him as a Greek God too? Oh my lord! I've never referred to any man in that way. She must be rubbing off on me.
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