Round N Around We Go (Has Cupid Gone Mad?)

by Belinda Elkaim

  Gracefully she stretches and turns halfway. Peeping through sleepy eyes, she puts her hand on his and smiles. “What time is it?” She murmurs.

  “It’s about seven thirty in the evening.” He answers charmingly, still admiring the woman whom he worships.

  Taylor sits up and leans over to kiss him. “I was unpacking all day, took a shower and was going to lie down for a minute but I guess I fell asleep.” She climbs into his arms and embraces him.

  Cradling the contours of his stunning woman, he asks while stroking her hair. “Are you hungry? Maybe we can order dinner and I can help you unpack?”

  She leans back and looks into his eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay up all night until every box is unpacked and tucked away.”

  Misconceiving her sincerity as sarcasm, he wonders if she is regretting the decision of moving in together. After all, it has been over a month since she has moved in, if she really wants to fully unpack and settle in, it could have been done weeks ago.

  Ivan assumes that her procrastination is a sign of regret and begins to second guess their relationship.

  He is willing to surrender his space and privacy to allow their relationship a chance to grow into an unyielding commitment. But yet, he is neither seeing nor feeling her enthusiasm.

  Her procrastination is beginning to create doubts in his mind.

  “Taylor,” he gazes into her eyes and solemnly asks for her honesty. “Do you really want to move in together or are you just stringing along because I asked?”

  Caught off guard and a little surprised by his question, she pauses for a second and quickly covers up her uncertainty. “Of course I want to move in otherwise I wouldn’t have broken my lease.” She smiles and kisses him again in reassurance.

  She begins to make up all sorts of excuses and blames it on the lack of time and that she is being distracted by different new projects at work and ideas on a new book.

  He studies her facial expressions and body language while she babbles on to justify the lack of motivation.

  He smiles and nods to pretend that he understands but deep inside, he does not believe a word that she is saying.

  Her hesitation is contagiously spreading and playing tricks on his mind. Cold feet are not only hers as his are beginning to freeze.

  He watches her climb off the bed, step into a tank dress and begins to walk out of the bedroom. She stops by the door and turns around to ask him what he would like for dinner.

  “You.” Unhesitatingly he seeks her warmth.

  He loves her and craves for her affection. Even if they might not be ready to take their relationship to the next level of commitment, his love and desire for her are undoubtedly clear.

  She flaunts a flirtatious smile and moves towards him. “What about the boxes?” She climbs on top of him and pushes him onto the bed. “Shouldn’t I be unpacking?” She asks innocently.

  Swiftly, he slips over and pushes her onto the bed. Lying on top of her, he looks deeply into her eyes and kisses her passionately. “You’ve waited for over month already so you can wait another hour.” He takes control of the delectable moment and touches her in ways that make her quiver. Silenced by his kisses, she is unable to object or dispute. Helplessly she surrenders to his touch and anticipates him impatiently.

  She loves him but isn’t sure about many things. Perhaps she is scared of the move. She has never lived with anyone before and simply does not know how. Afraid to speak her mind and to convey the truth, she refuses to admit her own contradictions and is trying her impossible to avoid disappointing him.

  She is trying her best but at times, she feels that her best is hardly good enough for him.

  Chapter Three

  “Karina!” she hears Alex’s voice calling out for her. Paddling in the midst of the deep blue sea, she looks around and sees nothingness. “Karina!” She hears his voice again and sees an image of her deceased boyfriend, deteriorated and lying coldly in his bed, the same image as she last saw him at his brother’s home.

  “Where are you?” she hears herself calling back for him. “Alex I don’t see you anywhere. Where are you?” She starts swimming ahead and finds herself at the river bank where she set sailed his ashes into the ocean. She sees the small wooden boat sailing upstream towards her and his urn glistens under the scorching rays of the sun. She chokes in tears and no matter how hard she tries to speak out, she is unable to utter another word. She shivers as the little wooden boat approaches near and screams, “Alex I am here! Over here!” she cries and awakes abruptly to the loud buzzer of the intercom. Waking up from the nightmare screaming, she sits up and leans forward, hides her face between her bended knees and gasps for breath.

  The intercom continues to buzz annoyingly as she breathes deeply to calm. She sits up, wipes away the cold sweat and the tears from her face and looks at her alarm clock.

  Four thirty a.m. She orients herself and is glad to awake from yet another nightmare. She misses Alex immensely and is battling against the reality of his lost fight against leukemia.

  She answers the intercom, “Who is it?” and expects it to be a prank.

  “Karina, this is Theodore. Hurry up and open up.

  Surprised that her art mentor is at her door in the depth of the night, she buzzes him in and quickly drapes a robe around herself. Within minutes, she hears Theodore knocking and greets him at the door.

  She opens the door and finds a distraught expression on his face. “Is everything alright?” she asks attentively. Bewildered and concerned, she tightens her robe and invites him in. “Can’t it wait until the morning?”

  With a large roll of blank canvas tugged under his arm and holding a manila envelop in his hand, he walks towards the center of her art loft and watches her close the door.

  “Karina.” He forces a smile, “I am sorry to wake you in the middle of the night like this, but I need to take care of an urgent situation in Italy. My plane leaves in a few hours and I want to give these to you before I leave.”

  Karina walks towards him and holds his hand. “What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you like this, what’s the urgent situation?” Theodore expresses his wishes and tries to manage the stress that is about to explode from within. “There isn’t enough time for me to explain, but if you trust me like I trust you, then this is what I need you to do.” He hands the roll of blank canvas to her. “This canvas has a very important history, it is special. I need you to unleash your very best and paint on it with all your love. Pour your soul into it, it deserves your touch. By the time I return from Italy, I want to hang this painting in my gallery and show it off to the world.” He continues hastily. “And this envelop,” he pauses briefly to catch his breath, “I need you to safeguard it. Just keep it with you and if in case something is to happen, you’ll know when to open it.”

  She holds the envelope in her hand and stares at it. “Slow down, ‘just in case something is to happen’, what might happen? Theo you are frightening me.” She stares into his worried eyes and demands answers. “I’m not feeling comfortable with all this. Plus, you can’t leave in the middle of the night like this! I’m picking up the proposal from New York in the morning and you need to be there!” She objects.

  “Karina. You are in charge of the Gallery now. Run it as if it were your own.” He hands her the roll of canvas and begins towards the door.

  Karina turns around and follows him. “Theo I can’t do it all!” She objects.

  Theodore turns around, faces her and speaks solemnly. “Yes you can. Karina I trust you. I know you can. If you need help then hire an assistant. You have access to all the company bank accounts. I passed by the bank this afternoon and changed it to only ‘one signature required.’ My legacy is in your hands now and I need you to take over.” He opens the door and turns around to embrace her. He gives her the warmest hug, kisses her on both cheeks and smiles reassuringly, “It’s alright Karina, I trust you. Now is the time to reciprocate. I need your help with this.”

  Theodore
leaves her no chance for objection and before Karina can utter another word, he is already heading down the stairs. Feeling nervous, she bites her lower lip and closes the door.

  Carefully she puts the roll of blank canvas and envelope on the coffee table, heads over to the kitchen and pours a glass of milk. Staring at the items that he has left behind, she cannot begin to imagine what urgency it must be for Theodore to leave in such a hasty manner.

  “Now what?” She mumbles.

  Feeling uncomfortable with the situation, she is about to call Theodore’s son Anthony to demand for an explanation, but thoughtfully decides to call in the morning after breakfast with Renzo the art collector.

  “Oh my God.” She freezes and thinks of the unimaginable. She has no other option but to do as she has been obliged.

  Theodore saved her from the darkest moments of her life and now is the time for her to reciprocate. She will not fail him and will make him proud.

  Twisting and turning sleeplessly in bed, Karina watches the warm rays of sunlight creeping into her room. She stares blankly at the ceiling above her bed, twirls a lock of hair around her finger and begins to worry about Theodore. She looks at the other side of the bed and wishes that Alex is by her side to share her thoughts.

  She sighs out loud, crawls out of bed and welcomes in a new day alone in this world without him. Forever holding him dearly in her heart, she thought she has found peace over his death but apparently, she hasn’t gotten over it yet.

  Sprays of cold water from the shower stings her skin and awakens her to a new challenge. Just as she has wished for, this task at hand might help her realize that she is capable of achieving greatness on her own.

  Carefully selecting a moderately conservative yet revealing knee length sheath dress in magenta, she steps into a pair of platform heels and is ready to meet with Renzo for the offer. Not knowing what to expect but in order to protect Theodore’s interest, she will not be under minded by the intimidating aficionado.

  Being new in the art world, she does not know much about anything but will have no choice but to pretend that she knows it all.

  Over casual conversation at breakfast, Renzo slides a card towards her. Elegantly, she picks up the card and reads the seven digit number silently in her mind. “What’s this?” she raises an eyebrow and asks ambiguously.

  “It’s my offer.” His smile is intimidating and obviously, he is over estimating her experience.

  Karina thinks the seven digit numbers are his phone number but cleverly and swiftly disguises her inexperience. “I know.” She adds promptly and pretends to be slightly insulted. “But is it for all the pieces including mine?”

  “It’s for the six master pieces that you showed me. Unfortunately I cannot include yours.” He explains slowly and watches a disappointed expression grow on her face. “But,” he adds, “I am prepared to make you a separate offer.”

  Slowly he reaches into the side pocket of his tailored jacket and brings out his personal check book. He scribbles an amount on the check and hands it to her. “This is for your piece. I’d like purchase it personally for my penthouse in Manhattan, but you will have to personally hang it with me.”

  Concealing the excitement that is rambling within her, she looks at his wedding ring, carefully digests his personal offer and pushes the check back towards him. Avoiding jeopardy, she politely declines his personal offer and smiles charmingly, “I can’t hang my painting with you but since Theodore is not here personally to refuse the offer of the master pieces, I’ll accept it on his behalf and take the blame.”

  It isn’t easy to refuse a low five digit offer for her art but his insinuation is clearly noted and is absolutely unacceptable.

  Simply content to close the sale for Theodore, she is not concerned about the sale of her own art. As they bid farewell by the valet, he mentions that his offer still stands and if she is to change her mind, all it takes will be one phone call and he will send his private jet to pick her up.

  Climbing into her Audi, she speeds away as quickly as possible and lets out a sigh of relieve. After the fact, nervousness catches on and she feels herself slightly trembling.

  She dislikes him and is glad that the burdensome mission is accomplished. Theodore would be proud of her. She reaches into her Prada bag and brings out her phone to call Anthony, Theodore’s son.

  “Anthony, this is Karina. Why did your father leave in such a hurry? He said that there is an urgent situation in Italy that he needs to take care of. Is everything alright?” she asks genuinely while maneuvering her way through morning traffic on Collins in South Beach.

  “Oh I don’t know.” Anthony seems bewildered. “I haven’t spoken with my father for months!”

  ************

  Taylor tucks away the last unfolded box and organizes every detail immaculately. Two hours before the dinner party she is finally settled in and is ready to receive their twelve good friends in celebration of their milestone.

  The best silverware is perfectly polished; the china and crystal glasses are set perfectly on the extended dinning table, which stands stylishly and beautifully dressed with the most artistic orchid center piece. Pleased with the arrangement, she adds a final touch with the napkin rings and heads towards the shower to get ready. She walks past Ivan, who has been watching and admiring her working around the dining room setting up the table for the past thirty minutes. Frankly he is impressed and everything is beyond his expectations.

  “All set.” She bats her eyes with a victorious smile and flaunts her hair. “That’s okay; you don’t have to say anything. It will be a great evening, just as you want it.” She disappears into the bathroom and adds in a sing song tone, “I love you!”

  Secretly, Ivan feels a little guilty for the pressure that he has been giving her but is ecstatic that his condo is once again immaculate. He is not obsessive with tidiness but just eager for her to settle in. Finally it feels like home.

  Anticipating their guests to arrive shortly, he places the assortment of sushi on large platters and set them on the buffet table. Cautiously, he divides the cold soba salad into small square bowls and sets them neatly on each place setting. Sparing no details, he places the pre-ordered carved ginger flowers on top of each salad to complete the presentation and stands back to admire the table setting.

  Taylor emerges fully dressed in a sexy and elegant bare back crimson colored mini dress that she has bought specially for the occasion. With hair half swept up and half loosely draping her bare shoulders, she shows off the new Tiffany earrings that he has bought her as a gift.

  His heart misses a few beats as he watches her approach near. Speechlessly he takes in her beauty and secretly wonders how she would look in a white wedding dress.

  His imagination is abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door. Amber and Karina are the first to arrive and Ivan greets them warmly at the door. The three best friends catch up with each other as other guests begin to arrive shortly after.

  Ivan and most of his pals are gathered around the bar in the living room while most of the women are either sipping champagne on the balcony while enjoying the mesmerizing views of Miami’s skyline, or are in the kitchen helping Taylor with the final touches of the dessert platters while gossiping about everything unimportant.

  Amber expresses her frustration on how Neyo seems to have vanished since he walked out of the photo shoot a week ago. She cares about him as a friend and as her cast but is not worried about him at all.

  Eagerly, Karina follows with the news that she is now in charge of running Theodore’s art gallery and elaborates on how she successfully closed her first deal with one of the most affluent collectors in New York.

  Unexpectedly, Taylor seems unchallenged and has absolutely nothing new and exciting to share. Her book is still in final editing phase and is not ready to be published, work at Ivan’s office is stable and routinely with nothing to brag about. She has neither closed any art deals nor has her photo been blown up across the billboard
s on highway I95.

  Lightheartedly and humbly, she humors everyone and stirs up laughter. “I unpacked twenty boxes in one day! You can’t possibly top that!” Not jealous or envious by nature, she is simply delighted to hear of her best friends’ success.

  Amber touches Taylor’s arm and looks at her intently while whispering, “Now that you have found love, be careful, just be careful and don’t forget about yourself Taylor. I’ve been there and I know how easy it is to forget. Don’t become someone else’s shadow and just remember who you really are.” She whispers with the kindest and most genuine smile. “You are Taylor Gibbons, a witty, independent, beautiful, stubborn and talented writer with an abundance of ambition. Don’t ever forget that and you know I love you too.”

  Taylor embraces Amber with the warmest hug, raises her flute of champagne and proposes a toast, “To love and ambition.” She devours the Brut Cordonnegro in her flute, facing Amber she whispers in return, “Thank you Amber, I know and I love you too.”

  The sweetness of the moment quickly dissipates as Samantha Ruben enters the kitchen. Taylor is well aware that Samantha, the intern turned full time new age writer for their magazine, has went out with Ivan a few times before their relationship turned serious. Ivan insists that nothing has ever happened between them and they only went out casually as editor and intern, and would be impolite to exclude her from the invitation list. Samantha has always appeared sweet and friendly but there is just something about her that Taylor simply dislikes.

  Politely, Taylor greets and offers her a glass of champagne. She feels a certain tension in the air but cannot explain why.

  “Sorry I am late Taylor.” Samantha apologizes for her tardiness. “I took the liberty of touring your home as I made my way in here. Beautiful home, congratulations.”

  Taylor thanks her politely and tries to remember if she closed her bedroom door. The privacy of their bedroom is certainly not something that she’d like to show off. Her thoughts are interrupted as Samantha continues, “I have to admit that I am surprised though. Moving in with someone is not something I’d expect from you.”