Chapter 15: Fifteen

BETTY

I could write an entire novel about the first month Adam and I dated but it wouldn’t sell, there wasn’t enough drama between Adam and me, we were the definition of a Perfect couple, in my eyes he would never hurt a fly, let alone a human. With him, it was thirty days of pure fun, laughter, and hot romance, what more could I ask for from a man?

But then came one night, I can still remember vividly like it just happened yesterday, we were on a date; as usual but this one felt different; ethereal and magical.

No one needed to tell me I knew it was a special night for us.

Before we crossed paths, I had always considered myself undeserving of love and affection, I thought I was too stiff to be shown off but Adam proved me wrong, it was like he understood me, he validated my feelings all the time. He was like a walking green flag.

“Cheers!” He said, clinking our wine glasses, the chandelier light reflecting on our faces, he was dressed in a grey suit while I was dressed in the best dress in my closet, the one I wore on my last birthday. It was a red dress with a slit, one any man can slide his hand under.

We were at Auburn & Ash, the most fanciest restaurant in NYC, this was the kind of restaurant where wedding proposals happens or the type you take a girl to if you want to impress her, it was quiet today just filled with few people I could barely see due to the dark lightening, a perfect romantic set up, I’d stared so hard at the red trimmed menu and whispered in his ears. “Adam… these prices are outrageous, I think my bank account just wept from looking at them.”

We’d laughed in unison softly, and he squeezed my hands, his touch lingering on my skin. “ Don’t worry about the bill, B., I'll take care of it, you are with me now.”

Classic Adam, always taking charge of everything with confidence, he reminded me of those groom straight out of cosmopolitan magazine, he was too perfect that I sometimes forget he made mistakes, I was used to this peace that I refuse to read between the lines, I mistook gaslighting to the truth when it was right in my face but I refused to see. Maybe I was too in love to realize.

Finally, we were done with dessert and leaned forward, his lips turning up. “ Hey, B, can I ask you a question?”

I straighten in my seat, “ Yes please.”

“It’s a big question, are you sure you can handle it?”

“I can handle anything, Adam.”

He grinned, slipping a hand into his suit pocket pulling out a small red velvet box, then he he slid it across the table before opening it, inside it was a diamond ring that caught the light of the chandelier almost blinding me, I gasped, I hadn’t been expecting this, we have barely been together for two months, this was all too sudden for me, too much to take in.

“Would you marry me, Betty Graham?”

I clasped my chest, my heart was racing fast now like they had ran a thousand miles, for a moment my gaze darted between the ring and his face, my vision almost blurry, but he looks so sure, his eyes were filled with love, like these were the most perfect decision either of us could make and because of that confident he had I thought it was enough for the both of us. He was everything I’d wanted, it doesn’t matter how long we’d known each other at least that was what I told myself.

“No!” I blurted out!

“No?”

“No means yes!” I whispered my voice shaky with heartiness.

His face lit up with a smile and he stood moved to my side of the table and planted a kiss on my lips. They felt so warm and his dark cologne wafted into my nostrils, it was so hot and intoxicating. For a moment it felt like time had stopped and it was just me and him alone in our little world.

This magic lasted for exactly two minutes because the sound of people clapping made us break the kiss, he pulled back, patted my back softly, and excused himself to the restroom. I smiled as I watched him leave, his phone already in his hand.

Why won’t he just leave it behind?

Well I didn’t think much of it because he was gone for a few seconds, when he came back, he had a wide smile on his face, and pecked me softly on the cheek brushing off my, “Everything okay?” With a stiff and nonchalant, “Yup, it’s just work stuff.”

I just smiled and let it slide, I didn’t want to read much into things since he hadn’t given me a reason to doubt him for the past month, we ordered another round of champagne, toasted to forever, and pulled me by the waist and kissing me again like he couldn’t stand the idea of me being an inch away from him.

But he had to excuse himself again and by the time he returned my glass was already empty, the last bubbles fading away, I managed to keep up a stiff smile plastered on my face trying to stop myself from asking what the matter truly was. He took his third trip to the restroom

That’s when I noticed her, she was sitting alone at the corner table, her golden shirt blonde hair shimmering in the light, and her red lipstick highlighted her pale skin, her icy blue eyes were fixed on me like she could read through my discomfort, like she was watching everything go down. And then she winked sipping vodka.

I glanced behind my shoulder, certain she must be glaring at someone else, but there was no one behind me, it could only be me, and to prove my suspicion she slowly lifted her hands waving at me, her eyes still locked on mine.

Curiosity got the better of me, it made me wave back instinctively for some reason I thought she had an important reason for signaling me so I stood smoothing my dress and walked towards her table. An uncomfortable smile formed on my face.

“Hey, do I know you?”

Her smile widened, “ Maybe, you must be Betty Graham right? A new lecturer!”

I squinted my eyes in disbelief, “Yeah… how do you know my name?”

“We don’t have time but please sit, Adam will be back anytime from now,” she said softly, her tone soft and sweet, how did she know Adam’s name?

I shook my head, standing my ground, I wasn’t about to waste my time and night by sitting with a stranger.

“Okay, I understand, my name is Ankia by the way and I’m just here to tell you that Adam isn't who you think he is.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She glanced towards the restroom direction then back to my face, “ I’m just trying to warn you, be careful around men like Adam, damn they can be so sweet and convincing but deep down when you get to know them, you find out that they are monsters.”

“How could you say this about him? You don’t know him…”

“Dear darling, I do, better than you.” She cut me off her expression serious now.

“And why should I believe a word that comes out of your mouth? Do you have proof?”

A smirk played on her lips, “ I don’t have to bring proof, I’m his wife.”

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. “What?”

“I know it must be shocking, but it’s the truth,” she leaned close enough that I could smell her floral perfume which smelled so expensive, maybe two times my rent. “ I want to tell you everything but he will be back soon and I want you to see for yourself, here, call me.” She slipped a small blue card across the table.

I stared at it my hands trembling as I picked it up, it was a business card containing her name, Anika Lewandowski, she wasn’t lying.

“Have a nice engagement dinner darling.” She said as she exited the restaurant.

When I walked back to our table Adam was already returning too, he kissed me on the head and I forced a smile but my mind was a storm, hard to calm.

Could this be true?

~

I didn’t bother going home to change from my work clothes, as soon as I’d left Michael at the cafe I hopped into the back of a taxi and he drove straight to Rose's office, my therapist.

The ticking of the wall clock was so loud it could drive a sane person mad.

It’s been over a month since I last sat in this leather plush chair facing her neatly crossed legs with those oversized glasses resting on the bridge of her nose as she smiled at me warmly, she’s in her thirties but she was so professional and her voice could calm a storm, if you let it.

Rose looked up from her notepad. “So, why’d you return? You didn’t show up for two weeks and now you are back, registering again, how am I sure you won’t miss this one?”

I leaned my back against the chair, “Maybe because I’m done… I’m done running away from my fears.”

She lets out a sigh of interest, “Does this have anything to do with Adam?”

That name sends chills down me, I nod.

“Are you finally ready to talk about it?”

I nod again.

“It’s been a while, what made you remember him?” She asks.

I roll my eyes, “ I saw him today, I met up with him.”

“And how did seeing him make you feel?”

“Scared… overwhelmed, I don’t understand why he just keeps coming back into my life, I mean, it took me years to finally get my life together after he almost ruined it… Why does he pick this perfect time to show up?”

She clicks her pen, “Okay, but is there anything else stressing you that you want to talk about? Maybe at work…”

Michael comes to mind immediately.

“No, I have to go,” I said, staring at the clock.

She scans me for a moment like she knows I’m lying. “Alright. Let’s stop here for now.”

My phone rings, then chimes repeatedly.

I glance at the screen, and what I see makes my heart skip a beat!