Thirty-eight

Thirty-eight
Eve

It's been nearly a month now since Charles and I have been playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend.

I thought it was going to be hard.

But it isn't.

As funny as it might sound, I can say that I'm slowly getting used to Charles, his witty and cold and sometimes rude remarks.

And the more time we spend together, the more I get to know him… or at least, some of the bits he wants me to know.

I've stopped asking questions about why he's doing this, or why I get to cover up like a nun whenever we're going out together, or even why Lopez always drives like a crazy asshole when taking me home.

I just do what I'm told.

Hey, I can't complain. The pay is good, so you can practically call me a rich girl.

A month ago, if you had told me that I'd have over fifty thousand dollars in my bank account, I would have certainly laughed at you.

Steve's start-up is also doing pretty well.

Maybe Charles was right, he said that one day I'll look back and be grateful for that day I signed that contract.

So, yeah, I guess I am grateful.

Among everything else, the only problem I have is that the more time I spend with Charles, the more my crush grows.

At this point, I'm worried that it's gotten past the crush stage and has entered the love stage. I don't want to do this again.

I don't want to have to hide my feelings for someone I love I did with Cameron.

But Charles has never looked at me like that… but even once, even when I wear slightly revealing clothes, which makes me wonder if he's gay or if I'm just not that attractive enough for him.

Truthfully, I don't know how to feel anymore.

Falling in love isn't in the contract, yet here I am… of course, it's not developed into love… yet… it's just a crush… but of all the guys in the whole wide world, why did it have to be that conniving, manipulative, rude, cold basta…

“Earth to Eve!” A cold hand shook me, and I jumped out of my skin, letting out a little scream.

“What?”

Katy blinked in confusion, staring at me like I was some mental nutcase.

“Nothing.” She replied, “I've been talking to you and you weren't listening. Is something wrong? Are you perhaphs having problems with Prince Charming coming over for dinner?”

“What? No, no.” I chuckled nervously. “That's not it.”

As crazy as it sounds, the story Charles told me to tell Katy about how we got to love each other totally worked!

Which makes me wonder if that guy is a psychological genius! He knew exactly which questions Katy would throw at me and prepared them just in case!

More the reason why I shouldn't have a crush on him! Nothing gets past that guy.

“Mhm hmm.” Katy nodded sarcastically, licking her ice cream, “Mhm hmm. Yeah, I believe you.”

Even though Katy believed the story, she still doesn't like him and has been pestering me to break up with him.

She thinks he's not truthful and thinks me a fool for always believing every word he says.

How much I want to tell her everything, the contract we signed, the money he's paying me and my growing feeling for him!

I always tell her everything. Or at least, I used to.

“You know I still don't get it.” Katy said, dropping her empty plate of ice cream on the table.

“What don't you get?” I enquired.

“You guys have been dating for only one month. I said one month!” She showed her second finger to my face, making me back away, “And he already wants to meet your parents? Isn't that… don't you think you guys are moving too fast? I mean… who does that?”

“Like I told you, Katy, he just wants to establish a relationship with my family, just any normal boyfriend, so my family can get…”

“Yeah, right, after dating you for one month!” She rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest, glaring at me. “Can't he like, wait a little longer or something?”

“He said he can't.” I gave her a nervous smile.

The truth was, Charles was the one who told me to tell my parents about him and set up a dinner meeting. An informal one, of course, so he could meet my parents.

I didn't ask questions. I just did as I was told.

He also told me I will be meeting his parents in a few days, too.

Katy sighed, “All I'm saying is, as sweet as your relationship sounds, it's too soon for him to meet your parents. I'm not saying it will, but things might possibly go wrong… you know, the way things went wrong with Cameron. And knowing your mom, she'll be all over your head, like with Cameron. Look at Dexter, we dated for three years, only for me to find out that he had an ulterior motive for dating me. Just give it a little more time, that's all I'm saying.”

I understand that Katy has my best interest in mind, like the best friend she is, and if she were in the same situation, I would be the one saying the thing she's telling me now.

But this situation is different, and I have no say in it… as long as I get paid handsomely.

The money has also been useful at my parents' shop, and has been used in paying off some debts and all sorts.

“I’m sorry, Katy,” I said with a tight smile, fidgeting. “But Charles really wants to meet my family and I can't say no.”

“Ugh!” She rolled her eyes in annoyance, reclining on her seat, “You know, I'm really worried about you. You do everything that jerk says. It's even as though you have no say in this so-called relationship you both have.”

She's right.

I have no say.

“But that's your problem, just remember that when it blows up in your face, I'll be here…”

“Thanks, Kat…”

“To tell you ‘I told you so.’.” She cut me off, rolling her eyes again, grabbing her drink and taking a sip, “Because I did.”

I chuckled, “Of course you did. And I'm grateful for that.”

She dropped the drink, “Anyways, before you got lost in your trance, I was telling you something.”

“What?” I grabbed my drink and took a sip.

“Your boyfriend's brother texted me.” She dropped the bomb, and I choked on my drink and began to cough, “Katy, are you okay?”

I had absolutely no idea why I reacted like that.

“Of course. Of course. I'm okay.” I managed to let out a response as I coughed. “What did you say just now?”

“Um… that your boyfriend's brother texted a few days ago and wants to talk to me.”

I gulped, “About what?”

“He says it's about the blind date I had with his brother… your boyfriend…”

“Don’t go!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, earning weird glances from the cafe.

“Um… and why is that?”

Because Charles clearly warned me to steer clear of his brother! And as if the universe hadn't punished me enough, his brother turned out to be the same jerk I threw my shoes at during the blind date!

I did my searching when I was curious about his family.

“Nothing!” I replied, “Just promise me you will never ever meet up with him! Ever! Please?”

Katy gave no response as she stared at me, and I knew exactly what that look meant!

“You already told him that you would meet up!”

“Um… yeah.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “I had no reason to. And he seemed kinda hot.”

I facepalmed.

Oh, God!