Lacey swung the door open with a loud bang and Mark winced at the sound it made. He hoped that the door didn't fall off its hinges and as usual he'd be blamed for her obvious mistake. It was as though she was looking for a way to blame him for every one of her errors and he didn't really mind as long as it wasn't too great of an accusation.
He was going to make sure that there was a difference in the way they are related now but he hoped that she was ready to also agree to change with him.
" I'm very sure that you told that woman to suggest that to me." Lacey accused him and he didn't even bother to deny it. It was very true.
" It's just staying in the same room, there's no reason for you to be this worked up." He said softly watching in pleasure as her eyes lightened up in anger.
" You don't think that's enough reason?... I..." Lacey threw her hands in the air as she marched into his sanctuary, he was trying to play it cool but she was not going to take it from him, " I won't be surprised if this is all your suggestion. Don't lie, you suggested this right?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Mark replied and stopped talking when he saw Amelia walking up to him. " Let's not make this issue publick."
" Oh, yeah? So that your girlfriend doesn't see you for who you truly are." She asked.
Amelia ignored the crazy lady as she stared at Mark with a smile. " Sorry to interrupt your discussion but I will soon be leaving. Two men came here earlier" she began.
Mark was elated, thinking that he was going to receive another thousand dollars but to his surprise, she brought out a box from her bag and presented it to him.
" They asked that I give you this. They didn't drop their names, they said you'll know them the moment you see it."
Mark was a bit confused at what was happening because he wasn't expecting a gift from anybody. " They didn't state their names." He repeated and she nodded sharply.
" Wow," he said as he opened the box and saw a pendant.
Lacey pretended to be interested in their conversation. She believed that it was her Amelia that bought it for him and was pretending not to be the one.
"I will be on my way." She said and sashayed away.
" Hey, wait up!" He called as he ran after her, she had almost crossed the sidewalk. He didn't know that she had such quick reflexes.
Amelia stared at him, " Hey, I didn't know you were behind me."
"Yeah." He replied, " I think I didn't thank you very well for what you helped me do today." He said and she didn't say anything.
"I don't think I will be coming tomorrow."
Mark was truly devastated, "Oh, really?" Why? Do you have somewhere to be?" He asked and she stared at him.
It was either he was truly oblivious or he was pretending not to see the signs. " See, I don't think your wife wants me here. There is little insult I can take." She told him.
"She won't be coming in tomorrow. I assure you she won't be a problem."
"But she indirectly called me a concubine and what not. I don't think it would be wise for me to keep coming here, don't you think?" She crossed her arms.
Mark knew that she was telling the truth but this was going to be the end of him trying to get sales. The things he did for love. Keeping her by his side would truly cause a problem.
" Okay, I think this is the end of you working here." He said, " But that doesn't mean that you can't pop in here. I hope you'll still come by to see the painting. I'm always done." He gave her a smile and she shot him a smile in return.
She highly doubted that but she hugged him before leaving.
Lacey watched them from the window and quickly hid when she saw him walking back to the store. He was sad about something and that meant that he liked that he liked her more than he cared to admit.
" So, you go about hugging every woman who you say you are not affiliated with." She couldn't resist saying and he stared at her before walking in.
Sometimes he wanted her to show that she was jealous but not at his detriment.
" I don't know what you want. A marriage is not a prison. Aren't I allowed to have friends?" He asked her. This was she trying to sink her hooks into him and restrict his air flow but he wasn't going to stand for that because he knew that he was better than that.
"Yet you miraculously show up at every event that Alistair is and try to cause trouble, almost costing me my job, isn't that right?"
" You can't be serious right now!" He exclaimed and clenched his fists by his side. She was ready to squeeze the last drop of blood out of him.
Mark smiled at him, "You know what? I think I should let you be if you want to act this way." He said, and she stared at him.
" Because of that thing?" She said.
" No, she's a person that has decided to help out around here without charging me. She's trying to help me sell my paintings off. That's something that you'd never do even if a gun was pointed to your head." He snapped.
Lacey grew annoyed at the comparison,
"I know that right? If it was profitable why haven't people rushed to buy it? That's right, it's what you think it is. Useless." She spat.
Mark had never been so ready to be violent with anyone but maybe he had never been pushed. " Get out before I do what will make you actually hate me." He warned and she hurried off.