Chapter 13 Chapter 12:
Arya:
“Leave him.” Alisha says, dropping a wad of cash on my mahogany desk, she had just barged in; wearing a designer Gucci dress over chunky boots, her hair is tied into a long ponytail. Thankfully, Wanda and Axel aren’t here, it’s lunch break so they are probably snickering together while having lunch downtown.
Now, I have to deal with Alisha alone.
I stare at the huge wad of dollar notes on the table, and pretend not to be interested. “My love for Devon is more than money.” I say, the lie rolling easily out of my mouth, I don’t even love Devon, but I guess that will have to do. At least, that's what they say in movies.
Everyone loves Alisha Young, she has appeared in more TV series than I can even probably count, not to mention her husband, Jasper Young’s family owns one of the largest entertainment industries in Hollywood, she and her husband always appear for awards shows and have walked on the red carpet so many times.
I was shocked that Devon had them as his friends, but then again he is Devon Brookes. Wendy is obsessed with Alisha, says her movies are the best; it will be shocking to hear that everyone’s heartthrob is in my office, bribing me with cash to leave Devon.
“Don’t be a stubborn ass, Arya. We both know you need this money, you are poor.” Alisha snickers.
I glance up at her from my computer, being described as poor can be really heart-breaking, but I pretend as though I don’t hear her and concentrate back on my computer.
The slamming of my cubicle table alerts me, as I almost jump to meet the blazing eyes of Alisha, my heart pounds as I widen my eyes at her. Through the glass walls, I see Clara peering openly through me from her office, her eyes a shade of worry, as if to ask if I am okay.
It’s not every day you see a celebrity yelling at you.
I can still hear the pounding of my own heart, “please leave my office, Alisha. I do not wish to talk to you right now, my lunch break is almost over and I must get back to work.”
“You have such a terrible mouth.” She leans in, her perfume wafts through my nostrils, suffocating me. “Do you think you are the first one? Dozens of women have tried to get to Devon, and do you know what I do to them?” A beat of silence before she says, “I get rid of them.”
My heart stills at her word, dread rushing up to my gut. I look up to her, seeing her smirk, she thinks she has managed to intimidate me and make me scared, too bad she did.
“Alisha Young.” We hear a voice from behind and we both snap our head to stare at Nicole standing comfortably against the door, wearing a Tom Ford jumpsuit and holding a nylon bag in both hands.
Alisha straightens, grabbing her purse. “Nicole Hart.” It is a custom to know everyone by their first and last names, considering Nicole’s family net worth; they will have possibly met countless times.
“I am here to see my friend, Arya. She hates it when people disturb her during her lunch break.” Nicole keeps her signature straight face, the type she wears when she wants to be scary in court.
“I know.” Alisha levels her with a frown. “I was just leaving.”
“Good, well goodbye now.” Nicole says.
We watch as Alisha looks at me, stuffing her wad of cash inside her purse before leaving, her boots clinking against the marble floor angrily.
I slump back to my chair, exhaling tiredly. “You didn’t have to chase her away, I could have done that.”
Nicole frowns, dropping the nylon bag on the table, she brings out two Tupperware of food and places it on the table. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t eat because you are busy with work, so I prepared food for you, Emily and Emma, I already dropped theirs off.” Nicole sits on Wendy’s chair.
“Thank you.” My heart squeezes, Nicole is a really amazing cook, there’s nothing she can’t do, I should hug her now but Nicole doesn’t do hugs.
“How are you holding up?” Nicole asks, staring around, she still doesn’t like the fact that I keep working here under Clara. She offered to give me the money to start my own brand but I don’t want my best-friend’s money.
I look up and see Clara still looking at us, though she pretends by looking at her computer.
“I am fine.”
“I mean with Devon and Vera. That shit that Alisha displayed, she’s going to be doing it more often, she’s married, but looks like she has an obsession with Devon. I know she will come back, just be ready for her.” Nicole tells me.
I bite my lips, while sighing.
“Emma just texted earlier,” Nicole continues still in her lawyer mode. People say she’s ruthless in court, I can almost imagine. “We are picking up her twin brother tomorrow and the high school reunion is happening the day after that.” I remind myself to ask Clara for a day off tomorrow.
I blink, I never liked high school reunions, it makes me defensive especially when I have to face Anna and Kevin, I breathe in. “Okay, sure,”
Nicole is already standing up. “No problem, I have to get back to the office, call me, okay? Or simply a text will be okay.” She smiles a little before leaving the office.
I sigh, staring at the Tupperware of food, the conversation I had with Alisha is still disturbing me, she did manage to intimidate me a little. How will she get rid of me? The way she had said it made me so scared, did she really get rid of other women who tried to chase Devon?
I decide to stuff it at the back of my mind, but why in the hell is it still pricking at me?
\--
I worked extra late today, only when it’s nine thirty did I log out of my computer and I go home, exhausted and fed up, holding a paper cup of steaming pumpkin spice latte, I enter the house only to smell roasted potatoes, the whole house smells delicious, I kick my shoes and arrange them on the shoe rack before walking to the dining room.
Devon is obsessed with the whole house being clean, everything is just so spotless, nothing is even out of place, it’s weird because he cleans the house himself.
A bowl of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and chicken lies on one side of the table, a bottle of merlot wine placed beside the bowl and there’s also buttered Irish soda bread.
What the hell?
Devon appears from the living room, wearing a casual white linen shirt over linen pants. “You are back from work.”
I gesture at the table while removing my coat. “Did you order dinner?”
“No.” He frowns, “I made it.”
I snap my eyes to him, Devon cooks? Like really, judging from every billionaire, they usually have their maid make their meal.
“I don’t like people making my food.” He says, as if to answer the question swirling in my mind.
“Sit down and eat.” He says, “don’t worry about Vera, she already had some mashed potatoes with mini meatballs, I already tucked her into bed.”
I am too tired to even argue, so I just sit down and grab the spoon, thinking that weeks ago, I would have come home tired, preparing dinner for both Vera and me, but today, I just came home to a table filled with food and my daughter tucked into bed.
I try not to stare at Devon; did he come home extra early just to be able to do all these? As I shove a mouthful of mashed potatoes into my mouth, the warm taste fills me, the creamy potatoes melt in my mouth, rich and buttery.
I take another spoonful, digging and digging through the food, I am almost done with the food when I look up and catch Devon looking at me intently, my face goes beat red. Did he just see me eating like a ravenous animal?
Hurriedly, I wipe the napkin across my lips. “I am just really hungry,” I don’t know why I am trying to explain, but I feel like I need to.
“I understand.” He says without blinking. “Do you want coffee?”
“Ah no, I only drink pumpkin spice, I get them every day from Mrs. Winter’s shop.” I say, focusing back on the food.
Now, it’s hard to eat with him looking at me so attentively, I pour myself a glass of wine, taking a full gulp, silence descends between us, none of us saying a word. Silence always makes me uncomfortable so I blurt out without even thinking.
“My friends and I are picking up Ethan Roberts from the airport tomorrow, do you want to come?” I ask, but the second the word leaves my mouth, I regret it, the stoic look on his face makes the knot in my stomach intensify further.
What have I been thinking? Inviting Devon to the airport? I didn’t even think about whether or not his schedule is packed.
“Forget I said that.” I smile, but the war going on in my stomach makes it seem all fake. “You know, I was just thinking since society is cruel, and since we are dating, they will most likely monitor our every move, if we go together, it will make it seem more real.” My cheeks are bleating red, I am blurting, I hate it whenever I am blurting, it’s mostly when I am nervous or I say something really stupid.
Despite my fast talking, there’s no indication of discomfort on Devon’s face. “I will meet you at the airport; just send me the time and the location. Arya.” The way he says my name is so warm and fresh that I feel my insides tingling, he stands up from the chair.
“You can finish the food, I am retiring to bed, Goodnight.” Devon says, walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
I gulp another glass of wine, calming my insides. Why in the hell do I feel so tingly and jittering in his presence? There’s something calm yet dangerous about his presence, he’s like someone you have known for years but still feel uncomfortable with, but still despite knowing him for years, he can destroy you in a minute, not even minding the years of friendship.
I shudder, I eat some more before packing the rest into a Tupperware and stuffing them in the fridge, I go to my daughter’s room, where I see her sleeping peacefully, brushing a strand of her dark hair. I kiss her forehead before putting off the lights.
My bedroom feels so cold when I step inside, everywhere feels so quiet and lonely that I am beginning to wonder if this is really the life I signed up for. I sit on the bed, contemplating my life choices.
How did I end up like this?