The next few days passed like a fleeting breath, Mark was more invested in making sure that his goals were being achieved. Amelia later changed her mind and decided to pop in everyday afternoon.
As they were clearing out the shelf a few minutes ago, she saw the pair of cufflinks in the box where she had left it.
"Aren't you interested in using these?" She asked him.
Mark turned from what he was cleaning and stared at the object in her hands,
"Oh, I don't want them. I guess I'll just take them to the pawn shop. What can I say?"
"This is very expensive. Why don't you keep it with you? I think it's real gold, what do you think?" She suggested as she removed the towel.
Mark shrugged yet again, " It's good I guess, but I don't want it. I don't wear things like this. It doesn't speak well wearing expensive things without having the finances to back it up. I have always thought that people who did this were just either being stupid or plainly ignorant."
Her brows twitched as she stared at the man before her. " I agree, but sometimes you need to look really good. It's good business, they say." She said and he nodded.
" Well not in this case. I'd rather have money and be minimalist than be broke and flaunt what I don't have." He said.
" Hmm, okay so what do you think about having another one in your collection? I want you to look fine whenever you go out." She blurted and he stared at her in surprise.
She grinned to lighten the intensity of her words, " I'm just kidding dude, I hope you don't take me seriously. It's too much for anyone, I'd rather they don't."
"Mhmm? I think it's best that everyone leaves you alone then."
"Did those men return after that day?" She inquired after removing her gloves, sighing in relief at the freedom she felt.
"I'm done for the day." She announced as she flung them into the basket nearby.
" But you just got here." Mark trailed off, trying to figure out why she wanted to leave so soon. His eyes glanced at the wall clock and discovered that she still had a few hours to go.
"Yeah, I need to be somewhere else right now. I'll see you tomorrow, take care of yourself." She said and waved at him while he smiled at her.
He thought something was different about her but he couldn't figure it out, anyway he picked up the cleaning rag and proceeded to go wash it under the tap.
Going forward, he decided to arrange the offices back before a customer could walk in. He grabbed the cufflinks. These people were sending him gifts daily and he was trying to make them know that they were busy wasting their time.
The last message he received was to warn him that they were seeing his every move.
He had jumped up in fear when he heard it. But immediately he saw who it was from, he stopped panicking.
Then he realized that he had not called Lacey that day. So he picked up his phone and dialed her number hoping that she would pick up immediately.
As usual his call went straight to voicemail and he was a bit furious. He didn't want to conclude that she was purposely not picking up his calls. But if she did, he was going to speak to her about it.
*******
" Isn't that your husband calling?" Elsa inquired and Lacey shrugged nonchalantly as she sipped her glass of cocktail. She decided to take her girl out to lunch because she wanted to make sure that she was well rested before she walked into that godforsaken home.
" You're making my head spin."
" I just hope that it doesn't fall off." She replied nonchalantly and if Elsa's eyes could get any wider, it definitely would.
"What? I don't know what you want me to say. Do you propose that I lie so that you can stare at me like a good person? I'm a good woman irregardless of whatever anyone says." She said.
Elsa took a good look at her friend whose mouth was drawn in a thin line and her cheeks robust from sucking a lollipop, a weird combination if you asked her.
" So, what now? I thought you promised to be serious about this whole issue, what happened now?" She asked Lacey in surprise.
" I never bargained to be troubled in any way. But it's all good but if that's what they want, I'll attend the sessions. I know that we are not getting back together as long as I live." She grinned as she stuck a slice of pineapple into her mouth.
Elsa looked like she could puke when she saw the weird combinations that her friend was doing. "This is odd."
Lacey pushed the bowl of pineapple towards Elsa, "Here, try it first. See, I'm here trying to live and let loose. Everyone will be fine at the end," Lacey told her friend who shuddered at the thought.
" Are you okay?" Elsa shot Lacey an astounded look before shaking her head as her eyes raked over her figure, "I mean what happened to you, why did you suddenly become this way?" She inquired, concern fluttered on her face.
Lacey groaned in frustration, " not you too questioning my choices. You are supposed to be my friend..." She dragged the last word. " My friend, so you have to be on my side. I don't get where all this support you're giving to him is coming from." She replied angrily.
" But..."
" Let me enjoy my day without having to hear about mark. Is that too much to ask for?" Lacey snapped as she shut her eyes.
" No, it isn't. I was thinking about something else. I just..."
"Shush, let me enjoy a day without the usual sermon. T for thanks." Lacey cut her short. She was a step from covering her ears.
'I know what to do.' Elsa thought and grinned as an idea dropped in her mind.