I�m not getting dressed up for this party. It�s a simple black cocktail dress and black stilettos. I don�t even want to go but if I don�t Steven will be irate, to say the least, and after he caught Nick in my place this morning the last thing I need is to give him more reason to be mad at me. I stepped out of the Town Car with Cory and we made our way through glass and gold doors of the hotel. Cory led me to the ballroom as if I couldn�t tell where to go with the blare of loud music, the trail of people and the flashes of photographer�s cameras. I stood at the top of the stairs and posed as my picture was taken to forever secure in history my entrance into the party. Grant, Steven�s friend, walked over to me and smiled as he pulled me into his arms,
�Brehan, you look wonderful. Steven couldn�t be here. He told me to send you his love.� I pulled and stared at him,
�What do you mean he couldn�t make it? Where is he?� After the attitude he gave me about making sure I was here even though I really didn�t want to come. After a party last night, the interview and photo shoot this afternoon, while I was high as a kite may I add I just wanted to crash at home. That wasn�t possible, in Steven�s eyes it wasn�t even an option it was mandatory that I be here. He shook his head,
�Last minute problem with a deal he�s working on, it doesn�t look good.� I don�t know if to believe him or not. He seemed sincere enough.
�What deal?� He smiled at someone as they walked by and greeted him then turned his attention back to me,
�The Reddick Agency.� He was quick enough with his answers. I knew the Reddick deal was very important to Steven. He was trying to secure another loan to buy them out. I nodded and rolled my eyes,
�Its always work.� I walked off trying to think more positively; at least it wasn�t another woman. Cory placed her hand on my shoulder,
�Would you like something to drink?� I nodded,
�Yeah, something strong.� I shook my head and walked off as I fought the urge to slap everyone who wanted to stop and chat with me instead of let me get away like I wanted. I stood before the double doors that led to the balcony and stared out at the dark sky. For some reason the more I stared out into the darkness the sadder I felt. It was how I felt about my relationship with Steven it was dark. I stepped outside and pulled my phone out to call Steven. Of course, his phone was off,
�Hi, Grant just told me you couldn�t make it because of something with the Reddick deal you�ve been working on. I hope everything is ok, talk to you soon. I love you.� I noticed that I had missed a couple of calls; one of which was from Nick. I decided to call him back,
�Hello?� I looked around for a chair but of course there wasn�t one; that would be too practical.
�Hey you. What�s up?� I could hear noise in the background,
�Hold on.� I leaned against the rail and Cory appeared next to me with a glass in her hand,
�Scotch.� I nodded and she disappeared as Nick gave me his attention,
�OK I�m back.� I noticed the background noise was gone now,
�What were you doing?�
�Watching a movie. I�m on the balcony now. What�s up with you? He didn�t give you a hard time did he?� So many questions; did he really expect me to remember and answer them all?
�No, he didn�t give me a hard time; everything is fine.� Why bother him with the boring details. Steven was just stressed and going through a lot of hard times with work. I could hear him grunt,
�I�m shocked.� He is never going to like Steven and he will always be a sore spot of conversation for Nick and I,
�How has your day been?�
�Can�t complain.� Can�t complain. I wish I had a day where I couldn�t complain. I just wanted a calm day,
�So tell me all about this day.� I slid down and sat on the concrete balcony and kicked off my shoes.
I arrived home with a slight buzz, the doorman opened the door and handed me a box,
�This package came for you Ms. Locke.� It took me a while to learn to decipher his thick New York accent. As if that wasn�t bad enough he had an even thicker Latin accent. Sometimes I felt the need to have a translator. I took the small package from his hand and stepped into the elevator, my shoes in the other hand. Once I was in my apartment I threw the shoes down and opened the card that was attached,
�I�m sorry I haven�t been around as much as I should. Just be patient, it will all be worth it. Love Steven.� I smiled as I sat on the couch and unwrapped the package to see a small Cartier box. When I opened it and saw the most beautiful platinum and diamond watch. I don�t wear a watch but it was stunning and I smiled as I turned it over and saw the inscription on the back,
�We are forever Isabella.� Isabella? Who is Isabella? This is like some bad dream something out of a movie. He sent me a gift that was meant for another woman. I threw the watch across the room, unsure of where it landed. I grabbed a bottle of vodka from the cabinet and starting drinking it right of the bottle and ran to my room. I pulled Steven�s clothes out of the closet and into a pile on the floor. I ran back into the kitchen and grabbed a pair of scissors then dashed back into my bedroom. I sat on the floor near the pile and alternated between drinking and cutting his clothes into shreds. This was it; it was so over. I never had proof before, just my intuition now I was certain I had the proof in my hands. Well, somewhere in this apartment. He�s probably cheated on me since the beginning and I have done everything to make him happy. Through all the stages he went through. Through the stage when I needed to give him space, I did. When he needed me to do whatever he wanted I did, hell I still do. When he needed to stay with his wife to make sure everything was perfect, I endured that. After they separated and he then went back to her for the sake of the kid I handled that like a champ when he asked me to. Even this latest phase of stress and nothing but work, with no time for pleasure. I�ve handled it as well as any girl could.
Half a bottle of vodka and five lines of cocaine later I�m feeling no pain and total pain all at the same time. I can always count on alcohol and drugs to make everything bearable. I can�t even imagine getting through life anymore without my pick me ups. They were good for the pain but now I needed someone to talk to someone to listen to the agonizing events of the night. It seems like everyone I called was either out of the city or not answering his or her phone. None of my friends wanted to hear about Steven and now that I think about it I�m not in the mood for a bunch of I told you so�s either. They didn�t want to deal with it anymore; some of them have been dealing with for two, some four years. If they are tired of hearing about it they should imagine how it feels to live it. I picked up my phone and called the only person who wouldn�t turn me away, the only person who wouldn�t judge me; at least not to my face anyway. More and more it�s as if I�m dependent on him by default. Nick just listens to me, lets me vent and get it all off my chest. Sure, he�s said a few things but I think that was because he was uncomfortable and felt I needed advice and he wasn�t sure what to say. I picked up the phone and dialed his number but there was no answer, it went to voice mail and I hung up only to try again. Repeatedly I dialed his number and I got no answer. I know I'm dialing this right, why isn't be answering me? Wait, why am I trying to dial his number? Isn't it saved? Don't I have it on speed dial? I looked down at the phone. Now all I have to do is figure out which number he's saved under. I pushed the first and Steven's voice mail rung in my ears. I hung up quickly, I had nothing to say to him. I pushed the second and Cory's voice mail came up. Hold on a minute, why the fuck wasn't she answering. She is supossed to be at my beck and fucking call. That's what a fucking assistant does. Everyone is desserting me.
Chapter 56
Stranger Than Fiction
Stories
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