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Okay, so it was more like remembering a conversation from the other evening. There had been lots for her to say that night. All of her mom-isms and advice dumped on me all at once. It was quite unpleasant at times. Especially when she decided to have the birds and the bees talk. I guess she thought I needed a refresher, a vivid one.
“He’s rich; he’ll expect more than you can give him.”
“Don’t let him take advantage of you.”
“Does he actually have feelings for you, or are you just another notch on his headboard?
“When a man and woman have feelings, things between them can go from normal to bed in the matter of minutes.”
I’d had to stop that “fun” talk because…
1) I was twenty-eight.
2) I’d been married; I knew all about how feelings and desires worked.
3) Just eww, I didn’t want to have this talk. It was weird.
I got her being worried, I was her baby girl after all, but I was my own person. I could make my own decisions and choices. I would be the one dealing with the consequences as well.
The meal had been just as I suspected—perfect. Five-star quality and service. I had a simple meal of steak, roasted potatoes with a creamy spinach sauce over them, and carrot cake for dessert.
The best part of the whole meal was watching Rudy.
The man was simply irresistible. In all ways.
“Ella, could you grab the files for my next meeting, please?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’d like you to sit in, so grab a notebook and pen as well.
“No worries. Conference room, yes?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll be right in with them.”
“Thank you, love.”
Ever since our dinner and night stroll in the park, things with Rudy had been…more. He’s such a gentleman at work. He’s kind yet demanding. We both managed to keep our budding relationship to an appropriate working one while on work time. After that though, I let my hair down, his tie came off, and then I got to see the real Rudy come out of his shell.
I wasn’t really used to a man who was kind in public and in private.
It was nice—refreshing. He’s slowly been maneuvering himself into a place in my heart. I wanted him to kiss me, hold me—show me off. As long as I was with him, nothing else really mattered.
I would just call myself Cinderella.
Grabbing the files, I hurried down the hall to the conference room. I had my mind racing in a hundred directions, so I wasn’t paying attention to the others in the room when I first entered. I handed the files over to Rudy and moved to sit on the side.
It wasn’t until I heard his voice that my insides froze up. My heart shriveled up, my bowels wanted to let loose, and my mind raced with the ways I could escape this room.
Byron Edwards, the worst human on the planet, was in the same room as me. I swore the day the judge declared us ‘divorced’ that I would never share space or air with him again. I’d never have to be looked at like I was dog crap on the bottom of his shoe. I wouldn’t allow myself to be belittled, talked down to, or beaten on. And yet, here I was.
Thanks, Karma, appreciate it, you sneaky stank turd! I could only be thankful that he didn’t seem to notice me. I looked a lot different than the last time he’d seen me.
I was a little—okay, a lot—heavier, my hair was much longer, I had contacts instead of nerd glasses, and I was dressed up. I blended into the surroundings. Praying—I was trying really hard to not panic right now. If I kept my head down and stayed quiet, maybe, just maybe I could get out of here without having a breakdown. Byron was the last person I ever thought I’d see—especially here.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” May’s soft voice in my ear had me turning toward her.
