Modern Use Chapter Twenty-Four
Disclaimer: This story is totally fiction! So don't get your panties in a wad.
Warning: May contain mature content.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It’s only an infatuation, I kept telling myself when I realized the only thing I could think about was Ville. He has moved on and so did I. At least I thought I had.
It was early morning and to fill my third day in New York, I had set a meeting with my publicist to discuss my book. I stood before the mirror in my undergarments blow-drying my hair. I tried to imagine what it would be like to see Ville’s face again. I couldn’t help but think he would turn me away, considering the way I left.
The second I turned the blow dryer off, I heard a nock at my door. I wrapped a white robe around myself and pulled the door open to see Saxon standing there with a dozen red roses in his hands.
My mouth dropped. I honestly don’t know if I was happy or disappointed to see him. His sly smile vanished when he noticed I hadn’t said anything yet.
“Well, aren’t you gonna let me in, babe?” He asked before gently pushing the door open, letting himself in. He kissed my forehead, hand the roses to me and sat on the couch along the wall.
My eyes studied the flowers for a moment before I looked him as he got comfortable and kicked his shoes off. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a conference in Orlando” I asked.
“I got out of it.” He responded.
I shook my head. I couldn’t understand why having him here with me was becoming such a bad thing. “But I thought it was crucial that you go?”
He smiled. “Sweetie, don’t worry about it. I got out of it.” He looked me up and down before adding, “You look delicious. Where are you off to?”
My eyes quickly shifted to the digital clock on the nightstand. “Oh, shit!” I yelped before spinning to return to the bathroom to finish with my face.
Saxon followed, leaning his arm on the wall as he watched me apply mascara. “Why the rush?” He asked, quietly.
“I have a meeting in less than twenty minutes.” I replied, speeding out of the bathroom and began putting my outfit together; slipping into a tight plum skirt and matching blazer that went over a champagne colored camisole.
As I gathered my purse Saxon sat on the edge of the bed. “When will you be back?” He asked.
I pretended not to hear him as I looked about the room looking for my manuscript.
He studied me for a second before asking again, “When will you be back? …Sweetie?”
I turned to him when I finally found the mock-up of my book. “Huh?” I asked, acting as if I were to be too busy to pay him any attention. “I don’t know. Later.” I replied. When I finally had everything in my arms I made for the door.
When Kimmi finally opened her door, with little Alicia on her hip, I felt a smile grow on my face. I waved at the little one, almost forgetting why I even came by.
“Well, don’t you look nice? Where’ve you been?” She asked, inviting me in.
“Where’s Jeremy?” I asked, completely ignoring her questions.
She looked to the mid-afternoon sun shining through the blinds then back to me. “He’s at work. Where have you been?”
I laughed, nervously. “Yeah, I was just there, actually. I don’t know why I even asked.”
She followed me with a concerned look, as I sat at her kitchen table and put my face in my hands. “Are you okay, Faye? What’s going on?”
I looked up at her, trying to stay calm. “Saxan’s here. He came to town this morning.”
Her face lit up. “Well, that’s great. Now I can meet him.” She replied as she sat across from me, cradling Alicia in her arms.
“No. No, not great. Not great at all.” I mumbled.
“Why not? Faye, What’s the matter?” She asked.
I sighed before asking, “Do you think it would be totally crazy if I went to see him on Friday?”
“See who?” She asked before her smiled disappeared when she realized whom I was talking about. She stood slowly, took Alicia to her swinging chair across the living room and returned to sit across from me. Her arms rested on the table as she replied, “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
I looked away, obviously dissatisfied by her answer.
“You’ve got a life now. You worked really hard to get it back. Do you really want to go back to that?”
“What do you mean?” I asked softly.
“What I mean is that life he leads is no good for you.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes on anything but her. “You’re right. I know.” I said quietly.
“And besides, you’ve got a charming guy waiting for you right now. Why would you want to give that up?”
I couldn’t argue with her points. They were all true. But I couldn’t understand why I still longed to see Ville’s face again.
During my cab ride back to my hotel, I tried to make myself see it the way Kimmi did. I am grateful for the life I have now. And, really, why would I ruin it all over again.
When I walked in to my room, Saxon was ready to go out. His midnight blue suit fit him well and he even had his hair down, as he knew I loved it when he did. He only told me to dress in my finest and we’d be on our way. I emerged from the bathroom wearing a white satin cocktail dress with a studded waist.
This was the part of our relationship I liked; the elegance that Saxon said I deserved. With my arm linked with his, we walked through the hotel lobby as if we were royalty. And again I asked myself, why would I give this up?
We arrived at Lattana Ristorante in a luxurious limousine, yes a limo. He obviously had something up his sleeve. The effort he was going through to make me feel valuable was overwhelming.
The Italian restaurant was a cashmere delight. The bar with endless rows of fine wines was the first thing I saw when we entered. We were showed to our seats on the second floor before our waiter showed up with an expensive bottle of wine in his hands.
Saxon let me ramble about my book and Kimmi and anything that came to mind to keep me from getting too excited. This lavish evening was surely too much to keep up with.
I ordered the Carpaccio Di Salmone, which was thin fresh salmon with steamed vegetables. Saxon wanted the Vitello Ai Funghi, also known as veal chop with mushrooms. He had no problem pronouncing the items on the menu, and he laughed with me when I made an attempt. He said he thought it was adorable, but I thought otherwise.
All through dinner, Saxon seemed a little distracted. He didn’t say much. His responses were kept short and he kept looking around the restaurant, as if he was scared someone or something would ruin our evening.
Eventually, everything started to make sense when he suddenly became serious and began speaking about our relationship and where it was going. I felt myself stiffen, as if my heart was hardening. He was breaking up with me. I knew because of his behavior this evening. What a dick, I thought. The fact that he would go through all of this trouble to end things in a way that would make him look swell was sickening. I almost wanted to get up and leave right in the middle of his speech.
But then, he stood and moved around the square table to me. My jaw dropped when he knelt down before me, taking my hand in his. I’m such an idiot, I thought. I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face as he pulled a tiny red-velvet box from his pocket and opened it before me. When he asked me those words; the words that ever woman dreams to hear, I couldn’t get my eyes off of that platinum, three-stone, princess cut diamond ring. This life he offered was inviting of course. It was hard to say no to.
Saxon’s eyes began to tear when I nodded in acceptance, standing to kiss him. This is it, I thought. This is where I should be, I kept telling myself.
I had the most intense sex ever with Saxon that night. He was a gentle lover, most concerned with my satisfaction than his own. He was everything a girl could ask for; just perfect.
But as I lay, resting my head on his chest hearing him breathe as he slept, I couldn’t stop picturing my perfect life with him; the picture-perfect Sunday mornings and watching him mow the front lawn. The only problem with that vision was the guy whose face I woke up to every morning was not Saxon.