Envious Desire
46



Chloe

The Mafia Kingpin summoned for my company tonight. What a joke! He could have made a magnanimous amount of funds if he just accepted my payment in cash. What type of businessman is he, denying money? My head sways back and forth at the ridiculousness of his actions.

Thankfully, I do not have to meet him until later, which gives Shelly and me time to discuss what she has been avoiding since we discovered her mother’s intentions.

The lawyer phoned earlier this week, stating our return was essential to finalize the paperwork of her mother’s affairs. My eyes have welled up from the endless forsaken events that have transpired. Nevertheless, for some reason, my physique is hesitant to release the insurmountable anguish that resides within it. The loss of my baby, the loss of Axle, and now the loss of my second mother, to observing my sister deconstruct before my eyes.

I was unable to grieve my mother correctly when she had passed. My teenage rebellion led me astray, unwilling to confront my demons. I will not allow Shell to repeat my horrendous practices, leading her down the rabbit hole of isolation and depression.

It’s unimaginable how difficult this must be for Shelly to experience. She had years beyond my mother and me; their bond was impregnable. All these needless steps to have a proper burial and now to settle her mother’s affairs in terms of property. My heart aches for her.

It leads me to ponder what actions were taken when my mother passed. Did Cassie handle all of this on her own? A stabbing pain explodes in my chest like a grenade. The audacity of fleeing left her with the burden of organizing her best friend’s funeral. I’m ashamed of who I was back then: self-centered– thoughtless– just an all-around asshole.

Shelly passes by me in the kitchen, halting my self-deprecating thoughts.

“Shell, we need to talk.”

“Chlo, I– I just can’t right now.”

“Let’s try, Shell, and see how you feel.” I attempt to convince her.

Nodding her head, she pads her way to the living room, plopping on the sofa in the most careless manner. I deliver refreshments and snacks to the coffee table to tide us over for this challenging conversation.

“Mr. Walters reached out, requesting our presence at his office to finalize the–” Tears welled up in her emerald eyes, threatening to spill over, constricting the beat of my heart, evoking me, to sum up our conversation at the speed of light. “Transaction.”

Shelly’s disheveled hair moved up and down in acknowledgment.

“Shell.” I felt a stabbing pain below my ribcage before completing my utterance. “Regarding your mom leaving the house to the both of us. I don’t want it. You can have it all to yourself.”

Shaking her head back and forth. “No, Chloe! She gave US the house, not just me. She saw you as her other daughter. She loved you just as much as if she birthed you herself.” Her tears were unable to contain themselves, flowing down her reddened cheeks.

Perceptive to her acknowledgment as family, my heart lurched in my chest, triggering my body to lunge forward, arms snaking around her fragile physique, evoking more rivulets to sprout from her eyes, soaking my shoulder.

Even with the heart-shattering pain emanating from her body, it was impossible to evoke those emotions more than misted brown hues. I’ve withheld from emotion for so long my body refuses to liberate its anguish until I’m fully prepared to do so.

A knock on the door triggers our withdrawal, peering at each other, inquiring with our eyes if company is expected. I rise to my feet when Shell halts me by placing her hand on my arm.

“No, I’ll get it. You’ve been doing everything for me. The least I can do is answer the damn door.” Her hands fly in the air in exasperation as she rises from the sofa, stomping towards the entryway.

Swinging the hefty rectangular-shaped wood inward, Shell’s voice fills the room.

“What the fuck, Eric?”

“Shell, please just talk to me.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you? What didn’t you get the last time I slammed the door in your face?” Shelly’s exasperation exploded with arm movement and her bombastic articulation.

“Please, baby, I bought these for you.” He extends his arm with a bouquet of flowers.

Prepared to pounce like a lioness on her prey, I rise to full height, inching my way to the entryway.

“My favorite flowers... again.” Sarcasm drips from her voice. Grasping them in her hand, she swings the white petal flowers in the air, planting them in Eric’s face.

With a snide smirk plastered on her face, she voices to him. “Thanks, I needed that.” Culminating her actions, she slams the door in his face once again.

Eric ensues by ramming his fist into the doorframe, pleading for Shelly’s compassion. “I won’t give up Shell. I love you too much! I’m sorry. I was stupid. I am stupid. You are the only one for me. I love you, baby! You’re my heart. I can’t live without you.”

Rolling our eyes in unison, our mouths fall agape when we overhear Jade joining the conversation.

“Get the fuck out of here, Eric, before I call the cops.”

“Jade, please. I just want to make things right with Shell.”

“Make things right! Are you fucking stupid? You fucked the doctor for months and again, what, two weeks ago after you got caught! You’ve got to be fucking delusional if you believe you have a shot in hell to make things right with her!”

Silence consumes the air when the connection of soles to the wood floors echoes into a fade.

Another knock at the door captures our attention. Shelly huffs out a breath when I raise my hand to halt her, motioning her to move aside as it’s my turn to unearth what’s vertical behind the wooden frame.

Tugging the door inward, I prepare for a fight when Jade comes into view. Teeth on full display from ear to ear, with pride oozing from her ears. “He’s gone.”

Shell releases the breath she was holding captive. “Thankfully.” Shell strolls to the fridge, withdrawing the chocolate cake we have been attacking since she has taken residence here. She raises the round, mountainous, chocolatey mound of sweetness in my direction, inquiring if I’d like to indulge.

Moving my head up and down with a Cheshire grin plastered, I twist to face Jade, probing, “You want some delicious 7-layer chocolate cake?”

Jade’s eyes light up like the Rockefeller Christmas tree on lighting day, nodding her head. I skip to the cabinets in excitement, extracting three plates and forks while Shelly cuts out the pieces. Jade heads over to the refrigerator, bending at the waist peering inside.

“Milk?”

Shelly and I reply in unison, “Definitely.”

Laughter fills the air at our childish enthusiasm. All three of us huddle up on the couch, delighting in conversation, laughter and shameless ridicule.

Dressed not to impress, I’m clothed in a chalky scoop neck tank top, raven-colored slim fit jeans, an oatmeal three-quarter sleeve blazer, sand, and gold 3-inch strap heels accompanied with my tricolor camel, obsidian, and milky colored purse.

I stroll into the restaurant he requested we rendezvous at with the confidence of a queen. The hostess guides me to a table in a separate area where Dominic is seated. I’m taken aback when he peers at me from his phone, placing his decorated thumb and knuckles on his lips, devouring me with his crazed orbs. His hair is slick back and well-placed. A fitted ivory button-down shirt, top three buttons left undone, exposing his tattooed sloped chest wrapped in a black blazer.

Shit! I’m troubled by my reaction to his presence. Recovering quickly, I determined to shake it off, taking my place across from him.

Nodding my head, I address him. “Mr. Valentino.”

He huffs out a quick breath. “Dominic.”

Keeping things professional, I retort. “I prefer Mr. Valentino.”

A flame in his eyes erupted at my defiance. Nevertheless, he kept the conversation in progression.

“Ms. Knox, tell me something about you I didn’t get from your background check.”

“My background check?”

“Yes.”

“You performed a background check on me?”

“Of course, I was employed to locate you.”

A wave of shame crashes against the shores of embarrassment, entirely failing to recollect he was responsible for my recovery.

“Right. What would you like to know?” I attempt to rid myself of humiliation.

“Something not found on a report.”

Unwilling to divulge any vital information, I spew the simplest of all responses. “Blue is my favorite color.” I gulp a sip of water, observing the awkwardness of the silence. “And you?”

“Black.” He swoops his amber-colored drink down his throat.

“Not a man of many words, are you?” I take note of his unwillingness to speak.

“Depends.”

“On?”

“Company.”

“Am I not good company?” I feign offense with a hand on my chest.

The edge of his lip tugs when the server appears, filling our wine glasses.

“Your appetizers will be out shortly.”

I veer my confused orbs and wrinkled forehead in Dominic’s direction.

Taking my cue. “I ordered for us while I anticipated your arrival.”

“Hmm.”

“What does that mean?” He inquired behind his fisted hand.

“Curious.”

“About?”

“What you concluded would be my preference given the situation?”

“The situation?”

“Do you think I have not perceived you and I are the only diners in attendance tonight?”

“It ensures privacy.”

“Privacy? In that case, we should have ordered take out and perched at your dining room table.”

His eyebrow raised to his hairline. Crap, did I just say that? I swipe my wine glass, sucking a considerable gulp at my brash remark. I recover with swiftness.

“This doesn’t impress me?” I inform him with a bit of sass.

“Does it not?”

“No.”

“You would have been made aware if you would have named a price for your service instead of this.” I wave the wine glass between us before indulging in another sip.

“Three hundred grand,” his voice booms between us.

“Excuse me?” My head tilts just a bit.

“What if I said $300,000.”

“You would have been paid that amount.”

“Your boyfriend would have paid that much?”

Heat boiled from my toes to the top of my head. I retort in anger, “I have my own money, Dominic. To do as I please when I please. I do not require another to supply me with financial security.”

Raising both hands to his sides. “My apologies, Ms. Knox.”

I side-eye him when our appetizers arrive. Family style calamari and bruschetta. Hmph.

“Enjoy.” He waves his hand to the scrumptious food, grasping a plate, depositing morsels of calamari and bruschetta upon it, settling the round glass before me.

With pleasure, I speak. “Thank you.”

I relish every savory bite when I notice his eyes are locked on me. Bashfulness consumes me; my hand conceals my mouth.

“What?” I query.

He jolts as if taken out of a trance, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re staring,” I state matter-of-factly.

“I’m enamored.”

“Lies.”

Resting on the back of his seat, his voice shifts to a deep, husk. “I do not lie, Ms. Knox.” I conclude I have offended him, given his posture and the octave of his voice.

Way to go, Chloe! Upset the only man who can bring you closer to closure.Natalia scolds my brash actions.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Valentino. I–”

“Dominic!”

Pursing my lips. “My apologies.”

The rest of the evening went smoothly. Our entrees arrived soon after lobster, shrimp, steak, and angel hair pasta with marinara sauce. It was all delectable and teased my senses to return. The end of dinner closes on us, and I take my cue to return home.

Rising on my feet. “Dinner was lovely, Mr. Valentino.”

“Dominic! And who said tonight was over?”

My eyebrows met in the middle. “And if I craved to make my way home?”

“You are more than free to leave Ms. Knox. Understand, I have more planned for us.”

His middle finger tapped the white linen cloth on the side of his whiskey. Truth be told, my curiosity was piqued.

“What do you have planned for the remainder of the evening?”

The edges of his lips stretch. “You must join me to uncover what awaits you?”

Rising to full height, he strolls past me.

“Mr. Valentino, what are you doing? We haven’t paid.”

As he continues his saunter, his voice floats in the air, “There’s no need, I own the restaurant.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. What the?

Halting just before the exit. “Have you made your decision, Ms. Knox? Will you be joining me?” He extends his arm, palm upright.

Blinking at rapid speed, I ponder, will an evening with Dominic be that horrible. I stroll forward, halting before his hand.

“Yes, I’ve made my decision. Lead the way.” I place my hand in his to accept his invitation when his touch consumes every fiber of my being, exploding like a grenade.

~~~

Chloe and Shelly finally speak about their inheritance. Thoughts?

The banter between Dominic and Chloe?????

Thoughts? Theories?

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