10. Enrique
Chapter 10
Enrique
“ B aby, would you like another drink?” I ask Emily to start a conversation.
She was extra mad after I left Yasmeena’s room. According to her, I told her to find a friend to have sex with right before I followed Yasmeena. I have no recollection of Emily mentioning sex before I walked away but I’ll take her word for it.
I smoothed it over by assuring her I was talking about the spa services. Emily insists on knowing what I talked about with Yasmeena but I cannot tell her. Even without the NDA I wouldn’t divulge such personal information. If Yasmeena knew me as well as she thinks she does she’d know that.
“No, thank you,” Emily says flatly and I know it’s going to be a long weekend. I love her but I cannot cut off my concern for Yasmeena. It’s not how I’m built. Knowing her secret is going to continue to cause problems in my relationship.
“Emily, look at me.”
Her lips are still poked out in a pout once she looks my way. It doesn’t help that I said Yasmeena’s name during the proposal. I accidentally caused some insecurity towards my boss when absolutely nothing was going on between us. The way I ran after Yasmeena earlier makes my arguments a hard sale.
While Yasmeena is beautiful, her lack of concern for what is going on around her was always a hard no for me. Just like my thoughts conjured her, she appears, the outfit looking like she just walked out of a magazine, a summer issue to be exact. Subtle yet sexy. My eyes fall down to her feet and I’m annoyed again. Didn’t I already tell her about wearing those damn heels?
I track the conversation in my head again just to realize that I actually didn’t.
“What the fuck are you looking at,” Emily hisses, bringing my attention back to her.
“First of all, whether you have a problem with me being around my boss or not, this is MY job function. I have to work. Relax.” She balks because I never speak to her firmly. I don’t need her suspicions being aired where my other colleagues and subordinates can hear her. “Second, I was looking for Matthew. I have something to discuss with him. Give me a moment.”
I walk away before she can respond. Part of me is annoyed with Yasmeena for throwing a huge monkey wrench into my relationship. I can’t send Emily home, that’ll just look worse.
“Matthew,” I catch him before he walks off. He turns to face me and I go out of my way to focus my attention on him and not his boss who is now a few feet away. “Do me a favor. Go to the gift shop and buy some flat shoes or flip flops that will match your boss and tell her I asked if she would change into them. Please.”
While Matthew will not argue with me, he still doesn’t hide the confusion in his tone as he acknowledges my request. I return to my fiancée’s side while managing to not look or walk in the vicinity of Yasmeena and kiss Emily on her temple.
“I love you,” I tell her because I feel like she needs to hear it. It is the truth after all.
My declaration pulls a smirk out of her and I pull her close because I don’t like fighting. We find an open spot where Emily starts chatting with the fiancée of one of our executives. The women start gushing over wedding planning, giving me a chance to check on Matthew. He’s holding the shoes while it looks like Yasmeena is scolding him.
With a sigh, I excuse myself and make my way over.
“The only person putting those things on is you, Matthew. Go bring them back, I didn’t ask for a change in shoes.”
“Thank you, Matthew,” I tell him as I relieve him of the shoes. “Yasmeena, a word.”
I motion to a spot a little ways away that is not populated. I head that way once I ensure that she’s following me. Once there, I open the door that leads to the storage room we’re using for the event.
I lean in so no one but her can hear me. “You almost broke your ankle in those damn things when you passed out earlier. Please put the flats on.”
“Flats? Have you ever seen me wear flats?”
I get in her face because it seems the only way she listens. “Yasmeena, if you want me to reconsider your offer, switch the fucking shoes.”
“So you're threatening me?”
“Call it what you want. Shoes.”
“What’s the reconsideration percentage?”
“Getting lower by the second because you’re still wearing those shoes.”
Yasmeena nods and stays quiet for a second considering the options. “Okay. but next time, get better flats.” Yasmeena leans a bit and lifts her foot, taking one heel off then the next. “Put them on then.”
I clench my jaw because she’s trying my patience but I’m willing to meet in the middle of it means I don’t have to spend the rest of the night worried about her passing out while wearing those death traps. I lock the door to make sure Emily doesn’t follow me. The last thing I need is for someone to barge in and start a rumor.
“Fine.” I bend and carefully help her guide her foot into the other then repeat.
After I’ve put them on, Yasmeena pats my shoulder.
“Good boy.” She unlocks the door and walks out. “Come, Matthew,” she says to a curious-looking Matthew.
Shaking my head, I drop her stupid shoes in one of the empty boxes then go the opposite direction. Emily is probably watching the space where we disappeared. If I show up again right after Yasmeena, our disappearance is going to seem far more nefarious than swapping shoes. It’s one Friday, the first day of a weekend event and I’m already tired.
With the party raging outside, I go to the private executive lounge for a moment of peace and send Emily a text.
Me: I’ll be back in about 15 minutes. I have a quick meeting.
I sink into a leather chair and drop my head back. I just need to think.