37. Enrique
Chapter 37
Enrique
I ’ve had to mingle enough in the past just being the CFO but now that I’m the COO AND Yasmeena’s husband, people won’t shut the fuck up. I’m sure the news of my inheritance doesn’t help matters at all. Part of me still breaks out in mini sweats every time I think about how much money is in my name. It’s so surreal, I’m almost numb to it.
What I’m not numb to is the attention Yasmeena is currently receiving. We’d briefly gone our separate ways when someone she knew pulled her aside to meet someone else, while a different person was yapping my ear off.
Yasmeena talks as the older man has his arm around her waist and the other holding her hand as he dances with her, moving her around as he smiles at her every word. His eyes aren’t staying focused on her as they keep dropping down to her tits.
She doesn’t like being touched so the entire scene is one big irritant to me. I kill the drink in my hand and put it down because I don’t want to accidentally break it. I’ve always known she was beautiful but it’s annoying that other people notice. That’s a lie, I don’t mind that they notice, I mind that they touch. It makes no fucking sense to me but I know exactly what bothers me.
“Think you can focus enough to dance with me?”
Emily’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. Fuck, I forgot she was here for a moment. I didn’t know where she was hiding but she wasn’t in sight until now. It’s bittersweet to hear her voice. We had so many happy memories but the ending was a mess. This meeting was inevitable.
“Sure,” I hold out a hand for her, but it’s not the same.
As expected, she looks beautiful in an emerald dress that’s an off the shoulder design with a corset bodice. Emily has always dressed sexy but something about it doesn’t strike me as her style. Her split is cut damn near to her hip. Emily’s hair, which usually looks soft and silky, is pinned up and meant to look wet although I can tell it’s dry. There is definitely something off about her look. It’s not a bad look, it’s just not her.
Her smile is plastic as I lead her to the dance floor and pull her to me. This used to be all I wanted. Neither one of us are comfortable. She’s trying to look above all of this but I’ve studied her intensely over the course of our relationship. I know that she’s mad and is pretending not to be. She rests her left hand on my shoulder, the soft sheen pulls my attention to her nails. Neutral again. She was always dedicated to wearing different shades of red. I don’t question it because what she chooses to do with her appearance isn’t my business anymore.
“How did you get an invitation?” I ask purely for the purpose of small talk. Whatever she feels she needs to say to me, she needs to do so now.
“ I, ” just that one word tells me she’s about to be snarky, “am also capable of charming my boss.”
I clench my jaw, to keep from showing any outward emotion. She’s trying to goad me into an argument but this is not the time or place.
“Okay, so you’re the plus one?”
“No, I’m his date.” Her response has some bite to it.
I know that I’m married to Yasmeena and have fucked her almost daily for two months but the thought of Emily with someone else still hurts. It could be because of how she ended things or I could just be the typical irrational man, only time will tell.
“And he’s not looking for you?” My eyes float back to Yasmeena damn near being groped.
“You can’t even look me in the eyes. You’re a cheater and a coward.”
My eyes snap to hers and I’m almost speechless from all of the hurt and anger shining in her hazel depths.
“I never cheated on you. Stop spreading that bullshit. You didn’t trust my word and left me. Focus on that.”
“You’re married,” she hisses, her nails digging into my hand.
“I’m aware. I was there. I had also returned from work to find an empty house. I get it. You’re hurt. I’m hurt. I even understand that everything didn’t look innocent to you, but I loved you with everything I had and you didn’t see that. You didn’t trust me enough to take my word or to tell me about an amazing job opportunity. You ran off on an assumption and left. The only reason you returned was to try to rub your validation in my face. You were wrong then and you’re wrong now. The big difference is I don’t care enough to explain anything to you.” I release her and step back. “Go believe what you want and I’ll go back to my wife.”
I turn to walk away but Emily isn’t done talking. “You must still love me.”
“Love doesn’t dissipate overnight,” I admit.
She takes another step closer, trying to exist in my space like she used to before things went to shit. I want to tell her that she looks beautiful tonight but I don't want to cross signals.
“You’ll regret it if you walk away,” she warns me. I don’t know what it is with her and absolutes and ultimatums.
“I haven’t regretted anything yet.”
With that, I leave her where she’s standing. The old man has gotten enough free feels and needs to be stopped. I walk up beside them and focus my attention on Yasmeena like she’s not still in his arms.
“Hey, baby. I came to kiss my wife.”
I’m not being petty towards Emily, I haven’t checked to see if she’s still there or anything of the sort. It’s for a man who can’t take a hint or just doesn’t fucking understand the point of the ring on her left hand.
Tucking my finger under her chin, I lock lips long enough for her leech to let go. Yasmeena looks up at me confused when I pull back, I don’t say a word as I grab her hand and spin her. I look in her eyes and before she looks away I only offer two words in explanation.
“My turn.”