12. Enrique
Chapter 12
Enrique
“ S he’s so fucking rude!” Emily rants the moment she walks back into the room. It’s obvious that my nap is over. I hoped with me working the better part of the day, she'd have space to relax after breakfast. Instead, she seems even more triggered.
“Who’s rude?”
Emily gives me a pointed look. “You know.”
I crack my neck because this is becoming exhausting. “I wouldn’t have asked if I did.”
“ Yasmeena ,” she sing-songs her name. “Who else? Surely you’ve noticed how she talks to people.”
“She has her moments but you’re not her employee…” I stop for a moment as my brain catches up. They must have been at the spa together. I didn’t give Emily the answers she wanted earlier and Yasmeena doesn’t talk for fun. I pinch the bridge of my nose because I’m pretty sure I know the answer to my upcoming question. “Emily, please tell me you didn’t do the investigative journalist thing and ask my BOSS a bunch of intrusive questions.”
My cell phone rings and Yasmeena’s name flashes on the screen. I swear, if Emily somehow got me fired …I pick up on the second ring.
“Yes, Yasmeena?” I say into the phone.
“Change the company event policy to spouses only.”
“Spouses only?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Why?”
“Your fiancée brought it to my attention that engaged people break up all the time so she’s right. It’s less of a mess that way. Only married couples at events now.”
I can feel a vein popping in my neck. Between Emily and Yasmeena, I’m on the road to an early heart attack.
“Um…wow.”
“Do you disagree?”
I cannot answer that because it’s a sound possibility right now. I’m mad enough to make Emily go home but I doubt she’d forgive me. She did start this after all.
“Is that the only reason?” I try to ask the question as innocently as possible.
“Should there be another?”
“Just checking.”
“Okay, plus it’s better that only spouses are there. They’re better equipped to not ask personal questions such as if I have bad blood with my Baba or why I didn’t go see him when he was in the hospital. Exclusive interview types of questions that I’d need to pass through everyone including the CFO and my lawyers for approval.”
I simply sigh because I trusted Emily to separate her job from this function. I give an indignant Emily a hard stare as I ask Yasmeena the next question.
“Effective when?”
“I’ll be courteous and say next year.”
I let out an unamused laugh. “Of course. That’d be hard to implement in the middle of an event.”
“It’s possible but I’ll leave the frigid bitch for Monday, I just got a facial. It’s relaxing and it melted some ice away. You should try it.”
I want to be amused but I don’t know if that means I have to hear about this in full detail on Monday. I don’t feel like listening to any speeches about privacy.
Emily mouths on the other end. “Did she just call me a bitch?”
I shake my head and put my finger over my lips to tell her to shut up.
“Okay. I’ll set a reminder to update the policy Monday morning. It saves on the event budget since we’re now only covering a select few, but you might inspire more marriages.”
“Imagine how many more marriages I’ll inspire if I said I was getting married? Kidding, it’ll be a secret. See you at the gala, Mr Souza.”
Luckily, I have a great poker face. The last thing I needed was to be reminded that seeing Yasmeena’s illness in effect has me reconsidering my refusal. This is like a fucked up version of the bachelor.
I drop the phone back on the charger and focus all of my irritation on Emily. “You really asked my boss about her family and challenged her policy in a few hours at the spa?”
Emily waves her hand like it isn’t a big deal and I’m not on the verge of blowing up in a way she’s never seen before. I happen to notice that her nails aren’t red like they usually are as if she suddenly woke up wanting a neutral color. I make a note to ask her about that later, right now she has a lot of fucking explaining to do.
“Answer me, Emily. What would possess you to play with my career like that?”
She stomps her foot like I’m the unreasonable one. “I wasn’t playing with your career. I was trying to find the truth. That woman is cold and calculating and I want to expose her.”
My left eye is twitching. Forget the heart attack, I’m going to be an alcoholic before this is over.
“Expose her of what? Possible family issues like I don’t know…the rest of the world! Why in the hell would that be a thought now? You are playing with my career. She’s been my boss longer than you’ve been my….anything. ”
Emily places her hand on her hips, pissed that I pointed out that I’ve known Yasmeena longer. “Do you forget who I was? I’m your fucking fiancée. That’s my title.”
“I didn’t forget a damn thing. You have. I said ‘anything’ because you haven’t been my fiancée for three years. This is why she changed the policy. Wives wouldn’t challenge their husband’s bosses because they’re a little jealous or suspicious. They know hurting the spouse’s career hurts their livelihood as well.”
“Are you calling me stupid? I know what’s at stake.”
“Then fucking act like it, Emily! Yasmeena and I have enough disagreements at work. We don’t need to add personal disagreements at work events. You can’t cause drama and then make it all about me. I haven’t done anything.”
“But stare at her most of the day, worry about what fucking shoes she’s wearing, and run after her and disappear for about an hour.”
“Okay, I concede to all of that. Tell me what in THE FUCK does her family have to do with that? You can’t interrogate someone like Yasmeena out of jealousy. I’ve been nothing but loyal to you. I deserve a little fucking trust.”
“You’re trying to gaslight me, Enrique and I don’t like it.”
I fold my arms and stare at Emily for a moment. “Okay, in your head, what was I doing? When I was worried about her shoes as you put it or staring at her like you suggested, what was I doing? Better question, what was I doing when I disappeared for an hour?”
Instead of answering me, Emily pivots and storms out of the room. Hopefully while she’s away she’ll realize that I brought her with me because I want her here, not to make her suspicious.
It feels like I’m failing on all fronts and I hate the feeling. Emily has become more and more suspicious as this weekend drags on and there isn’t much I can do to dispel her fears. They’re not one-hundred percent misplaced, she’s just jumping to the wrong conclusions about the purpose of my actions. I have not strayed in the entire time we’ve been together nor have I considered it. I devoted myself to Emily unwaveringly.
What Yasmeena is asking is not based of sex or romantic notions of being with me. It’s transactional.
Emily returned in time to be ready for the gala but didn’t put any immediate effort into getting ready. When she finally started, it took her longer than usual. She has yet to come back out of the bathroom. Luckily, I had showered while she was away and my tux is hanging in the room.
All the free time just gives me more time to think. Our situation weighs heavily on me. It may not be in the way Emily is imagining it, but Yasmeena-on some level-is trying to poach her man. It is impossible for me to secretly marry and impregnate Yasmeena-no matter the means-without betraying Emily, yet my fear that I was her only prospect for this crazy scheme has turned my refusal into a maybe.
I’ve noticed her beauty before and it’s never been an issue in four years because no one wants every attractive person in the world. People notice attractive people everyday and go on with their lives. That’s exactly what I did a long time ago. Hell, I was single when I started working for Yasmeena and being with her hadn’t crossed my mind. I was laser focused on my career instead of whether or not I thought my boss was attractive. Her request is blurring what used to clear, defined lines. Considering her offer forces me to see her in that light.
I was smitten with Emily at first sight and have been devoted ever since. No one has ever affected me the way Emily had at first sight. That hasn’t changed. I haven’t been remotely close to cheating on her but her faith in me is waning. The only thing I’ve done near betrayal was consider an offer. COO is something I’ve been striving for since I graduated from college but do I want to earn it like this? The title is right there for the taking only if I do what is asked of me. I’d have to sacrifice love for my career.
Ultimately, however, my consideration isn’t based on sex, money, or the title Yasmeena is dangling in front of me; it’s the diagnosis. Her parents are trash from the sound of it and I have to assume her brother isn’t much better. As someone who comes from a much warmer family, it’s a hard concept to accept.
I believe her request is as straightforward as it can be since her feelings appear to be equivalent to a robot. Nothing in her demeanor says that she’s jealous that I’m engaged and wants to sabotage my relationship. No one would believe me if I said that though.
I’ve argued with Yasmeena in the past which is why Bailey alluded to it being a common thing but our arguments are different now. They’re no longer about Yasmeena questioning my knowledge at work, they’re about me questioning her decisions for her health.
Emily finally comes out of the bathroom just after her shower still wearing her towel. We’re supposed to be heading down to the wrap up party right now but she’s taking her sweet time. Part of me thinks she’s trying to test my loyalty to my job versus my loyalty to her with this stunt. They are on two different spectrums. If anyone knows that I’m serious about punctuality, it’s her.
Her body language still displays the attitude she’s had all weekend. She’s reading my concern for Yasmeena’s health as something more scandalous.
“I thought you would have run off to be with Yasmeena by now.”
The way Emily has been saying Yasmeena’s name grates my nerves on so many levels. One, it’s childish. Two, I’d rather her be jealous for a good reason. Three, I’ve never given her a reason to be so distrustful but she’s doing it so easily.
“If you mean because she’s my boss and has expectations for her employees to be at a certain place at certain times then, yes, I considered leaving to be on time .”
“I’m sure that’s all it is,” she gripes as she dries off her body.
“Emily,” I say slowly. “We’ve been through this already. I’ve been working for her longer than we’ve been together. Why are you suddenly questioning everything I do?”
“I have eyes. I see the way you look at her. Talk to her!” There it is again. She doesn’t recognize that I’m concerned about Yasmeena’s health and I can’t disclose that information. “And every time I ask you a question, you say you can’t discuss it.”
“Again. Yasmeena is my boss. This is a work function. You’re not an employee. There are certain confidences I have to uphold. I am not just some random person at our tech bar. I’m the CFO of the entire company, Emily. Yasmeena’s lawyers have lawyers. When I say I can’t discuss it, you have to trust and accept it.”
I move closer since it’s better to diffuse the situation than continue to argue the same point. We’ve argued more this weekend than we have the entire three year span of our relationship.
“Emily, baby. I’m with you. I love you.” I grab her left hand and kiss her finger just above her engagement ring. “I proposed to you.”
Emily’s tan cheeks redden just a little. “After you said her name.”
My expression doesn’t change because I anticipated Emily pointing that out. I’m sure if I wouldn’t have fucked up so royally, Emily would have been more relaxed this weekend. “As I told you, it was a surprise utterance. She was the last person I expected to see when I looked up. I bought the ring and planned the engagement for you. No one else.”
I give her a soft kiss, I just want it to go back to the way it was before she got suspicious. I had plans for us to simply enjoy each other’s company and bodies but Emily has been holding everything I say or do against me the entire weekend.
Giving in, she wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me with the kind of passion I’ve been craving from her. If for a moment, we can put all of our issues on the backburner, I’m willing to do just that.
I hold her closely and walk her back, pushing her against the counter. I grip her ass as I pick her up. Emily’s moan goes straight to my dick. The urgency I feel to be inside her is heightened by our lack of connection all weekend and minimal time together.
She must feel it too, I groan when she grabs my erection. The amazing sensation of her thumb teasing my tip almost makes me opt to forego the condom but I’m not built that way.
“Condom,” I rasp as I let go of her only for a brief moment.
Emily and I are consistent with condom usage and I’ve been even more diligent about using them since she doesn’t want children. I never want to put her in the place where she’d have to make that kind of choice.
Also, my desire to use one right now would have added to her suspicions we don’t need. I would never have sex with another woman while being committed to Emily. I have the condom in place and I’m inside of her in seconds. We moan in unison because it’s always good with us.
“This is all I wanted,” I say against her lips. “To be with you like this all weekend.”
It’s the truth, I don’t like to fight.
“Me too,” Emily admits then moans my name as I use what I learned over the course of our relationship to get both of us off.
Emily appears to be a little more relaxed as I disappear into the bathroom to take care of the condom. I empty the contents into the toilet and flush. Then I put spermicide in the condom and tie it off before throwing it away.
It was my routine while I was single and in the beginning of our relationship. I had relaxed the routine, but my habit came back. I don’t know why so I just go with my instinct and not fight it.
I wash my hands and comb my hair, I come out of the bathroom, happy to see Emily getting dressed at normal speed. Looks like we’ll be about ten minutes late but it’s better than our earlier projected arrival.
My phone rings the moment we leave our room. Emily sighs with much less irritation than she’s been. I already know why my phone is ringing.
“We’re about to get on the elevator, Jeeves.”
“Thank God! I cannot be stared down any longer.”
I chuckle because I know the exact look Yasmeena is giving him. “Just hold up two fingers and mouth ‘minutes’ she’ll move around.”