45. Enrique
Chapter 45
Enrique
“ I took a much needed break just to come back to the very same shit. I couldn’t even get dressed without you starting your passive aggressive bullshit then asking for a divorce. I know how long I was gone. I didn’t need you to remind me of the days or minutes. Then Emily comes with her manipulative bullshit and lies. Lies that you believed-far too easily for my liking -at an interview and photoshoot that you accepted, yet you can’t seem to be bothered with answering the questions as if our relationship is the most boring thing that has ever happened to you. People are going to see that and think I’m holding you hostage or something. That’s what the fuck is happening.”
“Good to know that’s what’s happening. Now, do you feel a bit better? Some of the things you said, we can have a conversation later but for now, do you need something so you’re not,” Yasmeena waves her hands. “Whatever this is. I can pretend to be more interested in the questions. No problem.”
God , I know she’s detached but if we are to survive this interview I just need to walk away.
“Same as before, stop talking to me.”
I open the door and motion for her to return back to the studio. Yasmeena walks past me and continues not stopping until she’s sitting on the couch. I move to join her again back to where I was previously sitting but turn and go to the table where all the drinks and snacks are lined up. I need people to stop staring at me so I can tuck my emotions back inside.
These questions don’t sound like anything Yasmeena would have approved of before and I’m about 95% sure that Emily picked or wrote these so they’re not going to get any better. I know, however, that if I blow up in here I’ll look like the crazy one. As it stands, this interview is about to spark all sorts of speculations about my role in her life. As someone who inherited as much as I did, the world is already waiting to find my flaws.
Just based on how I feel everything looks. I’m going to appear to be a controlling, possibly abusive husband with the way Scott is urging her to speak like she’s a spooked horse scared of her own shadow.
I take a long sip of cold water and think of happier thoughts so I can at very least be a usually calm self. Emily walks up as if she’s interested in the muffins.
“Get the fuck away from me and don’t say shit.” I growl low so only she can hear me. She jumps a little because she’s not used to me speaking to her harshly then scurries into the other direction.
Jeeves comes up next to me with a mini pack of gummy bears. He grabs my hand and shakes a few onto my palm.
“Thanks,” I grumble before I pop them into my mouth. He knows that when alcohol isn’t available certain sugars act as good substitutes to help me.
“No problem,” he whispers. “Now, let’s show them the real Enrique, shall we?” I smirk at him and take another sip of my water then join Yasmeena on the couch.
“Where were we?” I ask Scott as if he’s still not trying to flirt with Yasmeena after I called him out.
“Alright, glad we’re back. Let’s get to the exclusive then shall we? Your marriage was quiet which is a nice thing, very private and intimate but there are some questions circulating around in the media. Care to address them here and now? Clear the air for those who think differently?”
“I don’t know what was circulating. Enlighten me,” I say smoothly although I have a pretty good idea of what he’s talking about.
“Is it true that you got engaged to someone else two weeks before you and Yasmeena got married?”
Involuntarily, my eyes find Emily across the room as she gives me a sly smile and a finger wave. Refocusing on Scott, I answer him succinctly.
“Yes.” He and I look at each other for a while since he’s expecting me to expand on my answer but I don’t.
“I’ll expand on what my husband is saying, Scott.” Yasmeena looks at me and smiles sweetly then looks at Scott. “While it may seem like there could be some big conspiracy with that, there isn’t. We worked together for four years, almost going on five. There could be times where there aren’t any feelings between coworkers but it wasn’t like that for us. There was a moment where we both looked at each other and knew we were lying to each other. You can date and date and date until you turn blue in the face but there’s something different with that person. You know what I mean, Scott. Your entire body screams it.” Yasmeena turns to me and cups my face. “I knew I was yours when you first said my name, baby.” Yasmeena pulls me in for a quick kiss before pulling away, wiping my lips and turning to face Scott again.
My frustration with her increases but I hide it since it’s counter-productive to her defending me. I know exactly why it frustrates me. I wish she meant to but I’m just a different type of employee to her. I was lying to myself before the gala to think it was anything more.
“That’s beautiful and wonderful to hear, Yasmeena but I do want to ask you this, Enrique, how do you feel or rather what would you like to address about the money? No one should be called names but again, people are a little overstimulated with social media these days. We’d like to hear it in your words.”
“I know you said I had a Midas touch with finance but I need to expand on that. For all the years I’ve worked for Yasmeena, the only money I cared about was the state of the business. My job. I didn’t ask Google or Yasmeena about her net worth. I married her because I wanted to marry her. Honestly, I found out how much I inherited with the rest of the world. We were surprised together. People will believe what they want regardless of what I say,” I give Emily a hard look. “I found that out at the end of the other relationship you asked about.”
“Thank you for answering that. One more hard question before we hopefully move on from this. Did you plan for your wedding with Yasmeena to be the day after your break up? Some will look at this and call your wife names, or both of you. Some will say there was stepping out involved or that you married Yasmeena for convenience, what do you say to that?”
“Honestly, the first response that comes to mind is mind your business. And yes, I’m talking to the world, but I’ll explain anyway. I’ve never cheated on anyone or anything. My ex packed up while I was at work and left me a note saying she was taking a job in a different country-a decision she made several days prior. I found out she blocked me as well when I tried to call her. After venting to Yasmeena, we decided to cut out the crap and marry each other. The decision felt right so we eloped the next day. And before you ask, no, I don’t consider her to be a rebound. In fact, it made me realize that my break up didn’t hurt as much as it should’ve. My ex can never return to me.” I look at Emily who’s not smiling like she was before. “ Never. ”
“Thank you for answering that and letting us know.” Someone passes him a note quickly without being seen on camera. Scott’s brows shoot up and he makes a face but goes back to being neutral. “Before we move on, I wanted to ask because we heard from an inside source that you’re getting major surgery soon, Yasmeena, anything wrong?”
Yasmeena slightly flinches at the question. Her hands go to her lap as her nails dig into the dress and she isn’t making eye contact with anyone, the only indication she’s breathing is how hard her hands are shaking.
I grab her hand to help her refocus while I give Scott an easy smile. “This isn’t the way I wanted to announce anything, but, no, there aren’t any major surgeries planned. We’re simply preparing for children. The person who wanted you to ask that question is very intrusive.”
Scott nods. “I agree, glad we could address what needed to be addressed. I want to thank the both of you for giving us your time and the exclusive. WBKA thanks you and to the viewers,” Scott looks at the camera. “Like Enrique Souza said, learn to mind your business. There’s nothing wrong with being curious but let’s keep it to a minimum when we wonder about people’s lives. Everyone deserves to be happy and in love in the privacy of their own homes. From us to you, have a wonderful day!”
“And Cut!” someone yells out. As if on cue, Yasmeena stands walking away faster than she normally would.
I let her have a moment as she would say and focus my attention on Scott. Extending a hand and an olive branch, I reach out to shake it.
“Thank you for the interview. There has been a lot going on so it made me a little edgy. It’s not you, it’s the questions.”
Scott gives me a genuine smile and shakes my hand back. “It’s always a gamble to ask the hard questions. You two took them much better than most. Thank you.”
Emily slides up next to Scott, offering him a bottle of water. “No problem,” I say with a wave of my hand.
“And Emily, you know exactly how we ended. Don’t put your new boyfriend in that position again.”
Scott chokes on his water, confirming my suspicion. He didn’t know I was her ex. I don’t wait around to hear their conversation because I just don’t give a damn about what they have to discuss. I need to check on my wife even though she aggravates me.