Jealous
It had been weeks of that cat-and-mouse game, of not-so-discreet espionage, of competitive races that led nowhere.
That night, in that city, the investors’ dinner brought together everything Mavika detested in one place. Food that was way too expensive, people who were way too shallow, and gossip.
“Is that your boyfriend?”
“Who’s the lucky guy?”
“How did you two meet?”
“Is he that charmed?”
But the young man in question did not interest her. He had invited her as a business partner, and she had accepted out of politeness and to network.
As soon as she arrived at the event, arm in arm with her companion—the extravagant son of some high-ranking manager at some large company, introduced by her father—Mavika saw Lin.
The slender figure, the hair flowing like a long chocolate cascade. Beside Lin, a tall woman, with very small eyes and very bright red lipstick, smiling, talking, touching.
Mavika’s eidetic memory had never failed her. She had seen that face before, on other events, always next to the one person the media was most curious about at the moment. An opportunist.
With the same curious glare, Lin noticed the young man beside Mavika. Her assistant whispered something in her ear, which made her roll her eyes. The young man was a lazy womanizer who lived off his father.
Lin watched the man smile for the cameras while placing his hand on Mavika’s waist, who watched the tall woman touch Lin’s shoulder, posing for photos.
Mavika and Lin didn’t speak to each other, didn’t wave to each other, didn’t approach each other. That night, they spent way too much time pretending not to care about each other.
Around nine P.M., Lin went to the luxurious toilet. There, she found Mavika. They stood in front of the mirror, pretending to touch up their makeup. After minutes of absolute silence, Lin was the first to speak.
“So, you came with a wimp? How nice!” She flashed her best cynical smile, her eyes on Mavika’s reflection.
Mavika smiled back.
“And you, with a gold digger, you two are so sweet together!” She retorted with equal sarcasm.
They didn’t exchange any more insults. One second, they were looking at each other’s reflection. The other, Lin held Mavika against the wall, her hands firm on the other’s waist, fierce mouth on her neck.
Mavika moaned, unable to resist. Her neck was indeed her weakest spot.
“Look at you…” Lin whispered between bites, her voice hoarse, and it was enough to earn another moan from Mavika, “…your boyfriend’s waiting for you outside, and you’re dying to fuck someone else in the bathroom.”
Mavika, breathless, knew she didn’t owe anyone any explanation—especially Lin—but she couldn’t contain herself.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she said, suppressing a smile.
When she leaned in to capture Lin’s lips in a kiss, the other pulled away a millimeter.
“I don’t like seeing you arm in arm with a man we both know only wants to sleep with you.”
“And what if I want it?” Mavika challenged.
She saw Lin’s gaze change. A hint of vulnerability, anger, pain, jealousy.
Lin rolled her eyes.
“You really cannot trust a straight woman,” she muttered.
Mavika didn’t answer. She frowned and pushed Lin by the shoulder, took a look at the mirror one last time and left.
The rest of the night was filled with furtive glances, trying to appear disinterested, acidic comments about each other, jealousy hidden by false politeness and deceitful cordiality.
Later that night, back at the hotel, Mavika’s companion took her to the front door. He waited for an invitation that didn’t come—would never come—and tried his luck.
“Hey, Ma, I was thinking…we had a great night, call me if you wanna do it again.” She nodded politely, but they both knew it wasn’t going to happen.
At the reception, Mavika found Lin, still with the tall woman. The relaxed laughter, the occasional hand-touching…Mavika saw red.
Unable to contain herself, she passed between the two women, nearly pushing one away from the other.
“Before I forget,” she turned quickly, her voice full of cynicism and provocation.
“Do you know where my room is?” she asked, her eyes on Lin.
Mavika didn’t wait for reactions or responses. In the elevator, regret surprised her with an intense burning sensation on the back of her neck. What was that for?! Why had she made such a scene? Marking territory wasn’t in her nature. Worse than that, marking Lin shouldn’t be in her nature.
She arrived at the room and took a cold shower to calm her nerves. When she got out of the shower, in a bathrobe, she heard someone knocking on the door. Mavika felt her heart race, well aware of who it was. She hurried and opened it.
No surprises.
“You’re so yummy when you’re jealous,” was all Lin said before being pulled into the room and into a kiss.