Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Desperation and determination are two words that keep popping into my head as I bit my thumb in confusion, circling my office for almost half an hour now. I gulp at the sight of my laptop screen. "Should I do it? Should I re-register to SEXONITE or find a new community like that? Or should I go hunt Dmitri instead?" I ask myself hundreds of times now. My delusional mind is interrupted when someone knocks on my office door. I find my composure and answer with a firm voice, "Yes? Come in!"
Right after I answer, the door opens heavily and Ms. Dale's blonde head appears, "Ms. Anderson, Mrs. Cohen is currently waiting at the lobby."
“Barbara? “ I jump out of my seat and surprisingly ask, “Hasn't she heard about our break-up?" I murmur to myself, then instruct her this, "What is this about? Could you tell her I’m in a meeting right now?”. She slightly scratches her head then replies, “But she said it is urgent and she’s a little bit upset.”
I sigh and motion Ms. Dale to let her in, “You can let her in. I’ll take it from here.” I hear Ms. Dale talking on the phone, while I make sure my office and receiving area is tidy enough to suffice my former future in-law's taste. I fix myself and my heart begins to pound. Why did I even bother to care about her opinion anyway?
“Ms. Dale, could you please prepare her favorite lotus tea and make sure to turn on the diffuser with her favorite aroma? You know how delicate her nose is.” I sarcastically exclaim and she begins to smile and shakes her head. This habit of mine takes time to get rid of. After all, she's been visiting my office for years now just to check on me.
I sit down and fix every wrinkle I find on my skirt. To be honest, I really don’t like Seigfried’s family. They are rich, typically rich and I always feel like they are out of my league. The only one I look up among them is Seid. “Well, I used to”, I emphasize the thought myself.
Hearing the elevator dings and Ms. Dale's warm welcome, I stand up and wear a not-so-fake smile. I literally motion open arms like a programmed robot waiting for her to appear in front of me. And there she goes! As soon as I saw her dolled-up face: red lips, coral blush, and her false eyelashes.
“Barbara”, I let out in a not-so-joyous manner, “I didn't expect to see you here, especially after Dmitri's incident last time,” I sarcastically say. She first scrutinizes my office, like she always does, and then locks her eyes on my clothes, and then finally, she greets me. “Well, a good day to you, too, Avery Anderson”, then she snickers. Still, I hate her for calling my name, but ever since her son brought me home, she always calls me by my full name, it’s as if she’s setting up a boundary between us.
And so the awkwardness continues as her eyes roam round. There wasn't a time when I didn't feel nervous around her. Yet, I politely welcome her every single time, every single fucking time, “Have a seat, Barbara.” I politely say, disregarding my inner thought.
“So?” She opens the conversation after securing her seat. And of course, I sit across her, serving her tea. Then she continues, “You really knew me, after all. Even if it was a surprise visit, you still manage to set up the vibe here with my favorite tea and my favorite aroma.” Then she takes a sip. I don't know either why I bothered.
“Well, I always expect you to visit me anytime but I hope you'll stop now since Seid and I broke up”, I frankly tell her to set the proper expectation on where this meeting will go. She let out her natural laugh, a sarcastic one.
“Well, well. you always humor me, Avery Anderson. That’s why I’ve always liked you for my youngest boy. You’re the best among all the girls my other sons chose to marry,” she even claims.
“Seigfried was the best, that’s why I chose him,” I answered wittily. Barbara favored my boyfriend so much, so she likes me flattering him all the time. Then, I break her little fantasy, "Too bad it won't happen anymore since we've broken up."
His son was always the content of our whole conversation. Even now, Seid is still the center. The thirty-minute conversation felt like a day, so to end it, I bring up her concern, “By the way, I heard from Ms. Dale that you have an important matter to discuss with me. Let’s hear you out,”
As soon as I finish my sentence, her body faces me and she moves at the edge of her seat. “Well, you see…” trying to find the words, she stops momentarily, “I think it’s time you two get married.” Her face looks stern and is waiting for my reaction. Her eyes are focused on mine all the time. I didn't expect this at all.
I heard myself gulp with the news. I notice sweat all over my body, the temperature inside the room has risen.
I feel my eyes wiggling and my voice trembles, “Barb...ara”. I let out a sigh and look her in the eyes, “I think you should be discussing it with Seigfried and not with me. As I've already told you, we are no longer together.”