Chapter 57: Chapter 57

While I am fixing my clothes, I saw Dee lurking around my pouch on the bedside table.

“Hey, what are you looking for? You’ve been searching it in and out?” I question him while putting on my earrings.

He ignores me and just continues with what he’s doing. Then he picks something up and then walks towards me.

He hugs me from the back and shows me the picture, then he bites my ear and whispers, “You look stunning, and stunned in this picture.”

I look at it and try to snatch it from him, but he hugs me tighter and starts kissing my neck.

“Oh, Dee, we are both going to be late, we still need to travel, stop mooching and sizing my breast,” I casually call him out.

“Tell me, Avery, are you really going out with other guys?” he turns me so I could face him.

His eyes are quite serious, so I brush his nose with my fingers like he always does, “Are you going to fuck other girls?” I throw the questions back at him.

“But, fucking and dating are different,” he insists.

“On your terms, yes, in my point of view, they are related,” I smile at him.

“Then, we are related, aren’t we?” he says trying to find a loophole.

“Mister, don’t you forget, you were the one who wanted a sex contract, not me. You avoided my offer and rejected my love, so now, I compromise your logic, right?”

He didn’t speak anymore. I turn around and ask him a favor, “Help me with this zipper, will you?”

When I am all dressed up, I pick my things up and walk in front of the door.

“Are you sure you don’t want to say goodbye to Jeff, he’ll be disappointed, just so you know, he really likes you?” he persuades me.

“No, I’ve decided, I’ll leave it to fate. In order to move on from you, I need a little more enchanting than how I’ve met you,” I wink at him.

“Huh, I won’t be easily forgotten, woman,” he assures of himself.

“I know. And I don’t intend to,” then I leave the room as soon as I said it, and Dmitri chases after me.

While in the car, I charm away my last look at this hotel where lots of things happened.

***

I immediately report to work as soon as I go back to Seattle, and the moment I step into the office, confetti and party poppers welcome me.

Then my boss Cindy, together with my workmates give me a round of applause.

Cindy hugs me and says, “Well done, Avery. Well done!”

Apparently, I can say that they already got my draft for my article about the underwater hotel Dmitri owns.

I smile and enjoy my glorious moment.

After the overwhelming moment we don’t usually have, I go back to my own workspace, take off my heels, sit down on my receiving couch and stretch my whole body and limbs.

“Oh, god, thank goodness, I am back,” I thought myself. I still want to enjoy my first moment of lonesome, when Cindy’s clacking heels tap over my shoulder.

When I open my eyes, I see her just by the office door.

“Cindy, is there anything I can help you with?” I ask.

Then she wears a devilish grin and sits beside me. She pokes me on my side and finally babbles, “You are one naughty girl, Avery. I know what happened back there.”

My eyebrows raise, and I wear a poker face, “And?”

“Don’t pretend, I know you and Dmitri are a thing. That’s why we are the single publishing company who got to release this pitch, dear. And if not, why would he personally requires you, huh?” she doesn’t know how to stop.

“Look, about that, it won’t happen again,” I promise Cindy.

But I am speechless of her answer, “Oh, I don’t care, as long as we get more, do what you must.”

I touch my head as she stands up. This is what I hate, others soiling my precious talent, thinking I am all dirty work without potential, using my beauty to my advantage.

“Oh, and by the way,” she adds before she leaves.

“There’s still more?” This time I frown at her without any kindness in me.

“That other guy, with black hair, so fucking hot,” she giggles as she finally exits my domain.

And this is the first time Jeff ever comes across my mind. I smile at the thought of him.

“My sweet Jeff, how will fate play on us?” I utter and then sleep for a while.

***

At that very same time, K won’t stop bugging me unless I meet with her. So here I am, at exactly six o’clock standing in front of the building, waiting for her to fetch me.

Since Dmitri only drops me off, I have no choice but to wait on her.

A few minutes have passed and a familiar car parked in front of me, it was Nikolai’s car.

The passenger seat window rolls down, and their smiling faces inside got exposed, they greet me afterward.

So I hop in at the backseat, like a chaperone as always. And as soon as the car door closes, Kendra pulls me and hugs me tight.

She squeals and says, “Eeek, girl, I miss you, A.”

I see Nikolai laughs at her and she pouts. So I support her boyfriend, “You are so dramatic, I was just gone for what, three days?”

“But I’ve missed you. You seemed distant lately, that’s why,” she sadly says. So I pinch her cheeks and say, “Well, here I am, where to?”

Nikolai drives off as soon as I set in. K looks at him and asks, “So, babe, what do you like to eat, huh?”

“Hmm, lemme see, pizza?” Nikolai teases her. He’s becoming more comfortable around me now.

K punches her, “No, I ate pizza yesterday,” she scowls.

“And you, Avery? What do you want to eat?” he asks me through the rearview mirror.

I thought for a while, and I suddenly remember Jeff, so I choose to visit a Japanese restaurant around the area since he is half-Japanese who’s born here in the US.

“Let’s go for sushi and some noodles,” I squeak.

“Asian food it is,” K seconds.

***

We go to one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants around the area who got a Michelin-star, and it really looks promising.

And while we are waiting, K, who is like an investigator, can’t wait for me to spill the bean.

So the first thing I do is talk about the new guy I am attracted to.

I smile at them like a sly fox, and like a wild woman I boldly say, “I met a hot guy in Key Largo, hot, smart, and damn kind.”

And I gently put the picture on the table, and K can’t really believe what she’s saying.

“Fuck off!” is what she says to me, while Nikolai quietly looks at me.