Chapter 19
“were not stupid. Probably don’t know how to survive for yourself. Without him you would have ever been able to afford such luxuries” they retorted. Seems as though they weren’t nearly done with me.
I stood my ground sighing deeply.
I turned to face them so I could give them a piece of my mind, but I was interrupted before I even had chance to open my mouth.
“if you weren’t stupid, you would know that she has a successful published book. Can’t women treat themselves when they succeed or do, they have to rely on their husbands” the words were not as vulgar as the ones I was about to spit.
There was class in the way they were said.
I followed the voice and met the piercing eyes of Emily. “we didn’t mean it like that, we’re sorry” I scoffed. So, what did they mean by that?Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“think its best if you leave” Emily said. The two women quickly walked past us leaving the store completely.
I stood there registering what just happened.
“Thank you” I said moving past her and heading to pay for my shopping.
“Charlize I would really like to talk with you, privately” Emily said from beside me as the woman kindly packaged my shopping.
I closed my eyes briefly. “just because you helped me out back there doesn’t mean were fine” I said turning to her. Making it clear I was not ready.
“I know, I don’t expect us to become close I would just really like to talk with you, over coffee perhaps?” with the feeling of peoples eyes watching the whole commotion I gave in. As soon as we sat down someone came to ask for our orders.
“I’ll have a Caffe latte with soya milk” I said as Emily gave her order as well.
I noticed that Emily always spoke with class and grace, I just wished she would act that way as well.
“congrats on your book, I’ve heard its sold out online” she says placing her phone in her bag. At least I know she’s going to give me her full attention.
I smiled lightly. My publisher called me this morning to tell me the great news. She advised me to have my book available online saying I would get the most sales from that method. She was right.
“what did you want to talk about, I know its not about my book” I said cutting straight to the chase.
I was not planning on staying here long.
“you’re right, I’ve been meaning to talk o you for a while, but I also wanted to give you space” how kind I thought. She stared at me; I could see the guilt in her eyes, but I wasn’t going to be weak in front of her.
“I personally want to apologise for everything. I’m not stupid I knew of your relationship with Leonardo. We have been in business together for a while and I misread everything” I fidgeted underneath the table.
This would be the first real time I’ve really spoken about it this deeply.
“did you not think it was serious, did Leon tell you that” I snapped at her, I wanted to know what she meant by that.
Our drinks came interrupted what could have been a heated discussion. As my drink was placed before me, I realised here is not the time to be acting like this.
She took a little sip of her drink. “Leonardo was a great friend to me. this is no excuse, but I was going through a hard time with my family and he made me forgot about my problems. We flirted occasionally and it was often fabricated to be more than what it really was with the media”
I clenched my fists against the chair I didn’t need the media to add intriguing titles, I saw it with my own eyes.
“I was the one who kissed him, and even when he stopped me and said no, I carried on and that is totally my fault” I listened to her carefully.
I feel sad that she thinks its all her fault, she’s taking in all the blame. Parts of my wonder if Leon put her up to this.
“what else has Leon told you to say. No matter what Emily don’t let him force you to lie, it isn’t good for you “I have no idea why I was being nice.
I should be furious”
“NO!” she blurted “I haven’t spoken to him since you confronted us” this made my look at her.
She took another sip leaning forward “as you know we spent a lot of time together and I can say 80% of that time we were talking about you”
Probably talking about how much of an idiot I am.
“Leon felt lonely. he spent late hours in the office working because you barely had time for him, I don’t think he was ready for a family then” ready? Did he think I was ready? To do it all on my own like that is he fucking crazy.
I didn’t know what to think of this.
“I’m not here to cause any more problems, it actually pains me to see the impact I had on your family Charlize” she went as far as reaching over the table and grabbing my hand.
I stiffened. “I truly am sorry for everything Charlize, but you have to know we never got intimate like that. I know you think we had sex but that never happened” she declared to me.
Those last few words made my whole-body freeze. I actually feel sick to my stomach. If they didn’t do anything why didn’t he just say so instead of me thinking he fucked her.
The sound of her phone ringing brought us out from our little moment.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.
“Hello” she said pressing her phone against her ear.
“what did you mean did you send him the contract… did he have a reason why he didn’t like it” she briefly looked at me after those words.
“he is being ridiculous, no don’t do anything yet we will have to re-evaluate the terms” she said a few other things before hanging up.
She slowly placed the phone down staring out.
“this won’t work” she rubbed her forehead like she was trying to get rid of a headache, I’m more than sure that’s exactly what she was doing.
A part of me felt sorry for her.
“he won’t agree to anything I put forward and he just shoves all my plans and ideas t the side, he is being extremely reckless, and our sales are a result of that” I stared at her.