Heather's POV
"Open the door, Heather!" Trudy angrily shouted as she banged on my door. "You have some explaining to do."
I laughed as I went towards the door. I am pretty sure she got the call. Red definitely has reached out to her otherwise, why would she be so upset like this?
I opened the door, as I saw her gripping the phone on her hand. I can see her whole body tensing up as she tried to give the phone to me but I didn't take it.
"It's Red," she said. She didn't even bother if Red is listening, although perhaps she put it on mute.
"So?" I answered, sarcastically. I could see her nostrils flaring up and I smiled. I liked it when Trudy is getting at this state. She never liked surprises like this and it made her feel slightly shaken up as her guards crumble down. This is not on her list. The one thing that Trudy hates is the unexpected since her mostly entire life was based on schedules. Red was not part of it, or probably she forgot to include him altogether which was, for me, unfair. Now, she will be forced to enlist him again in his daily calendar of life events.
Good. I laughed in my mind. It's about time.
Finally, at least she could forget James for good by having Red around. She deserved someone better and after scanning like so many Frederick Navarro on Facebook yesterday afternoon, I was relieved to finally got the right one as I saw a picture of them when they were in high school. Then, I messaged him about Trudy and I've learned that he is actually planning to go to New York to see her, too. He wanted to put up a restaurant with his friend. I grinned as a plan had contemplated inside my head.
"You! I hate you," she growled at me as she narrowed her eyes. I could see her eyebrows twitching in rage.
"What?"
"You planned all this! You asked him to come to New York. Ugh!"
"Can you please calm down and hang up? The poor guy must be waiting nervously on the other end. Please don't keep him waiting."
"You go talk to him. I... I don't know what to say."
"He's your guy best friend, for goodness sakes! You got tongue-tied? Why? The last time you got tongue-tied is when James asked you out for the first time. Oh, I get it! Got bit by the lovebug, huh?" I joked.
"Are you crazy?! I just broke up with James."
"No, correction. He cheated on you with your cousin and that kind of guy is not worth crying over and over again. He's a goner. Bury him in the ground."
"Not everyone is like you, Heather. I could still feel the pain... It's not that easy," she said as she slumped on my bed. Then, she worried her lip.
I sighed. "I didn't tell you to date him now. Just let him in again as friends."
She sighed and finally unmute the phone. She talked to him for awhile then hung up. She looked at me. Her eyes were wide in either surprised or astonishment and I was eager to know the whole details of their conversation.
"What? What did he say?"
"He... He's at Chelsea Market now waiting for his friend!"
"What?! Okay, just give me ten minutes and I'll be ready," and I went straight to the bathroom. I took a very quick shower and put on a a white t-shirt and black jean shorts. Then we started walking out the door.
Our apartment is on West 23rd Street and 8th avenue. During the cold months, we would sometimes take the subway but since it is summer, we would rather walk than fry ourselves waiting for the train. It is eight in the morning and people started to fill up the streets.
Five o' clock in the morning is the earliest that Trudy goes to the bakery ro prepare and then opens it an hour later. It was not supposed to be open today but I convinced her last night so she could be distracted, and also to take down that annoying picture of James and her that was hanging on the wall on one side of the bakery. I'll probably replaced it with the picture of the four of us. Besides, the bakery was named Four of A Kind after all. It would be a much better addition to it than James.
I asked for a week off from my boss a month ago so I can assist Trudy in her preparations for the wedding. But since it will not happen, I will be stuck with her throughout the week so I decided to help her out in the bakery instead. Since it opened, I have been helping her out when I get the chance. My work has given me the opportunity to work from home and I can go to the office when needed.
Dozens of people are crowding the street as some are heading for work. A nearby coffee shop is already filled up with people as everyone desired to get a jumpstart on the caffeine before their morning routine. Kids walked with backpacks holding their parents and nannies as they hurriedly walked towards the gate of the public school in front of our building.
The best thing that made me fall in love with Manhattan is how everyone seems to keep themselves busy. Everyone has something to do or go to and I would never get tired of the rustling and bustling of the streets as vehicles from both directions pass by that long avenue towards our destination.
Chelsea Market is just a ten-minute walk from our apartment and we usually walked at eighth avenue and make a turn towards the corner on West 15th street. I was walking ahead of Trudy and was making that turn when suddenly I felt a shiver that ran down the front of my shirt as something bumped into me. I gasped as I looked down at myself. I was covered in what could be iced coffee.
I gaped in disbelief as I saw a guy with a phone on one hand and an almost empty opened Starbucks Coffee on another hand. He looked at me, grinning like I was the most amusing creature he had ever seen.
"What the hell?!" I roared as I gritted my teeth in rage.
"Oops! Sorry, Miss," he said as his eyes went down on my shirt which by now in its very light material clung to my body.
"What the hell are you looking at, perv?!"
"Look, Miss, I-"
I fumed and I slapped him. I saw his eyebrows furrowed as he held on the cheek I marked with my hand. I could have broken his perfectly curved nose if I haven't thought of being sued.
He gaped at me and then pursed his lips again as we heard another guy coming towards him.
"Drake!" and we looked who the guy was. It was Red!
"R-Red?" Trudy said and gasped. "Is this the friend you're telling us?"
"Yes. He's my college buddy and partner, Drake Johnson," he replied as Drake gave me an unnerving stare. I raised my eyebrow at him and put my hands on my hips.
"I might have to change my mind, Red," Drake said as his blue eyes pierced through me. If his eyes were knives, I could have been killed instantly.
"Drake, can we talk it out first?" Red said.
"Well, why don't you talk to your friend right here? Maybe she can do something about it," and Red looked at me as his eyes grew wide. He looked away instantly. I covered the front of my shirt with my hands.
"What happened?" Red asked me.
"This good friend of yours spilled his entire iced coffee on my shirt most probably because he wasn't looking where he is going," I accused Drake.
"Look! It was an accident. I already said sorry while you purposefully slapped me."
"You were staring at my boobs, you moron!"
"I didn't mean to."
"Pervert!"
"Me, a pervert? I would rather squeeze a watermelon than those tennis balls. I've seen way better, thank you very much," he said, mocking me.
I gaped at him and said, "And I bet a thimble is way larger than your d*ck."
"Oh no, you didn't just-" and he started to walk towards me as Red stopped him.
"Dude, please," Red pleaded.
"Didn't you hear how she just insulted me?"
"Well, you started it," I said.
"I can't deal with this, man! Deal's off."
"Drake..." Red pleaded.
"We can still operate without them. They need us but if I need to deal with her every single day, then we're done."
"Like I'd care! Trudy doesn't need you."
"Wait! You mean, you're not Trudy?"
"No. I'm Trudy and I'm the one you have to deal with, not her," and she gave me this look telling me to behave. I rolled my eyes.
"Very well then. Since she is not part of this deal, then she is out of our conversation."
"FYI, Mr. Johnson. I have an investment in her bakery, too. So I still have a say in this. Not only me, there's two more."
"I see... but Trudy, you're the main owner, right?"
"Yes. So what do you mean?"
"I would rather talk to someone who knows the operations of the company than just an investor. So, if you're still up to the plan, then let's do it."
"Red, I thought you're the main owner?" I asked, confused.
Drake chuckled as I knitted my eyebrows at him.
"Newsflash! I'm the main owner and investor. So, what are you going to do now?"
Before I could speak, Trudy interrupted.
"Okay, okay! Can we just stop all these? Why don't we all go to our apartment so Heather can change and chill for a moment, okay?" Trudy said.
"Great idea!" Red agreed.
"Let's take my car," and he walked over to his car which is a shiny grey Bentley Bentayga Hybrid SUV. One of the most expensive yet useful cars in this time. I was impressed.
Nice rolls. Good thing he has a good taste in cars.
But still my pride won't take it.
"There's no way I'm going in your car," I told him.
"Walk then!" he challenged me as he opened the door. Red opened the back door for Trudy and Red looked at me before going inside the car.
"You coming or what?" Red asked me.
I rolled my eyes and I flung my arms in frustration. I felt like Drake is manipulating everyone to gang up on me. I hated it!
So I statted to open the back door since they did not give me any choice.
"I'm not going to be a chauffeur," he said and I gritted my teeth and almost kicked the car in anger. I went to the other side to open the passenger side door. I sat there with my arms crossed, making sure he wouldn't give a glimpse of my so-called tennis balls. I pouted at the thought of it as he sat inside the driver's seat and he gazed at me.
"What?" I asked irritably.
"Nothing. Nice pout," he said and started the car.
I don't know if that was a compliment or an insult but I suddenly felt differently and color rose to my cheeks. Why am I feeling this way? This guy just got on my nerves moments ago and now with a single comment, I reacted differently. I pushed the idea away and glanced at him. He smiled contentedly looking amused of himself and I wanted to crumple his handsome face.
Yes, I hate to admit it but the guy is obviously handsome with perfectly chiseled face and sky blue eyes that made anyone melt as they stare at you. His light brown hair brushed up to the extent that made him looked like one of those guys in Baywatch. He is wearing a fitted blue t-shirt and jeans that made his muscles visible under his shirt most especially his six-pack abs. His hands looked like they were made for labor as it looked rough that when it runs on your skin you can feel every part of your body shiver.
Ugh! What am I thinking?!
I shouldn't be daydreaming about this guy and I honestly hated his guts. He thinks he is so cool that I wanted to smash his face on the steering wheel so he can have a permanent scar on that arrogant face. Well, at least I left a mark on it somehow. I smiled, thinking about it.
The ride was only five minutes and he found a spot a block away from our building. He turned the engine off and Red and Trudy got off the car first. I was about to open the door when his hand started reaching out and I slapped his hand away.
"What?" he said. "Do you honestly think I am reaching for your tennis balls? Get a hold of yourself, girl!"
"Then what the hell are you doing?"
"The documents are in that compartment and I needed to take them out."
"Can't you even wait until I come out?"
"I hate waiting," and he reached for the compartment again before I can even say anything. He glanced at my lips for a second as I looked into his eyes. Then, he retrieved the documents and opened the door. I tried to keep my composure the whole time as I smelled his perfume when he got close to me.
God, he smelled so good!
I blew out a breath on my face as I started opening the door. I can't believe how my body reacted. This should not be happening and yet I knew, at the back of my mind, Drake just took my breath away.
Oh God! I am in so much trouble, I thought as we went inside our apartment building.