MELANIE
I groaned as I tossed another samosa into my mouth. Yes, I could afford to make samosas now. What could I say? Get a good job, my people! For the first time in years I felt good, relaxed. The only thing that stressed me out right now was dad's health, and my overbearing boss, of course. But I was getting through it, killing it, just like I should.
I looked down at my watch in agony. Emily should have arrived ten minutes ago. Maybe I was being just a tad impatient, but I'd waited two weeks already, I needed her back. At this rate I would finish the snacks I had prepared before she got back. To calm my hunger and begin my discipline, I swallowed two more of the samosas and gulped down one more drink then lay on the couch and began to scroll through my social media.
Fifteen minutes later, my doorbell rang. I jumped so quickly I nearly injured myself. As I swung the door open, I launched at her, groaning in happiness. "Em! I missed you so much," I cried, wiping invisible tears from the corner of my eyes.
She laughed, pushing her bags toward me and kicking off her shoes. "Ugh, I'm so exhausted. I need to shower."
"I prepared a bath for you already," I smirked, folding my arms in triumph. "I know, I know, it's not easy coming by someone this sweet, this thoughtful. You don't need to thank me."
"Idiot," She snickered, pushing past me and towards the bathroom. "And what on earth smells so nice in here."
"Well," I spread my arms wide. "Yours truly has been doing some magic in the kitchen."
"Mm hmm, I'll be the judge of that," She turned up her nose and walked into the bathroom, leaving me laughing.
Some minutes later she was out. "Okay so trips are nice and all, but I'm so glad to be home for real."
I stared at her. "Really? I just want to leave this hellhole. Go on vacation somewhere nice and stay there forever, ugh. I swear if I had no responsibilities and a ton of cash, I would be outta here."
Em bit into a snack thoughtfully. "Well, now you put it like that, it does sound dreamy. Well, maybe it's because it was a work trip, I don't know."
"Yeah, yeah. But enough about that, how did it go..." I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
Em nearly choked on her snack. "Didn't you hear me say it was a work trip?"
"Yeah right. Gimme the deets, bitch."
She chuckled, pouring more wine into her glass. "Well, there might or not have been this one guy I met."
My eyes widened. "You slut. Pictures, now!"
Still chuckling she clicked on her Instagram and opened up an account.
"You fucking stalker! You found his Instagram already?" I shrieked, staring at her in disbelief. "I don't even know you anymore," I shook my head in mock disappointment.
I swallowed as she handed me the phone to view his picture. Drop dead gorgeous was the only suitable term to describe him. "You got a taste of this ass?"
Emily slapped my back, covering her face with her hands. "What the hell is your problem? You're the most dramatic person I have ever met."
"Fuck!" I sucked in a breath as I came across a shirtless photo of him on the beach. "No, he should definitely be put on a magazine cover or something because, damn!"
Emily dragged her phone from my hands, laughing and shoving me. "Well, that happened. It's nothing serious, don't worry."
I frowned. This again. Since she broke up with her ex two years ago, Em had not dated anyone. It was like she swore she would cut off anything that had to do with relationships. I couldn't really blame her though. Her last breakup had been terrible. The guy she had been dating for five years and six months had suddenly gotten married without warning. And thus had happened while he was dating Emily. There was no warning, no breakup, nothing. Emily had been scrolling on Facebook one weekend at my place and she had come across his wedding photos. At first she had thought it was a joke but we later confirmed it from a mutual friend.
Still in denial, Em had called him up and the bastard had the guts to be so casual about it. He apologized and said he was happy with his wife and wanted nothing to do with her. And then he hung up.
I was so full of rage that I tracked him down. A few weeks later, I had found him at a party. Without even thinking, I had begun to hit him till his face bled. That was the first time I had gotten arrested. I didn't regret it though. Emily's uncle was a cop, so he had gotten me out.
For the first time since I'd known her, I saw Emily weak, tired, cry her eyes out for months on end. When she had finally gotten over it, she cancelled everything that had to do with relationships. If she met someone she liked, all they would share was a one night stand and then she was gone. What made me worried was that sometimes she genuinely liked the person, but she was too scared and broken to try anymore.
Knowing that she wouldn't appreciate discussing that now, I didn't push it. "Is he good though?"
"What do you think?" She winked.
"Okay, hoe!"
She gave a boisterous laugh. "Anyways, about you. Please, spill. Work and your dashingly handsome prince charming."
"Again, with this. I still don't get what all the fuss is about this man. Yes he's a big businessman and a multibillionaire, but he's also an asshole."
Em groaned. "Really? But he's so hot, for fuck sakes."
"Yeah, doesn't change anything," I laughed.
"You can't tell me you don't find him attractive, Mel. He is literally a demi god."
I was grateful for the hoodie I was wearing when goosebumps filled my skin at the thought of what happened in the elevator. He had to be the sexiest man I had ever met. I toyed with the idea of telling Em about the elevator incident. But I decided against it. I knew she would not let me hear the last of it.
And so I didn't.