Reyona looked around and wondered why she had let go of little pleasures like this. Going out just to be with herself and her thoughts. She had never been much of a social person. Not even in college when her mates had been jumping from party to party. Reyona had either been buried in her books, tutoring someone or finishing up her assignment.
Her roommates had given up on her and called her hopeless after trying as much as they could to get her involved in their outings and parties. And they had left her alone after telling her she had no idea what she was missing. Reyna had not thought there was anything to miss in going out every other night, sneaking into the hostel in the wee hours and waking up bleary-eyed to go to class the following day.
No, she was sure there was nothing to miss at all. Since most of them who relish telling her just how boring her life was for a college student would still end up begging her for her notes and pointers when they were running behind.
She had not goofed around for a year like two of her roommates had done after graduation, backpacking across the country and doing God-knows-what as they underwent what they called their transitioning period. No, there had been no transitioning period for Reyona. She had started scouting for jobs even before they completed their final papers. A month after graduation she already secured one at a reputable firm. Within a year, she already realised that being an employee of a company was not what she wanted. She craved challenges. The kind that came from taking on different clients with different cases.
A little over a year after she said goodbye to college, ReyDexter LLC had been birthed, tough going at first but she had made it happen. Met Thomas and two years later, they walked down the aisle. She had thought she had it all figured out.
What a joke. She thought of her friends who called her uptight. Her colleagues; who called her a prude. She had thought they simply did not understand her. Then after she married Thomas, her life revolved around him, her work, and their home. The beautiful home she had envisioned for them.
"A whole lot of good that did you now" she muttered to herself as she picked her margarita. Had a long drink as she looked towards the raised podium to the side where some men were setting up with their instruments.
She smiled to herself as she remembered how much her grandmother had loved a live band. It never mattered to Eugenia whether they were good or not, what mattered to her was the effort they put in.
"God, how I miss her," Reyona thought wistfully to herself as she knew that her grandmother would have been the first person she would have turned to the first time she learnt of what a joke her marriage had been. "Grams would have had plenty to say about this," she thought again even as she knew that her grandmother wouldn't have approved of the path she had chosen to deal with this issue. No, she would have told her that she was causing herself more misery this way. Grams had never believed in an eye for an eye but her granddaughter was not above it, No, nobody would take her for a fool and get away with it.
"Maybe it was time to put a stop to the pretence though," she thought as the first strain of a soulful tune filled the bar from the clever plucking of the guitar, Reyona looked over and sighed as she thought "Yes, it is high time"
She was unravelling more and more now and she doubted she could look at him one more time with any form of love without feeling like she should stab him with a salad fork. She had thought she could hold on to her act for longer but she doubted it.
Yes, Grams would have been right. She was only torturing herself by continuing like this. It should be high time to let the deceitful bastard know that he was not as wise as he had thought himself after all. To let him know that she might have been totally gullible for years but she was on to him now and his game was up.
"And then what? All your careful plans will be for nothing? Are you so weak that you couldn't bear to see him hurt as much as you have planned before? Just admit it. You are a ninny" her inner voice hissed at her.
Reyona picked up her drink as she refused to analyse her feelings. She shut off the restless thoughts in her mind and concentrated on the musicians in front. One of them had started singing while the harmony of drum, bass and guitar blended with the smooth rich voice.
Grams would approve indeed. Reyona had no idea what the song was. Something about how love snuck up on the singer when he least expected it. Reyona did not think much of love or it sneaking up on anyone these days but she liked the sound of the tune and how it washed over her. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh as she decided to leave behind everything she knew she would have to deal with when she left this place and let the music wash over her. Even if she didn't believe a word of it.
She did not know that a smile curved her lips nor did she have any idea of the man sitting opposite her who seemed enraptured with her expressions and movements. Not until she heard his voice did she realise that she had an audience.
"That good?" she heard his lilting voice that sounded musical for a man.
Reyona opened her eyes slowly and looked at him with a slight arch of her brow. She was sure he was referring to her as he had his eyes on hers with a touch of a smile on his sensuous lips.
He inclined his head towards the band "I mean them. Is the music that good? You seemed to be in a world of your own and one you loved so much if one could judge by the smile on your face" he said with that smile of his still in place.
She knew his type. The cocky grin. The self-assured stance. Yes, she knew his type and she did not care for the look in his eyes as he looked at her. No, she did not.