Elba looked paler than she normally did when nervous.So Lamar figured he must've startled her.
He closed the small distance between them and held her in a tight embrace for a while.
"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner."He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her head sideways.Lamar noticed her behavior and wondered what was up with her.Normally,she'd be entangled in his arms and wrapped around him.The way he likes and he was doing everything in his power not to pin her against the wall and take her hard and fast.He was curious if she was wearing anything under her Versace skin tight black skirt.
He was mad at her for leaving without saying goodbye.He was more pissed because she seemed to enjoy Kucuk's stupid company last evening.
Instead of lashing out,Lamar took her hand and led her out.Alya was holding off a restless crowd of girls at the washrooms door when they came out.
"Okay,you can go on and help yourselves.Thank you for your cooperation ladies."Lamar had a sly smirk on for what Alya must have thought they were doing in there.Not bad, atleast she had an idea.
"Alya, Zeynep was waiting for you to ride with her."
Elba remained quiet and watched him take charge.He easily got rid of Alya.Elba was too tired for an argument so she remained quiet beside him.
She patted herself in the back for standing immune against Lamar's charms.It was a hard task especially with his curls hanging over his forehead,she wanted to rub them into place,but she made it through.She wanted to lose herself in his passion so bad but her body could wait till she'd cleared whatever was going on between them first.
Lamar found his car and helped her in.Elba wanted to thrash out,tell him how hurt she felt because Sapphire had been calling at his penthouse and he went on a date with her.She wanted to tell him about her dream but it sounded stupid,even in her own head.Then there was the Italian redhead.A girl couldn't just enjoy her man without watching her back!
"What's up with you and
Cecil?"She blurted before she could stop herself.She noticed how Lamar went stiff at the question and that was a sign she wouldn't like the answer.
He glanced at her then back at the road.
"I want to tell you something but I need you to trust me."Her face literally turned white and she wanted to take back her question but it was too late.She was also curious for his answer.No woman had caught his attention that much in a while.Atleast not after they started dating.
And also knew for a fact that Basak had never liked her for Lamar and would work tooth and nail to marry him off.And now that she wasn't clouded in the haze of love making,she realized she would let Lamar marry anyone if Basak had a gun to his head.She rather be seeing him with another woman than dead."
'But lord,let it not come to that.'
He seemed to be choosing his words well or taking his time with whatever he wanted to say.Either her hunch was right about him and Cecil or he feared she would go nuts when he spoke.Either way,she would be hurt and the more he remained silent,the more she played out all the possible scenarios in her head.It was equally maddening.
"Okay, what is it you want me to trust you with?"Elba couldn't take the silence anymore.She felt weary and had gotten sick after the whole runway event and wanted to rest."Is it about Cecil?"The woman's name sounded sour in her mouth."You want to marry her?"Elba said in a choked voice.
"I don't!I won't!I'll find Basak another way to seal his deal without marrying Cecil."
"Alright."
That wasn't the answer she expected but it was something.Something to keep her up the rest of the week!So Basak was really trying to marry Lamar off.The guy never liked her and the feeling was mutual between the two.Why?Elba didn't know and never cared to ask.
Le Rose Milie's lobby came into view as Lamar stopped his car.
They hadn't spoken anymore words in the car.Lamar undid his seat belt and fully turned to her.He then took both of her hands in his and brought them to his lips,their moisture getting her attention from the lobby to him.
"I hate it when you're like this.Talk to me queen bee..."
"No,I want you to talk to me...why didn't you tell me about Cecil sooner?You avoided me all week when you were in Italy taking her to nightclubs."Elba spoke softly at first but raised her voice at the last statement.
"I wanted to--"
"But you didn't!You need to learn to open up to me.You always say you're an open book , nothing to hide.But when something important comes up,you leave me to find out what's happening from the tabloids!"Elba unhooked her safety belt as well."I'm always last to find out what's going on with you!"
"Babe..."
"I'm tired.I'll talk to you later."She got out of the car and into the hotel.
Lamar watched her disappear into that building,his mind running wild.
'What does she mean tired?Like tired of me or what?It must be Kucuk poisoning her mind.'
He'd never seen her so intense and distracted.She had her eyes everywhere but where he wanted them,on him.It was easier to read her mind that way.
Lamar gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.He knew perfectly well what she meant by open book.She wanted him to share the one part of his life he wished remained buried.It was too shameful to talk about,let alone talk about it with her.