As we entered the kitchen, I put my hand on his shoulder, and we noticed that the table had already been set. Two candles are lit on the table, and two plates are served with a silver platter in the middle. Red wine is poured into two wine glasses until they are full.
Melvin is the one who frees the seat for me. "I want to show you how much I care for you."
****
When Melvin removes the cover from the plate, he discovers it contains a roast. The area surrounding the roast includes a few potatoes, pumpkin, beans, broccoli, and cauliflower. The roast is split into two pieces, and he lays two of them on my platter. "What vegetables would you like?"
"I'll have them all."
As the vegetables are being roasted, he places them on the platter and pours some gravy. It's great to see that you're not a picky eater. Because Michelle is so selective, it is difficult for the cooks to prepare a delicious dinner for her. She does not consume the majority of the food that is produced here. She prepares her salad and food every time she stays at this location. It is her belief that the cooks are attempting to take her life.
I chuckle to myself. "Maybe they are." As I looked around the kitchen, I noticed that one of the cooks was cooking dessert for us. "You should let them eat something."
In the direction of the kitchen, Melvin looks. "I'll be right back." As he enters the kitchen, she converses with the other women.
A smile appears on their face as they glance at me. When I allowed them to take a break, several of them even thanked me for it.
When Melvin gets back to his seat, he rests his hand on top of mine where I am sitting. "Is there anything else you need?"
I give a head shake. The people who prepare your meals need to be treated with more consideration. If you are not careful, they could poison it.
It is a laugh. They won't treat me in such a manner. I know how they gaze at Michelle whenever she is in the vicinity. Things were the same with you, but when they realized that you are nothing like her, they were relieved since it meant they could prepare anything they wanted whenever they wanted.
If only we could eat together without bringing up his girlfriend, I would be so happy. At this exact moment, she is not present. We are the only two of us.
I am the focus of Melvin's attention. "Are you alright?"
I let out a sigh. Melvin, if we are going to maintain the appearance of being engaged, you will have to refrain from bringing up Michelle. As I am the one who is here with you, she is away on a trip overseas.
The vibrations on my phone start to come on, and I look at it. The name 'Seraphina' appears on the screen.
"Please excuse me. This is a call that I have to take." After leaving the dining room, I go outdoors to the garden.
Me: Hello, Seraphina.
Seraphina: Can you come into the office tomorrow with your fiancé? There are a few things that I would like to discuss with both of you.
Me: Are you going to make out with him again?
Seraphina: No,
Me: Okay, but if you're going to work with him more, I want to be in the room.
Seraphina: That's fair.
Me: How is the new line coming?
Seraphina: I've hit a wall with the designs and don't know what to do.
Me: I have a few ideas that I would love to run by you tomorrow.
Seraphina: Okay, be at my office at ten.
Me: I will. See you then.
After hanging up, I make my way back into the house. While Melvin is on his phone, he touches the back of his neck. I watch him doing this.
When he is feeling frustrated, he does that. Therefore, whoever is on the other end of the line is the one who is causing him to behave in that manner.
When Melvin looks at me, he makes a mouthful. When I come into the kitchen, I find the cooks eating while standing around the table. "Michelle," I say to myself.
As soon as I go into the room, they gaze at me.
"Can I get you something?" A young lady with blonde hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin inquires.
There is a plate in front of her, and I gaze at it. No, you are free to continue eating. Melvin was the one person I needed to get away from. He is calling Michelle.
There is a scrunching up of the girl's face. "That girl is not someone I like. She never fails to treat us poorly whenever she is in this place. She is looking at me. "You are nothing like what I had initially imagined you to be. Melvin needs a woman like you to settle down with.
I chuckle to myself. "There is no way that will take place. They are going to have a family and live happily ever after. He will marry Michelle, and they will have a family, even though I am unsure what will happen to me."
It was her hand that was extended to me. "I'm Ava." She tells me the names of the other women in the room while pointing to the rest of the women in the room.
Melvin enters the room as the door which leads to the kitchen is released. He is looking at me. "We should finish dinner."
After he grabbed my hand, we proceeded to leave the kitchen together.
Across from Melvin, I am seated. Seraphina desires to meet with us tomorrow. She thinks you would be a good fit to represent her new line.
"How do you feel about that?"
"The truth is that. At the office, I would enjoy seeing you more often. In a suit, you have a beautiful appearance. You ought to wear them more frequently.
We will be attending additional parties when I am not working on-site. Will you convey to Seraphina the information that your mother shared with you?
"Yes, I am," she said. It would be inappropriate for me to withhold information from the ladies who allowed me to photograph for their fashion line. I wouldn't be in the position that I am in right now if it weren't for them. Like several of my siblings, I would survive on the money my parents provided.
No, you would not have done it. You have always been a lot of a dreamer, and you have always accomplished anything you set your mind to. Everything would have remained the same as before. The senior prom that you planned for us is something that you may recall.
That night is still very fresh in my mind.
A grin appears on my face as I look at you. "How could I possibly forget such a night? You wanted to avoid coming into contact with all of the girls at our school, so you asked me to meet you. We danced all night, and when the night came to a close, you kissed me and whispered something in my ear. All my life, I've had the desire to do that. I was surprised when you came over the next day and told me it was a mistake to kiss me and that it would be best if we forgot about it.
While he is seated, Melvin changes his position and glances at the table. "The following day, I was a complete and utter jerk. My memory of that kiss has not been erased to this day. Nothing has ever compared to the kiss that we had with one other.
"Why are you doing this now, Melvin?"
"If we're going to fool everyone that we're in love, it's stuff like this that we need to discuss before we move forward."
I am aware that he is correct, but is it possible for me to genuinely tell him how I feel about him without appearing to be a complete fool to my closest friend?
"Please jump, Kathy."
While I am expressing my feelings to him, I cannot face him.
While doing so, I stare at the table and play with my fingers. "From the beginning, Melvin, I have always liked you more than a friend. I just suppressed my feelings for you because I knew you would not feel the same way about me. More than anything else, I would choose to be your friend and have you in my life rather than not have you at all. I had anticipated that this would be simpler than it actually is. I seriously doubt that I will be able to pull this off." I get to my feet and start walking on my way to my room.
I feel arms grab me just as I reach the steps, and they have me spinning around. I am unable to avoid falling into Melvin's firm chest.
"Kathy, you are not going to abandon me. I am relieved that you have shared your feelings with me.