Poundtown with Mr. Forbidden

Breakups Open New Doors

IRIS

I walk towards the office like the living dead. I can't believe it's no longer my adopted dad's but mine. My heart thuds as I touch the doorknob, fearing that I must now face the distress that followed his death concerning this restaurant.

I've ignored them for too long that it's now time to face reality, even when I don't feel ready.

"Charles, we really can't do this here, you know that." My ears pick up the sound as soon as I walk inside.

"Yo, you know you want this d**k. You know you wanna touch it, uh..." My eyes, weary and heavy from many sleepless nights, pop wide as I see my boyfriend lock my sales girl on my office desk. As though my blood is injected with something venomous, chills run down my spine.

"What the f**k?!" My brows furrow. I really don't want to believe this is real, even when I've had many suspicions that Charles is a cheat. But to one of my employees?

That's utter disrespect. The two of them spring apart, acting like they weren't just about to f**k. Their nervousness and dissembling is enough to confirm that I wasn't delusional.

"Iris, what's up? I wasn't expecting you to be around... not yet." Charles clears his throat and comes for me.

I slap his hand and take a step back. "f**k off. What was that? You fuckin my sales girl now?" I glance over to her. "Sonia, explain this. One of you should talk."

Charles interjects instantly. "What? That's absurd, I didn't even touch her. We were just talking, I swear."

A strange headache strikes from the shock. How can he lie with such a straight face?

"My dad died not long ago, Charles. Is this what you've been busy with? Why you never came to check in on me? I was with Mom in the hometown, but of course, you didn't even know about that, did you?" With a stern face, I point a finger at him when he tries to touch me.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Miss Bellaire." Sonia chimes in. I almost forgot her, but as soon as my eyes land on her, my anger elevates. She looks like a mess. Sure, like a slut would look.

"You're fired."

"Miss Bellaire..." She comes for my feet to plead.

Instead, I yell at her. "Get out, now!"

"What? You can't do that. I told you, nothing was happening."

"I'm really in a shitty mood right now, Charles, and your stupid ass doesn't even give a fuck." Tears brim the surface of my eyes. He never once called to even ask how I was doing or how I'm going to cope with the family business now that Dad's gone.

I add, "I'm losing the restaurant, Charles. Old investors are leaving, so I can't afford to cry no more." He gets closer, muttering sweet words into my ears. There was a time when it'd have made all my sorrows disappear and I'd feel so safe with him. "I don't even know how I want to save the business."

More tears slide down my cheeks as I state, "Well, since it looks like I'm gonna lose everything anyway, I want you to leave."

"You're kidding, right?"

I wipe my cheeks clean and raise my gaze, acting all strong while I'm crashing down deep down. Internally, I break as feeble as an egg.

To expect Charles cheating on me here is the last thing I expected when I came to check on any files that can help me save the restaurant. Of all places he could meet her, that he could f**k her, it had to be this place.

"I don't wanna ever see you."

He wipes his lips as his jaw twitches. I see the switch in his eyes before he spills the words. "You know, f**k you too. I've been managing your s**t all this time, but you're really not worth it. You'd be acting like you're the perfect one here, but you're just unwanted. That's just it. You've got no social life, and that's why you're fuckin alone."

"Get out!" The words rip out of me.

At the threshold, he turns back. "When you're back in your right senses, you'd realize you need me."

Alone in the space, I crash into the leather chair. My purse drops from my hands as my arm goes limp. I stare outside through the window, lost in deep thoughts. Regret, one of many.

Perhaps, I did too much. Maybe he's right and I'm not in my right senses. We've been together since high school, and I've been holding onto this relationship so much because I don't know where else to begin. Charles is all I know, down to being the only man who took my virginity.

My phone dings and I pick it up. I quickly fix myself as I see the caller.

"Victor baby." I chirp to hide my frustration.

"Hey, b***h!" He's literally screaming, and there's a metal sound in the background. Wait, is it what I'm thinking?

"Are you in a club?"

"Duh, yeah, the one I invited you to and you refused." His words slur, and I immediately know he plans to get laid tonight.

Drunk Victor means d**k-starved Victor. "You need to live, Iris. I'm serious. You've been mourning for a month now, please, you need to feel something."

My heart's too heavy, and I spill before I even think. "I think I just broke up with Charles."

Silence follows before I hear his scream. Happy scream? Damn, I've got the messiest man as a friend. "Yo, that calls for champagne. Ugh, I thought you'd never."

Of course, my childhood friend just had to hate my boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, I mean.

"I'm really not in the right headspace right now, Victor. I need to go and focus on how to pitch to the new investors I've invited for a board meeting next week. You have fun."

"I feel you, babe, but for real, come here. It's a new club, and a lot of folks are here. You'd enjoy it, then you can focus back on how you wanna save the restaurant. Remember, I wanna help you draft out your pitch too."

For a second, I almost drift off again. Opposite one of the windows, I see a vague reflection of myself and sigh. My caramel skin shines like gold against the evening sunlight, blending smoothly with my light makeup.

Truly, this is one of the many ways I can get Charles out of my mind.

Still battling Dad's death, I know I'd suffer anxiety attacks tonight again, especially now that Charles and I aren't together anymore. It'll be hell to head back home, knowing I'd be too distracted to even focus on work.

"But I don't have something to wear." I say after a few seconds. I'm currently dressed in a basic blue shirt and above-knee flared black skirt with flat shoes.

"Babe, just come like that. I'm sure you're chill. I'll text you the address, yeah?"

He doesn't wait for me to reply before he cuts the call. A second later, his message drops and I sigh again.

Seems I'm going to the club, but I swear I doubt I'd even have any fun. Who knows?