Touch of a Rose

All women are the SAME

Chapter 3

Ring ring, Ring ring… "He...Hello?" I might have been more tired than I first thought; I tried to clear my head as the man on the phone spoke.

    "Yes, Miss Moore this is the front desk, you have an incoming call from a Mr. Machado, would it be alright to forward the call?" At the mention of Mr. Machado's name I nearly fell out of bed. "Hello Miss Moore, is everything OK?" clearing my throat I tried to muster up the best phone voice I could think of.

    "Yes, uh yes I'll take the call." Scrabbling to fix my hair and get the sleepiness out of my eyes I laughed as I remembered, he couldn't see me through the phone.

    "You're the first woman to ever answer my call with a laugh, minha querida,"

    "Oh, no I wasn't laughing at you I was just..." As I fumbled over what words to say a deep rolling laugh resounded from the other side of the line. It sent shivers down my spine causing my ear to tingle as it gently resonated in my mind.

    "You truly are a special lady minha querida." The softness in his voice caused the air in my chest to catch as my heart fluttered under its sound. "As you may already be aware a Luau is being held this evening around 8 pm on the beach front of the Resort, I would be a source of envy to all if you would allow me to be your escort there, Miss Moore." I sat as still as a statue; unable to think, to breathe, and most of all to speak, as his words bounced around my head continuously. "Miss Moore are you still there?" Pulling myself together I mustered up the courage to speak.

       "Yes…I can escort me…I mean you, me…What I'm trying to say is yes, you can escort me." I want to die, somebody kill me. At first there was silence, but then I heard a small snicker, that grew into bellowing laughter that floated through the phone, my heart seemed to be doing flips.

***** Change POV*****

I could no longer contain myself, even her voice stayed true to her emotions; it was as if once again she sat right in front of me, as if I could reach out and trace her soft plump lips with hand. I was even privileged enough to overhear her, as she berated herself on the other side of the line.

    “Stupid, stupid, stupid! What is wrong with me? That was so embarrassing”

    "Forgive me Roselyn I do not mean to laugh, it just seems as if I may have to rethink my idea of woman. Since you have somehow appeared to have placed yourself into a category all your own. I just might be bested by you yet." I could hear her as she both sighed in I’m guessing relief and snickered at my words." I couldn't help but wonder how enchanting she would look in an all-out laughter. "Well Roselyn I have some business to attend to before the party, so would 8:45 be a suitable time for you?"

    "Yes, that'll be fine; we could meet in the lobby." I was hoping to pick her up from her room. Especially since I had her upgraded to the one down the hall from my own. It seems she's more of a budding flower, than a rose in full bloom.

    "In the lobby it is minha querida, until then."

    "Until then." As the line went silent, my secretary Marcy entered the office.

    "Mr. President all of the paperwork is in proper order; there are only a few documents that need your approval, as well as…" Marcy grew silent. Looking up I noticed there was hesitation in her.

    "What is it Marcy?" After thinking she spoke,

    "It seems that Miss Barbosa has returned to her home in Sao Paolo, after finalizing her divorce and has also…"Raising my hand I bid Marcy silent, I could feel the very blood in my veins grow cold at the mention of that woman's name.

    "Marcy, that woman has nothing to do with me; you will refrain from mentioning her in the future do you understand?"

    "Yes Mr. President I just hope you know I’m always here for you." Placing a seductive hand on my shoulder I could see the lust in her eyes. She was like every other women I had ever known or bedded. She was smart and damn good at her job, if not for her advances on me she would be the perfect secretary. She was beyond attractive but nevertheless I was not one to mix business with pleasure no matter how broken I was.

    "You may leave." With a slight pout and one last caress she set the documents on the desk and exited the room. Since coming to this Island I had all but forgotten the date that was now upon me. Has it really been 7 years? 7 years since my fiancé and childhood sweetheart, the woman I had pledged my all to, had left me during my darkest moment. There had been a horrible car accident and nobody was sure if I was going to make. Against all the odds I came out of it still intact, at least part of me. I was injured in a way that made pleasing a women difficult and becoming a father practically impossible. I was devastated, I had always dreamed of starting a family of being a father but it was all snatched from me by the cruelty of fate. Throughout the physical therapy and rehab she was there for me, I did every test and surgery to be the man she deserved. But right as things were beginning to look good I found her in the arms of another man. She said she had had a change of heart, that a broken man like me wasn't a good match for her after all. That she had transformed and preferred a more certain future with a more mature man. But it was all just a lie, she knew that if I couldn’t sire child the family business would fall to one of my cousins. She never truly loved me, she only loved what being with me would bring her; wealth, fame, prestige and power. In my grief I sealed myself from the world. It was a dark time for me I was unaware of my surroundings and of the troubles my father was experiencing. Due to stress and over work my father collapsed and became very ill, leaving me to care for his company, protecting it from our power-hungry relatives. Despite the company setbacks I was equipped with skills in both business and socializing skills and soon after I revamped the M Corp. Construction Company and things just took off. Work became my love and by the age of 25 I had already tripled my family's wealth, but that was 4 years ago. I thought I had all but forgotten what that woman had put me through. Yet as my hands balled into a fist, I couldn’t control the anger that all but consumed me, as I relived the pain of that betrayal. Reaching for the phone I paged Marcy,

    "Cancel my appointment with Miss. Moore, I'm in no mood for a celebratory evening."

    "Understood, Sir." Walking across the room I opened the scotch and brandy cabinet. Pouring a glass, I stood peering off into the night sky, frozen from the inside out. All women are the same; selfish and vain. There is no reason that she would be any different.

Ring ring! Ring ring!...

***** Change POV*****

    "Oh no, it's already half past 8, I bet that's Mr. Machado wondering where I am." Ring ring! Ring ring!... "Hello,"

    "Yes, Miss Moore, this is Mr. Machado's secretary Marcy Barb." Her snarky voice grated on my ears but I wasn’t about to let that ruin my night.

    "Yes, I'm so sorry I'm running a little late, could you tell Mr. Machado that I'll be right down, he hasn't been waiting long has he?" My heart beat faster at the mere thought of such a man waiting for me.  A condescending crackle played across the line.

    "Don’t flatter yourself Miss Moore, Mr. Machado had some urgent business to attend to and will regrettably be unable to accompany you to the Luau Party this evening." My hands tightened on the phone as she spoke.

    "I see..."

    "He wished to extend his deepest apologies." Before I could even reply the line went dead as I stood there receiver still to my ear unable to understand what had just happened. As I hung up the phone it felt as if my feet that only moments ago had been practically floating on air, were now placed firmly onto the ground. Walking into the bathroom I looked into the mirror. Somehow, the me that looked so dazzling before, appeared so plain now. I reached for some cotton pads as I started to take off the make-up when my bubbling anger stopped me.

    "No! I don't need a man to have fun or an escort to go to a party. Yea, I decided long before he asked that I was going to attend the Luau, having him was just a perk, I don't NEED him, it was just a nice addition that's all. Yes, a nice addition." Somehow I was able to pep talk myself into finishing getting dressed, even with the small voice that kept whispering, If only, if only. Despite already being pretty late I thought, what the heck, it's not like my night could get any worse, not after the call I got from Mel.

****Flashback****

    “Rose, Rose! You won’t believe it Eric is going to propose to me.” My mouth went dry at the sound of her voice. “Rose?”

    “Wait what?”

“Well aren’t you going to say anything? Your sister is going to get married aren’t you happy for me? I know you had a crush on him all those years but isn’t it about time you let it go.” I don’t know what came over me but to hear that my most kept secret was so evident to her really hurt.

    “Mel, you knew? You knew how I felt about him and yet you still…” Cutting me off with a laugh she just continued.

    “Oh, Rose be real, we both know Eric was too good for you. Between me or you who do you think would look better on his arm?” I was beyond livid. Mel was always like this one minute an angel and the devil the next. Sometimes I wondered if she truly loved me as her sister or was it all just an elaborate act.

    “Mel! I’ve never asked you for on thing and I’ve never fought you over anything even when I knew I was in the right, how could you do this to me?” As quick as whiplash she just started crying on the phone.

     “Rose, please don’t be mad at me I just wanted you to be happy for me and for us to not grow apart.” Is she trying out for some sort of play because she’s flipping emotions faster than you can flip a coin. Before I was able to even register what was happening my mothers voice boomed across the phone.

     “Rose, how could you make your sister feel bad on such a happy day? I can’t believe I gave birth to such a selfish girl.”

    “Sometimes I wonder the same thing.” My voice was low but the hint of grief was evident in my voice.

     “What did you say?” The sharpness in her voice made me come back to myself, there was no use arguing with her. No matter what I said or how I tried it was always me who ended up apologizing in the end.

     “Nothing, nothing I’m just tired. Sorry.” Sighing, I resigned to my fate as Me’s little shadow once again. I’m so pathetic

********* End Flashback******

 There was no way I was staying in my room alone tonight, not tonight. Heading out I checked myself over one last time before leaving. As I re-checked for my key and phone, I closed the door behind me hoping for h*** of a unforgettable night.