The Game Of Lust

Maid Of Honor

“What do you think Regina? ” she smiled widely, exposing her rabbit like front teeth. Her other friends looked displeased by her incessant need for my opinion, when they didn't care what she looked like or if she got married in rags.

Looking for a nicer way to put my words I got up and searched through the hangers for a better dress. I sighted a gown on a rack in the far end and went for it. I began to imagine myself in her situation, trying on wedding dresses for my wedding and suddenly it hit me, Sharon and Matt were really getting married, a man I shared most of my life with, a man I'd imagined marry as well but unfortunately she beat me to it. I suddenly remembered the last instance I had with him, I pushed him away, I hurt him cause I was angry at myself and everyone, I shouldn't have done that, I told myself, pressing my palm against my forehead.

I brought my self down to reality and suddenly I no longer felt so good about myself, why am I here? I sighed wistfully as I took out a dress from the hanger and handed it to her.

“ Why don't you try this on! ”

She looked down at the dress with a sour expression on her face and asked, “If it were your wedding would you wear this, Gina dear?”

I felt a sharp sting in my chest.

“Yea … I would wear this.” I muttered.

Sharon's eyes lit up as the words came falling out of my mouth. She dashed into dresser and came back shortly in the dress I handed to her.

It was a more decent look, a perfect fit, "a little bit of boobs" as she always said and a little bit of class was my slogan.

“What do you guys think of this? ”

Her friends gasped as she stepped

out, “ Oh my gosh Sharry this is it!”

She twirled around a spread about the hem of the dress. It was white as snow, long and fluffy, the soft lace on the hands made it look royal in a way.

“I knew I could count on you Gina!” she spouted and hugged me tightly.

Her blond hair falling by her side neatly, it was impossible to see her out of place, her life was a movie and she was the female lead.

“Thank you so much! ”

“It's my pleasure,” I pulled out of her suffocating embrace.

Sharon changed back into her clothes. She sat down on a chair holding a mirror in front of her face.

“I heard you have a bunch of braids maid gowns in your closet,” one of her friends mentioned standing before me. I knew just were she heard that from.

“Well I have a lot co workers … most of them are married so its our work code to have at least three colleagues in your bridal train” I replied.

“So you're like, always a bride's maid!, ” she slapped my shoulder and cackled loudly.

“You know I have a co worker I'd love for you to meet, you guys would make a perfect match!”

I looked to find excitement in her face “Excuse me?”

“I'll show you his pictures,” she rushed to the chair Sharon was sitting on and searched for her phone in her white hand bag.

“This is Jeremy!” She said rushing back with the picture in her phone. I pushed her hand away and politely said, “No, please I'm not interested”

“Aww, maybe it's the beard you don't find attractive.” she sighed staring at the picture.

“I was on this really cool dating site called Splice ”

“Yea It's a cool app Gina, you should sign up, ” Sharon joined. I could tell she was satisfied with herself, she thought she was better than me, cause she was getting married and I was still single, she wanted to have a hand over me. But I was going to fight back,

“I'm not interested .” I said blankly.

“Is it cause of that guy?” Sharon asked

“What guy?”

“The one I saw you get in a car with.”

I noticed the many bulging eyes staring up at me, waiting to hear a pathetic story of my life, that I was single and lonely.

“Oh yea … that man … well he's my boyfriend ”I said and avoiding their gaze knowing it was nothing but a lie.

Sharon's mouth was left open in shock. “Seriously?”

“yea. ”

“I didn't know you liked the bad boy type” she smiled.

“I wouldn't say he's the bad boy type.”

“I'm surprised I don't know who he

is,” she uttered “And I know basically everything in this city. ”

“That's a damn shame” I blurted out knowing her real question would be most likely “what's his name?,” or “how did you guys meet?” she would probably also think to herself “What did a fine man like that see in me? ” but she couldn't say that so instead she asked, “How long have you guys been together? ”

“About two months now”

“What's his name? ” the other lady asked, I wondered why all of a sudden they became huge fans of my personal life. “His name's … Co,” I paused as I realized that telling Sharon his real name would be a mistake, she'd look him up if he had any social media accounts that I wasn't aware of.

Quickly, I retracted my words “His name's Abel. ”

“wow, I am so happy for you Gina dear, I hope one day you get your own fairy tale wedding like I am, ” she smiled with contentment and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

“You know what, since we're done here … I'm just gonna head out now”

I said, picking up my hand bag.

“No wait!” she ran after me, “wait! Regina, why don't we have lunch together? ”

“Well … I … have to … ”

“let's catch up, it's been so long since we hung out,”

“I'd love to but … ” I sighed loudly “I have so much to do today, I gotta go sharon. ”

I clutched my hand bag and shuffled away in fast gaits. I didn't stop or look back till I got in my car.

The next day I reach my desk and find a bunch of get well cards, piled together, “They could have just mailed these to my house,” I whispered underneath my breath,

“ We did this instead cause you never check your mail, ” Paula said as she peeked into my cubicle.

She startled me, I'd assumed no one could hear me.

“Of course I check my mail! ” I pouted, shaking my shoulders stubbornly. I took the cards and read them. She stood patiently, as if waiting for something to pop out of the cards.

“This is from Kenneth,”

“What does it say? ”

“Get well soon, You slacker?” I questioned.

“filming ended last week, so this is his week,” Paula laughed

“Oh! I'm so glad, it's his turn to finally suffer,” I grinned,

“It's good to have you back sweetheart,” she handed me her card before leaving.

“you're the best we've got, so feel better soon,”I read out the contents with a sweet smile on my face.

I'd never fallen sick before, I never had the opportunity of getting cards from my colleges. The greeting cards aside, everyone seemed to be genuinely worried about me, perhaps it was the last time they saw me that worried them. The monkey suit and the terrible rain that had us running from set. Andy even bought me coffee, which was quite shocking, given the fact that he was very tight with money.

“Thank you so much,”

“you've been off work for a week, I'm just glad you're back baby, ” Andy winked.

I peeped over my cubicle, peering into Cole's office, he was standing and talking to a man, most likely a client. He had on black suit but took off the jacket after a short while. He looked peaceful for some reason, I had already gotten use to his scorns and his cold glares. Looking at him, I forgot all the anger I felt a week ago, but I still couldn't face him. My phone began to ring.

“Hello” It was Joanne on the line.

“Hi, I sent an email to your computer”

“An email?”

“yea, can you print it out and give it to the manager for me?”

“What? Why can't you do it yourself?” I spluttered

“I would but I'm in a situation right now, so I had to leave work, ”

“What situation? ”

“Just help me will you?”

“Ok fine I'll do it,” I sighed deplorably.

How hard could it be? I thought to myself, giving myself the courage I needed to face Cole. “Calm down, He's just a man ” a man I was deeply in love with but I wouldn't let that get the best of me, I printed out the long email and stapled them together.

Before I stood, I adjusted my makeup and brushed down my dark brown hair. It fell on my shoulders. I opened a few buttons on my red body fitting gown and made my way to his office.

His client walked out as I walked in. Cole was sitting on his desk and typing into his computer. He looked up and noticed me standing in front of his desk.

“Re… Regina?” he stuttered “I mean Miss Dalton.”

He'd never said a thing out of place before, I stood there and watched him stare at me, I wasn't nearly angry anymore , in fact I wanted to climb over the desk and sit on his laps and tell him how much I'd forgiven him, even though he never really apologized. I shook the discomforting thoughts out of my head.

“Anne asked me to give this to you Sir.” I handed him the papers.

“I didn't know you'd be at work today”

“I wasn't sure I would,”

“I'm glad you're back,” he smiled, tapping his finger on the table. He had that look, the “I have a lot to say” look. “Regina … I … ”

“Well, since there's nothing more Sir , Then I'll be leaving … I still have a lot of work to catch up with,” I cut him short and quickly rushed out of his office before he could say anything more.

“That was close, ” I whispered to myself, and went back to my office.

With so much work to catch up with, I remained at work till very late hours of the day. Almost everyone had gone home. I was determined to finish something before going home, and with my car fixed and the weather clear, I was given the assurance to stay longer without a single worry in me.