Love Me Forever

The wager

Chapter 3

The morning dawned so quickly, horn buzzing vehicles down the street made it impossible to sleep. I woke up and said, “Ralph…” as I gently placed my hand on the side he rested, but all I could hear was silence.

I walked around the house and checked the sitting room area, kitchen, guest room, and even the bathroom. He was gone! I looked out the window for his convertible Toyota car, but the driveway was empty. Did he go for real? He never left me all those times I maltreated him; now that everything seemed perfect, he was gone! I tried to understand and made up a reason why he left, but no sane reason could justify why he left without saying goodbye.

I wouldn’t call him on his mobile if he didn’t deem it fit to tell me why he left. I had a long day to get around to; maybe he never meant all those words of love he said last night. Truthfully, I felt deceived and betrayed. Funny, I could think that since that was all I had ever done to Ralph.

Dawn was setting fast in the town of Edison; driving my bike today was not an option. Dan would fire me if he found out I was late again.

This job was all I had to prove that I could succeed on my own since I refused Dad's offer to join Madison Associates. “Hello, Claire, had a rough night?” that was Molly Mulligan, my colleague giving a sarcastic greeting like she always did as I entered the office. I didn’t want to answer the gossip.

Dan, the manager of prime fashion conglomerate, would not want another flimsy excuse this time. So I’ll have to say I was at the coffee shop getting lattes before he came in. Dan was slightly shorter than the average man; he made up for his height with a slightly muscular frame. He always kept control over everything in the office, and he was friendly with all the staff in prime fashion. I couldn’t have chosen a better company than his, being only four months I started working there.

“You do know how to make an entry in disguise, Claire” I felt a hand patting my shoulders from behind me. I turned, facing Dan now, trying to give him a possible explanation. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out but just “sorry” Dan gave me a wink and nodded, giving me a “this is your last warning look.” I smiled and took my folder and bag, acting as the perfect employee.

Once in his office, he looked straight into my eyes and asked me a strange question “Claire will you promise me you’ll think about this before you answer?” I replied, “It all depends on what you want to ask” I waited eagerly for his question because I had never seen him so serious before. Maybe he was tired and wanted to tell me every employee’s worst feared statement- “You're fired!” But I didn’t think Dan was going to do that to me; even if he did, I’d leave with what dignity I had left and not turn back.

“I would like you to go with me to Paris and choose the designs for our Spring fashion week. “What did you say?” Say? Was this a request from Dan or an order because I didn’t care for the tone of his statement? All I cared about was that I was finally going to get the promotion and win Dad's wager.

“Of course, my answer is yes,” but wait a minute, I just started working here. How was I qualified to go to Paris in just four months of working at Prime Fashion? Something was at play here. I knew Dan was not interested in me; he had his hands full with the beautiful models signed to Prime Fashion. I didn’t see myself as pretty compared to all his girlfriends. But Ralph called me beautiful last night, an attribute I never thought to call myself.

Was I breathtaking? I could not say. Maybe I was lucky to be chosen for the trip to Paris. Molly would be jealous, though; she was hard-working and deserved this trip more than me. I couldn’t turn down the offer even if I wanted to; this was a lifetime opportunity that would earn me my respect as a top marketing executive in the industry.

The money wasn't why I took the job, but I did it to prove to myself that I was more than Daddy's girl. So hell yeah, I would make that trip, even if it meant hurting Molly. “That’s great Claire, you’ll need to start planning for the journey; it’s next week,” Dan said as he walked towards his office window, which had a fantastic view. He said that looking out the window gave him creative ideas for the fashion shows he organized.

“Yeah, I’m all set to go, even if it’s now!”I replied. Walking out into my office, Molly looked suspiciously over her desk; her look gave me a churning in my stomach. I guess she found out about the Paris trip and was disappointed that Dan didn't lay me off the company.

But who told her?

Anyway, I wasn’t going to let her glum face scare me. The day was filled with so much activity at the company; my job was developing marketing campaigns and driving more sales. I was good at it, I must admit, and also good at the lies, as no one knew who I was. Dad preferred I read Law, but I wasn’t cut out for court matters.

He always said I wasn't fit for the tussle and bustle of work. Although he never supported my relationship with Jake, he often would say, "I only want the best for you, Claire" Dad could never understand why I loved Jake. Jake was intelligent and well-mannered in every way as he was handsome. He read so many books that he ignored his looks. Every girl was attracted to the muscular jocks in school, and no one gave him any attention because he was always out of sight, reading or rehearsing for his recitals.

Dad thought I was foolish and naive for hanging out with Jake. But what I saw in my bookie lover, no one could ever understand. I wish he could see me now, working my ass out at one of the most esteemed fashion companies in New Jersey.

He would surely be proud of his dear Claire and admit that he lost.

After the day's job, I needed some fun time, Audrey and Sheila; my two besties were meeting me up at a Chinese restaurant some blocks from my apartment. Gosh, I needed Ralph right now; I missed him more than I ever did. If I could feel his sweet caress and c**k stroking me hard, that would end my day in bliss!

“I never knew you liked Ralph,” Sheila said, now all “three musketeers” as we called ourselves relaxing at the chow tan Chinese restaurant at Edison. We usually talked about everything, from boyfriends to clothes and girls often spoke about it. They have been like family since I was an only child. Hanging out with my two besties on weekends was one of the few activities I often looked forward to.