CHAPTER TWO: THAT’S JUST CLICHE.
2276 Words
I stood in front of the mirror in my dressing room as I retouched makeup.
I was wearing a short strapless red dress, a diamond necklace, falling gold earrings which I styled with a nude heel.
I have never looked more beautiful and sexy than I did right now.
I took a selfie and sent it to my girl’s group chat.
“You look f*****g sexy!!!, I’m so jealous of David right now”, Tanya replied immediately.
I chuckled.
After a few seconds, Amelia’s message came in.
“I think my baby kicked after I saw this picture of you. Go get him girl!!!”
“I love you girls”, I replied, a little worried that Valeria didn’t reply it was obvious that she saw the chat.
I hope she was okay and maybe one day she will explain why she was so distant to us.
“Time to get David”, I thought caressing my necklace.
After a thirty minutes drive in my white Lamborghini, I finally arrived at ‘Ristorante Dell’Arte’.
The pictures posted on the internet didn’t do it justice. The scenery was magnificent. The entrance was lavishly decorated with lights.
I stepped out of my car. the weather was becoming cloudy. It looked like it was about to rain anytime soon. Thank God I brought a coat. I hanged my coat on my arm and threw my car keys to the valet driver.
I majestically walked towards the entrance of the restaurant, noticing how people admired me.
I smirked, David wouldn’t be able to resist my advances. My mind wandered back to when we first met.
I was a curator at the art gallery I worked at that time and he had come for one of our art event.
I was dressed in an all white suit when he walked up to me and said he wanted to buy a painting.
He looked so handsome that night. He was wearing a blue custom made suit. His black hair was slicked back and his pearl white teeth displayed whenever he laughed. He was a few inches taller than me that was enough for me, I never really liked guys that were too tall anyway and he smelled so nice.
We didn’t even wait for the event to be over before we had s*x. Midway, we were already rummaging each other body in the restroom.
It was the wildest night of my life.
Maybe because I had s*x in the art gallery where I was supposed to be working or that I was so loud I got fired the next day.
I did regret it though, I met the love of my life and it wasn’t hard for me find another job, I was so good with art I was hired in the first gallery I worked in.
David was a very good lover, very romantic and so good at listening.
It’s been eight years and my love for him grew every passing day.
“You look beautiful", He smiled pulling a chair out for me as I approached him.
Yes, David was a gentleman. My gentleman and that's one of things I loved about him.
He knew how to make a lady feel like a goddess.
“You dress up nice too", I chuckled pulling the chair closer as I sat.
I realized he didn’t kiss me, maybe he was saving it for the proposal.
“Waiter", he turned backed and called.
A middle aged man walked up to us holding a stack of menu books on his arm.
“Sir”, he replied while offered us one each and stood few inches in front of the table.
David ordered the most expensive dishes on the menu.
He asked for the drink menu and ordered champagne.
I looked at him in admiration, he looked so handsome as he talked. His chiseled jaw, the way he moved his lips, the lips I never got tired of kissing, his deep blue eyes that had seen every inch of my body. He was truly beautiful.
“How was work today?" he asked after the waiter had gone with our order.
“Good. The gallery has been functioning better than I expected”, I replied twisting a few lock of my long brown hair
“And the case you were working on?” I asked him.
“I won it".
That’s right my boyfriend wasn’t only handsome he was also smart too.
“Liv what I'm about to tell you is very important” , he said as he stretched his hand across to hold mine.
“Okay" I smiled squeezing his palm, my cheeks were so red.
“You know I love you right?” he asked.
“Yes!!”
He was about to speak again when the another waiter came with our champagne.
I started sipping it slowly as when I noticed a ring at the bottom of the glass.
I screamed loudly. It was a 10-carat diamond ring.
He really went all out for me.
“Yes!!!!"
“What?? David asked.
“I said Yes I do", I exclaimed beaming with joy.
“You do what?” he questioned looking confused like he didn’t know what was going on.
Was he acting? Didn’t he order the champagne? Wasn’t this the proposal?
“I will marry you” I replied showing him the back of my palm with the ring sitting pretty on my finger.
“Oh No" he said “ Did you get the ring from the glass of champagne?”
I noticed his expression change.
Shit!!!
This can’t be. He wasn’t proposing to me. This wasn’t his ring.
I was so embarrassed.
“This isn’t your ring?” I asked foolishly.
“No I have no idea, it must have been a mistake".
I swallow hard, removed the ring and it on the table as he signaled the waiter who apologized multiple times.
“A mistake" I thought. My life was pathetic.
I looked around, people were already staring and whispering. I felt so embarrassed, I had to act quickly.
I gulp down a glass of champagne, and another and another and another. I was clearly becoming drunk, but I didn’t care. I was more confident when I was drunk.
“Olivia are you okay" David queried.
“I've always heard that guys are dumb when it comes to relationships but I never knew they were this dumb" I started stretching forth my hand and held his. “David we've been dating for eight years and I love you".
“I love you too Liv but-"
"No you don't understand I really love you a lot and I think we need to take this to the next level. I spoke to all my friends, Tanya, Amelia, Valeria”I interrupted.
That’s right I saw Valeria at the mall while shopping with Tanya and Amelia. According to her, she came to buy new work clothes or something.
Of course I told her about the proposal.
She seemed happy for me. I think.
I noticed David was uneasy when I mentioned Valeria. But I didn’t put any meaning to it.
“David I'm just going to say what is on my mind” I continued.
“Liv, before you say anything I really want to tell you myself" .
“Ok we will say it together on the count of three" I decided.
“One"
“Two"
“Three"
We counted down together.
“Will you marry me?” I asked happily.
“I cheated on you with Valeria and I’m getting married to her" he said at the same time.
“What ??" I asked confused, pulling my hand off his.
“What??" he replied, shocked at my question, loosing the tie on his neck.
“What do you mean you cheated on me?”
“Did you just propose to me?”
The fool was he answering my question with another question.
I snatched the bottle of champagne and chug it down.
If I wasn’t drunk before I certainly was now.
“You cheated on me with Valeria?” I yelled.
Everyone eyes were fixed on us, watching the drama unfold.
I didn’t care. My head was all over the place. I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
“I wanted to tell you about but you had the gallery’s opening coming up.... You were really stressed”, David stuttered as he tried to explain.
“How many times?”
“What?"
“How many times did you people do it?”
He starts counting with his fingers and I scoffed.
“So you called me to...” I sighed as it dawned on me.
He didn’t invite me to the restaurant to propose. The cheating bastard called me here to break up with me.
“Liv, I'm sorry but I love Valeria and I can't do this anymore... I can't do us anymore".
“Are you breaking up with me?” I smiled in anger shaking my head tears falling down my cheek.
I couldn’t believe what was happening to me.
The people around were taking pictures of us, instead of minding their own business.
I turned towards them.
“Can you people stop taking pictures and talking trash, you think happily ever exists, No it doesn’t you mother giving idiots. My stupid boyfriend of eight f*****g years has been cheating on me with my best friend”, I lashed out angrily. “Happily ever doesn’t exist and most of you here will get your mother f*****g hearts broken because true love doesn’t exist”.
“Olivia calm down, this isn’t you” , David tried to hold me but I pushed his filthy hands away.
“You’re telling me to calm down, I planned our life together; both us married with kids and a dog".
“That's the problem Olivia, you always want this and that and you never cared about what I want”, he replied “I don't want kids, I clearly hate dogs, and I’m not a vegetarian, stop turning me into something I’m not. You’re controlling and that’s one of the reason I left you”.
One of the reason you left me.
You f*****g cheated on me.
“But you don't know because you never cared, it was always about you. it's over between us”, he concluded breathing heavily.
"No it's not" I said standing up my legs trembling from the shame and embarassment I felt. “I'm the one who says it's over, and it's over you cheating bastard".
I snatched the food a waiter passing by was holding and threw it on David before leaving.
The drive back home was horrible, I cried and cried as the rain poured heavily. I didn’t stop driving though.
I was heart broken. My boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend. I couldn’t believe I was one of those cliche ladies who found out her boyfriend was cheating on her with her best friend. If it was in movies I did laugh and call her stupid for not seeing the signs, but here I was, the stupid clueless lady.
I parked my car and walked towards my house.
Sitting on my front porch was Tanya and Amelia.
“I brought wine”, Tanya said offering me a bottle of wine.
“How did you know?” I asked collecting the bottle.
It was
“It’s everywhere”, she said showing me the front screen of her phone.
I read what was written on it.
“High profile lawyer dumps millionaire artist for her best friend”
I looked at the picture below the caption. I looked horrible. The least they could was get my good side.
I slumped down in between them as they enveloped me in a big hug.
“I loved him, I couldn’t believe he could this especially with Valeria”, I sobbed.
“That sneaky b***h, I feel like pulling off all her red hair”, Tanya said angrily.
That’s when I realized that’s why she became distant, she was planning this all along. That b***h. She didn’t have the guts to face us.
I screamed loudly. I hated her so much right now.
“We are here for you” Amelia said running her hands through my hair.
“Why don’t we go inside, you take a hot bath, after which we tear or burn everything you have of David and Valeria while drinking this sweet wine”. Tanya said pulling me up.
“......and watch reruns of Friends” Amelia added.
We looked at her and started laughing. What’s with her new found obsession with Friends?
I looked at the both of them, I really didn’t deserve them. They being here for me meant everything and I’ve never loved them more.
As I was about to get into the house, my phone buzzed with a notification.
It was an email from Valeria, I opened it immediately:
Hi Liv, I saw your horrendous face circulating the internet this night. I guess you finally found out the truth.
That David loves me, not you.
Attached to this message is an invitation to our wedding and I would love if you could be my bridesmaid.
You’re my best friend after all. Won’t you do me this favour?
Lol.
Anyway, you can invite Tanya and Amelia too. I’m sure their cursing me already but I don’t mind.
Love
Valeria.
Did she just invite me to their wedding and asked me to be her bridesmaid?
The nerve?........
- Writer
