BUSINESS MARRIAGE

005

Sometimes we have to go deep inside ourselves to solve our problems

                                                                                                                              -Patrick Star   

HIM

I knew I was being rude but she deserves it, all women are the same. I went straight to my study immediately when we got here. I had made up my mind to stay out of her way as long as she stays out of mine. About one hour later, she comes in with two bowls of pasta and says "I made pasta and there was some extra, but if you don't want, you can return it to the refrigerator" then she walked out without waiting for me to say anything. I looked at the pasta. She probably poisoned it, I told myself but then I was hungry. I shrugged and told myself, at least if you die you'll get out of this phony relationship. 

Immediately the fork of pasta touched my lips, I moaned in pleasure. This is so good. I cleared my plates in a matter of minutes then took a beer from the mini-fridge and used it to wash down the pasta. Why is she being nice if she's like Stephanie, my inner voice asked me but I shut it down, it's probably just an act, I told myself. I went down and put my bowl in the dishwasher  then went to the living room. I browsed through Netflix but nothing caught my eye so I went back to the study to work.

My mind goes back to what she said yesterday, she's adopting a kid. Do wicked people adopt parentless children, my inner voice asked but I retorted  ‘when Kimberly told me that she loved me countless times did you think she was wicked?’

I heard a noise coming from downstairs and went down, as I was going down I slipped on the first stair and painfully rolled down the stairs.  I saw Alexandria rushing towards me before black clouded my vision.

Why are my eyes closed I thought while opening them. I looked around and saw that I was on my bed, I felt a cold sensation on my head and found an ice pack there. 

'How did I get here?' I asked myself. As if on queue, my door opened and in walked.... ugghhh, my 'girlfriend' with a tray full of different kinds of food.

Pancakes, sausages, croissants, rolls, egg, berry salad, salami, yougurt and other stuff. This woman is making it very hard for me not to like her. "Oh, you're awake" she said  once she closed the door. I refused to answer, I'm not talking to her. "I made breakfast" she tried again. I still ignored her then she snapped, she first dropped the tray in front of me before saying "I know you don't want to be in a relationship with me and believe me, I don't want to be in one with you but I can't be living with someone I cant even have a semblance of a conversation with, I don't want you to love me but at least we could be friends, But no, I get a mute arrogant butt who doesn't even talk to me. Ava was meant to come this morning but because I was busy taking care of your sorry butt, I have to get her later and yet...."  she stopped and took a breath "You know what, forget it" she finished before walking out.

She was right, I was treating her like a piece of s**t and she has been nothing but nice to me since she moved in. I sat up and called my friends - Brendan and Casper to come over, I need to talk to someone.

About an hour later I get up from bed and go downstairs. It is completely dark but there is some sound coming from the indoor theater. I quietly walked in and on one of the seats Alexandria was snuggling with a bucket of popcorn while watching Barbie. What is she? 5? Who watches Barbie at her age I mused while shaking my head. I knew I had to apologize but my big ego won't let me so I went to the kitchen and left a note on the fridge.

Thanks for the meal - P

I went back up had a shower dressed and went to meet the guys where I told them to meet me.

HER 

I paused my movie and went to the kitchen to get another drink. As I was about to open the fridge, I saw a note on it.

I smiled to myself a little, maybe he wasn't a complete butt. I checked the time after my movie. I had to go get Ava since all my papers had been cleared. I went to freshen up then braided my hair and picked an outfit.

I took my car and drove to the orphanage with a smile plastered on my face. I'm gonna bring Ava home.

The drive to the orphanage was short but it felt like a lifetime, I found a parking spot and headed inside the building, I dont remember the last time I was this nervous about something. The woman that ran the orphanage - Miss Jordan was already waiting in the reception with the little girl that would soon be mine. 

Hi, its me, Alexandria" I said to the little girl hiding behind her.

"Do you remember me?" I asked. She nodded her tiny cute little head. "Good, cause I remember you too and last time I was here I promised to take you out for ice cream before I take you to our new place" her face lit up at the sound of ice cream making me smile then I asked  "Ava, Do you like princesses?" She nodded eagerly making me smile a little more. "Who is you favorite?" I asked. She stepped away from Miss Jordan and answered "I like Ariel and Mulan and Merida and Rapunzel the most". "Wow, that's a lot" I replied. "Would you like to live in a castle like a princess?" She nodded eagerly. "Okay, go say bye to all your friends and tell then you'll come visit soon and they can visit anytime they want, okay?" She nodded again running off to say bye to her friends then she came back out to meet me. 

All her bags and stuff were in the trunk of my car and I let her sit in the passengers seat of my car using a customized car seat I got for her. She was beaming but I saw a glint of sadness in her eyes. 

"What's wrong?" I asked. She shook her head in response. I stopped the car and looked at her then asked again. "I'm scared that after a few weeks, you won't like me anymore"

“Why would you think that darlin’?” I asked worried

“Some of the older kids used to tell us about how some people return kids after a while and I dont want you to take me back” she replied playing with her thumbs trying to keep the tears that were threatening to fall at bay.

I immediately unbuckled my belt then reached out and hugged her then held her face in between my two hands, looking into her eyes and said "I will never ever in a million years take you back and don't you ever think that I will, okay?" She nodded her head in response with a fresh tear glistening in her eye then I gave her a peck and said "Okay, now there's a bowl of ice cream with our names written on it waiting for us.

12 minutes later, we pulled up in front of  'The Rockstar Ice Cream parlor. I helped Ava get out of her seat and we went inside. It is the most exclusive ice cream place  in the country and you have to make a reservation a month or two earlier but I know the owner so I just called him. The hostess asked for our name and if we had a reservation, after confirming, she led us to our table in a secluded booth where our third party was waiting. I slid into the booth after Ava coming face to face with Paxton.  Haha, as if Mr high and mighty would come here, it was Tristan. The owner of ‘The Rockstar Ice-cream parlor’.

"Sup Alexandria, who is this little mushroom" he asked, booping Ava's nose, making her giggle. "This is Ava, I told you about her before '' I replied scanning through my phone for any work messages.  "I thought you said she was, cute?" he asked, pulling me out of my work. "Yes, I did" I replied.

"But she isn't" he said back making me turn my head so fast it was a miracle that I didn't get whiplash. "Did I hear you well?" I asked him.  "Yeah, I said she's not cute......" he said, staring straight into Ava's eyes completely ignoring me. As I was about to smack some sense into him he continued "Cute does not measure up, she's adorable".

Phew, no disowning any friends today.

Our pre-ordered ice-cream came about two minutes later. Ava's eyes looked as big as two saucers when the delicacy was placed in front of us.

A bowl of strawberry ice cream with waffles, bananas, strawberries, wafers and pink licorice sticks topped with vanilla ice cream. It was beautiful. Tristan told one of his staff to bring one for him too but chocolate flavored.

An hour later I feel pregnant and I'm sure that I'm gonna give birth to beautiful ice cream babies. Tristan drove Ava and I home in my car cause and I quote "Owning a very successful and popular business is boring, let's go watch Lion king"

When we got home I led Ava upstairs with Tristan trailing behind with her bag. I opened the doors and immediately Ava entered, she froze. My heart froze. She doesn't like i...  my thoughts were interrupted by Ava screeching and running towards the bed then jumping dancing around the room. I  closed the door and let my little girl enjoy her happiness.