11
4630 Words
The phone had been ringing off the hook all day. Everyone Lance knew, had called to make sure he was ok. The papers had been making a huge deal out of his attack. Everyone from family and friends to business contacts. Iris had called to make sure he was still able to do the Venus spread at the end of the week. He saw no reason he shouldn’t he was feeling better. It still hurt a little, but he was up and walking around on his own. He was sure he’d be fine by the time the flight left Monday morning.
Lance was hanging up the phone when his parents walked off the elevator. “What do you think you are doing?” His mother growled. “You should not be up and walking around.” She scolded.
“I’m fine I swear I barely feel it anymore.”
“Ridiculous, sit down before you pop a stitch. Where is that girl that is supposed to be taking care of you?” She asked taking him by the arm and forcing him into a seat at the island. She then began to unbutton his shirt and moved the fabric aside to get a look at his wound. “Have you been changing the bandage? You have to change the bandage, or you’ll get blood poisoning.”
Lance pushed her hands aside. “Yes Mom, I’ve been changing the bandage. I’m fine.”
“Where is Cassia?” She asked again. “I thought she was taking care of you.” Then she looked at her husband. “You said she was taking care of him.” She said annoyed.
“She left me,” Lance confessed. “We fought.”
“I knew it.” She said. “I knew I should have come home with you. Didn’t I tell you? The only woman you can count on is your mother.” She said patting his hand. Great now he was never going to get rid of her. His mother would hover over him like a fly you couldn’t swat.
“Mom, I’m out of Tylenol, would you please run down to the pharmacy and pick me up another bottle.” He asked sweetly.
“Of course. Let me help you back to bed before I go.”
“No, I think I’ll sit here for a little while. I’ll be fine until you get back. I got Dad here; he can help me if I need anything.” Eve agreed, kissed her son’s cheek and then got back on the elevator. Once she was gone, he turned to his father. “Please you got to get her out of here, really, I’m fine, the last thing I need is her fussing over me.”
“Just let her fuss for a few hours, and then I’ll convince her to go home.” His father said taking the seat next to him. “So, what did you do?”
Lance scoffed. “Who says I did anything?”
“Well yesterday that girl was dedicated to taking care of you, and now here you sit alone. You must have done something.” His father deduced.
“I didn’t do anything,” Lance said righteously. His father lifted one dark brow. He didn’t believe him. Fine, he may as well come clean. “When we got back her ex-boyfriend was here, and I may have been a little rude to him…” he said looking away and lowering his voice, “and to her.”
Damien chuckled. “You got jealous.”
“I was not jealous.” Lance snapped.
“Take it from a jealous man; you were jealous. You let your mouth get away from you. It happens to me all the time, and it always gets me into trouble. You need to go apologies.” His father suggested.
“I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” Lance argued.
His father laughed again and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You’re the man you have to apologize.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Lance wasn’t going to apologize. “I know what I’m talking about. You grandfather was happily married for over sixty years because he learned early on that when it comes to women all you need are two little phrases. Yes dear, and I’m sorry. Your aunt was happily married for twenty-five years because her husband knew when to say I’m sorry. I’ve been married twenty-eight years because I know when to say I’m sorry. Trust me boy things will go better for you if you apologize.”
“She’s not going to listen to me; she’s stubborn,” Lance said sadly. Even if he apologized, he wasn’t sure Cassia would listen to him.
“You’re a Sanchez; we’re the first royal family of stubborn. We’re relentless, and we never stop until we get what we want. If you want this girl, chase her.” He didn’t even know how to apologize, what to say, how to go about it. He’d never apologized to anyone in his life. He just wasn’t wired that way. “Bring flowers,” his father said as if reading his mind, “and just be sincere.”
Sincere, he wasn’t exactly sure how to do that. No, he wasn’t apologizing it wasn’t in his nature to grovel.
“Tell me, son, do you like the girl?”
“Very much.”
Damien smiled. “See now that sounded sincere. You can do it don’t get in your way. Call the girl.”
“She lives downstairs.”
“Even better. Go talk to her before your mother gets back.”
“I don’t have any flowers.” An idea occurred to them both as they both looked at his treasure closet. He might not have flowers, but he had a ton of other things women liked.
***
“No Dad I’m ok,” Cassia assured her father as she paced the living room. “Yes, I know I was in the news.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, he did get hurt. It was a superficial wound; he’s fine, what? There was nothing there he was just my manager. Yes, I said I was. Well, we had a falling out. No, he’s not managing me anymore.” She sat down as she listened to her father’s lecture. “No Daddy I'm not ungrateful. Well, he’s a very difficult man.” She said when there was a rap on the door. Cassia walked over to the elevator and pressed the open-door option to find Lance stepping off the elevator. “Dad, I’m going to have to call you back. Yes, I love you too.” She said hanging up her phone as Lance walked past her and into the living room where her roommates had been watching TV. Each one, instantly perking up when they spotted Lance. “By all means come on in.” She said with annoyance.
“I need to talk to you.” He said turning to face her.
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you.” She said crossing her arms.
“Yeah, I get that, but you’re going to hear me out anyway because I’m not leaving until we’ve talked and I don’t think you can physically throw me out.” He said taking the empty seat on the couch next to Sabrina. He then smiled and held his hand out to shake Sabrina’s hand. “Hello, I’m Lance Sanchez.”
“Sabrina Wiltshire.” She introduced herself. “I’m a big fan of your work.”
“Of course, you are. Model, right?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Everyone is a model.” He said rolling his eyes. He then looked at the other ladies. “Hello, I’ll give you each ten minutes of my professional time if you all leave right now and give me some time alone with Cassia.” He offered. With his time on the table, they all got up to leave. “Leave your portfolios on the counter.” He instructed as they were heading for the door.
Cassia watched as her roommates went to their rooms and returned with their portfolios which they left on the table as instructed, and then they each filed onto the elevator and the doors slid closed. Cassia couldn’t believe it he just bribed her roommates.
He then smiled at her with that cocky self-satisfied smile. “Alone at last.”
“Do you have the intention of looking at their portfolios?” She asked. She didn’t like the way people bent to his will; it wasn’t good for his ego.
“I said I would and I will.”
“Are you going to sign any of them?”
“Probably not.”
“So, you just get their hopes up and dash them.”
“I said I would look at their portfolios; I didn’t promise anything more. This business is full of disappointment.” He said dryly.
“What do you want Lance?” She asked wanting to get to the point of his visit.
“I just want to talk.”
“So, talk.” She said sitting down on the loveseat across from the couch.
He relaxed back casually, both arms draped over the back of the couch, but he said nothing. Cassia sat quietly waiting for him to speak but he uttered not one word. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how. Or was it he knew how but couldn’t bring himself to say it. It was hard to tell. Lance was not an easy man to read.
“I...” He trailed off. He took a deep breath to collect himself and then he tried again. “I was out of line last night.” He said. “I shouldn’t have said what I did too, whatever his name was, or to you.”
“His name was Andy.”
“His name is not important,” Lance said. “I’m trying to say I’m sorry for acting the way I did.”
“Wow, that must have hurt.” She had the feeling that he didn’t usually apologize. “Good-bye.” She said standing up.
“You’re just going to send me away?” He asked surprised. “I just apologized.”
“Yes, you did, and that was very big of you, but we are still over.”
“Why?” He asked standing up, his cool calm façade broken.
“Because I don’t think you can change. You are a bitter, cruel man. I can’t be with someone that can treat people the way you do.” She said honestly.
“Ok I give it to you, I’m a jerk. I got a hard exterior, but I have to because this business will eat you up and spit you out if you’re no hard. There’s a soft spot deep inside me, and like everyone else in this world I’m looking for someone to share that with, but I’ve been burnt a lot, so it’s not easy to expose my soft underbelly. But I like you, and I want to see where this goes. All I can say is that you are crazy if you pass me over, because I may be a creep at times but when I’m good, I’m really good.” He said coming to stand face to face with her. “My question is do you deserve that kind of devotion?”
How had he turn this around on her and make her the bad guy? “I don’t deserve to be treated like a child. I don’t deserve the way you order me around. You may be the best at what you do, but I’m not taking any more of your crap.”
“If you want to make it in this business you need to listen to me. I know what I’m talking about.” He said remaining firm on the matter. “But that’s professional; we were talking about personal. Don’t change the subject. Can you forgive me?”
She didn’t know, giving him the chance to treat her like dirt again didn’t appeal to her, but he was right about one thing. When he was nice, he was great. Was the trade-off worth it? Could she handle his bad side on the off chance that she would get his good side? “Lance,” She began, but he put up his hand to silence her.
Lance reached into his pocket and took out a long thin blue velvet box. “I want to give you something. Something that will remind you what comes with me.” He said opening the box to show her a gold charm bracelet. It was beautiful, and Cassia smiled.
She reached out and touched the charms and then frowned. “You think you can just buy me?”
“I’m offering you a lifestyle that you won’t get from the average guy.” He smiled that wicked smile he was so good at. “I come with perks.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle, he was pretty good at selling himself to people, and she was no different, she was not immune to his charm. “I’ll consider it but if I say no, how will that affect our professional relationship?” She asked testing the waters. She studied his eyes trying to determine what he was thinking. She was testing him.
“I will still represent you if you still want to do this model thing. I’ve invested too much time into you just to walk away.” He said holding her gaze. He was testing her too she could tell by the way he was looking at her. “But I’m telling you now professionally I won’t let up on you. You have to trust I know what’s best.”
“And personally?” She asked never breaking their gaze.
She could see him thinking about it. She could see in his eyes, the wheels in his mind turning. “I will… try… to be more… flexible.”
That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “I want you to be nice.”
“All I can promise is that I’ll try.” He said honestly. She supposed that was the most she could ask of him. She did like him, and he wasn’t all bad.
“You treat me as an equal.” She said throwing out one last stipulation.
He thought about it and then nodded. “Deal, am I forgiven?”
Cassia smiled and moved closer pressing her body against his. “Maybe.” She said playfully running her hand down his chest.
At that Lance smiled and fell into his easy seduction. “What do I have to do to change that may be to a yes?”
“The bracelet is a good start.” She said holding her wrist up.
Lance took the bracelet from the box and tossed the box aside. Then with nimble fingers, he wrapped the bracelet around her wrist and hooked the clasp. “Are you going to model it for me?” He asked taking a seat on the couch once more.
“Sure.” She said striking a pose.
He shook his head. “No, that’s no good. Your dress is distracting. It takes away from the bracelet.” He said playfully.
“Is that so?” She giggled.
“Trust me I know what I’m talking about. Take off the dress.” He smiled.
“Well, you are the expert.” She said unzipping the back of her dress and letting it fall. She stood before him in nothing but her white silk bra and panties. “Better?”
He looked her over like a predator watching prey. “I don’t know,” He said thoughtfully. “Turn around let me take a look.” Cassia spun around slowly letting him enjoy the show. “Take it off.” He instructed. Cassia slowly removed her underwear watching the smoulder in his eyes turn into a blazing heat. “Come here.” He ordered and patted his lap. She supposed she could be obedient one last time. Cassia stepped away from her clothes and climbed onto his lap her legs straddling his waist.
Lance’s caressed her face and kissed her lips. She closed her eyes as his mouth moved down her neck. The sensation fluttered through her body. She felt him reach down between them and unzip his pants and eased her into position. Cassia sunk down on his manhood with a sigh. His hands moved to her waist as he guided her up and down.
His eyes closed and his head fell back against the back of the couch. The pleasure mounted as she watched his face twist with excitement. She watched him as she moved to grind harder against him. She wanted to make him squirm. When he started to moan, she kissed him.
Suddenly Lance began to buck beneath her driving up when she came down while his mouth ate at hers. It wasn’t long until her climax made her shudder and quake. “Off!” He suddenly commanded. “Get off!” Cassia shifted her weight and pulled away. Lance’s head fell back, and his hand closed around his manhood. Two quick jerks and he reached his own climax outside. A level-headed act for a man who couldn’t have been thinking clearly, but without a condom it was the safest thing for both of them. She was too young for a baby, and he didn’t strike her as the fatherly type.
“I need a cloth.” He said adjusting himself so he could zip up his pants. Cassia got up and quickly put on her dress. She didn’t want to get caught by her roommates, and there was no telling how long they would be gone. Cassia went into the washroom and took a hand towel from the closet and returned to Lance’s side. He thanked her and used the towel to wipe away the evidence of his excitement.
Cassia tossed the towel into the laundry hamper in the washroom and returned to find Lance pouring over the portfolios left on the counter. He was looking at them. “So, what’s the opinion?” She asked coming to stand beside him.
“So far, very generic. They’re all pretty girls, but there’s not a model between them.”
“That’s what you said about me too.”
“I don’t have the time or the energy to take them on as I did you. I’m a photographer Cassia, not a manager. I can’t do this full time I have other obligations. One girl is doable five is not.” He said closing the portfolios. “Except this one.” He said tapping Olivia’s portfolio. “She has potential, with a little work she might be a model. But I don’t have the time to help her.”
“They could do it if they had a manager. You know a lot of people you must know a manager looking to take on more clients.” She suggested.
“Everyone I know is very busy with the client’s they already have.”
“Oh, please do you think you could at least give them a recommendation, a letter of reference, something?”
He looked unsure. “I don’t like to attach my name to things I’m not sure of. I don’t know them; I’ve never worked with them. Sorry babe but I just can’t.”
“They’re going to be heartbroken.” She said sadly. She didn’t want to see any of them fail. “If they don’t get work soon they’re not going to be able to afford this place.”
“Life’s not fair.”
“Speaking of work is that cheque you gave me going to clear soon. I’m already two weeks late on my share of the rent.”
“How much is your rent?”
“Eight hundred dollars.”
“That’s it?” What was he talking about that was a lot of money for her? “I’ll pay your rent.” He offered.
Cassia shook her head. “No, I can’t let you do that.” She didn’t want him paying her way.
“It’s no problem. Eight hundred dollars is nothing.”
“I don’t want you paying my rent.”
“Ok, I was just trying to be a good boyfriend.” He said walking back into the living room.
“I work for my money.” She said offended by his offer.
“Ok.” He said sitting down. “I’m sorry I offered. What if I gave you the money as a loan? Consider it an advance, and you can reimburse me when the cheque clears.”
Cassia considered his offer. Would it be so bad if she took the money and paid him back later? She needed the money. She couldn’t leave the country without paying her rent first. “Ok, but it’s only until the cheque clears.” Lance took out his wallet and handed her the cash. She was surprised he carried that much cash with him. Cassia took the money feeling a bit ashamed.
“Now I must leave.” He said returning his wallet to his pocket.
“Why?”
“Well, my side is killing me.” He confessed. She hadn’t thought about that. He was walking around so well she had forgotten about his injury. “Besides my Mother should be back and wondering where I am. Of course, you could always come back upstairs with me and take care of me.” He said hopefully.
“I don’t think your mom likes me.”
“I like you that is all that matters.” He said kissing her.
“If it’s, all the same, I’ll come by after she’s left.” She said kissing him back.
“Ok, I’ll call you when she’s gone.” They kissed goodbye, and Lance left leaving Cassia alone to admire her new bracelet. She didn’t know if taking Lance back was a good idea, but she was willing to see where it went.
***
Lance stepped off the elevator to be instantly ambushed by his mother. “Where have you been? You don’t take off when people are visiting you.”
“I had to talk to Cassia.” He said.
“The girl that abandoned you in your time of need? Why would you waste your time talking to her? She wasn’t there when you needed her; I’m telling you she’s only in it for the money.” She said following him across the room.
“She’s not in it for the money.”
His mother stopped and crossed her arms. “Oh really, so you’re saying you haven’t given her any money? You haven’t paid for anything? You haven’t given her any expensive gifts?” He couldn’t say that he had done all three. He had paid her rent, paid for their night out, bought her a brand-new wardrobe, and then there was the bracelet (while he hadn’t paid for that, but it was expensive nonetheless). When he didn’t answer, his mother continued. “See I told you she’s after your money like the others.”
“Cassia is different.”
“You said that about Missy, and Heather, and Amanda, and Tina, and Cindy.” She reminded him. “And every one of them turned out to be gold diggers. She’ll be no different.”
“What’s wrong with using my money to make the woman I’m with happy? What else am I supposed to do with it? It’s my money I should be able to spend it any way I like.”
“She’s using you.”
“Eve honey, don’t you remember when we started out? I paid your tuition and gave you free room and board. I paid for everything. Were you using me?” Damien asked backing his son’s position.
“That was different.”
“No, it wasn’t. I wanted to give you things, and you were happy to take them.”
“But I know what’s best for my son. I’m only trying to protect him.”
“He’s a grown man; it’s time to cut the apron strings and let him make his own mistakes.”
“Mom,” Lance began. “I’m twenty-seven; I can run my own life. Go home and fuss over Brandon and Justin they still need you.” It was a little harsh, but he couldn’t keep letting her boss him around. His mother looked wounded. Then without a word she walked out. He had hurt her feelings.
Lance looked at his father. “She’ll be fine.” He assured his son. “You take care and no more hospital visits.” He said patting Lance on the shoulder, and then he followed his wife out. He felt bad about hurting her but she was so overbearing, and it had to stop. She wasn’t this crazy with his brothers. Lance didn’t understand why she felt the need to obsess over his life. But he supposed she obsess differently for all of them. Well, his father was right it was time she learnt to let go. She’d been fine.
- Writer
