I am awoken by the morning light shining through the bedroom window. I can feel the heat on my face. I guess I forgot to close the curtains last night. I was so tired and I think I had too much red wine. I should not have ordered the second bottle. I almost fell asleep in the bathtub. That would have been tragic. Did I finish the second bottle? Probably not. I can't remember. I didn't wait for Mark. Something told me I was going to wake up without him this morning. Looking at the empty, untouched bed next to me, I was right.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoS6GfVIW8
A normal, caring fiancé would be worried, right? Going out of her mind. Well, welcome to my world. The day I wake up and Mark is still sleeping next to me, I will truly go out of my mind. This is normal. This is what I am used to. I know Mark has been to Los Angeles maybe, fifty times already. Hell, he has been to every single country on this planet. He probably knows his way around the city so I know he will definitely not get lost. I still can't stop wondering where he could be. I am not really that worried about him. I am just curious. Ok and maybe a little annoyed. Very annoyed.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrkETRA83A
I decide to give him a call. I'm expecting the call to go straight to voicemail but instead I am greeted with a very dry "Hello."
It sounds like he just woke up. I look at the clock. It is 7:34 am. It is very out of character for him to still be sleeping. Mark usually wakes up at 4:00am every single morning.
"Where are you?" I attempt, but fail to control my anger.
"Uhm... I'm sorry honey. There was an emergency. I had to rush to a client. Our meeting carried on longer than expected. He suggested I sleep over."
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtaCpIa8TJ
Really?
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4DaeoVUBp
I know he is lying. I can hear it in his voice. I was not born yesterday Mark! I think to myself. If there is one thing that I have learned over the past few years, it's to always trust my gut. It never fails, never had and it never will. Does he think I am stupid? We have been in Los Angeles for no longer than 2 days. How can he have an emergency with one of his clients living in the city, hours after he arrives. Coincidence? I think not!
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKufbKeiwQc
Although I know he is lying, I play along. "When will you be back at the hotel?" I ask.
"I am so sorry honey. I will only be back tonight. My client and I still have a few important things to discuss regarding the..."
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQaddAwtZC
And then there is a pause. After a few seconds of obviously thinking about what he has to say to make this crap believable, he continues "emergency we had last night. We will be in meetings all day."
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwNnVICczL
Normally he is an extremely good liar but this time you don't have to be an expert to know that he is a dishonest asshole.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMatrFrnY8
Besides, I am pretty sure I heard a female voice softly asking if he would like some coffee.
The vague sound of the unfamiliar female voice was more than enough for me to realise that I had enough. I end the call without replying or saying goodbye. Does he really think I am naive enough to believe him? I think he is so used to me ignoring whatever bullshit he pulls next. I cannot shake the feeling of him being in the arms of another woman. Is that why he insisted on coming with me? Did he see it as an opportunity to be with whoever he spent the night with? I would not be surprised. I think back to a conversation I had with my mother only a few weeks ago. She told me that she is almost one hundred percent certain he is being unfaithful. I shook off her suspicions right away. I didn't want to believe it. It was as if, not thinking about it would somehow keep it from becoming a reality. Looking back at it now, all that meant was that I was in denial and my mum, well maybe she hit the nail right on the head.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzOswCOaH9
I bring my left hand to my face and gaze at my engagement ring. I have put up with so much bullshit. I have accepted too many apologies. I have heard more empty promises than I can count. I have been abandoned so many times. I have turned my face away from every single sight of him flirting with another woman openly in front of me. I have been controlled, talked down to and worst of all, I have lost every part of the woman I used to be. I had enough. I am tired. I need my life back.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFLwpPkOsp
I take off the engagement ring and put it on the nightstand. I don't know what I am going to do when he comes back and I don't know what I am going to say to him but for now, I need a break. I do not have to be at the theater today so I am thinking of exploring this gorgeous city and I really want to go to the beach. I want to relax and clear my head. I quickly scan through my suitcase for something to wear. Shit. Everything is still in my suitcase. I make a mental note to unpack everything later tonight. My eyes spot my white floral summer dress. My lips grow into a smile. I take out some white sandals to match the dress and put my clothes neatly on the bed. I grab a quick shower before heading out.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrifp76Qvgr
----
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjLw4YjyDC
Logan's POV
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfaeHmAsfn
I walk into the kitchen and find my dad busy making breakfast.
"Good morning." I say, excited. I take a big whiff of the aroma infusing the kitchen. "Mmm, it smells delicious." I cheer.
"You're in a good mood." My dad says suspiciously.
"I am always in a good mood." I say, giving him a big smile as I sit down at the breakfast nook.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0hbOeDitJ
"Come on bud. You and I both know you are not very pleasant to be around in the morning." He claims.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNZX8CmWXa
I really hate to admit it but my dad is right. I am not a morning person and there might be a reason for my good mood this morning. I really don't know why but ever since I dropped Leah off at the hotel last night, I cannot stop thinking about her. I have tried fucking everything! After many and I mean many failed attempts, I have been unable to get her out of my head. I know she is engaged but I simply cannot shake the thought of her.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdxzAVKVaG
I am deep in thought when my dad places a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and french toast in front of me. "What is her name?" He asks amusingly and joins me at the breakfast nook. He can see right through me but I do not want him to now just yet. "Don't be silly." I mutter while grabbing a knife and fork. I immediately dig into my breakfast. Mmm yummy. I am so hungry.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCrrYrjAQ3
"Bud, I know you better than you know yourself. That smile only means one thing and don't think I didn't notice the fancy suit and tie." He says, looking me up and down with curiosity. I roll my eyes.
"Dad, stop! I am dressed like this because I have a meeting with mom this morning, remember?"
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPrbK6mADn
My mother is the founder and owner of Madeleine Modeling. A modeling agency with whom I currently have a contract with. My mother scheduled a meeting for this morning 9:00am.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnrbt7p8nC
"Oh yes, how can I forget, the evil witch from hell." My dad says, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, this is your ex-wife you are talking about." I scold.
"True but she is called my EX-wife for a reason." My dad says while buttering his french toast.
"I am sure you loved her at some point, otherwise you wouldn't have married her." I take a bite from my toast and add "or had a child with her."
"Can you really blame me for divorcing her?" My dad asks, looking at me with both his eyebrows raised. He continues while pointing at me with his toast. "You of all people should know what it was like living with a woman like your mother for so many years."
"I know dad." I chuckle. "Why do you think I chose to live with you and not with her?" I ask.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1RLTkQ8kI
My dad and I look at each other and burst out laughing at the same time. We can joke about it now but it wasn't so funny when my mom and dad were still together. My mother is very intense and extremely controlling. Her way is the right way and my your soul rest in peace if you ever tell her otherwise. She is all about image and money. They use to fight everyday until it came to a point where my dad decided he had enough. They divorced when I was 15 years old and I chose to live with my dad.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi20LZw4wFV
"I am going to miss you when you move out." My dad says and the atmosphere in the room suddenly becomes more serious.
"I know dad. I am going to miss you too but I promised to stop by as often as I can. I will be less than 5 minutes away." I reassure him.
"As long as you keep your promise." He says.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNJnJOS3u3
I smile at my dad. I know this is going to be hard on him. He is not use to living by himself but I am hoping he will learn to love it. I am moving out tomorrow. When my best friend Noah found out the house across the street from his girlfriend, Skyler's house opened up, he decided to rent it and asked me to be his roommate. I have to say, I am extremely excited.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBzokjjYw4
"I do not want to be rude dad but I have to get going if I want to be at the agency in time." I say, standing up from the breakfast nook. I walk to the other side of the kitchen to put my plate in the dishwasher.
"Thank you for the yummy breakfast. I will see you tonight."
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7IqbgIld1
I say goodbye to my dad and grab my car keys from the key holder. Let's get this meeting over and done with.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpUCe8p6AD
----
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApwaaxwVmB
I park in my usual spot in front of the Madeleine Modeling building and take a deep breath before I get out of the car. I am 24 years old and to this day I have no idea how to deal with my super intense mother. I walk straight to her office.
"Mom, it's Logan. Can I come in?" I ask, knocking on the door.
"Come on in dear." She says.
I walk in the office to find my mother sitting at her desk, sipping what appears to be tea.
"Please, take a seat." She asks, waving her hand at the seat across from her desk.
"Everything alright?" I ask and take a seat across from her. Without saying another word , she throws an envelope across the table. "I have something very important to discuss with you. Have a look."
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw6y1gFJQb
----
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJCCEcB5qY
As soon as I walk out of the building I am instantly overcome with anger and disbelieve.
You have no choice Logan, I tell myself. The only thing I can do is to give her what she wants. As I walk to my car, the thought of Leah crosses my mind. Well, now I have no choice but to stop thinking about her. I will have to stay away from her.
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQwynM4zVD
