**Mariana's POV**
I can't believe this bitch had the audacity to show her face around here. At my job of all places. First she makes me look like a fucking fool in my own home, now she wants to do the same thing in my place of business.
Why am I even allowing her to see me? After all of the disrespect.
"Send my next client in."
I was sitting behind my desk, working on a client's portfolio. Hearing the door being opened, I glanced up to see the person disrupting my quietness. When I see her, I can't help but let my heart skip a few beats. My hands going clammy as the thought of touching her courses through my mind.
She's dyed her hair again. Last time I saw her, it was a bright neon green. Now, it a very dull rusty pale rose color. Did she do that for me?
Snap out of it, Mariana! This isn't the girl that you used to know. This is someone you can't trust. She's a betrayer. Liar. Traitor. A heartbreaker...
I can't help but notice the way she's moving. Slower, less chipper, cautiously. As if she makes the wrong move, the floor will swallow her whole. Like a little of her life has been drained, not the happy-go-lucky girl she once was.
She deserved it.
"What can I do for you today, Miss...."
I trail off looking at the papers that my receptionist had brought in for Dahlia's file. Acting as if I didn't know this female, I flipped through her file, scanning for a name that was in the papers. Truth was, I knew Dahlia, I knew her very well. Fuck, I knew her better than she knew her-fucking-self.
"Eclaire," I finished off my previous sentence, finally looking up at her, crossing my fingers together and placing my head on them.
Watching her squirm made me want to laugh out loud. She deserved to be uncomfortable.
She was the first to speak, "Mariana, can we talk? Please?"
"Of course, Miss Eclaire. I do want to let you know that this consultation is one hundred dollars an hour, and an extra hundred every thirty minutes after that hour. Have a seat."
"Mariana, please."
I couldn't suppress the huff that came out of me. I motioned for her to close the door, and then waved to the seat that was furthest away from me across my desk. Dahlia had always hated that I was an escort manager, but a woman had bills to pay, and had to make a living. Why not make a living doing something that I loved. Matchmaking.
"Mariana, I am so sorry. I've called, texted, social media, and even wrote you snail mail. You won't answer."
Is she serious?
I couldn't keep the look that changed my face off. I just stared at this woman like she was obviously the dumbest person alive. I rubbed my chin, ran my hand through my hair, and then sat back against my leather chair.
"Honey, I am sorry for lying. For not telling you about Gerald. I was scared to tell you, to let you all the way in. I didn't want to lose you."
"So, instead of being open about yourself, you'd rather LIE and expect me to just be okay with everything?" I gave her another look, my eyebrow raising towards her. I was trying to stay calm, trying to not have any outbursts.
"I didn't lie, I just wasn't completely honest. Baby, I'm sorry. Please, please forgive me. I want to be honest. I want to be open," she was looking at her hands, picking at her nail beds.
"Are you stupid? That's the same fucking thing as lying. You should have been open with me in the beginning. You should have been honest in the beginning." I watched Dahlia open her mouth to say something to me, but I was already tired of hearing her. "I am not your baby anymore. Miss Eclaire, it was nice meeting you, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Please do not come back, we cannot help you. Have a great day."
ns 15.158.61.20da2
