"Well, I think I should be going," she says.
"Yes. We're going to dinner. Come on."
She stops and looks me square in the eyes. "You don't give up easily, do you?"
"Never."
"It's Friday night. You don't have plans?"
"Yes, dinner. With you. Come on."
We get on the elevator and when it goes up, she asks, "What tricks are you playing?"
"No tricks, just dinner. I promise."
We get to my place, where my cook has prepared us a meal. It's nothing fancy, just simple Italian fare.
"It smells delicious in here."
"I have a great cook. His name is Gerard and he spoils me. He's been here all day cooking things for the weekend. We're in luck. Can I get you a glass of wine?"
"Wine would be nice."
I bring her a glass of one of my favorite Tuscan chardonnays. "Have a seat."
We sit in the living room and I ask her about her new job. She explains it's a means to an end. "I'm still looking, but I hope to find something soon."
I want to tell her I can help, but if I do, I know she'll refuse the offer, just like she's refused everything else from me. When her stomach lets out a huge gurgle, I ask her if she's hungry with a smile.
"Starved."
"Vivi, do you ever eat?"
"What do you mean?"
"Every time I see you, you're starving."
She tucks her chin in. "Well, that's because you catch me when I've been super busy. Like today, I didn't have time to eat because I was working all day."
"Every time I've seen you, you've been too busy."
"I appreciate you're concerned over whether I get nutritious meals every day."
I want to smack that rear end of hers for being so damn sassy. Instead, I reach for her hand and pull her to her feet. Then we head into the kitchen where I take the dinner Gerard prepared out of the oven. It's some kind of a chicken dish. There are salads in the refrigerator too. I set up places at the counter and we dig in. By the sounds Vivi makes, she loves it. I'd rather hear her making those little mmms with my dick between her legs, but I'll take what I can get … for now.
"You have it made with your own personal cook. This is amazing."
I stare at her mouth as she speaks. One day, that mouth is going to be mine, and no one else's.
My gaze is riveted on her lips as I answer. "I know. He cooks a bunch of stuff ahead of time, so all I have to do is heat it up."
"You're so spoiled. Who has their own personal chef?"
I eventually look back at my plate in order to eat unless I want food all over me. When we finish, she tries to clean up, but I don't let her. "You wait tables, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"My turn to wait on you. Go." I point to the living room. Much to my surprise, she doesn't sass back, but goes and takes a seat. Then she fumbles with the remote control, trying to turn on the TV.
"How d'ya turn this thing on?" she calls out.
"Hang on." When I get in there, she's eyeing the remotes with confusion. "Let me get that."
"Why are there so many?"
"Ah, the curse of too many devices." I hit the right buttons and we have action on the big screen.
"Way too complicated."
"You're IT. You would've had it figured out eventually."
"Ha-ha."
I stare at her as she flips the channels. After about an hour of watching some show where I have no idea what's going on, she announces she has to leave.
"I have to work tomorrow and I'm going to move tomorrow night. I need to get my stuff out of that apartment in Brooklyn."
This grabs my attention and my possessiveness flares. "I'll help you."
She shifts her body to face me. "Why are you doing this, Prescott? Is it just for the sex? I need you to come clean with me."
"I thought we've been through this already."
"We have, but all I get from you is the old ‘we're friends' thing. But see, this is what bothers me-I'm not that different from the girl who did your homework at Crestview Academy. Some things have changed, sure, but not all of them. I wasn't good enough for you then, but now I am all of a sudden. The only real difference is that I've shed some pounds. From my perspective, though, the inside of me-my heart and my mind-are the same. I'm much stronger and assertive, yes, but my emotions still run deep. So you can't possibly understand how that makes me feel to think you only want me now because I'm no longer fat."
"Vivi, I-"
"Let me finish. I've moved past how shitty I was made to feel at that school. I forced myself to rise above it and crawl out of my shell at MIT. I knew if I didn't, I had no chance of ever landing in a career. It wasn't easy, but in the long run, it made me a better person. And maybe that's what you see, maybe that's what you want, but underneath my tougher exterior, the same Vivi you knew is still in here." She pats her chest with an open palm.
"Vivi, what happened in the past is done and there's nothing I can do about it now. I was a sex-crazed teenager who went for the girl who was throwing herself at me that week. I can't change what I did a decade ago. I know you're the same person. Actually, the truth is, you've impressed me with the way you've changed. The old Vivi would've never stood up to anyone. But I liked you then as I do now. I just have my head out of my ass now to see it-to see you."
"But you really didn't like me. I was your means to an end. And I have to be honest with you. You're not looking so good these days. I'm not sure what happened between then and now, but it must not have been good. I'm sorry for that. I am. It still doesn't change things. I really don't want to get involved with you. I think we need to go our separate ways. You have your life and I'll have mine."
"Fine-if that's how you want it. But if you believe the lie you're telling yourself, Vivi, the one that has to do with not wanting anything to do with me, then you have changed. You've changed a lot since I knew you. The Vivi I used to know wouldn't have lied."
I leave her sitting on the couch and make a call to my driver. "A car will be waiting for you downstairs. You can let yourself out." Then I walk toward my bedroom without another glance at her.
She's made up her mind, so I'll let her go … for the time being. She can lie to herself until she's blue in the face, but I know want and desire when I see them, and Vivi Renard wants me. One day soon, I plan to give her exactly what she craves.
Chapter 13
Vivi
Prescott's surrender hits me out of nowhere. Up until this point, he's been so persistent, I wasn't expecting this reaction at all. I watch his back, or his ass to be precise, as he retreats. It is a very fine one, too. Then I put my coat on and leave. The driver stands by the car, but I tell him no thanks. It's not too cold tonight and The James is close enough to walk. On the way there, I call Eric.
"Hey, I thought you'd be tied up." He laughs at his little joke.
"Ha-ha. I'm headed back to the hotel. Do you want to help me move out of my crappy apartment tomorrow?"
"Um, we have to work. Have you forgotten?"
"Nope. I meant after. I don't have much and I'm checking out of The James in the morning. I'll drop off my bag at your place when I stop by to look at it, but I've already made up my mind. The rest of my things can fit in a couple of suitcases."
"Wait. You don't have any furniture? Not even a bed?"
"I have an air mattress."
He doesn't say anything for so long I think the call dropped.
"Eric?"
"I'm here. You just shocked the shit out of me."
I'll have to explain everything to Eric later even though it's not something I look forward to. But I need to know if he can help, because if he can't, I'll have to figure something else out. I don't really want to do it alone.
"What about your rich boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Is he available? As in, would he be-"
"No. He's not your type." Then I laugh because I'm reminded of my conversation with Prescott.
After I explain about how jealous Prescott was over Eric initially, we both crack up. That story will always make me laugh.
"Anyway, will you answer my question about tomorrow night? Jeez," I huff.
"Oh, of course I'll help. We can go straight there after work. An air mattress. We need to get you a real bed, Viv. That's crazy as shit."
"Don't knock it. It's actually pretty comfy."
"Uh-huh." He doesn't buy it. "You can sleep with me until you get a decent bed if you want. And you don't have to worry about me trying anything. I'm totally not interested in anything you have below the waist. Or above it for that matter. No offense."
"None taken. But my air mattress isn't bad. Really."
"Yeah. Whatever. I'll see you in the morning. Shout at me on the way."