Selena turned and threw the covers from her. "As much as I would love to, there are some things I need to do back home."
"So do you want to leave now?" he asked.
"I would like that," she thought. It was early enough and even though she loved being with him, she didn't want the world to know about him. After all he was still a ladies' man and she didn't want to be completely under his spell.
"Okay," he told her as he went into the bathroom to freshen up. She did the same as she pulled the thin fabric of a dress on while she waited; it is a wonder it was still in one piece.
Soon after Ethan brought her home and Selena collapsed onto her own bed. She lay on her back staring at the ceiling and wondering how her life had come to be this. She had fought hard to avoid Ethan, and now she was completely wrapped up in his world. She spent the day doing laundry, cleaning and then went grocery shopping. All the time she couldn't help thinking that if she was his real woman, then she wouldn't need to be doing all of this. She could get all the maids and helpers she needed to do everything for her. He would buy her all the fancy things and take her places she had never been. She could really be living it up, and all she had to do was remain with him. she no longer fought with the idea; she knew what she wanted. She would do as Krystal said; it may not last forever, but she could live in the lap of luxury while it lasted.
"But that is not who you are," Melanie argued now that Selena had gone completely dark side.
"How do you know who I really am? Maybe this was always me but I never got a chance to show this side because I never met a man like Ethan who would bring it out."
"True," Krystal added as she sat curled up on the sofa buffing her nails.
"Shut up Krystal. If you hadn't encouraged her in the first place then maybe it wouldn't have gone this far," Melanie retaliated.
"And how far has it gone Mel? Hmm? She is simply going on dates with a billionaire, and I think you are jealous."
"We all know he doesn't really want her. And do you even use protection when you sleep with him? God knows how many women he sleeps with in a week."
"I don't think he is as he was before. I mean, I am at the office and I don't see the women coming through there like before. And not because women throw themselves at him means he just sleeps with them like he has no control over himself," Selena defended.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Melanie asked. "A few weeks ago you despised the man. I've seen him and he was always a show boat. He is wealthy and he walks around flaunting it, expecting people to bow and scrape whenever he walked by. He has had every woman he has ever wanted and you were supposed to be the exception. Now you are just like the others."
"Now isn't that a little bit too harsh?" Krystal asked. "All of my life I have been doing the very thing that Selena is doing now, albeit she is doing it in style. You have never sought to defend me or get passionate about it. Selena is quite capable of deciding for herself what she wants, and right now this is exactly what she wants."
"You are different Krystal," Melanie said.
"Why? Because I am not black?" the girl asked.
That warranted a chuckle from Selena. "Come on guys. And must you always say that Krystal? This has nothing to do with race or colour and everything to do with class. Mel, when you get a taste of how the other side lives, who would really want to willingly give that up?"
"But it is only temporary," Mel crooned.
"We don't know that. I have seen a different side of him. He has introduced me to his favourite places and things and even opened up to me somewhat about his life. He treats me like a man is supposed to. I am not saying he is being monogamous with me, or that this will last. I am just saying I will enjoy it for the time it does."
"And that's all I am saying too," Krystal said as she stuck her tongue out at Melanie.
"Look Mel, the only thing I can do is control how much time we spend; if we spend too much then things will get complicated. We have only had sex twice...twice in all this time."
"That's because he is probably sleeping with others in the interim," Melanie said under her breath.
"Come on Mel, cut me some slack. I'm not an idiot and if this goes south you will be the first to know. But for now I am going to milk this."
"You were never the friends with benefits type Selena," Melanie said. "You were always the one who wanted something real and lasting. A few months ago you were ready to get married to Keanu, remember?"
"And look where that got her," Krystal piped in. "There are some things in life you will never be able to control, and others that just happen and you go with the flow. You over think it, and it gets complicated. I am not the way I am by accident; I am this way by choice. At least this way I get to control much of what happens to me."
"I will be fine Melanie, and thanks for the support Krystal, it means a lot," Selena said. "At least now I don't feel like a complete idiot."
"I wasn't saying you were. I am just worried about how this all might end," Melanie told her. "I'm just being overly protective, and that was always reserved for Krystal. I am not used to being this way with you."
"You know what I am going to do? I am going to find you a rich man," Krystal said as she teased Melanie.
Melanie looked over at her and tossed the cushion at her. "No thank you," she laughed.
The girls spent the rest of the day doing mundane tasks, watching television and cooking. They were almost always at Selena's house, but by nightfall they both had to leave. Selena loved their company but for now, she needed the solitude to clear her mind and think about what she was really doing. What exactly was she doing with Ethan?
Just then her phone rang and she dragged herself over to the sofa where it lay. It was him. "Need some company? I am feeling alone tonight."
Selena thought about that for a second. "Are you sure you want to? My home may not be as comfortable as yours. I have a smaller bed, less food..."
Ethan laughed. "I am not coming for the bed or the food; I just want to be around you."
Selena blushed at his words. "Okay," she said. "Come on over."
She knew what she was doing was probably no better than what Ethan was doing; they may both be using each other, but at least they were both enjoying it.
"I have wanted to give this to you, but I was waiting for a more appropriate time; I couldn't find any so I may as well just give it to you," he said as she opened the door to receive him.
"What is it?" she asked as he walked by her.
"Open it," he said.
Selena took the small black box in her hands and nervously opened it to reveal a stunning diamond bracelet. Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes bulged. "Are you sure this isn't too much."
"It is not enough," he told her as he came before her and gathered her in his arms. "You deserve a whole lot more."
This time Selena was the one who initiated the kiss. The bracelet was beautiful and she officially decided she was going to remain in this ‘relationship' for as long as it lasted. Maybe when it did, she would be a wealthy woman as well for this bracelet must have cost a fortune. Though she had always been a relationship woman, she was now finding it hard to stay away from Ethan Bloomfield. But when he treated her the way he did, and bought her gifts such as these, who would?
Chapter 11
Selena wasn't sure what happened between the yacht, the Marea, the drinking and the dancing, but suddenly Ethan's office began to get busy again. The time they usually spent began to wane and it left her head spinning as she wondered what was going on. She found it difficult to concentrate as she saw the blonde that was now draped over his arm. She was giggling and making a show as they left the office, and Selena broke her pencil as she flung daggers into their backs.
"Thought you were special didn't you?" Megan whispered as she passed her, a slight laugh on her breath.
But Selena did. The way he had treated her, she had every right to think the way she did. For the past three months she had spent far too much time with Ethan, and now it seemed he may have tired of her. But he had given her no indication of anything that would even suggest that.
But the remainder of the week proved to be no different, and she started to warm to the idea that he may be done with her. Each day he could be seen flirting with a variety of women as before, and when Selena was alone with him, he acted as if he was innocent of it all. She didn't know what to make of it; her confusion began to rise as easily as her panic and she decided she would take a few days and cool off. He didn't even question her need for a vacation which only spurred her more to anger.