PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 5

A part of me is starting to warm up to Dante’s proposal. It has been the only thing on my mind since I left his house. I am having a huge conflict with myself. Half of me is thinking about how this could be the best thing I ever do. The other half is thinking about how this could be the worst thing I do. Dante has already openly admitted that love is not his thing. I am a hopeless romantic. I want to be loved like I am in a romance movie.

I am still where Dante left me – not in the exact spot, but I am on the couch, overthinking. It’s not like I have anything to do anyway. Maybe I should take a walk and clear my head. Try not to think about the job I lost and Dante with his fine self and tempting proposal. I look for slip-ons, grab my phone and head out of the apartment.

“Jade! Good morning!” Mr Meyers greets me as I am locking the door.

“Mr Meyers! How are you today?”

“What’s really going on with you? Why are you really not at work?” He is giving me that worried look. He knows something is up – I work Mondays to Saturdays, I never skip work. Not even when I am dying.

“I…” I try to think of a lie, but nothing comes to mind. “I got fired.”

“Oh my God, what happened?”

“Do you remember my annoying boss?” I used to vent to him about my job and bosses. To be honest, I vent to everyone, my sister, my parents, even Mr Meyer. “He tried to get me to sleep with him. I said no, he fired me.”

“What? That’s unfair dismissal. Can’t you take him to court or something?”

I shake my head. “I cannot afford a lawyer at the moment. I guess I have to start looking for another job.”

“I am very sorry to hear that. I hope something opens up for you. And that man, if I catch him, I will kick his ass. How dare he treat a lovely lady like you like that?”

I smile, knowing very well that Mr Meyer would kick his ass for me. “I am headed out for a walk to clear my head. I will see you around.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Jade. You did a good thing by saying no – even if it cost you your job.”

I nod and walk away. If I am being honest, I wish I had said yes. It’s hard being unemployed in this economy. Things are tough, and everything requires money. I know my sister and parents can step in and help, but I am used to doing things on my own.

“Ellis!” I exclaim when I find him parked in front of my apartment building. “What are you doing here?”

He gets out of the car and says, “Mr Lyon told me to wait here in case you need a ride somewhere.”

“You have been here all morning? Aren’t you tired?”

“I am not tired. Do you want to go somewhere? I will drive you,” he says, already opening the car door.

“I want to take a walk.”

“I can walk with you, if you don’t mind,” he offers politely. “It’s not like I am doing anything.”

I want to say no, but at the same time, I don’t want to be rude. I tell him that he can walk with me. Elis is a coloured boy who is almost my height but bulkier. He looks like he is in his twenties. I will make sure to ask him his age as we walk. I wonder why Dante told Elis to wait outside my apartment. Should I ask him? As Elis locks up the car, I send Dante a text message asking why Elis is outside my apartment.

Elis and I walk for five minutes in silence. I expect him to say something since he offered to join me, but he is quiet. Dante hasn’t replied to my message. I am sure he is busy with work. That reminds me, I have a date to prepare for tonight. What should I wear? Do I need to undo my braids? I have had them for four weeks. Usually, I go for six or seven weeks.

“How long have you been working for Dante?” I ask Elis, since he won’t say anything.

“Yesterday was my first day.”

That’s weird, Anne said the same thing. She said it was her first day. “What do you do for Dante?”

“I am afraid I cannot disclose that. You would have to ask Mr Lyon.”

What is really going on with these people? Even Anne wouldn’t say anything. I ask Elis to give me a second to call Dante – I need a word with that man. Dante picks up his phone on the third ring.

Me: Dante!

Dante: Jake Marshall.

Me: What are you up to?

Dante: I don’t understand your question.

Me: Can you talk? I have a few questions.

Dante: I am in the middle of something important, but I can answer a question or two.

Me: Why was Elis waiting for me outside my apartment?

Dante: I told him to wait there in case you need to go somewhere.

Me: I can drive myself. I have a car, even though it’s still at your club, but I have a car.

Dante: Until then, Elis will drive you.

Me: I don’t have anywhere to go. So Elis is going to spend the day in the car?

Dante: He gets paid to do that.

Me: Isn’t he your driver? He is supposed to be driving you.

Dante: I don’t need a driver – I can drive myself.

Me: This is pointless. Goodbye.

Dante: You sound stressed. Is losing your job stressing you?

Me: Wouldn’t you also be stressed if you lost your job?

Dante: I can’t lose my job, I own the businesses.

Me: Goodbye Dante.

Dante: Let me make your day. Give Elis the phone.

I don’t question him. I hand the phone over to Elis, who has been listening to me talk about him like he is not there. I watch curiously as Elis talks to Dante. All he is saying is ‘Yes, sir.’ “Yes, Mrs Lyon.’ After what feels like five minutes, Elis hands me back my phone.

“What did he say?” I ask him.

“I have to drive you somewhere. Orders from Mr Lyon.”

I try to ask him where, but he says he only got orders to drive me. Is this how things are going to be when Dante and I are official? Elis and I walk back to the car. I make sure to send Giselle a text message updating her about what is going on. Since Elis won’t say anything to me, I sit back and enjoy the ride. An hour late, we reach our destination.

I know this place, but why is Elis taking me to Ravi Hotel and Spar? Elis parks the car and comes to open the door for me, but I am already out by the time he gets close.

“Please let me get the door next time,” Elis says to me. I can open doors for myself, but I nod.

“Welcome, Miss Marshal,” says a feminine voice behind me. I turn to look at who just greeted me. I am welcomed by four smiling faces – all females.

“Hi,” I say, then look at Elis. Maybe he can provide me with the answers I seek, starting with how this woman knows my name and why I am here.

The woman says, “My name is Natasha. Mr Lyon told us to expect you. To my left is Zara, who will handle your hair; next to her is Alice, who will do your eyelashes. Then the last one is Abby, who will handle your nails. We all will make sure you have a lovely time at Ravi Spar.”

“Okay.” That’s all I say. What else can I say? They already mentioned Dante, I assume this is his doing. I am escorted in, while Elis remains in the car. When inside, I am asked what I would like to drink. I am not sure what I want, so I tell Natasha to choose for me. She brings me a glass of their most expensive champagne – on the house.

I sit down, and Abby does my eyelashes to the length that I want. From there, Natasha and Zara start undoing my braids while Abby gets started on my feet – I am going with baby pink colour. These people are being overly nice to me – I know it’s all because of Dante and his deep pockets. When my hair is undone, Zara washes it and gives me a nice scalp massage. For my hair, I go for a hair treatment and to straighten it. I want to let it breathe a little bit.

“Do you have any specific design you want on your nails, Mis Marshal?” Abby asks me.

“I don’t have a design, but I trust you to do something cute,” I answer with a smile.

“Let me refill your glass,” Natasha takes my glass to refill it. Are these people trying to get me drunk? The champagne tastes amazing.

When done with everything, I stand in front of the mirror looking at myself. I feel and look amazing. I look at the ladies and say, “Thank you so many ladies. You guys are amazing.”

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence. We hope to see you again.”

“Uhm, the bill?” I don’t even have my card. I am crossing my fingers that Dante is handling the bill.

“Mr Lyon handled it,” Natasha says, leading me to the car. I don’t know if she is kissing my ass because of Dante or if she is a nice person but I think I like her. Elis opens the car door, and I get in and wave at the ladies as we drive away.

“I feel refreshed, and I am ready to call it a day,” I say to Elis.

He answers, “I still have to take you to get lunch and shopping in case you need something to wear tonight.”

I find myself smiling. A point for Dante for cheering me up.