“It's no big deal. This is a part of Chef Boyd’s contractual agreement. With my schedule today, his services would have gone to waste. You’re doing me a favor…really,” he insisted.
Everyone paused and the kitchen grew silent as all eyes fell upon me. I didn’t feel easy about this at all but I was too embarrassed to continue to turn down his offer. I was in an unusual place with this. Why all of this for me? He didn’t even try to sleep with me last night. Is he going to try later on? What were his ulterior motives?
In that instance, I heard Michelle’s voice in my head saying, “You alone are worthy of love”.
With that thought in mind I forced an amenable sheepish smile and said, “What’s today’s special, Chef Boyd?”
“Well, between what I have with me and what you have in the ‘fridge, I can put together a delectable lasagna,” the Chef declared.
I gave Azmir a once over. He looked as if he was awaiting an answer as well. “Lasagna it is!” I tried not to sound so contrived.
After breakfast, Azmir announced that he had to leave. Less than an hour later, he was gone and so was Chef Boyd with detailed instructions on taking out the lasagna. It was a good thing I called out of work. There was no way I could go in like this. I sat down at my desk in my home office and thought of ways I could get myself out of this debt with Sebastian. After calling Michelle and running the quandary past her, all she could offer was to try to apply for a small loan. She even offered up seven grand of Erin’s college fund to get him off my back.
“I’d cut his dick off before taking from my baby!” I spat.
“Well, the main objective should be to get that scum out of your life for good. The offer’s there if you change your mind,” she proposed.
“NEVER!” was all I could think.
Later that evening, after coming up with absolutely nothing, I realized how hungry I was. My thoughts turned to the lasagna with my name on it in the kitchen. I went in, cut a humongous piece, and downed it with some of the leftover pomegranate juice from the morning. My thoughts turned to Azmir. How nice it was of him to take care of me like he did. He didn’t try to take advantage of me at all. I had to admit to myself it felt damn good to have a man’s-man wrap his arms around you and shower you with attention and care. I reached for my phone and began typing.
How can I ever repay you for your generosity? A girl can get used to this, ya’ know!
He replied seconds later.A girl can get used to it and not earn it but a woman commands it and gives back. You commanded it. No sweat! How was the lasagna?
Scrumptious! No, really. How can I settle up?
Trust…I’ll think of something.
If you don’t mind me asking, where’s the busy man? Are you out saving another piteous woman in distress? I was curious.
LMAO! No, I’m out doing business in Thousand Oaks.
Oh, I’m sorry to disturb you! I hope you’re not in a meeting. I’ll let you go… I entered embarrassingly. I didn’t want to get too comfortable with his time.
No disturbance at all. I am in a “meeting” but at Sunset Hill Country Club on the golf course with a bunch of stiffs. You’re actually a pleasant interruption.
Okay. Nonetheless…you go and continue. I’m sure you’ll get back to me with a few ideas as they come to mind. My best.
Indeed.
After his last text, the gloom of my reality with Sebastian overcame me again. I fought with it until I fell restlessly asleep.
The next morning, I was finishing up with my patient, an eighty-three-year-old recreational tennis player, who injured her hamstring.
“My, Ms. Brimm, you seem awfully cheery this morning. It’s quite pleasant. Have you hit the lottery?” she spoke in jest.
Little did she know about the recent stressors that I’d been successful at pushing in the recesses of my mind.