"Morgana! Are you in here?"
Henrik takes my hand and brings it to his lips to brush a sweet kiss across the back. His eyes grab a hold of mine and he mouths the word 'go' just as the handicap stall door swings open.
Aria is standing there with a sneer on her face. She brings her arm up and points at Henrik. “You! Don’t you touch her!” She grabs my arm and yanks me back. Henrik stands and opens his mouth, but is cut off again by Aria.
"Save us from your pathetic lies Mr. Payne! Your dark, sexy thing may have Morgana fooled, but I see who you really are. Oh, by the way, I talked to my dad about what you did, and he thinks Morgana has a case against you. That's right, my dad the 'lawyer' is ready to sue!"
No she hasn't. The last time she talked to her dad was two years ago.
"Aria, it's okay. He's not—“
"No Morgana, it's not okay. He tried to steal your idea, not to mention the multiple times he got you fired using his 'Vixen-Magic' on you!"
She is tugging me with her as we head to the door.
"I think you mean Voodoo-Magic, Aria."
Aria waves her hand in the air and then grabs the door, opening it. Once we cross over the threshold, she pauses and leans back inside.
"Morgana doesn't need some pervy guy who likes to hang out in women's bathrooms!" She raises her voice loud enough for the wait staff to hear. I turn my head just as I see a gray haired man that is balding on top in a black suit with a look of determination striding toward us.
"Is everything alright ladies?" He stops just in front of us.
"No. I just caught some creeper in there trying to watch my friend pee," Aria explains as she pulls me back toward our table.
Just as I take my seat, my food already waiting for me, I turn to see Henrik being escorted out of the restaurant by the balding man and another large guy with blond hair in a black suit. Henrik turns his head to me and smirks, tapping his fingers to his head to give me a small salute.
"Who was that Morgana?" My mom's eyes dart between me and Henrik.
"You have all just witnessed Mr. Henrik Payne, Morgana's former boss and major dirt bag, being escorted from this fine restaurant. I just hope they rough him up a bit before kicking him out," Aria explains as she digs her fork into her fish and pops a morsel in her mouth, chewing with satisfaction.
All eyes turn to me in confusion. I groan. Aria knows all about Henrik, while my parents and grandma only know that Henrik and I occasionally flirted. I tend to keep any details about my sex life far from my family’s ears. It seems a bit disturbing to explain to my parents that my boss kept getting me fired because we like to have sex on office desks.
But now that Aria has opened her big mouth they will want some explanation. So, I tell them, glossing over the intimate bits. My father is turning red and I can tell he is planning in his head how to dispose of Henrik's body so no one will find it, until I tell them what Henrik told me in the restroom. That he lied to save my job.
"Well, shit. Now I feel like the jerk. Morgana why didn’t you stop me from having him kicked out?" Aria has ceased eating. Good food is Aria's heroin, so I know she regrets doing that if she has actually put down her fork.
"It's not like you let me speak Aria. It's okay. I can always talk to him later. Right now I want to enjoy a nice meal with my family and you." I smile at everyone and put my hand on Aria's back.
We enjoy the rest of the meal, especially Aria who insists on talking to the chef. My mind drifts in and out during the meal to thoughts of Henrik. I wish he could have joined us, then perhaps he could have explained why he gave up his career.
I am a little sad that we don't have dessert, but my parents surprise me when we head back to their room. My mom brought a cake she made. I black out the rest of the evening. I wake up the next day, thankfully alone in my own bed, with frosting smeared all over my dress and face.
I told you her cake is like crack.
Chapter 4
Morgana’s Problem: Her Lack of Payne
I stand nervously at my parent’s window watching a black car drive down the lane. It doesn’t slow, just keeps on going. I drop my head shaking it, trying to rattle the nervous thoughts from my head.
Think positive Morgana!
I graduated the Executive Development Program, top in my class. Mr. Jacob Mimir even came to the graduation ceremony on Friday to give an award. After wards he offered me Henrik’s old job, temporarily of course, until they can find someone to fill his shoes. I’m honored just to have been asked to fill in, that position is second highest in the entire company.