[Thirty-Two]

|Chapter 32|

🤍☕️

𝗘𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗶𝗮

𝖡𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀; 𝖺 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽

"Laraaaa," Eliza drags my name as she pops her head into my bedroom.

"Yes, Eliza?" I look over to her as I'm sitting up in my PJs, typing an email.

"Luci said he will only let us use the jet if you talk to Emilian so, could you please hear what he has to say?" she pleads. "I really want to go on this trip and I'm sure you want vacation too."

Sighing, I grab my phone, "Fine I'll talk to him but, only because I love you."

She runs over to me, squeezing me into a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you! Mwah," she kisses my cheek.

"Ew Liza, go away before I change my mind."

She giggles and walks out shouting, "I love you!"

I take a deep breath and click the call button next to Emilian's contact. I put my phone on speaker and place it on the bed beside me.

Almost immediately he answers, "Hey baby." His deep voice comes softly through the phone. At first, I was going to keep my tone firm but I just can't. Ugh, I should've just messaged him.

"Hi," I reply softly.

"What are you up to?"

"I'm typing up the email that you asked me for this morning. I'll be done by tonight."

"Baby stop overworking yourself, I don't need that until next week."

"I'm bored anyway so, it's fine."

"Alright." There's a long pause before he speaks again, "I miss you."

"That's unfortunate."

"Love, come on. So, you don't miss your man?"

"I wouldn't have to miss my man if my man didn't leave me home alone with no explanation."

"Baby, are you that mad?"

"Yes, Emilian! I am. How do you expect me to feel when you left me here, refused to tell me why, and then act like we're cool? We promised each other to always communicate so, you must have completely forgotten about that. You've been keeping secrets from me recently and it's honestly getting harder to trust you.

You come home one day with a wound that any normal person would freak out over and all you have to say is, 'it's not the first time this happened.' What the hell does that mean Seb? Then the incident with the photo of us that involves me, I was kept in the dark and don't have a clue on who did it or if I have to worry about them anymore.

And this morning was my breaking point because you could've at least told me the day before. But you decided you were going to not tell me at all which would've had me worried whether you left a message or not.

You couldn't even tell me where or why you were going and that leads me to believe that you don't trust me or even care about how I would feel." I finally had the chance to let out what I've been wanting to tell him all day. I don't realize I'm crying until a tear drops onto my chest.

"I'm so sorry baby but," he sighs. "I honestly can't tell you anything but, love, I promise I trust you. Just please hear me out."

"What?"

"I can make it up to you when we get back. We can go out to dinner and maybe I can take you shopping for whatever you want."

"Seb, I can't keep doing this with you. I don't want your money, I just want honesty and communication but, I don't see us getting there anytime soon."

"Elara, what are you saying?"

I hesitate for a second but eventually say, "I'm done"

"But you promised you wouldn't leave me," he whispers sadly.

This makes even more tears flow out of my eyes. "Seb, I'm sorry but, how can we possibly make this work if feel like you can't tell me anything."

He sighs in frustration, "Can we please just talk about this when I get back?"

"Sure, even though I don't know when that will be," I reply.

"I love you," he tells me heartbroken. I love you too.

"I know," I reply quickly and hang up. I close my laptop and pull the covers over my face to cry.

"Oh Lara, come here." I feel the bed dip beside me, as my sister pulls me in to comfort me. "Lara it's going to be ok, let's go to sleep."

▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣

I'm showing Miss Zara Layton around the office and informing her of her duties for when I'm gone. She's a nice girl and we already have a good vibe going on. She's a 23 black woman with the cutest smile ever and her dark curls just compliment her beautiful face.

"Ok so, this is your office. I hope you like it because I did the decorating myself. But, if you want to change anything, you can," I say smiling.

"I definitely won't be changing anything because I love the design," she says admiring the office.

"Alright well, this is it. If there's something that you think is urgent, you can email or call me. I left a note on your desk with my contact information. Also, if you require any more guidance or information Isa, the lady I introduced you to earlier, would be more than happy to help."

"Understood. Thank you, have a good vacation!"

"Oh, I will. Have a nice first day!" I walk out, closing the door behind me. I go to my office and finish off my to-do list for 3 hours.

After I'm done, I check over my desk for the last time before I leave, locking up any important documents. I look down at my phone to see a message from Eliza.

══════════════════

Liza🖇: Lunch date with Mads and I?

Me: Sure. Can we go to the cafe

near the apartment?

Liza🖇: Yeah whatever you want 😁

══════════════════

When I arrive, both of them are sitting at a booth in the corner of the cafe. "Hey girls, did you order for me?"

"No, because we weren't sure what you'd like."

"Alright, I'll be back." I walk up to the counter to see Mrs. Layton chatting with someone out of view. I wait for the conversation to end before I call her over.

"Well hello to you too Miss stranger. Where have you been? I hope you weren't eating at another cafe," she says placing her little hand on her hips.

"Of course not Mrs. Layton. I've just moved across town so, it's hard for me to stop by often."

"I understand sweetheart, as long you don't leave me for good. So, what can I get you?"

"Um, I'll take a mushroom soup and an orange juice."

She scribbles on a notepad and asks, "Will that be all?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Alright, I'll send someone out with your order. Thank you for stopping by," she says smiling sweetly.

I walk back to the table to see Madeline by herself. I slide in the booth across from her and take out my phone to scroll through Instagram. I see a post with Madeline and a man. It's a picture of them with their foreheads touching as they look into each other eyes smiling.

"Sis, who is this?" I show her my phone. Her eyes focus on the screen and she blushes.

"That's my boyfriend, Jonathan. We just started dating publicly yesterday but, we've been best friends for 5 years," she explains grinning from ear to ear.

I place my hands on my heart, "Awww, y'all are super cute together. I'm glad you're happy."

"Thank you," she smiles. Just as she says this, Liza walks up to the table and my food arrives. I look up at the waitress to thank her and it's Zara.

We both look at each other shocked, "Hi Miss Suave, I did not expect to see you here."

"It's strange seeing you here too. I didn't know you worked here."

"Oh, I don't. I just come here on my lunch breaks to help my grandma with the cafe."

"That explains why I never saw you in the mornings when I usually come."

She nods her head and places my soup and drink in front of me. "Here's your order, I hope you enjoy and thank you for stopping by Miss Suave."

"No problem and Zara it's fine to call me Elara since we are outside of work."

"I'll keep that in mind," she says smiling and walks away.

"I like her we should invite her to hang out sometime," Eliza says as she sits down.

"Yeah," I say, suddenly feeling down.

"What's wrong?" Eliza immediately takes one of my hands that I have placed on the table.

"Nothing. I think I just need a vacation. I wish you could come with us Mads, it would've been fun."

"I know," she pouts, "but unfortunately I have to go to work. I'll still call though so you guys won't miss me too much."

Eliza rolls her eyes, "Girl, shut up. Nobody is going to miss you that much. We'll only be gone for a week."

"Alright, when you call me talking about, 'Mads I miss my bestie, I wish you were here' I'll tell you I told you so."

I burst out laughing, "Both of y'all, please hush and eat so I can go home. Thanks."

-

-

-

-

-

Don't forget to vote!🤍