Up In Flames

Chapter 10

"This belongs to you," I set the charm bracelet onto Tanya's wrist, clasped it shut while she sipped her apple martini. She allowed me to, her glossy eyes watching me. Knowing what I know now, the green elixir that filled her glass was at least her second or third.

I took a seat next to her, my body unintentionally scooting the golden stool away from her. "I appreciate your generosity but gifting me with this is like giving me a prize for sexing you. Thank you for the phone. I am taking it because I need it, but I will not take that."

"Do you think it will dent my pockets? Is that what you are afraid of?"

"I know not to be afraid of that. I've heard things, had conversations, and you scare me for lack of better terminology."

"You've conversed? About me? With whom?"

"Your beautiful son."

She didn't skip a beat, "He loves you."

"There are questions I want to ask you that I know you won't answer. I left that conversation with more questions than ever."

"My son told me that you ran into your father," She looked over at me, at the space between us, and her eyes carried the security of woman. I couldn't tear her down, I couldn't shake the foundation that she had built from the ground up, alongside her husband that she loved more than life.

I envisioned their castle, their estate, the plush life that they lived behind those colossal gates. I imagined that she had worked tirelessly to live this life at 40, to hand it down to her children and her children's children. Their foundation had been stacked with stone, bounded by the secrets they held for one another.

That was family.

I couldn't compare to that. This was not my family, no matter how much I tried to convince myself. I didn't belong here, like a puzzle piece that fit into a completely different puzzle. Trying to figure them out was not my job.

"Sweetie," She placed her hand on top of mine, the charms on her wrist singing the song of songs.

Only then had I noticed the change in her attire. She had traded in her pastels for crimson reds and authentic golds. Her velvet dress held a high slit closest to me, that pilates body working overtime. She was doused in jewels, all gifted to her by the man that loved her twelve times over. From her head to her stiletto clad toes, her energy was different tonight.

And when I peered over, all of her karats had disappeared.

"Hurting you is not on my agenda, I'm not sure if I made that clear the first time."

"That was before I had all these questions."

She unclasped the charm bracelet. When she reached for my wrist, I pulled away. Her eyes met mine, the look of a scolding mother. I gave in under her intimidating stare and she clasped the bracelet right back onto my wrist.

"This is a gift. From me to you. I am not rewarding you for having sex with me, I am simply giving because you deserve. Again, Sweetie I am not here to hurt you."

The sound of her sweet voice disarmed me. It felt as though she were raking a candy-coated comb through my coarse nerves, leaving them soothed and untangled. I daydreamed that she spoke to her children this way, calming them, loving them. It pained me to continue that train of thought, the small child inside me longing for my mommy.

"I am insanely afraid of you."

"Enough to keep you away from me?"

No. As much as I had boasted over the fact that she was unable to get away from me due to the unwavering love of her twins, that same conflict was looming over me. She was a powerful, enticing, enchanting woman, and she had created a legacy all the same.

I was afraid of this woman who I had creeping suspicions about. This woman who I'd told myself that it was not my job to figure out, but I couldn't help myself. Had she slept with Sunny throughout her pregnancy, disrespecting her own son's legacy? A legacy that was her own...

What kind of woman was this?

"Enough to keep you away from me?" She sat her martini down then advanced toward me, her fingers holding onto my martini charm.

"No. You look good tonight."

"You can do better than that. Tell me what you really think. Don't flatter me."

"You look different tonight. I've never seen you in complete crimson, you're usually a lot more subtle than this. Usually you make me come find you, but my eyes don't even need to be open to see you tonight."

She looked like a trophy, a figurette with beautiful, golden skin.

"And you don't have your ring on. Did your husband anger you and push you into my arms tonight?"

"Is that what you want to use your one question for?"

"Are you giving me one question?"

"I like you because you think quickly love. Think quickly."

"Did you have sex with Sunny?"

She didn't miss a beat, "Yes."

"A lot? When? Why?"

"You've used your one question," She slid that same black card across the bar and stood up. I was watching her pilates body move with flexibility, moving through the crowd with ease.

I snatched her card back and followed behind her, my movements not at all as fluent as she, excusing myself ever time I bumped into someone. She met me right outside the club, inside the back of her limo, holding her hand out for me.

"You coming baby?"