Maripolite

Untitled Part 16

Charles had picked her up at her apartment in the heart of one of Chicago's most affluent residential areas he had been waiting in front of the door of the limousine as she emerged from the gilded-grey fortress she called her home.

My appearance had been very well put together and I looked nothing like myself tonight and everything like what Charles liked and I could see on his face that he was surprised when he saw me, I was different, very different.

The cherry-red Lag' ore designer dress with a V-neck halter was cut mid-thigh and slightly flared between hip and thigh nicely accenting my thin frame. His eyes roamed over my full breasts peeping through the V of the dress and then wandered down to my long legs and found six-inch gold stiletto heels.

My black hair flowed against my back and shoulders gently grazing against the softer makeup I had chosen for the evening. The look on his face said that he liked it and as I walked towards him I inadvertently straightened my posture and intensified the look.

I liked the way Charles was consuming my new look and slowed my approach so that he could get a good look.

Diana sat in her office thinking of how she had spent the entire evening after having left his office that day prepping herself for dinner with him, for an important conversation which she'd hoped would bring them closer but served to keep them further apart. At Charles's doing. She knew what it would mean to be his first lady and at that moment she'd done her best to make sure he saw it.

"Good evening Mr. Morgan," I said

He nodded glancing me over, I waited for him to finish enjoying being the center of his attention it felt powerful. Carefully and deliberately he looked me up and down then leaned in for a kiss that was soft and sent shivers through my body he smelled of musk and cedar as he always did.

"Goodnight," Charles said as the driver opened the door

++++++

We arrived at Que and were ushered into a private room and given menus, this wasn't a restaurant that took short notice reservations except for clients like Charles Morgan.

"So what is wrong with your aunt," he'd asked

"Nothing" I lied "It's just that I haven't seen her so long and she's getting older, I don't want her to feel abandoned I work so hard sometimes I tend to forget my family"

"Doesn't everybody want to forget their family"

"No some of us grew up with loving parents who didn't put the business before their children"

"How lucky those people are." Charles smirked, "however I have come to understand that I am not one of them, so therefore I plot." His smile broadening as the intrigue built.

I leaned forward in my seat peering at Charles thinking of how I could dig deeper. "So what are you planning to do when you give me the helm of your company" I teased just as the waiter reappeared at our side.

"Have you decided?" the waiter asked

"I have" Charles quickly responded "I'd like a platter of sauces so that I can have my companion on my plate"

The waiter uncomfortably looked between us, I'd had to step in to save him while Charles continued to ogle me as if I were the most deliciously unique cuisine that had not yet been discovered. I liked it!

Clearing my throat I ordered "I'll have a Mediterranean salad without the cheese, my companion" I emphasized glancing sternly at Charles "will have the roast lamb with potatoes, black beans and a platter of the house shrimp with artichoke dip for the table, Thank you" embarrassed I plucked the menu from in front of Charles bundled it with mine and handed it to the waiter who tried to retreat quickly but Charles coughed loudly.

"One bottle of Carlsberg's Jacobsen Vintage for me and a bottle of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti for my companion," He stated with a proud smile over his perfect French, the waiter bowed and ran away.

"What are you up to? You're not usually so frank and explicit you frightened the poor boy"

"Did I frighten you?"

"Not in the least you know I love to serve however I can," I said smiling seductively and paused as the nervous waiter placed our drinks on the table bringing an understanding laugh to both our eyes.

He softened and began to shift the conversation to his objectives "I'm opening a photo studio in downtown Chicago and would like to invest my time in running it instead of overseeing everyone else's company, and by that I mean my parents dream child," He grew serious and I soaked in his words trying to make sense of his intent

"Why you don't need it, you've already done so much"

"I have," he took a long sip of his beer "but have I. I put the structure in place for companies that are in a bad state but I have never started anything, I fix it I make it better and I profit from it, but I have never created it. I'd like to create something; something that I started and not something that was given to me"

His eyes seemed softer and somewhat distraught, she saw that side of him that she saw but never acknowledged that side of him that he would hide as soon as it appeared but this time he couldn't the longing for something missing and it made her sad that she was not the one to fill it. He averted his eyes as he tried to compose his feelings and his thoughts, "Can I help?" I asked, "Help start the photo studio, help create something with you?"

He turned to face me then looked out over the filled restaurant without making eye-contact "I don't think so." His response had come reservedly not wanting the rejection to be harsh and somehow bracing himself for my angered response only I didn't have a response to give.

The waiter appeared again as he placed the platters on the table and I collected my pretty purse "excuse me" I'd whispered "I need to go to the ladies' room" smiled weakly at Charles as he turned towards me to view my exit.

As I reached the ladies' room and entered the nearest stall my unsparing sobs overtook my body first the wall supported me but then the toilet seat my purse fell to the ground and I cradled my face in my hands – sobbing, he was cutting me out of his life, I was only needed to run his business, make his money and warm his bed until someone and something better came along. My chest heaved and my body silently shook as the tears freely flowed.

As she sat at work recalling the events at dinner before she had left for Florida and the disgust he had shown last week it was clear that there was no place in his life for her except a seat at the table of Morgan's Enterprises boardroom meetings.

She wondered where he'd been for the last week while she attended meetings on his behalf, responded to his email update requests and kept the cogs turning while he started his dream business with the love of his life.

She should be the love of his life and she knew she had to get him away from that woman so that he could get back to being his old Charles Morgan self.