✦ ✧ ✩ Curtain Call ✦ ✧ ✩ - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter 37

I decided to let Matthew walk away before I came out of the room and grabbed Charlie from the back, making a little tiptoe to get to his cheek and kissed him. I felt him let out a sigh as he  grabbed my hands that were wrapped around his neck. He rested his head on them for a little and gave them a little kiss before turning to me.

"Don't let him get to you." I said, putting my hands around his neck and my fingers through his hair.

"I won't" he said and smiled at me "I just don't want to deal with him anymore"

"And if we have to, we will, don't worry" I replied, tilting my head and smiling widely at him.

"Go get ready, I don't want you to be late." He said and pointed to my room with his chin staring down at me, still wearing his shirt. "Were you going to go out like that? Not complaining but I don't think the staff would appreciate it the same way I do" he finally said playfully.

I put the shirt down to my shoulders and shimmied them a little making my way to the room to get ready as he bit his lower lip.

I came back wearing my best button up paired with a black pencil skirt and heels.

"That's a winner look" Charlie said, twirling me around "Now go kill them. "And try to be quick. I want to enjoy a last day in Paris with you"

I gave him a quick peck on the lips and jumped in the car.

I arrived at the restaurant David indicated, where I was received by a very gloomy Matthew who relentlessly helped me out of the car.

"Hi" I said, once both my feet were on the ground, and he let go off my hand. I wanted to be mad at him for talking to Charlie like that before but I couldn't help but feel a little guilt as I felt the necklace he gifted me still hanging from my neck. I did ran away with another guy after he just told me he loved me. I went to take it off and as I was doing that he grabbed my arm and put it down.

"Just leave it on. It's yours, I have no use for it, and it looks beautiful on you" He said smirking.

"Matthew don't" I said, putting my chin up and gazing at him "I'm sorry about what happened last night but I told you a month ago, we are done"

"I know" he replied, with a smile "That doesn't make my statement less true."

I turned on my heels and headed towards the restaurant leaving him behind and went to talk to the hostess who led me to David's table who was waiting for us with a table full of hors d'oeuvres. I sat next to him and watch him munch on what it looked like a salmon canapé nonchalantly. Next to him, he had a briefcase that was a little opened and I could see a folder that had my name on the corner. With every bite he took I got more anxious. I watched Matthew trying to contain a little laugh through the corner of my eye and I couldn't help but smile too. The whole situation was ridiculous.

"Eri" David stated, finally turning to me wiping his lips gently with the napkin that laid on his lap "First of all, I'm sorry for not making this more intimate. Matthew talked about you way too much and now I can't think of each of you apart."

Matthew smiled and I kicked him from under the table.

"It's ok David, I'm really thankful for everything you have done for me so far. The last 4 days have been simply wonderful" I said, smiling at the man who smiled back at me.

"So let's talk business" he said, finally taking the folder with my name out of his briefcase "I've talked with a lot of my friends, and we all agree. Funding a new writer's work is always a risky move."

I felt my guts in a knot as I saw my dreams fading away. My face lost its color and my eyes died a little.

"You are a risk-taker David, come on" Matthew said, looking down at the menu.