CHAPTER {4} Sëx Positions

~~~TWO DAYS LATER~~~

“You know what? Give me that,” Pippa says, reaching for my phone again. “Let’s look this guy up. What did you say his name was?”

“Cairo. Cairo Arsher.”

Pippa’s thumbs start hitting the screen aggressively.

I sit tight on my chair, my stomach burning with fear and anticipation.

I should be hoping he’s a nobody. That he’s just some crazy guy I’ll never see again.

But there’s this tiny, shameful part of me that’s itching to see that face again.

Pippa doesn't even believe a single word from my mouth.

I've told her everything that happened the past few days.

The kidnapping, Cairo thinking I'm his runaway ex, how his kid looks just like me and she called me ‘mummy’.

And how that man Cairo said he's coming for me… but I haven't heard from him.

I feel like I'm being haunted.

Every single time I hear a knock on our door, my heart hits the ceiling, thinking it's finally him.

I get back to work stacking bottles of face cream into the cartons while Pippa digs through my phone.

“Hmmmm,” Pippa hums. Her brows are almost touching her hairline.

“What? What did you find?” I desperately lean over the table, nearly knocking down some bottles of cream.

“Listen to this,” Pippa says, her voice turning serious.

“Cairo Arsher, at just twenty-five, has expanded the Arsher diamond trade into billion-dollar empires, earning him the name ‘God of Diamonds.’ That’s a news headline from six years ago.”

My heart makes a weird violent flip. “That’s him!” I scream.

“That’s definitely the man who kidnapped me!”

I stretch my hand out. My palm is itching to have my phone back. “Let me see the picture.”

I need to see those olive-gray eyes again. 

I need to know they were real and not just some fever dream I had because I was stressed about my wedding.

“Oops, ummm… sorry,” Pippa says suddenly. She pulls the phone back, her face turning bright red.

“What is it? Is there a picture of a woman?” I ask, my heart sinking.

Pippa looks at me with mischievous, suspicious eyes. She looks like she’s just found a goldmine of gossip.

She turns the screen toward me slowly.

“Sex positions,” Pippa announces, her voice dripping with amusement.

My blood chills to ice. I realize she just discovered my browsing history.

I quickly snatch the phone from her hand, my heart racing with pure embarrassment.

I start tapping the screen fast, closing all those open tabs I’d forgotten about.

Tabs filled with diagrams and photos of women in extremely wild, complicated sex positions.

I was browsing them the night before our wedding. I was so desperate to make things exciting with Eden that I spent hours researching how to actually feel something.

I throw the phone into my bag, totally avoiding Pippa's gaze.

Pippa keeps her mouth shut, but I'm sure she’s holding back a storm of questions.

“I just wanted to spice things up with Eden,” I blurt out. I don't even know why I'm explaining.

“By spice things up, you mean… in the bedroom?” Pippa asks. Her voice is dancing with a laugh she’s barely holding back.

I stare at her for a long minute. The embarrassment is starting to fade into disappointment.

“I wanted to try something different, Pippa. It seems like he’s the only one ever enjoying himself when we do it.”

“What do you mean?” 

The words feel so heavy to say them out loud.

How do I tell my best friend that ever since Eden took my virginity five years ago, I’ve never actually felt that "spark" people talk about?

Pippa nods slowly. She seems to understand without me having to say a single word.

“He’s your husband now, Diana. You should tell him how you feel.”

“No!” I shake my head violently. “I can’t tell him that.”

“Why not?”

“Because maybe… maybe it’s not his fault. Maybe I’m just… broken.”

“It’s not his fault? So you're the one who has to fix it by yourself?” 

“You’re doing that people-pleaser thing again, Diana. Trying to fix everybody’s problem. This is a couple’s problem, it's not just on you.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I say, but I've lost the motivation for that.

I don’t even want to try those positions anymore. Not after seeing him with his boss. So fucking disappointing.

“I’m sorry, babe. But you deserve to feel an orgasm, bitch!”

“Maybe you should touch yourself. Try to explore what actually makes you feel good without Eden.”

“Ewwww! Pippa!” I scream, clutching a jar of cream to my chest like a shield.

“It’s not gross! Honestly, ladies know how to touch fellow ladies way better than men ever can. They just know exactly where to make you squirm.”

I stare at her, feeling a mix of disgust and a weird poke of jealousy. But hearing her talk about it makes me realize how much I’ve missed out on.

“Griiiiiing!” Our office table phone dings and Pippa takes the call.

“Hey Pippa. Congratulations. You and Diana are getting the promotion tomorrow. You both should prepare for the interview first thing tomorrow morning.” Our marketing rep announces.

“Mark!” We both yell at the same time.

My heart swells with a sudden burst of joy. “Oh my God!” I scream.

“Jesus, Mark! You did it? You put in a word for us?”

“Yes, Diana. But you both need to help me out.”

“The interview meeting is tomorrow and if it goes successfully… you're gonna be earning double what you're earning now.”

“Thank you so much, Mark. We’ll be there.” I squeal with excitement.

I don't think they’ll ever understand what this means for me.

If I’m pulling ten thousand a month, I’m never begging Eden for a dime again. And he can miss me with that “I pay for everything so I run everything” energy.

My phone rings in my purse and I grab it immediately. It’s Eden.

“I have to go,” I say, grabbing my bag and stuffing my things inside. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Pippa. Eden’s here to pick me up.”

“Wait a fucking minute, he picks you up from work now?” Pippa asks, sounding shocked.

“Yes, well… I’ve got a stalker, remember? Eden has taken matters into his own hands. He doesn't want me walking to the bus stop alone.”

Pippa laughs, shaking her head. “That’s so husband-like. See you tomorrow, babes. Don't be late! And… congratulations to us!”

“Congratulations, bitch!” I yell back as I head out the door.

I run out of the company gate and see Eden's black car idling at the curb. 

I can barely see his face through the tinted glass as it's already getting dark.

He rolls down the passenger window. “Get in!” he grunts.

I open the door and hop in. His cologne fills the car immediately. That sharp scent of black coffee and sweat. It’s a smell I’ve known since the day we met.

“Seat belt,” he says. He isn't even looking at me.

“Oh. Right.” I grab it and click it into place. The engine growls and we drive off.

I stare at Eden. He’s so focused on the road, his jaw clenching.

“Thanks for giving me a ride home,” I say, trying to break the heavy silence.

“You need to start leaving work early, Diana.” His voice is tight, like he’s giving me a warning. “6 p.m. is too late. You’ve got a potential kidnapper out there.”

I stare at the dashboard, totally speechless.

“You're my wife now, alright? You can't be working that late,” he adds after a few minutes of silence.

“I’m about to get promoted, Eden,” I say quietly. “My salary is going to double. Ten thousand dollars a month is too promising to lose.”

“Money doesn’t mean anything if you’re not safe. You can stay home for a while. I’ll cover everything.”

“You didn't even congratulate me. I'm trying my best at work, Eden.”

Eden sighs like I’m being difficult.

Suddenly, the car makes a violent screeching sound. We both tumble forward, but the seatbelts jerk us back into our seats.

“Shit! What was that?” Eden grunts. He quickly opens his door and runs out to check.

My heart’s already out of my body. I watch him stand outside the car, his hands resting on his hips as he stares at the front tire.

He comes back to the window and leans down.

“The front tire just burst,” he says, his voice dragging with exhaustion.

“What? What are we gonna do?”

He just shakes his head, looking totally clueless.

“Stay here. I'll get help from that station up ahead.” He points to a station just a minute's walk away from where we are.

“Alright. Make it fast, please?”

He sighs and starts strolling down the road. I settle into the car seat, my hands shaking with cold.

Then, I hear a sudden tap on my window.

I look over and my heart literally jumps out of my body.

It’s him! My body jerks back, almost ready to run.

Those olive-gray eyes are staring right at me.

He’s standing there like a tall broad figure, dressed in all black and looking like a shadow.

He really meant it. He really is in my city.

“Get out of the fucking car, Diana,” he demands. His voice is so deep it's impossible to think straight.

My hand rests on the door handle, wondering if I should just obey him or scream for help.