Chapter 7.

POV: Arranging A Date

Laila was putting the finishing touches on pieces she was restoring for Janka at the gallery when her phone rang. She noted the number and smiled. She was truly beginning to enjoy it when he reached out. She prepared for the way her goosebumps were going on to coat her skin when he said her name.

“Good afternoon,” Nichol.”

“Good afternoon,” Lila. How are you doing today?”

“Well, I've been working on a restoration piece for two months and it finally finished.”

“Restoration?”

“Yes. Customers will bring Janka paintings which have been damaged over time and we restore them. It's one of the services she offered at the gallery.”

“Very cool.” We have something in common then. I like to restore old homes. You like to restore old paintings.

“She smiled,” You like to restore old homes?”

“I sure do.” I started in this small business filling houses. I much prefer fixing than destroying.”

“Wow, I didn't know.” She admitted.” As she put her brushes into the solution for cleaning. “I should have googled you.”

“He laughed at her comment. “No need for that,” I'm an open book. Ask me anything and I'll tell you.”

“I'll start with an easy one,” Why are you calling me?”

He was chuckling earnestly now and Lila considering his laugh was warm and comforting to her. She could picture his dark eyes as she had seen them on Friday night sparkling with curiosity.

“I'm calling to say thank you for the tips. I have made wonderful use of the information I received. If you have any additional information, I will be thrilled to conduct further business.”

“Is that so?”

“It is,” he laughed.”

“Are you busy?” She asked, suddenly feeling brave. After talking to him on the phone for the last few days, she wanted to see him in person to see if her memory was flawed or if he truly was as gorgeous as she remembered.”

“I'm always busy.” But if you're asking if I have time to see you, then I do. Are you asking me out?”

“Her smile was toothy at his words.” There is a coffee shop about a block from the gallery and they make extravagant drinks. If you happen to get there at the same time I was there, I meant to have a thumb drive in my pocket. I would exchange for a great cup of coffee. I want an extra large one with loads of whipping topping.”

“You would give me information for a simple cup of coffee?”

“I'm a simple woman,” Nichol. Easy to please. If you put the information to good use, it's almost enough payment. Almost. I need coffee.

“Thirty minutes.”

“Sounds good.” She told him the name of the coffee shop and then ended the call. She looked up to see Janka leaning against, her arms folded and her grin wide.”

“What?”

“You like him?”

She couldn't deny it.” He called last night and we talked for an hour about the house. He was asking me if I was hundred percent certain of my desire to demolish it. He said it's a final decision and once it starts cannot be undone. He's received all the permits. He has the gas shut off and the water disconnected. He has already removed all the fixings he felt he could sell. Apparently, the marble in the master bathroom was in great shape so he had it all pulled out. He said the interior of the house is almost down to the stubs now.”

“How do you feel about it?”

She held up her phone.” My sister is on her honeymoon. They're at the restore Merlin took me to for our honeymoon in Barbados. Instead of doing what normal people do on a honeymoon. She's been busy spending her time sending me hundred messages a day telling me how angry she is for me boycotting her wedding and how I need to make it up to her by giving her my house.”

“Bitch!” Janka scowled angrily. “I really want to smack her.”

“It's not as bad as Merlin messaging me yesterday reminding me how I used to imagine our children playing in the sun's rays in the foyer and how he wanted to keep the dream alive by allowing my nephew to grow up in a house of light.” She grimaced with rage and she still felt it. It has been a month. She shouldn't feel this angry, and she probably wouldn't if they would simply move on with their lives and leave her alone. She hates them both. “His level of emotional blackmail is on a par with her’s.”

“You know we can never like him,” Right?” Janka's voice was condescending.

She laughed at Janka's comment.” Yes you and Rose made it very clear you pretended because I loved him.”

“Anyways when I told Nicole what they have been texting me while on their honeymoon, his question to me was why they were both messaging me about the house when they should be fucking their brains out on the honeymoon. He then started cracking jokes about how Merlin was probably too busy counting the grains of sand stuck on his skin to truly enjoy the beach, which was on point to be honest. He always was eerily on the money about how Lola was making the housekeeping stuff live a living hell. He has me laughing so hard I should hardly breathe, Janka. He cracks the most inappropriate comments, and they make me laugh.

“Really?”

He even commented that their honeymoon must be boring and dull. He said he met Merlin multiple times and he always assumed his wife was a blow-up doll and was very glad to see me escape his captivity. He told me he couldn't imagine a woman like me with a man like him.”

“He likes you too.” How long have you been talking to him?”

She twisted her lips,” He calls me Friday night, Saturday night and then last night.

“The only night you didn't speak to him was on Monday?”

He was out of the country. “But he sent messages.”

“Lila,” Why am I only hearing this now?”

“I don't know. But I'm going to go meet him for coffee in exchange for a thumb drive.”

“You should tell him the next thumb drive is in exchange for orgasms.”

“I should not! She blushes furiously.”

“You definitely should,” Janka smirked,” and don't tell me you haven't considered it. He was gorgeous, we ogled him for a solid half hour on Friday night from Maria's kitchen. He is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome and he's the exact opposite of your troll, beady-eyed blonde-haired past ex.”

“You know, you really should have told me how much you hated him. It might have made me look at him in a more descending light.”

“You were happy.” Janka shruggle. “I mean, in a conditioned brainwashed way, but you were happy. Lila, some women are happy to be a house wife and if it was your dream to be with him in the refined culture way you demanded you to behave, then weren't going to crush the dream. However, I will say hearing you f-bombs and brightly coloured blouses and skirts, again, the way you did most of your lives, makes me infinitely happy. I feel like you have found your way back to the Lila we knew and loved. You changed for hima and I am not saying it was a bad thing, I'm simply saying, "as much as I love you, I really love this version of you better.”

She was quiet as he considered her friend's words. “You know, I like this version of me better too. My art feels like it comes alive. I wish it still didn't hurt so much. It's been six weeks and there was a night I woke last week and reached out for him. I had to get out of bed and go to sleep on the sofa because it hurt. I'm glad I'm out of the house now. It was a big part of my pain. I just want to see it crush on the ground.

“Well,” if you're going to go see a hot billionaire for coffee, wipe the paint smear off your cheek and get on the move. Janka tossed a rage at her. “And seriously, offer the next thumb drive for sex. Make the bribe count.”

She laughed as she went to the bathroom to clean up, strangely wondering what he would say if she proposed such a thing. She shivered as she considering all the possibilities