Chapter five

“Johnny, what did you do?”

He met her eyes and Charlotte saw fear in them. Real fear. For a man like Johnny to have such a look in his eyes meant something was really wrong.

Her eyes moved from him, then to the other woman who had a wicked smile on her face.

“Well” the woman said, her voice soft and mocking. “If you can’t say it, I might as well help you”

Johnny’s head turned sharply toward her. “Gia, stop” he said in a hard voice. “You are not to speak of this. Ever. You promised you wouldn’t”

Gia sighed and rolled her eyes. She shifted her weight onto one leg, placed one hand on her hip and tilted her head. “I really think you should watch your tone,” she said slowly. “You’re not in a position to make demands… MASTER.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she said the word.

Charlotte felt her stomach twist. Master? What master?

Gia smiled, probably enjoying every second of the tension she was causing. “But you could, Johnny,” she continued, voice turning sultry “Just keep your promise to me, and no one ever has to hear anything. We could go back to the way we were. Just the two of us… doing us”

Charlotte's throat felt really dry. She was lost. She needed Johnny to explain what was going on between him and this woman.

Maybe it wasn't her business. It shouldn't be her business. But it was. Because just about five minutes ago, they'd both decided to take things between them further.

“Tell me what's going on Johnny” she said in a trembling voice. "Or I'll leave and not…” she was saying, but she was cut short.

Johnny ranked his hand in his hair, "dammit Charlotte, I didn't know you to be this nosey" 

The moment the words left his mouth, he groaned softly, and rubbed his face with both hands “Shit. Shit. Charlotte, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you. I just…”

But she had started walking away, while adjusting the white towel around her shoulder.

She could hear her name being called, but she didn't turn back. She didn't need this. She didn't need to be in the middle of two ex lovers who have probably not gotten over each other and who clearly shared a dark past.

Her chest tightened. She didn't like the fact that he was that intimate with another woman. She thought about the way Gia had said Master. Was that some kind of kink when they were still together? Or was it just a joke?

On reaching her apartment, she went straight to her room and dropped onto her bed, the towel still clinging to her shoulders.

“Wow. Just wow!! The man who had just f****d me senseless and ruthlessly and claimed to want more with me just called me nosey” she whispered sadly.

“Wow,” she whispered to herself, staring at the ceiling. “Just wow. The man who just made me feel wanted… called me nosey.”

She covered her face with her hands.

Just then, her phone started to ring. Looking at the screen, she sighed before answering. “Hey b***h”

The female voice from the other side responded “my girlfriend and I are going to the club tonight. Wanna join?" 

“Karina, I will be a third wheel if I go” Charlotte said in a flat voice. “I always am,

“Come on, girl…” Karina said “Don’t even let me get started. You always find someone at the club. Not once have you not hooked up with someone. So get your b***t ready by seven, okay?”

Charlotte sat up and leaned her back against the headboard. Karina was right… Charlotte herself knew she was highly sensual and could attract anyone and anything. But why does she feel reluctant all of a sudden. She didn't feel like hooking up tonight or anytime in the near future.

“We are gonna PARTY!!!" she heard Karina sing from the other end. 

“Kar…” Charlotte said softly, “I don’t think I’m up for it tonight. Can I pass, just this once?”

“Not a chance, darling,” Karina said. “We’re coming to pick you up later. Bye!”

The call ended before Charlotte could say anything else. She sighed again and dropped the phone beside her.

She sat quietly for a while, staring at the wall.

Charlotte clenched her fists. “Who the hell is she?” she whispered to herself. “And what does she mean by owe?”

She got off the bed and paced the room, trying to calm her mind. But it didn’t work. The more she thought, the worse it got.

She walked to the mirror and looked at her reflection. Her eyes were glassy, her hair messy, and her towel half slipping. “Get it together,” she muttered. “He’s just a man. Just like every other.”

But she didn’t believe her own words. Johnny wasn’t just another man. There was something about him… something that makes her want to be close to him all the time. Something about him pulls her in even when it hurts.

She adjusted her back on the bed rest and pulled her knees to her chest. Her phone buzzed again, but this time it wasn’t Karina. It was a message.

Johnny: Please don’t shut me out, Charlotte. I didn’t mean what I said. I just need time to fix this.

She stared at the message for a long time. Her heart wanted to reply, but her mind screamed no. She placed the phone face down and whispered, “Fix what, Johnny? What are you even trying to fix?”

******

He poured himself a drink and swallowed hard. His hands were trembling slightly.

He knew what she wanted. He also knew what she could do.

If Gia went through with her threat, it would destroy everything…his business, his quiet life, and the fragile thing he was building with Charlotte could all go down in dust.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “What have I done?” he whispered.

**********

Charlotte sat on her bed, still in her towel.

She looked at the clock. 6:45 p.m.

Karina would be there soon.

She stood up and walked to her closet, staring at the rows of dresses. Usually, she would pick the boldest one…the red, the black, the short, the daring. Tonight wasn't any different.

She grabbed a red dress and as she changed the sound of a car horn outside broke through the night. Karina was here. 

Charlotte took one last look in the mirror, fixed her hair, and forced a small smile. “Okay,” she said in her reflection. “One night out. No thinking about him.”