1. Boyfriend troubles

Selene

I walk into the lobby of my boyfriend’s high-rise. Cordell Daniels and I have been together since college. We met junior year and I knew he was the one. We both moved to NYC after he got a job offer at a top ten law firm. Now it’s been seven years since college and I am waiting patiently for a ring. He tells me daily I am his world.

“Thank you, Gerald.” I juggle the bag of groceries for his surprise dinner as I enter the elevator. I have been working my ass off in the advertising firm I work at. Long hours, business trips. I am away a lot; I am constantly making it up to Cordell but I know he loves me. I called his mom for her recipe for his favorite meal. I practiced it on my girlfriends. Now I’m ready to have his home smelling of baked ziti and him see me in nothing but lingerie. I got done early from my business trip. He finished up his case and won! I promised we would celebrate when I returned. So here I am. Miss always busy with work is hanging up her stilettos and spoiling her man!

     The elevator opens on the thirty fifth floor. Directly to his penthouse that is filled with dark green walls. Dark woods and floor to ceiling windows with a view of the skyline. A perfect bachelor pad. I can’t wait to renovate it. I take off my heels walking inside to hear moaning coming from within his home.

     My mind must be playing tricks on me. I pause to make sure it’s not the one neighbor on this floor. I pass the dimly lit living room towards the kitchen. I hear the moan again as I walk towards his bedroom. The door is open half way. I peak in through the door to see my boyfriend in bed on his knees pounding into some naked red head whose face I cannot see. Cordell grips her hips pumping into her with intense vigor. He has never given it to me like this. I realize I am standing there watching when I find my voice.

     “Are you fucking kidding me!” I yell as I watch them separate. She grips the sheets to cover herself. He turns looking shocked as he stands there in nothing but a condom.

     “Selene! What the…” He looks between me and his concubine. I look at the woman and recognize her as the intern at his law office. I knew she was into him. He lied telling me it was just my insecurities. “What are you doing back so soon!”

     “I’m sorry, did I ruin your plans? Was my spontaneity not a good thing after all?” This was part of my attempts to change it up. He told me we had gotten predictable. So here I am trying something new. Damn it if he wasn’t trying someone new.

     “No! Let me explain.” He fumbles looking for his pants.

     “There is no coming back from me seeing you with your dick lodged inside another person. Goodbye Cordell.” I turn heading for the door. I hear him running behind me.

     “Wait! Let me explain. I was celebrating and this just happened. Please, I planned to propose to you next month. Don’t throw away a good thing on one mistake!” I try to move around him but he blocks me. “I swear I’ve gotten her out of my system. I only want you now. I need you!” He tells me and I see him in a totally new light.

     I thought I liked what we had. We were both career driven. Both came from fatherless homes. Now he was just another asshole who cheated on me. I feel the last piece of my heart turn to ice.

     “I’ve waited seven years! Nine years if we count college and for this? For you to cheat on me with the office intern?” I turn grabbing the groceries. I will not leave my wine and ingredients for ziti for him. I shuffle the bag, my purse and my shoes pushing the button for the elevator.

     “Damn it, you know what? I was doing you a favor. You just lie there in bed. It’s like fucking a corpse.” He yells as I watch his chest rise and fall.

     “Well, you won’t have to worry about my depressing sex anymore.” I reply pushing the elevator button repeatedly.

     “You know why I slept with her. Because she listens to me. She lets me complain or tell her my good news. But you, all you do is go on and on about your job. How you hate that boss of yours. Plus, you work all the damn time! You never ask about my day! I have actually been sleeping with Emory for a few months now. She is so much better in bed than you ever were.” He tells me with an evil look on his face I have never seen. I’m fighting to keep these tears from falling down my face.

     “I wish you both exactly the life you deserve. Fuck you, Cordell!” The elevator finally opens like on one of those sitcoms. The bellman stands silent holding the door. The things he has probably seen.

     “My key.” He smirks as he holds the door open.

     “Asshole!” I yell as I throw his spare key at him as the doors close.