A Summer to Remember(49)
We both laughed out loud at this sentiment before she became serious again. “Didn’t you say Paul was at a retreat in Stamford?”
My heart began to pound because I didn’t like how quickly she’d changed the subject. What was she hinting around to and what was I so blissfully unaware about?
I sipped from my white wine and replied, “Yes. He asked me to go but I told him I couldn’t because I wanted to be here when you came back into town. We have been planning this weekend for the past week and a half but he only told me about the retreat last Friday.”
Talia finished the rest of her wine in her glass before she refilled from a chilled bottle on the table in a bucket of ice. “Listen, I didn’t know whether to tell you this or not but there is a reason why he wanted you to go. The retreat isn’t just for the investment bankers…it’s more of a getaway where they have their fun and the top investors are invited along. Lots of women and men—very expensive and highly skilled sex workers mostly—and the crème de la crème of East Coast society.”
My heart dropped in my chest and I reached for the platinum chain I wore around my neck. “You wouldn’t think he’d cheat on me, do you?”
Talia’s pale green eyes refused to look into mine as she gazed towards the floor. “Honestly, I don’t know but I also know of a certain bitch who will be there and believe me, she will take advantage. Drugs and alcohol are never in short supply at those exclusive weekend parties and who knows what Paul might do with a little coke in his system and Ashley pawing all over him like a bitch in heat?”
I stood and walked over to the floor to ceiling picture window. The sun was high in the sky and from my view, the city looked warm and inviting though I knew it was hot and muggy outside with dense air filled with car fumes and God knew every carcinogen in the world that was bad for one’s health. We wouldn’t have known it though because the loft was air conditioned and set to a perfect sixty-eight degree temperature.
I closed my eyes and the room began to spin. I opened them just as quickly and suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t get enough oxygen in my lungs. My heart raced in my chest so hard, it hurt and although I wasn’t asthmatic, a bad anxiety attack could make me feel like one. I collapsed to the floor before I knew it. Talia was at my side.
“How could I have been such a stupid f*cking fool? I should have never let him go alone. He had this look on his face like he was putting up a brave front but…I won’t handle cheating. That is the one infraction I wouldn’t be able to forgive.”
“But he could physically abuse you and that would be all right?”
I glared at Talia. “This is no time for your stupid and obnoxiously inane jokes. Would you be so f*cking blasé if the shoe was on the other foot and we were discussing Seth instead of Paul?”
She became serious again and smiled wanly. “No because I have been in that position and I know how much it f*cking hurts. Listen, you don’t know he’s done anything bad yet. Why don’t you call him and just talk to him? Sometimes hearing a friendly voice will chase those demons away and help him keep his cock in his pants where it belongs.”
I nodded my head before I stood and grabbed my Samsung. I voice dialed Paul and he answered on the second ring.
“Hey baby, how are you doing?” he greeted in that sexy masculine voice of his. “I have missed you like crazy but I promise I am being a very good boy for you.”
“I should have gone with you and I am sorry I didn’t. Will you forgive me?”
“Oh my God, Jerrica Peterson is drunk! Honey, I’m fine, really. I told you nothing is going to happen to me. I am going to sit through a boring dinner and I will probably retire early tonight and jerk off thinking about you before I drift into a blissful sleep. Seriously, where is all of this coming from? Please don’t tell me you think Ashley is a threat?”
I began to walk into the kitchen as I said, “So you know she’s there? Why didn’t you tell me? I would have agreed to accompany you. You shouldn’t be there on your own. It makes me look vain and selfish. I should have thought about what your superiors would think if you came alone. I’m sorry.”
“What the hell for? Listen, everyone knows I have a beautiful and talented girlfriend who couldn’t make it because she had a previous engagement. No one hates you or thinks you are a bad significant other and believe me, you aren’t missing anything. You will meet all these people in less than six months at the extravagant Christmas party they hold at the Waldorf Astoria every year.”