Malea’s POV
I finished the last of my drink and allowed the waiter to refill it before I turned my attention to the salad in front of me. “Levi. I didn’t order the salad.” I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t enjoy eating leaves and cheese.
Levi slid a wrapped package of utensils to me and smiles, his elbows propped on the table. “I ordered it for you.”
I frowned. “Levi, I don’t eat salad. I’d rather order something else.”
Levi stared at me for several moments, a look of almost dissapointment on his face before he smiled again. “Alright. Order away.”
I ordered a hamburger and fries and watched Levi out of the corner of my eye as I ate. He didn’t touch his soup but instead watched how I ate with a tedious eye.
The door of the restaurant opened and a woman with dyed silver-blue hair entered and instantly, I remembered by the facial features. Gina Wright. She had a pair of Gucci sunglasses perched on her head, acting like a headband and her lips were coated with a heavy layer of red lipstick, making her appear like an 80’s model. Without a glance at our table, Gina made her way to a table in her 5 inch stilettos and motioned a waiter over.
I noticed Levi and every other person in the restaurant gaping at her, his neck flushing with nervousness. “That’s Gina, right?” I asked, trying to break the silence.
As if he was in a trance, Levi turned back to me and his smile disappeared. “Ah–yes. That is Gina.”
I nodded, sizing her up. Her freckled skin looked creamy and pale in the blazing heat, yet it remained unblemished and smooth. She had on a nude colored bodycon dress that reached her calves, pinkish-nude strappy stilletos, and a black blazer hanging loosely on her shoulders. She gave off an edgy, careless vibe.
She must have noticed us staring because she waved, her infinity tattoo winking at us with each motion of her wrist. Suddenly, she began walking towards us and as she did, everyone’s attention turned to us. I even saw the flash of a picture.
“Levi. How nice to see you here.” She smiled pleasantly, her English accent rounding out her words. Gina leaned down and European kissed both his cheeks and did the same to me. “You’re Malea right? The lucky one dating Levi again?”
How did she know? Again? “Yes I am. You’re Gina.” I said as more of a statement than a question.
Gina laughed. “So Levi, how’s Myra?” She asked, her eyebrows raised slyly.
Levi paled slightly. “She’s fine.” Who’s Myra?
I watched as Gina slid into the booth next to Levi. I set my half eaten burger down. I think I lost my appetite.
Gina turned to Levi again and spoke slowly. “Myra seemed like a catch. I mean she had blonde hair, a great body and Levi, you said you liked her.” She turned to Levi who sat with his jaw clenched. “How could you let Myra go, Levi?”
I put 2 and 2 together. Myra was his last girlfriend. I crumpled the napkin in my hand, giving Gina the reaction she wanted as she faked surprise. “Oh, shit. Levi. You didn’t tell Malea about Myra? I thought everyone knew that.” She stood up and flicked on her sunglasses with a snide smirk and waved. “I’ll see you guys around.” Then as if she’d only come here to say these things, she turned and left.
“Malea. Listen to me.” He reached over and tried to take hold of my hands but I shrugged off his touch. “Gina made up everything she just said. I already told you Gina was my girlfriend before Myra. She’s jealous. Please, love, don’t take what she said to heart.”
I recoiled. “How could you have not told me about Myra in the first place?”
Levi shook his head. “She wasn’t important enough to mention at the time.”
I scoffed. “Your ex-girlfriend isn’t important enough to mention to your current girlfriend?”
I stood up and walked out of the resturaunt. Levi followed me after dropping a 50 onto the table for the waiter. Before I could reach his car, he spun me around and kissed me. I stood there motionless but relaxed into his touch, my knees turning to jelly.
Maybe I’m just overreacting. Maybe Gina made everything up just to get at me. Maybe Levi isn’t seeing Myra anymore.
I wanted so badly to believe those things.
Levi pulled away, his breaths coming down evenly, his heartbeat against my chest racing. He was looking at something out of the corner of his eye as he said his next words. “I love you, Malea.”
I stumbled back. “Levi, I think it’s a little soon for that.” What did he mean that he loves me? It’s too soon to be professing love. We’ve only been dating for two weeks.
Levi nodded as if he hadn’t even heard what I said and ushered me to the car. “Yeah, ok.”
***
Malea’s POV (A week later)
“I’m so sorry I’m late. There was terrible traffic and–” My words died in my mouth as I saw someone on Lucian’s lap, their stilletos tossed to the side. Her long black hair fanned out across her back as she continued kissing Lucian with a newfound passion I hadn’t seen before.
Is that Ales? Lucian placed his veined hands on the curve of her body and pulled her closer as if he hadn’t heard me. Was he doing this because of what Levi did to me a week ago? How petty. Yet I couldn’t help the flash of envy that coursed through me.
“Excuse me, Sir.” I said loudly, banging the coffee cup onto his desk. Lucian lazily pulled away from the girl and eyed me with a small smirk on his face.
He turned to the girl and gave her a careful nudge off his lap. “I’ll see you around, Alina.”
She grinned and slid on her heels before heading out. “The name’s Kristina!” She called as she shut the door.
“Are you even allowed to do that?” I asked. He raised his eyebrow in question. “The contract. Aren’t you supposed to stay loyal to Ales?” I asked, lowering my voice several decibels.
Lucian’s smirk widened as he buttoned his button-up shirt. “That was never in the contract, love.”
I blushed. “I think even if it wasn’t in the contract, it would be nice if you actually thought about how she’d feel.”
Lucian shook his head and laughed. “Have you forgotten that Ales and I don’t love each other? We are only bound by a contract.”
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish while trying to organize my thoughts and turn them to words. I couldn’t help but notice how flushed and kissable his lips looked. Snap out of it, Malea! You have a boyfriend!
Lucian stood up and began walking towards me. I backed up and hit a wall. He leaned into me, his breath tickling, my ear. “I think you were just jealous, love.”
My breath hitched. “Why would I be jealous? I have a boyfriend.” My voice came out choked and high which weren’t very convincing qualities. My heart began to beat erratically.
Lucian chuckled, his warm body heat radiating off onto me. He pulled away from me much too quickly and retreated back to his desk.
My mind was still racing and my heart fluttering uselessly. “Lucian. Why was Kristina here?” I asked, not caring about the fact that I’d used his first name.
Lucian looked at me irritably. “She was here because I wanted her here.”
I shook my head, refusing to let the situation go. “Why was she here? Because last I checked, you seemed like a man who would never allow a woman to distract him from his work. So why now and today? Is it because of what Levi did last week?”
Lucian stared at me, his lips began to slowly lift upwards, and then he was laughing. Laughing at me. I felt a blush creep up my neck and into my cheeks.
Once he’d collected himself, he wiped at his eyes and turned to me, laughter still lingering on his expression. “Malea. Are you really that self-absorbed that you’d think that I tried to make you jealous?”
“W-Well I never said you were trying to make me jealous.” I stammered, my words tumbling over one another in a jumbled mess.
Lucian’s playful expression seeped away, leaving a cold exterior, his jaw clenched. “You didn’t have to say it. I already knew.” He waved his hands in dismissal. “You can exit my office. You’re done for the day.”
I opened and closed my mouth, trying to gather words to describe what I wanted to say, but after another harsh look from him, I gathered my belongings and left.