Page 60 of Love is So Mean
“Thank you. I’m glad you like the pasta,” They both stop eating long enough to look at me. I know they want me to respond to the relationship questions but if I’m going to share it’ll be when I feel like it. “How did you know I cooked it?”
Matthew makes a face as he tilts his head. “Come on, be for real, Enrique. I make entirely too many reservations for that woman to know how to cook. Plus, I have to get her to approve the chef’s grocery list.”
“Fair,” I admit. “This meal, gentlemen, took me four hours to cook.”
Matthew whistles low. “And I bet Yasmeena took a bite and continued to work.”
I chuckle because it’s true. “Yeah she was going over her list of get-to-know-you questions until I sat next to her and fed her.” I know I sound more amused than annoyed.
“Questions?” Jeeves probes.
“Yeah, thanks to the media, we have to double down as a real couple.”
“You looked like a real couple when those elevator doors opened yesterday. There wasn’t anyone around and you two didn’t know about the leak yet.”
“You two are really stuck on the elevator thing.” I say, bored, as I pour another glass of wine.
Jeeves reaches for the wine while Matthew reaches for the bread but they’re both on the same subject.
“It just happened yesterday,” Jeeves points out. “We need time to heal.”
“Well, use PTO and seek therapy after you write the memo.”
“May I ask why a memo,” Matthew asks.
I point between the two. “I’m only telling you two because you’re both sworn to a much higher level of secrecy. I don’t fucking like people Yasmeena pays talking shit about my wife on the internet she pays for.”
They both give me blank yet surprised looks. “Um…what did you see?”
I look at Jeeves to answer me. “Not me, Yasmeena. She sees everything that’s being said about her.”
Jeeves chokes on his drink of wine while Matthew looks contemplative. “Did it hurt her feelings?”
“No. She’s been seeing it all of this time and ignoring what is said about her. She told me about it as if we were discussing the weather.” Matthew rubs his face like he’s stressed out. “She didn’t want me to take any action so I’m going to send out the memo instead of going to check what the hell was said and risk being agitated.”
“You’re starting to care, boss. That’s the difference.”
“I’ve been too busy to check the chats because I don't want to but it is disrespectful and I’m not a fan of disrespect regardless of if I care about her or not. I will seem extra sensitive but I’m privy to things that you guys don’t know and those things have changed my mind on a lot of things.”
“Does that mean you’re about to share?” Jeeves questions as he leans in like he’s about to hear vital information.
“No. Mind your fucking business.” He holds up his hands in surrender then goes back to his food. “Yes, We’re in a much different place than we were at our so-called wedding. No matter how we got there or reasons why, she’s my wife and everyone’s boss and should be respected as such. So without breaking confidences, get the word out for people to respect company communication because nobody wants me to start investigating.”
They both nod because while Yasmeea’s frostiness makes her scary they also know that I don’t put my foot down for fun.
“Got it and just one question,” Matthew starts cautiously so I know he’s going to ask me something that isn’t his business. “Are you falling for your wife?”
The moment the question is out of his mouth, the elevator dings to signal Yasmeena’s return.
She looks at all of us. “What?”
“Nothing. They were telling me how great the pasta I cooked tastes.”
“Okay, I have to go over a few things with you, Matthew. Don’t get up, I’ll bring my laptop to you,” Yasmeena says.
I smirk since she didn’t even realize I was bothering her about her lack of commentary on the dinner I cooked. I understand her now but I would have been pissed without knowing her condition.
I get a container and start putting food for Bailey inside of it.