Page 73 of Love is So Mean
“Is he?’ I ask as I fix my dress taking another look in the mirror making sure that my thigh high boots are still in place.
“He is andyou know it!” she whisper-shouts at me. “He was repulsed by your touch yet you didn’t even notice because you were too busy flirting with the photographer. He relaxed when I made up for it with my touch taking yours away from his memory. The look in his eyes was different. All that you two did in the studio, he’s acting and definitely thinking of me. Enrique worshipped me and I did the same, still do. We want each other, can you say the same?”
“The same as you?” I ask, deciding on if I’m going to put my hair in a low ponytail or high one for the interview.
“Yes, the same and don’t think that you trying to act nonchalant about this conversation is going to change that you’re afraid that he’d come back to me if I asked him to. I may have begged you at the gala but this time I won’t beg because I’ll take him, like you did.”
“Mmm, I see.” I’m not answering her, I just figured out what to do with my hair. Grabbing a hair tie, I put it up in a high ponytail leaving the side bangs out even though they’re too long to be considered that. The curls are still in place but this time, my back is showing much more. I like it.
“He kissed me when you left so think about how much he wants to be with you or is it that he’s just waiting for me to take him? Think about that when you go to sleep or when you do something for a photoshoot like this, Yasmeena Al-Ameen, you’re not that damn different from me, are you?”
I smirk even though inside, there’s a feeling that I can’t express right now; anger. It’s about the only one worth having at this time anyways. I square my shoulders and walk over to Emily, towering over her in these boots. She glares at me to probably intimidate me but it does nothing. Lifting a finger, I tuck it under her chin making her look me in my eye without looking away.
“You and I aren’t the same, Emily, I don’t worship men or my man but you are right about something, you left. He’s my husband now and if you want him back, you wait. He isn’t a toy and if he was, he’d be my toy, I don’t share very well. I’m ready for you to do your job. I’ll be sure to pass your regards to my husband and it’s Yasmeena Souza to you.” I walk out of the dressing room without looking back at her.
Enrique is waiting for me a little further down the hallway. His eyes stare at the door I just left Emily behind as if he can see what’s inside.
“What did she want?”
“My husband.” That's the best answer I can give him right now.
He raises an eyebrow. “And did you try to give me away or did you decide to accept that you're my wife?”
“I can’t give you away, you’re not a toy. I told her I’d pass her regards to my husband. Might want to have another talk with her about telling your business of how you two were kissing after I left. I know you care about your reputation.”
Enrique is no longer walking beside me. Instead, he's now going back towards the dressing room.
I quickly catch up to him and stop him with a hand on the same spot I had it on earlier before he put his clothes on. “We’re behind schedule. You can talk to her later. Let’s go.”
He stares in that direction a little longer but nods as he returns to our original path.
We continue in silence as we get to the studio where it’s now set up as an interview environment rather than a photoshoot. We sit on a nice red velour couch that gives us space to not sit so close together so as Enrique sits on one side, I sit on the other.
Enrique sighs and rubs his face, seemingly more annoyed than he was earlier. He stands and unbuttons his blazer. When he sits again, he’s directly next to me.
“I know I don’t pick up well on how others are emoting but you need to reel it in. You and Emily can discuss whatever after. We can leave in separate cars so you get the chance to speak with her.”
“Just stop talking to me right now.”
“Interesting.” That’s all I can say because for most part of this interview, I do not have to speak directly to anyone but the interviewer.
“Are we ready to start?” Scott, Emily’s boss asks as he sits on a chair facing us but closer to me. He gives me a smile and maybe he’s expecting it back but smiling is something I just don’t do.
“Yeah, we are.”
“Alright.” Scott says and the producer counts down the seconds then gives Scott the cue to begin. “Hello everyone, it’s Scott Goldwyn here at WBKA and boy, do we have an exclusivefor you! Sitting here today with us, is the golden or should we go with the very beautiful, icy heiress of business, Yasmeena Al-Ameen and the midas touch of finance, Enrique Souza.”
“Thank you for having us. It’s YasmeenaSouza. Don’t call her icy again.”
Scott whistles but nods. “Right, I apologize for that, it wasn’t meant as an offensive thing.” He turns to the camera. “You hear that, everyone, cross out icy and be sure to respect her as Mrs. Yasmeena Souza, Heiress of business. It has a nice ring to it,” he looks at us again. “Speaking of rings, tell us, how did you two meet and decide marriage was what was right for you?”
“We met at work and it was right when we spoke about it.” I know my tone isn’t helping but I didn’t practice tone much and this question is so overused that it’s boring me to death. I check my nails completely dismissing this portion of the interview, if these are the questions then the exclusive is for nothing. I could be working right now.
Enrique grabs my hand and holds it to keep me from checking my nails. “Let me expand on that. After working together for years, a series of events happened that showed us that we’re great partners in all ways, not just business. It was very gradual and caught both of us by surprise but here we are.”
“That’s always a plus, to be able to work with someone then realize you two work in more ways than one.” Scott smiles, looking at me again and I raise my brow to ask himwhat he’s looking atbut I’ll chalk it up to friendliness and his profession. “I do want to ask when you’re working together and at home, do your skill sets compliment each other or is there a bit of lovely competition in there?”
My eyes scan the room until they land on Matthew. I narrow my eyes at him like I always do when something is wrong, he knows without me saying anything that I’m asking him if thesewere the questions he approved of. Matthew’s eyes widen and he shakes his head, answering me.