Page 37 of The Playboy and the Waitress
I simply stand there, my arm tucked into Dage’s as he carries on the conversation. We are no more than a step away that I whisper, “Master Dage, huh? Are we staying here tonight? I thought we were going to stay in a hotel or something.”
“My mother is very particular when it comes to titles. And no, I had always planned on staying here after the party, there is plenty of room. Especially since I have a whole wing to myself. We won’t be around anyone if you are worried about people hearing you scream out later as I ravish you.”
“There will be no ravishing under your mother's roof.”
“We will see.”
I plaster a smile on my face as we enter into what I would call chaos. I hear Dage’s name whispered all around us and then it’s like Moses parting the Red Sea when I see his mother walking towards us from the other side of the room.
“Dage, darling, you made it. I should have known you would never miss your mother’s birthday. Kiss me, and then let's mingle, your father is around here somewhere.”
So far, I'm invisible. Dage kisses his mother’s cheek and just as I feel her trying to lead him away, he pulls back out of her reach. “Mother, do you remember Jenna, you met her the other evening at my place.”
She acts like she just notice me. “Forgive me, dear. It’s nice that you accompanied my Dage here this evening. The refreshments are over there, help yourself as I introduce Dage to our new senator.”
Wow, talk about being dismissed. I start to step away when Dage puts his hand over mine on his arm. “Lead the way, Mother, we are right behind you.”
She grits her teeth as she smiles up at me. She then ventures forward, stopping practically at every other person, re-introducing Dage, like he is her long-lost son. Of course, my name is never mentioned.
This goes on for what feels like hours. My face is starting to hurt from making myself smile all evening. On top of it, my new expensive shoes are killing my feet and I need to pee.
I finally get Dage away for a second. “I need to go to the little girl's room.” I have to give him some credit, he has done his best to include me in as many conversations as possible. Even though his mother makes every effort to make it look as if I am simple arm candy to everyone.
He walks me over to the bathroom, kissing my hand before he lets me go. “I’ll be right here.”
I walk into the bathroom and the second I close the door I start rubbing my cheeks. I look around this ridiculous bathroom that is decorated in all black marble and laugh. “Ok, mister fancy toilet looks like you get pooped on just like all the cheap ones huh.” Dear god, I'm losing it, I'm in here talking to the toilet. Once I am done, I walk over to the sink to run some water through my hair as it's starting to frizz. For one second. I actually look for a window to crawl out of.
Making sure my hands are dry since I usually just flick the water off, I walk back out of the bathroom looking for Dage, who of course, is gone.
I hear his laughter and when I turn my head I see Playboy in his natural form, and he has a beautiful creature in his arms. She is looking up at him like he hung the moon and I feel my heart drop to the floor.
Someone clearing their throat behind me has me turning around. A beautifully dressed older woman is cleaning her glasses right behind me. “Can I give you some advice dear…you need to walk the walk and talk the talk at events like this. You have to know how to act like one of them or they will eat you alive. If you show any weakness, they will prey upon it. Don’t show your cards this early in the game, you have a long night ahead of you. Now walk up to your man and take him back from the serpent who has him in her grasp as we speak.”
She never introduces herself; she simply walks away, and I turn back towards Dage. He sees me standing here and motions for me to come to him. I almost turn around, but he isn’t doing anything wrong. I'm simply looking for an excuse.
“Jenna sweetheart, let me introduce you to an old girlfriend. Jenna, this is Samantha.”
The girl completely ignores me as she hugs Dage once again. “Your mother bumped into me at the salon the other day. She sent me an invite just yesterday, telling me you were going to be in town. I have missed you terribly.”
Dage unwinds her arms from around him and then reaches over for me. It should have made me feel better, but instead, it made me feel hollow. He told me that he informed his mom that I was coming with him, either that’s a lie, or his mother simply didn’t care that I was here. The moment he pulls me near, her focus changes and I can see the wickedness all over her even if no one else could.
“I see you’re Dage’s new squeeze. We dated all through school, and everyone thought we were a sure thing until my father refused to let me get married until I finished my master's degree. We lost contact through the years, you know distant relationships never work, but I’m back now.”
“Excuse me, did you just inform me that you were back to take Dage from me? What is he, a piece of meat to be fought over?”
To my own horror, she reaches up and kisses him right on the mouth then walks away yelling out. “May the best female win.”
I step towards her when Dage pulls me back. “Stop it, you are causing a scene.”
“ME!”
I look around only to see that everyone is watching us. Including Dage's mother, who has a nice smirk on her mouth. I have to stop myself from flipping her off because she has had this planned all along.
I simply refuse to say another word. If I open my mouth, I’ll be in the morning's paper, because I'm going to wring someone’s neck. My inner voice told me to be prepared for anything, but for once, I would love for her to be wrong.
I have quit acting like a doll on his arm and unless someone acknowledges me, I simply ignore them. Several times, Dage has tried to get me to interact, but I’m over it, and this place. His mother deliberately went out of her way to humiliate me and that’s inexcusable.
I know that Dage hasn’t thought it through, as he is the center of attention here. So, I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. When they announce its dinner time we all head into another massive room. I start to sit down when I notice there are name cards on each plate. I grit my teeth when I see that my name is on one, but of course, it's not next to Dage, Samantha is.