Elijah

“Is everything set for tonight?” I took a drink of coffee and ran one hand through my hair. Malcolm nodded, his hands behind his back, and smiled slightly.
“It will pick you up at nine PM sharp.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“You are welcome, sir.” He nodded once, still smiling, a rare occurrence for him. I was immediately suspicious.
“What is it, Malcolm?” I asked. “Do you have something to say?”
Malcolm chuckled at this, shaking his head. “Nothing bad, sir,” he said. “I just noticed such a change in your demeanor this morning when I saw you. For the first time in a long time, you look … content. Might I even say happy?”
I didn’t respond at first because I wasn’t sure how to. My night with Ava had been nothing short of perfect. Glorious. Hot. It was everything I’d anticipated and more, but I certainly didn’t believe I could have looked that different after a single night.
“I believe you’re reaching,” I said, going to the kitchen to pour another cup of coffee. “But thank you for the compliment, anyway.”
Malcolm, still smiling, nodded and turned away to leave. I watched him go, thinking of Ava, wondering if she was at work already. I figured she was probably pissed this morning for me leaving so early, but I hoped tonight's date would make it up to her. Ava was not a woman who was willing to go the distance if I didn’t try for her. She was the exact opposite. I had come to find that my name meant nothing to her; I did not differ from the other men she’d ever dated. (Six, to be exact, in the last ten years. I’d done some research.) I was determined this time to be the man she needed.
I wasn’t sure why I felt so strongly for this woman. I’d had my fair share of pretty girls and, at one time, even a fiancé of three years, but Ava was different. There was no impressing her with money or beautiful things. She wanted the real thing, and I would show her that I could be that man.
After showering and dressing for the day, I opened my laptop to check my stocks. My father—a stern man who believed the root to raising a good child was a frequent back-handed smack—had taught me the trade tricks. Stocks. Bonds. Investments. People knew I had money, but so few of those people knew how I’d earned that money. It was a simple thing, really, nothing impressive or exciting—but women loved the aftermath, so I’d kept up with it. I was lucky to work from home, but traveling was frequent. As I pondered this, I wondered if Ava enjoyed traveling.
I was an hour into work when someone knocked on the door. The time on my computer alerted me that I wasn’t expecting company, but I got up to answer it anyway. Red was standing in the doorway in an erotic maid outfit with a flirty smile on her face.
“Good evening, sir,” she said and curtsied. “May I come in?”
Before I could get any words out, Red slipped past me, her ass swaying back and forth as she walked, enticing me. She turned around, one finger trailing up and down the bare spot on her neck. Just below that, her plump, freckled breasts popped out of the black, lacy corset.
“I’ve come to serve you,” she said and leaned down to straighten one of the sexy, knee-high leather boots.
I cleared my throat, dick growing hard under the slacks I wore. Red fluttered her lashes as she walked toward me. She smelled intoxicating, of some expensive Chanel perfume. She trailed one finger gently down my chest, her lips near my face.
“Red,” I said, mostly because I didn’t know her real name. She didn’t mind as her free hand reached down to cup my throbbing dick. I groaned inwardly, biting my lip to keep from moaning aloud.
“Hush,” she said softly. “I’ll do everything.”
Before stopping her, she unbuttoned the top buttons on my shirt, her hand still rubbing my cock. I closed my eyes, losing myself in the moment. I was about to reach out and stroke her breasts when I caught myself, and for the first time in my life, I pushed a woman away.
“I can’t do this,” I said and stepped back. Red stared at me as if not understanding what I’d just said.
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t do this,” I repeated. “There’s … there’s something—someone—else.”
She went rigid then, her body going stiff with venom and disbelief. The smile melted from her face, and it was replaced with a scowl within seconds. She glared at me like I’d just kicked her dog or something.
“Someone else?” she repeated. “Like, another woman?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Another woman.”
“And who the fuck is this other woman?” Red snarled, shoving her hands out to push me back a couple of steps. “And why is this suddenly an issue now? You’ve had other women before.”
“I know. But this one’s different.” I felt like an idiot as the words left my mouth. I wasn’t that person who cared so deeply about a woman I barely knew that I was able and willing to blow off great sex just for her. It never mattered before, not really. Relationships weren’t my thing. Monogamy itself wasn’t my thing. But for some reason, one I still couldn’t figure out, I wanted it to work with Ava. When I saw her at that fundraiser, I knew I wanted it to work with her. I had no doubt.
Not even now. Especially not now.
“You’re a fucking asshole.” I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but I was a second too late. Instead of heading towards the door as I expected, Red wheeled on her heels and went straight towards the laptop sitting open on my coffee table. Red picked up the two-thousand-dollar computer, lifted it over her head, and heaved it straight in my direction.
“What the fuck!” I hit the floor a millisecond before it smashed me in the face. The small computer hit the wall behind me, and when I heard the crunch, I knew it was toast. It didn’t matter, I could buy another one, but it aggravated me.
“I hate you!” Red screamed. “You are a sick sonofabitch!”
Jumping to my feet, I scowled at Red. “We have never been a couple,” I told her steadily. “It was just for fun. For the sex, you know?”
Seething, Red got into my face, red-painted fingernails jabbing me in the chest. “You led me on all this time,” she snapped. “I thought we had something more.”
I opened my mouth to respond and then closed it again. Her view of things and mine were not the same. I had nothing to defend myself for.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I said instead, but the damage had been done. Red glared at me as she turned on her heel and stomped towards the door.
“Screw you, Elijah Trevino,” she shouted on her way out the door. “I hope you and this bitch are very happy together!”