THREE
Mariana and B. arrived at the Sentiment restaurant just in time for their reservation. As they arrived, a Maserati with a loud, rumbling engine approached the restaurant. Mariana had to still her breath as she watched the car pull up to the valet. In a shade that was a fitting money-green, the car exuded power and success.
Scott, her heart thumped against the walls of her chest.
He exited the vehicle wearing an open collar white shirt and black blazer and slacks. His hair was gelled back and he walked with an air of confidence as if he owned the world. Mariana was enjoying her small fantasy of him until he walked around to the passenger’s side and stuck his hand out through the open car door. A dainty tattooed hand grabbed his and the rest of the woman soon appeared in Mariana’s view.
Dove.
She wore a slinky black dress and had her hair in an up-do. The dress Dove was in had no room for a bra apparently, and Mariana could tell how cold the woman was in the February night.
“Mariana!” Dove rushed over to her and gave her air kisses and a big hug. “It’s so great to see you! I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight!”
“Yeah, Valentine’s Day.” Mariana planted a smile on her lips and forced it to remain put. “It seems every couple is out tonight.”
“I know, right?” Dove laughed as Scott joined her.
“Bernard,” Scott greeted him with a bro hug, “my main man.”
“The man with a plan!” Bernard hugged back. “Yo, I just want to say thank you for hooking up that overseas deal. I really appreciate it.”
“No biggies. I know great talent when I see it.” Scott then turned his attention to his ex-girlfriend. She wore a short, tight, red dress that accentuated her long legs along with every other body part. She was breathtakingly beautiful. “Mariana, you look absolutely ravishing tonight.”
Ravishing. Scott could’ve just said lovely or nice. He could’ve remained silent. Instead he chose ravishing, a descriptive word that instantly made Mariana’s panties wet with need. “Thank you,” she cleared her throat, “you look very nice yourself tonight. You both do.”
Dove gushed. “Thank you! I hope you enjoy your evening tonight! Happy Valentine’s Day!” Scott then led her inside.
Mariana carefully watched as Scott wrapped his arm around Dove’s waist and his hands casually slid down to her ass, lightly tapping it. He held her as if he was silently saying, this is my woman, and Mariana reminisced on how he would treat her the same way.
“Yeah,” Mariana’s forced smile dissipated into the night, and it was replaced with a look of contempt that she hoped wasn’t too obvious, “you, too.”
****
Dinner wasn’t bad. The food was excellent as was the company sitting across from her. Mariana enjoyed the ambiance of Sentiment, with its romantic candlelit setting at each table and a string quartet softly playing music in the background.
A lush floral arrangement full of white peonies, hydrangeas, and roses was the centerpiece of every table, courtesy of a delivery from the famous floral chain, Madre’s, in New York.
In a short while, B. was going to DJ at the accompanying dance floor while Mariana would watch from where she was seated. That was going to be great. She could enjoy watching her man work for a while before they went home to cap off a great evening.
Ravishing.
She briefly closed her eyes and squeezed Scott’s Southern grumble out of her head. While she was at it, she would also need to rid herself of the thoughts of him mounting her while she was tied up and blindfolded on his bed, caressing her torso with a single long-stemmed rose before he spread her thighs apart and played with her p-ssy with one of the many implements he would use that night; leading her to delve farther into subspace before he pulled her back out...
“Are you okay, babe?” B.’s eyes searched all over Mariana’s face. “You seem flushed.”
“Um,” Mariana lightly tapped her forehead and noticed it was damp, “it’s a little warm in here. I’m going to go to the bathroom and freshen up. I’ll be right back.” She hurriedly left the table and made a beeline to the women’s restroom.
Once inside, Mariana locked herself inside a stall and sat down on the toilet. She laid her head against her palm and shook it in disbelief. Was she really fantasizing about her Dom ex while she was on a date with her boyfriend? I’m the most horrible girlfriend, ever. She couldn’t... no, wait... she could believe Scott still had that effect on her a year later.
She was having a nice Valentine’s Day with a great man and there she was, comparing the two, like a fool. If Scott wanted her, he would be with her, simple as that. It was clear Scott didn’t want her by his choice of date that evening.
Who in the hell names their kid Dove?
Mariana wasn’t being fair. She was being childish and petty and it really wasn’t like her. Dove was a very sweet girl who always struck up a conversation with Mariana whenever she was in the office. Dove had been nothing but pleasant to her and sometimes went out of her way to be nice, even taking Mariana out for coffee a few times and footing the bill. Mariana secretly wondered if Dove was paying with Scott's money.
No, no, no... Mariana refused to get jealous. Refused.
That’s it! I’m not going to trouble myself anymore with Scott, Dove, and whoever else. I’m going to focus on my relationship with B. and be done with it. Mariana grabbed some toilet paper, straightened herself out, and left the stall—only to run into Dove, directly in front of her.
“We meet again!” Dove smiled through the mirror. “Excuse me, Mari. Could I trouble you to help me tie up the back?”
Mariana hated her. Yes, she hated that bitch.
She was the one who decided to pursue a relationship with Bernard, pushing Scott away. Not that she had a choice, really. Scott forced her hand when he asked her to move out. Asked? No, he told her to leave. At the time, she was too devastated to pay him any mind, and spent the week holed up in the guest bedroom, only escaping to use the bathroom. She'd barely eaten that week and whatever food she did consume, her body refused.
She was determined to prove that she didn't need Scott in her life and she was just fine without him! He bought an engagement ring that she’d picked out, only for it to be a waste of money for him and a waste of time for her. She felt silly thinking about all the times she’d spent researching wedding venues, picking out colors, thinking about which of her friends and family members she wanted to be in her bridal party...
I think you should move out.
She couldn't understand it then and it still made no sense to her now. His voice was calm and his body language was stiff and distant. But she’d remembered his eyes, they were the most telling. They weren't angry; instead, regretful, as if someone or something was forcing Scott to break up with her. Even when he'd given her access to his accounts, he’d hesitated to do so, as if he was making a mistake.
A mistake. A mistake he hadn't bothered to correct.
It took some time, but Mariana realized it didn't matter if she went out with Bernard that fateful night; the end result still would've been the same. Scott would've broken up with her, she still would've gone out with Bernard...
And she still would be in the current position she's in, helping Scott’s new girlfriend tie up her dress.
She was tired and impatient with him making her wait, when really he didn't know what she was waiting for. He was thirty-six for crying out loud! He should know what he wanted by now.
Maybe it was someone like Dove. If I was an easy gold digger, I would be available as well! There went the ugly jealousy feelings again with a sharp aftertaste of wanting to hand Dove a good old-fashioned beat down.
And that dress Dove had on! A slinky black number that had crisscross strings across the back. There was no doubt that Scott had picked that out for her. Everything Dove had on was reminiscent of Scott. The up-do her hair was in, with small ringlets down the sides. The simple but very expensive jewelry she had on. The earrings were Tiffany, Mariana recognized. She would know since she owned the exact pair.
Even the way Dove presented herself, carrying an air about her that spoke of grace and class. She was a natural beauty and wore very little makeup during the times Mariana had seen her. She was lean with a pear-shaped body that made fans of every man in the office. If they weren’t already envious of Scott, he gave them just one more reason.
Don't look down at her shoes. Don't look down at her shoes. Don't look down at her shoes! Mariana glanced down at Dove's shoes. Of course. Of course they were Louboutins. Leopard-print with a five-inch heel. Mariana wanted to say it was a tacky choice in shoe and that a real lady would wear something classier. Then she remembered how much those heels must’ve cost and she quickly bit the inside of her cheek.
Expensive shoes aside, that wasn't the most glaring thing about Dove that captured Mariana's attention. It was one key accessory, one thing that made Mariana not angry, but uncomfortable...
Dove was collared.