Chapter 5 THE CALL

• "Kaylah!", I yell to my secretary.
• The despair can
• probably be heard in my voice, for I see her rushing in hastily. Bewildered she
• looks around, as if expecting to meet a murderous beast in my room.
• "Tell me, where
• do so many roses come from? Don't tell me you wasted my money to surprise me
• with thousands of dollars’ worth of flowers," I warn her. That's just a
• statement because Kaylah exactly knows her limits when it comes to petty
• spendings. I am not stingy, but I also do not tolerate unnecessary shopping
• sprees that do nothing to the productivity of the company.
• "No, I'm not
• that crazy. These roses were delivered early this morning by the most expensive
• florist in the region. I asked for a card from the generous giver, but all the
• supplier could say is that they are intended for Miss Loraine Windrug, nothing
• more."
• With raised eyebrows
• she looks at the sea of flowers and then back at me.
• "Do you know who sent them, Loraine? Do
• you have a secret admirer?", she asks suspiciously. "Because he must be
• crazy about you. Not that it surprises me, nothing new by the way."
• "But it is original", I add to her.
• "Never has one of my suitors been so foolish with his money."
• As I look at Kaylah, an idea occurs to me.
• She's a brunette, but her eyes are the same color as mine. We are also the same
• length. Her hair is a bit longer than mine and fuller. Nothing that can't be
• fixed.
• "Kaylah, can you
• call Mr. Fellogan, and thank him for his generous gift. Do that in person and
• not through third parties, you know how quickly things leak."
• Her eyes widen with
• surprise and understanding. "Are these roses from Dordrich, the media
• magnate? You've caught a big fish this time, Loraine. He is your equal in
• business and nearly as rich as you. Nice match, by the way", she states
• doubtfully.
• "Hey, hold your
• horses. The man is happily married and has children. Don't get ahead of
• yourself, don't let your imagination fool you”, I remind her. She looks at me
• with pity. "Have you read the news online yet, Loraine? You might have a
• heart attack if you do. It's all spicy and well done. I advise you to drink a
• coffee with a lot of sugar before start reading", she says with a giggle
• and walks out of the room. Through the door, I can still hear her laugh loudly.
• It arouses my curiosity. Kaylah likes pranks, so I fear the worst.
• Why do I have this
• persistent feeling that Alyssa has messed me up?
• She was too pleased
• with herself when she left my house this morning, that bitch. I grab my bag and
• take out my phone. And then I see a number of miscalls and WhatsApp messages,
• which I prefer to postpone until after I have read the online gossips. Because
• I'm pretty sure the calls are all related to that.
• I almost fall off my
• chair when I tap Alyssa’s magazine website.
• ‘Loraine on a date
• with Dordrich’, it reads in bold. A photo of Dordrich and me is pasted together
• intimately.
• Kill me now! That snake!
• My eyes fly over the news article, it is
• written as if everything is already arranged and set up. I wonder if she's
• already found Dordrich willing to cooperate, this was written as soon as she
• stepped out of my house, I’m so sure of that.
• And then the comments,
• oooohhh Goodness, it is all there!
• Within twenty minutes there are
• already about three hundred comments from all over the country and abroad. Some
• defend my chastity, others accuse me of being a homewrecker and whore, while
• the down-to-earth, say intelligent, responders point out that this is just a
• benefit event and Dordrich and I are dating for charity. People should be
• really happy that we are willing to leave our multi-million dollar income
• businesses to raise money for those in need. Speaking of that!
• Not that the haters can hit me, I know it's
• mostly jealousy, they're often losers who don't make anything of their lives.
• My concern is more towards Dordrich family, his children. I pray he’s able to
• explain this dating misery well to his family and it doesn't turn into a
• headache for me. I don't have the patience and strength to deal with the drama
• of insecure wives.
• But when I think of
• all those roses he sent, I wonder if his family's well-being is the first
• priority. Although he told me he is married at our first meeting, his actions
• explain something else. Married men do not buy flowers for single women. At
• least that's what I was taught.
• In any case, Alyssa will be presented with
• the bill, I also have a surprise in store for her.
• "Loraine, Mr. Fellogan
• on your private line", I hear Kaylah through the intercom. In shock, I
• drop the phone from my hand to the floor.
• Dordrich? Holy Father, help!
• I take a deep breath, blow it out slowly. I
• want to sound relaxed like I'm talking to a stranger. Slowly I push the button,
• and then I hear his deep voice. "Loraine?".
• "Mr. Fellogan," I acknowledge him
• formally. "I understand that a date is being arranged for us. I hope it
• doesn't cause any unwanted complications. I know you are happily married."
• He laughs softly, his voice is so intimate, it warms my heart. He ignores my
• rigid attitude and continues casually.
• "You were
• breathtakingly beautiful last night. I couldn't take my eyes off you. Those
• roses don't match your beauty."
• Sweet talker! I have to clear my throat to
• keep my emotions in check. The image of his red lips after our kissing session
• appears in front of me. "I have to thank you for the roses. But what a
• waste of money. A card would also say everything. Actually, what is the purpose
• of the roses?".
• I hear
• him laugh again. "To let you know I'm thinking of you. And that you are
• gorgeous. Bye Loraine, see you on our date." And with those words he ends
• the conversation. I feel a shiver run through me, an expectation that is
• demanding to be fulfilled.
• I scroll through the miscalls on my phone and
• come across Danner's number.
• For a while, I stare at it in annoyance and
• realize that he's been acting possessive lately. I wonder what caused this
• change in behavior, it is contrary to what we agreed. Wasn't he in a
• relationship with a blonde fashion model recently?
• His private life is not my concern, but he
• mustn't pretend I owe him anything. I hate that possessiveness, it might be a
• breaking point in our relationship. I like Danner's company, but not when it's
• getting too crampy for me.
• The conversation with Dordrich and the
• constant thought of him this morning have stirred up my desires. I need a
• sturdy release now. And I can use Danner again, he knows exactly what I like
• and is within reach. One tap on my phone and his number rings.