Chapter 8: Eden
874 Words
Michael got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I sighed and unbuckled myself to climb out and follow him inside, as he locked his car with the key fob. I wondered what other expensive items he had since he clearly had a lot of funds to his name. Although, I suppose all men that would have paid for me to be in their company would be the same. Wealthy and obsessed with themselves enough to think that a woman such as myself would want them no matter what they looked like or acted like.
I walked behind him, looking down at my ballet flats until I slowly peered up to see that it was a Thai food restaurant. My heart faltered and the fact that this was where he wanted to stop, made panic rise up my throat. He was like them. He was the same as all the others like I had assumed. He had a type and that must have been why his father had purchased me for him as a 'gift'.
Michael stopped as he grabbed the door. "C'mon. It's okay."
I peered back down and walked towards the door and through it. Michael walked in after me and gave the front desk person a massive smile, and I watched how the person lit up when they saw him. I didn't know why they seemed to love him so much.
"Salut, Cynthia. Long time no see. How have you been?" Michael smiled and the middle-aged woman walked around the counter to embrace him in a warm hug.
"Michael... We missed you." Cynthia kissed both of his cheeks and held him away at arm's length. "It's been too long since you have been in here. Autumn has missed you so much. She's big now too."
I didn't know who Autumn was or why this woman was so happy to see the man she was with. This whole conversation confused me to no end. I worried my bottom lip and continued to watch them interact with a curious expression. What was he doing? Why had he stopped at this place and not the others that we had passed? Was it to prove a point? To get me to believe that he was different than the others? That he was accepting and not one to stereotype?
"I was just here like last month." Michael chuckled as the Thai woman turned him around to get a look at him.
"A month is a long time. Kids get big so fast. One day you'll know when you have one of your own." The woman winked and nudged him in the shoulder.
I slightly jumped as I realized it was a little girl that they were talking about. I was shocked to say the least when I heard his named screamed from a short distance.
"Michael!" A little girl came running at him and he groaned as she ran into his legs.
Michael crouched down and smiled at the little girl. "Hey. I have something for you. I stole it from the photo shoot I had today so don't tell anyone." He brought his index finger to his lips and winked at her. The little girl giggled as Michael warmly smiled and reached into his coat to pull out a white daisy. She gasped and took it from between his index finger and thumb.
"For Autumn?" Autumn giggled as she swayed back and forth, making her little red dress twirl.
"Just for you." Michael chuckled and she squealed and ran off to show off the fake flower. He stood up and brushed off his slacks as he turned his attention back to Cynthia. "Has business been better than the last time we talked?"
"Not much. But it's okay. Eventually, we'll pick up again." She smiled as one of the waitresses brought him his usual. "Here you go. I threw in extra for your friend. She seems like she's not having such a lovely day."
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Cynthia, this is Eden." Michael warmly smiled as he peered over his shoulder to gesture at me behind him. "I just met her today."
It took him long enough to realize I was in the room with them. Like I wasn't some ghost lingering in a haunted house. I was flesh and blood and he was supposed to care about me, but I guess I could be easily forgotten and looked over with how quiet I was. I just didn't want to talk and this all seemed like some ploy to make me think he was not as his father was. Some scheme to get me into his bed.
"Would you like to see how we make one of our favorite desserts?" Cynthia smiled at me. I slowly peered up and nodded. "C'mon then. Michael can man the front desk for me. He's good at looking pretty." She winked at him as she led me away from the man I was stuck with.
Michael softly chuckled and walked around the front desk to take over for her.
"Eat! You're too skinny!" Cynthia shouted over her shoulder.
Michael burst out laughing, as he opened the plastic bag and pulled the top container out.
- Writer
