5 Rachel
2103 Words
The day Liam Michealson returned home was the worst day of his life since his encounter with Girl. He thought he could find the tiniest trace of her and her things. But neither stayed. Her perfume and all her belongings were gone. The only thing left of her was the memories that now plague his mind.
Rachel pulled the car into the driveway and said "I'm sorry I wasn't there Liam darling. I was in Paris with Rosa and the girls. We were planning the European Fashion Week and the Art, Tourism and Fashion in Dubai. It was a lot of stress. The moment I heard of the devastating news I tried to stop everything I did. But you know how these things can be…" Rachel went on and on about her ordeals.
"Can you forgive me please?" She asked compassion in her eyes. Rachel wasn't his bother right now. He knew better than playing into her lies.
"It's fine Rachel. I'm glad you're back"
She proceeded to hug him too tight.
Inside his mansion, Rachel had redecorated the house hoping it would spark his attention. It did – not the way she wanted though.
"That filth did a mess to this luxurious place. I needed to do something about it"
"Did she tell you her name?" Liam tried to investigate.
"Ummm… I never asked" Rachel said, "don't tell me you didn't know her name"
Liam faked a laugh, "I did. I was just …." At the corner of the living room was a large cake that read: Welcome Home Liam.
A few other decorations stood in the living room all with different captions.
You See Again
The Sun is Brighter Today
Welcome Bro
Fuck Death!
It's better Dead Than Blind, Xo Xo.
And so many other that gave him the cringes. Although they were warm nothing would have been warmed to him than to see a little trace of Girl.
"Your friends will be here by six" Rachel said from behind.
"What?"
"I thought it'll be nice to have them over to celebrate with you. Your employees, associates and a few friends" Rachel said, pulling her blonde hair as she spoke.
"You didn't think to tell me first?"
"I acted out of the impulse that it will be a good thing to have …."
"It's fine Rachel. Next time you tell me. I would like to rest now" he brushed past her while she stood watching him enter the corner that led the room.
***
Rachel Patterson was Liam's ex-girlfriend from six years ago. She often showed up in the most uninvited times to cause trouble between him and any current lady he's with. If he'd known he would have told Girl about her so she wouldn't divulge into her schemes even though he expected Girl to be able to stand her — that isn't the case now. He needs to find Girl and find her fast.
On the other hand, he knew that Rachel won't be going any time soon. She'd moved in without asking, redecorated and now she's making dinner and making orders for the small evening get-together.
If it were Girl she would have preferred the solemn quietness of their large house with 80s music playing in the background. Rachel enjoyed the blaring speakers of pop music.
He thought about his friends as he showered: Cooper, Buck, Sanjay, Rodney, Lucky, Leslie, Anderson and many others that he couldn't remember now. A few had called during those past months while Cooper visited frequently sometimes taking him out for evening he perhaps had grown bored of him and only called; others stopped by occasionally, others never texted or emailed him.
Cooper called in a few minutes after his arrival, "I would have loved to be the first thing you saw when you awake but I left by that for hot staff" It was Cooper who started describing Girl's physique to him. It was Cooper who started putting the ideas of attraction into him. Cooper!
"Girl isn't here Cooper"
*What do you mean she isn't here. I saw her before you went into the theater almost forty-eight hours ago" he said on the phone.
"Well she isn't. She's gone. She left without a goodbye"
"I'm sorry man"
"Did Rachel tell you about the get-together?"
"Rachel? Get-together?" Cooper sounded shocked,
"Yes. Rachel is back. And she has changed apartment into a colorful gallery of designs and art"
"f**k. This is bad. I'm so sorry man. I will be there. What time is it?"
"Whatever time is convenient for you" he signed. They hung up.
After his shower, he threw himself to the bed yielding himself to sleep but he remained still thinking of Girl and their moments together. This very room had been the place they'd explored their bodies in the following days she'd agreed to be in the hospital.
She'd led him most of the time – into the room and inside her. She'd helped him move his waist and his organ into hers. She was patient with him. Does being blind affect his s****l performance with women too? He leaned closer to take her all out and it worked. It wasn't because he was blind. It was because he grew nervous around her unlike the other ladies he'd been with. Girl wasn't domineering. No. Liam had concluded that her strong character also affected how she made love to him. He realized that though she led him into her and guided most of his motions and thrusts – she was a girl that wanted to say more. A girl that had things going on for her though adamant to admit.
"I'm from a small town in North Carolina and I was an Intern at Lylinth Comms when I first saw you" she said after their first s*x.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You should know, don't you think? You've always wanted to know" she said lying cuddled beside him.
"If it's because we just had the greatest time of her lives so far then I prefer not to hear" he said,"you don't have to feel indebted to"
A few days later Liam had suggested that she tell him all about herself after the surgery that they will have nothing to hide as both of them will live in clear daylight. She agreed. He was foolish. Very childishly stupid to believe that.
When he woke it was Rachel. "Out guests are waiting my darling"
***
She wore a fancy blush pink suit with a glass of wine in her hand as she teased the men in the living room. Rachel sure knew how to make people comfortable around her. She laughed, blushed and slightly touched the men and commended on how cheap or expensive the women dressed. She was dazzling with her bright eyes and controlled laughter.
Rachel would have been the lady for any man who needed to settle but she is often unsettled, always traveling, planning the next big thing in Los Angeles or New York, shopping in the streets of Paris and showcasing it on her YouTube Vlog — Her Rachel.
Four years ago she'd opened a luxury line she called "Rach" – a line into Soap, Facials and casual wears. Liam had worked with her in making sure the launch was spectacular. It was indeed and had generated more than a million dollars in total sales on the first two weeks. She was proud about herself, vlogged it and called herself a rising female entrepreneur.
Six months later, she called Liam and asked if he would like to buy over the Rach.
"Why? You're doing well and your competitors are scared"
"Liam I know. But I can't run a business. I'm not a business woman. Well I am but not that kind of business. I wasn't designed for it"
"How about you get yourself a CEO to oversee. You function as the President…"
"I thought about that already. I don't trust anyone you know. It's just you. Can you buy it over?"
"Okay fine. How much would you like to sell Rach?"
She named her price.
"Get your lawyers and let's sign the papers"
"Thank you Liam so much. You are the best. I love you"
"Yes. I love you too" Liam had managed to say. He'd meant it but it was toxic war loving Rachel.
During the days Rach brand was being sold Liam had discovered that the company was running into bankruptcy and employees were threatening to sue for delays in salaries and wages. Liam was furious that she had to inherit all of it. Until this day, Rach after being saved had contributed fifteen percent of his wealth.
When they broke up the first time she'd threatened to take over her company. A typical drama queen. "You don't even know anything about business Rachel. As a matter of fact I'm changing the name soon" he never did. He loved the name Rach, he said it sounded like what women want: beauty, luxury and self-care branding.
Six months later she returned back to him after touring islands in south America and named one of americans influential vloggers.
Rachel now flirted with the men and possessively clung to Liam's side after fourteen months and a quarter of disappearing again.
"A toast to the survivor: a friend, a boss, an associate and a lover" Rachel raised a glass of champagne, "like to say something my darling?"
He shrugged to say "do I have a choice?".
"Thank you everyone for coming out to celebrate my life. I actually feel like a man dead and resurrected. Like Lazarus" the crowd laughed,
"I want to thank you Rachel for pulling together these lovely people even when I didn't want it" Rachel blushed.
"There's more I want to say that I cannot. It has to do with the months I was wandering in darkness. Realizing that today I feel a part of it shouldn't have ended…" What is he saying?
"That part of it now is nowhere to be found and I want it so bad. But I can't. Maybe not ever. I'm talking rubbish" he laughed bitterly.
"Yes you are," a voice said in the small crowd. The rest laughed.
"Truth!" He raised his voice "because none of you cared as much as she did?"
"What are you doing?" Rachel said annoyed,
" There was only one person. Just one person that was there. Caring for me. Cleaning me up, setting up my meetings and making sure I was healthy. Everyone here is a hypocrite" Rachel pulled him,
"You're humiliating our guests"
"Yes I did and you're next if you don't let go of me" his eyes warned her. Afraid she stepped away.
"Party is over people" he yelled, "get out of my house!" He kicked a boxed gift, "and take your fakes with it. I am a billionaire. I don't need your goddamn f*****g gifts" The crowd without any further invitation were dissipating, feeling rather insulted.
Rachel ran trying to apologize to them. It was fruitless.
Thirty minutes later Cooper texted:
Love what You did Man. But I'm deeply offended that you didn't see my pregnant wife. Love you.
***
Rachel came in an hour later strutting and pouting with her ponytail dancing behind her. "You humiliated me Liam Michealson. Those people are our friends. Presidents of corporations, CEOs and Directors. You humiliated them"
"You're keep saying that word like I don't know what it means"
"What the f**k is wrong with you Liam?" She screamed.
"You Rachel! You!" He got ready to be antagonistic,
"I only brought a few friends over"
"Without my permission. You did it because of your own devious motives because that's what you do. You are Rachel"
"You're ungrateful" she slapped him.
Feeling like a demon he grabbed her face, "I wish I remained blind than the hell I saw today. From seeing you to seeing those hypocrites" He dropped her face.
"I'll sleep in the living room tonight. I don't want to see you by tomorrow's morning" he brushed her as he walked into another room.
Rachel would have been shocked. She's never seen Liam in such rage. It scared her. What has she done?
"And call your interior decorator to get this filth you can design and art out of my apartment! It looks like a rejected gallery from the future" He said afar.
When Liam woke up the next morning, Rachel was gone. Later that day the decorating company came by to clear up the house.
Liam was now fully back to his lonely apartment of 80s blues and Hip-Hop.
- Writer
