Love, Lies and Billionaires

“With that, I’d like to say thank you to all of you who took your time to be here tonight to congratulate me” another round of clapping rented the air. “Goodnight!”

Maren climbed briskly down the stage and walked up to Louise, who held out a glass of wine to her. She grabbed the glass and downed it in one gulp, and handed the glass back to her.

“You did great, ma’am,” she heard Louise compliment behind as she made her way towards the end of the hall and turned a corner, which led to two doors.

She pushed in a door which was labelled ladies. She walked in and went straight for the large toilet mirror which hung majestically on the wall, its expansive glass surface reflecting the room with crystal clarity.

Standing in front of the mirror, she winced, suddenly feeling the tinge of the wine she had gulped down without thinking.

When she was done with her session, she gently placed her purse on a side of the sink below the glass and gazed at her reflection.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Slowly, her lips curled into a smile, and then a chuckle escaped her lungs.

‘Damn, I am a boss!’ her head screamed and she let out another hearty chuckle. The door sounded behind at that moment and she turned to view an elderly lady staring at her in confusion.

Slowly, the lady retreated backward, keeping her eyes on Maren, and closed the door after her.

Maren didn’t mind, she felt like a god. She’d poured out her heart to the crowd of people who she barely knew and it felt so good and she hoped everyone would hear it.

Now that she had said all that she said, it now dawned on her that she was one of them. One of those rich mother fuckers who tells their sob stories which was hardly believable.

She didn’t care. She was one of them!

The grin on her lips broadened, “That’s how to do it, dad” she stared at the mirror for a few more minutes, her mind building up empires of her success.

Then she snapped out of it and reached into her purse and pulled out her red lipstick and began applying a fresh extra layer.

“I’ve always wondered what ladies did in here”

Maren shrieked and dropped the lipstick into the sink. “Mother f-” she turned around to view the intruder but was even more startled.

This is the ladies’ bathroom. What the hell are you doing here?” She asked, her brows creased in anger as she stared at the man who was resting on the door with folded arms staring at her.

“So this is what you guys do when you’re behind this door,” he said and began walking away from the door, looking around.

Maren turned back to her lipstick, which had now drawn a thick line on the inside of the sink. “Shit” she picked it out with the tips of her fingers and disposed of it in a nearby trash can.

‘Well, there goes another unnecessarily expensive makeover item,’ she said in her mind. She finally got her purse together and turned to him.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Alexander? You follow me around now?”

“Follow you around?” He asked, turning to her. “I heard my nemesis was in town. I thought I’d come say hi”

“This ceremony was strictly by invitation. How did you get in?”

Alexander let out a guttural chuckle, but Maren was unmoved. She just kept her eyes on him, holding herself back from flaring up with each second that passed.

“Same thing your boyfriend reminded me about, except he showed no surprise,” he said, standing a couple of feet away from her.

Maren rolled her eyes. “Alright, look, I do not have the time or the strength for any of this. You can stay as long as you want but stay the fuck away from me,” she said and headed for the door.

She turned the handle of the door, but nothing happened. She tried again, but the action occurred. “Fuck” she muttered.

She turned around to see Alexander’s smiling face with a key dangling on one of his fingers. “Open this door right now. Alexander,” she said, quite calmly.

“What makes you think I’d do that?”

“You really don’t have to do this Alexander,” she urged further.

“So you’ll hear me out?”

Maren sighed and walked over to her previous position; resting on the sink with her back to the mirror. “You know you don’t deserve this, right?”

“And he doesn’t deserve you,” Alexander spat.

Maren scoffed in amusement. “Is this what this is about? You want to talk about Mr Harding?”

“Oh, cut the formal bullshit, Maren”

“You know what? I really want to hear what you have to say,” she said and put down her purse, folding her arms. “Go on, make a fool of yourself”

Alexander chuckled, “You really have always been gullible, Maren” she was quiet. “Don’t you see what this is all about? You don’t see through the lines?” His voice was quiet but accusing.

“I mean, we get a divorce and then a few months after some foreigner shows up and offers a partnership deal”

“If you ask me, I’d say that what this generation calls being an influencer,” Maren quickly remarked.

Alexander ran his fingers through his hair, holding on to his patience. “Stop playing dumb. I know you understand what I’m saying. Kendrick is not what he seems”

“Oh, you’re one to speak. At least he cares about something. On your own path, you care about nothing that doesn’t have your name written on. Not even your son.” She spat, her anger rising slowly.

“You’ve never said it out loud, but I know and you’re never remorseful about it”

Don’t make this about me Maren, I’m trying to pro-

“Oh, shut up. I’m sure your gut irritates you just thinking of that word. I know what this is about Alexander and trust me, you’re going nowhere with it.

“Don’t you forget that that divorce was an agreement between both of us and your going back on it now is just a waste of your time.” She stated matter-of-factly.”

“You can be enemies with whomever you wish, but make sure to keep your filthy hands off whatever directly concerns me, asshole” she suddenly yanked the door key from him and headed towards the door. Each step was one of anger.

Alexander sighed. “You can choose whatever you want to, but I promise, Kendrick is not who you think he is.”

Maren finally opened the door and walked out, but then turned to him. “Maybe I like them bad”