CHAPTER TWELVE
KIRA
A month had passed since we began to date officially. I had gotten back to Miami and work, but we were still secretly seeing each other whenever we could. At this point, I was perplexed. Like what the hell was I doing?
I liked Blade a whole lot but I also loved my job and wanted that promotion and the fat check that came along with it. Blade had been honest with me, and I felt horrible for keeping a huge part of my life away from him.
We had spent a lot of time together. We went to fancy restaurants, museums, elegant beaches, and I loved every moment we were together. I was not really comfortable with the way most of our dates had ended and I was hoping I could talk to him about it.
I knew one of Blade’s secrets: he took drugs.
Whenever we went on a date, we ended up doing drugs and drinking, and it really made me uncomfortable.
The problem was that Blade was not aware of my job. Only Starburst knew that I was a journalist, and no other. I didn’t even think Starburst knew that Blade didn’t know what I did for a living. Blade never even asked me, come to think about it. Maybe we had been so caught up, he didn’t think to ask me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to volunteer that sort of information. I didn’t want to risk losing him before we’d even begun.
I felt like I was betraying him by not telling him about it. What if he got to find out from someone else? I didn’t want to mess things up, because we were in a very good place.
I was ecstatic when Blade phoned me to say he was in town and wanted to see me. I couldn’t believe he took the time out of his busy schedule to see me by flying in late last night. I woke up to his voicemail this morning.
I sported a peach dress and cream sandals. We were going on another date, but Blade wouldn’t tell me where we were going. He just kept saying it was a special place. I wore a peach-colored lipstick and lined my eyes lightly. I was in no mood for heavy makeup.
“We’re going to have that talk today.” I glared at myself in the mirror.
My phone buzzed, and I rushed to pick it up. Blade had said he would send a driver who would take me to the location of the date.
“Hello, darling, how are you today?” he asked.
“I’m fine now. I can’t wait to see you again.” I beamed.
“Same here. Your driver is outside, don’t keep him waiting. I can’t wait to see your lovely eyes.”
“I am flattered,” I teased him.
“Don’t be. I mean it and I am going to write you a song.”
That made me laugh. I liked the idea of it, but my heart was not there now. All I could think of was having a truthful conversation with Blade.
I found the driver outside, an older man. He had arrived in a black limousine.
“Good day, ma’am.”
I smiled at him. “Hello.”
“Please…” He bowed and opened the door for me.
I felt like Cinderella.
While in the car, I shut everything else out except Blade, I was a little nervous about this conversation I wanted us to have.
This was the first time I’d felt afraid of talking to someone. I had never been the type to shy away or cower when it was time for confrontation. Maybe I felt this way because he was my boyfriend.
“Kira Martin, you can do this,” I whispered to myself as the car came to a halt.
“We’ve arrived,” the driver’s voice reached my ears about forty-five minutes later.
My brows came together in a frown as I peered out the smoky passenger side window.
This place didn’t reflect Blade’s usual haunts. He loved to hit the clubs or go to a casino, but this place just seemed too…well, tame.
It was an open garden of grapes. A small number of people had gathered. There were tables and chairs and a little stage which had this banner: Crocus Wine Tasting.
“I hope you enjoy yourself, ma’am,” The driver said as he came around to help me from the limo.
“I’m sure I will.” I grinned and stepped out of the car.
Honestly, I felt slightly relieved that we were not having another date in a club or some rough place. This looked calm, simple, and very romantic.
A smile formed around my mouth as I spotted Blade close to a grapevine. He was dressed a bit formally, in a tux. His eyes were relaxed and happy. His face radiated a kind of peace I couldn’t understand.
I felt my bag for my notepad. I always took notes during or after each date as I learned one or two things from them.
Crocus Wine Tasting. I quickly scribbled it down on my jotter before walking down to Blade.
“You look sexy. Peach looks good on you.” He cupped my face in his hands and planted a kiss on my lips.
“So is this where we have the date?” I looked around curiously. I didn’t know this part of Florida but I could tell it was out of bounds for ordinary people like me. It was an estate for the crème of society.
“A friend invited me. I thought we could use some time together before the show begins.”
“What’s this really about?” I gestured at the banner.
‘The Powell's are one of the richest families around here. Obviously, they want to leave a legacy behind, they want to make more money.’ He plucked one of the grapes and threw it into his mouth.
“So they named their wine ‘crocus’. Sounds like the word crocodile.” I giggled.
This made Blade laugh. “Yeah, but if the wine tastes good and is quality, people are not going to care about the name. Most people care about content,” he explained.
As we walked to a table far off from the rest of the people, I had a feeling he was talking about himself and the Trash Monkeys.
“Like the Trash Monkeys?” I asked, warming up for the big conversation we were supposed to have.
Blade tilted his head to the side and regarded me. I was not comfortable with the way he was staring at me.
“What?” I shrugged.
“Look, I am sorry.” He ran his fingers through his hair.
“Sorry about what?” I asked.
“I think I am a bit self-centered. I don’t really know much about you. I know you have cute eyes, plump and sexy lips, and a nice body, and I know you love movies. But I don’t know what you do for a living, the name of your family, friends, and so much more. I realize I swept in and maybe moved too fast. Sweetheart, can you forgive me?” He leaned closer and took my left hand, pressing it softly to his lips.
I blushed. My heart was beating fast. This was the best time to tell Blade about my work and let him know I’m uncomfortable with his parties and his drinking habit.
“What do you do aside from looking beautiful?” he asked.
“I…” My mouth went dry. Even though I was going to tell Blade, he’d caught me off guard.
“Yes?” He waited.
I was ready to tell him about my work as a journalist when I spotted a guy rushing towards our table.
“What’s that?” He followed my gaze. There was a change in his expression. It seemed the guy was someone he had met before. “If you come one step closer to me, I will sue you and that stupid blog,” Blade snapped angrily at the journalist who must have followed Blade here.
He had a camera around his neck. The young, pimple-faced guy’s expression fell. He opened his mouth like he was about to say something but stopped. He turned around and left the garden at once.
I swallowed. Apparently, the guy was a reporter or something.
“What was that for?” I was not comfortable with the way he had spoken to the guy.
“I just don’t like vultures. Anything connected to reporters, journals, magazines. Just keep me out of it.”
“Why?” I pulled my hands away from him. “You are a rock star and famous, for crying out loud. A good amount of notoriety will come from the fame.”
“Well that doesn’t mean that I don’t prefer my privacy. They’re a bunch of hungry and broke people. I hate them. They are all the same and try to paint famous people like us in a bad light. They are greedy and hopeless. I just hate shit.” He scowled, his eyes reddened with fury.
I cringed inside as he tore the choice of my career to shreds. A job that I valued and loved. “Not all journalists are the same. Some write for the good of the people. Some want to heal others, liberate them from backward thinking. Some journalists are good at what they do,” I tried to defend myself.
“Nah, they are all the same. Bunch of liars and broke asses.” He poured the wine before us into his glass and gulped it all at once.
“You don’t have to do that,” I shouted at him.
I knew he would finish the whole bottle and probably throw in some pills. Why couldn’t he just have fun without drinking?
“Do what?” he asked.
“I don’t like the way we hang out. It always ends up in drinking or drugs, and it makes me really tired,” I complained.
Though I couldn’t tell him I was a journalist, I could at least caution him about the booze and drugs.
“You better lower your voice. People could be listening to us, and I don’t need any scandal from a random girl who finds it hard to shut her fucking mouth. I don’t need the likes of you telling me how to live my life,” he growled.
Tears stung my eyes at his insult.
“Are you calling me a random girl? Are you high?”
“For fucks sake!” Blade spat out then rose to his feet with anger radiating from his blue eyes and walked away from me towards the limo that had brought me.
“Shit.” I slammed the table with my hands.
I regretted the first time I’d set eyes on Blade. I couldn’t believe he’d left me here alone. Now I was fuming, too!