CHARISMATIC
BOOK – 4
Chapter 1
Lalena woke up the next day her eyes were swollen and tender from crying most of the night. She went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror she looked at herself. “Oh my goodness I look so bad.”
She hopped into the shower and turned it on warm. She let the water run over her face and hoped it would help her eyes appear a little bit better. Getting out of the shower she cleared off the mirror and looked again. “Shit I’ll have to put on some makeup and try to cover this up.” She said.
As she walked out of her place she almost burst out in tears again. “Hold it together Lalena, you got this.” She chanted as she got in the car and drove to work. If she was lucky she could skip past Sally and just go to her office.
But she wasn’t that lucky Sally was sitting at her desk and looked up at her as she walked in. “Oh sweetie, what’s wrong? She asked.
Lalena burst out in tears. “I, oh I don’t know, everything is just falling apart around me and it’s all my own fault.” She cried.
Sally got up and came over to hug her. “Oh honey, it’s okay, you’ll be fine.”
Lalena cried harder as Sally held her. She tried to compose herself. “I’m going back to my office. Thanks Sally.” She said as she walked back to her office.
At least she hadn’t run into Rico looking like she did. She tried to blot her eyes and clean up a bit, however, it didn’t seem to be helping any.
“Hey I brought you some coffee. Come on sweetie it will be fine. If you want to talk about it I’m here for you.” Sally commented.
“Thanks for the coffee, I appreciate it. I just don’t know what to do Sally. In the matter of a couple of days my world has been turned upside down.” Lalena cried she couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down her face when she thought about it all.
“Oh honey, what happened?” Sally asked.
“Jake left me last night, but I don’t blame him. I did something really bad yesterday, and I wouldn’t forgive him if our places were switched either.” Lalena explained.
“I’m sure if he really loves you he’ll be back.” Sally patted Lalena’s back.
“No he won’t I kissed another person. If I really loved him I wouldn’t have done that. But the truth is I don’t know if I want Jake back. He’s not the one I love. It’s hard to realize that you love someone else, and you know that they hate you.” Lalena cried, her shoulders shuddered with the force of her tears and sobbing.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay.” Sally whispered and held Lalena.
“What’s wrong?” Lalena heard Rico’s voice from the office door.
She buried her head deeper into Sally’s chest, not wanting to even look Rico’s way.
“Jake left her.” Sally told him.
Lalena shook from the sobs that escaped her body as Sally told Rico the news.
“What?” Rico asked. “Sally can you give us a moment alone please?” Rico requested from Sally.
“Sure.” She answered him. Turning to Lalena she asked, “Are you going to be okay?”
Lalena shook her head, “Yes, I’ll be okay. Thanks again Sally.” She said.
She made sure to not look at Rico; she tried to hide her face from him. He came over as Sally left the office. “Lalena, look at me.” He ordered.
“No, I don’t want you to see me like this.” She said.
He grabbed her chin and turned her face to look at her. He made an audible noise that sounded like a shared grief. “What happened?” He asked her.
Lalena shook her head again. “I told him about our kiss and he left.” She said bluntly.
“Why would you tell him?” Rico questioned.
“Because he should know that I don’t care about him and that our relationship isn’t going to progress.” She admitted.
“I see.” Rico said quietly.
She burst out in tears and he hugged her tightly. “Shh. Come on don’t cry. You’ll be okay.” He ran his hand up and down her back trying to comfort her.
“No it’s not okay, I won’t be okay. You hate me too. I could see it in your eyes yesterday.” Lalena stated.
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t hate you; it’s far from hatred that I feel for you.” He whispered.
She looked at him a question on her face. Rico took his fingers and wiped the tears from her cheeks. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her gently this time. It was nothing like the last kiss where he had forced his mouth on hers and pressed hard. His lips were tender and caring.
Lalena kissed him back; she had no reason not to. She had realized during the night that she loved Rico. She sighed as the kiss deepened.
He pulled back from her and kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly to him again.
“What do you want from me?” She whispered.
“I don’t know what I want honestly.” Rico stated. “I want your touch, your kisses, just you, and nothing more.” He added.
She listened to his words and knew that she shouldn’t let herself get involved with him. He didn’t want love from her, but she wanted it from him so badly. She could feel her body soaking up his essence as they hugged. However, she knew it was too late; she was his, even if she didn’t want it that way.
“I’m yours.” She looked at him and said.
“All mine, no more Jake? Did he really leave?” Rico asked.
“Yes he did last night. There is no more Jake, only you.” She admitted.
“Okay, but you shouldn’t be at work today, not like this.” Rico said.
“I don’t want to be all alone at home. It will just make this so much worse.” She said.
“I didn’t say you’d be alone. I’m taking you back to my place.” Rico stated.
She let him lead her out of the office. He said a few quick words to Sally and they were gone. Rico helped her into the car and he went around getting in on the other side.
Rico drove with one hand on her leg trying to comfort her as much as he could. She put her hand down on his and held it.
“Come on.” He said as he went to open her door and help her out. “Let’s go inside, I’ll have the maid make you some tea or something.” He stated as they walked into his house. “We can sit outside by the pool if you want.”
She looked up at him. “Can you just please hug me?” She asked.
“Of course, I can do that.” He wrapped her in his arms once more.
Lalena smelled his scent as his arms surrounded her. He lifted her up and carried her over to a couch that was near the window. The sunlight shined in on them, as he held her closely.
“You know I’m not upset about Jake as much as I am about myself, right?” She asked Rico.
“Why are you upset at yourself?” He asked.
“Because I knew before Jake and I had talked about moving in together that I had feelings for you. I should have just been honest with him and myself at that point. I’ve wanted to kiss you since that first day you whispered into my ear at the cancer event.” She admitted.