“I’m sorry, Claire,” Kaden says, sounding distracted.
“You have to come. We haven’t done anything together for so long and I was looking forward to actually spending some time with you.”
“We spend lots of time together, Claire,” he defends himself. “But I lead a busy life. Work is crazy at the moment but the work will slow down soon.”
“I would like to see you when you have clothes on…” I mumble.
“You know I wanted to join you for that garden party tomorrow, but I’ll be out of town till Sunday.”
I have to grit back an angry retort. “Then I won’t go either. Maybe I could come join you?”
“It’ll be boring as hell for you here,” he says, and I have to clench my teeth when I hear a familiar deep female laugh somewhere in the background. “Besides, you have to go to the party. It’s Melinda’s birthday.”
“But... Melinda is your friend. They’re all your friends. I don’t really know any of these people. I’d feel awkward and alone without you there.”
“Oh come on, Claire,” he snaps. “You’re a big girl now. I’m sure you can handle a simple garden party without needing me to hold your hand. Introduce yourself to people and mingle with them. If you tell them that I’m your partner, they’ll have plenty of time for you.”
The laugh in the background sounds again and it stings almost as much as his words.
“I am a successful woman by myself,” I snap back.
“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.”
“The problem is that I don’t know these people, Kaden. And I don’t really like them either.”
“Come on, Claire. Be nice.”
“There is only so much talking about the latest polo match that I can take.”
“Then talk about something else.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know… talk about girl stuff, like shopping and jewelry.”
It makes me angry when Kaden reverts back to his sexist talk.
I have tried very hard to show Kaden that women are as powerful, smart, and business savvy as men. For the most part, he listens and learns.
But occasionally, he has a relapse.
“You wouldn’t know what to talk about because you don’t really know these people either.”
The other end of the line goes quiet.
It is true.
Kaden lost contact with most of his childhood friends as he was building his wealth. He replaced them by socializing in circles where business networking was more important than friendships. Most of his friends are wealthy business associates who were born into families with money.
“I have to go,” he says briskly and hangs up before I can say anything further.
What the hell?
How hard is it to understand that it’s uncomfortable for me to show up at a birthday party for Kaden’s friend, without Kaden?
It wasn’t that I didn’t know his friends very well – I barely knew them at all!
Because of his work schedule, we nearly never went out together and had maybe attended two or three of his friend’s parties in the two years we’d been together.
I put the phone down and grab my purse.
I was heading out to go dress shopping for tomorrow when he called so I continued out the door and down to the sports car he’d bought me for my birthday last year.
As I sit on the still new-smelling upholstery and adjust the mirror, I catch a glimpse of my own reflection.
I look tired.
My eyes have slight bags under them and my complexion is pale.
Even when I wasn’t looking washed out, I would never look glamorous like his friend Melinda or his new secretary, Natasha.
Was that the reason why we never went out?
Maybe he just preferred to have Natasha on his arm.
She’s young, perky and fun – everything that you lose as the years tick past.
And everything I am jealous of now that I’m older.
Natasha travels with Kaden on most of his business travels and attends to every need… Well, I hope not every need.
I met Natasha after he first employed her… and I almost had to be restrained.
I’m sure that her natural state is flirty and cheeky, but she could have at least toned it down with Kaden when I was around. She adored him and he laughed with her.
The way I used to laugh with him…
She certainly looks the part of the billionaire’s girlfriend more than I ever would.