Lilia might know about this secret lover.
Chapter Eight
Sleeping was painful and waking up was painful. It hurt to go to sleep. It’s all I can think about. I give my mom a call.
‘Anthony, are you all right? I’m worried. I’m coming over,’ she said.
‘No, Mum, I’m fine, it’s just I have lots on my mind.’
‘I know you have a lot on your mind, but you weren’t returning any of my calls. You said you’d call and if I don’t hear from you, I worry.’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I’ll come around this afternoon, all right?’
***
Lottie’s Recordings. Clip five
Lilia and I went for cocktails afterwards. The filing room is starting to take shape. It will be finished in a week or so if Davian doesn’t come around and stop me every five minutes. He comes and orders me about to get him this, get him that and photocopy this. The words thank you and please don’t exist in his vocabulary. It’s rude and frustrating. I tried to peek at his studio the other day, I couldn’t make out much apart from a table with small photographs sorted in some order.
‘Can I help you with something?’ he asked.
‘No-’
Before I could finish my sentence, I was greeted by the slam of the door.
How are Davian and Anthony best friends, again? They are nothing alike. At least Anthony is polite, warm, funny and friendly. Davian is cold, distant and he hardly ever smiles.
***
I thought with Lottie being my friend, Davian would go easy on her, but he didn’t know her. She was a stranger to him and Davian is not the kind of person who is going to invite you to have lunch with him to get to know you. That’s not how he functions; he only connects with people who are familiar to him and won’t allow people in.
***
Lilia was beautifully turned out in an aquamarine pencil dress and nude pumps. I haven’t invested in a new wardrobe yet; it will cost me a fortune to look like these people. Lilia asked me how Anthony and I became friends and I began to tell her. The waiter came over to our table and Davian walked in followed by a petite woman with short black hair. He smiled down at her, his eyes full of love and compassion. What I would give to have someone looking at me the way he looked at her. A power couple, I thought. I didn’t know his girlfriend, but I couldn’t help but feel a stab of jealousy. To sleep with him every night and wake up next to him. I want her life. Lilia followed where I was staring. His eyes drifted coldly at us. Lilia waved and the woman waved back, but Davian didn’t and stomped to a free table. The woman followed him. What is it like to be with someone like him? Does he shut the door in her face too? I doubt it. He seems warm and gentle with her. The waiter came over with our drinks: mojito for me, Cosmopolitan for Lilia.
‘You really like him, do you?’ Lilia asked.
‘Well, he’s really handsome,’ I gushed.
‘And that was the woman who has him all to herself,’ Lilia warned.
***
I had been rather sceptical about Lottie’s fascination with Davian. I wondered why; he was rude to her, treated her as if she didn’t exist, and still it didn’t stop her. Watching her talk about him is like listening to someone talking about their crush, but what if the innocent, harmless crush escalated into an obsession?
***
‘Melissa is a talented photographer. She’s the one who helped Davian to grow to what he is today and his photographs are pricey but they sell like hot cakes. Giselle worships him not only because he brings in the cash, but for his talent. Have you seen any of his work?’ Lilia asked.
I shook my head.
Lilia took a sip from her cocktail. ‘There are a few of his photographs in the gallery next door from the offices.’
‘Well, I’m not big on art,’ I said, playing with the straw.
She flipped her hair. ‘You don’t have to be a fan of art to appreciate the beauty of life. That’s what his photographs are all about. Life, the people that pass through it... it resonates with many people.’
‘How long have they been dating?’ I asked.
‘About three years, since he started working with Giselle. Melissa worked there longer but she travels back and forth between here and Japan and China.’ Lilia leans closer and I do the same. ‘Rumour has it,’ she whispered, ‘Melissa had a boyfriend when she met Davian and well, she was having something on the side with Davian and he convinced her to dump him and move in with him. They have been together ever since.’
As Lilia was pouring gossip, I noticed a man looking at me. He had brown skin, dark eyes and dreadlocks. He raised his glass and smiled. Lilia glanced back to see at who I was smiling at. Her mouth dropped and she clapped her hands together in excitement.
The man walked to our table. ‘Ladies,’ he said.
‘Abdel!’ Lilia squealed, getting up and putting her arms around him.
‘And who is this beautiful girl?’ he asked, looking at me.
***
It wasn’t a rumour - it was true. Melissa had had a boyfriend of two years until she started an affair with Davian and he managed to seduce her into leaving him.
Chapter Nine
My mum is a short plump woman with short dark hair. My parents live in Forest Hill. It's been nearly four years since I moved out. My mum comes out of the kitchen and gives me a hug.
‘I’m so sorry. I know you loved her very much,’ she says, squeezing me tighter.
‘Thanks, Mum. Dad at work?’ I ask.
She nods. ‘Yes, would you like a cuppa?’
The house is silent apart from the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room. The brown leather sofa still stands in the room with an old TV that Dad refuses to change. His record collection that I used to listen to as a kid is still stacked neatly. Nothing has changed. The house reeks of sadness and memories.
‘I called Lottie’s mum and offered my condolences. I’ll send her flowers later on,’ Mum says as we make it to the orange kitchen.
I see myself at five years old, where I used to play under the kitchen table. There are pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on it. Mum puts the kettle on, takes out a tin of biscuits and places it in front of me. I pick one and munch on it. She grabs two familiar mugs and places them on the counter.
‘Are you eating?’ she asks, gesturing at my skinny frame.
‘Yes.’
To be honest, I haven’t cooked a decent meal since the news had come out. All I have been eating is junk food, when I remember to eat. Mum would have a heart attack if I tell her this, so I lie so she won’t worry.
‘Oh, honey, I’m so sorry, you look so sad,’ she says. ‘Want to talk about it?’
‘There isn’t much to say...’
‘Are you following the news?’
I shake my head. ‘I’d rather not.’
‘Two detectives came here the other day,’ she said as the kettle started to boil.
The police were here at my mum’s? Why? I swallow. ‘Why?’
‘To ask me questions about Lottie and you.’
‘Me?’ My heart thuds. ‘What did they ask you about me?’