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Welcome to Tuesday Tales where tales turn into novels. This week word prompt is Future.
Pia had called Larry asking him to meet her at Dai Noi,
explaining she needed to discuss something with him. At twelve-thirty, she pulled into the small parking lot
behind the restaurant. As she
walked in, she rehearsed in her mind what she wanted to say to him. The big question was how she would end
their nonexistent relationship without ruining the business they built
together.
A few months ago, she had thought about venturing out on her
own. She had been the one with the
real estate license doing ninety percent of the work. Larry had taken the exam a few times without success,
leading to Larry becoming the silent partner.
During the past year, Larry spent most of his time on the
golf course or at the bar with his friends. He’d insisted she was able to handle all the office
business, and do all the administrative work. She did it, but felt that at this point, she was ready to
break away and start her own office, or possibly buy him out.
Pia ordered herself a mimosa. Anything stronger would have to wait until later on when she
got home. The waiter brought over
her drink and a plate of bruschetta.
As usual, Larry arrived late with a stupid smirk on his face, the one
she wanted to slap right off.
“Hope you weren’t waiting long. I got tied up on a project I’m working on with Greg.”
“Really.” Pia
sat back and crossed her legs.
“And what might that be this time?”
“I’m trying to nail a deal on a piece of property down on
Edgewater Drive.”
“Larry, we need to talk.” Pia took a deep breath, then a sip
of her mimosa.
“I’m all in for talking. But first,” he signaled over to the waiter, “I need a drink
and something to eat. I hate
drinking on an empty stomach.”
Pia crossed her arms. The thought of this conversation plagued her mind all
night. What she wanted was to get
it over and done with, but instead, she sat as Larry drank his beer, ate a dish
of pasta and texted from his iphone.
Reaching across the table, she swiped his cell phone.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Larry held out his hand.
“I’m holding onto your cell phone until we finish the
conversation we have yet to start.”
“Oh come on, don’t be such a drag. There isn’t anything that can’t wait. I’ll try and plan some sort of a
weekend for us. Maybe Myrtle Beach?”
“No. I don’t
want a weekend.” Leaning forward
she spoke softly, “It’s time to
reevaluate our relationship.”
“What relationship?
Remember, we are just friends.”
“Fine,” she snapped.
“Then you won’t have any problem with me telling you I want to keep our
business strictly professional.”
Larry’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you telling me you don’t want to see me anymore?”
“We haven’t been together as a couple in over a year. I can’t even remember the last time we
went out to dinner, made love or when you’ve even been at my place.”
“This is a joke.”
Turning around in his chair, he called across the restaurant to the
waiter. “Bring her a double
espresso.” Turning around he shook
his head. “How much did you drink
before I got here?”
Pia lifted her glass.
“This is the only drink I had.
I am highly insulted you would even think, let alone say that.”
“What are you banging someone else?”
“Oh, no,” Pia waved her finger back and forth. “You must really think I’m a
idiot. Do you think I fell for all
the empty lies you’ve told me the past year? And do you think I don’t know what you’ve been up to every
time you said you had some sort of meeting with one of your friends.”
“And what was I doing.”
“Getting laid.”
Her words were loud and caused everyone in the restaurant to look over
at their table. She felt her face
heat up. Lifting her hand she
mumbled, “Sorry.”
“See, you just caused a scene for no reason at all.”
“I want to buy you out,” she blurted out. “I’m done.”
Larry leaned forward in his chair. “We’re a team.
You aren’t walking away from me or the business.”
“I am not living like this anymore. I want a normal life.”
Larry stood and dropped a crisp hundred dollar bill on the
table. “You should have thought
about that four years ago, when you set the stage for our future together.”
Pia rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Think about it.”
