CHAPTER 4 - Bestfriend

I saw a lady sitting on a dark-colored high stool at the counter. A pair of brown hazel eyes scrutinize me from head to foot as my red heels touch the zigzag marble flooring that completes the French-themed aura of this fancy bar called French 75. She wears a big smile as our eyes meet. She flaunts her long legs by wearing a pair of black slacks.

She stands up as I approach her. The golden big buckle of her belt emphasizes her outfit and compliments well with her bell-bottom slacks. She wears an old rose lace crop top allowing her to expose her sexy flat stomach. Her wool black coat that completes her FBI agent look is hanging at the stool next to her. A few more steps away from her, she sends me a skeptical look while leaning her weight on her right? foot and crossing her arms in front of her big chest.

“Kendra Higgins,” I uttered, amused by her sexy stance. I sent her a killer look,

“Well, well, K. You look as fabulous as always.”?

She flips her black silky shoulder-level hair confidently, “I know I do. I always do, A.” Then she motioned me to sit at the stool where her coat is. She removes it and sits down first. Then I sit down and put my golden pouch on the counter of the bar.

She ordered immediately as soon as we sat down,

“Thirsty, aren’t we?” I said.

“Of course, I am. Thirsty for alcohol and hungry for your stories. Now speak up bitch, I’ve been dying to hear about your early honeymoon in Prague.” she giggled excitedly.??

“You do know how to ruin the mood, Ms. Higgins,” I said sarcastically while sending her a daggering look. Silence took over, then a few seconds later, we burst out in laughter like crazy teenage girls.? This is how we behave when we are together. She has been my best friend since forever, a best friend of a lifetime I might say. She is a fashion guru.

Their company is in contract with ours – an advertising company, so it requires us to meet a lot, almost on a daily basis. She is also my business partner and the co-owner of Events for Keeps, a company which I built from the scratch – my pride and my wealth.

She began to tap her fingers on the counter waiting for me to proceed with my tragic story which for sure will be hilarious. I let out a deep sigh, “Nothing!”

She frowns, “What do you mean by nothing?” she asked impatiently.

“Don’t tell me we are keeping secret now, bitch?” she added with an obvious accusation in her voice. I shrug and shake my head, “Of course not, K. It’s just that nothing happened. Just like before! Just like forever!” I continued with disappointment shown on my face.?

“Cheers to that, Hail Mary full of grace!” she said obnoxiously, then grabbed the shot glass and devoured the liquor in it. I took the other glass and raised it mid-air, “To that virgin priest Siegfried, and to my failing relationship, and to my ever boring sex life, and to my every fading charisma. Hell yeah!”

I took the shot and put the shot glass back to the counter a little violently. Then Kendra ordered another round of drinks, and another round of drinks, and another round, and another round until she’s totally wasted. We drank to the fullest while reminiscing about that ugly argument I had with my boyfriend. The so-called anniversary celebration became a memory that I want to forget. I sighed and just continued listening to Kendra’s rant about my boyfriend and my boring love life.?

I don’t understand her weakness towards alcohol. She loves drinking but she never builds tolerance towards it. Unlike me, who can’t be drunk, even if I want to get drunk, it is just too hard for me. Give me a barrel of sake, then maybe, like I said, maybe, I’ll be tipsy.?

Even though she is my best friend, I know that I am not the one she wants to be with at this time, so I took out her smartphone and scanned it for a contact number. Then I dialed the number to my smartphone and put back hers in her bag. The number rang so I waited for this person to pick up the call.? To tell you honestly, I should have saved his number a long time ago, since she is Kendra’s lover for more than a year now, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t bring myself to save it, you’ll know why soon.

After seven times of non-stop calls, he finally answered. I explained the situation like I always do. He said she will pick her up after an hour. So here I am, taking care of my wasted best friend in a bar. Do I complain about it? No! Definitely not! I love taking care of her because this is the only time I could show her how much she means to me. Kendra has a very strong personality. Sometimes, I feel that she doesn’t need me at all. Another thing is, she has always taken care of me since childhood. The reason why I am strong now is because of her.?

I tidy up her appearance while waiting for her lover. I tied her hair and covered her with her coat. I put on my coat as well because it is starting to get chilly here. I ordered a few more drinks to enjoy the moment. I need to enjoy this because tomorrow will be working again. For sure, I won’t be able to meet my boyfriend again. He is a very busy man. He works like a CEO, when in fact he is an accountant, a very essential one for his company, for their firm, I might say.?

Just thinking about him made me sad. We never had a chance to talk again after the argument at the restaurant. The morning after that, he asked another hotel employee to give me one of his shimmering notes. He had to go back to Seattle early that morning while I stayed for a few more days scouting new places to feature in my writings.?

I took a sip and roamed my eyes around this bar. This is what I love about this bar, people try to be discreet as possible as they can. They never make a noise and let the peaceful ambiance of this French-themed bar continue. They are high profile, by the looks of it. I continue to admire the place.

Lost in my thoughts, I heard a man clear his throat beside me, “Ava”, his voice is as cold as ice and crazy deep. I look at him. He nods and smiles at me, “How’s your vacation? I hope you enjoyed it a lot.” He is as friendly as ever. His mood is so bright.?

“It was good for work. But not for a vacation, I guess,” I answered distantly.? He chuckled, “Well I guess nothing’s working out with you and that boy.” His statement froze me a bit. He is one hell of a gossipmonger. I twisted my upper body facing him.?

“Well somebody’s nitpicking,” I said with a little bit of sarcasm in my voice.

He puts his arms up in surrender, “Or more like a friendly chit-chat, Ms. Anderson.”

I raised my eyebrows, “You don’t need to befriend me, Mr. Murrow. At least not now, not yet. Kendra is head over heels for you and I won’t do anything that would make her hate me. I will treat you, well. I guarantee that, but probably, not as a friend.”?

He smiled at me without any sign of annoyance in his face, “And I won’t do anything to her for you to hate me even more.”?

“I don’t hate you. I hate the situation you are in, but not you.” I clarified. I saw a change of mood in his face but he tried to hide it. This is Nikolai Murrow, Kendra’s lover. Tall, handsome, smart-ass, and a hard-fucker as she describes him.