Cake Love: All Things Payne (20 page)

He leans back looking for something. I am suspecting it's his co-worker who I saw walk out the door behind Evaleen. I guess this was a bad time for Trevor to have his co-worker go on break.

"What happens if she doesn't show up?" He shrugs like that is a possibility.

"Are you trying to weasel out of this?"

He seems to be gaining more confidence as a line forms behind me.

"No," he shakes his head refusing to look me in the eye, "but what if I contact her and she can't make it or wants nothing to do with me. I can't MAKE someone do something they don't want to." He smirks at me.

Cocky little bastard.

"I will be here tomorrow at noon. If she doesn't show, and especially if you don't show, I will wait. I will keep coming back until you show and if you don't, I will find out where you live. Trust me when I say you don't want to see me again."

"Okay. Fine, but I still don't understand why she is so upset about this. The video has over a million hits!"

I roll my eyes at him. "You’re a disgusting excuse for a man. What the hell she ever saw in you I don't know."

"Whatever dude. Just because you’re her boyfriend or husband or whoever doesn't mean you have the right to bully me." He folds his arms over his chest, standing tall trying to appear bigger than he is, like you would to intimidate a bear.

"I'm not anything to her, but I will be something to you if you don't follow through on this. Oh, and I heard that Morg... I mean April's father is an ex-Navy Seal. I’m quite sure he would be so happy to hear that I found you after all these years. Of course, if you do as I say, he never needs to know of your existence." I smile at him as his eyes grow large.

"Fine. I will. Tomorrow at noon."

He grabs the paper and shoves it in his pocket. I start to turn away but stop and lean over, never breaking eye contact and making my voice sound low and clear, "Oh, and don't mention me showing up to make you do this. It wouldn't sound sincere if she knew I made you do it."

"Yeah. Of course."

I nod at him and walk toward the door. A wave of relief washes over me knowing I am helping Morgana, even if it's just a little bit.

Chapter 10

Payne’s Anti-Rule 4: Observe and Learn but Stay and Play

It is now noon the following day and I’m sitting in a soft leather chair. It is in the back by a corner and partially obstructed by the counter from the view of the rest of the tables. If I lean to the left, I can see the coffee shop.

I hear the bell of the door swinging open and see Morgana enter. Her eyes dart around the place but keep coming back to the register. She spots Trevor. I know this because her sexy dark stocking covered legs come to a halt in the middle of the café.

God, she looks so good, even in her cute little yellow raincoat. I smile remembering the last time I saw her in it at a different coffee shop. She turns slightly toward me, but her gaze is directed toward the floor so I don't think she sees me. Her soft red hair swings and I see her lips move. She is conversing with herself. I chuckle knowing she is probably talking to her brain. That seems to be the organ of choice with her.

“What’s so funny Henrik?”

I turn my head to Zooey, who I let meet me here because she had some important paperwork to drop off for me to sign.

“Uh, nothing. Just remembered something funny I heard on the radio this morning. So, the papers?”

Zooey nods and reaches into her black brief case, pulling out a manila folder, and passing it over to me. My smile wavers as I watch her tongue dart out as she licks her lips.

I like Zooey, she is very smart and a great venture capitalist, but her obvious displays of affection toward me is a bit disconcerting. When we first met, about a week after I was fired, I thought she was the perfect person to help get investors involved in my cause. But after a few weeks, she started putting the moves on me. At first, I just thought it was my imagination, that she was just an overly affectionate sort of person. But then, one day, a few weeks ago, her hand landed on my Captain Cock and didn’t move.

Yes, Captain Cock was happy with the attention, I, however, was not. I had to remove her hand and explain to her that my heart belonged to another. I never told Zooey that the other woman was Morgana, but it’s really none of her business anyway.

I open the folder and shuffle through the papers. Zooey gets up. “Excuse me Henrik. I have to use the ladies’ room.” She smoothed out the wrinkles in her white linen pant suit before walking toward the back, around the end of the coffee bar.

I look back to where Morgana was and see she has moved to the counter and out of my line of sight. I keep rubbing my thumb over my knuckles in frustration. My Cubs baseball cap hides my head, but I am itching to rub at my scalp. I am about to reach into my pocket and pull out some gum when I see Morgana walk to the opposite wall and sit with her back toward me. Trevor shows up a few moments later.

He better not wimp out. I can see his eyes darting around the shop, glancing at the various tables filled with people, until his gaze lands on me. I smirk and tip my hat up so he can get a better view. Trevor quickly looks back at Morgana, her arms flying wildly in the air now.

She’s mad, no, furious, livid. I desperately want to hear their conversation.

“We should go over a few of those forms. Some of the companies offering capital want you to sell their product to local people in the countries we are targeting.” Zooey is now standing in front of me, blocking my view of Morgana.

“Let’s move over to one of the tables, so we can lay this out.” I point in the direction of Morgana’s table.

“Okay, you find a table. I’m going to grab a coffee.” Zooey gives a coy smile before moving to the counter.

I get up and walk closer, making sure Morgana's back is always facing me. I find a seat directly behind her and sit so our backs are facing each other. Leaning back, I can hear exactly what is going on.

"What do you want Trevor? I know you. You wouldn't have contacted me just to apologize after five years of nothing." Morgana's voice is deep with anger.

"Look, I have been doing some soul searching and I realized I hurt you by not letting you know about us being filmed." Trevor's voice is pleading. At least he is trying to act sorry.

"Then take it down. You put it up there, so take it down."

"Are you fucking kidding me, April? Absolutely not! That thing has over a million hits and is the hottest link on my website." Trevor sounds shocked and I turn to glare at him but he’s too focused on Morgana.

"Okay, so you wanted me to come here so you could apologize, knowing now how wrong you were, but you won't take down the one thing that upsets me. Tell me how this makes sense Trevor!"

Trevor just shakes his head as his arms cross over his chest.

"Stop shaking your stupid head at me! You look like a demented owl or bobble head. You want to rectify things, then take down the video."

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Trevor leans in and touches her arm. I feel my chest constrict and my teeth clench as I stare at his fingers grazing her wrist.

"April, you have to understand of all the videos on my website, that's the most popular. I can't take it down. Also, I have had a few inquiries from directors, you know, about you and me possibly making a sequel. There is a lot of cash in it and it's not like we aren't familiar with each other—“   Trevor’s cut off by Morgana abruptly standing and groaning. If she hadn't, I would have. Once she leaves, I am going to have a good talking to with Mr. Beady-eye, except I'm not going to use any words. Maybe I can enhance his beady-eyes with a little bit of color, I think black, blue, and purple would really bring out the shit-brown of his eyes.

"You’re disgusting Trevor, you know that! Ugh, what did I ever see in you? And to think I wanted to marry you."

What? Marry...him?

Both Trevor and I talk and stand at the same time right as Zooey returns with her coffee.

"Marry him?"

"Marry me?"

Morgana’s eyes become saucers as she gazes at me, then back at Trevor, and then landing on Zooey. "What are you doing here Henrik? Wait. Did you...did you set this up?" She points to Trevor as her head tilts in confusion at me.

"Yeah, he set up the whole thing April. I never wanted to do this. If you should be mad at anyone, be mad at him. Why don't you come back to my place? I get off in an hour and I can dry your tears." He reaches for Morgana's face and I immediately slap it away.

"Don’t' you fucking touch her!"

I am trying not to do more damage to his body than a slap as I growl at him, when I turn to see Morgana hold up her hands.

“What is going on Henrik? Why is Morgana…Oh!” I watch as Zooey’s face morphs from surprise to disappointment and finally disgust upon realizing who Morgana is to me. Her eyes turn to Morgana as they glare daggers at her.

"This is fucked up. You said you couldn't have me in your life Henrik, and yet here you are, sticking your hand where it doesn’t belong, and with Ms. Slut Hands obviously in your life! Did you see the video,” Morgana lowers her voice with her question and trains her eyes to the ground.

“Slut Hands? Why you disgusting bitch! At least I know a good thing when I see it and don’t run off to New York at the drop of a hat, swinging my big tits everywhere,” Zooey fumes at Morgana.

I wince at Zooey’s words and expect a catfight any moment. As I take a quick glance at Trevor, he has a tremendous grin on his face, lifting up his phone to film this. I quickly snatch the cell phone from his grasp and glare at him.

Morgana surprises me by smirking and then bringing her hands to her chest she starts to massage her breasts. “That’s right, I bring all the boys to my yard. Jealous much?”

Trevor whimpers as I watch Zooey roll her eyes.

“Really Henrik? This is what you want? Fine, you can have the condom wrapper-loving freak. I’m heading back to the office. You call me when you want to discuss the paperwork.”

Zooey starts to walk toward the door but stops and turns toward us just before pushing the glass revolving door. “I respect you as a business man Henrik, but your taste in women is bottom of the barrel.”

Zooey pushes through the glass door and out into the street.

“Slut.” Morgana folds her arms while watching Zooey leave.

"I’m sorry about Zooey. I want you to know I never gave her any indication I was interested in her. As for the video, no I haven't seen it. I just found out about your ex and his sleazy trick on you and I wanted him to apologize. You deserve better than that."

I lift my hand to touch her arm but she backs away waving me off.

"I need to leave. I have to get back to work. This is...I can't even think right now. Goodbye Trevor, it very much hasn't been a pleasure seeing you after all these years." She pauses before her eyes sear into mine. "Bye Henrik."

She turns and I watch her walk off and out the door. Her ass bouncing firmly even under her coat as she leaves.
Not now, Captain Cock!

"Damn that woman still has a tight ass!" Trevor says right before my fist lands on his jaw.

He falls back on his seat and it tips back. Luckily for him, the wall prevents him from falling to the ground. Trevor rubs at his jaw, wincing in pain as he glares up at me. “What the fuck dude!” he yells in that squeaky, pre-pubescent voice he never grew out of.

I glare down at him, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Then I realize he isn't worth it. Just a loser from Morgana's younger years, when she wasn't the confident smart woman she is today. Only problem is he stayed a loser. Unlucky for him he stayed an idiot too. I throw his phone at him.

"So, those women on your videos, do they know you filmed them? Did you have them sign a release form?"

His eyes go wide and in that moment, I know he tricked them just like Morgana.

"I...uh...that's none of your business."

He scrambles to get up and tries to walk away, but I’m faster, grabbing his arm and whispering in his ear, "No it's not, but it is
their
business. I think I recognized a few of them when I viewed your site last night. They would be very interested to know that there is a video of them having sex with you on your site. I'm also friends with a lawyer who could help them deal with their...feelings about all this."

I let him go as he yanks his arm away, trying to straighten his stance.

"I could sue you for abuse. I have witnesses." He nervously looks around the café at people who don't even notice us.

"I tell you what, if you take all those videos down and never post one again, I won't contact the women or my lawyer friend. That includes April's video. But, if you try and sue me, I won't hesitate to contact them and systematically destroy you."

Trevor is tapping his feet nervously and gritting his teeth.

"Fine! Fuck! Fine, asshole. I have to get back to work." He storms off as I smirk.

What an idiot.

I never looked at his website. I didn't even know he had one until he told Morgana that fifteen minutes ago. If I had seen the website, he would have never made the meeting with Morgana because he would be in the hospital right now.

I head out of the shop and am about to head toward the El when Edgar's words come into my head, "What would H.I. do?"

I groan in frustration knowing I will never be able to just walk away from her. So, I helped her out and that eased the pain slightly, but now what? Just forget about her? I can't do that.

Standing at the corner, I watch as people pass me to cross the street. As much as I don't want her to turn away from me again, I have to try.

Fuck it. I am going to keep trying until she says yes. Even if I have to make the biggest nuisance of myself and cover myself in frosting, I will do it to win her back. I turn and head back to my place to pick up something. After leaving my condo, I make my way back downtown and go to the one place that knows her better than me, Got Cake.