FIXATION Page 14

  Eden pov

  Ross had asked Rock to take me car shopping, but I decided to wait until he got back to take me himself. I really missed him.

  The restaurant was opened today at 5 pm and I was super nervous. I wanted Ross here so bad. He needed to be here so that he can see how much of this he did himself. Thanks to him I had a restaurant. Thanks to him I wasn't doing anything with my life. I was so grateful to him. The had to know how much he meant to me.

  I tried calling him but got no answer. He must be sleeping I thought so I didn't want to bother him.

  I wore a light green sleeveless dress showing some skin. Ross always wanted me to dress a little bit more revealing and more my age.

  I wore my hair down with red lipstick. I was ready for opening night. Everything was ready.

  The tables were organized with cute little flower decorations in the middle. The bright crystal chandelier gave the restaurant a natural light glow plus with the sun's light as well as a perfect combination.

  People were lining up to come in. We had enough space to accommodate at least 30 guests. I wanted something small and intimate, but Ross always went big. That was his saying. So, he bought this huge space.

  Olivianna was actually very helpful and she showed up in time to get everything sorted. Sort of last-minute touches. I greeted everyone and then went to change in my chef uniform.

  The menu was all chosen by me. I wanted to start small and then increase it. We only offered 5-course meals with everything else just being appetizers and a small selection of desserts. As business would hopefully pick up, I will add more but I wanted to start little. There was no need to rush into things and then cause a disaster.

  I called Ross and got no answer. I wanted to hear his voice so badly. I should have gone to L.A. with him. But I had to stay here at the restaurant. I missed him so much.

  "Ready, you got your first order chef," Olivianna told me.

  The staff was all ready to go. People were coming in there were even people waiting in line outside. It was unbelievable.

  Rock and his men showed up.

  "Everything good here?" Rock asked.

  "Sure, have you heard from Ross?" I asked.

  "Not yet. I'm sure he is fine" he said and walked out the door with his men.

  I was left feeling uneasy and sick as much as I anticipated this day and wanted it to get here so bad. Now I wanted it to end. I wanted to go home. I wanted to get on a plane and go to L.A.

  Chapter 25

  Eden POV

  4 days had passed, and I had barely heard from Ross. He sent a message here and there and I talked to him a couple of times, but he was always in a rush to either hang-up or leave and we barely face time.

  Olivianna surprisingly had become a friend of sorts and I found myself talking to her more about my personal dilemma. She was a very efficient and good work I was surprised. She was always on time and barely if ever missed a day of work. Not only that. She was always making sure everything was running smoothly.

  "Is just not like him to act this way" I said between getting everything ready to open our doors.

  "I saw Monique the other day she came here with her group of crazies," Olivianna said.

  "I know I've been meaning to talk to her"

  "About what! You don't owe her any explanations" she said.

  "Actually, I do. I'm not even sure if Ross even ended things with her the right way before proposing to me and the last thing, I want is to break up a couple"

  "They were barely a couple Eden. They just fooled around and had sex that's all. Ross never took her seriously. You don't owe her anything and if so, Ross is the one that needs to apologize, and I doubt he even cares so don't worry"

  "I'm a woman too Olive. I sympathize with her and you should too. As women, we shouldn't be hurting one another"

  "That's how life is Eden!" She said and walked away kind of angry. Did I say something wrong?

  I did feel bad for Monique, but Ross had assured me that she was never his girlfriend and like Olive said they just had sex all of the time and that was pretty much it. Nothing ever serious.

  Maybe I should let it go. But I felt bad regardless. I wiped the last table before I went to open the door so people could walk in. A couple of people were waiting outside already, and my day was just getting started.

  9 o'clock at night Australian time

  "But you did break up with her, though right?"

  "I didn't have too we were never together Eden and besides I don't know why you care so much about Monique's feelings you hate her".

  It was sad that the one chance I got Ross on the phone for longer than 10 minutes I was talking about Monique and not about us.

  "I don't hate anyone Ross but if you say you never dated her, and I didn't come in between you two then I’ll let it go"

  "Trust me," he said.

  "What about Olive why do you think she got mad at me? she barely spoke to me all day"

  Ross took a deep breath I could tell he was getting aggravated with me talking about other people so much.

  "I don't know remember she's sleeping with my dad and he is still married to my mom so maybe you hit a nerve I don't know".

  "oh my God! I completely forgot about that detail! Oh God I probably offended her without even realizing it"

  "Don't stress about it love you think too much about other people."

  "I feel bad though"

  "I doubt Olivianna cares what other people think of her no offense. She's a lot like me. We don't give a fuck what people say about us. Or think about us. She's used to it by now."

  "You don't care that your dad is cheating on your mom with her? You two seem pretty close"

  "Nah mom and dad hate each other they always have. They are only together because of appearances and my dad doesn't want to pay alimony or anything like that so he stays with mom but trust me they are better apart".

  "How sad," I said.

  "Enough about everyone else dammit do you miss me?" He asked.

  "What?! Is that even a question? When are you coming home?"

  "Soon love trying to close this deal here. I'll be home before you know it. But unfortunately, I have to go. I have something to do but don't forget that I love you and can't wait to see you and make hot love to you"

  I blushed uncontrollably just even thinking about our nights together send me turning as red as a tomato.

  "I can't wait. I love you too be safe my love"

  I said before we hung up. I missed him like crazy. All that time we spent arguing and bickering and me being depressed and aggravated I wasted by not being with him like we are now. But I had no idea he felt the same way.

  I got out of the bath my long hair soaked. I put it in a towel and headed to the closet to put on my pajamas. Dark blue silk. Long sleeve pajama shirt with long pants. I slept naked most of the nights when Ross was home because he kept me warm and he liked it better that way. But the nights got a bit chilly and he wasn't here.

  I slipped into bed and tried to sleep. The smell of his favorite cologne was still here in his pillow. I know he liked changing the sheets often, but I wanted his smell to fall asleep with, so I hadn't change them.

  I couldn't sleep and when I did, I had the most awful dream of Ross cheating on me with someone in L.A. could that be the reason why he was acting strange? And what time was in L.A? What was he doing?

  I was sweating. I took the blanket off me and sat up. It was 1:30 am. I couldn't sleep. I wanted to grab my phone and call him, but I didn't know what time it was in L.A., so I text him instead. I held the phone in my hand to see if he texted back and nothing.

  I closed my eyes and when I opened them again about ten minutes later to check my phone to see if he had texted there was still nothing. I decided to put my phone back on the night table and try to get some sleep. I had to work in the morning, and I didn't want to be tired at work.

  But I just couldn't take the awful image of a brunette girl like myself on top of my
fiancé.

  What a horrible dream!

  The morning came too soon, and I didn't even eat breakfast before heading out.

  "Hey, Eden, got a minute?" Rock startled me.

  "Umm sure Rock what's up?" I said.

  "Ross spoke to Olive she's opening the restaurant today so that you and I can go get your car"

  "I'm sorry my what?" I had to process what was being said to me.

  "Yeah, Ross said to take you to the car dealership so that you can choose any car you like"

  "Really?" I was shocked. But this is something I wanted to do with him.

  "Can I wait for him to come with me and help me choose?"

  "Your call girl, I'm just following orders," he said.

  "As much as I desperately want a car badly. I'll wait for him to come with me thanks Rock"

  I said and walked to the car waiting for me.

  I got in. Wow. He finally agreed to allow me to have my own car. I was super excited. But the stupid part of my brain wondered about other things. Before he wouldn't let me out of his sight and now, he was giving me all this freedom. And when did he speak with Olivianna? when he didn't even reply to my text from last night.

  Not to mention that awful dream. I was thrilled about the car but what was going on with Ross?

  Was he losing interest in me?

  Stop it Eden shut up!

  The voice in my head told me and I should listen. I tend to always try to find the littlest rock in the biggest of oceans. That I don't pay attention to anything else. Meaning I always tend to worry so much and put so much thought on negative emotions and there was nothing more negative than Ross cheating on me.

  I had to focus on positive thoughts. He was giving me a car to please me and because he trusted me. Good things.

  I got to work about five minutes late which is okay. The doors were opened there were people already sitting down.

  Olivianna or Olive as I called her came to greet me with a smile clearly had gotten over everything.

  "Look Olive I'm sorry if I offended you, I didn't mean too..."

  "Not at all-girl I don't allow comments to get me down and you should do the same."

  "When did you talk to Ross?" It just came out.

  "Today before I got ready for work. He called me and told me to open the restaurant for you that you had something to do with Rock. What was it?" She asked curiously

  "He's getting me a car" we both screamed like two little high school girls.

  "Oh my God, that is awesome Eden! Total freedom! Congrats!" She said.

  "Now let's get to work we have hungry customers waiting for their food"

  She said. I smiled and went to put on my chef's uniform. I checked my phone and still no word from Ross. I couldn't help but feel that something was off.

  Chapter 26

  Ross POV

  I was on my way home. Barely spoke to anyone I didn't want too. I wanted to sit in this plane on this long way back just thinking. Thinking is all I could do at this point.

  When I got home at 4 am Rock was waiting for me. I hadn't told Eden I was back. I didn't want her knowing. I wanted to surprise her but at the same time, I didn't want her seeing me like this. I was down.

  Rock picked up on it. He was a brother to me and he knew me quite well. If Rock noticed my behavior then Eden will surely notice it too and I didn't want that. I already had my bag ready to go. I had picked it up before I told Rock to come get me.

  "What did you do?" Rock asked me.

  "I don't want to talk about it," I said.

  I got in the driver seat before he could get in.

  He ignored the interrogation further. Because he knew how mad I would get if he continued to press for information that I don't want to share right now.

  I didn't want to drive home right now. I didn't feel like facing Eden right now. I put one hand brushing my hair against the cool air and one on the steering wheel. Luckily there wasn't any traffic at this time.

  Rock knew me as I mentioned he knew when I wanted to be left alone and not talk to anyone.

  "Do me a favor Rock. Not a word to Eden that I'm back and also make sure the guys don't say anything either. Have Olivianna come to where I will be staying I need to talk to her".

  "Will you be staying at hell's land?" I gave him an are you stupid look! Eden would look for me there if she found out I was back.

  "Nah I'm staying at my penthouse in New Farm"

  I said driving faster than anticipated.

  "Okay want me to stay with you, how long will you be staying there?"

  "No, I need you to stay with Eden make sure Stoner and his gang don't show up to start problems and just a couple of days enough to clear my head"

  "Okay," Rock said nodding his head to the loud rock music I put on the radio. I was surprised he was able to hear me.

  He knew when to leave me alone and not press me for questions. But he did know something was wrong but he made no intention of asking or finding out.

  I made it to my penthouse. I grabbed my bag said my goodbye to Rock and headed inside. But before I went fully in the house Rock stopped me.

  "When do I come get you?" He asked.

  "You don't. I have cars here remember?" I said with a weak smile and walked inside. I shut the door behind me.

  Eden knew about this penthouse I have. But I didn't frequent it much so I'm sure she didn't know where it was located probably didn't even remember it.

  Eden. I felt so bad being here back home and not telling her I was here. What's worse I couldn't look at her. Her innocence and gullibility it was amazing at times annoying. She thought everyone was good but the truth is no one really is. We all have skeletons in our closets and me more than anyone else she knows.

  2 days later

  A loud knock on the door woke me up. I was laying on the sofa in the living room.

  Linda the housemaid for this house went to answer the door.

  "Where the hell is he?" For a second I thought it was Eden and my heart stopped in place.

  But then I recognized the voice with the Italian accent. I got up to greet her.

  Olivianna was looking as glamorous as ever. She was wearing a red pencil skirt with a yellow blouse. A huge sparkly necklace adorned her neck and her blondish reddish hair hung down.

  "Hey Oli," I said giving her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

  "Ross what the hell!" She said.

  "Why the hell didn't you come sooner? I should be saying what the hell Olive"

  She smiled.

  "I was busy your wife to be has a set schedule and rules she likes followed. Did you know she's trying to add more stuff to the menu. As we don't have enough already. I managed to get away from her for a bit telling her I had to take my poor little sick nonna(grandma) to the hospital today."

  I smiled sounds like my Eden I thought.

  "Speaking of your wife to be why aren't you with her? Why haven't you told her you are here?"

  Olivianna knew something was up.

  I stayed quiet but she was a counselor so she knew.

  "Spill it what did you do now?"

  "It wasn't my fault!" I started sweating I had to sit.

  "Nobody mentioned that Court was going to be there. She's the one who set everything up I didn't...I didn't know"

  "Who the fuck is Court?" Olivianna said clearly upset.

  "Court short for Courtney was the love of my life before Eden. We grew up together all our lives our moms were best friends. I knew her since she was two. Our parents always said we would get married but then she left for L.A when she was 17 I helped her actually."

  "I'm confused," Olivianna said.

  "She had a lot of problems with the law getting into trouble with drugs and gangs and I helped her escape to L.A she had friends there. I paid for her plane ticket and gave her money since her parents disowned her because she was causing them too many problems. Our family is all about keeping appearances you know that" I said.

  "Yes I know, but
what I don't get is how come Eden doesn't know her?"

  "She does, well to some extent. Eden never really paid attention to the women that hung around me. To her, they were all the same. She wouldn't remember her name if she saw her. But she does know that she was always around when she was living here."

  "What did you do Ross?"

  I took a seat.

  "Would you like something to eat or drink?" I asked pouring myself a glass of whiskey as I sat. It went down my throat and it felt like fire.

  "What did you do? Spill the tea already" she was anxious to know.

  "I...we...we kissed, " there! I said it.

  "Just kissed" Olivianna gave me a puzzled look.

  "Yes, " I said.

  "Ross you forget that I could read people easily. It was more than a kiss, "

  She caught me!

  "A bit of foreplay but nothing more or nothing further trust me."

  "What else would there be more to do besides the act itself! After foreplay it always leads to sex, Ross"

  She was right.

  "I swear I stopped I didn't have sex with her I couldn't. All I thought about was Eden and I couldn't and wouldn't do that to her. She is the love of my life now Olive trust me. I just had to tell someone. You are a counselor and you have become very close to Eden I figured you were the right person to say it too"

  She stayed silent for a while. Which wasn't a good thing. Olivianna always had something to say.

  "Well, you know I don't like many people. Your dad has made me a grumpy antisocial person. But Eden I like. She is so naive and sweet and kind and...and good. You know she was worried about Monique and even wanted to apologize to her."

  "Yeah I know she's one of a kind. That's why I love her so much"

  I got up in an instant once I felt the hard slap on the left side of my face. Wow!!! Olivianna hit hard.

  "What the fuck Olive!"

  "There is way more where that one came from your asshole! How dare you do that to Eden she is the least deserving and I don't buy that you didn't have sex with that other bitch!"

  "I didn't!" I yelled.

  "So you went down on her, she went down on you and there was no penetration sex! Kind of hard to believe!"