Sometimes things aren’t what they seem to be…and sometimes things don’t work
out.
Getting to know where you belong.
Marlena Evans was in Bloomingdale’s Department store. She was a lady in her mid twenties, long straight hair that went down to half-way down her back. She wasn’t a wealthy women… her clothes were normal, flared jeans, a black V-necked top and a long trench coat. She was looking around, amazed by all the clothes and shoes. She didn’t even have the money to buy food, how on earth would she afford Gucci Shoes?
John Black was a multi billionaire and everyone knew who he was. He owned 55%
of Bloomingdale’s Department stores around the world.
John was looking out the window that looked over the store. He was checking on
the hundreds of customers that were shopping and browsing around. “Clear get
in here,” he said to his intercom, and a woman with short brown hair and a black
pantsuit came rushing in.
“Yes Mr. Black?”
“Where are the files I asked for? You know that I have to beat that damn Kate
Roberts.”
“Well… uh sir you do know that you already own 55% of the department store?”
Clear said nervously.
“Do you think I give a damn? I want it all, I need to own it all.
Do you understand that?”
“Y…Ye…Yes sir.” Clear was a shy girl and she was intimidated by John, but what
women wouldn’t be?
John went downstairs to where the store was; he walked around… seeing women
everywhere, some with their husbands and some by themselves or with their sons
or daughters. He wasn’t thinking about what was going on around him.
He stumbled into a women, and he noticed that she dropped her things on the
ground, so they both knelt down to pick them up.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know…” He looked at her face; she had the most perfect
skin, so clear and natural. Her hair was down; it was blonde, straight and long. The
smell of her perfume got inside of him.
She still was picking up her stuff not paying attention to him and then she looked
up and looked into his ocean blue eyes. They both stood up at the same time
and still had a grip of the same thing, hands touching, not knowing what to do.
“It’s okay.” She managed to get those two words out.
“I am really sorry…”
“Marlena, Marlena Evans.” She put her hand out.
“John Bla… John.” He smiled at her, hoping that she didn’t notice how he didn’t
want to say his last name.
He took her hand and shook it.
“Nice to meet you John.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” He smiled again showing his pearly whites.
She wanted to change the subject because if they stayed there, then she
wouldn’t know what to do.
“Well I hope I didn’t break anything. The manager would bite my head off,” she
laughed.
“Oh, why would you think he would do that?” He wanted to hear her answer
“Well, just between you and me. I heard he was this old pervert who’s a real jerk,”
she said convincingly.
John laughed hard at what she said. She looked confused. Why is he laughing?
Do I have something between my teeth? she thought
“What? Did I say something funny?” she asked, with her hands on her hips.
“Well how about if I said to you, hi, I’m John Black, the Manager of
Bloomingdale’s Department stores?”
Marlena dropped everything and stood there shell shocked.
Chapter 2
What is a Friendship?
Marlena started laughing… laughing really hard. “What? Even though I am a
blonde, I’m not as dumb as you think I am.” She carried on laughing.
She noticed that John wasn’t laughing. Maybe he’s serious… no, he can’t be, she thought.
She stopped laughing.
“You aren’t joking are you?”
He shook his head ‘no.’
“Well I did say I heard. I only HEARD that he was a pervert, but umm you’re not,
as I can see.”
“Its okay… really.”
“No, it’s not, I’m the one who’s sorry.” She was bright red, and she felt like her
head was going to explode.
“Really you don’t have to be sorry, I get a lot of things like that, and I just shrug it
off.”
“You know what? Let me make it up to you…” She had a little schoolgirl smile
upon her face.
“Uhh… I would really, really love to, but I can’t… see I have all this work and…”
“Shh… it’s only a cup of coffee, nothing big. It’s not like I’m made of bling!”
They were sitting down at Star Bucks coffee shop. John didn’t know what to talk
about and neither did Marlena. John was just sipping on his coffee, while Marlena
was watching.
“Hey uhh. Where’s your coffee?”
“I don’t drink.” She smiled
“What do you mean you don’t drink?” He was very confused. She doesn’t drink
coffee? How can she live without coffee? he thought.
“Well I don’t like coffee all that much,” she lied.
“Well, why don’t you get yourself a Frappechino, or some cold beverage?”
“I really don’t want anything. If I wanted something I would have bought it
already… like I bought yours,” she snapped back at him.
John was taken aback; this little girl had a mouth on her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, I really didn’t it’s just that some people
like me, don’t have the life that people like you have.”
“What do you mean people like me?” He raised his eyebrows at what she said.
“Well, I don’t get money as easily as you.”
“What are you saying?”
“Well, all I’m saying is that I’m not rich, and I can’t even afford two coffee’s… are
you happy now? I hope I made it up to you and I’m sorry for calling you a
pervert. So just please leave me alone, and I really do hope I made it up to you.”
Marlena had tears in her eyes. She walked away without a word and not looking
back ever again.
John was left there alone, speechless. “Well Marlena you’re wrong, very wrong.
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll see you sooner than you think,” he said out loud, with a sly
grin on his face
Chapter 3
Not All Good Things Come To an End
………………………
Two weeks have passed since they had met, but neither have forgotten what
happened that day.
John did his research on Marlena. But he didn’t find anything important. He was
reading the files, running his eyes all over the pages, and he was about to close it
until something caught his eye. Marlena was poor. She had no money. How
could this be? John thought. He kept reading the pages… her parents had died
when she was 16.
Now, John being the good guy he is decided he would meet Marlena again…
but this time he would bring a surprise.
It was Marlena’s birthday and her friends and flatmates, Hope, Kate, Laura, and
Jennifer were planning a surprise while Marlena was sleeping. They put up a big
banner saying “HAPPY B-DAY,” and had presents everywhere.
They all snuck into Marlena’s room, then they all jumped on the bed shouting,
“WAKE UP! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Marlena was so shocked by what was going on
because she never thought that anyone would remember her birthday.
“Aww, you guys shouldn’t have done all of this.”
“But we wanted to, so you’ll just have to deal with it,” Hope shouted from the
living room.
They all dragged Marlena into the living room, each one of them shoving their
presents in her face, telling her to open them.
John was sitting in his car watching the girls and Marlena laughing and having fun.
After some time passed, he finally guessed it was her birthday. Thank god I have
something, he thought. He stepped out of the car with the present. And walked
up to the door. He knocked a few times but there was no answer. He knew the
music was loud so he knocked again, but this time it was louder. Marlena went to
get the door, and when she opened it she was in shock.
“Ooooh, Marlena who’s the hottie,” Kate shouted from the back.
“It’s just a friend girls, I’ll be back in a second.” She closed the door, and stepped
outside, where John was waiting for her.
“What the hell are you doing here? How did you find me? Are you stalking me?”
All her questions were hitting him at once.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa down kitty, I’m not stalking you and I came here to give you
this.” He handed her his present.
“I don’t want that, and anyway how did you know it was my birthday?” she
asked, tapping her foot.
“Well I have my contacts.” He smiled. “Well would you please accept this from
me? It was the least I can do for that great cup of coffee you bought me.” He
handed her the present one more time.
Marlena thought for a second.
“So what is it?” She was giving into his charm.
“Well, why don’t you open it up and see for yourself?”
She took the present, and ripped up the paper. Inside there was a black velvet
box. She opened the box and gasped.
“You shouldn’t have.” She could barley speak,
“Yeah, but I wanted to.” He just wanted to make her happy. “So do you like it?”
“No, I can’t, it’s too much,” she said handing the diamond necklace and
bracelet back to him.
“Nooooo, I bought it for you. Now too freaking bad, because if you don’t
accept it then it looks like I have to throw it away,” he said convincingly. “So
what will it be?”
“You wouldn’t dare throw it away.”
“You wanna bet? I got it from my own store and I saw you looking at it the first
time we met.”
“Well, you drive a hard bargain mister. But fine, I’ll keep it so it won’t go to waste.”
She smiled. “Thank you,” she said shyly.
“Happy Birthday,” he said and they hugged, and he kissed the side of her face.
They both felt butterflies inside; it was a feeling that Marlena was experiencing for
the first time in her life.
“So are you going to tell us who this guy is are or you going to stand there
hugging the life out of each other?” Laura said. Laura was always the gusty one
who always said her mind anddidn’t care if it hurt others.
John and Marlena were startled, and they both turned around to see Laura,
Kate, Hope and Jennifer with big grins on their faces.
“Well girls this… uhh this is John, John Black… and John This is Laura… Kate, Hope
and Jennifer. They all said their hello’s.
“Oh, and girls if you must know… John is the manager of Bloomingdale’s
Department store.” They were all so impressed.
“Marlena why don’t you invite John inside? He could join us in our mini party.”
Marlena gave Laura a look, that if eyes could kill Laura would be dead by now.
So John came inside, and Marlena went to go and change. Hhmm what to wear,
what to wear, Marlena thought out loud. It was a little bit to early for mini skirts
and low cut tops, so she saw
Kate’s low ride hip huggers and she tried them on. They fit perfectly. “I’m sure
Kate wont mind, she’ll understand.” Then Marlena saw her black halter neck.
Before Marlena left her room she couldn’t hear anything. Before there was a lot
of noise, the girls asking John questions and laughing, but now there’s nothing.
She opened the door and just saw John sitting there reading a magazine. “Hey
where did everyone go?”
Marlena asked.
“Uhh, they said they all had things to do, so I decided to stay to keep you
company. It is your birthday after all.” John finally turned around to look at her.
He was taken away, she looked so simple, hardly any makeup on.
20 minutes later…
“Marlena I have something to ask you and you can’t turn me down because it
will be an offer you can’t refuse
Chapter 4
Sometimes Things Don’t Go The Way You Want Them To
Marlena waited in anticipation. Waiting for John to say something,
“Well you have to promise that you can’t refuse okay?”
“Well, if I don’t know what your going to ask me how can I promise that I wont
refuse?”
“Good point… but that’s the whole point, now promise?”
“Mmmm okay.”
“Noooo, you’re just saying that now. Pinky swear.” He put out his little finger for
her to take.
“Oh how did you know I can’t break a pinky swear promise?”
“Oh wild guess.” He raised his two eyebrows and smiled. She took his pinky with
hers and they locked it with thumbs.
“Okay, now tell me what’s the offer hmm?”
He kept her waiting for a while, he went to the bathroom then demanded for a
drink before he told her.
“Okay, I was hoping that you would be a model for me.”
Marlena didn’t get what he was saying. “What do you mean a model for you?”
She needed the realty to sink in.
“Well I was wondering if you would model for our clothing line and all your pictures
would be on all of our windows of our stores around the world! What do you say?”
John was motioning all the signs and how it would be, but Marlena didn’t know
what to say. First it was the Diamonds, and now modelling for his store.
“John, I don’t know what to say.” Marlena was in total state of shock.
“Just say yes.”
“Okay, then yes!” It would be a great way to earn money and have fun.
They jumped around for a little while, John took Marlena into his arms and spun
her around the living room. He stopped and they just stared into each other’s
eyes, and the tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Their faces
came closer together and their lips were locked as one. Marlena felt John open
up his mouth and she did too and their tongues collided. It felt like the kiss went
for an eternity and they both pulled away breathlessly.
“I’m sorry, that shouldn’t have happened,” John said quietly
“No, it’s my fault too. As the saying goes it takes two to tango, right?” She was
hoping of some sort of joke to lighten the mood.
“Uh yeah, yeah it does.” John grabbed his jacket. “Uh I gotta go… but you’ll be
there tomorrow morning right?”
“Yep.” Marlena couldn’t look at him, her face was flushed.
“Yeah.” He took her face with his hand and made her look at him. “Hey, what
happened just now was an honest mistake. We were both happy and excited, so
I wouldn’t make a big thing about it okay? I do like you Marlena, but not in that
way so don’t think I’m coming onto you or that I’m some kind of old pervert.” He
made that small joke just to see her smile.
“Yeah same here, you just took the words right out of my mouth,” Marlena lied;
she felt something more about him than ‘just friends’.
“So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Come in your casual wear, we have clothes
that will fit you perfectly.”
He gave her a wink and closed the door behind him. She went to the window to
watch him leave in his red sports car.
“I know that kiss meant something to you too John, I just know it.”
Chapter 5
First Day On The Job and it Sucked For a Little While
“It’s my first day and I’m sick Hope, how did this happen?” Marlena was up at
6am, who also woke up her roommate Hope. “Marlena did you have sex in the
rain?” Hope was trying to lighten up the mood. She felt sorry for Marlena.
Marlena shook her head and frowned.
“Get real Hope. I actually had a real conversation with the guy for the first time.”
“So what are you saying? I thought he was your friend?”
“Well, do you have to know someone for a long time to be their friend?”
“Hmm good point. Man girl you’ve gotten smarter every year!” Hope gave
Marlena a playful slap on the arm.
“Marlena, just call in sick.”
“Uh earth to Hope. I haven’t even started working there yet. What would I say?
‘Oh hi, I’m Marlena Evans, and I’m calling in sick… oh, but wait I actually am not
working there… but I will but…‘ Oh shit I’ve confused myself now.”
“Okay maybe I’ll take that back about you getting smarter every year.”
“See Hope, they’ll think I’m some dumb blonde!” Marlena sat there look confused.
“Uhh I’ll pass on that one.”
“Listen Marlena I’m going to have a shower, then I’m off to work. Hey don’t
forget to call!”
Marlena picked up the phone and dialled John’s secretary. A woman answered
the phone and she sounded sweet and soft.
“Hello, Clear speaking for John Black’s Bloomingdale’s Department, how can I
help you?”
“Hi, I’m Marlena Evans. I had an appointment with John Black. You see I’m that
new model but I’m…” Marlena stopped for a second. She was blabbing on too
much
“John Black hired me to be his new model, but I’m sick and I can’t come in
today.” Marlena finally breathed again.
“Well Marlena, John Black has you booked, but I will tell him that you are sick and
can’t make it in.”
“Can I make another appointment for another day?” Suddenly Marlena was
nervous but she didn’t know why.
“Hmm let me check and I’ll just leave you on hold for a second. I have another
call waiting.”
Before Marlena could say ‘okay’ she was already hearing some classical kind of
music.
5 minutes later…
Marlena was still on hold. Then she heard her voice again.
“Are you still there uhh Ms…?”
“Evans! Marlena Evans.”
“Well he has no other day available, apart from 15th of September, how does
that sound for you?”
“Well, you see I don’t plan that far ahead, but what the hell I’ll do that.”
“Well, Ms Evans. Personally I wouldn’t do that, because maybe by that time he
will already have a model. So I wouldn’t pass this one up even if you are sick”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Well I’ll keep it open and I won’t tell him anything just in case you decide to turn
up.”
“Thank you so much, I’ll see what I can do.” she hung up the phone, “what to
do???”
Marlena got changed into something warm. It was already12 o’clock.
“Kate do I look like shit?”
“Mmm a little bit. Just put some make up on and you’ll look great!”
“Hahaha, that was so funny that I forgot to laugh Katie. I already have makeup
on, tons of it.”
“Remember what they say Marlena, more is less.”
“Uhh it’s less is more.”
“Yeah, yeah I’m not a brain surgeon.”
“Well I’m off. Wish me good luck…”
“Good luck!”
Marlena left and slammed the door behind her.
She saw the big building and breathed in the air.
As she walked inside and saw how busy the people were, she walked up the stairs,
and saw the elevator, so she went in. “Too many buttons, which one is the top
floor?”
“Uh the top one?” It was a man, a deep voice. She turned around to see a tall,
dark, big man standing behind her.
“Haha sorry. I’m just really sick today. Everything was like a big giant button.”
“Yes, I know the feeling.” He had a weird accent.
Marlena decided to be polite and shake his hand. “Marlena Evans.”
He kissed her hand. “I am Stefano Dimera, nice to meet you Marlena…”
Chapter 6
His Partner and The Meeting
“Hmm Stefano Dimera, I’m sure I know that name.” She tapped her foot on the
ground a few times.
“Well, I am John’s partner… partner in the business I mean.” Marlena finally
laughed after getting why he corrected himself.
“Oh so you’re his ‘partner in crime’?”
“Well if you mean it as a metaphor then yes… but we don’t do much crime
together. I can handle that on my own.”
The elevator stopped, and Marlena got a little fright. She nearly jumped into
Stefano’s arms.
“Whoa, you ok there?” His rich voice sunk into her and sent chills down her spine.
“Yeah, just fine.”
“So Marlena, are you going to see John?”
Marlena nodded her head.
“Well, let me show you the way then.”
They walked up to the secretary that Marlena had spoken to earlier.
“Hi Mr. D… Dii… Dim Dimera, Mr. B… Baa… Black is… is.”
“For goodness sake woman, shut up and sit down! I know he is waiting for me.
That’s why I came at this time.”
Clear did as he said; she sat down without saying a word back.
“Marlena, you can come in a little bit later. I have to talk with John for a while, so
you can just can sit down and make yourself comfortable.” Stefano walked to
John’s door but before he went in he turned around and looked at Clear. “Oh
and you… tell John that Marlena is here.”
“Ye… Yesss… Mr. Dii…”
“Shh, not a word. Just tell him that she’s here. I don’t want you to answer back
okay?”
Clear just nodded her head and carried on with her work.
Marlena sat there waiting patiently; she kept looking at her watch checking the
time, it had only been 15 minutes, but during that time Clear had ran out crying,
and she had heard some yelling inside John’s office.
She heard someone clear their throat, and she looked up.
“Ms. Evans, Mr. Black will uhh see you now.”
Marlena walked in John’s door. She saw Stefano on the sofa and John at his desk.
“Marlena good you came.” He got up, took her by the hands and kissed her
cheek.
“Have a seat.” They both motioned for her to sit opposite John.
“So Marlena, have you thought about the job offer?”
“Yes.” John and Stefano stared at her, not wanting just a one-word answer.
“Uh, yes I have and I accept.” She smiled sweetly.
“Well Marlena, you will just have to get you a test modeling shoot… then if you
do well at that, you will sign the contracts and you’ll be on your way to being a
celebrity. John you should know that Marlena and I met in the elevator. I’m sure
she’ll be great to work with, don’t you?”
John was a million miles away, just staring at Marlena.
“John don’t you?”
“What? Yes, yes I do.” John smiled at her. “So what are you waiting for? Let’s get
started.”
“Yes, let’s do. Come with us Marlena… oh and be warned, we do have to watch
you model, to see how you are with the photographer and how you work with
cameras. We know that the first time is nerve-wracking, so it’s fine for you to be
nervous.”
She had to take all that in… no one could know how she was feeling inside,
nervousness and nausea. Her knees started to buckle as they were walking to the
studio.
“Well, come on in.”
She went inside, and the studio was the size of a house. Lights were everywhere…
big white boards… hair and makeup artists. She didn’t know where to look.
She looked at John. “Well Marlena, are you ready?”
“Yeah, I’m so ready
Chapter 7
The Photo Shoot
Marlena had gone to get changed. She didn’t know what to wear or do. Before
she went to ask for help a brunette came in. “Hey, Mr. Black has already picked
out what you should wear. Now you will be wearing four outfits, two dresses and
one will be a top with a skirt then pants with a top so you can choose whatever
you want to start with.”
“Hmm I think I’ll go with the dress first then the pants then another dress and then
the skirt”
“How about the two dresses then the skirt and THEN the pants?”
“Okay, I don’t mind.”
“Well, here are your clothes. Put them up in order, and then you’ll get your hair
and makeup done okay?”
“Uh, I don’t want makeup on her.” John was standing right behind the consultant,
“Oh Mr. Black, I didn’t know you were there.”
“Well as I said, I don’t want makeup done on her. I want her nice and natural…
just let her… what’s that word?” He clicked his two fingers trying to find the word.
“Purify sir?”
“Yes that’s it, now Marlena, we’ll leave you alone to get changed okay?”
“Okay thanks.”
Marlena changed into her dress; it was black but simple, long and elegant. It had
a halter neck and the opening from the back finished all the way down her lower
back showing every curve of her body.
“Okay Marlena, walk out there with confidence. Okay deep breaths… in… and….
out.”
She walked out into the studio where John and Stefano were waiting. They both
looked at her in awe.
“Wow,” they said at the same time.
“Marlena just go and sit or stand or just be yourself… over there okay?” He was
still speechless and he didn’t know what to say to her. He just stared at her with his
mouth open wide.
She sat down on the stool and they were busy taking pictures from all different
angles. To John it seemed that Marlena was a natural she stood up and sat down,
smiled when she needed to and the camera loved her.
“Stefano,” John whispered to Stefano, but Stefano had his eye on Marlena. “And
you told me I should keep my mouth closed. Well look at you, keep your eyes
closed.”
“What are you on about?”
“Well what do you think?”
“I think she’ll sell. Do you want to see her in other clothing?”
“Uhh, what are the other clothes?”
“Well John you were the one that picked them out, so you should know.”
“Hmm I don’t know what I picked out. It was a random choice.”
“John I don’t know about you but I agree on her. The face is the most important
thing about a model and she has it so I have the contract all ready for her.”
“Uh thanks Jake, but I think those are enough to provide us what we need, so
Marlena don’t worry about getting changed again, just go and change into your
normal clothing”
Marlena went to change again and the brunette lady came in again. “Hey miss,
umm do you think I did well?” The lady noticed she had been crying. “Well I think
you did great, you were a natural.”
“Thanks… do you think they’ll sign me on?”
“Listen if you make it here then you make it. Your photos will be all over the world
and it pays great money, but if you didn’t make it here you can still make it
elsewhere. They will give you your test photos and you could make those into a
portfolio and send it to other companies… then you’ll defiantly make it.” The lady
was reassuring.
“Hey Liz, can you get Marlena in here for a second?” John was shouting from the
other room.
“Well hun, this is your big break. Go in there with a brave face okay?”
Marlena walked back into the studio, and she saw Stefano and John smiling, so
she knew it must be a good sign.
“Marlena here is the contract. Just sign it and we are on our way!”
Marlena signed it. In the right hand corner of the paper it said, ‘He/She will be
paid $350,000 dollars a photo shoot.’
Her eyes flew open wide. “Is… is… that how much I get paid?”
Stefano and John both nodded their heads.
They both liked seeing a smile on her face even though she had a cold.
“Thank you so much! This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Chapter 8
One Kiss And A Mistake
After one month of hard working on modelling Marlena decided it would be a
nice to take a day off.
She was earning a lot of money but having fun at the same time.
“Who should I call?” Before she picked up her address book, the phone rang.
“Wonder who that will be?” she picked up the phone and heard the voice that
she had wanted to hear all day.
“Hello Marlena.”
“John, hey how are you?”
“I’m good and you?”
“Great, I am really great.”
“Well I’m going to make you feel greater! I have the new cover for our
Bloomingdale’s Evening Wear Edition and guess whose face is on the cover?”
“I don’t know who?” She was trying to figure out whose face was on the cover.
“Guesssss…” Man was this girl a true blonde or was that a cover up? John
thought.
“Uhh mine?”
“YES!”
“Oh my god, my face is on the cover?”
“Yes!”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Wait John there’s someone at the door.”
She opened up the door, and it was John standing there with 12 dozen roses and
the magazine.
Marlena instantly hugged John and he spun her around the living room, just like
he did the first time he had asked her to be his model.
He put her down.’
“Well these are for you, and you might want to look at this, but sit down before
you do, or you might faint on me.”
“Okay well I’ll put those over here, and let’s get comfortable.”
He handed her the magazine, and she gasped.
“That’s me?”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is.”
“Oh wow, I wish I looked like that in real life.”
“You do, don’t you ever doubt that okay?”
“Yeah whatever… you have to say that because you’re my manager.”
“Actually I’m not allowed to say that because I am your manager.”
“Oh, then if you can’t say that, are you allowed to do this?”
She made the first move, and kissed him hard. Their tongues moved in a slow
motion in each other’s mouths. He grabbed her legs and wrapped them around
his waist. John climbed atop of her while still holding their passionate kiss. She
could feel his manhood rub against her. John started kissing and licking her neck,
and Marlena let out a moan.
“Oh, that feels so good John.”
John realized where this was going between them, and he stopped.
“What, what’s wrong?”
“We should stop, this is wrong. What’s happening between us right now is wrong.”
“Why is it wrong?”
“Because it just is, and this is the second time it has happened. And the third time
it will probably go further and I can’t do that.” John got up and walked to the
door.
“Well, before you go, could you please tell me why we can’t do anything?”
“Marlena, I know this is probably what you don’t want to hear. But I like you, but
not in that way, you see I’m…”
“Wait, I don’t want to hear it. This is the second time you do this to me… and you
leave me this way and now you say you don’t like me in that way. Well John it
doesn’t seem that way to me, I mean you sit so close to me, you start touching
my knee and move up to my leg and that’s supposed to mean you ‘like me’?
I’m not some dumb bimbo you can use anytime you want.”
“I never said you were a bimbo.”
“Yeah… well I’m just telling you the facts. Now tell me something why do you
keep kissing me?”
“Well it’s because you’re attractive, and sweet, kind, cute…”
“What it’s all about my looks? That’s it… you kiss me because you think I’m cute?
“And you have an awesome personality!”
“Oh, so after I tell you that you only want me for my looks then you say I have a
AWSOME PERSONALTY?”
“Marlena to cut my speech short, I like you a lot but I can’t be in a serious
relationship because…”
“You know what… I don’t care, so lets just pretend it never happened and we
get along with our lives. Is that good for you?”
“Yeah I guess so. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“Mmm, I know.”
“I’ll see you later sweetheart.”
He kissed her goodbye and left.
“Oh John if you only knew that I’m starting to fall in love with you,” Marlena cried
to herself. She knew John’s feelings were only an infatuation.
Chapter 9
Let The Truth Be Told
Marlena went down to the studio, surprised to only see Stefano there. “Hey what
are you doing here?”
“Marlena, good to see you. Well John and I were just talking about you.”
Marlena looked around but there was no sign of John anywhere “Uh speaking of John, where is he? I actually came down to see him.”
“Oh, he’s on the phone with his wife.”
“Wife? He has a wife?”
“Yes, he’s talking to her, upstairs.”
“Upstairs on the phone with his wife?”
“Yes… on the phone with his wife upstairs.”
“John has a wife? He never told me about any wife, and he sure didn’t act like
he had a wife.”
“Marlena it looks like you’ve seen a ghost, are you okay?
“I’m just fine.”
Marlena felt like she was going to pass out. ‘How could this be? He never told
me? He nearly had sex with me?’ All these questions were running in Marlena’s
head and it felt like someone had knocked her over the head.
John came in and he saw Marlena with tears in her eyes, sitting down in the
makeup chair, looking completely lost.
“Uh, Stefano could me and Marlena have some time alone? You know she
probably broke a nail… blonde type of things,” John whispered to Stefano and
they both laughed it off. John knew something was wrong.
“Hey what’s up?” He grabbed the stool and sat down in front of her
“How dare you come up to me and ask me ‘what’s up.’ You lied to me, and do
you know how I found out? I found out through your damn assistant manager,
that’s how I found out. And do you know how I felt? I felt like shit… that’s how I
felt. I felt like someone had hit me over the head and told me wake up and smell
the burrito!”
“Marlena, what did you find out about?”
“About your wife.”
John didn’t know how to act; he didn’t know what to say or what to do.
“Ha ha you can’t lie anymore, can you? It’s over John, and oh… I quit!”
“You can’t quit. You signed a contract, so ha ha the jokes on you! You can’t
quit!”
“Oh really Mr. Know it all? Just watch me.” She ripped the contract into pieces
and threw it up in the air. “It’s the millennium, John, get with it.” And Marlena left
the building.
“Damnit, damnit, damnit… uh Stefano… get in here.”
Stefano came rushing in.
“What is it John?”
“Why did you tell Marlena about my wife? “ John was furious with him.
“Well I thought she knew. I’m sorry, I thought you told her. And why are you so
angry about it? She’s only your model.”
“I’m not angry with you. It’s just that, I didn’t want her to know… I actually
wanted to tell her myself.”
“Uh John, can I ask one more question?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Why is there paper all over the floor?”
“Oh also… newsflash Marlena just quit.”
“Oh this is bad, this is really bad.”
“Yeah you’re telling me?”
Chapter 10
Important call
It had been weeks since she was told the truth by Stefano. It felt like light years
for Marlena. She refused to speak to or see John. The phone rang ten time a
day… she knew it was John trying to reach her or Stefano wanting to know if she
could forgive John and come back to work for them. He told her that the
magazine ratings were going down and she’s the only one that can bring them
back up, but Marlena said no.
She was busy cleaning up the house making herself busy, trying not to think
about John.
“Oh who needs him anyway? He’s the one who nearly slept with me and he also
lied! I don’t miss his face or his tight black t-shirts he always has on. And that cute
butt… oh snap out of it Marlena! He hurt you and that’s it.”
Marlena thought she was going crazy thinking about John.
The phone started ringing, which gave Marlena a shock.
“Hello.”
“Hey Marlena. It’s John.”
“Goodbye.”
And she hung up but the phone rang again. She let it ring not wanting to answer
it. She knew it was John.
The phone kept on ringing; she gave up and answered it.
“What?”
“Marlena, I need to talk to you.”
“Sure talk.”
“No, I mean in person. I have to tell you something.”
“What… no way! Get real John… I have no time for liars that jerk around and
have wives.”
“Marlena we need to sort things out. I still want to be your friend and I still want
you to model for me.”
“Oh, is this all about me modeling for you? Because honestly I’d rather model
naked than model for you.”
“Listen Marlena…”
“No you listen John, we were friends until you lied to me about something very
big. Oh and let me add in that you told me after having seduced me and nearly
having sex with me!”
“I know that was wrong… and yes I made you believe that I wanted to have sex
with you. But there is a word that’s called no Marlena, and you know what, I don’t
remember you saying it.”
”Oh so its my fault now huh? Hey John wake up call for you, I’m not the one
that’s married here.”
“I didn’t call to fight Marlena or blame anyone. It was our fault… both of us, not
just me and not just you. Now I really need to talk to you and tell you something
important in person.”
Chapter 11
A New Bombshell And A Goodbye
John came around to Marlena’s fast; she was surprised to see him ten minutes
after talking with him over the phone.
“Hey, good to see you.”
“Thanks, Marlena… I can’t stay for long. I have my wife and son waiting in the
car.”
“Oh.” He could see she was hurt, but why? He thought “Well I just wanted to tell you I’m leaving.”
She turned around in shock. “You’re leaving? Where? When?”
“Well I’m leaving now, I tried to reach you last night but no one was home, so I
got hold of you now, and this is the time just to say goodbye I guess.”
Marlena couldn’t say anything apart from cry. They hugged each other. Marlena
was lost in his smell. How could he do this to me? Doesn’t he know I’m in love
with him and I need him? Just knowing he existed made me feel better,
Marlena’s thoughts rushed through her mind, not knowing what to do apart from
cry.
He kissed the side of her face and whispered, ‘I love you.’
“I love you too.”
“Hey, wipe those tears. I’ll still call you, and you’ll keep in touch right?”
Marlena nodded her head, but tears couldn’t stop rolling down her face.
“John… I need you… you can’t… you can’t go.”
“I have to, I need to raise my family, and start up a new store.”
“What about me? You can’t just leave me”
“Trust me Marlena I don’t want to… that’s the last thing I want to do right now,
but I told you, we’ll keep in touch… now give me a hug, then I’ll leave.”
She hugged him again, and savored his smell and touch.
He let her go and walked to his car, he didn’t want to look back because he
knew he would turn right back around and never let go of her.
Marlena walked outside just to watch John get into his car. She wiped her tears
away, but formed more tears. John started his car but still watched Marlena
standing on the sidewalk, crying. He kept his eyes on her. Marlena watched John
drive away to his future with his wife and his child.
She fell on the ground crying her heart and soul out. The only thing to do was
move on and let go, they were ‘friends’ after all.
While John’s wife was talking about any random thing she could see, John was
thinking about Marlena. He knew there was a special bond between them but he
knew she felt something more special for him… she loved him. That was it, she was
in love with John.
John smiled to himself, maybe someday they would see each other in the future,
but not right now. He knew he had a chance later.
After that day John and Marlena never saw each other again. Marlena went on
as a professional model in Milan. And John brought a new child into the family. He
never heard from Marlena ever again…
THE END
The Jarlena Journal 