Chapter 32: "Single Ladies"
After three minutes of staying underwater, Marcus came up suddenly and he was having difficulties in breathing - but after a while he was fine like nothing happened. He got out of the swimming pool, there was a towel nearby and he picked up. "Why am I thinking about Khloe? I shouldn't be thinking about her... it's my brain, it's playing tricks on me. I should stop" he thought out loud and sat on the couch.
His chef brought him an orange juice with an apple.
"Welcome sir" she said.
"Thank you" replied Marcus and then went straight after the cold orange juice, he took a sip but it was too good. "Bring me the whole jug of juice" he told the chef.
Just one minute later Marcus was holding the whole mug of orange juice and he ordered the chef to make more, somehow it made him feel good. All the time he kept looking at his phone, waiting for Diana to call him but there was nothing.
Meanwhile Diana was also inside her apartment waiting for Marcus to call, not that she wanted to see him because she felt something for him, but this time it was because she wanted to ask questions regarding her sister's death and if Marcus ever knew Linda. But it seemed awkward and maybe Marcus will feel as if Diana was blaming him for Linda's death which would not make sense. Demi called when Diana was overthinking and she slowly reached out for her phone and picked it up.
"Hello" said Diana in a low pitch, mostly she was tired.
"Bitch, did you sleep with Marcus?" That was the first question Demi asked and it left Diana speechless.
"What are you saying?"
"Jared told me you sounded like you got laid in your last call... so spill the beans"
"No, I didn't" Diana lied.
"Mmh-hmm"
"By the way, how's Africa?"
"It's Zimbabwe, you know Africa is a whole continent. It's like asking me how's Europe while I'm in Czech republic or something..."
Diana sighed, she didn't say anything. Demi noticed that Diana wasn't herself, hence she continued investigating Diana and asking what was bothering her.
"Do you miss her? Your sister?"
"It's weird that we would spend a year or two without seeing each other nor communicating but I would be fine, maybe because I knew I'd see her again. Now... It's forever" said Diana sorrowful and then she sighed softly.
Demi remained silent and sighed too. She wanted to be there for her best friend, telling her everything will be alright, be at her side like old times but she was millions of miles away. These two talked for about two hours and still they felt like they wanted to talk more, the moment Diana hang up the phone - Vanessa called her.
"What up Vee?"
"There's someone here to see you, she says it's urgent" Vanessa said, not in her usual calm manner.
"What's going on Vanessa, who is it?"
"She said she has to see you, if you want to be safe"
"If I want to be safe?"
"You gotta come Diana, she's making me nervous. I'll text you the restaurant address"
"Alright, I'm on my way"
Diana quickly changed her clothes and she wore blue shorts with white stripes, and a black hoodie, she had sandals on her feet. "Where are my car keys..." she said trying to find them and when she did, she took her purse which had her credit card and some important stuffs, a black cap and stormed out of her apartment - unfortunately she bumped into Marcus and dropped the keys.
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Diana.
"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" asked Marcus then he bent down and picked up the keys. "These are yours... I guess"
Diana grabbed the keys from Marcus's hands then she stood firmly looking at him.
"Were you going somewhere?"
"Yes Marcus, or did you wanna kidnap me again?"
"You are never gonna let that go, are you?"
"You threatened my life Marcus, now I don't feel safe around you anymore..."
"Diana... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, I would never make you feel unsafe around me"
"But you did Marcus. This controlling shit will never work on me, I'm an independent woman with a career and a good job, I'm not yours, I don't belong to you or to anyone. I have my life and if dating to you means you are in control then perhaps I'm not the one" said Diana. Then she passed Marcus and walked to the elevator, Marcus followed her.
They stood together side by side waiting for the elevator to open, Marcus was about to say something but then the elevator beeped and an old woman came out. "Better be careful in here, someone was short on the twentieth floor" she said and proceeded to her door.
Marcus led, Diana followed and then he clicked on the ground floor button and the elevator closed. It was awkward between the two, Marcus side eyed Diana and he hesitated to talk. "Should I kiss her? Or wait... she's still angry at me, this will make the situation worse. But girls like to be kissed in the elevator, who doesn't? Maybe I should..." He thought out loud but the moment he intended to make a move, the elevator beeped and Marcus shrugged himself off the situation.
Diana was the first to walk away, while Marcus ran after her.
"Diana, Diana..."
"I have things to do Marcus, leave me alone"
Marcus stopped her "At least let me accompany you, to your... things"
Diana sighed "Shouldn't you be at work?" she asked.
He grinned "It's five thirty in the evening Diana, I'm allowed to rest. Please... I won't say a word"
"Not a single word, you hear me?"
"Yes ma'am" said Marcus standing firmly with a salute.
"Aargh..." Diana opened the door and walked to her car.
"What is it? Did I do something wrong?"
"You never take anything serious Marcus, it's always jokes with you" Diana complained.
Marcus helped her to open the door of the car, and then he put on that sad puppy face - it was his ticket to get him anything he wanted. It's like no one can refuse that face once it's established. Diana managed a smile "Get in the car, stupid..." she said. Marcus raced to the other seat and Diana drove to the address Vanessa had sent her.
Along the way, somehow the past seemed to be forgotten by Diana especially when Marcus sang Beyonce's "single ladies" like he wrote it. He knew every word and this made Diana laugh so hard looking at him trying to be a sissy - and his long hair played such a great deal in trying to act feminine. But those were things people for love, even if it meant letting your hair out and mimicking Beyonce just to get your girl to laugh - and indeed Diana had the best moment of her life.
"You can pull over and I can do the catwalk, in the heart of Times Square, I don't give a damn" said Marcus.
"No, no... I have to meet Vanessa"
"Come on, it'll be fun. It will take just a minute" Marcus insisted and after a while Diana agreed, she had that huge smile on her lips when she pulled over and watched Marcus getting out of the car. Marcus wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with white sneakers. He cropped the T-shirt and made it a crop top - all the girls looked at him and good thing he had his cowboy hat and black shades which assured him it would take more than one paparazzi to know who he was.
Diana played "single ladies" and Marcus slayed as if he was James Charles on top of a Paris Fashion Week runaway. He threw his hands like a girl and squatted while trying to dance - a crowd was formed and they clapped for him while cheering - some recorded him on their phones. "Yes, yes... Give it to us" They screamed and Diana never saw this side of Marcus before. She always thought he was a cocky, masculine guy, narcissist and over himself but in seconds he turned into Jared and embraced it like he was born that way.
After the unusual, and unexpected performance Marcus walked back to the car panting and trying to catch his breath.
"You liked it, what do you think?" he asked Diana trying to breath.
"I think I have never met anyone who's as stupid as you... You'll be all over Fox in the next two hours"
"I did it for you" Marcus told Diana, and he was serious this time, his eyes locked with Diana's.
"You didn't have to"
"I made you feel unsafe around me, this is just to show you that I'm not always like that. I can be soft... you have nothing to be scared about Diana. I'm sorry"
It must have been the way he locked eyes with her, or his genuine apology from the heart which made Diana pul him closer for a kiss which was deep and passionate - Marcus felt like a winner in getting Diana back.