Cocktail Feelings

Fine. I will meet you after the show, 5 minutes is all I’m giving you Paris. Don’t get hopes up that I will be watching your show, no time.

Cat stared at the message she managed to write. She also wrote the same e-mail the night when she broke down seeing her old pictures with Paris, but never had the courage to send it and deleted it instead. Now, she was again in this situation. To send, or not to send.

No, I will send it this time.

She checked the e-mail one last time. Cold, short, and uninterested – the perfect impression Cat wanted to make and sent! One minute after sending the e-mail, Cat panicked and thoughts ran through her mind. Breathing slowly, she tried to calm herself down and assured herself that it was the right thing to do. A plan had already emerged into her mind.

I will listen to him, tell him this is the last time he will see me. Kiss him on the cheek and say goodbye, turn my back and hopefully will never see him again. For good this time.

Cat snapped herself out of her imagination.

Only 24 hours to get myself ready to face Paris.

The clock showed 18.00, which meant weekend with Sophie was about to start. It was their ritual to go to Havana, their favourite bar, after work on Friday. A glass or two of their exquisite Margarita or Mojitos was their sign that the weekend has started and time to put their hair down for a while. Cat straightened up her new chic skirt and put a dash of lipstick, ready to call Sophie’s extension when her phone rang.

“Soph, I’m ready when you are,” said Cat immediately, knowing it was Sophie on the other end.

“Darl, I am so so sorry, I can’t make it tonight. I know, before you complain, we cannot break our girlie bond ritual but I really can’t. Ethan’s parents are in town and want details on the engangement and pick the wedding colour,” rambled Sophie, Cat could almost see her best friend rolled her eyes. “But do go out, I heard the PR crowd are doing some crazy dancing at the new Spanish bar down town, you’d love it!”

“Fine Soph, you are excused this time, please don’t make me wear purple on your wedding day. Have fun, if you can.” Cat chuckled a little, she knew how Ethan’s parents were sometimes a tad irritating for Sophie. “And maybe a little dancing will help me loosen up, I need to shake this bon bon,” laughter of both girls filled the phone line.

After saying goodbye to Sophie, Cat took her trench coat and was ready to call a taxi. She cursed herself for deciding not to take her car that morning.

“Going somewhere are we?” Cat stopped, knowing the familiar demanding voice she heard just this morning.

“Hey Alain, I mean Mr. Pelletier,” answered Cat politely while giving a glance around the room signalling that they were still at the office.

“You know Cathleen, you can still call me Alain, even if we are in the office. And you are going with me, you are not going to shake your bon bon at that cheap Spanish bar.” Cat blushed at the thought of Alain over-hearing her conversation. “We are going for dinner,” ordered Alain with his stern tone.


“I don’t think it’s such a good- ”

“It is a good idea, and you know I don’t take no for an answer, I thought you learn your lesson after all these times knowing me,” replied Alain calmly yet so full of authority.

Who does he think he is? Ordering me around.

Even with that thought in mind, Cat couldn’t help but gathered her things and followed Alain to the parking lot.

-----------

“I thought we were going for dinner,” Cat said in confusion. “This, I’m sure is your apartment, not a restaurant, unless of course they transformed it.”

 “Good memory Cathleen, this is my  apartment and besides who said anything about dinner in a restaurant. I’m cooking for you,” answered Alain in his convincing tone.

There is something soothing and comfortable about his voice, Cat then shaked out the thought as she faced the reality of dinner at a guy’s appartment, and not just any guy, but Alain.

As they entered Alain’s apartment on the tenth floor, Cat couldn’t help but be awed by the city light she could see. She studied the place and it looked exactly the same as the last time she was here for New Year’s party that Sophie managed to drag her into.

“Red wine?” offered Alain. Cat just nodded silently.

Alain started cooking and Cat found it surprisingly easy to talk, laugh, and share her thoughts with him. Since when did he become so easy to talk to?

An hour later he served a juicy medium-rare steak with the most delicious butter sauce. They ate while continuing their conversation, taking a sip of their almost finished red wine. Alain laughed at her lively, humorous stories while Cat listened to his deep thoughts and opinions.

“And this is dessert...” said Alain as he proudly presented two portions of crème brûlée. “Bought from L’îsle au Chocolat, which I believe is your favourite patisserie.”

“How did you know?” Cat asked curiously while taking a spoon of her heavenly crème brûlée. Alain answered just by raising his right eyebrow while giving her a mysterious smile.

The evening continued to be lovely and charming in a way Cat never expected. They listened to smooth jazz music which Alain perfectly selected. Another red wine was opened and more conversations were exchanged as they perched on his soft sofa. Alain moved closer to Cat and somehow they were entwined in a kiss.

Was it the candles lit around the room? Was it the glasses of wine they drank? Cat didn’t know what it was exactly that made his kiss to be soft and left a tingling sensation all over her body. She smiled, approving his action. She felt like a teenager once again.

“What was that for?”

“Cathleen...I like you. I’ve been dropping hints,” started Alain, there was more softness in his voice this time.

“Well, if you mean hints are ordering and forcing me...” stuttered Cat while giving a nervous laugh.

“Just listen out Cathleen, I have always liked you, but you...you just never seem to be interested in me,” continued Alain. “So, I would like to ask you for a proper date, tomorrow, please just say yes, give me a chance.” 

Cat felt her head spinned around crazily. Of course, she liked him. Who doesn’t? Smart and handsome, every girl in this town would do anything to be in Cat’s position. She admired him all through high school until now, though she has never considered her feelings for him beyond admiration.

“This is two VIP tickets, I know how much you love classical music, so tomorrow I’ll pick you up at 19.00,” explained Alain, looking straight through Cat’s eyes. Cat blushed as he looked at her so intensively. “I think you’ll love it, they have this guy playing the violin, I think you should know him, he went to the same high school as us I think, Paris something.”

Alain continued to ramble about the orchestra and the pieces that would be played, but Cat’s heart stopped beating for a second. She was thrilled that Alain asked her out for a date, but she was panicked and frustrated at the prospect place of their date.

“Uuuh, sure...” responded Cat.

 Then the rest of the night seemed blurry. Alain seemed happy by her response although she refused to be taken back home and preferred the taxi. Thoughts ran through her mind and she just wasn’t able to figure things out. All she knew was she was in a deep mess. 

Autumn in My Heart

It was September. Silent chills of autumn swept the city as the leaves started to change its forms and colors. All the vibrant colors of spring had vanished and were replaced by shades of red and yellow, if not brown. In a month all the leaves would have withered away, unable to withstand nature’s preparation for a quiet winter slumber.

A terracotta-colored leaf landed upon Cat’s cheek. Cat brushed it away gently and continued to tread on the usual commuting path to work. Even though she was wearing a crimson trench-coat over her power suit, the chills still found a way to make her shiver underneath. A cup of the decaf green tea latte she was holding on her right hand provided little source of warmth but it will do for the time being. To distract herself from the cold, Cat allowed her brain to replay all her plans that she had made for today.

“You’re still not good with cold weather, Cathleen.”

A silky voice interrupted Cat’s thoughts, as they dispersed in midair. The voice had a deep sharp edge and a teasing tone. A sense familiarity washed over Cat as she turned around and had her assumptions confirmed.

Sure enough, a pair of familiar dark eyes observed Cat’s face amusedly as a smirk formed on the otherwise stunningly perfect face. The wind played slightly with the person’s wavy brown locks. Yes, the sound came from that beautiful man dressed in an elegant business suit, leaning on a posh black Aston Martin.

Cat held her breath nervously and forced a smile. “Good morning, Mr. Pelletier.” she greeted as politely as she could.

The young man gave a slight frown. “Why so formal so early in the day? I think you know me well enough to call me by my given name.”

Cat chuckled, “Well, I can’t possibly call the CEO’s son by his given name so-”

“Correct me if I’m wrong” the man cut in “But I don’t recall seeing this pathway as the Pelletier Tower and I don’t think the people here look anything like the staff in Pelletier Enterprise.”

“Well, that’s true but-“

“Then we’re not at work. So it means you can call me by any name you so desire.” he smiled playfully.

Cat cleared her throat. She wasn’t going to win this battle by any chance. In all the ten years she had known him, she had not won a single banter. “Okay then. Good morning…. Alain.”

“That’s more like it.” Alain Pelletier gave an approving nod and in a swift elegant move, opened the passenger’s door of his posh ride. “You made me wait long enough. Hop in or we won’t be able to make it to the office in time.”

“I’d rather not.” Cat said quickly. “The last time I arrived at work in your Ferrari, my boss and friends had a field day about it. Thank you for the generous offer but I don’t want a second chance to kill my social life.”

“It wasn’t a request, and we know I don’t like repeating myself.” Alain gazed at her calmly, but the words that came out from his mouth were superior and imposing. It reflected none of the gentleness in his expression. Alain quickly grabbed Cat’s wrist and pulled her into the car. The moment she was seated, the tone of his voice changed again. This time gentler –the tone he uses in his everyday conversation with everyone else. “So just sit back and enjoy okay.” He smirked as he closed the door.

*****

There goes my social life.

Cat sighed heavily as she stared into her computer screen, trying her best to ignore her workmates forming circles behind her. She could feel the cold jealous stares from her female coworkers. They should very well be giving her death threat notes by tomorrow.

Alain Pelletier was the third son of the Pelletier Enterprise CEO. Young, charismatic, and extremely intelligent, Alain was the most desired bachelor in her building and perhaps in the elite social circle. He was only one year her senior and now he’s the VP of Pelletier Media, a subsidiary of Pelletier Enterprise and Cat’s current workplace.

“Morning, gorgeous!” Sophie greeted merrily as she situated herself on her work station right beside Cat.

“Morning, Soph…” Cat half-groaned her reply. All the positive energy she had this morning were swept away the moment she had stepped inside the fancy Aston Martin.

Sophie threw a questioning look at her and gave a smile, “And here I thought that getting a ride to work in Alain Pelletier’s ride would cheer you up after what happened in my engagement party.”

“He’s my senior at high school, Soph. He used to tease me a lot at school.” Cat said with a hushed voice. “If anybody at work knew, they would think that I got my job through my connections to him, nobody would take me seriously and I will never get that promotion.”

“I think you’re being too dramatic here, Cat. You earned this job – and that long overdue promotion.” Sophie replied firmly. “He was just being nice you know, taking his junior to work. It doesn’t hurt that you both go to the same office.”

Cat was about to open her mouth and voice another protest when she heard the voices coming from three cubicles on her left.

“Did you hear? Paris Sinclair is coming to town for a two-night concert at the Ensemble Hall!”

Cat turned around and found her coworker Bianca talking on her cell excitedly. Bianca went on and on about how the tickets were sold out since yesterday. While Bianca was busy mourning the fact that she was not going to see the handsome violinist in person, Cat felt every system in her body crash just by the simple mention of Paris’ name. His name still had that effect on her even after seven years of his departure.

Cat opened her Blackberry and slowly opened the email. "Hi C, I'm back in town for a visit in a week. I need to see you. Love, P"

It was until then that she realized that there was a document attached to the email. Inserted was a front-row ticket to a concert taking place later tomorrow. Cat heaved another sigh just looking at it, butterflies churning inside her stomach.

Cat wasn’t ready to meet Paris. Not under this circumstances. He was a rising star, living his dream. She was a complete nobody, failed in living her dreams thanks to the cold shoulder of the universe.

But why is it that every fiber of her being is screaming ecstatically at the prospect of seeing him? This time in person – not in front of a television screen.

Taking a deep breath, Cat felt like she had made up her mind. She pressed the menu button and pressed ‘Reply to Email’.