Episode 5

As the days dragged on, Vinnie couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss. She had expected at least a courteous response from Mr Doyle or his assistant, Alex, after their meeting last week. But now, a whole week had gone by without a word, leaving her with a growing sense of unease.

What if she was rejected like that woman he met at the cafe?

What if her muteness had once again destroyed her chances?

How many times would life rub it in her face that she was anything but normal?

That she was not enough...

“Shit! I’m out of red lace.” A panicked voice snapped her out of her stupor.

Vinnie blinked and realized she was sprawled on the couch in her best friend Maya’s studio apartment. She looked up from the throw pillow in her lap to see Maya rushing across the room with a pencil behind her right ear.

Vinnie sat up straighter, wondering what was going on.

From the time she was barely knee-high, Maya’s infatuation with fashion had been undeniable. She’d tinker with petite trinkets and conjure up her own designs, meticulously stitching together garments that were uniquely hers. Now, Vinnie wouldn’t necessarily dub Maya’s experiments massive hits all the time, but considering her lack of formal training or a hefty tuition bill from some fancy design school, her best friend’s skills were nothing short of impressive.

“I need to make a quick run to the department store downstairs. Do you think you’ll be okay?” Maya asked while rummaging into her closet and pulling out a black top before quickly pulling it down on herself. Maya had a peculiar habit of wearing only a long t-shirt paired with loose cotton shorts at home. She hated wearing makeup except when she was at work, and more than anything, she hated wearing tight or snug clothes at home. Vinnie, too, basically had the same habit, but she wasn’t exactly crazy about it. Vinnie was more adjustable and adaptable between the two friends.

Vinnie tossed the throw pillow to the other side of the couch and swung her legs to the floor, preparing to go with her.

But Maya quickly gestured to stop her. “No, you stay here. I’ll be back in a minute. I’m going to lock the door from the outside, so if Warren comes by for the rent again, he’ll think twice before barging in.”

Maya was behind on her rent, so it was understandable that she worried about her landlord, Mike Warren, a seventy-something old man, showing up at any time to threaten her with eviction if she didn’t pay the overdue rent.

Vinnie slouched on the couch, resting her head on the armrest as she curled up on her side, watching her friend slip on a pair of slippers before making her way towards the door.

Maya swung the door open, ready to leave, but then she turned back, shifting her weight to her right leg and rolling her eyes. “And seriously, get off that damn couch already. You’ve been lying there like a slug. I’m dragging you out tonight.”

Vinnie let out a whine, emitting a soft groan while shaking her head and making a poor, puppy face.

“Nope. I don’t care if you’re not in the mood. We’re going out, end of story. If I have to witness you walking, sitting, and eating like a zombie any longer, I’ll lose my freaking mind.”

With that, the door slammed shut.

Vinnie sighed dramatically and kicked her legs against the armrest on the other end of the couch, but once the sheer silence of the studio apartment started to press on her chest and throat, she pushed herself off the couch and moved to the kitchen.

She opened the refrigerator and looked for something she could eat. She wasn’t exactly hungry, having eaten lunch not too long ago, but she was bored out of her mind and didn’t have anything better to do so...

Vinnie snatched the leftover meatballs from the previous night and popped them into the microwave, eagerly awaiting their sizzling transformation. As the microwave hummed and the glass plate spun in a culinary dance, she couldn’t resist pouring herself a tall glass of Sprite to accompany her feast.

As she waited for her food to be ready, Vinnie glanced out the window. The sun hung high in the sky, mercilessly radiating its scorching rays upon the world below. Once again, her mind drifted to her meeting with Mr Doyle, and the pang that rose in her chest this time was a lot worse than earlier. She hadn’t mentioned anything about Mr. Doyle and his peculiar request for a mistress to Maya. Keeping secrets from her best friend felt anything but nice or righteous, but how on earth could she break the news without triggering a full-blown meltdown?

Personally, Vinnie wasn’t bothered by the idea of being at someone’s beck and call; she simply yearned for an escape from her life’s monotonous limitations and suffocating constraints. She longed for something new, an experience that wouldn’t remind her of her past, present, or future. For just a small moment, she dreamed of a life free from regrets and the absolute burden of exhaustion.

And Mr Doyle could give her that. From whatever she had garnered about the man in the two meetings they had, he was the man who could be trusted. He wasn’t arrogant or narcissistic by any means. Or at least she hoped so. He just looked, well, a tad serious for his own good.

Towering over six feet and then some, he donned perfectly tailored suits that accentuated his chiseled shoulders, bulging biceps, and lengthy arms in a way that seemed too good to be true. And those legs? Well, let’s not even start on those heavenly creations. Vinnie would confidently wager her last dollar that she had never encountered a man so annoyingly flawless, possessing the rare combination of humility and an intoxicating level of confidence that sent her heart racing like a caffeine-fueled maniac.

Vinnie was halfway through the bowl of meatballs when the unlocking sound of the main door teased her ear. She looked up from the couch, waited for the door to open, and smiled when Maya came into view.

The scorching heat had clearly taken its toll on her best friend, leaving her looking flushed and sweaty, like she had just completed a marathon in a sauna.

“Goodness gracious, it’s like the sun is extra cranky today. What’s with the fucking heat?”

Vinnie chuckled, placing the nearly empty bowl on the table, and signing with her hands. “So, are we still up for going out?”

Maya rolled her eyes, casually dropping a paper bag on the side of the sewing machine before heading to the refrigerator to grab a refreshing bottle of water. Taking a long swig, she sipped it down and then spoke, still catching her breath. “Guess who I saw across the road? Jace.”

Jace Hunter was Maya’s ex-boyfriend, and their breakup, about five months ago, was far from pretty. It was as nasty as it could get. When Maya discovered that Jace had been seeing another girl in his neighborhood while they were still dating, she stormed over to his place to confront him.

Instead of a simple confrontation, she stumbled upon undeniable evidence of his betrayal. Suffice it to say, she was beyond furious. Finding that girl in Jace’s bedroom, barely covered in sheets, Maya lost control and unleashed her anger, leaving his home in shambles. When she was finished, she turned to a dumbstruck Jace and declared that they were even.

He had broken her heart, and she had broken his home.

That night after her breakup, Maya and Vinnie decided to hit up a nearby bar and indulge in an epic drinking session. They had a blast, getting drunk until they couldn’t count to ten without one of them tripping over nothing but air.

Needless to say, when Matt, Maya’s twin brother arrived to pick them up, he was less than thrilled to deal with their drunken asses. His frustration only grew ten times when he was forced to prove his biological connection to Maya, ensuring that he wasn’t some random stranger attempting to take advantage of two incredibly tipsy ladies.

Vinnie took a final sip, slurping up the remaining drops of Sprite through the straw. Using sign language, she conveyed her thoughts. “You really need to move on from him.”

Maya locked eyes with Vinnie, shaking her head in response. “Trust me, I am so over him.” She said that, but Vinnie could see the lingering pain in Maya’s eyes.

While Maya wasn’t the most convincing liar, Vinnie had a knack for spinning tales without getting caught. It was almost as if she had a secret talent for deception. It was probably the reason she knew that unless someone tried to deliberately pry into her life, no one would ever find out about her interview with Mr Doyle and her secret attempt to bring some change into her mundane life.

Vinnie rose from the couch, taking the initiative to clean up by placing the empty bowl and glass in the sink to wash and dry. As she turned around, she found Maya in the midst of making herself a cup of coffee. The aroma filled the air, tantalizing Vinnie’s senses and tempting her to have a cup as well.

However, that could wait.

Right now, she shifted her attention back to Maya, reaching out and interlocking their fingers—a gesture of comfort that spoke volumes between the two friends.

“I know, I know,” Maya responded, trying to lift the mood with a touch of humor. “I shouldn’t waste any more brain cells on him. Swear to God, I’m not obsessing. But seriously, can you believe the audacity of that guy? He’s at the café right now, cozying up with the same brunette from five months ago. It’s like he’s on a mission to prove his jerk status. Sometimes, ugh, sometimes, I can’t help but wonder, you know, if I was the third wheel. I mean, the asshole didn’t try even once to apologize.”

Vinnie couldn’t relate, considering her lack of experience with boys, but she understood pain and betrayal. Sadly, she understood it far better than anyone else.

Unable to find any other way to lift her best friend’s spirits, Vinnie pulled away from their comforting hand-holding and signed with a mischievous grin on her face, “Ice cream?”

Maya burst into laughter, pouring two cups of coffee for them. “I appreciate the offer, Vin, but I’m fine.”

“Oh, come on!” Vinnie signed, her enthusiasm apparent. “It’s my treat. We haven’t been to Macy’s parlor in ages and this scorching heat calls for the cool treat.”

Maya placed a mug on the counter in front of Vinnie, shaking her head, though a subtle smile played at the corners of her lips. “You’re so annoying, Vin. So damn annoying.”

Later that evening, Vinnie and Maya hopped onto Maya’s scooter, all set to head to Macy’s parlor. Just as they were about to take off, Vinnie’s phone chimed with a nursery rhyme ringtone that signaled an incoming call.

Vinnie held up a hand to Maya, indicating that she needed a moment to check the caller ID. Given that Vinnie couldn’t speak, her family members often contacted her through texts, making phone calls a rarity and usually reserved for emergencies. Curiosity piqued, Vinnie had to find out who was calling.

Maya patiently waited, her helmet on and her hands securely gripping the handles of the scooter.

Vinnie glanced at the screen, not recognizing the number. However, she knew better than to dismiss it as unimportant. She answered the call.

There was a brief silence on the other end before a familiar voice broke through. “Oops. I forgot, you can’t speak. My bad. I keep forgetting, don’t I?” The voice belonged to Alex, and it instantly sparked a gleam in Vinnie’s eyes.

“Ms Hart? I hope you’re hearing this. But just in case, I’ll text you too, alright? No worries. Now, getting back to the matter at hand. Mr. Doyle wants to meet with you again if you’re still interested. I’ve scheduled it for 11 AM tomorrow, but if that doesn’t work for you, just text me your preferred time. It would be ideal if you could make it by 11, though, because Mr. Doyle will be leaving for Zurich the next day and won’t be back for another week. So... that’s all, I suppose. I’ll text you the address and other details. Have a good day, Ms. Hart.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Vinnie in a daze. She must have looked like she had seen a ghost, because Maya leaned in and tapped her cheek.

“Hey, still with me?” Maya asked, concern etched on her face.

Vinnie blinked a few times, snapping out of her trance. She turned to Maya, her eyes wide with excitement and disbelief. She was about to burst into what she just heard, but then she remembered Maya didn’t know and probably wouldn’t approve either.

She had no choice but to swallow her excitement and calm down the pounding of her heart. She gave Maya a thumbs-up and signed, “My brother. He aced another school test.”

Maya looked at Vinnie, her expression softening. “Well, that’s definitely a reason to celebrate, isn’t it?”

Vinnie’s nod was practically bouncing with enthusiasm as she secured her bright red helmet and hopped onto the back of the scooter. She hugged Maya tightly from behind, a wide grin spreading across her face as the butterflies in her stomach fluttered with excitement.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.