Chapter 7 – Bartholomew

After putting her items away; Simone strolled out to the living room. She wanted to clarify with Emmett about their relationship and marriage. ‘I hope he is willing to take things slow. As it is; I have never actually been in a relationship before’ she says inwardly to herself.

As she approached the living space; her phone suddenly goes off. “Is that Tiff? I need to chat with her about a few things” she asks Emmett, sitting on the sofa.

“Who is Bartholomew?” he questions, looking at the caller on her phone from the coffee table. ‘She is my wife. Why would she have another man calling her’ he adds in his mind; jealousy enraging him.

Simone’s face turns pale as the call goes to voicemail and a missed call message pings on her phone. “Umm…” she begins. ‘How can I explain about Bart to Emmett? He isn’t wanting me; he wants me to talk to Leona.’

Just as she was about to continue; her phone goes off again. Answering the call this time; Simone screams down the phone. “What do you want?” ‘Easiest way to show Emmett; Bart is nothing to me’ she says in her mind.

“Babe; there’s no need to yell at me” Bartholomew answers her perplexed. ‘Simone has never acted this way before; she’s probably on her period.’

“Bart; I don’t have time for this. What do you want?” Simone seethes, her impatience luminating in her words.

“I was hoping you could pass on a message to Leona for me” Bartholomew enquired as Simone rolls her eyes at the impertinence of the man. “She hasn’t been answering my calls; I wanted to make sure she was ok.”

“If she hasn’t answered your calls, you need to take the hint” Simone sneers, not wanting to continue this conversation. She knows if she hangs up on him; he will only call her back, hence continues to listen to what he has to say.

“I was wondering if you could get hold of her? Tell her to call me” Bartholomew pleads, desperation in his voice. ‘No; I will not call him’ she snarls in her mind.

“She’s on vacation. No-one has been able to get hold of her. My husband’s work is having the same problem; he just told me” Simone answers, turning to look at Emmett’s expression; her cheeks growing pink suddenly. ‘Damn; now Emmett’s going to know about Leona’ she chastises herself, thinking how could she be so careless to mention Emmett’s dilemma at work.

Emmett on the other hand; smirks over the knowledge she has told this man about him.

“Husband? Since when did you get married” Bartholomew snaps down the phone; bringing Simone back to her senses.

“It’s none of your fucking business. Don’t call me again” Simone shouts, hanging up the phone and throwing it back on the coffee table.

“Who is Bartholomew?” Emmett questions again, narrowing his eyes at Simone. ‘The way the conversation sounded; he was chasing someone else; not her. I don’t care who he was chasing; I don’t’ want another man calling my wife.’

‘What do I tell Emmett?’ Simone questions in her mind. “Bart is…” she trails off trying to put the words together. “An egotistical asshole” she finishes, taking a seat next to Emmett. “He is one of the male models. He tries to smooth talk the ladies working at Lively Design Studio.”

A glint of jealousy flashes through Emmett’s eyes. “If he calls again…” he trails off before finishing the sentence in his mind. ‘I will beat the living shit out of him.’

“Don’t worry. He won’t call. Now he knows I am married; he won’t bother” Simone states, putting her hand on Emmett’s arm. She was oblivious of the jealous look crossing Emmett’s face, she’s seen it many times before in someone else.

Notwithstanding his turmoil; Emmett pushes Simone onto the sofa; pinning her underneath him and plants his lips on hers. ‘You are mine’ he chants in his mind.

Pulling back; Emmett watches as Simone nervously bites her bottom lip, catching her breath. “Sorry” he states, sitting back up next to her.

“It’s fine” Simone answers; heading back into her room and shutting the door. Moving to her dresser she pulls out the phone she has for Leona and messages Bartholomew. ‘Stop calling Simone. I am visiting with my father and don’t want to be disturbed.’

‘I miss you’ and instant reply comes back.

‘Miss me?’ Simone laughs at the comment. ‘Who does he think he is?’

‘Stop missing me and start missing Rebecca or Caitlyn’ she messages, ‘Not that they have anything to do with you either’ she adds to herself.

‘You only want another notch in your belt. A notch I am not willing to give’ Simone sends a follow up message, hoping he takes the final hint. Sometimes she likes the two sides of her. Gentle, caring Simone and Diva extraordinaire, Leona.

‘Don’t be like that babe. My heart wants, what it wants’ Bartholomew replies, Simone’s patience is running thin.

‘I don’t give a flying fuck what your heart wants. I don’t mess around with playboys’ she sends back; throwing the phone back into her drawer; ignoring the text message coming through.

‘I have told him once; I have told him a million times. I don’t want or need him’ Simone shouts her frustration out in her head. Just as she was going to scream; an image of Emmett crosses her mind and her annoyances dissipate from her. Smiling to herself; remembering the kiss they just shared, she crawls on her bed and buries her head into the pillow. Overjoyed of the possibility that lays ahead for her and Emmett.

In the living room; Emmett is on the sofa reprimanding himself for forcing such an intimate kiss on her. ‘I can’t let my emotions take hold’ he tells himself. ‘I will scare her if I rush into this.’

Remembering the way, she held his of his hand at the mall; a smile creeps onto his face. “Baby steps” he tells himself, moving from the sofa to his room. “I love her and am willing to wait for her to love me.”