Just Be True To Me

It was happening again. Another man promising to make up for his shortcomings. One of the two had managed to do so.

“I want you back. I miss you, baby girl.”

Mia was about to answer when someone called her name. Her words dropped, as did her stomach, upon seeing Clifford jogging toward her. Her palm smacked her forehead. She tightened her hand around her father’s to keep him from looking back. She only had a few seconds to compose herself before he was standing in front of her.

“Mia.”

“Hi, Clifford. What are you doing here?”

“I went to your office. I got worried after the phone hung up.”

William cleared his throat. “Who’s this?”

Clifford’s face dropped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

She could see the gears turning in his head. Wanting to make him more uncomfortable, she rested her fingers between William’s. “I love you.”

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to here that,” William said. “Does that mean we can start trying to work this out. There’s a show I want to take you to later in the week.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Gotta take this, be right back baby girl.”

“You want to sit?” she asked.

***

Clifford couldn’t get comfortable, switching his legs, left over right, right over left. He rested his hands in his lap then rested his right arm on the table. He stood once more. “Like I said, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Have a seat Clifford, you’re not interrupting anything. I’m actually glad you’re here.”

“I don’t think your boyfriend feels the same way unfortunately.”

“He’s not by boyfriend,” she said.

His back relaxed into the chair. “Not your type?”

“I love my dad, but that would be weird to say the least.”

He glanced in William’s direction, returning his wave. He turned his head to find Mia’s arrogant grin. He couldn’t look away as she swirled her tongue around the tip of her straw. “Dad?” He looked in William’s direction once more. “He looks good for his age.”

***

“I’m not going to say what I want to say.” She stuck her straw into the fresh glass of cranberry juice. “What can I do for you, Mr. Knight?” It wasn’t hard for her to guess why he was there. The letter. She kept her phone hidden as she checked the text that had caused it to vibrate.

How’s it going?

Surprisingly well. Thanks for not telling me he was coming. I probably would have run.

Told you. We need to go out to dinner or something. Feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.

Time and place on you.

K. Proud of you for facing your fears.

Thanks mommy. You’re the best.

Clifford was looking at her when she looked up.

William jogged back to the table and told her that he had an emergency at work and had to leave. “You got the same number right,” he asked before kissing her cheek. “I’ll call you about the show. You wanna go, right?”

“Just let me know when you’re coming to pick me up.” She wrapped her arms around his neck “Thanks for sneaking up on me, daddy.”

“Good to know I don’t have to do that anymore.” He kissed her cheek again before jogging towards the parking lot.

***

Clifford watched the scene with envy. He managed to put a smile on when she sat back down. His face straightened a moment later. “I got your letter. I didn’t mean what I said after the trial. I want you to be my lawyer. I want to keep working together.” He stretched his arm across the table. “I want to be partners again.”

Mia didn’t speak for a long while. “I don’t know.”

He grabbed her hand. “That’s okay. Mia, I trust you. I haven’t figured out why quite yet, but I do.” The gravity of his words didn’t hit him right away.

One of the earliest lessons life had taught him was to trust no one. And in extreme cases not to trust even himself. He’d learned to always look for the underlying agenda, because everyone had one. His years in business had hardened him into a defensive cynic, though his pessimistic attitude had taken rook years earlier. To trust someone was to be vulnerable.

He didn’t mind being vulnerable with her.

“I’ll pay you double. And I’ll do whatever you say.”

She chuckled to herself. “You would think you were the one who messed up.”

“I want you back.”

Her silence lasted another couple of minutes.

“Please, Mia.”

“I’ve already caused too much damage,” she finally said. She removed some money for her wallet and placed it on the table. “I’m not good for you.”

“You’re perfect for me.” He was unsuccessful in backtracking. “I mean, uh, I mean, we’re a good team. And it’s so early in the trial.” Still seeing trepidation in her eyes, he said, “You were right. About the lawyers. I fired them all for one trivial reason or another. They did nothing wrong.”

***

She crossed her arms over her chest, content to listen. She felt powerful, having a man of Clifford’s stature begging her. On the inside she giggled at his puppy dog eyes. She found him to be much more handsome without his scowl. She found herself wanting to see more of him in that way. His voice disappeared the longer he talked. Her mind had been made up as soon as she saw him running towards her. Allowing him to plead was just a ploy of satisfying her ego.

“I’ll get on my knees right now,” he said.

“Please don’t do that. I’m not sure if your knees can take it.”

“I’ll take that and any other joke you throw at me if it means you’ll take me back.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “You’ll pay me double.”

“I’ll do whatever you want.” Clifford scooted to the edge of his chair, his right knee pointing toward the concrete.

The move drew the attention of the patrons around them. They watched with mouths open and expectant eyes. A couple of women covered the lower halves of their faces with their hands, their smiles leaking out of the sides.