The Billionaire’s Over 40 Love

Most of her wanted to say yes. And hopefully, with a few therapy sessions and a focus on herself, Faydra thought she could get past it. No way would she let Kevin ruin her future with Cal or anyone else just because he messed up. However, if the hesitations were not because of Kevin, she didn’t know how she could get past it with Cal. Once you distrusted someone it was hard to truly ever trust them again. She had to admit that she and Cal had skipped a lot of the time two people usually took to get to know each other and had gone straight to having s*x and fending off ex-girlfriends—so that may have complicated things.

A knock on her door brought her out of her own thoughts.  She wondered who would be at her door at ten o’clock in the morning and considered that maybe it was a delivery. She stood up and walked towards the door and through the window she saw a young man wearing a helmet and carrying a backpack. A bike messenger? She wasn’t even sure they still existed. She opened the door and a smiling face greeted her. 

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am I have a package for you. I need you to sign for it.”

“From who?” Faydra asked.

“Not sure ma’am this is a third-party delivery. All I know is that it’s considered a perishable item and will need to be opened immediately upon receipt.”

“Perishable item?” You’ve got to be kidding me who is messing with me right now, she thought.

“Yes ma’am, perishable. So food, probably.”

“How do we both know it’s not a bomb or anthrax or something?”

The kid laughed. “I just deliver the packages ma’am whoever receives those does a confirmation of the content and the items are checked for your safety.”

Faydra had had enough of this. “Fine, just give it to me.” She signed on the line and took the package from him.

Carrying it back inside, she set it on the table next to where she’d been doing her work. She stared at it for half an hour before she finally broke down and inspected the box.

There wasn’t a single label on it except the one that said her name and the other three that marked the contents as perishable. She shook it lightly before ripping open the tape.

Inside the box was a clear Tupperware container, and inside were a dozen cupcakes. Each one was frosted in a different shade of purple. The frosting job was subpar and Faydra wondered who had done it. She noticed a gray envelope to the side of the cupcakes and she pulled it out.

It was addressed to “Faydra”. She opened the envelope and found a blank card which contained a handwritten message.

Faydra,

I know this might be corny but I made you these cupcakes, via googled recipe which also included a bonus recipe on how to make ombre styled icing. Hint* you ice one, then add two drops of food coloring, then ice another then add more food coloring. Kinda cool actually.

Anyway! I made these because I wanted to send you a thousand gifts when it dawned on me; that’s not what you want. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that but I did. I never meant for it to seem like I was buying your affection, I just wanted to show you I cared.

So. Please accept these cupcakes and consider still being my date to the media dinner. I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t want to show you off, I do. I think you’re beautiful and funny and smart and driven and amazing and I want everyone else to see that and be jealous of me. Of us,  for being happy together. But with that being said, I won’t do that if you don’t want me to. I need time to learn more about you, to learn what you like and don’t like but I promise I will start listening and keep listening.

I know you’re still upset with me, I understand. But I’d like to see you. Or could you at least text me to tell me you’re okay? I miss spending time with you, it was a really fun week.

Call me. My bathtub is lonely without you.

Love, Cal.

Faydra let out a sigh, partially of emotional drain and the rest was of relief. He got it. Or at least he seemed to understand. But that made her decision all the more difficult.

She knew what needed to be done. She went to her refrigerator and in the back of the top shelf there was her most expensive bottle of wine. This was the one she saved for special occasions or when disaster struck. She popped the top, grabbed one stemless wine glass, the box of cupcakes and the letter and moved to the couch. She turned on whichever Food Network show was on and turned up the volume.

It took four of the cupcakes and the entire bottle of wine for Faydra to decide she would indeed go to the party. But she still needed time away from Cal before that so that she could get her head in the right place.

She typed out a text to him, she was drunk but tried to sound professional and serious.

I got your cupcakes.

I will come to the party but I need some time before then.  If you send me the address of the party I will meet you there, we can talk then.

Let me know if that works for you.

She wondered if it was too lacking in emotion, if she sounded like a bi*ch.

Moments later her phone buzzed.

Perfect. I’m so glad to hear it. 120 Southern Ridgeway. I’ll see you there, beautiful.

She rolled her eyes at how even his short and sweet text messages were still perfect. She finished watching the episode and about three more just like it before she locked up the house, turned off all the lights and headed to bed.

*****

Thursday was a long day. Faydra’s to do list included getting her hair redone, getting a wax, her nails done, and shopping for a formal dress for the Media ball of the century—or at least that’s how her research into the party made it look. When Cal said some of the top clients of these media companies were coming to the party he didn’t mention they would be CEOs of companies like Facebook, GM, Macy’s, and even a few top universities that utilized media companies to better their image. It was more than a party, it was a gala. And the dress code was black tie, which Cal did not mention. Thursday night a moment of panic struck her. What if he doesn’t know? And why didn’t he tell me?

She scribbled a text message to him:

Faydra: Hey, did you know this was a black tie thing tomorrow night?

Cal: yes. Is everything okay? I have a tux, don’t worry I won’t embarrass you.