Chapter Six

Life is a vagina.

Its essentiality is to proliferate: beautifully at that.

But when it grips you, it's a bittersweet experience. It sucks you in, and when you try to escape it, it encases itself around you—and you are lost within it.

Lost within the folds of the vagina.

Then all you can do, in your defence or demise, is to explode.

I exploded. I exploded in the vagina.

"You drew a picture of a dick on his art piece?" Danielle arched a perfect eyebrow before bursting into an uncouthly fit of guffaws.

"I did," I confirmed and chugged down a cup of diet coke, somehow wishing my anxiety would go down with it.

After the—admittedly—ignoble stunt I'd pulled at Hudson's, I'd phoned the girls and proposed am emergency meeting at our favorite burger joint– in hopes that they would provide the well-needed respite I was in pursuit of.

Relating the events to both girls only made me more upset than I actually was. Who did Caleb A. Wyatt think he was? First, he pretended he didn't remember who I was, then he had the nerve to disrespect me. I don't think I'd ever been more humiliated in my entire life.

To think I had actually hoped he would've changed over the years!

Caleb A. Wyatt was still a despotic bully. All he had was exceedingly good looks but nothing behind it.

I should've drawn more than a disfigured dick on his art piece.

Even though the consequences of my sins were gnawing at the back of my subconscious, my inner Goddess was at the forefront — sipping bourbon and sporting a T-shirt marked Bad Ass.

Danielle was all for it— entirely supportive of my exposition of female hegemony.

Khloe? Not so much.

"I fail to understand how you guys can cast a blind eye to the seriousness of the situation," Khloe scowled across from us, "He can sue you Ava."

Danielle rolled her eyes and poured ketchup over her french-fries. "Okay Mother Goose. Personally, I think this Caleb guy deserved what he got. We don't let dicks walk over us."

"They can walk in us," she continued to rant while waving the bottle of ketchup at us, "But definitely not over us. Life lesson learnt right there ladies."

I tried to contain my laughter.

"This isn't funny," Khloe muttered then glanced at me, "Your career is on the line."

I frowned.

"Chill out Khloe," Dani shook her head before I got a chance to say anything. "I wasn't even joking. Every time you hear the word dick you get mad. What'd it do to you? Girl it made you."

"The male reproductive organ is not the issue here Danielle."

"What is it then? Your lack of it?" Danielle quipped derisively and jiggled a fry in the air.

"Okay guys," I interposed while rubbing my temples.

Khloe and Danielle were always at each other's throat about one thing or another. Even though we were all friends, they weren't as close with each other as I was with them individually. Dani thought Khloe to be stuck up, prudish and secretive, and Khloe thought she was boisterous and insensitive.

"Khloe is right," I heaved a sigh, "He can sue, and I will lose my job either way."

"You think he'll actually report it to Lucy?" Danielle queried, "I think not. Especially with you looking so great today. In fact, you look too good. Were you trying to impress?"

I crinkled my nose. "No. Ofcourse not."

"Sure."

"Anyways," I quickly changed the subject. Danielle was a beast at seeing through my white lies.

"Yes, I think he'll report it. Even after ten years, he's still an asshole."

"Maybe it was fate for you guys to reunite again," Dani winked.

I scoffed and subdued my loose waves with a hair tie. "Yeah. Fate for him to ruin my life?"

"Gee, don't be such a pessimist. Who knows? Maybe after Lucy kicks you to the curb, he'll show up at a store you'll be employed at– let's say for example Clayton's  to purchase cable ties."

I stared at her blankly.

"You did not just make a fifty shades reference. . ."

"It could not be helped," she grinned, and I could've sworn there was a hint of a smile on Khloe's face.

"Honestly though guys, I'm going to start job searching as soon as I get to my apartment."

"Well if he does try to sue, your dad's one of the best lawyers in Seattle," Dani suggested, "If your dad loses then I'll visit you once every week in prison."

"Ha," I rolled my eyes and threw a napkin at her, "Plus don't even mention my father right now. If he hadn't gone running off his mouth to his business associates about our family life then maybe I wouldn't be in this predicament."

Both girls shook their heads.

"Maybe Lucy will just suspend you for a week or so," Khloe tried to reassure me, "Instead of ultimate termination."

"With my late record and various reports made in the past three months? I doubt it."

My agnosticism was truly piqued at that point, and my inner Goddess was now on the verge of drinking bleach.

"Despite being mad at your dad, you should probably speak to him about all of this."

Khloe was probably right. Except I didn't like asking my dad for favors. I didn't like asking anyone for favours for that matters.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," I muttered and stared down at my vibrating cellphone. A picture of Dad in Hawaii along with his caller's ID appeared on the screen.

"Dad," I answered crisply.

"Hey sweet cheeks, you busy?"

I wanted to lie, but decided against it. "No, is something wrong?"

"Wrong? Not at all! I'm down in the valley, are you anywhere near?"

"I'm actually at T & Y's Burger Joint with the girls." I told him.

"Really? I'm about ten minutes away, at T Anthony Jewellers. I actually need to see you."

For some odd reason, I felt annoyed.

"Right now? Is Natalie there?"

The disdain was clear in my voice. I wasn't exactly fond of his latest conquest. Dad didn't seem to even notice.

"No. But I need your female assistance with something. It's really important."

"Okay," I frowned," I'll be there in fifteen minutes or so."

"Okay hun. See you then, and tell Danique and Kyra hi for me."

I didn't even bother to correct him.

"You leaving?" Danielle asked after he hung up.

"Unfortunately," I muttered, "Says it's important."

"Mention the situation to him then."

"Hmm," I gave an unconvincing shrug and proceeded to gather my things.

"You guys heading back to work?"

Danielle gestured the waitress over to our table.

"I have my assignment to finish up," she informed us.

"And I'll be out of town until Thursday," Khloe stated softly. We didn't bother to ask her why.

Knowing Khloe, she would give us some vague response complete with fidgeting and wide, green eyes. It probably had something to do with her family, which she rarely spoke about.

"Okay girls, well I'll Skype each of you later," I promised and rose from the table, "Possibly jobless, crying and getting drunk off a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon."

"Be safe, and don't go drawing any dicks now," Danielle joked as I left the table.

"Ha," I laughed lamely and gave her my middle finger before exiting.

Twelve minutes later, Trixie was poised in the parking space of T Anthony Jewelers.

It didn't take long for me to find Dad inside the store. He had a tendency of being loud and to draw attention to himself.

No wonder it was so easy for him to let out our family related issues.

I shook my head and approached José Castellaño.

As usual, he looked great. Dad had a shiny, brown comb over, peppered with hints of grey, a dimpled smile and chestnut brown eyes which crinkled at the creases when he laughed. Age had treated him well, and he still looked fit and strong for being almost 50.

I was blessed with his gorgeous hair and eyes; just throwing that in there.

I really couldn't blame the ladies for loving him. Especially when he was always finely dressed in Louise Vuitton or some other designer apparel.

"Mi amor," he greeted with a warm smile and embraced me "You made it. How are you? You look wonderful."

"Thanks Papa. I'm okay. What's so urgent?"

A grin erupted across his face.

"Come with me."

"Sharon," he beckoned to a lady close to us, "Could you escort us to the diamonds?"

"Yes Mr. Castellaño," Sharon flushed and skittered towards a glass case.

Diamonds? Shit, was he buying my birthday present? My birthday wasn't until another month.

"What do you think of this one?" Dad gestured towards the showcase Sharon had stopped at.

I peered inside the glass case and gasped.

"Whoa," I nodded, impressed as I stared at the large diamond ring sitting proudly in a small, black velvet box.

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful. A bit flashy for my taste but it's stunning—" I peered at the price and added, "—and expensive."

"Once you have your money, nothing's too expensive," Dad grinned and gave me a peck on the forehead.

"We'll take it," he told Sharon.

"A bit fancy don't you think Dad?" I raised an eyebrow then joked, "Who's getting married?"

He stared at me expectantly.

I frowned. "Dad?"

"I bought this ring for Natalie."

"Okay," I folded my arms across my chest, urging him to go on.

"I'm going to ask her to marry me!" He exclaimed excitedly like a school boy in love.

I froze. "You've been dating for about three months!"

"Today makes four!" He was grinning from ear to ear.

I shook my head. "It's too soon."

"Love has no timing Ava."

"Love?" I chuckled bitterly, "Dad come on. You know what she wants."

"Ava," he reprimanded and frowned, "I love Natalie, and she loves me. It would be good if you were supportive."

"Dad I just think—" I stopped when I saw the hurtful look on his face and sighed.

"When will you be proposing?"

His face brightened immediately. "Tonight actually! If she says yes, which I hope she will, our engagement party will be on Friday. I expect you to be there, and I will be phoning your brother soon."

"Okay..."

"Do you think she'll love it?"

"Who?" I murmured, distracted.

"Natalie."

"Oh," I almost rolled my eyes, "Definitely."

"Great. Do you need something? I saw an aquamarine necklace somewhere..."

"No Dad," I muttered, "I have an article to finish up."

Wasn't that the truth. I was still going to finish my assignment — and it was going to be one of my best pieces yet.

If I was going to lose my job, then I was going to lose it with a bang.

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