The Ambassador and Me: an unlikely love story (The Ambassador Trilogy Book 1) (3 page)

All I could think about once I walked in the door was: pizza. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate. It was my go-to food when I starved myself before and during parties. Rosa was my nickname when I was a little girl. My love for pasta, bread, and desserts in my family’s restaurant contributed to this name and the fact I had to shop at the Pretty Plus section in the department store. It wasn’t till puberty that I'd lost the weight and became curvy. It was like one night I went to bed chubby and the next day I woke up with tits and an ass.

I still had this food issue and being self-conscious eating in public. When I had to go to these events, I ate enough to look like I was eating then came home and pigged out.

When I walked into our condo, I was reeling from what the Ambassador had done to me and ready to tear into the pizza. When I knew Avery was going to bed, my favorite vibrator would be coming out to help me sleep. The Ambassador had stirred up something in me that had not been stirred in a long time, maybe not ever. He was all that was on my mind while I told Avery everything and shoved a second piece of pizza down my throat.

“Holy fuck, Izz. He wants you.”

“No he doesn't. You should’ve seen the beauties hovering over him.” I didn’t tell her he kept staring at me. I haven’t had a man look at me so much or as intensely as he had. It was as if he was undressing me with his eyes. I know it’s cliché, but it’s how I felt.

“Fuck, Izz. Look at you. You’re beautiful. It sounds like he couldn’t keep his eyes off you.” I sat with her on our sectional sofa.

“I’m not his type. Look at this ass and these boobs and this pizza isn’t helping. He had some redhead hovering around him that was rail thin.”

“You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you? He wants you bad, Izz. So what if he just wants to fuck? You can add 'Ambassador' to your list. How cool that will sound one day sitting around with your girlfriends talking about the different men you’ve been with. You can say you fucked the French Ambassador.”

“You have a point.” I couldn’t hold back a smile. Avery didn’t sugar coat anything.

“You have to look fuckable for Monday.”

“How do you know what’s fukable?” I watched as Avery destroyed a piece of pizza. She ripped off the cheese and meatballs and ate the crust with sauce. It made me crazy.

“I’ve fucked men. Torturous, but I tried it,” she smiled. I looked at her. I forgot she dated men to keep her parents happy before she came out. I was with her the day she came out to them. I prayed it would go well for her and we were both surprised when they accepted her with love and understanding.

“I’m not going to work dressed like I’m straight off the pole, Ave.” I sipped my coffee as I went for a second piece.

“Of course you can’t. What the hell, Izz? I do have class. We’re going to make you look like you’re smart, but love to fuck on the desk.”

“Christ. What does that involve, dare I ask?” Though I loved her designer clothes, Avery could wear some crazy outfits at times.

“We’re buying you some of those fake nerd glasses, a tight pencil skirt, heels, and a white blouse. I have it up here.” She pointed to her head and again winked at me.

“I’m sure you do.” I laughed and threw my napkin at her.

“The two of you will be working right next to each other. Come on, how exciting? Both of you hot and heavy and the sexual tension bursting as you’re discussing terrorists and world affairs.”

“That is what I didn’t want, Ave. I want to have a professional career and not mix sex in it.”

“Fuck it and have fun. It’s your first job and I’m sure not your last. Come on, Izz, you are an assistant to the Attaché. It’s not life changing. ”

“I know, but...”

“But, nothing. I know one thing: we’re shopping tomorrow for new clothes. You should have that ‘I’m smart and I can fuck your brains out' look.”

“You’re truly sick.”

“True, but who’s the one having fun?”

“I haven’t heard any moaning coming out of your room lately. Have you hit a dry spell?”

“I’ve hit something. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m studying too much and don’t go out enough.”

“Ave, you aren’t going to find love in a bar.”

I hated going out anymore. It wasn’t fun trying to have a good time in an overly-crowded, sweaty bar and worry about running into Anthony.

“Yes, and we know that’s what I want: true love.”

“You should try it. There’s someone out there for you, and when you see her you’ll know it.”

“Yeah, well, that’s too much trouble. I want to go a few rounds and be done with it.” She was hopeless. My dream for Avery was that she found someone that would settle her down.

While I ate my third piece, we both decided that I should go to my job and see what happens. The Ambassador oozed power and represented his country while he was in the United States. There was something between us, though he could have any woman he wanted. Of all the woman he had around him, he seemed to have his eyes on me.

It was difficult falling asleep that night. I tossed and turned thinking of where he was or who he could be sharing his bed with. I’m sure the redhead was with him. I felt myself get turned on picturing him in bed naked, touching me, inside me. I wanted to get off, but I was too tired and fell asleep before I could turn on my vibrator.

Chapter 3

“
Y
ou
look hot, Izz,” said Avery, standing in my doorway wrapped in a huge blanket.

“What are you doing up before noon on a Monday?” I asked putting in my earrings. It took me an hour to straighten my unruly head of long curls and then put it up.

“My fall classes start today and I wanted to see you off. I had to make sure you were sticking to the look.”

“Well, do you approve?” I asked, spinning around in front of her.

“You’re rockin' it girl. You will be buttering his croissant by noon.” I looked at her and rolled my eyes.

“That was bad.”

“Well, it’s all I could come up with this early in the morning.” Avery walked to the mirror by my sink and gasped.

“Look at these bags! My God, my mother is going to think I’m taking drugs again. I look awful.” Avery had an addiction to pain killers our first year of college. Immediately, she was removed and sent to an exclusive rehab and back in a month. She has not had a problem since.

I stood behind her and looked in the mirror.

“Don’t you have some overly-priced magic lotion you could put under your eyes? You just need rest.”

“Tell that to Ellen. She will be convinced I’m on crystal meth and have me in rehab. Maybe I do need to sleep more?”

“You do. I never see you sleep. And you need some bread and meatballs. You aren’t getting enough vitamins.”

“You might be getting a couple of meatballs today and a sausage. Let's keep our fingers crossed.”

“Enough with the croissant and sausage reference. What are you, twelve?” I laughed. She was something else and I adored her.

Walking out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, I smiled at my reflection in the window. My heart seemed to skip a beat from nerves. Mind you, I’m not a slouch in fashion; I prefer jeans and heels most days. With the urging of Avery, we had gone shopping for the right clothes and accessories. After my meeting with the Ambassador at the gala and the connection we seemed to have, I decided to keep my job and see what happened. Wanting to make a good impression, I dressed as professional as possible.

My first day outfit consisted of a pencil skirt, of course in black, with a white blouse, my Channel pearls received as a graduation present from my parents, and a new pair of Louboutins Avery talked me into when we went shopping. I had to admit, even with my long black hair up in a serious bun, I looked amazing.

“You want to go out and hit some clubs tonight to celebrate?”

I should have known that was coming. Ever since Anthony has moved back, I have been terrified to go out. Avery hassled me about it continuously. Still living our undergraduate days of constant partying, she found any reason to drink and have a good time. She used my new job as cause for celebration.

“I’m not ready to head out there into the great unknown yet, Ave,” I said. I was searching for my purse. I forgot where I put my things on a regular basis. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get organized.

“I’m not suggesting we pick up two or three yummy men and women and bring them back for a round of hot, messy sex, Izz. However, I could use it. A good round of sex might help me get rid of these bags. You should get out and let loose. We need to get our groove on. It would do you some good instead of spending the evening with your vibrator. Don’t tell me you don’t. That thing is loud. You’re going to be hot and horny after a day with this Ambassador.”

She was right. I was in need of sex, but had not done anything except wear out two double A batteries. I haven’t dated much since the breakup. Maybe a few dates here and there but nothing worth much. Anthony and I dated for the four years I was in college and the breakup was bad. My family, especially my parents, thought Anthony Silvio was perfect for me. He wasn’t even close to perfect.

We were introduced by my parents my freshman year of college. To me, he looked like the man of my Italian dreams. Not too tall, big, muscular and tanned, he was perfection on the outside. His hair cut in stylish blow up, his eyes dark chocolate brown, and his style, that of a Guido, made any Italian girl swoon. On the outside, he was a softy- a teddy bear that seemed to be attentive to my every need.

His family owned a funeral home and they sent us business for the restaurant after funerals. I met Anthony many times and didn’t think anything of it until we noticed each other in class one day. After a lot of persuading, I went out to dinner with him, and after that we started dating. He was set to take over the funeral business once he graduated from college, and to me it didn’t sound like something I wanted to be involved with. I would go from a family-owned restaurant to a family-owned funeral home. I didn’t want that. Not to mention there was this other side of him only I got the privilege of knowing: a side that was dark, mean, and abusive that didn’t come out until the last year of college. A side I needed to get away from before I became a statistic. The day of my graduation, he asked me to marry him and I said no.

When I refused his engagement ring, he was less than pleased and did something I’ve told no one about but Avery. I should have reported it to the police when it happened, but I was so fearful that night I didn’t. I would give anything to go back and do the entire day over. Another reason I didn’t tell anyone was because Anthony moved away to California. I figured he was gone and out of my life for good and I would never have to worry about him again. I wasn’t supposed to be one of those girls. My mother taught my sister and me to be strong women. It was ingrained in our heads from the time we could remember. My mom was a woman’s study major in college and a feminist. She planned on going to law school up until the time she met my father. She had always planned to go back, but life happened and she didn’t get the chance. That didn’t stop her from getting involved in elections, protests and causes.

Anthony was back in town because his father was sick and he was to take over the funeral home. The last thing I wanted was to run into him out at a club. Anthony drinking and seeing me was not a good combination. He has been back for three months now, yet I haven’t seen him yet. I wanted to keep it that way. I was terrified of him.

“Come on. Let’s go out. We will be back early and you can be in bed by ten, grandma,” she laughed, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Let me see how my first day goes, Ave. I’m not promising anything. I’m a nervous wreck over this new job and the Ambassador. If I’m not up for it, I promise this weekend you and I will go crazy.”

“I’m holding you to that, Izz. You aren’t bailing on me. We’ll go somewhere away from here if you are afraid of running into Anthony.” She walked to the sink to rinse out her glass of green goo she guzzled. She loved to concoct smoothies that looked more like baby diarrhea. She put anything and everything in them and they came out the same color: pea green. Avery tried to eat healthy and was worried about her weight. We both worked out as much as possible, but she was more obsessive than I was.

“I will make us dinner tonight, though. How does salmon sound?”

“Your secret recipe salmon?”

“Of course, with those crispy potatoes you love.”

“Sounds better than a night out.” Avery grinned at me while she skillfully removed her bra in the kitchen under her t-shirt.

“I’m going to get a shower and go to class. Have a great day and good luck. You do look incredible. I love what you did with your hair. I have some running to do after class and then I’m going to the gym, but I may help you with dinner.”

“Oh, how nice of you, since I will be working all day. Will you be alone tonight, or should I cook for a third person?” I laughed. Grabbing a to-go cup of coffee, I headed to the door.

“You never know, Izz. But, don’t worry- we'll keep it down.”

The second I stepped outside our apartment I was hit with the sounds and signs of life in D.C. Though it had been a part of my life forever, I was in awe at its vast energy and importance. I chose to stay here and go to college and graduated from Georgetown. All my friends left and went away, but I had no desire to move from what I thought was the most exciting city. This was my home and I loved every aspect of it. My family lived in Old Town Alexandria and it’s where I grew up. Avery insisted on buying a condo with some spare money she had and we found this huge one in Foggy Bottom.