Page 5 of Cinderella-ish
Chapter 2
Antonio
“You’ve gotto be kidding me,” grumbles the fiery woman I encountered earlier this morning on theMetro.
Truthfully, I hardly expected to see her again. Especially since Inevertake the Metro or any other form of public transportation. However, as part of our annual wager-fest, my buddy Jonah bet me a thousand bucks and a round of drinks that I’d never step foot on any form of LA publictransportation.
So, for the first time—ever—I hastily embarked on a public transportation venture. I don’t need the one thousand dollars I’m set to earn from this wager. But I have yet to lose an annual bet. I simply hate losing…atanything.
Of course, Jonah was more than obliged to drop me off at the Metro station, citing he wanted to be sure I actually got on the train, making jokes as soon as I sat in hiscar.
“Dude,” he began, “part of me wants to get on the train with you, hit record, and spread that shit all over YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook.Noone is gonna believe your prissy-perfecto ass is taking theMetro.”
I flipped him the bird then adjusted the passenger seat of his Tesla to a comfortable reclining position. “Man, just shut up and drive. I don’t wanna miss that train. And you, Sir-Jokes-A-Lot, should get prepared to pay the hell up. I’ll take my thousand bucks divided up in crisp one-hundred-dollar bills. Please and thank you,” I said with an insolentchuckle.
Jonah was certainly one to talk. He too has never taken public transportation, being a product of money. He fits the bill of all clichés related to growing up in the 90210—BeverlyHills.
“I’ll gladly pay up once the task has been fulfilled, my man. And by the way,” he lightly punched my shoulder, “when are you gonna tell me what I have to do this year for wager-fest? You’re like, way behind on that shit,man.”
“I know, dude. I’ve been busy planningCraveMe’scontribution to the upcoming Lingerie Ball. Man, with Dottie retiring, I’ve got my hands full. I’ll think of something soon even though it won’t quite matter. You alwayslose.”
Jonah grimaced at my comment, making me laugh in amusement. Then, I dutifully gave him a shoulder punch inreturn.
We arrived at a stoplight, and Jonah reached over to the backseat then tossed me a small white paper bag. “Here…I was generous enough to buy you somebreakfast.”
I opened the bag and took a quick look inside. “Dude, really? Jellydonuts?”
“Fuck yeah, bro. You might as well reward yourself for putting on your big-boy boxers by getting up the nerve to take the train.” He let out an exaggerated laugh while covering his mouth with his hand. “I’m really surprised you made itthisfar. Shit, I might even pay youtwothousandbucks.”
“Oh, believe me, you’ll pay up, alright. Just be on time when you pick me up at my office later on today, with payment in hand,” Idemanded.
“And will I get to see the beautiful Miss Liza? Man, that woman is so fucking fierce. I’d convince her to marry metodayif she’d only talk to me,” Jonah said, raising both eyebrows expressively. He’s had a thing for my receptionist for the past two years. He just doesn’t get that she’ll probably never give him the time ofday.
“Dude, Liza’s just not that intoyou.”
Jonah barreled into the Metro station like Speed-Racer 2.0, minutes before the train was due to arrive. “Oh, and come to think of it, dude,” I announced before I closed the door of Jonah’s shiny new Tesla. “I’ve got the perfect bet for you. I officially bet you one-thousand bucks you’ll getnowhere withLiza.”
Jonah’s jaw dropped and the dumbfounded look of shock that consumed his perfectly round face waspriceless.
By the time I boarded the train and took a seat, my stomach was growling like a ninja wolf. Despite the fact that a jelly donut would be the last thing I would ever indulge in, I reached into the bag, pulled one of those bad boys out, and bit right in. Before I knew it, the train took off. I found myself taking in the scenery, fascinatingly immersed in everyone around me. There were riders of all types: students, businessmen and women, a mixture of those who appeared to be homeless, touristy types, and those who looked like they just took the Metro to pass thetime.
About twenty minutes later, the train came to a grinding halt, and as some jumped off, others hopped on. At this point in my train-riding endeavor, it was standing room only, and I graciously gave up my seat to a little elderly lady who was hauling groceries. She reminded me of my grandma back inItaly.
So anyway, Idigress…
I moved toward the back of the train and parked myself up against a pole for support. I reached into the paper bag, removed the second donut, and took a heftybite.
Andthat’swhen I sawher.
She appeared to be deep in thought, clinching one hand onto the strap of her oversized designer bag, while the other hand was clenched to her cell phone. She carried herself with this naive yet classy allurement—as if she had no clue about her level of drop-dead-gorgeousness.
I tried, but could not take my eyes off her and neither could those she eased past, most of them doing a double-take.
Her shiny black hair, long and straight, seemed to highlight her cappuccino-colored skin tone—a tone that made every revealing inch of her body look as though it had been personally kissed by thesun.
As if that wasn’t enough, she wore an off-white sweater dress that tastefully clung to her body, showcasing an hourglass figure that would make Kim Kardashian’s own curves gawk in enviousadmiration.
And icing on the cake: hot-pink five-inch stilettos that hoisted her petite body to a perfect-for-meheight.
