Afternoon Cupcake

To read my part 1 - go here, Morning Cupcake

Why Lacey? Simple. Because you're the Ice Queen.

After deleting the text, she laid the phone down on the counter. Raking her teeth across her lip, she stifled the urge to growl in frustration. There was no point in defending herself against the frosty title she had been given; people viewed her as they would. Family, friends, colleagues and peers had misunderstood her singular focus. They saw her ambition as an insatiable need to conquer the world, when in reality, it was only the voices in her mind she needed to defeat. Though her life had become the culimination of achievements, fashioned together in a suit of armor, it surprised her that another human being would end up being her greatest gladiator.

She had met Dex at an event in Dubai - both moguls in their worlds, both untouchable behind the picture-perfect facade. She was polished and pristine, not one hair was out of place. Her presentation was flawless; experts could find no error in her "roadmap to world domination". Her company was primed to take over the entire industry within 6 months, and there was not one competitor that came close to reaching their success. Approaching the apex of her aspirations, she was still. Her features were the personification of peace, a placid lake reflecting beauty and quiet. Internally, she was anything but calm. She was tumultuous- craving calm seas, terrified- needing a hero, and hollow- needing to be filled.

Dex had spied her, satisfied to watch her interact from a distance. His glare hardened, while he imagined unbuttoning the layers of elegant dignity, sliding off the sophisticated grace, peeling away the professional demeanor, and revealing the warm flesh beneath. The moment she excused herself from the crowd, he sauntered towards her, sat uninvited, and slid a minty mojito across to her. She could have done ten thousand things to deflate his ego and deter his advance. Instead, she picked up the drink, held his gaze, took a ladylike sip, and thanked him. It was such a simple, benign, seemingly meaningless introduction. And yet, it was the beginning.

But the beginning of what, exactly? Lacey, was tempted to pick the phone back up and demand to know what her sister Terese would recommend. Should the Ice Queen give up everything she had accomplished to become some silly little trophy wife? Why? Why should her needs be any less important? When Terese had wanted to stay home and be a mom, hadn't Lacey supported her fully? Why was it acceptable for women to choose motherhood at all costs, but not professional success? Why should she forego what made her happy to fulfill a man's fantasy?

Leaving the phone on the counter, she decided the "Ice Queen" didn't need "Mother Teresa's" advice, and stalked down the hallway to confront Dex. At the last second, she panicked and grabbed one of his cupcakes. If logic, begging and pleading wouldn't win him over, perhaps bribery would? Pulse faltering, her heart quickly registered the reality of the situation, seeing the man she loved packing his bags. He turned, smiling, breaking her heart with every beat.

"Think you'll fit in here?" his voice was so smooth, so calm, so innocent.

She was a wreck, and he was a rock. After everything she had fought for, after everything she had accomplished, he had still walked into her life and taken her heart, her ambition, her resolve, and her identity. Damn him for making her fall in love! She had been fine without him and she could learn to be fine again!

He watched her eyes filled with unshed tears and then watched in admiration how she willed them back into their ducts, determined to become the fierce competitor that he admired, respected and loved. He knew this woman was more delicate than any other human being, but he also knew that she would sacrifice all to prove that she could accomplish what any man, woman, or being could. He had hoped to show her that she was so much more than those limitations - that she was worthy of it all beyond worldly victories. But her competitive nature and inner demons were proving to be more than he could vanquish. He knew a decision had to be made, and soon. He didn't know if this was the right thing - leaving her to figure out what she wanted, but he couldn't stay to continue being in this battle. Half the time she welcomed him as her champion but the other half, the more painful half - she was waging war against him.

Lacey knew he sensed the shift in her attitude, and she faltered. Confusion set in, and she panicked. Was she about to lose everything? Hands trembling, she lifted the cupcake. He smiled.

"A peace treaty? Am I sharing my cupcake with you again?"

Quickly ripping the paper off the treat, her fingers smeared the pretty blue icing and sent crumbs of cake and cocoa sprinkles to the plush carpet. Throwing the wrapper down, she shoved the cupcake into her mouth, inhaling a massive bite.

"No," she shouted, voice shaking. The garbled words came out over the clump of chocolate cake; her words were forced and filled with emotion. Swallowing hard, and refusing to cry, she took another bite - cupcake half gone. "I want it all."

His eyes widened in surprise, repeating incredulously. "You want it all."

Nodding like a child, and chomping quickly, she continued before losing her resolve. "Yep. I want it all."

Well, this was unexpected.