Chapter 45: Please, Don’t Mention It

Susie turned to Crystal and asked, “What did Tiffany want?”

Crystal: “I think she wanted to thank Nathan for helping her Father. I should probably call her to find out for sure, though. Please excuse me.”

Crystal left the kitchen and went back to her room. Once the door was closed behind her, she took out her mobile phone and quickly dialed Tiffany’s phone number.

When Tiffany saw who was calling, she answered right away and said, “Crystal, I waited all afternoon for you at your home! Where were you?”

“I was with Nathan. What is the matter?” Crystal asked.

“I just wanted to thank you. Thanks to you, my Dad can stay in Huston. I was going to thank you both today, but you weren’t home!”

Crystal lied and said, “I didn’t do anything, actually, so there is no need to thank me. Nathan just changed his mind.” She didn’t want Tiffany to know how she’d degraded herself. It was too embarrassing to talk about.

Tiffany: “You are lucky to have a guy like that around. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to try to win his heart! You’re not regretting your decision not to pursue him, are you?”

Crystal sighed. “Do I regret my decision not to pursue him?” she wondered. “I suppose I do, but so what?”

Tiffany was startled. She hadn’t expected Crystal to be so frank. She forced a hollow laugh and said, “It’s too late for you to change your mind.”

“Are you going to pester him?” Crystal asked.

Tiffany: “As long as the Professor doesn’t explicitly reject me, I will be on him like white on rice.”

Crystal was not surprised by Tiffany’s direct approach. She was silent for a moment as she thought about the predicament she now found herself in. If Professor Davis and Tiffany finally hooked up, her situation would improve. Nathan would have committed adultery, and he would have to give her the divorce she thought she wanted. “It sounds like a plan,” Crystal said.

“Really?” Tiffany probed. “Then would you mind if I stayed at your house for a few days?”

“Of course, I don’t mind,” Crystal replied indifferently.

“Okay,” Tiffany said. “I will see you soon.” Crystal was shocked by Tiffany’s efficiency when, an hour after receiving her approval, she arrived at the Beverly villa with all of her luggage.

In the courtyard, the setting sun was slowly going down, but Tiffany was just getting started. Crystal watched as she laboriously dragged and pulled her suitcases up the sidewalk. Crystal walked to the door.

The door was several steps higher than the yard, and from her angle, Crystal could see Tiffany’s voluptuous breasts shaking inside the black strapless one-piece dress she wore-and it made her painfully aware of her smaller, pubescent breasts.” Nubbins,” is what Carlos had affectionately called them when they were together, but Nathan had shamed her for them.

Tiffany struck a seductive pose from time to time, and as she panted, she said, “I did not expect these suitcases to be so heavy.” Crystal leaned against the door. She did not intend to help her.

Suddenly, Nathan appeared at Crystal’s side. He stepped into the yard and took the suitcases from Tiffany’s hands, and as he did this, their fingers briefly touched. Tiffany withdrew her hands shyly and held them in front of the chest, like a super-fan who is reluctant to wash their hands after shaking hands with their idol. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Professor Davis. My Father is traveling overseas. Don’t worry. I will go home in a few days. It’s just that I am afraid to be home alone. Crystal is so understanding. She invited me to stay with you. I’m sorry for any inconvenience I might cause you...”

Nathan did not give any sign that he had heard a single word that Tiffany had said. Tiffany turned to Crystal next, and she said, “And thank you, Crystal. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

“It’s not a problem,” Crystal replied. “Please, don’t mention it.”

Tiffany: “Okay. Anyway, I need to go back and get the rest of my luggage.”

As Nathan made his way towards the door, Crystal stepped back and leaned against the door to make way for him. As he passed her, though, he suddenly turned to look at her. The sudden movement scared Crystal and forced her to take a step back. Unfortunately, there was not much space between her and the door, and she practically fell into it. There was a loud BANG as her head hit the wood.

Nathan leaned in and whispered into Crystal’s ear: “Are you allowing me to be with another woman until you come of age? That’s so generous of you!”

Crystal gasped, and her mind went blank, and by the time she had thought up a witty retort, he had disappeared up the stairs. Crystal felt a sudden rush of terror grip her heart. No matter what she did, Nathan always seemed to be two steps ahead of her. As soon as he saw Tiffany, he knew why Crystal had invited her into their home, and now he would use it against her!

The smell of a strong perfume permeated the air as Tiffany reappeared with two more suitcases, one in each hand- and her face lit up with joy when she saw Crystal. She smiled and said, “Professor Davis is really handsome, and he’s a gentleman too. I’ll pursue him to the best of my abilities and mark my words: he will be mine! If you’re not willing to help me, that’s okay, I can do the work myself.”

“Who told you I’m not willing to help?” Crystal asked.

“Really?” Tiffany exclaimed. “Thank you so much!” Tiffany stretched her long, charming neck, and she kissed Crystal. By then, Nathan had come back downstairs, so Tiffany moved to stand at his side. She looked up at him and said, “Professor Davis, thank you again for everything!” Tiffany stood in front of Nathan, smiling. She was one and a half heads shorter than him, petite and lovable.