Chapter 6 6

Fabian ran a hand over his face, countless times already. He couldn't stay calm. His nerves were throbbing with anticipation, and his heart wouldn't settle down. It was beating so fast that his chest ached.

Fabian stood up from the sofa and paced nervously around the living room of his condo unit, the unit that only he knew. He had already given that gay guy named July the instructions. Sugar should be here by now, she was already ten minutes late, and it was killing him.

His fingers were fidgeting, and he couldn't seem to calm down. Thousands of scenarios ran through his mind. What if she declined his offer? Maybe his offer was too low? Shit! He slapped his palms against his face.

This was the first time he had been interested in a woman, and he had to admit he was nervous. Especially since the woman was the kind he hated the most. But with her, he couldn't bring himself to hate her despite her reputation and profession.

"F*ck!" he cursed in frustration when his phone, resting on the center table, suddenly rang.

He snatched it up and answered the call, his voice harsh. "What?!" he yelled into the phone. He didn't even bother to check who was calling. He was frowning, and if anyone saw him, they would be scared by the expression on his face.

He sat down on the sofa and leaned back before closing his eyes.

"You're yelling at me now?" the voice on the other end replied. Irritation and disbelief laced her soft voice. She couldn't believe he had yelled at her.

Fabian muttered a curse under his breath when he realized it was his mother calling. He sat up straighter and let out a sigh to calm himself.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "I'm sorry, ma. I didn't see it was you calling, it's just been a very hectic day," he apologized to his mother. Fabian took a deep breath.

"Hijo, is everything alright?" his mother asked. Maybe she sensed how stressed he was right now. The irritation in her voice had been replaced by concern.

His mother was a very caring and sweet woman, she was one of his most treasured people. If he could find a woman with the same character as his mother, he would probably marry her right away.

"It's nothing, ma. What's up?" Fabian changed the subject. He loved his mother, but sometimes he couldn't stand how she still worried about him like he was a vulnerable child.

"Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you that I'll be going to Puerto Rico next week, your father wanted me to take a vacation, you know, he likes to spend time with me these days. I agreed because I wanted a vacation too. If you have time, come visit me, you're so busy these days and you forget to visit me at home, hijo." Her voice softened when she said the last words, a hint of reproach in her tone. She was guilt-tripping him.

Fabian felt a pang of guilt when he heard his mother's words. It was true, he had been busy with work and that Sugar woman had been adding to his stress. He couldn't focus these past few days; he was always slipping away from reality and found himself imagining that woman. On his bed.

Fabian shook his head and reached for the beer on the center table. He had been drinking to calm himself because of his intense excitement, but the alcohol seemed to be having the opposite effect. He downed the beer directly from the bottle. He eyed the empty bottles.

"Who will be with you, ma? Will dad be accompanying you?" Fabian asked. Ever since his father's wife died of cancer two years ago, he had been frequently contacting his mother. She also visited the Philippines often and his father would take her on vacations to other countries. He didn't mind, because he could see that his mother was happy with her life now. He knew his father was just making up for his shortcomings to his mother.

"Your father, of course. But I'll bring Violet just in case." She informed him happily. Violet was his mother's lady guard hired by his father. He knew what his father was like, and sometimes it worried him.

Fabian nodded even though his mother couldn't see him. He lit a cigarette and blew out a puff of smoke. He did it a few more times before closing his eyes to savor the smoke that filled his system.

He felt more reassured when his parents had someone else with them. They were already in their sixties, and although his father still looked fit for his age, he couldn't just let them go alone, he knew how dangerous it could be.

"Just be careful, ma. If possible, take a few more people with you. You know dad's work; you can't just let your guard down. Don't worry, I'll drop by maybe next day, I'll bring Elvira with me."

Fabian heard someone ringing the doorbell outside. His heart started beating fast again, and he hurriedly said goodbye to his mother. Before she could finish what she was saying, he hung up the call. He threw his phone on the plush couch and let out a heavy breath.

He headed to the door. He took a deep breath before opening the door.

Shit! Why was he nervous? He was acting like a pussy for chrissake! He wasn't like this with other women, he had never felt this way about any woman before. This was the first time, and it was funny that it was with this stripper, the kind of woman he should be avoiding. But here he was, inviting the woman to give him a private performance. Hypocrite asshole!